personal statements making a successful university application
TRANSCRIPT
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Personal StatementsMaking a successful university application
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Getting It RightWhy Does It Matter?
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Getting It RightWhy Does It Matter?
Competition for particular courses and at certain universities
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Your Application• GCSEs/equivalent results
• AS/equivalent results
• A2/equivalent predictions
• Interviews, Admissions Tests & References
• Personal Statement
• Your Personal Statement is sometimes the integral part of your submission
• You will need to meet deadlines to maximise your chances of success
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Overview
• Integral part of the UCAS submission
• Provides the first step towards and point of contact
with the university of your choice
• Every statement is read
• 4000 characters for you to explain why you should be
picked to study that particular course
• No single correct way of producing them
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You n
You need to communicate
• Why the chosen course is suited to you
• Personal qualities that will benefit you at university
• What you can bring to the university (extra-curricular activities and interests)
• You will need to meet deadlines to maximise your chances of success
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Your chance to show what YOU can offer and why you’d be an asset to the University
Possible Structure
Write a concluding statement
Your work experience
Your hobbies and interests
Your skills and achievements
Your interest in the course/subject
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Why this subject?Enjoyment of subject
Why is it important to you?Why is it enjoyable?
Enjoyment of a particular aspect Which aspect stands out from the rest? Why?
A current subject in more depth, new subject or dimension
What is of specific interests within the programme offered? Link to an element of a current course?
Interest reinforced by work experience
How did work experience help? What did you do/learn?
A prerequisite for a chosen careerWhich career? How does the course fit into plans?
Inspiration from a person or eventLecture, visit, book, programme, event, experience, film, protest, legal case?
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Experiences thus far
• Your education
• Project Work
• Voluntary Work
• Extra-curricular Activities
• Work Experience (e.g. Law, Teaching)
• Books, Newspapers, Journals, Blogs
• TV Programmes and Documentaries
“The strongest applicants are those who can link their extra-
curricular activities to their proposed course of study”
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Personality
Who you are
Sports achievementsMusical qualifications
Charity Work
Prefect
Academic awards
Duke of Edinburgh
Head boy or girl
University summer schools
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Hobbies and InterestsDeveloped excellent
team working
skills
I learnt quickly,
adapting my game
plan
I want to continue
playing rugby at university
Organisation and time
management skills
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Part-time Jobs
Developed excellent
communication skills
I am able to work
effectively under pressure
Responsibility
Financially
independent
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Apply before you go away!
Taking a Gap Year
Make the most of it!
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Be yourself!
Top Tips
• Be original and write with an active, positive tone
• Do not mention individual institutions
• Avoid starting with a quote/humour
• Ensure interests and hobbies mentioned relate to the
programme choices
• They don’t want to see a chronological history of your
education
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Questions?
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Access and Student Recruitment
Substitute Personal Statement
• You can submit a substitute personal statement directly to Durham by uploading a Microsoft Word document which replaces the personal statement in your UCAS application
• There is no requirement for an applicant to submit a substitute personal statement, nor will providing one give any automatic advantage.
• Same parameters as UCAS statement.
• submit it using online formd, no later than 3 calendar days after submitting the UCAS application
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Access and Student Recruitment
After the RepliesSupporting students after receiving their replies:
• Just as important as supporting them in deciding where to apply and helping with their application.
• Deciding between offers – select realistic choices for firm and insurance whilst maintaining effort to achieve grades (it’s not over yet!)
• Coping with ‘rejection’ – expectations must be realistic
• All Universities are special so any offer is an achievement!