This site has been created by Rob Oliver and Helen Martin to support students in writing the Personal Statement for university applications in the UK. It is based on workshops given at the International School of Amsterdam since 2001 and at Rijnlands Lyceum Oegstgeest since 2008. Use the menu on the left or, if you have a specific question, try our...
The Personal Statement and What Universities are Looking For
Wednesday, September 21, 2005 | comments
Why the 'Personal Statement'?The personal statement is an important part of the UCAS application process for university entrance in the UK. Along with predicted grades and the school reference, it is the one of the three main factors used by universities to decide whether to invite you to interview or offer you a place. The box on the application form...
Drafting the Personal Statement
Friday, September 16, 2005 | comments
We encourage you to start early on your PS and do as many drafts as you need to before it is right. Ideally leave a few days between drafts.When drafting your personal statement you usually need to make changes. The first words you get down on paper will probably not be those you send off. You will add, delete, re-arrange, combine pieces of information,...
Getting Ideas for your Personal Statement
Thursday, September 15, 2005 | comments
The PS is an important document because it is your main opportunity during the university application process to shine as an individual in your own words. However, finding those words is not always easy. You may not know exactly what you want to do. You may be in two (or three!) minds about courses. You may feel that your achievements or interests...
FAQs: UCAS Personal Statements
Monday, September 12, 2005 | comments
Do you have a specific question about UCAS personal statements? Here we give our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about writing the personal statement.How long does a personal statement have to be?The online UCAS application form gives you a box or 'fixed field' for the personal statement (PS). The field allows for about 4000...
Outline for a Personal Statement
Friday, September 9, 2005 | comments
When planning your UCAS personal statement it is sometimes helpful to do an outline to make sure that each paragraph has a specific purpose. This helps you to get an overview of the whole statement. It also makes the job of linking paragraphs together easier.Remember that statements are usually read quickly and the first impressions given by your words...
