Hardenhuish School
‘A High Performing Specialist Academy’
Guide to…
Writing your
Personal Statement
Information regarding:
 Why Personal Statements are important
 How to write a winning statement
 Things to avoid saying
Writing your Personal Statement
The UCAS Personal Statement is your opportunity to tell universities about your suitability for the
course/s that you have decided to study. You need to demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment,
and above all, ensure that you stand out from the crowd. Remember that the admissions selector reading
your statement is an academic in your chosen area of interest and will therefore want to know the
reasons why you connect with the subject.
Why does it matter?
It is impossible to overestimate the importance of writing a clear and convincing personal statement.
More than 99 per cent of the 55,000 courses available in British universities do not require applicants to
take aptitude tests or undergo interviews, making the personal statement the only bit of ''you’’ that
admissions tutors get to see. Your personal statement is therefore your only opportunity to demonstrate
your genuine interest in and passion for the subject you wish to pursue. Competitive universities will
receive hundreds of applications from high-achieving pupils armed with a fistful of A and A* grades. Your
academic grades will obviously catch an admissions tutor’s eye but the personal statement will convince
them of your motivation, potential and ability for further study.
What is its purpose?
Your personal statement should aim to explain three key ideas: why you want to study a particular
course; why you will excel at that course; and (where possible) how your other interests support and
complement your studies. This last section is particularly important for practical courses, such as
medicine and engineering, as you need to convince tutors that you really have gone out of your way to
find out what your chosen career entails in practice as well as in theory. You must also use the personal
statement to reflect on how these placements developed your skills in a particular way that is of direct
relevance to the course for which you are applying.
For less practical courses, the emphasis must be on proving that your intellectual curiosity extends
beyond the A-level syllabus. Talk about the books and journals you enjoy reading, think about which
articles have influenced you and discuss which recent scientific breakthroughs or seminal contributions
to a particular field have intrigued and challenged you.
It is more difficult if you are applying for a joint course where you will be required to address two distinct
disciplines, such as philosophy and modern languages. In this instance, your aim is to explain why you
wish to study both subjects and, importantly, to reflect on how these subjects relate to each other.
Unlike the hard facts found elsewhere on your UCAS application, the personal statement also allows you
to mention your extra-curricular activities and interests, from community service projects to captaining
your school rugby team to victory. While this information undoubtedly offers admissions tutors a glimpse
of your life beyond lessons and can provide evidence of a responsible and committed attitude, it should
not constitute more than 30 per cent of the statement. Bear in mind that an admissions tutor will be wary
of offering a place to anyone whose personal statement suggests that they will spend most of their time
on the rugby field or the stage.
This is particularly important if you are applying to the most competitive academic universities (such as
Oxbridge, Imperial or LSE) and my advice would be to reduce the proportion of time you spend on extracurricular interests to about 15 per cent. Whereas most employers would be interested in the fact you
have been head girl, most Oxbridge dons are supremely uninterested.
Five Top Tips
1. Devote plenty of time to tweaking, rethinking and, on occasion, rewriting whole sections of your statement.
By revisiting it frequently you will ensure a coherent and up-to-date account of your interests.
2. Be original. The key lies in the word “personal”. Avoid clichéd statements and quotations and, where
possible, don’t shower your statement with superlatives, which can sound artificial. A natural tone will be
far more effective and convincing than overblown accounts of “passion” and “life-changing” experiences.
3. Be specific. Back up your statements with precise examples of books you have read or work experience you
have carried out.
4. Check your spelling, grammar and punctuation. Enlist the help of teachers and parents to read through your
statement and check that it flows well. Also, remember to keep to the strict limit of 4,000 characters.
5. Make sure you do or have done everything mentioned in your personal statement. This is important when
applying for universities which may call you for interview. A tutor is unlikely to be impressed if you claim
to be a faithful reader of The Economist when in reality you have only glanced through one edition. Also,
read around the interests mentioned in your statement to prove that your enthusiasm is not limited to the few
months leading up to the UCAS deadline.
Aims of the Personal Statement
The personal statement is your opportunity to tell universities and colleges about your suitability for the
course(s) that you hope to study. You need to demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment, and above
all, ensure that you stand out from the crowd.
Many students have difficulties knowing where to start; many of the personal statements begin with
reasons for choosing the course, then continue with extra-curricular activities, and end by returning to
the chosen course. Although this is not a set structure for a personal statement, it may be a useful starting
point with which to begin constructing yours. Even the best personal statements have some weak points;
no one is expecting perfection. Remember that universities are mainly interested in your enthusiasm for
the course you are applying for and your potential to do well on that course. Therefore you should try to
display this in your personal statement as strongly as you can.
When the admissions and subject tutors look at your personal statement, they are likely to be asking two
main questions:
1. Do we want this student on this course?
2. Do we want this student at this university?
These can be broken down into a number of easier to answer questions, which you need to provide
evidence for:

