| The Universities and College Admission Service | | | | Although there is no officially recognised structure |
| (UCAS) mediate all applications made to universities in | | | | that a UCAS personal statement must conform to, it |
| the UK. You cannot apply directly to a UK university | | | | must flow in a logical manner and contain the |
| and therefore all applications must be made via UCAS | | | | information summarised in the introduction. A |
| using the dreaded UCAS form. This form requires | | | | standard order for your UCAS personal statement |
| you to enter your personal details, your course | | | | could be: |
| choices and most important of all your personal | | | | · Introductory sentence introducing why you |
| statement. Your UCAS personal statement is your | | | | would like to study your chosen subject and why |
| opportunity to sell yourself to admissions tutors and | | | | you would be suitable to study at university |
| convince them they should offer you a place at | | | | · Give specific examples of your academic |
| university over the 100’s of other applicants. | | | | experiences and explain how these have influenced |
| A clear and well-planned personal statement gives | | | | your choice of subject |
| you the best possible chance of securing an offer | | | | · What your future goals are |
| from your first choice university. As the competition | | | | · Explain what responsibilities you have had in |
| for university places in the UK increases the need for | | | | and out of school |
| a clear and correctly structured university application | | | | · Detail of work experience you have and |
| is paramount. Universities are looking for enthusiastic | | | | how it has help developed you as a person |
| individuals who will be committed to their studies | | | | · Include a concluding sentence summarising |
| whilst contributing to the university as a whole. For | | | | your application |
| more help you can visit Apply2Uni – UCAS | | | | Submitting Your UCAS Application |
| Personal Statement Help. | | | | UCAS forms can be submitted either in paper form |
| Your UCAS personal statement must demonstrate: | | | | or electronically. Either way your personal statement |
| · Why you would like to study your chosen | | | | needs to be typed up electronically and must not |
| subject | | | | exceed 47 lines (~550 words). |
| · What has influenced your choice of subject | | | | For more info visit UCAS Site [ |
| · How studying your chosen course will | | | | UCAS Personal Statements – The ‘Top |
| progress your intended career | | | | 10’ mistakes |
| · That you are prepared for and will be able | | | | · Spelling mistakes (This is unacceptable and |
| to cope with university life | | | | will mean that many admissions tutors will move you |
| · Attending university will develop you as an | | | | to the bottom of the pile) |
| individual | | | | · The opening sentence of the personal |
| · Your achievements in life both academic | | | | statement is not punchy and attention grabbing |
| and extra-curricular | | | | enough (Remember the admissions tutor has to sift |
| · How any work experience you have | | | | through 100’s of applications so your |
| conducted has improved you as a person | | | | introduction needs to stand out above the crowd |
| · That you are a person with a range of | | | | and grab the attention of the admissions tutor) |
| interests | | | | · The personal statement does not outline |
| Preparing to write your UCAS Personal Statement | | | | why you would like to study your chosen subject |
| The first step you need to take when preparing to | | | | · The structure of the personal statement is |
| write your UCAS personal statement is to summarise | | | | too disjointed and does not flow (There is nothing |
| the important points about you. Try taking a blank | | | | worse than jumping ‘backwards and |
| piece of paper and brainstorming each point listed | | | | forwards’) |
| below. Try to write down as much as you can; at | | | | · The word ‘I’ is used too |
| this stage it is about getting your ideas down on | | | | much throughout the personal statement |
| paper so that you have the information you need to | | | | · Lack of paragraphs (There is nothing worse |
| begin composing your UCAS personal statement. | | | | than staring at a solid block of text) |
| · Why do I want to attend university? | | | | · Sentences are too long – use full |
| · What has influenced my decision to study | | | | stops to break up long sentences |
| my chosen subject at university? | | | | · Misuse of grammar (Most notably commas) |
| · What are my academic achievements? | | | | · The personal statement does contain a |
| · What are my future goals? | | | | concluding sentence summarising your application |
| · What work experience do I have and how | | | | (Don’t just end your personal statement with |
| has this developed me as a person? | | | | a ‘cliff hanger’!) |
| · What are my extra-curricular achievements | | | | · And finally……PROOF READ, |
| and hobbies? | | | | PROOF READ, PROOF READ!!!! |
| Structuring your UCAS Personal Statement | | | | |