1. Notices
• All year 12 – keep an eye out for a survey coming your way
shortly to rate our series of speakers for this year.
• Any questions about the GCiEs, please ask SFMT or relevant
teachers.
2. The Personal Statement
• Impress admissions tutors.
• Get an offer at your first choice university.
• Get used to it – you’ll be writing more of these as you grow up.
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
• Most of you will apply through UCAS.
3. The UCAS process:
You have lots to do and so do we.
• Amongst other things, you need to/should have:
a) Research courses and Universities and choose some!
b) Visit or do an online Open Day for some Universities you are interested in.
c) Write a personal statement (often 5 or 6 drafts, or more).
d) Register online with UCAS and fill in the form correctly.
e) Talk to your personal tutor regularly to discuss all of the above.
All this must be completed by the end of the first half term in October 2021.
• We need to:
a) Help you with your statement – big job for you, but your Personal Tutor may have as
many as 20 students to assist.
b) Meet and discuss options with you to help you make the right choices.
c) Write your reference.
You MUST meet deadlines and turn up for meetings – a dim view will be taken of those who
don’t do their part.
This is about your future.
4. What is a personal statement?
• It outlines to the University why you want to study a particular course
and allows you to demonstrate you have the skills, knowledge and
interest to be successful at it.
• It will be read by Admissions tutors at the Universities that you apply to.
• 47 lines or 4000 characters including spaces.
• You can only write one.
• Written English is IMPORTANT – yes, spelling matters.
• At least 80% should be academic, if not more for highly academic
courses or institutions e.g. medicine or Oxbridge (95%).
5. Personal statement procedures and
deadlines:
Personal
statement 1st
draft given to
Personal Tutor
by 28th May –
half term.
Personal
statement
returned by
Personal Tutor
just after half
term.
Re-draft and
submit 2nd draft
to Tutor by 25th
June.
Personal statement
returned by Tutor
for re-draft by end
of term. Re-draft
over summer.
Personal statement
submitted to subject
teacher for
by end of first week
of term, September
2021.
Personal statement returned by
subject tutor, amended by you and
submitted to Ms Bean by end of
September 2021 for
Oxbridge/medics, or end of
2021 for others.
Personal
statement
procedures and
deadlines:
6. Aims:
To sell yourself: this is your statement of intent (without
appearing arrogant or self-praising).
To convince the admissions tutors that you are
passionate about their subject and you know what
studying it entails (particularly if it is new to you).
To show maturity so they believe you will survive
university life.
To demonstrate good study skills.
To show you are a well rounded individual who can
manage time by pursuing other activities while
studying.
To draw attention to any personal circumstances that
may be relevant to your application – periods of illness
or caring for a family member etc,
7. How important are they?
• This varies from university to university.
• Oxbridge/medical schools and some other Universities will
interview students and they will use something you have
said as an interview ice-breaker, so if you mention a book or
some relevant work experience be prepared to discuss it in
detail.
• Most universities cannot interview everyone, or anyone, so
this is the only way they can differentiate between
candidates with similar grades and predicted grades.
• Get your application in early – more chance they are read
carefully.
• They will be used in August for candidates just missing their
offers – it could make the difference between getting your
first choice and going through Clearing.
8. Who should write it?
•All your own work – plagiarism has
consequences. They use of Copycatch
software.
•Do not buy one from the internet.
•Do not use organisations who will help you
write it.
•Advice from parents – good, but it is your
statement.
•Advice from teachers.
•Honesty is the best policy.
•Make sure it shows your voice.
9. Structure:
This tried and tested template should help with getting started.
• Paragraph One:
Why I want to read this subject at university – motivation.
• Paragraph Two:
Aspects of studies, reading or/and work experience (if relevant)
which demonstrates your academic interest.
Other activities and achievements relevant to your chosen subject
and the skills acquired.
• Paragraph Three:
Extra-curricular activities and responsibilities and what you have
learnt from them. Relate them to the course you are interested in.
• Conclusion:
This is very, very important. Treat your statement like an essay and
land the killer blow here.
10. Using Unifrog
Unifrog has a specific tool for the personal statement:
You MUST opt to write statement as one box in Unifrog before
beginning – see next slide and note the ‘Single Box Layout’ option at
the bottom.
11.
12. Using Unifrog
Each section on the Unifrog tool has specific help and guidance – see
next slide.
Best option is to have a good play with the software and see what is
there.
13.
14. The A, B, C method:
• A= Activity – what have you done?
• B = Benefit – What skills did you gain from this?
• C = Course – How will this help me for this course?
E.g.
• A – I am a House Captain.
• B – I have developed good organisation, leadership and communication
skills.
• C – This is relevant to Business Management as I am comfortable working in
groups and am happy to lead.
Also known as the ‘so what?’ test.
• I am a House Captain – so what?
15. Things to avoid….
• Top 10 most overused personal statement opening sentences
1. From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
[1,779]
2. For as long as I can remember I have… [1,451]
3. I am applying for this course because… [1,370]
4. I have always been interested in… [927]
5. Throughout my life I have always enjoyed… [310]
6. Reflecting on my educational experiences… [257]
7. Nursing is a very challenging and demanding [career/profession/course]…
[211]
8. Academically, I have always been… [168]
9. I have always wanted to pursue a career in… [160]
10. I have always been passionate about… [160]
16. Good Words and Bad Words
• Talking to Admissions Tutors you find out their pet likes and dislikes. Obviously you cannot
accommodate everyone’s peculiarities but these are obvious words to avoid:
always awful problems fault hate
mistake never nothing panic passion
partake bad
• Try to avoid negative words, clichés or plain untruths – no-one finds periglacial landforms fascinating,
not even me.
• Good words or attributes to mention (if you have them):
commitment team work initiative
enthusiasm leadership problem solving
co-operation meet deadlines communication
motivation
17. Summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPoJK8gFMiY
So DO
• Sell yourself.
• Expand and develop
points.
• Show the skills you
have.
• Keep a copy.
• Be yourself.
• Be truthful.
• Apply the “so what?”
rule.
But DO NOT:
• Put down anything that
you cannot easily talk
about, including lies!
• Repeat material that
appears elsewhere eg A
level subjects.
• Pad out or waffle – it is
better to be short and
concise.
• Use long complex
sentences or words you
would not normally use.
• Open with a quotation.
• Try to be funny.
18. And finally…..
The best statements link experiences to the course.
Try to find something in your experiences that has a relevance to
your course or future career plans.
Do some reading or watch lectures to demonstrate you go beyond
your classroom work – this summer is the time to address
these gaps. Your personal tutor will offer you guidance.
Keep something back for your conclusion: treat your statement
like an essay and end it properly.
Use the internet to research your universities; they may give
helpful hints about what they are looking for. Whilst we do some
checking, it is your responsibility to make sure you meet the entry
requirements.
Use the UCAS website.
19. Useful Websites
http://university.which.co.uk/advice/10-things-to-put-in-your-personal-
statement Really useful subject specific advice
http://university.which.co.uk/advice/10-things-not-to-put-in-your-personal-
statement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8hFkMAjW-I – getting started.
https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/when-
apply/writing-personal-statement
The UCAS website has videos and useful information on many topics
related to your application
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9566143/Persona
l-statement-10-most-overused-opening-sentences.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9565872/Persona
l-statement-Ucas-guide-to-the-personal-statement.html
