Personal statements

Personal statements

I am CHRIS MASONWidening Participation graduate intern at the University of Sussex

Personal statementsContents

• Why are they important?

• Style and appearance

• Who are you writing to?

• Transferable skills

• Examples

• Questions to ask

• Things to avoid

• Copying and cheating

• Tips for success

Personal statementsWhy are they so important?

• The only personal information an

Admissions tutor sees

• You control the content

• If interviewed PS will be the basis of

questioning

• Your chance to impress and sell yourself

• Arguably the most important part of your

application

Personal statementsStyle and appearance

• Use the space provided

• 4,000 characters or 47 lines

• Think about the format:

• 4 / 5 paragraphs of equal length

• Paste text in to UCAS Apply

• Are speling, grammer, and punctuashun! perfect?

Personal statementsStyle and appearanceNo formal structure but generally a 70/30 split between:

• the course and why you have chosen it

• information about yourself and your abilities

Example structure:

• P1: Subject introduction

• P2: Related stuff / career aspirations

• P3: Skills and qualities

• P4: Relative interests, hobbies etc

• P5: Conclusion

Personal statementsWho are you writing to?• Consider your audience – admissions tutors

• Show commitment to, interest in and enthusiasm for the subject

• Be analytical and reflective – not merely descriptive

• Highlight your work experience!

• Illustrate relevant skills and abilities

• Use UCAS entry profiles, Uni websites and student profiles

• Demonstrate understanding of course and what it entails

Personal statementsTransferable skills

• Logical and analytical

thinking

• Self-reliance

• Interpersonal skills

• Organisational skills

• Initiative

• Communication skills

• Written and verbal

Personal statementsTransferable skills

Drama production, sports

captain and voluntary

charity fundraiser

• Teamwork

• Confidence

• Commitment

• Leadership

• Time Management

• Organisational skills

• Passion and drive

• Communication

• Enthusiasm

Example 1:English Literature

I have always been fascinated by the power of story-telling to capture the imagination and create a new world. Five years ago I became aware of the literary exploration of this concept in Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey'. Modern authors, such as Brautigan and Vonnegut, also explore readers' expectations of a story, their desire for dramatic change and a happy or tragic ending. I still retain my basic love of stories but am also excited by the more complex ideas that I am finding books present to me now.

Having spent some time travelling in America, I find the literary expression of their culture and history of the country to be most absorbing. I particularly enjoyed 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger and 'On the Road' by Jack Kerouac. These novels capture the disaffection many people experience with their society. Earlier American writers that I have read, including Hemingway, Lee and Fitzgerald, also convey this sense social dislocation.

I love both going to the theatre and being involved in productions. Most recently I went to see a production of 'Much Ado about Nothing'. I have been involved in the youth group at Norwich Theatre Royal and Norwich Young Peoples Theatre, as well as having participated in many school productions…

Personal fascination and vested interest

Name dropping. An understanding of the importance of people

• Excited by the challenge of

books (integral to literature!)

• Links travelling to literature

and personal cultural

development

• Extra curricular work in

related areas

Example 1:English Literature

Reading contemporary critical essays such as 'Verbal Presence: Conceptual Absence' by James L. Calderwood and 'Revenge in Hamlet' by Catherine Belsey sparked new exciting ideas for me. …

My work experience at a Design and Advertising company taught me a great deal. Watching and playing an active role in the design process, from the first client meetings through to the final presentation of the work, I was able to appreciate just how powerful language can be and the extent to which it can be skilfully and subtly manipulated in the commercial world. …On leaving school I won the Art Prize and outside of school I attended a course with resident artists at UEA which resulted in my work being exhibited at the Sainsbury Centre in Norwich.…It is my belief that my studies at Saint Martins will enhance my study of English Literature in the years ahead.

• Contemporary critical essays

is what literature students do!

• New and exciting =

enthusiasm and commitment

• Prize winner = smart and

dedicated

• Attended extra course to show

desire to develop

I have spent the last five years traveling. After leaving college I decided I needed to take some time out to assess what I wanted to do with my future, and traveling allowed me to leave my problems behind and become an adult. I’m now 24 and I regret not going to uni straight away. I want to make up for that now, though.

I did PE at A-level because I had a teacher that I really admired and who said I could do really well at it. He was really motivating and showed me I could do anything I put my mind to, which pushed me to get my grade B.…I love playing sport and took part in the national junior athletics championships when I was 16. Around this time I also did the community sports leadership award with my local youth group. Ever since then, I have coached kids at football, rugby and running. When I am older, I want to specialize as a sports coach. The coaching I have done has given me a lot of skills that are suitable to this course.…

• Spelling, punctuation and

grammar

• Leaving problems behind?

They may still be there!

• No mention of the subject. No

hook, just negative

• Repetition of information• May want to be a coach rather

than sports scientist?

• What course? Have they

applied for more than 1 type?Example 2:Sports Science

During my time traveling I worked in dorms at an American university. I liked the look of the student life and thought it was something I would like. I got on well with the students and saw we had similar personalities and interests like sport, music and socialising. …In my spare time I really enjoy reading a variety of books. I have recently read A Brief History of Time, Down and Out in Paris and London, Pride and Prejudice and a lot of sports autobiographies. I also like going to music festivals, taking part in sports events and spending time with my family.…I really think I would be suitable for this course at your university because I have a lot to offer and think I will be an asset to those around me.

Making presumptions about what students are like – and in different country!

Mostly not relevant information. Showing off?• Very generic and

uninformative/unspecific

Same info to all universities – like saying you love 5 different people! Also hasn’t said why they would be an asset

Example 2:Sports Science

Personal statementsQuestions to ask• Have you won any prizes

• What’s your biggest

achievement and why?

• Who motivated you and why?

• Favourite book, movie, hobby

and impact on you?

• Have any difficulties in life

changed you?

• What have you worked hard for

in the past?

• Where do you see yourself in 5

years time?

• What would your friends/family

say if they were writing your

statement?

Personal statementsThings to avoid

• Waffle

• Go mad with a thesaurus

• Be trivial

• Exaggerate or lie!

• Write lists

• Put everything in (be selective)

• Mention the name of a Uni

Personal statementsCopying and cheating

• Internet Resources

• Friends

• People already at University

• SIMILARITY DETECTION SERVICE!

Your Personal Statement will be

compared with all those which have

previously been submitted

Personal statementsTips for success

• Allow time for thought

and planning – prepare

• Make the most of your

experiences

• Include anything

outstanding or unusual

• Use fairly short clear

sentences

• Allow time to review and

expect to modify!

• Get someone else to

proofread your work

Personal statementsTips for success

• Find your USP

• Don’t let anyone else write it

• Show enthusiasm, motivation

and commitment

• Stick to the point

• Include useful skills

• Use a concluding statement

• Why should they choose YOU?

Personal statementsUseful links

www.ucas.com

www.prospects.ac.uk

www.thebrightsidetrust.org

www.sussex.ac.uk/s3

http://www.studential.com/personalstatements/

Personal statementsThank you!

Contact participate@sussex.ac.uk

www.sussex.ac.uk/wp 01273 873629

?Any questions?