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Perfecting your personal statement

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Your personal statement is an essential part of your UCAS application, providing you the opportunity to highlight your skills, experience and future ambitions. However, getting your personal statement right isn’t always easy so our Undergraduate Recruitment Manager, Danni, shares her advice on how to make yours stand out.

Preparation is key

Start by creating a plan and remember that you can only write one personal statement as part of your UCAS application, so avoid mentioning any universities by name. Look at the descriptions of the courses that you are interested in and identify the key skills, qualities and experiences that are mentioned within the course description as this will help you to make a list of what to include. Make sure that you explain the reason why you are interested in that particular subject area and think about how studying that subject will fit with your future career aspirations. You could have excellent skills, qualities and experiences to share but if they’re arranged in a poorly written statement the impact will be vastly reduced. A well written, clearly structured personal statement will not only make the information stand out but will also evidence your ability to structure written work, a crucial skill for university.

Evidence your passion

We want to know what drives you, so make sure you show your enthusiasm. Begin by explaining why you are applying for the course and what interests you about the subject. Include examples; as Danni says , “don’t just say that you like a subject, demonstrate how you have an interest for that subject” . Are you enthusiastic about the subject because you have completed extra studies, obtained work experience, or written blogs? These key examples are crucial. Danni mentions that “much of your university work will need to be based upon evidence, so it’s useful to demonstrate this in your personal statement. We do understand you have a word limit so keep your examples clear and concise.” For example, if you mention work experience, talk about a particular day or challenge that taught you something rather than stating 'I did work experience, it was good’.

Identify skills you’ve developed

You can also mention activities outside of school that will help to support your application. “It’s good to include what extra-curricular activities you have done as this can demonstrate that you are a well-rounded individual,” says Danni. So when you talk about the sport you take part in, the instrument you play, or the Saturday job you have, explain the skills they're helping you develop. Team sports teach resilience and communication. Music requires patience and application. Any job demands ambition to be good at it, and your experience can teach you how to work well within a team. We’ve also all been impacted by Covid-19 this year so don't be afraid to refer to the pandemic and include any hobbies that you have picked up during that time or the skills that you may have developed. All these points help to provide a well-rounded picture of you.

Create a flow through a clear structure

If you only take away one thing from this blog, it should be to make sure that your personal statement has a clear beginning, middle and end. Try to aim for a punchy opening line but don’t spend days worrying about those first few words. “Don’t overly stress about having the perfect opening line,” says Danni, “it doesn’t necessarily need to be a bold or outlandish statement. It should flow nicely into the main body of your personal statement.” Think about your closing paragraph in the same way. Your conclusion should nicely summarise what has been mentioned previously - if it does that, it has done its job.

Proofread your statement

Finally, it’s also important to remember the basics. Spell check what you’ve written and read over it a couple of times before you submit it – typos can easily happen! We would also suggest getting someone else to read through it –  they may spot something you’ve missed or have other examples you could include that you may not have considered. It’s always worth discussing your personal statement with others; what you think may not be worth including could be considered really interesting by someone else.

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Ucas and writing your personal statement.

I'm looking at applying maybe to the business school and was wondering if there is anything that I should include in my personal statement?

Thanks for the question. The main thing to focus on in your Personal Statement is your interest in the course itself - why you want to study Business. Other things - interests, wider reading, other experience - should be related to why you want to study the course. Normally we suggest that around 75% of the Personal Statement should be about the course, and 25% should be about extra-curricular activities. But again, try to relate everything to why you want to study that subject at university level.

What kind of extra curricular activities should I mention? Are you only interested in business related?

The Personal Statement should include activities you do regularly, which you can reflect on in relation to the skills you have learnt and the relevance to the course. Try not to just write a list of things you do. It is better to write about a few things you can reflect on.

I'm interested in applying to dual subject. How should i balance this within my statement?

If you are applying for a course which combines more than one subject, try to give equal attention to all the subjects. You should also try to link them together - how do you think the study of each subject will complement the other? For example, you could comment on the importance of studying law as it relates to businesses. In addition to the personal statement you need to be aware of the subjects required by the Business School at A Level or equivalent qualifications.

Hi, can you tell me the kind of things I should include in my personal statement. I am considering applying for MORSE.

