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Coming from an Asian culture, I have often been berated for considering anything other than STEM subjects, leading me to a path of intellectual autonomy. My interest in Philosophy therefore originates from an internal inquisitiveness and a deep appreciation of how Philosophy has had a profound effect on humanity.

When briefly touching on liberalism in Politics, I began to see the importance and the value of freedom, and how Mill's 'harm principle' is applied when a sovereign Parliament passes new legislation. Political philosophy is oftentimes rooted in the theological theories of divine command, free will and ethics. Mill therefore contextualises the impact of politics on the lives of ordinary citizens and their tenets. For my English Literature NEA I compared the play 'Julius Caesar' to the historical novel 'Alexander at the World's End', to answer whether the pursuit of political power triumphs personal morality. Here I explored hegemony, divine command, as well as dogmatic, political and social philosophy.

History has enabled me to appreciate the significance of empirical and descriptive data from major historical events within the past century or so. From Thatcher's conviction politics and radical economic solutions, to the interventionist solutions in Roosevelt's New Deal following the Great Depression of the 1930s, I believe History anticipates the liberalization of the mind. Drawn in by the different economic approaches of political leaders from History and Politics, I enrolled on the MOOC 'Political Economy of Institutions and Development'; it covers topics from societal fragmentation to classical liberalism.

Captivated by the interdisciplinary nature of Philosophy, I completed the MOOC 'Introduction to Philosophy'. I briefly studied moral and political philosophy, epistemology, philosophy of the mind and of science as well as metaphysics; giving me insight into what Philosophy entails. Intrigued by the developments of religion, I completed the MOOC 'The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World'. My study allowed me to see the important developments of Islamic societies and the contemporary significance of religion and Theology in complex issues such as the Arab Spring and Iran's troubled theocracy. Curious to see how academics critically propose viable solutions to reconstruct modern society, I also read 'Utopia for Realists', alongside 'How Britain Really Works'. The latter provided context to the current state of affairs.

During my Year 12 work experience at a local museum, I compiled a portfolio which identified skills to develop when undertaking tasks; analytical, logical, research and communication skills. My primary task was to conduct a review of the museum's welcome leaflet, outline its functions, assess its effectiveness, and then pitch my findings to the operations team.

Alongside my studies, I take on the duties and responsibilities of Deputy Head Boy. I regularly attend Sixth Form Council meetings and contribute to the agenda for improving the Sixth Form. Finding intellectual humility to be a valuable quality, I joined the Debating Society, where I enjoy engaging in discourse on ethical issues such as mandatory vaccination. My EPQ focussed on solutions to the environmental detriment of fashion, and outlined its contributions to the global environmental crisis.

My liberal approach to the art demonstrates a willingness to enter university with elements of academic rigour and enthusiasm. My approach reflects a keenness to develop transferable skills for an eventual career in the public sector.

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July 6, 2018, by Ross Wilson

How to apply to Liberal Arts – Personal Statements

Every student applying to Liberal Arts will come from different backgrounds and they will have their own experiences and individual qualifications. That’s why we don’t look for specific A-Levels, International Baccalaureate profiles or their equivalents in any application. What we are interested in is why you want to explore issues across a range of subjects and study for a Liberal Arts degree. We all have different interests but what brings us together as Liberal Arts scholars is that we don’t want to be confined to one approach.

Your personal statement

When writing your statement to apply for the Liberal Arts degree we want to learn more about you. We want to find out about what you are motivated by, what you are interested in and what you want to study here at the University of Nottingham.

Writing personal statements for Liberal Arts can seem complicated because of the range of options but this is an opportunity to tell us more about you. We want to hear about your work and your pastimes and why these are important to you and why this has led you to Liberal Arts.

Trent Building, University Park

Liberal Arts at the University of Nottingham is about choice, exploration and it is about innovation. If you want to study across a range of subjects that says something exciting and interesting about you and we want to know what that is. We are all interdisciplinary in our interests. For example, we can enjoy music, art, literature, languages or mathematics; but we want to find out why you want to study subjects together and connect up areas of thought.

