1. Personal statements What is a personal statement?
What makes a good personal statement?
Getting started
What to include

2. What is a personal statement?
A 47 line / 4000 character supplementary written piece
submitted with your application
Explains your motivations
A chance for your personality to come through

3. The admissions tutor will want to know…
Are you suited to the course?
Are you hardworking?
Can you work under pressure?
Will you be able to adjust to the university environment?
What transferable skills can you bring to university?
Are you genuinely interested in the course and have you shown you have researched it?

4. What makes a good personal statement?
Try to demonstrate…
‘Enthusiasm… passion.. ’
‘Careful research ... individuals who understand and show motivation for the course of their choice’
‘An element of reflection and analysis really makes the difference to the application. It’s not what you’ve done but how you think about what you have done.’

5. Preparation… Decide on course Research course details Research
Research course requirements
Research
up-to-date information
Read some examples of good personal statements

6. Self reflection…
Why does the course interest me/Why study it in more depth?
What specific topics do I enjoy and why?
Do I understand what the course/profession involves?
Have I done extra reading and research?
What are my career plans?
What kind of extra-curricular experience and skills do I have which could be relevant?

7. Extra-curricular info
What do I include?
Roughly 70% - 30% split in content
Course specific
Extra-curricular info

8. Mind Map Experience of Personal experiences the subject
Course specific
Mind Map
Experience of
the subject
Personal experiences
Course specific
Course content –
themes not
specifics
Relevant skills
Career ambitions
Wider reading

9. Extra-curricular info
MIND MAP
Evidence of
self-motivation
Volunteer
work
Sports, hobbies,
interests
Extra-curricular information to include
Personal
achievements
Positions of
responsibility
Gap year plans
Work
Experience
Hurdles they’ve overcome

10. Writing about extra- curricular activities
Extra-curricular info
Writing about extra- curricular activities
Tutors want to see reflection
Analysis of what you did
Highlight transferable skills

11. Reflection and analysis
'I spent two weeks working at a department store. I enjoyed speaking to customers and helping them with their enquiries'
OR:
'I spent two weeks managing customer enquiries at a department store. I learnt how to interact with customers and handle complaints. The experience highlighted the importance of positive communication between a business and its customers, and taught me how to manage difficult enquiries effectively. I would like to develop this skill further by studying a degree in public relations.

12. Remember to relate the skills to your course and university life!
YOUR SKILLS
PERSONAL EXAMPLES
Communication
Dealing with customers face-to-face in my retail job. Difficult customers can be a challenge, but I have learnt techniques to manage these situations. These techniques are…..
Organisational
Working as part of a team
Leadership
Information Technology
Creativity
Problem-solving
Other languages
Negotiation
Remember to relate the skills to your course and university life!

13. Extra-curricular info
Course specific
Extra-curricular info
NEXT STEPS…
Structure the statement so that it has a rough split of 70% course-specific content and 30% extra-curricular content.
Begin to link the text together so that it follows a logical structure and reads and flows nicely.
Check the character count on your word processing software and begin to cut it down (or add to it!)
Leave it for a few days and come back to it with fresh eyes
Ask a parent or friend to proofread it.
Ask a teacher or careers adviser to proofread it.

14. DO General points DON’T …Give yourself plenty of time
…Start with ‘I’ve always wanted to study…’
…Sell yourself
…Sound boastful
…Be honest and sound natural
…Try to be funny, controversial or pretentious
…Look at example personal statements and get outside help
…Use quotes or copy anything
…Proof read and get someone else to proof read
…Leave it to the last minute

15. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT UNIVERSITY

16. Ask a student… www.twitter.com/brookesstudents

17. timeline 2013 2014 Summer 2013 September onwards October 2013
January – Easter
Register with UCAS
Write personal statement
Apply to UCAS
Oxford/Cambridge/ medicine deadline
Receive offers and choose 2 universities
2014
15 January UCAS Deadline
15 Oct medicine, dentistry, Oxbridge.