See sections One and Six in the step-by-step guide.

• SHOW THAT YOU HAVE SKILLS SUITED TO UNIVERSITY LIFE

It is useful to show an admissions tutor that you have what it takes to survive university life and the rigours of an Higher Education course. Hence you could mention genuine skills which show that you are, for example: self-disciplined, self motivated, hard working, committed and sociable.

See Sections Two, Three, Four and Five in the step-by-step guide.

• SHOW THAT YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM LIFE AT UNIVERSITY

Universities spend large sums of money providing opportunities for students ranging from the obvious sporting facilities to specialist clubs and societies, theatre, extra lectures, research opportunities, as well as the facilities to aid social life eg. bars, concerts, and nightclubs. You might well show that you are somebody who already takes advantage of opportunities and will continue to do so. You might even state that you are looking forward to the options available at university. Remember, at the end of the day, you are at university to study. Some students have suffered because they have not got the balance right between work and social life.

See Sections Three, Four, Five and Six in the step-by-step guide.

• SHOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THE COURSE

It is useful to inform the admissions tutor that you enjoy your existing course by explaining which areas interest you most. You might also indicate which areas of the degree/HND interests you. If you have chosen a course which is vocational (ie. Leads to a specific career) then you might have to indicate why you which to pursue such a career and what experiences have influenced your decision (eg. work experience). It might also be useful to discuss particular skills that you have developed throughout the course which will help you on the degree/HND eg. essay writing, note taking, problem solving.

See sections One and Six in the step-by-step guide.

• SHOW YOURSELF TO BE AN INTERESTING PERSONALITY

Few people are incredibly outgoing, have travelled the world twice over, been captain of the hockey team, and have completed a period of work experience in exactly the area suited their degree/HND. Most of those applying for university are under twenty years of age though increasingly numbers of mature students are entering university. However, show the reader that you have seized opportunities that have arisen despite how modest the experience. Be imaginative but honest about the areas which you have experienced and how your interests or responsibilities may set you apart from many other students. Try to be specific (eg. provide detail or an example) rather than general about your interests and experiences.

KEY TERMS

The following advice should help you write a Personal Statement which is easy to read and is professionally written. Read the following advice to help you connect your sentences and paragraphs together as well as help you vary the language you use in the Personal Statement.

• IN ADDITION

"In addition to my work experience I have also gained valuable skills throughout my voluntary work."

• AS WELL AS

"As well as my involvement in team games I am also keen in playing individually competitive sport."

• REINFORCE

"My involvement in the school voluntary programme has reinforced my decision to study a degree in Nursing."

• STRENGTHEN

"My decision to study a degree in Economics has been strengthened by my enjoyment and success in my A level course."

• FURTHER MORE

"Further more, I am particularly suited to a degree in Chemistry because of my love of the subject and my keen interest to further my knowledge of the subject."

• BESIDES

"Besides my involvement with sports I am also involved in amateur dramatics."

• NOT TO MENTION

"Being involved in the voluntary work programme not to mention my work experience has provided an opportunity to work with a diverse range of people."

• MORE RECENTLY

"Although I have taken part in classical music concerts, more recently I have decided to learn to play the piano."

• ENABLED ME

"The opportunity to play in the school football team enabled me to work as part of a team."

• PROVIDED ME

"The work experience provided me with an opportunity to work with a range of people."

• OPPORTUNITY TO

"The opportunity to work with people was provided by my work experience."

ADVICE ABOUT USING ‘I’

Beginning many sentences with ‘I’ is very easy to do, especially when writing about yourself. Instead, try to create varied sentences with a range of alternative starting points:

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 791