You might be interested in architecture, gaming, politics, culture or society. You could want to work on issues to do with the environment, equality or education. You may want to take a role in the future that will change how we live, work and engage with one another. But we do this by thinking differently and using the range of approaches from the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Don’t worry about covering every single approach or trying to address all the subjects we have to offer in your statement. We only want to find out about your route to studying Liberal Arts and what you want to do. We read all the personal statements because we are interested in your work as a Liberal Arts scholar. So, use this chance to:

1 – Describe your current subjects of study and why you want to explore these further

2- Explain how you want to combine different subjects and approaches

3 – Report on the books, films, television programmes, music or art that have inspired you or made you think differently about what you want to work on at university

4 – Inform us of the areas you would like to study here at Nottingham and why

5 – Tell us about any trips, plans, volunteering or jobs you have undertaken or plan to complete and why this has influenced you

6 – Communicate your interests, your motivations and what makes you want to study Liberal Arts

Hallward Library, University Park Campus

Liberal Arts is for people who want to study, explore and innovate and we will work with you to develop a degree programme that reflects your interests and which opens up opportunities for a range of careers. Do not worry about having to decide your route through Liberal Arts right now as this is something you can explore when you begin your studies.

Your personal statement reflects who you are as a Liberal Arts student and why this degree is important for you.

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About this blog.

News, views and experiences of Liberal Arts staff and students at Nottingham. Our Liberal Arts courses allow students to explore their interests within a framework of problem-solving, enquiry and global exploration.

Useful Links

Liberal Arts website

Writing Your Personal Statements

Your personal statement must demonstrate to the admissions committee that you have considered graduate school and their specific program seriously. It’s your opportunity to summarize your academic and research experiences. You must also communicate how your experiences are relevant to preparing you for the graduate degree that you will be pursuing and explain why a given program is the right one for you.

The personal statement is where you highlight your strengths. Make your strengths absolutely clear to the reviewers, because they will often be reading many other statements. Your self-assessments and honest conversations with peers and advisors should have also revealed your strengths. But you must also address (not blame others for) weaknesses or unusual aspects of your application or academic background.

Your personal statement should focus on two main aspects: your competence and commitment.

1. Identify your strengths in terms of competence that indicate that you will succeed in the grad program and provide examples to support your claims. Start your statement by describing your strengths immediately. Because faculty will be reading many statements, it’s important to start off with your strengths and not “bury your lede.” Consider traits of successful graduate students from your informational interviews, and identify which of these traits you have. These traits could involve research skills and experiences, expertise in working with techniques or instruments, familiarity with professional networks and resources in your field, etc.

Check your responses from the exercises in the self-assessment section. You may wish to consult notes from your informational interviews and your Seven Stories . Write concise summaries and stories that demonstrate your strengths, e.g. how your strengths helped you to achieve certain goals or overcome obstacles.
Summarize your research experience(s). What were the main project goals and the “big picture” questions? What was your role in this project? What did you accomplish? What did you learn, and how did you grow as a result of the experience(s)?

My research examines the interplay between U.S. domestic politics and foreign policy during the Cold War. As a native New Yorker, I saw firsthand how dramatically my city changed after 9/11, which prompted my early interest in U.S. policy at home and abroad. As an undergraduate at the City College of New York, I planned to study international relations with a focus on U.S. foreign affairs. I also quickly became involved in student activist groups that focused on raising awareness about a wide range of human rights issues, from the Syrian refugee crisis to asylum seekers from Central America.

The more I learned about the crises in the present, the more I realized that I needed a deeper understanding of the past to fully grasp them. I decided to pursue a PhD in history in order to gain a clearer understanding of human rights issues in the present and to empower young student-activists like myself.

— Vannessa Velez, PhD candidate in History

Addressing weaknesses or unusual aspects

Identify weaknesses or unusual aspects in your application—e.g., a significant drop in your GPA during a term; weak GRE scores; changes in your academic trajectory, etc. Don’t ignore them, because ignoring them might be interpreted as blind spots for you. If you’re unsure if a particular issue is significant enough to address, seek advice from faculty mentors.
Explain how you’ll improve and strengthen those areas or work around your weakness. Determine how you will address them in a positive light, e.g., by discussing how you overcame obstacles through persistence, what you learned from challenges, and how you grew from failures. Focusing on a growth mindset or grit and this blog on weaknesses might also help.
Deal with any significant unusual aspects later in the statement to allow a positive impression to develop first.
Explain, rather than provide excuses—i.e., address the issue directly and don’t blame others (even if you believe someone else is responsible). Draft it and get feedback from others to see if the explanation is working as you want it to.
Provide supporting empirical evidence if possible. For example, “Adjusting to college was a major step for me, coming from a small high school and as a first-generation college student. My freshman GPA was not up to par with my typical achievements, as demonstrated by my improved GPA of 3.8 during my second and third years in college."
Be concise (don’t dwell on the issues), but also be complete (don’t lead to other potentially unanswered questions). For example, if a drop in grades during a term was due to a health issue, explain whether the health issue is recurring, managed now with medication, resolved, etc.

