Personal Statement Help
When
you are applying to university, it might be stressful. Apart from having to
pick a major and a university that you want to attend, getting admission to
your first-choice institution and course requires a lot of effort and luck.
Here
is all you need to understand regarding writing your personal statement for
university.
What
is a personal statement?
A
personal statement comprises writing about your qualification, experiences,
skills, and aspirations in a bid to convince your preferred university that you
are a qualified candidate for their program. It demonstrates how your academic
accomplishments, extracurriculars, and other real-world experience have piqued
your desire to take the course.
Structure
of a good personal statement
Contrary
to a CV, it is essential to organize your personal statement into several
paragraphs rather than a single block of text. Here is a general outline of how
you may organize your university personal statement:
- Reasons for
wanting to learn – First, you must justify your
desire to take the course. This requires being detailed and exhibiting
excitement. Discuss what you appreciate about the topic, how your passion
grew, and how it might assist you in accomplishing your long-term career
objectives.
- Why you are
eligible – Here, not only must you wish to
take the course, but you must also meet the prerequisites. Therefore, it
is essential to demonstrate why your abilities and expertise are relevant.
Always ensure that you have done your study and understand what the course
entails to leave a lasting impression.
- The relevance
of your current study - Even if the courses you have
learned previously are not precisely the same as your selected university
degree, it does not imply they have not prepared you for a career change.
Utilize them effectively in your personal statement.
- Your related
interests and hobbies – Here, explain your
extracurricular activities you have taken part in such as clubs and
societies, theatre trips, online courses, summer schools, or even research
you have done on your selected subject to demonstrate that you are a
well-rounded individual.
- Your skills
and accomplishments - The selection panel are not
just interested in your spectacular abilities and accomplishments, but
also in how you acquired them. This implies that giving examples is
crucial, whether you are discussing how you improved your presentation
skills in group assignments or how you collaborated with others.
- Your work
experience - Job experience, either full-time
or part-time employment, temporary placements, or fellowships, provides a
variety of practical skills. Therefore, discuss the roles that are
relevant to your course and demonstrate how attending university will help
you achieve your desired profession.
Ways
of making personal statement stand out
Given
the intense competition for university admissions, your personal statement
provides the ideal chance to distinguish yourself. Here is some
advice:
- Provide
relevant information – Remember, there is a character limit,
therefore provide relevant information backed with relevant examples on your
selected degree and career path.
- Show
how you are unique - Present a blend of both academic and
extracurricular successes, but do not feel obligated to mention hobbies if you
are lacking them.
- Make
it engaging - Let's be real, no one wishes to read
thousands of unnecessary information. Avoid the obvious and be creative.
To
sum up, be genuine and honest in your writing. The university is interested in
you, not a perfect text-based experience; therefore, personalize your academic
achievements, skills, and experiences.
