Sixth-formers applying to university are facing exceptionally tough competition, fuelled by a record number of 18-year-olds in the population, post-pandemic demand and increased interest from international students.
The pressure will only increase. Ucas projects that there could be up to a million higher education applicants by 2030, up from more than 750,000 in 2022.
So standing out from the crowd is important. But writing about yourself can be daunting. What do you put in and what do you leave out? What if you haven’t got enough to say? Don’t worry: take a deep breath and follow our guide to navigating your way to a stellar personal statement.
What is a personal statement and why is it important?
This is the only part of the application process where you get to tell universities why they should pick you. It is also the only bit of the application process you have full control over, and your story could secure you the spot over someone else with similar qualifications.
“Making sure it is a cracker is a really good back-up,” says Jane Marshall, who worked with admissions tutors at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Imperial College London. “It is the thing that can make the difference on results day even if you slipped a grade, so it is worth putting a lot of effort into it.”
Advertisement
It’s also a great opportunity to think about the course or courses you are looking to go on, says Courteney Sheppard, head of customer contact at Ucas.
● How much does university really cost? A complete guide
How do I start a personal statement?
“Think about the things you’d like the admissions tutors to know about you,” Sheppard says. “We recommend breaking your statement down into key areas and including your experience, what excites you about the subject, any relatable life or work experiences and any plans or ambitions for a career. Think of details that will make you stand out from the crowd.”
If you’re struggling, don’t worry and don’t waste time trying to think of a killer opening line. “Keep it simple,” says Marshall, who provides advice on writing personal statements and interview techniques to 130 schools, mostly in the state sector, and at summer schools run by Imperial.
“Trying to come up with some grandiose opening is where they fall into problems. I always say leave the starter until last and then when you are going through all of the evidence maybe one of those bits makes it up to the top and that becomes the introduction.”
What should it include?
Advertisement
The key here is to show you are prepared for the breadth and depth of a degree. The bulk of the content needs to focus on academic, social or cultural interests related to your course, showcasing your ability to research and your passion for your subject. Just don’t use the word “passion”. You have to show it. Let your love of the subject leap off the page. For further advice, Ucas’s personal statement builder is a handy tool, and universities provide lots of tips on their websites.
How can I make myself stand out?
Admissions tutors want to see evidence of your commitment to your subject beyond the curriculum. You need to provide lots of examples that show that you really know and love your chosen subject. Check out relevant podcasts, documentaries, journals and books outside the syllabus, you could also follow an academic on social media to provide evidence for your enthusiasm. This bit shouldn’t be a chore, so if it is you should ask yourself if this is the course for you.
However, don’t just list books you have read or things you have done; try to link your skills and experience to your academic journey and the course you want to study.
Volunteering, doing a part-time job and other extracurricular activities are good ways of demonstrating other skills such as leadership, problem-solving and the ability to work in a team — all attributes that universities are looking for. You could run a school club, join a sports team, play in the orchestra or develop new strengths by taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme. This also shows you have a life outside of academia and are going to fit in at university and contribute to the campus community.
● The new rules for university open days — for parents
Advertisement
Finally, make sure you don’t stand out for the wrong reasons. Don’t be tempted to make sentences complicated — keep them short and don’t overuse the thesaurus. Long words don’t impress admission tutors. Avoid pretentious quotes, as well as clichés and phrases such as “from a young age”, “as long as I can remember” and “I have always been interested in”.
How long should a personal statement be?
Don’t waffle. You have only 47 lines of text or 4,000 characters — about two sides of A4 — to make your pitch. Be clear and concise. Expect to do several drafts before you are happy with it. Listen to advice, check your work thoroughly and ask others to proofread your work — you don’t want grammatical errors or spelling mistakes to hold you back.
Top tips for writing it
Ucas recommends reading your statement out loud to help you spot any errors and also to ensure it sounds like you. “It is important to make your personal statement individual — so don’t be tempted to copy and paste from online or others,” Sheppard says.
And don’t be seduced into using artificial intelligence software such as ChatGPT, either. All personal statements are scanned for plagiarism and students now have to declare that their statement hasn’t been copied or provided from another source, including AI software.
Generating all or a large chunk of your personal statement in such a way and presenting it as your own words could be considered cheating and might affect your chances of getting an offer. Ucas has a guide of the do’s and don’ts.
Advertisement
Finally, it takes longer than you think to put together a really good personal statement, so don’t leave it to the last minute. It could look rushed and you risk leaving important information out.
Good University Guide 2024
Which is the best university in the UK? See the definitive university rankings, get expert advice on your application and more in The Sunday Times Good University Guide
The Times and Sunday Times student subscription
Students can access quality journalism from The Times and Sunday Times for £9.99 per year for three years. Offer is for verified students and new customers only. Visit thetimes.co.uk/student to subscribe and for full terms & conditions
