How to produce an effective Personal Statement

Producing a great, effective Personal Statement to support your Uni application isn’t too hard, as long as you avoid some common mistakes.

Here are the most important!

1. Don’t quote anybody at all, waste of words  , pet peeve "as Nelson Mandela said and I agree with him....!" "Shakespeare is boring and I agree "

2. Don’t use words you never use in real life : hereunto, henceforth, hitherto fore, ergo

3. Don’t use fillers like :  “Speaking for myself, alone, personally, I believe, hugely …..

4. Don’t refer to irrelevant details: “If it hadn't been for that unfair penalty my team would have won the House Tournament”.

5. Don’t list books read with full names of authors but no comment on their impact.

6. Don’t ask rhetorical questions : Is Philosophy a waste of time, I ask ?

7. Don’t describe the syllabus - they know it !

8. Don’t forget to reference the skills you’ve acquired across all your subjects

9. Don’t refer to poor teaching, missed chances, turning over 2 pages in an exam etc

10. Don’t try to sell yourself as different, "zany" , off the wall, without boundaries

11. Don’t refer to your nan's view of you – “my nan says I'd be a brilliant Doctor …”

12. Don’t refer to  your LOCAL primary school, church, Macdonald's 

13. Don’t refer to work experience without comment on what learning points and surprises you encountered

14. Don’t overegg your pudding - you don't know everything to know about Particle Physics- yet or ever

15. Don't point out your shortcomings : I have missed my coursework deadline but will, no doubt, complete it over Easter

If you are interested in having expert guidance for your Personal Statement please get in touch.