How to write a personal statement

HOW TO WRITE A PERSONAL STATEMENT We know that writing a personal statement can seem a bit Overwhelming. That’s why we’ve pulled this guide together to help to provide you with information, advice and support. A personal statement is personal to you and is your opportunity to tell universities about your interest and enthusiasm for your chosen course, whilst also bringing in your skills/experience.

What is a personal statement?

Your personal statement is the part of the UCAS application that you have complete control over.

It’s your chance to demonstrate that you understand the course you are applying for and to demonstrate that you have the skills, knowledge and experience to succeed on that course.

You only have one personal statement for all of your course choices on your UCAS application and therefore it needs to be relevant for all of those courses.

For highly competitive courses, particularly for courses regulated by professional bodies where numbers are restricted, the personal statement is often the determining factor whether you’ll receive an interview or offer.

Your statement is submitted online as part of your UCAS application and can be a maximum of 47 lines or 4,000 characters of text.

What to include in your personal statement Key points to include in your statement are: details of your academic studies any work experience or volunteering you do extra-curricular activities you take part in your future plans and career aspirations For certain courses, you many need to demonstrate knowledge of the course and/or career it may lead to.

I f you’re applying for a course in health or social care, demonstrate your knowledge of “the six C’s”: care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment – which are used within the wider NHS within healthcare.

“Where students are applying for vocational courses such as midwifery, we are looking for ‘fit’, not just with the course, but with the profession.

So students need to demonstrate their suitability to be a future registrant and show application of skills and knowledge rather than just listing things.”

Midwifery lecturer

GETTING STARTED “I like the ABC method of discussing skills/knowledge. It encourages applicants to state where their skills come from, and apply them specifically to the course, as currently some applicants just list desirable qualities (usually the 6C’s) without evidencing them. This can also support students to make the most of their transferable skills.”

Academic

Think about the skills you’ve developed throughout your academic studies, any extra-curricular activities you take part in, as well as a part-time job, if you have one.

Which skills are relevant to the course you’re applying for?

How can you evidence these skills in your personal statement?

Can you think of any more skills?

Communication Research Writing Organisation Motivation Confidence Presentation Problem solving Initiative Enthusiasm Time management Logical thinking

IT proficiency Teamwork Self-discipline Leadership Resilience Analytical abilities Dedication Attention to detail Independent working Critical thinking Planning Decision making

It is really important that you don’t just list your skills make sure you are providing examples. the ABC method will help with this.

WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT The sections below give you an idea how to structure your statement.

The largest section should be your academic achievements as remember you are applying for an academic course.

Don’t forget to use the ABC method.

Top tip: leave the introduction paragraph till last

Introduction Why do you want to study the course? What interests you about the subject?

Academic achievements/ subjects (A-levels, BTECs, Access course etc.)

Write about your academic achievements. What skills and knowledge do you have from your studies that will prepare you to succeed in your chosen subject?

ABC method The ABC method is a great way to showcase your skills to include how you’ve gained those skills, how they benefit you, and linking these skills back to the course you’re applying for. It allows you to demonstrate specific evidence of how you have gained the knowledge, skill or experience.

A - Activity: what have you done?

B - Benefit: what skills have you gained?

C - Course: how does this relate to the course you are applying for?

Work experience/ employment/ volunteering/ personal circumstances Write about skills that you have gained from work experience, employment and/or volunteering opportunities and how these experiences prepare you for university study.

Try it for yourself! We’ve given you an example to help. The student below is applying for a course in business management.

Activity: I am a student ambassador for my college.

Benefit: From this, I have developed excellent communication and team working skills.

Course: This is relevant to studying business management, as being able to communicate effectively is an important skill when working on group projects.

Extra-curricular activities/awards

(eg. first aid course, hobbies and interest) Mention other achievements or extra-curricular activities that demonstrate skills for the course you are applying for.

A

Conclusion B

C

Finish with a brief summary. Why should you be offered a place?

Do you have plans after your degree?

YOUR APPLICATION TIMELINE Start your research early Find out about HE fairs locally and online and use the opportunity to talk to lots of different universities.

Attend University events Register your interest in virtual and on-site University of Wolverhampton events, including Discovery Days and open events, visit: wlv.ac.uk/news-and-events/events May Register on UCAS and start your application, visit: ucas.com Continue to research options, attend events and start to draft your personal statement.

September UCAS applications are now open!

Now is the time to finalise your personal statement.

January UCAS deadline day: the last Wednesday in January is the deadline for UCAS applications for this year’s September entry. Your school/college may have an earlier internal deadline which you need to meet.

February - May Visit your chosen universities and attend their applicant events to help you make your decision and pick your firm and insurance choice.

UCAS Extra: if you have applied but do not hold any offers or have changed your mind you can make one additional UCAS choice in this time.

August Results!

Once you have all your exam results, if you’ve met your offer requirements, you’ll get confirmation of your place on your chosen course. If things didn’t quite go to plan, you might consider finding a course through the clearing process.

Dos and don’ts • Do use a sensible email address • Do keep it positive • Do sell yourself • Do be prepared to create lots of drafts • Do get people to check over your statement • Do ensure it is in your own words

• Don’t use your college email address • Don’t use humour • Don’t start every sentence with ‘I’ • Don’t forget: UCAS doesn’t have a spell checker • Don’t use famous quotes • Don’t use flowery vocabulary and long sentences

Contact us Tel: 01902 321 000 Email: enquiries@wlv.ac.uk EE458