Personal Statement Hacks

Personal Statement Hacks and Examples

Hack 1: Know the course!

• • What? - It is really important that you know as much about the degree course and university as you can. Do this by reading as much as you can on the university's own website but do also look at other websites such as TEF, Discover Uni and The Uni Guide.

  • Why? - A really good technique to use when writing your statement is to refer to the course and university as much as can, trying to say how your own experiences will help you on your chosen course. For example, if you have applied to study architecture:

    • Art and Design A level - by understanding the course content you will be able to say how what you have studied in your A level and how this links to the design content in the architecture degree.

    • Architecture work experience in year 11 - here you should describe your experience in detail such as learning how to use CAD, how to read CAD drawings, what you observed architects do, visits to sites, meeting clients etc; and explain how it links to the degree course.

    • Part-time work in a cafe - here you can talk about how you developed customer service and also organisational skills and how they will help you on your course and in as an architect.

    • Playing in a football team - here you could talk about how you work in a team setting, as you may have to work in project teams on the course.

Hack 2: How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps