The Personal Statement Pearls of Wisdom!

Used by Admissions Tutors To decide which candidates to interview To decide which candidates to interview In conjunction with the confidential reference In conjunction with the confidential reference To develop lines of questioning To develop lines of questioning During an interview During an interview Hence the need to photocopy! Hence the need to photocopy! To test candidate’s understanding of course To test candidate’s understanding of course Hence need to attend open days Hence need to attend open days

What to Include An idea of why you want to do the course An idea of why you want to do the course Evidence of a well rounded personality Evidence of a well rounded personality Includes serious interests e.g. Includes serious interests e.g. Playing an instrument proficiently Playing an instrument proficiently Sport played regularly Sport played regularly A well written statement A well written statement A useful demonstration of your writing ability A useful demonstration of your writing ability A well presented statement A well presented statement Shows evidence of pride in your work Shows evidence of pride in your work

What to Include continued Details of relevant work experience Details of relevant work experience A useful way to demonstrate skills A useful way to demonstrate skills Such as team work & communication Such as team work & communication Evidence of teamwork & independence skills Evidence of teamwork & independence skills E.g Duke of Edinburgh’s Award E.g Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Examples demonstrating your willingness to work Examples demonstrating your willingness to work And persevere with tasks And persevere with tasks Anything distinctive about your course Anything distinctive about your course E.g. taking maths to level 3 on health route ! E.g. taking maths to level 3 on health route ! Details of an interesting project Details of an interesting project You may be involved with inside or outside college You may be involved with inside or outside college

What to Avoid Waffle Waffle 150 well-chosen words 150 well-chosen words More effective than 400 words of irrelevant information More effective than 400 words of irrelevant information Making assertions about your personal qualities Making assertions about your personal qualities Without some supportive evidence Without some supportive evidence Giving very ordinary interests Giving very ordinary interests E.g like going to the pub E.g like going to the pub Writing at length about your course Writing at length about your course except for issues such as special projects except for issues such as special projects Discuss only in so far as they show an interest in the course for which you are applying Discuss only in so far as they show an interest in the course for which you are applying

Final Thoughts Having read all the advice Having read all the advice It’s over to you to sell yourself It’s over to you to sell yourself Start preparing your statement early Start preparing your statement early It can take longer than you think! It can take longer than you think! Show the draft to your personal tutor Show the draft to your personal tutor Photocopy the end result Photocopy the end result Save a copy on the careerswales website Save a copy on the careerswales website Good Luck Good Luck