2. Explain your commitment to research and their graduate program, including your motivation for why you are applying to this graduate program at this university. Be as specific as possible. Identify several faculty members with whom you are interested in working, and explain why their research interests you.

Descriptions of your commitment should explain why you’re passionate about this particular academic field and provide demonstrations of your commitment with stories (e.g., working long hours to solve a problem, overcoming challenges in research, resilience in pursuing problems). Don’t merely assert your commitment.
Explain why you are applying to graduate school, as opposed to seeking a professional degree or a job. Discuss your interest and motivation for grad school, along with your future career aspirations.

I am definitely not your traditional graduate student. As a biracial (Native American and white), first-generation PhD student from a military family, I had very limited guidance on how best to pursue my education, especially when I decided that graduate school was a good idea. I ended up coming to this PhD in a very circuitous manner, stopping first to get a JD and, later, an MFA in Young Adult Literature. With each degree, I took time to work and apply what I’d learned, as a lawyer and as an educator. Each time, I realized that I was circling around questions that I couldn’t let go of—not just because I found them to be fascinating, but because I did (and still do!) feel that my research could help to bridge a gap that desperately needs bridging. Because my work is quite interdisciplinary, I strongly feel that I wouldn’t have been able to pursue this line of research without the degrees and life experience I gained before coming to this program.

— Jamie Fine, PhD candidate in Modern Thought and Literature

Statement of Purpose: subtle aspects

Think in terms of engaging faculty in a conversation rather than pleading with them that you should be admitted. Ask reviewers to read drafts with this concern in mind.
With later drafts, try developing an overall narrative theme. See if one emerges as you work.
Write at least 10 drafts and expect your thinking and the essay to change quite a bit over time.
Read drafts out loud to help you catch errors.
Expect the "you' that emerges in your essay to be incomplete. . . that’s OK.
You’re sharing a professional/scholarly slice of "you."
Avoid humor (do you really know what senior academics find funny?) and flashy openings and closings. Think of pitching the essay to an educated person in the field, but not necessarily in your specialty. Avoid emotionally laden words (such as "love" or "passion"). Remember, your audience is a group of professors! Overly emotional appeals might make them uncomfortable. They are looking for scholarly colleagues.

Top tips for writing the perfect personal statement for Liberal Arts

A male student wearing a purple hoody working on his laptop

Studying Liberal Arts at Loughborough offers a broad and well-rounded education that can be both intellectually stimulating and versatile. If you are applying for 2024 entry, you're probably now thinking about your application and personal statement. Writing a personal statement is an opportunity to showcase your passion for the humanities and your unique qualifications. If you're not sure where to get started, check out our top tips below for writing the perfect personal statement when applying for Liberal Arts.

1. Think broadly

Why do you want to study a wide range of subjects in Liberal Arts rather than specialising in one? What about this approach appeals to you and your interests?

2. Draw connections between your different subjects and interests

Has a book you’ve read in one subject helped you understand another? Have you studied similar issues from different angles? What connections can you draw between these?

3. Reflect on the big questions

What contemporary or historical interests and questions do you have, and how might the interdisciplinary approach of Liberal Arts help you to address these?

4. Consider your skills

What skills do you have that will help you to study interdisciplinary topics? Have you analysed visual material, texts, or historical sources before? What skills do you want to develop through Liberal Arts?

5. Don’t worry if you haven’t studied certain subjects before, or for a while.

What about the subjects you have studied fits into the Liberal Arts programme? Or, why are you interested in studying or returning to particular subjects?

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts at UEA harnesses the best research-led teaching from across the University, resulting in a radically different, innovative, and unique programme.

The course is based in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities , but also taught across the Faculty of Social Sciences , and the Faculty of Sciences . This multidisciplinary and multi-faculty approach means that in all elements of your degree you will benefit from the world-leading expertise and innovative teaching techniques of UEA’s academics.

