1. Ballakermeen Sixth Form Writing your personal statement

2. What is your personal statement for? To show your interest in the course For admissions tutors to find out more about you For you to have the opportunity to sell yourself, and show your own individuality For admissions to have an excuse to reject you!

3. Basic Personal Statement Information 47 lines It can be written in word and pasted in Underlining, italicising and the use of bold print will not transfer Each time you amend it in APPLY, click on save

4. Style Do not use bullet points Use the personal pronoun, but do not begin every sentence with ‘I……’ Capital letters – ‘Environmental Biology’ is a proper noun, be consistent in your use

5. Subheadings Aspirations School Community Service Work Experience Hobbies and Interests School Prizes and Achievements Sport (or Sporting Achievements)

6. Dos Mention the subject, and show your enthusiasm and passion for it Give the reader a reason to make you an offer Show knowledge of the course content Give supporting evidence when you make a statement, showing how YOU benefited from the experience you are mentioning

7. Don’ts Teach your granny to suck eggs Make spelling mistakes. This will make your statement memorable for the wrong reasons Use pat phrases such as ‘I have always’ Use humour, it may backfire Say ‘I hope to…’ for something you really should have done already

8. Don’ts Mention what you have read unless you are well read Be too arrogant Waste time mentioning something that is listed elsewhere on the form ‘At A2 I am studying……’

9. And finally……. ‘My mother and I frequently attend dog shows, where we have won many prizes’ ‘I own my own horse and exorcise him regularly’ Did they get a place?????