Thanks for the question. Your Personal Statement should be about why you want to study this subject at university. We usually suggest that students focus about 75% on the subject and 25% on other interests, but try to relate everything you do to the course itself. However, we know that Warwick is one of the few places to run MORSE, so it's likely that applicants also apply for other related courses at other universities such as Statistics or Maths. So in the Personal Statement for MORSE we are not looking for you to explain in detail why you want to study this course at Warwick. We are just looking for a general interest in and commitment to studying Maths and Statistics.

Other interests? do you mean work experience - as I haven't really done anything relevant

Other interests could be work experience, hobbies, sports, anything you are involved in outside of the school curriculum.

I'm studying on the IB programme. Would you accept me?

The IB is a qualification we see regularly. If you look at our website and choose the course you are interested in, it will give you a typical offer for the IB.

I am a student studying CBSE curriculum. Does Warwick accept a lot of students with this educational background?

We see the CBSE Class 12 qualification regularly and most of our courses hold a typical offer for this exam.

If I decide not to apply to Warwick can I attend on a study abroad placement ?

We have an Study Abroad programme. If you look at our website (www.warwick.ac.uk/studyabroad ) it will give details and information for student who want to study here but are on a course elsewhere.

How many places do you have available for international students for MORSE - what is the split between UK and international?

The overall intake for the Statistics department each year is around 70 Home/EU students and around 70 international students. So the split is equal, although this may vary each year.

Is it fine to mention personal reading in the introduction in addition to other information or does personal reading have to be towards the end of the personal statement?

It is fine to mention personal reading at any point within the Personal Statement. There is no formula for how the Personal Statement should be structured. However, it IS important that student REFLECT on the reading they have done. For example, it is better to write about one or two books, reflect on the arguments within these books, say what you agree with and disagree with, etc., than to simply give a long list of books.

I am very interested to apply for your Biomedical Sciences UG Degree! I have already made a draft of my statement of purpose but I'm not sure if I have covered everything a good personal statement requires. If you could kindly let me know of any particular pointers you could give me that could help my statement of purpose become more impressive??

The main thing we are looking for in the Personal Statement is a genuine interest in and commitment to the course. You don't need to impress us :) Just tell us why you want to study the course - why you are interested, what aspects of the course are important to you, what you have done or read which has helped you come to the decision to study this subject at university.

I understand that this live chat is about ucas and personal statement do you have any helpful tip for Mathematics or Finance?

For subjects like Maths and MORSE, the most important thing is that you achieve the grades required for these subjects. The Personal Statement is more important for courses in the Business School, like Accounting and Finance.

What is the best time to apply?

The UCAS deadline is 15th January. All applications received by that date will be given equal consideration. There is no advantage to applying early.

I looking at applying to the politics department. I wanted to write a quotation from Martin Luther King in my statement, as I have found him very influential. Would this be ok?

It's fine to use quotes in your Personal Statement. However, you should make this relevant to yourself and to the course, and reflect on why this is an important quote for you.

I've heard that usually the first few lines of a Personal Statement should be very attention grabbing and I feel mine doesn't exactly meet that requirement as of now. Also I have heard that mentioning too many achievements in a Personal Statement is not a very good idea as it could come across as 'blowing your own trumpet'! However in order to substantiate my academic strengths and to portray why I am the right candidate, I was eager to mention the fact that I have won an award in school for 7 years of consecutive academic excellence. Would that be okay?

It's fine to mention these achievements. However, as I mentioned, a list of achievements by itself doesn't tell us that much. In the Personal Statement we want to hear about YOU and why you want to study the course.

Are all applications followed by an interview?

Only a few courses (e.g. Theatre and English Literature) have interviews. Most courses do not interview. For courses which do offer interviews we arrange an alternative for overseas students, such as a written task or telephone interview.

I'm curious about how much of the personal statement should be allocated to academic achievements and extra-curricular activties versus personal info including interests, hobbies, etc.

We normally suggest about 75% of the Personal Statement should focus on your interest in the course, and 25% on extra-curricular activities. However, you should try to relate everything - including extra-curricular activities - to your interest in the subject.

Regarding the extra-curricular activities, up to how many years back would be considered relevant?

There's no limit really, but obviously things which you have done recently or are still involved with are more relevant.

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Graduate Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Warwick (Laura)

Home » Application Guide » Graduate Medicine Personal Statement Examples – Warwick (Laura)

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Welcome to our collection of Medicine Personal Statement Examples! We’ve searched far and wide to find personal statements from successful applicants all around the UK and asked them to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of their work for your own inspiration. Today’s subject is from Laura, who studies Graduate Medicine at the University of Warwick.