Our innovative approach to student-centred learning and strong emphasis on pastoral support encourages you to achieve at the highest level. Liberal Arts at UEA combines academic and intellectual rigour with a supportive community and stimulating atmosphere to ensure an excellent student experience.

Machine Learning

Power of Thought

World Records

Telling tales

Refugee history

Building resilience through the arts

Explore different options and routes.

Explore the different major and minor subjects available in Liberal Arts at UEA and see what modules you can study in these pathways.

Frequently asked questions

Why study liberal arts at uea.

You can build your own degree around your interests and inspirations – this is the most versatile and flexible degree we offer.

You will major in an Arts and Humanities subject of your choice and you can choose other options across Science, Social Science or Humanities subjects.
There is a strong emphasis on pastoral support and building a Liberal Arts community – you will study interdisciplinary work, systems thinking, creativity, innovation and problem-solving with other Liberal Arts students.
At the heart of whichever Liberal Arts path you choose at UEA is critical thinking, communication, innovation, research and evidence-based analysis. These skills which are highly sought after by employers and the subject breadth allows you to keep your options open.
You have the opportunity to gain valuable, real-world experience through a year-long placement or by selecting a placement module option within your second year.
Explore a new country and gain new perspectives on the subjects you’re interested in, by choosing to study abroad for a year.
The quality of our research and teaching has earned us a reputation as one of the country's most respected institutions.
Our research is embedded in our outstanding teaching and you can study with many world-leading departments thanks to the options this degree offers.

How do I write a Liberal Arts personal statement?

The personal statement is your opportunity to tell us about you, your ambitions, skills, and experiences.

Writing a personal statement for Liberal Arts may feel daunting, as there is such a large range of options you can choose.
Take time to reflect on your achievements, skills, work experience and interests – share examples about why you want to study Liberal Arts.
Think about what it is that interests you in Liberal Arts – do you want to explore your current subjects in more detail, discover something new or build on something you’re passionate about outside of education?
Don’t worry about covering every subject offered in Liberal Arts – think across subject areas and where you’re interested in exploring links – why an interdisciplinary approach tickles your curiosity.
Consider the common themes within Liberal Arts like systems thinking, creativity, innovation, problem-solving and research – is there anything or anyone that’s inspired you to think differently and look at the connections between subjects?
Ask someone to read it through for you.

What might my timetable look like?

Apart from one core Liberal Arts module every year, like ‘Ways to knowledge’, it's likely that every student's timetable will be different – even those who choose the same majors and minors.

An academic advisor will contact every Liberal Arts student personally before you arrive at UEA to talk to you about the pathways, the options you’d like to choose, timetable options and to help you to enrol on your modules. This is one of the few undergraduate courses at UEA where you can choose modules in the first semester of your first year. You can explore the different pathways and options in our interactive tool.

The timetable example here is one possible approach for a Liberal Arts student in Year 1 who has chosen to major in Philosophy and minor in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. This minor requires a Maths, Computing Sciences, Physics or Electronics A-level.

How can I support my students if they're considering a Liberal Arts degree?

Francisco Costa , the Course Director for Liberal Arts, joined the Nurturing Bright Futures podcast team in June 2020 to talk about the programme.

Nurturing Bright Futures is UEA's higher education advice podcast for teachers and advisers. The 20-minute interview with Francisco starts from 6 mins 30 seconds.

Whether you're a teacher, careers advisor or pastoral support at a local or faraway school, there are lots of other activities and resources that UEA can offer to help your students make informed decisions about higher education.

FRONT MATTER
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Lengthy Essay Samples

The lengthy sample essays in the pdf link below showcase writers who, to varying degrees, took chances or simply reached higher. Not only did these writers compose lengthy essays (still within prescribed word-count limits), but in many cases they did something bold with content, form, or personality.

In these samples, length can readily be justified by the fact that these are writers who don’t necessarily fall into “typical” student categories but nevertheless are applying to graduate programs or for scholarships. To be competitive, these writers decided to stand out by telling their stories in a way that they hoped would set them apart from, and above, the crowd. A common thread linking these diverse writers is their obvious confidence that:

their essays matter to the selection committee, and
their essays will be both noticeable and noticed.

Overview of Lengthy Essay Samples

Mechanical engineering student sample.

