1. www.isco.org.uk The Personal Statement

2. www.isco.org.uk Objectives By the end of this session you should: be aware of the necessity of ‘selling’ yourself on the UCAS form be able to pinpoint the kinds of things admissions tutors may be interested in be able to plan your own Personal Statement

3. www.isco.org.uk What is the Personal Statement? The Personal Statement is a crucial part of your application Provides an opportunity to promote yourself and your suitability for the course Your personal statement should be a convincing and positive selling document Not an autobiography - just edited highlights of your life to date A ‘Paper Interview’

4. www.isco.org.uk How do Admissions Tutors use the Personal Statement Select applicants - using predicted grades, reference and personal statement Decide which candidates to interview Develop lines of questioning in interview Test understanding of nature of course Exceptionally - use for borderline cases when results are published in August

5. www.isco.org.uk What should the Personal Statement include? Your reason for choosing the course The background to your interest Anything distinctive about your A levels Career aspirations Particular interests you have in your current studies Any employment/ work experience/ voluntary work

6. www.isco.org.uk What should the Personal Statement include? Core skills developed through work experience Details of non-examined subjects you are studying Details of any sponsorship Reasons for deferred entry Positions of responsibility Social, sporting, hobbies and other interests and activities

7. www.isco.org.uk Sample Personal Statements Look at presentation Content Justification for choice Evidence to support Style Comments?

8. www.isco.org.uk Where to start Make a list of your experiences, interests and qualities not enough? Try harder, think laterally too many? Be selective Gain more work-experience Wider reading e.g Brian Heap ‘Degree Course Offers’ - advice on P.S Find out as much about the course(s) as possible (entry requirements, course details, visits) Talk to school staff Handout Make several drafts

9. www.isco.org.uk Completing the Personal Statement Electronic application Do not have to use up all the space - but cannot go over 12-point or larger - will be reduced in size Ensure the finished statement is: word-processed presentation is excellent no spelling mistakes reads fluently grammatically correct

10. www.isco.org.uk Principles Individual style ‘personal’ to you offer evidence to your statements first impressions count - the opening should invite the reader to continue the ending should not fizzle out or appear to lose interest

11. www.isco.org.uk Subject Specific Advice Art and Design - portfolio, presentation Biological Sciences - specific; rounded personality; understanding subject Business - key skills, work experience, interpersonal skills PPE - quality of written English, discussion and reflection,understand course Education - experience, explain career choice Engineering - maths, not too long, problem solving, teamwork skills Geography - written English important, broader issues, travel experience, IT, environment

12. www.isco.org.uk Subject Specific advice History - well-developed prose, reflecting on courses chosen, research types of course, reading beyond subject Languages - well written, time abroad, reading/films seen Law - relatively long, presentation, use of language, attention to detail Maths - lot on reasons for studying it, aspects of maths, problem-solving Medicine - motivation, understand demands, work- experience, skills, caring Psychology - structured thinking, reasons for choice, reading, interests Sports Science - personality, teamwork, sporting achievements - reflect on these and wider sporting interests

13. www.isco.org.uk Summary SO DO only include things you would discuss at interview sell yourself expand ask several people to read through your first and last attempt keep a copy Be Yourself BUT DO NOT put down anything that you cannot happily talk about repeat material that appears on the form elsewhere pad out or waffle if you have run out of material