Laura had previous studied medicine at university before applying for graduate-entry medicine at a variety of UK med school. She had accepted her offer to Warwick before even receiving interview invites elsewhere!

Let’s read the personal statement that got her a place at the University of Warwick, or skip straight to her feedback to learn what made her personal statement a success!

Please be aware that these examples are meant purely for the sake of inspiration, and should absolutely NOT be used as a model around which to base your own personal statement. UCAS have a rather strict system that detects plagiarism .

Warwick Medicine Personal Statement Example

Whole personal statement.

Whilst exploring the area of transplantation in biology, I opted to do an EPQ on the subject and managed to organise work experience shadowing an anaesthetist. I watched various procedures including a tumour resection from the abdomen. I was impressed with how the multidisciplinary teams worked together and how the different departments combined to provide quality patient care from admission until discharge. However, I did become aware of the number of cancelled elective operations; it was a shock to see the number of patients turned away due to shortages. This showed the importance of not only good medical care but time management and the ability to work under the pressures of an under-resourced NHS.

Alongside A levels, I volunteered at a school for children with additional needs, studying for their GCSEs. With some patience and clear communication, I was pleasantly surprised how rewarding it was to help them understand maths and see them progress. In my gap year, I shadowed a consultant psychiatrist diagnosing and treating hospital in-patients. Having read ‘We are our brains’ by Dick Swaab, I had a better understanding of the impact and causes of different neurological disorders, such as dementia. Spending time in these settings reinforced my desire to study medicine and taught me the value of empathy.

During my degree, I have enjoyed learning about disease, diagnostics and therapeutics, as well as genetics and cellular biology. In anatomy I created a website featuring a 3D model of the heart with augmented reality, showing how prosthetic heart valves can be used as a treatment for stenosis. I was also challenged to carry out an RCT, choosing to focus on the link between mobile devices used by healthcare workers and hospital-acquired infections and, more specifically, examining the efficacy of disinfectant wipes on removing bacteria from mobile phones. Through this I learnt not only how to synthesise information and use statistical software, but how to collaborate effectively as a group. To further improve my critical analysis, I opted to volunteer on a summer research project, where I was invited to co-author a paper regarding the failure of psychological and behavioural interventions for children. This improved my ability to critically appraise scientific literature and understand what can be learnt from ‘failed’ interventions.

Last summer, I volunteered at a care home and saw first-hand the effects of Parkinson’s, a disease I had studied previously. During this period, I observed a resident struggling to walk during the ‘freezes’ in which she could not seem to initiate movement and I could sense her frustration when struggling to control her dyskinesia. I shadowed a GP later that week, which demonstrated the diversity of daily work and how within a short space of time, the ability to problem solve, diagnose and treat is needed. The week finished with visiting a care home, I saw how end of life care was provided and although very sad, it gave me an understanding of the impact this part of the care process has on the patient and their relatives. 

Outside of my studies, I have been involved in athletics for six years, both competing and coaching. I was recently elected track and field captain for the university club which involves organising teams and competitions, as well as arranging weekly training sessions. Another hobby of mine is powerlifting, in which I recently finished third at the British University Championships and have taken on the role of women’s team captain. Additionally, achieving a martial art black belt gave me a good foundation for both physical and mental strength. These experiences have enhanced my leadership, teamwork and confidence, essential skills when working in healthcare. Working as a fitness advisor allows me to show people how exercise can improve wellbeing and I would like to follow a career path where I can continue to use my knowledge of health and disease to improve others’ quality of life.

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Warwick Medicine Personal Statement Example Analysis

Now, let’s go section by section and see what Laura has to say about what she wrote:  

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

The statement starts immediately with something that is unique about me and that I have physically done, setting me apart from other applicants. It also shows that I had an early interest in the subject. Of course, buzzwords like “multidisciplinary” are good to include, but I was able to include them with an actual purpose instead of just being hollow. Addressing the honest truths of medicine is also a good idea, like I had done when talking about canceled elective operations. It shows that you are looking at the industry realistically, without rose-tinted glasses.