In the first sample essay from mechanical engineering, what stands out immediately are the length and the photographs. In this case, the student was applying for an engineering scholarship, so he was given room to flesh out technical material as well as address issues such as personal motivations one would expect to read in a personal statement. Much of the essay is given to a discussion of his thesis work, which involves the examination of “the propagation of a flame in a small glass tube.” The figures depict the experimental work and represent the success of preliminary thesis results, visually indicating the likely point at which the flame reached detonation.

Liberal Arts Student Sample

The three-page personal statement by the liberal arts student is interesting in that it is often intentionally abstract and a bit philosophical. This student attended a small liberal arts school that promotes a “Think, Evolve, Act” theme to its students, and this student reflects on this theme and embraces it in his own life from the beginning of the essay. In his curriculum, he has taken a course on Gandhi and Nonviolence, studied abroad in Belgium, and self-designed a program of “Peace and Conflict Studies with an emphasis in Technological Revolution.” He has also taken a ten-day service learning trip to Costa Rica, studied at the Institute of Gandhian Studies in India, served part-time as an assistant to a member of the European Parliament, and written a paper entitled “A Knowledge-Based Society and the Digital Divide.” Meanwhile, he plans to graduate with distinction in both of his majors. In jazz terms, this student certainly does seem to have the chops.

Film Student Sample

One way to get a sense of the daring of this personal statement, written by a student who aims to study film at Columbia University, is simply to consider the allusions he makes throughout his statement. With neither apology nor obvious humility, this writer makes references to Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, Jean-Luc Godard, Jean Vigo, Terrence Malick, and David Gordon Green. Further, this writer takes the unusual step of using section headings in his personal statement, including, on his first page “Poetry,” “Plastics,” and “Children.” But no matter how creative this writer is, of course, we must ultimately judge him on his evidenced ability as a filmmaker. In that regard, he showcases his ease with talking about films and directors, posits an analogy about student filmmaking (“directing your own material is like parenting”), and discusses the success of his nineteen-minute senior project, “Burying Dvorak”—a film he promoted by taking a year off after graduation, successfully landing it in more than 20 film festivals. As he closes his essay, he makes a specific pitch for Columbia University, where he hopes to continue “to discover my own voice, my own poetry.”

Biological Science Student Sample

For the lengthy sample essay from the student in biological science, the extensive length and scientific depth are necessary because the student is applying for the highly competitive STAR Fellowship. The STAR (Science to Achieve Results) program offers graduate fellowships through the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), funding several years of study. Given the competitiveness of the process and the EPA’s mission of environmental protection, it is vital that this student presents a viable, environmentally important project in a persuasive, professional manner. To achieve this, the writer successfully approaches the essay as she would a thesis proposal, using science-related section heads, providing original figures and data, focusing heavily on future research goals, and essentially performing a literature review, citing 19 sources ranging from basic textbooks to refereed journals. The result is a powerful essay with scientific depth.

ForesterNet

Career-a-palooza: how to write a liberal arts and sciences personal statement, 10:00 am - 11:00 am.

Learn how to write an effective personal statement.

Writing a personal statement is beyond a presentation of yourself. The personal statement also needs to resonate with the context of the application and the stakeholders who will read it. This presentation will help guide students coming from STEM and non-STEM Liberal Arts majors, and a comparison between the two will be demonstrated in order to give students flexibility in their future job searches. Featuring Pauline Binder-Finnema, PhD, Assistant Director, Career Advancement Center.

On Campus Accessibility Accommodations:

Contact Kirsten Schramm at 847-735-5167 or [email protected] at least 72 hours in advance.

What Is Liberal Arts? Definition and Examples

Alexander Kirch / Getty Images

B.S., Political Science, Boise State University

Liberal arts is a field of study based on rational thinking, and it includes the areas of humanities, social and physical sciences, and mathematics. A liberal arts education emphasizes the development of critical thinking and analytical skills, the ability to solve complex problems, and an understanding of ethics and morality, as well as a desire to continue to learn.

Liberal arts are increasingly important in the diversified job market, with employers choosing to hire liberal arts majors because of their ability to handle complex situations and solve problems with ease.

Key Takeaways: Liberal Arts Definition

A liberal arts education emphasizes rational thought and aims to develop robust critical thinking and analytical skills, problem solving abilities, and a strong moral compass.
Fields of study include humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, and mathematics.
The key element in defining liberal arts is the intent to combine practical, concrete information, like data and statistics, with theoretical knowledge, like ethics and philosophy.
Mathematics and science can also be considered liberal arts. The element that determines a liberal arts education is not necessarily the major, but rather the institution. Liberal arts colleges provide students with education in both intellectual and practical skills.

Liberal Arts Definition

Liberal arts are commonly misunderstood as “soft” subjects that lack supporting numbers or data. While the liberal arts definition does include humanities and soft sciences, it also encompasses physical sciences and mathematics. The key element in defining liberal arts is the intent to combine practical, concrete information, like data and statistics, with theoretical knowledge, like ethics and philosophy. This kind of learning produces well-rounded students with strong critical thinking and analytical skills, and the ability to adapt and work well in various fields of study.

Though the world’s greatest Greek and Roman thinkers—think Plato , Hippocrates , Aristotle—pioneered the liberal arts more than a millennium ago, contemporary universities include general education requirements that supplement subject-specific course because the purpose of the modern university is to provide a combination of practical and intellectual training.

Liberals arts can be found at a wide range of colleges and universities, though some institutions place a stronger emphasis on the discipline than others. Some institutions filter out the liberal arts completely, focusing instead on career-oriented skill acquisition. Below are the different types of institutions and how they relate to the liberal arts.

Public and Private Colleges feature a robust curriculum with a handful of general education requirements, including liberal arts and interdisciplinary subjects. For example, business majors may be required to complete courses on ethics, history, or language, which are intended to influence the way they understand their career-oriented courses.
For-Profit Colleges are privately owned institutions that facilitate career-specific training, usually in culinary arts, healthcare, and business. The focus is entirely on practical training, so liberal arts are not included in the curriculum.
Community Colleges offer two-year programs that lead to an associate's degree. They are frequently used as stepping stones toward a bachelor's degree, so students will complete their general education (and liberal arts) studies before going on to a larger university.
Vocational/Technical/Trade Colleges are institutions that give students career-specific training in one field, and they do not include liberals arts within the curriculum, similar to for-profit institutions.
Liberal Arts Colleges, as the name suggests, are institutions that focus heavily on providing a strong liberal arts education to all students in all fields. Usually, these are private, four-year colleges that tend to be more expensive than other institutions. Common courses include history, language, mathematics, science, and philosophy.

Liberal Arts Majors and Examples

There are several branches of liberal arts majors, including humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, and mathematics. While attending higher education, students can select majors that fall under any of these categories.

Humanities are academic subjects that focus on human culture. These majors include English , Creative Writing, Linguistics , language acquisition (Spanish, Greek, Mandarin), History, Literature and Composition, and Geography .
Social Sciences are focused specifically on human society and interpersonal relationships. They feature elements of hard science, including data and statistical analysis, and they use the scientific method to reach conclusions. Social science majors include Psychology, Sociology , Anthropology , Political Science , and Economics .
Physical Science and Mathematics can be included within the definition of liberal arts if the curriculum seeks to combine practical and philosophical knowledge. This combination can be found in general education requirements in many state schools as well as at liberal arts-focused colleges. Physical science and math majors include Astronomy, Biology , Chemistry , Geology, Physics , Geophysics, and Mathematics (broadly, usually encompassing algebra, geometry, calculus, and so on).
Liberal Arts Teaching Methods are often used in classroom settings to encourage group participation and discussion, regardless of whether or not the material is considered a liberal art. For example, the Socratic Method is a type of teaching in which students present and defend arguments and teachers talk very little, acting as arbiters of the conversation. The purpose of this method is to develop critical and analytical thinking skills across disciplines.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges

Liberal arts colleges tend to be small, private institutions with low teacher-to-student ratios, and especially in the United States, much higher price tags than other four-year colleges and universities. However, they rarely teach single-minded expertise on one subject and often feature robust general education requirements. This higher education model provides students with a well-rounded education and a strong moral compass. Successful liberal arts institutions should produce students well-trained in soft and hard sciences, mathematics, and humanities, making the price worthwhile.

According to data from Forbes , the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, and US News and World Report , the following schools are consistently ranked as the best liberal arts colleges in the United States:

Williams College (Berkshires, Massachusetts): Williams College requires students to take three courses in three different fields of study: arts and humanities, social sciences, and science and mathematics. There are no required courses, but all students must demonstrate strong skills in writing, reasoning, and mathematics before earning a degree. Williams is one of the highest producers of both Fulbright and Rhodes Scholars.
Amherst College (Amherst, Massachusetts): Amherst College features an open course plan, which allows students to choose the courses they are most interested in. Amherst has no required core curriculum. Students can choose between 40 majors, or they can design their own major.
Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, Pennsylvania): Swarthmore is based on a Quaker tradition, emphasizing strong relationships between teachers, students, peers, and the environment. At 8:1, the student-to-teacher ratio is low, and Swarthmore is one of the top producers of Fulbright Scholars in the U.S. Swarthmore offers an engineering degree, unlike most liberal arts colleges.
Pomona College (Claremont, California): Just an hour away from Los Angeles, Claremont College offers 48 different majors and over 600 courses, with a low 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Claremont offers admission to all students regardless of their ability to pay tuition and offers complete financial aid to meet the demonstrated need of every admitted student.
Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine): Bowdoin College focuses on need-blind admissions, diversity, and social responsibility while fostering independent thought. More than half of Bowdoin students complete additional honors and summer coursework, and a majority of students produce robust independent research before graduating.
Wellesley College (Wellesley, Massachusetts): Widely considered to be the top women's college in the country, Wellesley College features a strong list of alumni, including former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Hillary Rodham Clinton . More than 70 percent of all students participate in internships during their studies and more than half study abroad.
Bates College (Lewiston, Maine): Bates College requires first-year freshman to take an orientation course together during the first semester to develop a strong foundation of scholarship and community. The low student-to-teacher ratio emphasizes this foundation, as does the strong sense of community outreach and annual volunteer efforts. In 2017, the college was ranked number one for Fulbright recipients.
Davidson College (Davidson, North Carolina): Located just north of Charlotte, Davidson College has produced 23 Rhodes Scholars and 86 Fulbright Scholars. More than 80 percent of the student body study or work abroad during their tenure and just under 25 percent of students also participate in athletics.
Wesleyan University (Middletown, Connecticut): Wesleyan provides students with the option of open curriculum, where they determine the courses they are most interested in taking, as well as pre-planned majors with emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, in true liberal arts fashion. The university also offers need-blind admission and features a low 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio.
Smith College (Northhampton, Massachusetts): As an all women's college, Smith stands out by consistently ranking among the best liberal arts colleges in the U.S. It offers nearly 1.000 courses in 50 different fields of study and sends half of its student to study abroad annually. It is ranked every year as one of the highest producers of Fulbright Scholars.
Sanders, Matthew. Becoming a Learner: Realizing the Opportunity of Education . Institution for Communication & Leadership, 2012.
Tachikawa, Akira. “Development of Liberal Arts Education and Colleges: Historical and Global Perspectives.” Liberal Arts Education and Colleges in East Asia. Singapore: Springer, 2016. 13–25.
Zakaria, Fareed. In Defense of a Liberal Education . W. W. Norton & Company, 2015.

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Writing the Personal Statement

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The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories:

1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:

This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.

2. The response to very specific questions:

Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions.

Questions to ask yourself before you write:

What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
What are your career goals?
Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?
Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?
What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school—and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

General advice

Answer the questions that are asked

If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar.
Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked.

Tell a story

Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.

Be specific

Don't, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, or whatever should be logical, the result of specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.

Find an angle

If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.

Concentrate on your opening paragraph

The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.

Tell what you know

The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Too many people graduate with little or no knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the profession or field they hope to enter. Be as specific as you can in relating what you know about the field and use the language professionals use in conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other source of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited to it. Since you will have to select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your judgment.

Don't include some subjects

There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).

Do some research, if needed

If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.

Write well and correctly

Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.

Avoid clichés

A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.

For more information on writing a personal statement, see the personal statement vidcast .

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What is a Personal Statement?

The personal statement is your opportunity to show the universities you are applying to that you are the ideal candidate for their course. It should be all about you – why you’re interested in the course, what makes you unique and what makes you stand out. With only one personal statement for all your choices, it’s important that you use this opportunity to show why you’re better than everyone else applying and why we should choose you.

But where do you start? What do you say? What should be your opening sentence? There are good and bad personal statements, so read our guide to help make yours the best it can be.

How to write a personal statement

Before writing your personal statement it’s worth doing a bit of research to find out what your choice universities are looking for and what will make you stand out from the competition.

