writing a personal statement for ucas applications

Your personal statement is an important part of your application and is an opportunity to tell universities and colleges about your suitability and commitment to the course you hope to study. You need to be enthusiastic, gramatically correct and make sure that your statement gets you noticed!

The most important parts to include are:

Why you are applying for the course
Explain why the subject interests you and show that you understand what the course entails.

Why you are suitable for the course
Highlight any skills and experiences that you have that will help you on the course. This should include:

- Previous work experience or voluntary work
- Project work you have undertaken
- Personal achievements e.g. representing the county at athletics or attaining grade 3 piano
- Positions of responbility e.g. captain of the football team or being a school prefect
- Hobbies and interests - think about how your social activities can demonstrate your skills and abilities especially if it can be linked to the course you wish to study

You need to include enough information to show what you have learned from this hobby, interest or position of responsibility. The same goes for work experience or voluntary work - try to provide enough details and link it to any of the skills and qualities mentioned in the entry profiles of your chosen university or college.

Getting started.

Firstly dont expect to just sit and type it into the application without any planning - this will not work. You are allowed 4000 characters; make sure you use them wisely.

- Make a list of ideas and talk to people that you trust for their feedback.
- Make sure you check the university and college websites as the entry profiles will show you what they are looking for - tailor your statement to suit this.

- Grammar, punctuation and spelling are so important; your application could be rejected not because you are unsuitable but because you have not come across well in your statement as it was sloppy and gramatically incorrect.

- Don't feel that you have to use long words if you are not comfortable with this
- Proof read your statement and get someone you trust to proof read the final version before submission

Your statement could be used as the basis for an interview so make sure that you don't lie or exaggerate an achievement as you could be caught out by being asked to expand on it at the interview.

Above all, remember that this is your opportunity to sell yourself - so be enthusiastic!