However, I think I could have started with something more “impressive”- i.e. something related to my previous degree as in theory they could judge the whole statement off of this. My EPQ, whilst showing an early interest, is something that many other applicants will have. In addition, it may have been a better idea to go a bit further into my past and discussing where my interest first developed. It’s something that most applicants do, so it could seen as a bit generic, but it’s a great way to showing what kind of medical student you are by looking honestly at your origins.

Paragraph 1

This paragraph clearly links together multiple strengths of my application including work experience, volunteering and independent reading into a topic I have a particular interest in. This helps it to flow and make it unique, as many applicants will write in a certain order and separate each of these into their own paragraph. By demonstrating that you understand the links between everything, you are proving that you gain much more from your experiences than what is simply stated on the page.

It’s not perfect though. I could have gone into more detail reflecting on the work experience I took part in, for example explaining exactly what I learnt about psychiatry and how I felt about the experience. This is challenging to keep within the limit, so my advice would be to try and keep the word count proportional between your most important experiences, so you avoid under-developing one while dragging out another.

Paragraph 2

I think this paragraph had a lot of unique experiences packed into it which, like I have said previously, sets me apart from other applicants. It also shows how diverse the skill set I have is and providing evidence for this while fully explaining my personal role. You do need to be careful about balancing quality and quantity, but in my case I believe I’ve handled this well. Some areas are more explored than others, which is perfectly fine to do. I said before to make things proportionate, but that’s only with the most important talking points; smaller experiences are worth mentioning too but don’t need to be fully explored if you can summarise it in one or two sentences.

This paragraph has quite a big focus on research skills which I could’ve spoken about in more detail, as well as exploring why this is good for medicine. It’s not obviously clear why this would be very helpful when compared to the clinical experience. I could also have added a small explanation of how some of my skills had been improved through my experiences, such as when I mention my critical appraisal skills.

Paragraph 3

I think I did a good job reflecting upon this voluntary work and specifically speaking about the patient experience and how this relates to the job of a GP/elderly care consultant. I was able to really explain how this is important to see and practice talking about to demonstrate empathy and communication. This also links back to discussion of multidisciplinary teams and shows my desire to have varied skills.

Perhaps I could have related the sentences within the paragraph to flow into each other more, as it just seems like a recount of the week rather than explaining the deeper impact that it had as a whole. For example, I could have explained that as a GP, the diversity of work means you need experience in many skills, while expanding that it won’t just be diagnostics- it will involve communication skills with people from all walks of life. While the person reading this likely already knows that, it’s good to demonstrate that you’re aware of requirements in good medical workers.

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As the concluding paragraph to the personal statement, this paragraph displays the range of extracurricular activities I had been involved with and outlines not only all the skills they require but why this would make me a good student and doctor and that I have other interests/outlets for stress. This is always important to include, especially when you effectively discuss how the skills from these activities carry over to medicine.

I’d say this is the weakest of the paragraphs however. It reads a bit like a list so I potentially could’ve re-written this to flow better and less like I am trying to fit all of my experiences into two- three sentences, although this is challenging! The most important thing I missed here though is to link it back to medicine in a meaningful way, instead describing everything mentioned in a fairly broad way. Although difficult to achieve in the word count, you should try to explain how each example has impacted you individually, as it’s unlikely that everything mentioned has had the exact effect. Sometimes it’s the mindset you display that is more important for the reader rather than actual achievements.

But the biggest issue I have with this paragraph is it’s abrupt ending. While a personal statement’s conclusion shouldn’t have a tonne of words describing everything you’ve just discussed, it’s still important to tie everything together into one statement that exemplifies why you should be given a spot at this university. If you’ve run out of words, then go back and trim some fat from the rest of your writing, because ending it on a high note is essential for a top-quality personal statement.

Final Thoughts

The biggest strength of my statement is the diversity of experiences I included throughout the previous few years, including reflecting on multiple work experience’s, volunteering and extracurricular activities, as well as explaining why that would make me a great student and doctor in the long run. 

Granted, the diversity itself isn’t so much a strength of the personal statement but of myself as an applicant, as I was the one to actually go out and learn from these things. However, when writing your personal statement, it’s important to make the most out of any experience you have, no matter how much or how little. The experiences themselves are only as valuable as what you had taken away from them.