Whilst “personal statement” makes it sound like it’s a biography about you, some of the best personal statements we’ve seen are more like a mini essay related to the course. Think about what areas of the subject you enjoy and tell us what you understand about them; we want to know your thoughts about them and why you think that. Show us your passion, knowledge and skills by demonstrating your engagement with the subject. Think about how you can back up what you say and that you can critically engage with your subject. If you got excited about a course because of an article or book you read, or a lecture you went to, tell us about it!

Most of the statement should be about the subject you want to study, but we also like to hear a little bit about what you get involved in outside of your studies. We know that some of our applicants work part time, have carer responsibilities or perhaps are involved in high level sport, music or drama, for example, and it’s exciting to see applicants who are successful with their studies whilst also balancing other demands on their time as there’s a lot to get involved with at Durham. If you have relevant interests to your course then we’d like to hear about those too, for example if you’re applying to an education course and have been involved in tutoring other students.

There are loads of UCAS resources you can use to help get you started, including a personal statement mind map and worksheet .

Dos and Don’ts

You’ve only got 4000 characters, including spaces, to convince us we should choose you, so make every word count. These do’s and don’ts should help you along the way.

Stay focussed and relevant.
Be specific; use examples and give evidence.
Be authentic, enthusiastic and persuasive.
Avoid generic and obvious statements.
Ask someone you trust for ideas and feedback – they might think of something you don’t!
Draft your personal statement then copy and paste into Apply.
Check your spelling and grammar and make sure you proofread. Read your personal statement out loud or ask friends and family to read it for you.
Try for a memorable, strong opening, an engaging middle, and tie up the key points you want to make at the end.
Think about what you’re saying and what it says about you. Sell yourself!
Repeat yourself, and avoid repeating words close together.
Write a chronological history – instead think about the structure and what you want to feature at the start.
Waste characters! You only have 4000 so don’t include things like lists of your qualifications – we can see those in the qualifications section of your application already.
Use ‘I’ all the time.
Use clichés
Copy. UCAS has software that will detect if your personal statement has been copied from someone else’s and they’ll let all the universities you’ve applied to know.
Expect to get it right first time. You’ll need several drafts before you’re happy with it.

Writing an excellent personal statement needn’t be scary if you remember to be focussed, enthusiastic and genuine. We want something that tells us all about you and the contribution you can make to our community.

Substitute Personal Statements

It is not necessary to write an additional personal statement, however we have a tool just for Durham applicants which allows you to submit a substitute personal statement if the Durham course you’re applying to is very different to the one in your UCAS personal statement.

For example, if you applied to four Chemistry courses but you also applied to our Natural Sciences course (even including Chemistry, but with other subjects too), or perhaps you have applied to Medicine at four other universities but chose Anthropology as your fifth choice with us.

We ask that you:

Use no more than 4000 characters (including spaces) to match the UCAS personal statement length
Use plain text – don't use bold, italics, underlining
Submit it within three days of your application to Durham being acknowledged.
This is because until we have your application from UCAS we won’t be able to match the statement (and the system won’t let you upload this); it can take UCAS a few days to process all the applications they’ve received.
If you reach three days without acknowledgement, you can still try to upload the personal statement – if it works then we have your application and the statement will be matched to it.
Read the guidance for writing a personal statement on this page
Use one of the following browsers when uploading the statement: Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer 10 (some users of Internet Explorer 11 have had difficulties uploading their statement).

Submit a substitute personal statement

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Similarity in Personal Statements

UCAS checks all personal statements with their Similarity Detection software (CopyCatch) to ensure your work doesn’t contain the same or similar text to websites, another applicant's personal statement, or other documents. When a personal statement is detected as having similarity to one of these sources, UCAS provides us with a report highlighting the similarity and an indication of what the text in the statement is similar to.

Once we are notified that an application contains text similar to elsewhere, we will use information from UCAS and from the applicant to determine the seriousness of the similarity found in the personal statement and departments will then make an academic decision which is communicated to applicants through UCAS as normal.

Each applicant whose personal statement is flagged to us by the UCAS Similarity Detection Service will be contacted by the UG Admissions Team to offer the opportunity to explain how the similarity occurred.

For those admitted as a student, Durham University takes all forms of Academic Misconduct, including 'plagiarism' or 'copying' very seriously and submitting work which is not entirely a student's own can lead to expulsion from the University. We also operate a fair and transparent admissions process and as such, need to ensure that all information provided to us is honest and accurate.

If you have submitted an application to us and you have been notified that UCAS has detected similarity in your personal statement, you can contact us directly to explain the similarity though.

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