Personal Statement
Writing a personal statement is probably one of the most challenging parts of the UCAS form - it can be very hard to write about yourself so this section will take some time. Remember this is a "personal" statement - i.e. it's about you, and there is no right or wrong way to do it.
You will write your personal statement on Unifrog
WARNING: ALL PERSONAL STATEMENTS ARE RUN THROUGH PLAGIARISM SOFTWARE SO DON’T BE TEMPTED TO COPY!
A good personal statement....
Not clichéd – avoiding hackneyed phrases like “since I was a young child I have wanted to be …” There are normally more interesting ways to say these thing
Include your everyday language – it doesn’t need to include lots of fancy words
Evidence key skills – particularly the ones that are most relevant to your subject. Don’t just list extra-curricular activities but be selective and pick ones which you can use to say something significant about yourself.
UCAS tips - How to write a personal statement
Show your subject interest - (SUPER CURRICULAR) at least half of the statement targeted towards demonstrating your level of engagement with and enthusiasm for your subject, not just by listing things you have read or enjoyed but by showing your level of thinking, almost like a small extract from a subject essay. This is best done by :
Choosing an area you have studied and really got in to and discussing an issue within it
Reflecting on a book or article you have read or a talk or conference you have been to and discussing an issue it raised.
Completing a MOOC and discussing what you have learnt
MOOCs available on Unifrog
Click here for our SMRT Reading list
This is an example of how a student has included this in their personal statement
In my spare time, I have chosen to undertake a MOOC about tropical ecosystems. This has given me experience on how to design simple experiments and collect ecological data from coral reefs. Alongside this, I have chosen to do an Extended Project Qualification on whether coral reefs are at their tipping point. I have done this alongside my studies to help me learn how to balance my study time between separate projects, and it has taught me independent study skills