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10 Things NOT to put in your personal statement

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10 Things NOT to put in your personal statement

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What is a personal statement?

A Ucas personal statement is a short reflective essay you write about why you're the perfect candidate for the university course/s you're applying to.

It's a key part of your Ucas application, alongside your predicted or achieved A-level grades (or equivalent) etc. It's read by admissions tutors at the universities you apply to, who'll decide whether to offer you a place or not.

Your personal statement should demonstrate how and why you're a fitting candidate for their course - and the institution as a whole - through:

your passion for the subject or field, including specific areas or topics you're interested in;

how you've made an effort to engage with your subject already;

what you've learned or how it's developed your understanding of your area so far;

what you want to do in the future.

Most importantly, you need to link this back to the course.

It's important to note that you only write one personal statement, which is seen by all the universities you apply to. We cover writing a statement for multiple courses, below.

Why is your personal statement important?

Unlike your grades or admissions test scores - which many other candidates may also have - your personal statement is the main way you can distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack (so you're not just another Ucas number).

After all, three As at A-level - while impressive - doesn't tell someone about your long standing passion for your subject, perspective-changing work placements, long-term goals etc.

Plus, your personal statement is written in your own words.

Your statement can form the basis of an interview if you're invited to one; so you can use your statement to get an admissions tutor excited about meeting you, as well as shape what you might talk about.

Admissions tutors you speak to in Clearing - should you go through this - can see your personal statement too, and may ask about what you write here. In fact, we recommend re-reading your statement prior to results day, to refresh your memory about what you wrote.

How do I write a personal statement?

You'll likely go through a few drafts before you get the final version you submit. So don't expect to thrash it out in a weekend.

Check when your school wants your statement finished by, and work backwards from there. This will give you enough time to ask others for their feedback.

Start with your subject

It's pretty much impossible to start your personal statement without a degree subject in mind. It would be like applying to an unknown job by simply stating your general strengths - these won't necessarily be relevant.

It's easier with a few courses in mind. While you can pull together a rough draft while still researching specific courses, it can help to have a solid idea of your five Ucas choices (or at least most of them).

See what they have in common (eg modules, key skills required, modes of assessment) and highlight these in your statement.
Read our full guide to choosing a university course.
Make it personal

The key word is 'personal': this doesn't mean pouring your heart out or emotionally blackmailing an admissions tutor.

And while you can ask a friend for their advice or look at statement templates, what works for someone else won't necessarily work for you.

Remember, any statements that show signs of plagiarism will be flagged by Ucas' system and will hurt your chances of applying.

Oxbridge vs non-Oxbridge

Personal statements for Oxford and Cambridge tend to be more focused on academics, serving as a platform for you to discuss your understanding and thoughts on material that you've been exposed to.
Check out our full guide to applying to Oxbridge.
What do I write in my personal statement?

Below is a rough solid six-point plan from The Student Room to start you off:

1. Introduction

Why you want to study this course or subject at university. Remember, your personal statement is seen by all your Ucas choices; so don't make references to a specific institution.

2. Academics

Specifically subjects you've studied that are relevant to the course/subject you're applying to, including specific topics or work.

This section should make up the majority of your personal statement - around 75% according to some careers experts - but this might vary depending on where/what you're applying to (eg Oxbridge) and what else you have to talk about.

For instance, a law or medicine applicant may want to invest more time talking about relevant experience they've accumulated.

3 Interest in your subject beyond the classroom

This could be through books or journals you've read, events you've been to, podcasts you've listened to etc. Don't just make a long list though; pick one or two key examples and focus on these.

Don't be afraid to be critical either; critical analysis is a key skill at degree-level study.

You may want to combine this with the next section.

4. Relevant work experience (paid or unpaid)

Like the section above, it's quality over quantity. Pick out one or two key experiences or placements, talking about what you did and what you took away from these.

Did anything surprise you? Did it convince you to pursue a certain area or career (or did it even put you off one)? Read the course description for all the courses you're applying to, and pick out the skills or qualities that pop up frequently (then show how you've demonstrated these).

5. Hobbies and interests

This section should be brief, sticking to the most relevant ones only. These could be extracurricular activities that demonstrate key transferable skills that aren't necessarily tied to your subject.

For instance, being captain of a sports team shows you can work with others, communicate clearly, lead and motivate others, etc - all of these are impressive to an admissions tutor, regardless of subject.

Remember, that you're writing to an official institution in an academic context; keep in mind how someone with no prior knowledge of your interests, might perceive them.

An older academic may not quite appreciate your Taylor Swift fandom in the same way as your friends. Plus, what does this say about what you bring to the table?

6. Conclusion

This should reiterate the key points you've already made, giving your statement a satisfying sense of closure.

If you have an idea of your future ambitions (eg postgraduate study, career paths), explain how studying this course will help you fulfil these.

Alternatively, you may talk about your broader goals for university, or areas you're looking forward to studying.

Keep the above in mind as you plot out, draft and re-draft your statement.

What can you leave out of your personal statement?

You don't have a whole lot of space in your statement; so think twice about including these (or simply cut them entirely):

Cliche phrases: things like 'Since I've been a child' and the P-word (aka 'passion') can find themselves in your personal statement all too easily - and everyone else's, too. Be original!

Famous quotes: admissions tutors want to see what you think, not Nelson Mandela or Maya Angelou (and not over the course of reading a hundred statements). Unless it's a lesser-known quote that illustrates your point, try not to use them (or at least, don't kick your statement off with them).

Complicated vocabulary: if you can say something in five simple words rather than ten, do that. You don't want to risk looking silly and using a word the wrong way, nor making your statement a mission to read.

Humour: your statement is a formal essay with a lot riding on it, and you want to show that you're taking your Ucas application seriously. Humour is really subjective and easy to get wrong - it's best to just steer clear.

Personal statement FAQ

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How to write a Ucas personal statement - Which?

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A Ucas personal statement is a short reflective essay you write about why you're the perfect candidate for the university course/s you're applying to. It's a key part of your Ucas application, alongside your predicted or achieved A-level grades (or equivalent) etc.

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Example from Harvard's Top 10 Personal Statement 2017

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Example from Harvard's Top 10 Personal Statement 2017

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Do's and Don'ts for your Personal Statement.pdf

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Brainstorming for your personal statement.docx

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