Embarking on your journey to university is an exciting milestone. Two key steps will play a big role in your success: crafting a memorable personal statement and acing your university interview (if applicable). These moments are your chance to showcase who you are and why you’re a perfect fit for your course.
In this blog post, we’ll break down the essentials of writing a personal statement that makes you stand out from the crowd and aligns with what Admissions Teams are looking for. Plus, we’ll share our top tips for preparing for university interviews.
So grab a notebook and let’s dive in!
What does a university personal statement look like?
An undergraduate personal statement is an important part of the university application process. It's your chance to talk about your experiences, interests and passions outside of school or college.
Your personal statement can't be longer than 4,000 characters (which is around two sides of A4), so you'll need to think carefully about how you're going to structure your statement in order to fit everything in you want to say.
There's no right or wrong way to lay out your personal statement, but it can help to split it into four paragraphs:
A clear introduction: Don't overthink your introduction. Admissions Tutors simply want to see your enthusiasm for the subject, so think about what interests you most about the course you're applying for and why you have chosen it.
A section dedicated to your achievements: Your personal statement is your chance to share any experience you have of the subject that isn’t already on your UCAS application. For example, work experience, placements, and relevant activities at school.
A section about your interests outside of school/college: Use this paragraph to showcase your passion and really demonstrate who you are. If you have hobbies or extra-curricular activities related to the subject, include them here - particularly those that show you are a reliable and responsible person.
A memorable conclusion: Share your goal of attending university and what your hopes are for the future. If possible, include a memorable closing sentence - you want to make an impact on Admissions Tutors.
Top tips for your university personal statement
Here are 6 things to bear in mind when writing your personal statement:
- Check course descriptions to help determine what qualities and skills universities are looking for, so you can relate your own experiences to these.
- Read some examples online for inspiration on structuring your statement.
- Keep it positive and enthusiastic but avoid jokes and quotes – your statement should be passionate, not cheesy!
- Start early. If you leave your personal statement to the last minute, you may leave important information out.
- Draft it multiple times. This will allow you to refine your statement and ensure the final version is as strong as it can be.
- Proofread your personal statement as many times as you can and make sure your parents, guardians and tutors read it as well. You don’t want spelling and grammatical errors to spoil your hard work.
How to give a great university interview
For some of our courses here at the University of Cumbria, the application process also includes an interview.
While every interview is different depending on the course you have applied for, there are a few things you can do in advance to help prepare.
- Read over your personal statement again and be prepared to expand or elaborate on anything you’ve said.
- Revisit the university prospectus and course details. Think about how you'd answer questions about why you've chosen this course and university.
- Ask a teacher or parent to give you a mock interview. While it may seem daunting to do this, it will boost your confidence and highlight any areas you need to work on ahead of the real thing.
- Read up on current affairs relevant to your subject – the interviewer/s may bring these into the discussion.
- Prepare some of your own questions. Just make sure they haven’t already been answered in any correspondence you've been sent by the university.
Want to find out more?
You are ready to take that next step. Ready to make that life-changing decision and work towards your career goals. By downloading our prospectus you will have the world at your fingertips.
You can browse our 100+ unique course options and have access to finance and support information to get you started. Discover all of the courses available to you from Arts to Zoology – we’re excited to see what you choose.
.jpg)
