If you are applying to go to university, you will be aware that the application process can be rather intense. The main pinnacle, the personal statement, is like an essay assignment in itself and has a certain criterion that needs to be met. Writing this can take up a vast amount of time when a lot of effort is put into it, which is why this blog aims to give you some direction on the application and, most specifically, the personal statement, so that you hopefully aren’t left feeling overwhelmed by the process.
UCAS stands for University and College Admissions Service. It is the system in which you use to apply for an undergraduate course. University certainly isn’t for everyone, but last year (2022) UCAS received 683,650 applications. The basic premise for applying is:
- Personal Details
- Education History
- Employment History
- Course Choices (you can apply to up to 5)
- Personal Statement
- References
- Submit and Pay
When I was at college completing my UCAS application, back in 2009, we had a session set aside on a Friday afternoon to allow us the time to work on it. This gave students the opportunity to plan their personal statement as a lot of work needs to go into it to ensure that you are showcasing the best version of yourself. It is something that needs planning to guarantee that it is concise, enthusiastic and shows your passion for the subject you wish to study. You have a character limit of 4000 (or 47 lines), but it needs to be the minimum of 1000. A personal statement on a UCAS application is essentially a longer version of a cover letter in the world of employment. It is a student’s chance to show the university why they want to study there and what attributes they can bring to that establishment.
When sitting down to plan your personal statement, think carefully about your future aspirations: Why do you want to do this course? What benefits do you feel it will bring you in your future career path? This should help you to find the enthusiasm for the chosen course and will guide you into what experiences you may have that marry up with the main requirements of it. It is wise to think about if you have done any clubs that may have taught you certain skills that link in with the subject. Schools teach their pupils to ‘point, evidence, explain’ with reference to exam questions, and this strategy works just as well in a personal statement. It needs to read clearly and flow easily, whilst showing exactly what you have to offer in a passionate manner.
It is sensible to keep your personal statement well-structured which helps to maintain a concise and consistent nature. You should also consider what relevant skills you have which could be linked to the course you are applying to. Universities want to see that you genuinely have a keen interest in the subject so it does help if you can show what you do in your spare time to nurture this.
Finally, the personal statement is a chance to show who YOU are and what parts of your character you can bring. This is your opportunity to show your written skills and demonstrate what you will bring to assignments and to the course in general. You want to be seen as an asset to the university and, by showing you have the correct qualifications, commitment to work hard and a keen interest in the topics, you will be ticking the right boxes!
If you would like your personal statement to be proofread, please send me a message and I will be happy to help!
The deadline for most UCAS applications is the 25th of January 2023.