Is the student suited to the course that they are applying for?

Does the student have the necessary qualifications and qualities for the course?

Is the student conscientious, hardworking and unlikely to drop out?

Will the student do their best and cope with the demands of the course?

Can the student work under pressure?

Will the student be able to adjust to a new environment at uni?

What are their communication skills like?

Are they dedicated to this course & have researched it well?

Do they have a genuine interest in the subject and a desire to learn more about it?
Size and Presentation
Structure and format

Think about the structure of your statement - it needs to look and sound good. A bad statement can
say a lot, so make sure you check spelling and grammar as well.

A representative from Ulster Business School says:
'The presentation of the personal statement is of critical importance to demonstrate use of
English language and grammar at a standard suitable for entry to higher education.'

There are examples on the UCAS website to help you plan your statement, but the formats they used
and that appear further on are just suggestions; it's more important that the university sees your
writing style than someone else’s.
How to provide your personal statement

You can enter up to 4,000 characters (this includes spaces) or 47 lines of text (this includes blank
lines), whichever comes first. You do not have to use all the space provided. When you save text, the
system will tell you how many characters are still available or if you have used too many characters.
You can preview your statement after you have saved it.

Please note that you cannot use italics, bold or underlining in your personal statement - the system
will automatically remove these when saved. This will not disadvantage your application.

We recommend that you prepare your personal statement offline using a word-processing
package and copy and paste it into the Apply system. Whether you are typing your statement
directly into the box, or amending a statement that you pasted in, you should click 'save' regularly
because Apply will time-out after 35 minutes of inactivity. The countdown on the screen displays how
much time you have left before it times out.

The character and line count in Apply may be different to a word-processing package, such as
Microsoft Word - this is because formatting characters, such as paragraphs and tabs, are counted in
Apply but may be ignored in Word. Please use the size as specified in Apply as the guide.
Getting Started
Writing about yourself is not something that you do often, so you may need to practice writing in this
particular style. It is a good idea to list your hobbies and achievements, then you can decide which ones
demonstrate your strongest skills and personality.
Is a difficult piece of writing, maybe the most difficult piece of writing you will ever do, and therefore
you have to do it very carefully. It is an opportunity for you to give a picture of yourself. It may take a
great deal of time and energy but at you will have written something you are proud of, which says
something important about you.
ALL STUDENTS WHETHER YOU PLAN TO APPLY FOR UNIVERSITY OR NOT MUST SUBMIT A
PERSONAL STATEMENT.
Although your statement should be tailored to the particular subject area you want to study, there are
certain points that every statement should include:

why you have chosen the course/s that you have selected;

the reasons why that subject area interests you;

aspects of your current studies related to the course/s that you have chosen;

why you think you would be a good student;

details of jobs, placements, work experience or voluntary work which you have undertaken,
particularly if it has relevance to your chosen field;

hobbies, interests and social activities that demonstrate you are a well-rounded person;

non-accredited qualifications, like the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme or Young Enterprise;

any other achievements that you are proud of, eg reaching grade three piano or being selected for the
county cricket team;

positions of responsibility that you hold both in and out of school, eg form prefect or representative
for a local charity;

attributes that make you interesting, special or unique;

