Our advice when writing a personal statement

Your personal statement is your place to write whatever you’d like to say about yourself and your motivation to study your course.
It’s important to remember that you can only write one personal statement and so the same wording will be seen by all the universities you apply to. Your personal statement should therefore focus on the course you want to study, not the universities themselves.

What are universities looking for in a personal statement?

  • People with the skills and attributes required by the course

  • People ready for university-style learning

  • People who genuinely enjoy the subject that they are applying for

  • People who have engaged with their subject, above and beyond whatever they have studied at school or college

Where do I start?

Before you start writing, try talking to your friends or family about what you want to study at university: what would you tell them? What have you read or watched or seen that has inspired you? Why was it interesting? What do you want to find out next? 

How should I structure my personal statement?

Around 80% of your personal statement should be focused on your academic interests, abilities and achievements (including super-curricular activities) and 20% on unrelated extra-curricular activities.

 
Personal statement openings tend to follow a similar format:

  • Why you are excited about your subject?
  • What you have done academically to show this?

Top Tips:

  1. Keep it short and simple.
  2. Leave it until last.
  3. Draft five first sentences and choose your favourite. 
  4. Avoid clichés! (e.g. 'From an early age I have been passionate about...')

  

  • Why do you want to study this course?
  • What have you learnt about this topic?
  • What has inspired you?

When you start to write, remember not just to list your achievements but show how they have affected you, how you have benefited, and what you’d like to learn next. 

 
Super-curriculars are hobbies or activities that demonstrate how you have developed your knowledge outside of the classroom.

  • What have you read, watched, visited or listened to that has inspired you? (e.g. books, documentaries, podcasts, lectures, museums)
  • Have you attended any summer schools, completed any work experience, or volunteered anywhere?
  • Why was it interesting?
  • How do these support and compliment the course you are applying for?

Super-curriculars can also be used as 'stepping stones' within your personal statement. For example, did a super-curricular spark your interest in something new, leading you to do further research into this topic?

 

  • Try and focus on transferrable skills - how has balancing your extra-curriculars allowed you to become a better student?
Do Don't
Communicate clearly Rely on clichés (e.g. 'from a young age...'
Use evidence Copy from the internet
Be detailed Exaggerate
Be positive Be too abstract
Be truthful Be negative
Be specific to the course Use bad grammar
Expect to write several drafts Be too modest!
Ask for feedback  

 

 

 

 

 

With thanks to Wadham and Merton Colleges