I think the biggest area for improvement would be the flow and writing style. Although there’s lots of great experiences in there I think it lacks the ‘wow’ factor and could do with some re-arranging and restructuring of sentences to make it a more stimulating read. Including the most impressive parts at the start and end might have helped this stay in the mind of the reader. On top of this, I could have done a much better job of tying all of these experiences together in relation to both medicine and myself as an applicant, especially with the introduction and conclusion.

So there you have it! This personal statement helped Laura get a place at Warwick Medical School! Everyone has different experiences and abilities, so you may not be able to relate to everything that was said in this personal statement. However, the information and advice provided by Laura is universal and will help any applicant write a better personal statement!  

Be sure to check out more Medicine Personal Statement Analyses to see advice from all different kinds of applicants, including Ali Abdaal himself! Or if you want to get started on your own statement, check out 6med’s Personal Statement Bundle for all the support and resources you’ll ever need! If you want full support on every part of your application and a guaranteed place at med school, the Complete Bundle will be perfect for you.  

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Warwick University Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to The University of Warwick. You can click on one of the links below to view the entire statement and find out if the applicant was offered a place.

You can also view our entire collection of personal statements or view personal statements for application at other universities .

History Personal Statement Example 2 I am captivated by the diversity and depth offered by a History degree; attracted by the way it encourages us to be analytical of the values and patterns of past societies. It was in my final year of secondary school that I was awarded the History Attainment Award, although my desire to study History dates back to an earlier age when I visited the site of the allied landings in Normandy at just eleven years old...

Education and Drama Personal Statement Example (Oxbridge) "I shall have poetry in my life. And adventure. Unbiddable, ungovernable, like a riot in the heart, come ruin or rapture." Perhaps one should not begin with the words of another when presenting oneself, but as an actress, utilising the words of others is something that has become second nature...

History Personal Statement Example 5 As the descendant of an Auschwitz survivor, my family history allows me to understand the influences that the Second World War has had on people's families and the victims of the Nazi regime in occupied Poland...

English Personal Statement Example (Mature Student) Having worked on a secure psychiatric unit for two years, caring for many people unable to or precluded from following their dreams due to mental illness, as well as over a decade employed in positions just to pay the bills, I am finally pursuing my dream of becoming a published novelist...

Economics and Politics Personal Statement Example 1 "I killed the bank": the last words of Andrew Jackson, former president of the US, after he had vetoed to renew the charter and withdraw all federal deposits from banks causing them to bust. Real money was backed with gold shortly after, causing the greatest economic boom in history for the US where no income tax was implemented...

French and Italian Personal Statement Example 1 I see speaking a foreign language as a key to a door opening up a new world of possibilities and opportunities. As a child my mother insisted I learned another language, she told me to grab any possible open window for a life beyond my own imagination...

Biochemistry Personal Statement Example 1 The need to survive is a remarkable thing, for it has allowed evolution to equip organisms with a range of extraordinary capabilities in order to stay alive. Since reading 'Why Geese Don't Get Obese' by Widmaier, my interests have developed in the molecular adaptations of animals; for example, the antifreeze protein that prevents the blood of Antarctic Notothenioid fishes from turning into ice...

International Relations Personal Statement Example 2 I'd like to study international relations because I am concerned about the rapid rise of great powers such as the resource-rich Gulf States. I would like to understand how states engage at the national level and how they leverage power...

German and English Literature Personal Statement Example Email correspondence with a friend in Berlin during the celebrations of the twentieth anniversary of the German reunification gave me an insight into the importance and relevance of Germany’s past both within the country itself, and throughout Europe...

Mathematics and Economics Personal Statement Example 2 Every day we make decisions and interact with others; the laws of economics help us make rational choices and consider the irrationality of others, as well as understand the world better. Maths and statistics are the necessary tools for me to understand the modern economics...

Politics Personal Statement Example 5 My background, living in three major metropolises, Lagos, London and Aberdeen bestowed me a very diverse, open, multicultural way of thinking. The cultural shock of Lagos widened my eyes to vastness of the world and prepped my involvement in the Community Development Committee, allowing me to get in touch with all sectors of Nigerian society; here my interest in sociology, politics and government took flight...

Maths and Economics Personal Statement Example 1 By skimming through a daily broadsheet or examining journals such as ‘The Economist’ it is clear to see that economic issues affect everyone both locally as well as on a global scale. However, I have been interested by Mathematics for many years and have found my enjoyment for it has increased as the depth of my understanding has grown...