whether you have any future plans of how you want to use the knowledge and experience that you
gain.
Remember that you only write one personal statement which should be relevant to all your university
choices. Therefore try to allow some consistency in your course choices. If you are applying for a joint
course you will need to explain why you are interested in both aspects of this joint programme.
Writing about your Skills
All skills (and knowledge) are potentially transferable from the situation in which they were acquired or
developed, to other situations, these can be broken into key categories. The list of skills below has been
adapted from a number of different sources, and should help you identify your skills. Try this:
1. Think about ALL of your activities since about age 16 i.e. education, work, spare time, travel, and write
them down - don't at this stage judge their importance or relevance: write down everything;
2. Take a break, and then review the list, adding details/descriptions;
3. Now think about specific events which occurred in each activity and make brief notes;
4. Then identify, using the list below, the skills which you have used and developed.
Self-Awareness
The ability to understand
what you don’t know is as
important as recognising
the skills you do have.
The ability to know what
you still have to learn,
how you may be able to
improve your skills.
Motivation and Enthusiasm
Show that you have an
interest in a course (future
career) an enthusiasm for
making your path and
interested in developing your
knowledge in this area.
Initiative/ Resourcefulness
The ability to think for yourself, make
your own decisions and have
confidence in them. Think of
examples from coursework, personal
life and work experience.
Leadership
The ability to take
responsibility for a
situation and to lead by
enabling others to have
the skills to follow. This
is about having the
initiative and skills to
move forward, taking
others with you.
Teamwork
Demonstration of your ability
to work with others. The key
here is to recognise when
you’ve worked in a team and to
identify examples where you’ve
motivated others
in the team.
Communication
That you are confident to communicate
with others in groups, individually, and
happy to present to others.
Influencing/Negotiating is a
demonstration of your ability to talk to
all levels; ask the right questions, listen
to the answers and make your mark
with the other person in a positive,
non-arrogant way.
Flexibility/Adaptability
This skill also covers the
willingness to try new
tasks and be flexible in
methods of learning e.g.
seminars, lectures,
managing own
independent learning.
Problem Solving
Often work experience which
has involved dealing with the
public will provide examples.
Problem solving is not about
‘being able to get your own
way’, but looking for a solution
to best suit the circumstances.
Planning/ Self-Management
The skill of recognising priorities and
planning time available so all tasks
can be completed.
This may include working on your
own initiative in work situations or
setting up relevant
experiences for yourself.
What to include
Why you are interested in HE

Why you want to go to university or college.

What would going to university mean for your future (Mention any long term career goals)

An introduction to why you feel compelled to study your subject – why it inspires you and why you
would want to spend 3 or 4 years studying it. Show that you have researched your chosen course.
Why are you applying for the course(s)

This is particularly important when you're applying for a subject that you have not studied before.
Tell the university the reasons why that subject interests you, and include evidence that you
understand what's required to study the course.

How your current or previous studies relate to the course(s) that you have chosen

Any activities that demonstrate your interest in the course(s)
How your skills and achievements make you a suitable candidate

Why you're suitable for the course: tell the universities the skills and experience you have that will
help you to succeed.

Universities like to know the types of skills you have that will help you on the course. They also like to
see if you've been involved in any accredited or non-accredited achievements.

Any other achievements that you are proud of, eg reaching grade 3 piano or being selected for the
county cricket team that you have achieved since being over 16 years old.

Positions of responsibility that you hold/have held both in and out of school.

Attributes that make you interesting, special or unique.

Do not just list activities but explain their relevance and how they have confirmed your choice of
course/career. You could mention how your other subjects are connected and useful skills gained.
How experience outside school show suitability for HE.

Think about how your hobbies, interests and social activities demonstrate your skills and abilities. If
there's anything that relates to your course or to the skills needed to complete a higher education
course, include it - the more evidence the better.

Your statement will be more convincing and personal if you write about why an experience, activity
or interest makes you a good candidate. Include enough additional information to make it interesting.
Career Experiences

Include details of jobs, placements, work experience or voluntary work, particularly if it's relevant.

You need to mention the skills and knowledge you have gained and the way in which you have and
will apply these in the future
How a gap year will enhance your application (if appropriate)

Include details of where you are visiting, what you are planning to do. If its working (saving up for
university) mention which job or occupational area.

