UCAS forms need to be submitted by 18.00 (UK time) on 15th January 2020. This seems a way off yet but it’s one of those tasks that is easy to put off. Leave it till last minute and it becomes an increasingly daunting task. The most challenging part of the application process is, obviously, the dreaded UCAS Personal Statement……Keep putting it off till the death and you risk submitting one that is inferior and fails to do you justice. So, delay no longer and use the following 15 Classmate tips to help you write a statement that helps your application rather than hinders it.
1. Do It Yesterday!
It is important and needs time dedicating to it in order to do it well. My daughter submitted hers three months before the deadline. This means it is one of the first to be read and also gave her ample time to ensure she was happy with it before sending it. She doesn’t have to worry about it during her mocks and over Christmas too. Reduce the stress and improve the quality by doing it as early as possible. Towards the end of the summer holidays (year 12) is a great time to start!
2. Use Your Own Words
Do not plagiarise! The reader will know. It usually stands out like a sore thumb as the writing style changes. A quick copy and paste of the suspect text into Google will reveal the source so do not do it.
3. Be Concise
Detail is good, waffle isn’t. You should be under pressure to stay within the word count anyway so keep it concise and to the point. It makes it easier to read. If it isn’t relevant or critical to your application then leave it out.
4. Write With A Purpose
What do you want to say about yourself? There should be a reason for everything you write. Don’t mention things without outlining what you have gained from them.
5. Consider The Whole Application Process
Whilst you will, hopefully, have a favourite course and destination it is important to give yourself as many future options as possible. With this in mind, ensure your statement applies to all your university choices. It is an application to all the universities you have selected so don’t just pitch it at your preferred choice.
6. Consistency Of Choice
In conjunction with the above point, ensure you have consistent course selections. Obviously, your statement won’t stand up if you’ve applied to Physics at Manchester and History at Newcastle. Your choices should not be significantly different from each other as it weakens your application.
7. Make The Word Count.....Count!
Don’t waste words writing about personal problems you may have experienced that may have affected your A level studies. This also applies to any medical conditions that may have done the same. All these factors will be covered by your reference from your school or college so leave these out of your statement.
8. Love Your Subject
Avoid trying to tell a university professor why their subject is interesting, they wouldn’t have dedicated their lives to it if they didn’t know this already. Tell them why it is interesting to you! Use personal experiences or other examples such as books, etc that have sparked the passion for their subject within you. If you have a specific career in mind that relates to their subject then use this too.
9. Use Your Other Subjects
If your uni course focuses in on one subject, don’t neglect the others you are studying. Champion your wider knowledge and give examples of how the other subjects relate to and aid your study of your future specialist subject. It demonstrates planning and careful thought processes when selecting your path. An obvious and much-used pairing are physics and maths but be sure to link the subjects you are studying.
10. Wider Reading
It is very important to show that you have gone beyond expectation when studying for your A levels. Discuss things you have done outside of what your teacher has set you as a task. Discuss books you’ve read, YouTube channels you follow (subject relevant!), podcasts or even day trips as long as you can relate them to your subject. Outline how they helped you and what they taught you. If you haven’t done any of these things you need to get busy!
11. Other Skills
Include how previous experiences and activities have given you extra skills such as leadership, responsibility, etc. Outline how they benefit you and how you can utilise them at uni. Assuming you have the substance, try to keep it as recent as possible (eg not before GCSEs). For example, any responsibility you’ve held in a job, school council, bullying mentor or a volunteering position rather than you once collected the glue sticks in at the end of Brownies.
12. Hobbies & Activities
Use the same approach as above when including these. The idea is to illustrate your commitment, dedication and resilience so if you’ve managed to maintain participation in a sports team, a society or dance school, etc for many years while studying then this is commendable. It demonstrates those qualities and says a lot about your character so be proud of your achievements. Make them think you will be an asset to their course and university.
13. Passion Without "Passion"
Everybody uses this word! Try not to but focus on showing passion in your writing. Passion, intrigue and excitement for the subject you have chosen. Demonstrating love and excitement for the subject through your tone of writing is far more effective than simply stating you love it. It will help you stand out from other applications.
14. Every Story Needs A Good Ending
Finish strongly. Start a new paragraph and use just a couple of sentences to express how you can’t wait to study your subject. Show a desire to succeed and summarise how all your experiences and achievements equip you to do so.
15. Proofread
Assuming you paid attention to the first point on the list, dedicate time to checking the statement. You’ve written it so automatically hear in your head and miss mistakes when you check it. Therefore, give it to as many people as possible to read and give their opinion. Use a spell-checker or better still a site like Grammarly (it’s free) as this will highlight where it could be better written and usually shorten the word count.
Good luck! However, if you’ve followed the advice……you won’t need luck and your UCAS Personal Statement will be great!
The Classmate Team
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