Economics and Politics/Geography Personal Statement Example My desire to study Economics in combination with the Social Sciences stems primarily from my interest in these fields but also from the fact that these two disciplines compliment each other exceptionally well...

Pure Mathematics Personal Statement Example Mathematics is beautiful to me because of the deep and meaningful ideas touched upon by it, the vastness of these ideas, the clearness and elegance of their representation. Mathematics gives me the ability to apply knowledge by approaching things logically, and thinking clearly...

Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 8 If I were to describe myself in one word, it would definitely be inquisitive. Since young, I have always been eager to know how things work and what the principles that lie within them are. Hence I have always enjoyed science-related subjects particularly Mathematics and Physics...

English Literature and Creative Writing Personal Statement Example 1 I once aspired to be a visual artist, a photographer or painter. However, I later discovered the unique ability of poetry and the written word to maintain its power and resonance in a world saturated with images and messages...

Postgraduate Medicine Personal Statement Example Quite simply it is my curious nature which has always underpinned my desire to study medicine; the sheer complexity of both the human body and its healing processes have always fascinated me and, during my time in 6th form and subsequently while studying for my BSc...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 48 Since embarking on the A level course 16 months ago I have decided to devote my life to working in psychology. I am struck by the way Psychological research has impacted all areas of life, but also how much there is yet to understand...

Business & Management Personal Statement Example There is no limit to what you can learn and how much you can earn from it. Instilled with this belief by my father, I have since the beginning learnt to approach the world differently. I view that knowledge can be applied practically not only to earn a living, but also to earn wisdom...

Economics Personal Statement Example 23 It would not be foolish to contemplate the possibility of a far greater progress still. John Maynard Keynes From childhood I was bred to learn and the passion to understand has become a trait of my character...

Maths and Science Personal Statement Example Maths and science, in particular physics, have always been my favourite subjects in school. I have an inquisitive mind and am always asking "how?" and "why?" to find out how things work. I chose maths, physics and biology for my A levels, yet only realised I wanted to do engineering when I started studying topics such as mechanics...

English Literature Personal Statement Example 16 I believe that to read English is to read the human being itself: after all, we are all writers. Even in the very act of choosing our words - thinking them, speaking them, physically writing them down - we create something meaningful...

English Literature & Spanish Personal Statement Example For me, the most captivating part of English literature is the way great writers are able to influence the reader's imagination through the manipulation of language. The A-level topic of World War One literature was especially affecting because it showed me the importance of world events and their effect on contemporary literature that still inspires us today...

Mathematics Personal Statement Example 12 Mathematics is at the root of many academic subjects, such as mechanics in Physics, organic Chemistry and even Music and this is why I find it so fascinating. The process of starting from a simple set of formulae and deriving nearly all mathematical truth from these is what makes Mathematics a leading academic subject...

History & Politics Personal Statement Example For years I have listened to my family discussing the latest political and historical issues on the news and I have been fascinated and awed by the fact that there was never a wrong or right answer, decision or explanation to a given problem...

Sociology Personal Statement Example 10 I have, for a long time, been interested in the inner workings of society: how and why subcultures develop. Also, how political policies shape the direction of society for years and I wonder why people act in the way they do (here, I have sympathy with Robert Owens' view that we are mostly the mere products of our environment), not only how we shape society, but how it shapes and changes us...

Chemistry Personal Statement Example 17 The realisation I wanted to study Chemistry at degree level came with my growing appreciation of its contribution and significance in shaping modern society, coupled with an increasing interest in the subject as my knowledge and understanding have developed...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 64 Psychology is ubiquitous in society. Because of the mercurial nature of humans, there is always something different to study and analyse. I find this exciting. Part of what draws me to psychology is how the dynamics of it affect daily life and behaviour...

Economics Personal Statement Example 30 The ever-changing nature of the human science intrigues me. Newton’s laws of motion will never change, from wherever ‘the ball is dropped’. However, different strategies and policies have to be framed and implemented for each economic problem...

English Personal Statement Example 30 English is not simply the study of humanity, or society, or history or the written word; it is all of those together and it is this versatility that makes it so appealing to me. The link between literary criticism and psychoanalysis is a great interest of mine...

Mathematics Personal Statement Example 15 Mathematics is a language of science which portrays just merely anything in this world better than any other way we distinguish.The more we discover nature,the more mathematical association revealed by doing so...

