How to write a great personal statement

Your personal statement

All undergraduate courses require a personal statement. Personal statements can seem daunting, but they don't have to be! Get the lowdown on how you can write a great personal statement.

Be the main character

The biggest clue is in the name - it's personal - this is your chance to show off your interests, ambitions and all the great things you have achieved. 

Universities receive thousands of applications a day, so puts yours in the spotlight, it's your story, tell it your way. 

What goes where?

While your statement needs to show off your unique qualities, a good structure will help it flow and make sure you represent your authentic self in the best way possible. 

The below structure is a handy guide to help create your statement:

  • The opening paragraph - 5%

Getting started can be a struggle, but don't overthink it. You don't need a snappy one-liner, just speak about your inspirations for studying your subject. If you are struggling, you can always move on and do this bit last!

  • Why do you love your subject? - 70%

These paragraphs will be the bulk of your statement. Focus on your course choice and what areas you are passionate about. If you want to study history, say what period captures your imagination, if you have your eye on computing, be specific about your interests. 

Then mention what subjects you are currently studying, and what they have given you. If you're studying English, you will have developed great writing skills, if you study psychology, you'll be fantastic at critical thinking.

Finally, share any work experience you’ve completed. Avoid listing everything you’ve done, but expand on the qualities and skills you’ve gained, such as teamwork and good time management. And if you can, go one step further and explain how those skills are suited to the course you’re applying for.  

  • What do you do outside of college or school? -20%

The final section of your statement should include your extracurricular activities.

You may have gained leadership skills from sports; problem-solving and communication techniques from part-time work; teamwork experience from Duke of Edinburgh; or time management skills from juggling your study and extracurricular commitments.

If you’re not involved in any extracurricular activities, use this section to mention wider reading. Reference any books, articles and journals that are specific to your subject of interest and explain why you’ve found them engaging.

  • Wrapping it up - 5%

Tie up your personal statement with a small paragraph. Some students use their conclusion to share what they want to pursue in the future, while others use it to emphasise their motives for going to uni. It doesn’t need to be lengthy, just a sentence or two.  

As easy as ABC!

Make the most of your statements using the ABC model in your writing:

  • (A)ctivity (what have you done?): “I played an integral part in the school debating team for two years, debating in inter-school competitions…”
  • (B)enefit(what skills/experience has it given you?): “This has helped me to develop into a confident speaker…”
  • (C)ourse/Career(how does this relate to the course/your future career?) “…which will ensure that I positively contribute in mooting sessions at university.”

Aim to achieve A and B when writing your main points and keep referring to your subject of interest wherever possible.

The Do's and Don'ts.

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Plan ahead.

Plan your statement before you write it and jot down your ideas under each paragraph before you get to work.
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Ask for help.

Ask friends, family and teachers to remind you of activities you’ve participated in. They might remember successes you’ve forgotten about.
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Show, don't tell.

Explain and evidence everything. It’s easy to say you have a skill, but it’s better to demonstrate it with an example of when and how you’ve used it.
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Double check.

Print off your statement and proofread it for spelling and grammatical errors by reading it aloud. It’s unlikely that you’ll identify mistakes if you proofread your statement on a screen.
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A second opinion.

Ask someone you trust to check it for you; a fresh pair of eyes always helps.
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Do the research.

Use information on university websites and the UCAS website to find the skills and qualities universities are looking for in applicants.
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Be yourself.

Reflect your personality and passion for the subject. Show us all your unique qualities that make you a perfect match for the course.
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List

Don't include lists in your application. Focus on one or two points and discuss them in depth to show their relevance to your application.
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Fall in with the crowd.

Avoid cliché lines such as, ‘I’ve always wanted to be a teacher’. They’re overused and say little about your motivations or experiences.
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Rely on others to make your point

You shouldn't use quotations unless they support your statements and have a real purpose.
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Take shortcuts

Don't be tempted to buy or copy a personal statement. Plagiarism software is very sophisticated and if you’re caught out, you won’t be offered a place.
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Keep it all the same

Don't use ‘I’ too often when starting a new sentence. Try to vary your sentence structure to avoid repetition and keep your statement engaging.
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Limit your options

Don't mention a particular university. Your statement will be sent to all five of your UCAS choice, so it must be unbiased to give you the best chance at all of them.

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