Transcript Document
Making your application to UCAS Part 4 The Personal Statement
How important is the personal statement?
"Where a student is ‘borderline’ in terms of predicted grades or past academic performance the personal statement can make a difference between an offer and a rejection. The personal statement is also crucial during confirmation and clearing. If I have five places for ten students with similar grades the personal statement will be used to decide who gets an offer."
Dr Patrick White (Sociology, University of Leicester)
PERSONAL STATEMENTS
1. What is a personal statement?
2. What are the dos and don’ts 3. What should I include?
4. What do universities want to see?
5. How do I get started?
6. What order should it be in?
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http://www.ucas.tv/ucas/video/WXSch
What is a personal statement?
• It is a formal application • There are 4,000 characters and 47 lines • Paragraphs are important!
• Should be relevant for all of your choices • Write in word processing software then cut and paste into Apply • Spelling, grammar and punctuation should be perfect!
• Plagiarism Detection Software system – you won’t know; but they will!
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Similarity Detection Service
Personal statements are checked against a library of those already in the system, and from a variety of websites and paper publications Each new statement is added to the library after processing
What is demonstrated within a personal statement?
• • • • • • You must show: • Commitment, interest and enthusiasm!
• Analytical and reflective ideas, not merely descriptive What you enjoy about / get from your current study Ability to work out what is most important / adds most
value
Relevant (and transferable) skills and abilities Work shadowing, volunteering, external education (school trips, world challenge, residentials, extended reading, courses, qua) Understanding of the course applied for!
Future aspirations or direction
You Be The Judge!
I have been volunteering in extra-curricular sports clubs for four years now, and have achieved 100 volunteer hours in sport-related activities this year. During this experience, I have had the opportunity to teach pupils from year 7-11 in various activities such as netball, rugby, hockey and tennis. This essentially was the stepping stone to my paid role as a Sports Leader at Caroline Chisholm School running sports clubs during my lunch hours and after school. This experience, alongside my ‘community sports leaders’ award, achieved this year, has given me the fundamental skills needed to pursue a course in sports education. I have learnt that every student is unique and that I need to adapt my coaching sessions in order to meet the demands of each student, not only for the children that need extra support but also for the ones that need to be challenged. I have learnt to apply constructive criticism and drive students through their strengths to help them develop.
You Be The Judge!
A trip to the Big Bang Science Fair to help out with the younger students really opened my eyes to the importance of a career within STEM. The passion and enthusiasm from the staff and students was inspiring, and I was particularly motivated by the engaging conversations I had with students aspiring to work within healthcare science like me. I've always believed in ‘giving back’, which is why I offer to help out during open evenings at my current Sixth form; providing support to teachers and aiding any students or parents needing assistance. I have always noticed the public appreciate a ‘helping hand’; which I established whilst working through my v50. I also worked as a volunteer for several months in an Afghan language class for younger children; which enhanced my communication skills and helped me to empathize with others and adopt a more caring role. I spent a few weeks volunteering within a community pharmacy, managing customer enquiries and prescriptions. This experience gave me an insight into a highly scientific career, which also provides a useful service for the community; which I believe, is the perfect balance.
Universities – a good starting point
Questions universities will ask while reading your personal statement?
▪ Have they chosen the right subject for the right reasons?
▪ Can they survive in an intense and pressured atmosphere?
▪ Do they have a range of interests and aptitudes?
▪ What are their transferable skills?
▪ Does the personal statement confirm their depth of interest in the subject?
▪ What has the candidate studied independently?
UCAS PERSONAL STATEMENTS Questions to ask if you’re stuck!
List any prizes you have won – either inside or outside school What would you say has been your biggest achievement and why?
Has anyone motivated you?
If so, who and why?
Do you have a favourite book, film, hobby?
How have they influenced you?
Have you faced any difficulties in life?
Did it change you?
Have you worked hard for something and finally achieved your goal?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
What would your friends/family say if they were writing your statement?
1. Share the ‘Spark’
• My choice to study Drama Education stems from my love of drama, and my experiences volunteering and teaching in the lower years at Caroline Chisholm School. I found that through my role as a volunteer in a Year 7 Drama class last year, I could inspire the students I worked with and share my passion for Drama. The students enjoyed my contribution, and regularly asked for my help (they would even ask me if I would be in the following lesson). This was very inspiring as it made me feel that I was not only getting realistic experience out of my volunteering, but that I was also fulfilling my role, and actually helping to teach the students .
1. Share the ‘Spark’
• Thrust into a busy Veterinary Practice on the first day of work experience was "make or break". I observed my first operation with trepidation but it proved captivating. This was the defining moment that set me on course to pursue my career.
