As the UCAS application deadline approaches, many students find themselves agonising over the lengthiest part of the application process – the personal statement. Each student has only 4000 characters to sell themselves to an admissions tutor so in this high-stake context every letter (and space) counts! Some students fall into the trap of reciting qualifications whilst others want to recount irrelevant experiences such as the Grade Three Piano, they achieved at aged 8.
Instead, at the forefront of the applicant’s mind, should be these key questions: am I showcasing my motivation for pursuing my chosen subject at undergraduate level? Am I demonstrating my passion for the subject? Will the information, that I am sharing, convince the admissions team I am more than just grades on a page?
Of course, any form of personal writing is, as the key word suggests, personal so there is scope for each statement to be as unique as the individual writing them. However, there are some essential guidelines that are worth bearing in mind when writing the UCAS personal statement. These will help you strike the tricky balance of reflecting who you are whilst also grabbing the attention of your target audience: the university admissions team.
Know Your Audience
Before you commence with the next edit, sit back and take a moment to really reflect: who will be reading your statement?
Firstly, the admissions team comprises of people whom you have never met before, so they know absolutely nothing about you and secondly, they are looking for more than just academic competence.
Therefore, they want you to show both your passion for and understanding of the subject you plan on studying three years (or more!) at university. Such a commitment is not for the faint hearted and they want to make sure that you have done your due diligence by demonstrating prior investment in the subject.
In your writing, aim to reflect on what specifically drew you to your chosen subject and highlight the exact aspects which fascinate you. Don’t waste precious character count summarising the subject itself (university admissions tutors are experts in the degree field and it is unlikely that you will be able to tell them anything they don’t already know!), instead focus on conveying what excites you about specific areas of the subject. Consider: what questions does the subject raise for you? How have you pursued this curiosity? What do you want to explore further?
Organise Your Thoughts
A clear, logical structure will make your statement stand out. Remember: the admissions tutor doesn’t know you and they have no emotional investment in you. Therefore, you need to think very carefully about how your experiences, both academic and extracurricular, have built upon each other to best share with them your narrative. Is your writing demonstrating how your thoughts, feelings and experiences are linked? Are you establishing a clear progression of interest in your chosen field?
Random disconnected points will only serve to confuse the reader and leave a poor impression.
Instead, try to ensure that each paragraph progresses naturally onto the next.
Remember Feedback is Powerful
At times, it can feel disheartening when you proudly share your statement with a teacher, family member or friend and instead of praise they pile on pointers for improvement.
Writing the UCAS personal statement is, as we established earlier, deeply personal, however, it’s important to keep an open mind to feedback and recognise that a second pair of eyes can offer a useful opportunity for refining your statement. Constructive criticism can serve to identify areas which need greater clarity or development, therefore, improving your statement one edit at a time.
If you are based in China and would like to dive deeper into these topics, sign up to our upcoming webinar ‘Perfecting Your Personal Statement’, where we will explore more strategies for making your personal statement stand out and shine!