If there are legitimate reasons you need a ‘break’ from study which are health related then you can
mention it but ensure you make it sound like its not going to adversely affect your ability your study
at university.
Conclusions
Write a clear, persuasive and succinct conclusion. State what you would like to gain from higher
education. You have lots to offer, so ensure that you tease out the right points and make them count!

Highlight any particular strengths

Future plans once you are accepted.

Life goals connected to your chosen course/pathway.
Other Things

Your Statement can be used to explain any irregularities, where you may have transferred from one
school to another or where extenuating circumstances may have had an effect on your studies and are
relevant.

It might be that you want your tutor to include these within our school reference rather than in your
personal statement, please discuss with your tutor if you have any of these issues.

Insure that you have checked you’re spelling, punctuation: and grammar!
Do not write
Instead write
I am Captain of the Hockey team
Being Captain of the Hockey team..
I enjoy playing sport
Having enjoyed playing football...
I am studying A Levels in
My A level subjects have....
I have taken part in
Taking part in....
I have gained a number of skills in
The skills I have gained from....
What not to write: personal statement weaknesses
Personal Statement for Business Management.
For a number of years I have been keen to apply university as I believe having a degree will help me find
better employment in later life. After much consideration, I have decided that Business Management is
the right degree for me as I would like to learn the skills to help me become successful in business, and I
am interested in finding out how businesses work. My father runs his own business and I have learned a
lot from watching him work and hearing about the ups and downs of being a small businessman. I would
now like to learn more about the theoretical side of business management.
I do not currently take AS-level Business Studies. This is not because of any lack of interest or motivation
on my part, but because I suffered a major personality clash with the Business Studies teacher at my
school. I am currently studying Maths, IT and History, I also took AS-level Further Maths but decided to
not to continue it at A2 level, when I decided that although I enjoy Mathematics, I did not want to do a
Maths degree at university. I enjoy all the A2 subjects I am taking as I believe they complement each other
well, but they also differ. I really enjoy the class discussions, especially in History. I am quite a confident
person so I like debating points and challenging the opinions of others in the class. It is a shame that there
is not a debating club at my school as I would definitely have been an active member, but I look forward
to perhaps getting involved with one at university.
Outside of the classroom I like to relax by playing football (I am a member of my school team and a local
five-a-side team) and by boxing. I love boxing as it keeps me fit and helps me release my anger. I am also a
keen supporter of Crystal Palace FC. I have supported them since I was five and have stuck with Crystal
Palace through thick and thin, which I think displays my commitment and loyalty, qualities that I value
very highly in a person. I also have a part-time job at my local Sainsbury’s store. At times this can be very
demanding as I work on the delicatessen and some customers can be very picky about how thickly you
cut their ham or how well you wrap it, but I feel my part-time job has taught me valuable lessons in
patience and also in dealing with members of the public.
I think my enthusiasm for going to university is perhaps displayed by the fact that I have carefully chosen
which universities to apply to and researched each one thoroughly. I believe I have the motivation and
commitment to be a good and successful student, and I hope that gaining a degree will help me reach my
ultimate goal of running my own business.
Where did they go wrong?
This personal statement does have some good points, as the student displays their interest in Business
Management and touches upon future career plans. However many parts are negative and should have
been left out:
• A ‘personality clash’ with a teacher: NEVER mention a dislike of or lack of respect towards one of your
teachers or employers;
• The part about not ‘wanting’ to study maths at university is negative and not relevant (also some
business management degrees will have mathematical elements);
• it’s good to talk about the benefits of certain hobbies but saying that boxing helps you release your
anger makes this student sound a little scary!
• The comments about the lack of a debating club are also negative. Admissions tutors might wonder why
the student could not start a debating club at the school by themselves;
• There is too much detail about the part-time job in Sainsbury’s and again it paints a negative picture of
the student.
Overall this example shows how important it is to always be positive in the personal statement and to
always to portray yourself in the best possible light. Even a flippant comment or observation might give a
bad impression of you, however unintentional. The best way to avoid this is to get someone else to read
your personal statement carefully and for you to be prepared to take others’ advice and, possibly, change
what you have written.
What makes an unsuccessful personal statement?