My experiences have demonstrated the rewards and challenges associated with being a vet, from the satisfaction of resolving problems and improving an animal's welfare, to being faced with tough ethical decisions. Problem solving has always satisfied me; Veterinary Medicine will allow me to combine this with my fascination for and love of animals. The course will present a practical and academic challenge which appeals to me.
2. Be Specific
• One of the topics I studied in the Sociology course was Education. This was particularly interesting to see just how much our education system has changed over the years. This topic also allowed me to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of our current education system. I have been required to apply specialist theoretical knowledge to my own past and current educational experiences. Finally, the Education topic has allowed me to criticise other theories and begin debates in my assignments, analysing the flaws and benefits in each theory’s argument and reasoning.
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2. Be Specific
Working as a waitress at a Pizza Hut restaurant for over two years has taught me many skills, including communication and has increased my confidence. For one day I was able to shadow the Technical Manager in Quality Assurance for Pizza Hut in the Head Office. She studied food science at university, and as I watched her in her job and talked to her, I was captivated by the job. I love the idea of producing and testing new foods for the restaurant market. I also spent a week work shadowing in a small testing laboratory, testing different samples, from blood to saliva, for traces of diseases and blood group. This experience has given me an insight into working in a laboratory, and by the end of the week, I was able to carry out some of the tests, understand the results and then input the data into a computer. This shows that I am a fast learner, have good analytical skills and can work independently which is important, especially when working in the laboratory during the course. The fact that I arranged the work shadowing placement myself shows that I am self-motivated; this is important, as I would like to take part in an industrial placement in the third year.
3. Link Your Other Subjects
• As well as Business Studies, I am studying Maths and Psychology, which reinforce core skills needed to study Business at university. They are also relatively different in their own way, but also compliment each other in terms of the need for a sharp, analytical mind to achieve success. In Maths, I am regularly required to look at ways to solve a particular numerical problem, and it also encourages logical thinking, which is crucial to Business as well. Much of the work in Psychology involves studying psychologist's theories into human behaviour and therefore requires critical thinking, independent decision making and being able to evaluate an idea. All of these skills are also implemented in business.
3. Link Your Other Subjects
• Of my three subjects, Computing is the one I am most passionate about, although I really enjoy both Maths and Physics. Studying Maths at a higher level has taught me a greater understanding of the role of numbers, and how they can be manipulated. This ties in with Computing as computers themselves are dependent on numbers. After all, the definition of 'Computation' is 'Problem solving that involves numbers or quantities.' My third subject, Physics is becoming more and more relevant in the world of Computing and vice-versa. Physics experiments are dependent of computers, especially in the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Geneva. One part of the future of Computing that I am very interested in is Quantum Computing; being able to harness the power of atoms to manipulate data is a very exciting prospect.
4. Tie In Your Extra Curricular
• I am currently fundraising for a life time experience to Costa Rica on a ‘World Challenge’ expedition, which takes place in summer 2013. I have gained the responsibility of organising fundraising, getting the right vaccinations, equipment and training. This will help prepare me for an intensive month of trekking up volcanoes, volunteering in a foreign community, and experiencing a different culture.
I believe the trip will help me to build independence and confidence in a place way out of my comfort zone, skills which are vital for any first year university student.
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4. Tie In Your Extra Curricular
As a rugby enthusiast, I have been playing for Old Northamptonians for three years now and over various seasons have played for the county, East Midlands and have captained the team. This has helped me to gain an understanding of the importance of good communication, teamwork, personal fitness, leadership and sportsmanship - all attributes vital for becoming a successful PE teacher. I attend regular training sessions with my team which requires me to have excellent time management skills; this commitment to training also shows I have a real passion and desire for competitive attainment. I am always looking to further my knowledge and as someone with self-motivation to progress I have achieved many qualifications in order to aid my learning and experience within the sporting genre, I have achieved a Rugby Referee Award Level 1 in both full contact and tag rugby, Junior Sports Leaders Award, Community Sports Leaders Award and have trained as a First Aider in order to be prepared for incidents when I am coaching. This substantial commitment to the sport of rugby, again, demonstrates the wide array of personal qualities I can offer your university on the Physical Education degree course .
5. End With Confidence
• Ultimately, I believe through the experiences I have gained; I have become a more motivated, confident, self-assured and enthusiastic individual who is looking to strive at all opportunities and excel at all my subjects in order to secure my place within healthcare.
I believe I have a wide variety of skills which will put me in a great platform for my university experience; and I will look forward to the challenges of university life.
