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Writing your personal statement
Before you start writing, you need to recall some special memories and decide your unique properties.
Take some time, brainstorm first and take notes and come back later.
The following question may guide you:
- Why have you chosen this course?
- What excites you about the subject?
- Is my previous or current study relevant to the course?
- Have you got any work experience that might help you?
- What life experiences have you had that you could talk about?
- What achievements are you proud of?
- What skills do you have that make you perfect for the course?
- What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?
Some useful tips
The personal statement allows admissions tutors to form a picture of who you are. So, for the opener, think about writing down things, such as:
- why you’re a good candidate
- your motivations
- what brings you to this course
Try not to overthink the opening sentence. You need to engage the reader with your relevant thoughts and ideas, but not go overboard.
The opening is your chance to introduce yourself, to explain your motivation for studying the course and to demonstrate your understanding of it.
The best personal statements get to the point quickly. Go straight in. What excites you about the course and why do you want to learn about it more?
Think about why you want to study the course and how you can demonstrate this in your written statement:
Your interest in the course is the biggest thing. Start with a short sentence that captures the reason why you’re interested in studying the area you’re applying for and that communicates your enthusiasm for it.
Don’t waffle or say you want to study something just because it’s interesting. Explain what you find interesting about it.
Try to avoid cliches and the most obvious opening sentences so you stand out from the very first line.
UCAS publishes a list of common opening lines each year. Here are just some overused phrases to avoid using in your personal statement:
- From a young age…
- For as long as I can remember…
- I am applying for this course because…
- I have always been interested in…
- Throughout my life I have always enjoyed…
Quotations are top of the list of admissions tutors’ pet hates.
Concentrate on the main content of your statement and write the introduction last. The opening line is the hardest one to write, so it might be better to leave it until the end.
It may be easier to get on with writing the main content of your statement and coming back to the introduction afterwards –that way you will also know what you’re introducing.
Think about making a link between your opening sentence and closing paragraph – a technique sometimes called the ‘necklace approach’.
You can reinforce what you said at the start or add an extra dimension. For example, if you started with an interesting line about what’s currently motivating you to study your chosen degree course, you could link back to it at the end, perhaps with something about why you’d love to study this further at uni.
Don’t waffle
Avoid famous quotes
Make yourself stand out
Keep notes as you write
Admissions Tutors will be reading a lot of personal statements. Remember, it can only be 4,000 characters, which is about two sides of A4. So, you’ll need to use your words wisely to fit everything in. Please read what we advice for the whole process.
Don’t worry about your personal statement
You don’t need to stress or feel anxious about writing your personal statement because you have plenty of time to complete it, and you also have access to resources and support to help you in the process.
It’s a reassurance that there is no immediate rush, and you can take your time to craft a strong and well-thought-out personal statement without feeling pressured. It’s a reminder to stay calm and confident as you work on this important component of your university application.
Don’t feel you need to complete it all in one go
Take breaks and come back to it. You don’t have to finish it all in a single sitting. Instead, we encourage you to break your work into smaller, manageable sections and allow yourself to take breaks or step away from the task when you need to.
This approach can help you maintain focus and prevent burnout, allowing you to return to the task with a fresh perspective and renewed energy.
Don’t forget to think about the things that make you stand out.
When you’re working on your personal statement, it’s important to consider and highlight your unique qualities, experiences, or achievements that differentiate you from other candidates. We encourage you to reflect on what sets you apart and makes you a distinctive and valuable candidate.
By acknowledging and emphasizing the standout qualities, you can make a stronger case for why you are an excellent fit for the program or opportunity you are applying for.
Don’t be tempted to copy or share your personal statement.
We advise against copying someone else’s work or sharing your personal statement with others for them to use. Your personal statement is meant to be an authentic representation of your experiences, thoughts, and aspirations. It’s a reflection of who you are and why you’re a suitable candidate for a particular opportunity, such as university admission.
Copying or sharing it compromises its authenticity and integrity, potentially leading to plagiarism or the dilution of your own voice and unique qualities.
Don’t use artificial intelligence software or writing service providers.
Your personal statement is an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities, experiences, and aspirations. When you use AI software or writing services, your statement may lack authenticity and sound generic, making it difficult for admissions committees to get to know you as an individual.
Dos
- Do talk about why you’re a good candidate – talk about you, your motivations and what brings you to this course.
- Do be enthusiastic – if you show you’re interested in the course, it may help you get a place.
- Do make it relevant. Connect what you’re saying with the course and with your experiences.
- Do outline your ideas clearly.
- Do avoid the negatives – highlight the positives about you, and show you know your strengths.
- Do expect to produce several drafts of your personal statement before being totally happy with it.
- Do ask people you trust for their feedback.
Don’ts
- Don’t be modest or shy. You want your passions to come across.
- Don’t exaggerate – if you do, you may get caught out in an interview when asked to elaborate on an interesting achievement.
- Don’t use quotes from someone else, or cliches.
- Don’t leave it to the last minute – your statement will seem rushed and important information could be left out.
- Don’t let spelling and grammatical errors spoil your statement, but don’t just rely on a spellchecker. Proofread as many times as possible.
- Don’t copy and paste – make yours original.
- Don’t worry about it – we have all the advice you need to help you stand out in your personal statement.