Personal statement topics

Why the 'Personal Statement'? The personal statement is an important part of the UCAS application process for university entrance in the UK. Along with predicted grades and the school reference, it is the one of the three main factors used by universities to decide whether to invite you to interview or offer you a place. The box on the application form marked 'Personal Statement' is not just a piece of administration. It is your chance to shine as an individual in your own words in the application process. It could, in some circumstances, make a big difference. It could be a winning factor in 'borderline situations' - situations where you are in competition with other students with the same grades as you. Or it could be a factor in getting you an interview. Even if your grades and school reference are excellent, a thoughtful and focused personal statement can only enhance your application. Making an Impression Although every reader (and every writer) of personal...

We encourage you to start early on your PS and do as many drafts as you need to before it is right. Ideally leave a few days between drafts. When drafting your personal statement you usually need to make changes . The first words you get down on paper will probably not be those you send off. You will add, delete, re-arrange, combine pieces of information, and alter the language to make it more concise and readable. Universities appreciate PSs which are thoughful and well organised. Usually a PS which has been worked through several drafts transmits positive signals. It shows careful connections, a thread of interest running through the whole text (like an argument in an essay), good language choices, and attention to detail. These are all highly valued at university level. Although your PS will probably be read by more then one person, the amount of time given to your writing by each reader is not likely to be long, maybe one or two minutes on average. So you need to make sure that yo...

The PS is an important document because it is your main opportunity during the university application process to shine as an individual in your own words. However, finding those words is not always easy. You may not know exactly what you want to do. You may be in two (or three!) minds about courses. You may feel that your achievements or interests are not relevant to your course choice. Or you may feel that you do not know what to select from a large number of possible topics. Here are some things you can do to get your writing started . It is important that you get something down on paper, however rough, so that you have some material to work on and revise when you turn your mind to the statement proper and start gearing your thoughts to the audience. 1. Patch Writing At the start, when you are getting ideas, don't try to write the whole statement in one go. It is usually better to write random bits or 'patches' of your statement and then find ways to 'stitch' the...

Do you have a specific question about UCAS personal statements? Here we give our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about writing the personal statement. How long does a personal statement have to be? The online UCAS application form gives you a box or 'fixed field' for the personal statement (PS). The field allows for about 4000 typed characters, including spaces. A typical length for a PS is between 450 and 550 words. It is usually better to think in terms of paragraphs rather than word count. A good PS has about five paragraphs. See the post on this blog on outlining a PS for suggestions on how to organise your paragraphs. Can I handwrite my statement? Yes. But the vast majority of PSs are now sent online. Use 12 point and Times New Roman font. Use of colour and highlighting devices like bold and underlining are not encouraged. Can I send additional material as an attachment? Some universities will explicitly ask to see examples of your work or a portfol...

When planning your UCAS personal statement it is sometimes helpful to do an outline to make sure that each paragraph has a specific purpose . This helps you to get an overview of the whole statement. It also makes the job of linking paragraphs together easier. Remember that statements are usually read quickly and the first impressions given by your words really do count. Although each statement is individual, we know that admissions tutors are looking for certain things when they read a personal statement. In particular they are looking for a clear motivation statement in the opening paragraphs. The question 'Why do you want to read this subject?' should get a clear answer. They are also looking for specific evidence to back up the motivation statement. And they are looking for legible, interesting and well-written statements. You do not need to come across as an expert in your chosen subject! Universities are looking for enquiring and capable students with good all-round...