Ten Top Tips for Personal Statements

Personal Statements – ten top tips!

1. Start thinking about your Personal Statement in Year 12 – right now! - and start collecting evidence of what you have done to prove your interest in your chosen course

2. Think about what you want to study – what do you find interesting?

3. Read articles from newspapers, relevant magazines and online – keep a log of what you’ve read and you can mention the ones you find particularly interesting as evidence in your Personal Statement

4. Visit museums, art galleries, theatres, law courts, interesting buildings....this can count as evidence if it is relevant to your chosen course

5. Get work experience if it’s an entry requirement – all healthcare courses, veterinary medicine, education and social work - observe and reflect!

6. Sign up for university taster courses, demonstration lectures, master classes and Summer Schools now! It's all evidence

7. Watch online talks - TEDtalks - and find YouTube lectures in your subject area - keep a note of what you've watched and include the most interesting ones in your Personal Statement

8. If you want to do STEM subjects visit websites like NRICH for extra maths problems to practice.... this counts as evidence!

9. Think about useful skills you have and what you’ve done to enhance them - teamwork, leadership, communication, public speaking, essay writing, problem solving, using your initiative, evaluating data, organisation, time management etc

10. List some outside interests – what do you do for fun?