Ellie Whelan
4000 characters. A page of writing. Surely, writing a personal statement takes no time at all?
As anyone who has sent off a UCAS form has discovered, this couldn’t be further from the truth. From deciding on a captivating opening sentence, to selecting which books or articles to include, to abiding by the character count, the personal statement is the most difficult part of UCAS. As grades and the personal statement are the first thing universities see, it’s essential that both impress. Academic excellence and passion invite universities to pursue your application. Personal statements can make or break your chance for an interview.
What do I include in a personal statement?
The clue is in the name: make it personal. No, this doesn’t mean a retelling of your life story, but instead an insight into what ignited your love for your subject. There doesn’t need to be a light bulb moment as such, but instead explain what made you want to devote the next 3 or 4 years to this subject. With limited characters, avoid superfluous language, or attempting to ‘sound smart’. Instead, get down to the nitty gritty and convince the tutors that you are passionate.
As an English and French student, I analysed the impact of language and literature. Through linking and analysing several books/ articles and poems, I discussed my views on the development of literature and how this made me view the world differently. The key is to analyse different texts and give your perspective. The tutors want independent thinkers who can make links between different texts and topics. Listing is useless: provide your perspective on what you have read/ seen. In essence, a personal statement is a mosaic of your personal academic interests.
How should I start?
Don’t begin at the beginning. First construct the middle paragraphs. Then, return to the introduction and think of a sentence which sums up why you want to study this subject. In reality, you haven’t planned to study geography ‘since you could walk’, so forget all the cliches. This sentence doesn’t have to be ground-breaking; instead introduce your academic journey. My opening was:
“Language shapes perception. Studying English and French Literature has encouraged me to enjoy how language alters understanding.”
When should I start?
Ideally, as soon as possible. Drafting the personal statement over the summer holidays limits the stress of UCAS in the first term of year 13. With the Oxbridge deadline looming in October, sending in the UCAS form early enables more time to focus on the all-important A Level and entrance exams. However, there is something to be said about starting too early. Ensure you have enough time to read around your subject. There is no point starting to write if there is nothing to write about! I would recommend starting in August because this strikes the fine balance between devoting enough time to supercurriculars and not being rushed when writing.
How do I read around my subject?
A good place to start is by building on what you have learnt at A Level. If you have enjoyed a text or topic at ALevel, why not look into it in more detail? This could include watching online lectures, or reading books by the same author or of the same genre. Avoid the ‘must-read’ or ‘must-watch’ lists for your subject. Stand out from a sea of applicants by analysing your own interests, no matter how niche they may be.
How do I structure a personal statement?
After spending hours swindling down the number of texts, the issue then jumps to structuring. There is no set structure for a personal statement. In fact, the best personal statements are fluid and do not jolt between contrasting paragraphs. Although fluidity is restricted by a character count, attempt to organise your statement thematically. Group together your supercurriculars in terms of theme or topic. Discuss an issue in one text and explain how this relates or contrasts to another. Then, begin each paragraph with an opening sentence that relates back to your last paragraph.
Do I need extracurriculars?’
Oxbridge applications are all about aptitude. A misconception that crosses over the Atlantic is that elite UK universities care about how many hours of volunteering or how many clubs you have done. Of course, some extracurriculars can show passion for your subject, e.g. setting up a book club or debating. However, whether you were captain of the football team will not make or break your chance of success. Keep to the 80/20 or 90/10 rule. The statement should be mostly academic and should only include a line or two at the end to express your hobbies or interests.
How do I structure a personal statement when I am applying for different courses?
As a joint honours student, I faced the feat of combining two subject applications into one. To do this, I had a separate paragraph for each subject. However, to ensure fluidity, I included links in the French section back to the English section and vice versa. When applying for joint honours or slightly different courses, find a middle ground. For instance, I emphasised how language shaped perceptions, which led to linking English and French literature.
How do I edit a personal statement?
Once the bin is overflowing with drafts and boredom is overruling sanity , it is time to tackle the next stage: editing. The word count is the hardest part of the personal statement. Reducing your academic journey to 4000 characters is easier said than done. To remove pointless characters, make your sentences shorter. Taking out connectives, adverbs, some adjectives and using acronyms (like DofE) will make your statement more concise.
Remember that the statement can form the basis of an interview. Only include what you can speak about. Yes, including the ‘greats’ like Milton is impressive, but can you hold a challenging conversation on their works?
In summary, if the personal statement evidences wider reading, is unique to you and is concise; you really can’t go wrong!
Featured image courtesy of Christin Hume via Unsplash. Image license may be found here. No changes were made to this image.