Your personal statement does not strongly support your desire to study your chosen degree.

Your personal statement did not show sufficient understanding, relevance or knowledge about the
course you are applying for.

You failed to demonstrate sufficient knowledge and interest in the subject in your personal statement.

There is a lot of competition for places on this course and your personal statement and experience
was not as strong as other applicants this year.

Application form (including personal statement, reference and predicted grades) does not evidence
accurate understanding of or motivation for subject.

Not expressed a strong enough interest in the subject .
Dos and Don’ts when constructing your personal statement

Do brainstorm your ideas on paper before attempting to write anything.

Do aim to use about five paragraphs, making sure that each one flows in a logical way.

Do expect to produce several drafts before being totally happy.

Do ask people you trust for their feedback.

Do ensure that you use your best English and don’t let silly spelling and grammar mistakes spoil your
statement.

Do be enthusiastic – you can have perfect grades, hundreds of extra-curricular activities and be a
really great person but if admissions selectors feel you aren't passionate about your course, you won't
get a place.

Don’t feel that you need to use fancy language. If you try too hard to impress with long words that you
are not confident using, the focus of your writing may be lost.

Don’t waffle on about things which aren’t relevant – admissions selectors will fall asleep! If you feel
you are starting to ramble, take a break and return to your statement when you are feeling more
focused.

Don’t try to be funny as admissions tutors may not share your sense of humor.

Don’t lie – if you stretch the truth you may fall down at interview when you are asked to elaborate on
an interesting achievement. It is also an offence to lie on your UCAS application.

Don’t copy someone else’s personal statement or ‘borrow’ chunks from existing personal statements.
UCAS uses anti-plagarism software which can detect when a personal statement is not someone’s own
work, and your application will be returned to you if this is the case.

Don’t rely on a spellchecker – proof read as many times as possible.

Don’t leave it to the last minute – you’ll kick yourself!

Don’t expect to be able to write your personal statement whilst watching TV – this is your future, you
only get one chance, and it’s down to you!

Don’t just tell tutors all the things they already know, avoid all the obvious things to say about their
subject; they already think their subject is interesting.

Don’t use clichés statements; such as, from a young age I have always been interested in … or I have
been interested in philosophy all my life (all???), I feel global warming is a really important issue (which
aspects?) You need team work and communication skills and I have got them (where is the evidence?)
finally Maths is important for helping us understand all sorts of things (give examples)
Language
It is best use “action words” in sentences when describing what you have done or doing:
Accomplished
Explained
Consulted
Counselled
Cultivated
Approved
Assayed
Assembled
Defined
Delivered
Guarded
Determined
Diagnosed
Implemented
Calibrated
Indexed
Chaired
Encouraged
Inspected
Collaborated
Established
Instructed
Completed
Exceeded
Introduced
Innovated
Organised
Conducted
Acquired
Extracted
Analysed
Finalised
Forecast
Debated
Decided
Assisted
Generated
Authorised
Developed
Built
Calculated
Increased
Catalysed
Empowered
Initiated
Coached
Ensured
Instituted
Compiled
Examined
Interviewed
Conceived
Investigated
Related
Useful Words to describe yourself:
Precise
Enthusiastic
Creative
Visionary
Personable
Likes change
Adept
Level headed
Independent
Sincere
Stable
Lively
Energetic
Methodical
Open minded
Astute
Proactive
Forceful
Expedited
Constructed
Adjusted
Created
Appraised
Arranged
Formulated
Fostered
Delegated
Augmented
Designed
Headed
Directed
Discovered
Catalogued
Eliminated
Informed
Co-ordinated
Enlisted
Instigated
Compared
Evaluated
Interpreted
Computerised
Expanded
Judged
Redesigned
Achieved
Extended
Controlled
Facilitated
Attained
Dealt with
Modified
Assigned
Measured
Demonstrated
Guided
Devised
Reduced
Improved
Edited
Influenced
Classified
Enhanced
Installed
Communicated
Estimated
Interacted
Composed
Executed
Invented
Negotiated
Visualised
Consolidated
Activated
Administered
Applied
Raised
Merged
Tested
Trained
Manipulated
Positioned
Monitored
Supervised
Maintained
Presented
Utilised
Motivated
Processed
Provided
Maximised
Mediated
Specified
Planned
Listened
Sourced
Learned
Solved
Led
Optimistic
Flexible
Trustworthy
Quick thinking
Well informed
Supportive
Influential
Persistent
Calm
Results
Decisive
Intuitive
Fun loving
Caring
conscious
Assertive
Fair minded
Diplomatic
Driven
Reliable
Inspirational
Sensitive
Competent
Consistent
Resourceful
Persuasive
Rational
Similarity Detection
All personal statements sent to UCAS are tested for similarity. There are some example personal
statements on the internet that have been used by applicants, in some cases word for word. The service
UCAS use, called Copycatch, finds statements that show similarity, works out how much of the statement
may have been copied, and reports the findings. It helps admissions staff at universities and colleges
judge applications, and it is the institutions who decide what action, if any, to take regarding notified
cases.
Research has shown that the majority of UCAS applicants do write their own personal statements.
However, the number making use of other people's material was high enough to justify the introduction
of the Similarity Detection Service. Each personal statement is checked against:

