UCAS: Personal Statements

Dr Julia MooreAnaesthetist, parent, UCAS survivor!

The personal statement

Understand its purpose

Collect data and plan your statement

Polished and effective product

Purpose

Thousands of applicants

See me• both academic and rounded

Why me• why are you ideally suited to accountancy?• why will you make more of a place than anyone

else?

Introduce interview topics

Marketing yourself

What is the university looking for?

Show you can provide what they need

Add value

Skills, attitude, knowledge, experience

Achievements - not just responsibilities

Planning

Start early • finish by Sept for mid Oct, by Oct for the rest• lots of revision and polishing

Blank sheet – 3 sections• Academic basis of your subject• Experience and understanding (work exp)• Skills and achievements (extracurricular)

Academic basis

Prospectuses and course literature

Insights from work experience

Read around the subject critically – find a topic that interests you, and include it

Demonstrate academic abilities eg prizes

Experience and understanding

Work experience

Voluntary work

3 x 3 table• What you did (where)• What you did or learned• Why is it important?

Skills and achievements

Draw up a CV – sports, hobbies, music, drama, responsibilities, academic

Include difficult things that did not go perfectly

So what ?

For all areas, work through• what it meant to you• what you have learned from it• how this affects your suitability for the course

Analyse what you offer …

Separate piece of paper or mind map for each area: sport, work experience, school roles etc. List items in each area first – eg sport: hockey team, swimming, hill walking. Music: singing, instrument, band

Detail skills, attitudes and achievements for each cluster eg teamwork, independence, reliability

Insight into your key skills and attitudes – ask others; own research

So what?

Junior school prefect (1999); school 2nd XI hockey (2001 – 05). Took part in House Drama competitions, annual Science Fairs, 6th form Young Enterprise (treasurer), Duke of Edinburgh (Silver). Grade VI saxophone (2003) & play bass guitar in student rock band. Saturday job to pay for driving lessons leaves little extracurricular time, but I have undertaken one week’s work experience with an accountancy firm.

What skills and attitudes might these demonstrate?

Experience / achievements

Young Enterprise (Treasurer)

Action words (past tense):

I analysed, coordinated, directed, devised, researched, re-designed, expanded, increased, wrote, secured, negotiated

A few more action words

• Achieved• Arranged• Designed• Ensured• Exceeded• Improved• Launched

Modernised• Organised• Resolved• Stimulated• Supervised• Taught• Wrote

Now start drafting…UCAS advice:

• Why you have chosen the course• Why you are interested in the subject• Job, work experience, placement, particularly if relevant• Key skills gained eg through GNVQs• Other achievements eg D of E• Particular interests in current studies• Future plans• Subjects you are studying which don’t have an exam• Sponsorship or placements undertaken or applied for• Plans for a year out• Social, sports and leisure interests

Do’s and don’ts

This means focus on tangible things, hard facts, examples and information

It does not mean write 11 tiny paragraphs! Structure

• 3 main paragraphs• introduction and conclusion

Decide what to leave out

What goes in - what stays out?

Know your market

What to put in

• Subject/university’s priorities are the most important

What to leave out • Irrelevant to the course• Negative• Lies or ‘good intentions’

Cutting and editing

Organise into three main paragraphs

Logical flow

Cut out unnecessary words

Read aloud, for flow and punctuation

A fresh eye

Revise, revise, revise

Wordy and woolly

Multiple opportunities for my workgroup to interface with students and staff were generated by the Young Enterprise programme although unfortunately the complexity of project we devised meant we were not successful and we were unable to capitalise on our vision.

Active sentences, action words

Multiple opportunities for my workgroup to interface with students and staff were generated by the Young Enterprise programme although unfortunately the complexity of project we devised meant we were not successful and we were unable to capitalise on our vision.

Young Enterprise: as elected Treasurer, I analysed market research, developed the business plan, wrote the spreadsheet and delivered accurate and timely accounts. I reviewed financial progress regularly and initiated a mid-term project review which ensured we broke even.

Achievements?

I am working towards my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and we are planning to go hiking in the Peak District. This has taught me a lot of teamwork skills.

‘So what?’

I am working towards my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and we are planning to go hiking in the Peak District. This has taught me a lot of teamwork skills.

“everyone’s doing D of E, no proof of achievement, no evidence of teamwork skills”

‘So what?’

I am working towards my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and we are planning to go hiking in the Peak District. This has taught me a lot of teamwork skills.

During my Duke of Edinburgh Silver trip in the Vale of Glamorgan my team ran short of provisions. As a result I have assumed responsibility for food and water for our forthcoming Gold Award trip to the Peak District. I have developed a spreadsheet which details our precise requirements and I am confident that my organisation will enable the team to perform at its peak during the challenge.

‘So what?’

During my Duke of Edinburgh Silver trip in the Vale of Glamorgan my team ran short of provisions. As a result I have assumed responsibility for food and water for our forthcoming Gold Award trip to the Peak District. I have developed a spreadsheet which details our precise requirements and I am confident that my organisation will enable the team to perform at its peak during the challenge.

“not afraid of responsibility, organised,

team player”

Introduction and conclusion

Write them last

Avoid “My passion for English literature …”

Never plagiarise

Conclusion reflects introduction

Final fanfare to remind reader you have demonstrated necessary skills and attributes

Crisp & easy to read

Logical flow:

I am (key features) ….

Accountancy needs (academic and skills) ….

My skills, attitudes and experience• Prioritise• ‘Teaser’ for them to ask you about

Closing summary focused on the future

Perfect presentation

Crisp and well organised

Corect spelling and grammer

Watch out for spell chequers

Neat layout, plain font, line between paragraphs

Easy to read – short, active sentences

Use bullets or précis to avoid “I”

Summary

A lot more to offer than you may think

Start now

Revise, condense, sleep on it, get help

Know your PS thoroughly before interview

Practice discussing your PS

Reading

The perfect CV – Max EggertRandom House Business Books 2003

ISBN 978-1-84-415144-0

(action words, presentation)

Write it right – John Peck & Martin CoylePalgrave Study Guides 2005

ISBN 1-4039-9487-0

(presentation, structure, grammar, précis)