University Applications Guide: Personal Statement

Well-known for the quality of education and breadth of opportunity they provide to graduates, UK universities constitute just under 25% of the top 100 QS world-ranked universities. As a result, applications to study at many UK universities are competitive due to the wide variety of excellent candidates who apply from the world over.

To support students applying to UK universities, we are publishing a series of articles on the preparation and work required during the application and admissions process in order to secure a university place. In this article, we discuss the personal statement and how students can get this important document right.

 

Many students are flummoxed when first approaching the personal statement required for university applications in the UK; it is a task like no other that they have done in their academic career and yet is an essential document to get right. Students tend to struggle with describing themselves confidently and presenting their own achievements effectively; often they feel that modesty and understatement are the better sides of valour. If so, it is important for students to shift their mindset when approaching the personal statement - this document needs to clearly state your achievements, your opinions and your confident desire to study at an institution without any false modesty.

Preparation

The first key step for the personal statement is preparation. Once you have identified and achieved which experiences, projects and further reading you want to use, you should collate them all into a list and note down any key points from each that you want to highlight.

The First Draft.

Once you have a list of the content you want to include in your personal statement, create a rough skeleton out of the evidence to plan out what you want to discuss in each paragraph. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence and should show something about your calibre as a student. Once you have created your plan, you are ready to write your first draft. Focus on writing and creating a full draft, not on editing your language as you go - you will have plenty of chances to edit afterwards!

Language

Your language should be direct and to the point. Eliminate any unnecessary verbiage and focus exclusively on making your point as clearly as possible.

  • Use the present tense as much as possible to make your interests and achievements more immediate.

  • Use terminology that is specific to your subject to demonstrate that you know what you are talking about.

  • Use direct language and eliminate filler words to maximise the impact of your language within the constraints of the word count.

Structure

It is essential that your personal statement is well-structured and creates a sense of flow for the reader, to demonstrate your writing ability and make it easy to follow. A well-organised and fluent document demonstrates that you are a well-organised and fluent student. Below are some key tips for doing so:

  • Your introduction needs a central theme - why do you want to study this subject and what will you do with it?

    E.g. Ensuring the construction of buildings that meet humanity’s changing needs and complement our natural world is the driving force behind my passion for architecture.

  • Your conclusion needs to summarise why you are passionate about the subject, how you will contribute to your university and course as well as what you intend to do post-university.

Redrafting

The majority of personal statements that we provide guidance and advice on will take circa 10-15 redrafts to bring the personal statement into its final form. Some key elements to bear in mind are:

  • Focus on SHOWING, not TELLING. This is the most grievous error that students make in their personal statements. Do not tell the reader that you are “interested in English Literature”; show them you are - e.g. “Shakespeare’s plays revolutionised my understanding of gender when I read…”

  • Showcase your passion and enthusiasm for the subject/course through demonstrating your knowledge, research and critical opinion.

  • Explain why the course/college/university appeals to you, how it will transform your studies and how you will contribute in return.

How your Personal Statement is Read

Below is a non-exhaustive list of what admissions officers will look for in a student’s personal statement:

  • Academic understanding and passion for their topic.

  • Understanding of the course specifics and the university.

  • Evidence of independent thought, research and reading.

  • Writing ability: good spelling/grammar, clear structure, coherent expression.

  • Clear sense of ambition and plans for how they will pursue goals.

  • Evidence of how they will contribute to the course, university and community.

 

For more advice or for a free personalised university application plan, contact our team at info@libraeducation.co.uk.

We hope that this article will provide you with greater preparation for your applications to study at university in the UK and help portray you as a prime candidate for your intended course and university. We wish you success in this next exciting stage of your academic career.

Oscar HardyG5, University, GCSE, A Level, Personal Statement, Oxbridge, Interviews, School, Education, Student, Lesson