Natural Sciences Personal Statement Example 4 Why and How? I believe these are the two most important question words as they express mankind’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and they have lain the foundation of sciences and have helped us find answers and solutions to problems throughout history from the domestication of fire to Darwin’s theory of evolution, to landing on the moon and so on...

Law Personal Statement Example 83 Currently I study English language, history and law. Out of the three I find law the most fascinating because it is the foundation of anything that occurs in society. Learning about how decisions are made in law, the constant arguments to reach a fair judgement and the on-going evolution of the law to adapt to society makes me enthusiastic to learn more...

English Literature Personal Statement Example 20 I was once told by a writer at Bath "LitFest" that literature is "all about control". At a young age, his words seemed obscure, but years later, I am finally able to grasp his meaning. On one side of a barrier of ink and paper, a writer aims to understand and control their world, whilst a reader attempts to lose control in a boundless, imaginary world...

Biomedical Science Personal Statement Example 14 How one mutation can cause a malignant tumour or change the genetic material which is then passed to the next generation interests me. The challenges which are within the human body and the diseases which can change it easily are also a fascination...

PPE/Economics Personal Statement Example Humanity today stands at the intersection of the most significant questions facing the world today: if democracy leads to political infighting, should it be sacrificed in the interest of economic well-being? Does religious fundamentalism provide a way for countries in the developing world to assert their identity in the face of Western hegemony? Does the entry of Western consumer goods threaten a country’s economic self-sufficiency? The answers of these questions will determine what the nature of our world is in the twenty-first century...

History Personal Statement Example (Oxbridge) 2 Whether considering the real world applications of Bentham's utilitarianism in Religious Studies, analysing the context of a changing Victorian society in English Literature, or debating the evolving ideology of the Labour Party in Politics, there is one common thread connecting what I enjoy most about my studies: history...

Sociology Personal Statement Example 14 The need for the study of Sociology in society is, arguably, universally fundamental. The study of society is of paramount importance in solving social problems of great magnitude such as poverty and family disorganisation...

• University specific personal statements
• All personal statements

11 episodes

I’ve worked in university student recruitment and admissions for well over 25 years. I’ve read countless Personal Statements, delivered hundreds of sessions on how to write them, and I have even trained teachers and advisers on how to help their students. This podcast is for you if you are applying through UCAS, and are writing your UCAS Personal Statement In just one hour, over 10 super-short episodes, I’ll give you information and insight into the admissions process, and a very practical guide on writing your statement. Just listen, take notes, and start writing. You’ll also find the whole series available as an online course, or as a written guide that you can download for free at: www.betterunichoices.com

How to write your UCAS Personal Statement - a Better Uni Choices podcast Jonathan Tinnacher

• 28 MAR 2024

Part 10: Top Personal Statement tips

Looking for some final tips before you start your first draft? Here are some thoughts that I have picked up from a whole bunch of admissions selectors and other experts over the years.

Part 9: Getting help and support

Want to know how to get the best possible feedback on your statement? There are lots of people around who can help you with your Personal Statement. This part will help you get the very best input, by planning how and when you get feedback from different people.

Part 8: Using ChatGPT

Thinking of using ChatGPT? If you ask Chat GPT to write your statement for you, it will simply make stuff up; a whole statement full of lies. However, engage with it as if it is your counsellor, and it can be extremely helpful. In this part I suggest a couple of really useful prompts, and give some further helpful tips on how to use AI usefully and ethically.

Part 7: Writing a Personal Statement for two subjects

Are you applying for two different subjects? How to write a statement that covers two different courses could be the most asked question in university admissions history, and the answer is not straightforward. There are a number of possible scenarios, and in this part I suggest how to approach these.

Part 6: The power of reflective writing

How do you make sure everything you write really matters to the admissions tutor? You now have lots of content, and a sensible structure for your statement. You know which content you are going to prioritise, and roughly how long each section is going to be. There is just one more area to focus on before you start writing the statement in full, and that’s how to write reflectively.

Part 5: A clear, simple structure

Not sure what goes where? If you have done the exercise in Part 4 reasonably well, you now probably have several pages, and perhaps ten or twenty ideas about yourself, your skills, your experiences, and your chosen course. In this part I’m going to show you how to organise all this content within a really clear, simple structure.

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Please note UCAS will detect any form of plagiarism. PSE and its contributors do not take any responsibility for the way in which personal statements are used.