APPLYING TO APPLYING TO UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITYThe Personal The Personal StatementStatement

This year, everyone will be completing their applications electronically.Your UCAS form will consist of the following sections:

• Registration • Personal details • Additional information (UK applicants only) • Choices (you can make 5 choices)• Education • Employment • Personal statement • Reference (from your tutor)• Declaration • Pay and send

Course Choices

• Academic or vocational? • Specialism or combined course? • What are the entry requirements (UCAS points)? • How long is the course? • How is it taught? • What kind of qualification will I get? • Will it help me to get the job I really want (if you know what you want!)

Do plenty of research; check out internet sites, speak to people in the profession, ask your tutors.

Too much choice? Try the Stamford test on the UCAS website

You can choose up to 5 courses. Choose similar ones; you can only write one personal statement and it needs to be relevant to all of the courses that you apply to

Choosing a University

• Home or away?• Campus or city?• Does it offer your course?• Reputation; check it out on

the internet• Go and visit! Universities

offer open days throughout the year

The (Dreaded!) Personal Statement

THE SKELETONWriting about the course

Why do you enjoy the subject?How did you first become interested in it?Which parts are you particularly interested in and why?Any areas previously studied that you are looking forward to studying in greater depth?Any relevant modules/essays/topics previously studiedAdditional reading around the subject done outside of college studiesAny involvement in masterclasses, summer schools, Gifted and Talented, or other enrichment/extension activitiesWhat particular subject related skills you have and how you got themHow the course will build upon what you are studying at college

Career Aim (if you have one!)

Do you have a particular career in mind; this can be quite generalWhat has made you want to follow this career?How does your course choice fit with your career aim?

Personal Skills and Qualities

Think about: teamwork; communication skills; time management; project management; applied practical skills; self motivation; organization; dealing with continued assessment; subject specific skills. Relate these back to the course and back up with solid examples

Relevant Experience for the Course

Mention any relevant work experience. Some courses such as nursing, law, social work, medicine, physiotherapy, art and design, teaching, performing arts and will require you to have it.

What insights has it given you into your chosen course or career?How has any relevant work experience confirmed your interest in this career?What did you do for work experience and what skills did you gain from it?What skills did you gain for which show that you have the skills for university life? eg self motivation, self discipline, social skills etc.

Positions of Responsibility

In school/college: prefect, member of the school or college council, student governor, mentor, one-off eventsOutside of school/college: paid part-time work, voluntary work

Which transferable skills have you gained from these positions such as problem solving, working with people, organisation or team working

Hobbies and Interests

These help to give an impression of you as a person. You should point out how your hobbies and interests have contributed to the development of your skills or personal qualities and how these relate to your course choice or

likely success at higher education. eg Duke of Edinburgh, sport, school productions, music exams, community work.

Concluding Statement

Finish with a brief sentence or two saying why you are looking forward to studying the course and how you hope to make the most of your time at university.

STYLE and STRUCTURE

• Break it up into paragraphs so that it is not just one big block of text

• Write your achievements chronologically starting with the most recent.

• You have 4,000 characters but you do not have to use them all - think quality over quantity!

• If you try too hard to impress with long words that you are not

confident using, the focus of your writing may be lost. • Be selective

• Don’t use bullet points or lists

ExamplesExample 1

Have a look at this personal statement

Highlight the good and the bad points within this statement

Example 2

Have a look at this statement

Highlight the good and bad points of this statement

Don’t• Repeat information that appears elsewhere on the application form

•Talk about personal qualities and skills without giving examples or supporting evidence

• Waffle! A few, well-chosen words are more effective than a lot of irrelevant information

• Make spelling, grammar or punctuation mistakes – it looks sloppy

• Copy sample personal statements and submit as you own. Statements will be checked by UCAS’ plagiarism software

• Tell lies! If you exaggerate you may get caught out at interview when asked to elaborate on an interesting achievement

• Bore the admissions tutor! They will be reading hundreds of applications. Make sure that is clear, straightforward and interesting.

Do• Set aside plenty of time to complete your statement. You will need to make several drafts.

• Be enthusiastic

• Draw on genuine examples of relevant skills and experience

• Use a ‘spell check’ and ask someone that you trust to proof read it for you

• Read the prospectus for specific details of the courses that you are applying to

•Consult the UCAS Entry Profile of the institutions that you are applying to

• Seek help and guidance from tutors and/or careers guidance staff

• Prepare your personal statement offline using a word-processing package and copy and paste it into the Apply system

!!!HELP!!!Course and Careers information

• www.ucas.com - all HE course entry profiles in the UK • www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk • www.prospects.ac.uk - graduate careers advice • www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/ - careers / job sector database • www.careersa-z.co.uk www.unistats.com • www.whatuni.com - student reviews of universities and courses • www.hotcourses.com • www.opendays.com - university and college open day directory

Student Finance

• www.direct.gov.uk • www.studentcalculator.org.uk - calculate your budget as a student

University Life

• www.nus.org.uk/student-life • www.push.co.uk - independent guide to universities

Good Good Luck!Luck!