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Williamextit2017/06/22 05:41?How to write down a helpful Ucas personal statement for university
19 September 2016 • 7:00am
'The secret to finding ahead is receiving started'. Whether, the American writer Mark Twain reported this or not is up for discussion. What will not be up for discussion, however, is the truth behind the expression, mainly when it comes to personal statement creating.
F or sixth-formers returning to school after the extended summer break, university can look a longer way off. Twelve months of lessons, revision, exams and successes stand relating to you and departure, so you could be forgiven for thinking which you have all the time inside the world to comprehensive your software.
As the Ucas university software deadline i s continue to a number of months absent, January 15 will arrive before you know it and becoming started now will mean you won’t be scrambling about from the weeks after Christmas.
To start out with, it is a awesome idea to get your head round the assorted aspects in the software which you will will need to total before you can still click send.
F irst, you will ought to register with Ucas and enter your personal details. You will then be able to apply for up to 5 courses. Make sure you cross reference the course specifications with your predicted grades and A-level choices so you won’t get rejected before you have even taken your exams.
You will then be asked to detail your education and qualifications to date and to give details of any jobs you have had. It is also a smart idea to nail down who will be providing your academic reference as soon as quite possible - make sure you give your teacher enough time to allow it to be a useful an individual.
Finally, before you post your software, you will be asked to include your personal statement. This is your chance to convince your university or college that you choose to are the right person to study their course.
For some people, composing a personal statement will come easily. But for those who are feeling daunted about the prospect of putting four,000 characters together, you may be not alone. As Stuart Balnaves, head of learner have at Ucas, puts it: “Those three words - Ucas personal statement - can stike fear into students’ hearts", but there are ways to make the procedure easier.
T o get started with, jot down reasons why you intend to study your chosen course. Is it a new passion or an old interest? Ended up you inspired by something you read through or does it lead towards the career you would at some point like to pursue - in which case, what is it that appeals to you about that career?
Secondly, think about what you can easlily say you have done to demonstrate why that you're passionate about this particular subject. Have you taken part in the society or club exterior of school? Do you enjoy reading about your subject, if yes, what books particularly interest you and why?
Have you worked in any roles that help with skills that universities would probably get hold of appealing? Have you helped fellow students at school, have you volunteered or undertaken give good results practical experience in the discipline?
“The optimum statements will display that a student is interested from the subject; that they've studied it, that they've developed an interest it in outdoors school, which they're developing their skills and abilities outdoors academia,” says Liz Hunt, undergraduate admissions supervisor for the University of Sheffield.
H owever, she advises students to avoid rambling: “Some try to tell you their life story,” she continues, “sometimes this is very useful, nonetheless it needs to be relevant rambling, it needs to tell admissions tutors why you have decided with a particular subject.”
James Williams, lecturer in education with the University of Sussex, agrees: “Admissions tutors are seeking to see that you just have an understanding about the course you happen to be applying for,” he says. “Content of courses will be different at different universities, so we do not search for applicants to be too unique, but candidates should look and feel for very common topics and address these.”
The key is balance. Contrary to what Oxbridge demand, most universities will start looking for candidates to split their statements amongst their academic achievements and their extra-curricular pursuits - if these are relevant to your chosen degree, all the superior.
H owever, as Williams says, do not go overboard. “The mistake people make is to mention too a variety of clubs,” he says, “it makes us question how dedicated you’ll be to your study or do the trick. Pick some key extra-curricular activities and think about the skills they give you and feed that into what you might be doing.
“Avoid the vacuous statement,” he adds, “the statement that appears to be to say a lot, but actually says nothing by any means, for example ‘I am a people person; committed to doing my ideal at every opportunity’.”
Inventory phrases should be avoided in the slightest degree costs, and applicants should also be careful not to exaggerate their achievements. Be warned; if you decide to are invited to interview, you should expect to be quizzed on what you have reported in your own statement. White lies won’t impress anyone and can become pretty obvious pretty instantly below pressure.
Applicants should also avoid copying anyone else’s statement or taking inspiration from the internet, says Balnaves. Ucas takes advantage of a program called Copycatch to identify similarities in statements and notifies the universities if it picks up anything suspicious.
Balnaves also urges students to assess their statements for spelling and grammar and to apply in very good time. “We probably get about ten for every cent of our apps within the last week,” he says, “but it is most reliable to give yourself some breathing area. The perfect advice it is possible to get is from the family member or a teacher, examine it aloud to them so you haven't missed any crucial bits.
“Write about what makes you unique," he continues, "only you know your unique selling points. Ask yourself ‘what makes me different, what will I bring to the university and what will I get out of it?’”
It is important to remember that not only will your personal statement be employed while in the initial system of making an offer, it could also be second hand within the finish within the software cycle should you miss the grade necessities.
As Hunt says: “The personal statement is something tutors will use to remind themselves why they made you the offer with the for starters site if things really do not go to plan - they may well give you the benefit on the doubt.”
With this in mind, it is worth putting inside of the extra effort now, to give yourself every chance of success.
Dos and Don’ts of personal statement creating
DO check for spelling and grammar - get your parents to double check and then check again
DO link your extra-curricular pursuits with your course choice
DO exhibit your teachers a draft for starters - so you will know what to change in plenty of time
Really don't leave it until the last minute - try to post the software before Christmas
Really don't use suggested synonyms unless you’re sure what they mean
Do not be tempted to exaggerate what you’ve done
Never talk about certain universities, only talk about the subject