Completing your personal statement
This is one of the most important sections of the UCAS application form. It is the part of the form where you have the opportunity to sell yourself.
Points to cover in your personal statement
- Why have you chosen this course? What do you hope to get out of it? Are there particular topics that interest you?
- If you are hoping to take a gap year, what do you plan to do during it?
- What are your plans for after your chosen course? Do you have a specific career in mind? Do you hope to continue with your studies?
- What background or experience do you have? - for example, work experience, voluntary work or involvement with activities such as sport, performing arts, travel. If these relate in some way to your chosen course, so much the better. For some courses relevant work experience is essential.
- What are your interests and achievements in things like sport and music? Were you involved in clubs and societies? Did you get any certificates or awards for achievements or activities in sixth form/college? Have you taken part in Duke of Edinburgh, cadets or Young Enterprise?
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Some key principles
- Make sure that your statement is relevant to all the courses that you have applied for, however you should not name any universities in this section.
- Ensure that the statement is either typed, word processed or written in clear handwriting – it is reduced in size by 50%, by the time the admissions tutor reads it (paper applications only).
- When you have completed your statement, think about the overall impression that it gives – you want to be as positive and truthful as you can.
- Make sure you check for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors – get someone else to read through it for you.
- Don’t repeat things that are written elsewhere on the form.
- Keep a copy of your statement – you may want to refer to it when you go for interviews (some of the questions will be based on the information that you have given).
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Not sure where to start?
Begin with a blank sheet of paper and write down all the things that you could include – your career plans, study interests, work experience, voluntary work, your interests out of sixth form/college, words to sum up you as a person. (Perhaps ask others how they would describe you.)
Then organise the material. Start with a paragraph on why your intended course of study interests you, followed by relevant experiences and activities, your future plans and then a little about you as a person.
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Top tips!
- Admissions tutors are looking for a high level of motivation. Try to put across your enthusiasm for the subject you want to study.
- Use your National Record of Achievement/Progress File to give you ideas on what to include in your personal statement.
- If you are completing the form by hand, photocopy it several times, so that you can practice completing it - this helps to ensure that you use the space effectively.
See ‘How to Apply 2005’ (UCAS) for guidelines on what to include in your personal statement.
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