How to write the perfect personal statement
Personal statements can often be difficult to start but it’s worth putting pen to paper as soon as possible. A strong personal statement is crucial for your university application and can set you apart from other candidates with the same grades.
Here are some top tips to help guide you through the process of writing a personal statement.
A few things to know before you start
What is a personal statement?
A personal statement is a key part of university applications. A personal statement must be no longer than 4,000 characters (including spaces) or a maximum of 47 lines (whichever comes first). It should outline your interest in the course, your skills and your extracurricular and supercurricular activities.
Remember you only write one personal statement that is read by every university you apply for.
Application deadlines
Application deadlines are easy to miss. Keep your application dates visible – write them down on your fridge or phone calendar to avoid unwanted stress when January rolls around.
You can find UCAS deadlines here. Northeastern University London accepts direct applications on a rolling basis.
Plan plan plan!
The secret to writing a winning personal statement lies in the preparation. The first thing you should do is make a plan. Start by writing down all your ideas in a mindmap or bullet point form – remember, at this point no idea is a bad one.
If you’re struggling for ideas try thinking about the below questions:
- Why do you want to study the course?
- Are there any particular areas from your current course that you’d like to study further?
- How do your current or previous studies relate to your chosen subject?
- What skills do you have that will make you suited for studying this course at university?
- Have you taken part in any other activities that demonstrate your interest in the course?
If you’re worried you have no experience to put forward, then don’t panic. Admissions tutors know that not everyone will have had the same opportunities, instead let your personality shine through.
Don’t be afraid to show off
Forget being modest! Highlight what makes you unique. Admissions tutors are looking what sets you apart from the crowd. Think about work experience, after-school clubs, whether you’re a club captain, a prefect, part of the student leadership team, a member of a society, a writer for the school newspaper, the list is endless. Also, mention super-curricular activities like podcasts, lectures, or essay competitions that showcase your passion.
Don’t mention your grades!
Whilst your grades and the hard work you’ve put in to achieve them is definitely something to be proud of, it’s important to leave them out of this part of your university application – these will be in a separate part of your UCAS application.
Make sure you have a clear structure
Admissions tutors read hundreds of applications, so make yours easy to follow. Even simply splitting your written application into a few different paragraphs will allow for a much easier read.
Use the following as a guide on how to structure your personal statement:
Paragraph 1: an introduction to you and why you want to study your chosen course.
Paragraph 2: any relevant work experience, skills or qualities that make you the ideal student for the course.
Paragraph 3: any hobbies/interests/volunteering that relate to the course.
Paragraph 4: a concluding statement bringing all your points together and highlighting your desire to study your chosen course.
Use specific examples and give evidence to back up your points.
Avoid mistakes
Proofread over your personal statement a few times, use spell check or get your parents and even your teachers to look over it a few times before you send it off to ensure it is absolutely perfect.
A few extra tips
- Don’t begin with ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ – it’s not necessary and you don’t have the line count for it.
- Start by getting everything down on the page; don’t worry about the character limit, you can edit it later.
- Check, check and then check again
- Include more super-curricular activities than extra-curricular as it is easier to relate to the course you wish to study.
Overall, writing a personal statement doesn’t come naturally to most people so don’t panic if you’re finding it difficult. Follow our top tips and you’ll be on your way to a perfect personal statement in no time!