5. End With Confidence
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The subjects I have taken at ‘A’ level and the outstanding grades I have achieved are a strong indication of my high ambitions and I am ardently looking forward to confronting the challenge university has to offer. I am excited about studying Maths at a higher level, and am eagerly awaiting the transition to higher education.
A few DON’Ts
• • • • • • • • • • No evidence of ‘enthusiasm’ or ‘passion’ for the subject – they barely mention it No evidence of engagement outside the school curriculum Poor structure – no flow, sentences too long etc Broad statements, no specifics Lack of expansion/detail on relevant areas Spelling mistakes Repetition of words (e.g. ‘interesting’) Criticism of school/teachers Too much emphasis on hobbies with no links to course Quotes too long, too general, too common and/or not sourced
Consider the ‘so what?’ rule when drafting your PS.
Some other things to avoid
DO NOT :
– Mention one university by name – Be intellectually pretentious (re-direct to your website, use foreign phrases you are unsure of, misquote book titles e.g. ‘Catch 24’) – – – – – Go thesaurus mad Use humour inappropriately Use text language to try and save space Try too hard to be different (write a poem, craft a picture) Treat it like a letter (start ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ or ‘Dear Admissions Officer’) – Go over the top (‘and when I am not working towards world peace, I enjoy writing symphonies and playing golf to a standard that Tiger Woods can only dream of.’)
Common opening sentences
1. I am currently studying a BTEC National Diploma in… 2. From a young age I have always been interested in… 3. From an early age I have always been interested in… 4. Nursing is a very challenging and demanding career…
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5. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with...
6. “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only”...
7. Nursing is a profession I have always looked upon with...
8. For as long as I can remember I have been interested in...
292 464 275 189
9. I am an International Academy student and have been studying since…
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10. Academically, I have always been a very determined and...
178 166 196 138
What do you know about Personal
True or false?
Statements?
1. Universities don’t read Personal Statements.
False 2. You can use as many lines as you need.
False 3. You can use bullet points.
False 4. You can use paragraphs.
True 5. Apply has spell and grammar checks.
False 6. You can write different statements for each of your choices. 8. You should leave it to your referee to explain why you should be selected. False False
What do you know about Personal Statements?
True or false?
9. UCAS compares your personal statement against as many as 2 million+ others for plagiarism?
True 10.The best personal statements link achievements and skills gained to the chosen course?
11.Not more than one draft is recommended when preparing your statement. 12.The majority of the statement should give emphasis to why you have chosen that course?
True
Personal statement - 10 things for a student to double-check
1. How impressive is my opening? – score out of 10 2. Have I made a convincing case of why I have chosen my course? 3. Do I have at least one piece of evidence that I have researched what the course entails 4. Do I have at least one piece of evidence of wider reading in the subject 5. Do I have at least two pieces of evidence of skills picked up in my A levels 6. Do I have at least one piece of evidence of skills gained from an out-of-school activity 7. Have I suggested what I might do after university?
8. Have I avoided using over-long sentences?
9. Am I guilty of using any bland generalities (I love reading)?
10. Is the ending a positive affirmation of what I can bring or contribute to a university community?
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Remember
Link everything back to your course or to study at university generally. (Your five years as a girl guide don’t help unless you can show what skills you gained and explain how they make you a stronger candidate.) Think like an admissions tutor. They are not sitting in a marble tower on Mount Olympus (more like a temporary mobile office with no central heating in Birmingham). They want to choose you… however, they have a responsibility to the university to choose people who are going to make it.
“Across Britain, the number of students dropping out increased from 28,210 to 31,755 last year.” “More than one-in-five undergraduates are failing to compete the first year of their degree at the worst-performing universities.” - The Guardian
Be specific. I did a bunch of stuff and learned a bunch of skills isn’t going to work. Unless your best mate is called X-box or Ebay, you have done something over the last two years – just be specific about what it was and how it makes you a better candidate.
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Remember
You are not applying to be someone’s best mate. You are applying for an academic course. In your personal statement, spend 75% of your space talking about your academic abilities and achievement.
You are not Oliver with his empty bowl. Be respectful, yes, but be confident. Consider all you have accomplished.
Even the longest journey begins with a single step. You must begin NOW.
Avoid clichés and exaggerated language. Admissions tutors do not like ‘I am passionate about…”. Prove it. “My passion for marine biology was demonstrated when I…” BETTER.
It’s not too late. If you feel you have not completed enough volunteering or work shadowing or wider reading or personal research, use the summer holiday to put it right!
Final tips
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