Why is the personal statement important?

1. Why is the personal statement important? • ‘In over-subscribed subjects, admissions tutors are likely to go through personal statements with a fine tooth-comb.’ (Queen Mary, University of London) • ‘The personal statement is an applicant’s opportunity to demonstrate their personal commitment to their subject, which can never be shown by examination results.’ (Oxford University) • ‘The personal statement is the most important aspect of the UCAS form after the student’s predicted grades.’ (Manchester University)

2. Getting started – make some bullet points • Specific aspects of the course that interest you • Examples of coursework you have completed • Practical work you have enjoyed • Books, articles, etc. you have read related to the subject area • Work experience or voluntary work in this area • Conferences you have attended • Personal experiences that led to the decision to study this subject • Where you hope a degree in this subject will take you in the future

3. Other skills and interests About 1/3 of the statement can relate your other interests and skills. Make a list of everything important that you have done this year, either at school or outside school, which has not already been mentioned in the previous section: • Work experience or work shadowing • Part time work • Sponsorships or placements you are applying for • Positions of responsibility in school or outside school • Sports teams, drama productions, debating, music, voluntary work, event organising, etc. In each case, write down what duties you carried out, and talk about the skills you have developed – don’t just write a list!

4. Use your extra-curricular interests “I play in a local wind band where I lead the flute section. I sing in the school choir and have enjoyed performing in exciting venues around the world”. OR “Leading the flute section in a local wind band has enabled me to develop my leadership skills, as well as expanding my appreciation of different genres of music. As a member of the school choir I have had to demonstrate commitment and reliability, working as a member of a team with other students and staff to prepare for concerts.”

5. Skills and qualities What skills and qualities can you demonstrate through the following activities? • Playing in a sports team • Helping at Brownies • Leading a church youth group • Playing in an orchestra • Being a member of School Council • Being a prefect • Working at Waitrose

6. Do... • Create a list of your ideas before attempting to write the real thing • Expect to produce several drafts before being totally happy • Check university and college prospectuses, websites and Entry Profiles (UCAS web-site), as they usually tell you the criteria and qualities that they want their students to demonstrate • Use accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation

7. Do...... • Beenthusiastic - if you show your interest in the course, it may help you get a place • Discuss your personal statement with your tutor and other teachers • Only put in things you are prepared to talk about at interview (if you have one) • Show your personal statement to as many people as possible

8. What not to do • Try not to quote books, magazines or publications in a way that makes it sound like you’ve only read them to put them on your statement • Don’t lie! • Don't start every sentence with “I” • Don't use famous quotes in your statement unless they are really appropriate • Don't repeat things already on your UCAS form, e.g. AS grades • Don't include clichés • Don’t adopt an air of self-congratulation ("I am very good at" etc.) It is the school’s job, not yours, to say whether you have worked hard

9. Don’t...... • Mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated or what you learnt from them • Refer to experiences that took place before Year 11 except as anecdotes or if absolutely necessary • Mention interests without being more specific - for reading mention authors or genres, likewise with music or art - mention particular artists • Apply for too many different courses, making it difficult to write a convincing personal statement which supports the application • Write a statement specific to just one institution • Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else!

10. Don’t be pompous • "All the way through my educational career..." • " In my long time at Ranelagh School..." • "In my life with the school..." • Other awful airy-fairy phrases include: "Away from school," "I ventured abroad" - (i.e. I have visited...)- and "I have given due consideration to my next course of education.”

11. Don’t go OTT! • Don't say, "I have vastly enjoyed ..... “; just say you enjoyed it, and then go on to say what you learned from it • "Numerous conferences" would have to be really quite a large number, when almost invariably you mean two or perhaps only one

12. I...... • “I am captain of the school hockey team....” • “I have played the flute for seven years.....” • “I am interested in aspects of medieval French culture.....” • “I have gained relevant work experience to support my application to study Medicine.......” • “I am studying English, History and Geography at A Level...” • “I am particularly interested in how body function and genetics can help to establish the causes of psychological findings”.

13. Format • The application form has enough space for 4,000 characters, but this includes the empty spaces as well as the characters • Write your personal statement as a Word document, using the spell-check facility. Only copy and paste it onto the on-line application form when you are ready • Do not use bold, italics, or underline any words. The UCAS Apply software does not recognise formatting • Use paragraphs to separate out your ideas and structure your statement. Do not indent each paragraph, leave a line space instead • Keep paragraphs concise