UCAS Day Tutor lessons

Task 1: What makes a good personal statement. In small groups discuss what you think are the key features of a good personal statement. You have three minutes to list as many as you can.

A good personal statement shows evidence of …. An obvious motivation/interest/passion to study the subject Academic skills and qualities Work/practical experience (both voluntary and paid) Personal Skills and Qualities: A sense of the future( ambitions, goals, expectations, possible career directions Writing and thinking ability ( are you able to write clearly, organise an argument, back up statements with evidence, communicate effectively etc.

Task 2: Demonstrate skills One of the things you will have to demonstrate is that you possess both academic and personal skills. Look at the following activities that someone has listed in their personal statement and see if you can think of at least 5 skills that they would have developed during these activities. The first has been done for you.

ActivitySkills you might develop Studying biologyAnalysis, research, problem- solving, time-management, specific practical and technical skills, critical thinking Paired reading Being a member of an orchestra Taking part a team enterprise activity Studying history Being on the school council Playing hockey for your school Studying Spanish Working as a waitress

ActivitySkills you might develop Studying BiologyAnalysis, research, problem-solving, time- management, specific practical and technical skills, critical thinking Paired readingCommunication, ability to motivate others, patience, enthusiasm, commitment, empathy, listening skills Being a member of an orchestraDedication, team player, commitment, listening skills, interpersonal skills, time- management, self-discipline Taking part a team enterprise activityLeadership, organisation, planning, decision-making, creative thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving, numeracy, communication, time-management Studying historyCritical reasoning, analytical, research, the ability to construct an argument, self reliance, problem-solving, communication, summarising, questioning

Studying historyCritical reasoning, analytical skills, creative thinking, ability to construct an argument, communication skills, research skills Being on the school councilOrganisational skills, decision making, planning, communication, problem solving Playing hockey for your schoolTeamwork, dedication, leadership, communication, self-discipline, time- management, resilience Studying SpanishCommunication skills, cultural awareness, listening skills, an ability to lead and participate in discussions, an ability to interpret information, sensitivity Working as a waitressCommunication, time-management, interpersonal skills organisational, decision making, delegation, team player, multitasking, an ability to work under pressure

Further examples Further examples can be found at the back of your UCAS handbook. In a recent survey the number one skill admission tutors were looking for from students was an ability to work independently. Do you have self-motivation, are you resilient, can you manage your time effectively. If you mention these skills/qualities in a personal statement you will have to back it up with evidence and examples.

Task 3 In this task you are going to be looking at sample personal statement. Working in small groups, read each sample statement in turn and list its strengths and weaknesses.

Sample Personal Statement 1 Read the statement through carefully and jot down its strengths and weaknesses

Strengths The student displays interest in the subject The student talks about future career plans The student has attempted to sound enthusiastic about university.

Weaknesses A ‘personality clash’ with a teacher: Never mention a dislike of or lack of respect towards one of your teachers or employers The part about not wanting to study maths at university is negative and not relevant (also some business management degrees will have mathematical elements) Its good to talk about the benefits of certain hobbies but saying that boxing helps to release anger makes this student sound ‘scary’ The comments about the lack of a debating club are also negative. Admission tutors might wonder why the student could not start a debating club at the schools by themselves There is too much detail about the part time job in Sainsbury’s and again it paints a negative picture of the student

Sample Personal Statement 2 Read the statement through carefully and jot down its strengths and weaknesses

Strengths This student explains how they became interested in studying American studies very well It is good to show how your A level studies have influenced your choice of course Evidence of good research ( for example attending open days) is clear in this statement. This is especially important when the subject is not available at A -level

Weaknesses There is no need to mention that A-level Politics was not available at her school. It implies a criticism of the school and it is important not to be negative in any way It is not advisable to mention universities by name unless you are only applying to one institution. It implies a preference towards the university you are naming Playing hockey in year 10 does not say much about the student now; it is best to talk about more recent hobbies

Sample Personal Statement 3 Read the statement through carefully and jot down its strengths and weaknesses

Strengths This personal statement opens with a good concise summary of what prompted initial interest in the subject The student demonstrates that his interest in his chosen subject goes beyond the classroom, which proves his interest in the subject and will strengthen his application

Weaknesses Quotes are goof but keep them short and only use them if they are relevant to your application The closing paragraph is very short and reads abruptly; remember to make use of this last chance to impress the admissions tutor The student could have provided more information on the business he has set up

Task 4: The first draft Now it is your turn to think about your own personal statement. Before you have a go at writing this you will need to think about your skills, knowledge, experience and personal qualities. You will also have to think about how to structure your statement. A writing frame can be useful in helping you organise your thoughts and ideas. Complete the writing frame below and then use it to help you construct a first draft. If you are not sure exactly what you want to study you can concentrate on other sections of the statement.

Plenary Task Work with partner to peer assess each others first attempt at a personal statement. List what you think are the strengths and weaknesses of each others work.