a library of personal statements previously submitted to UCAS

sample statements collected from a variety of websites

other sources including paper publications.
Each personal statement received at UCAS is added to the library of statements after it has been
processed. If Copycatch finds a number of identical or similar sentences in a personal statement and a file
held in the library, then a similarity report is generated and sent to universities and emailed to you.
What happens if a personal statement has similarities?

Any statements showing a level of similarity of 10% or more are reviewed by members of the UCAS
Similarity Detection Service Team.

Applicants, universities and colleges are notified at the same time by email when an application has
similarities confirmed.

Admissions tutors at individual universities and colleges decide what action, if any, to take regarding
reported cases. In some cases the universities will contact you directly and ask about it or will just
reject your application.
PLEASE be mindful that if you use information provided here or sources elsewhere make work your own
and do not ‘lift’ sentences and information directly as it could ultimately end your application.
Frequently asked Questions about personal statements
How strict is the word limit?
someone close to you like a friend, relative or
UCAS Apply limits the text to 47 lines and
teacher.
students are not permitted to write more than
this. The limit is there for a reason and a key test
How far back should I go when mentioning my
of the process is to check whether you are able to
hobbies and interests?
convey your reasons for wanting to study in a
Only mention things which help support your
clear and succinct way. All the examples in this
application; a long list of everything you’ve done
guide fall within this limit.
is much less impressive than picking one or two
things and writing about the skills you have
Should I mention my planned gap year?
learned through them. Activities undertaken
Yes, you should explain why you are taking a gap
recently will certainly carry more weight than
year and what you plan to do. Demonstrate your
those you did in junior school.
enthusiasm and initiative, and highlight how the
activity may relate
to your course. The
I want to apply for two different subjects how do
humanities personal statement in this guide is
I write this in my statement?
written by a student on a gap year.
Remember that you only write one statement
How should I end my personal statement?
Don’t just let it fizzle out; this is your final chance
to impress. Avoid being too general by writing
something like “I am looking forward to
becoming a psychologist”; be much more specific
and end on a very positive note by closing your
statement with something l like “I am passionate
about working with young children in the future
and therefore am highly determined to make the
most of my degree and achieve my ambition to
become a developmental psychologist.”
I’m not interesting or unique…what should I do?
Everyone has aspects to their personality that
make them interesting, it’s just a case of putting
them into words. You may find it helpful to ask
which should be relevant to all your choices.
Therefore try to allow some consistency in your
course choices. If you are applying for a joint
course you will need to explain why you are
interested
in
both
aspects
of
this
joint
programme.
I have not decided exactly the courses I’m apply
for but want to start writing, is this ok?
You should really have a very clear about about
what and where you are applying before you
start writing. If you are in this situation then I
would encourage you to spend more time
focusing on your course choice. It is quite often
tricky writing your statement before knowing
where you’re heading.