UCAS - Need help with the UCAS Personal Statement?

Need help with the UCAS Personal Statement?

You can already start working on your application for 2012 entry, and there is one area that rightly deserves a good deal of attention - the Personal Statement. UCAS will not receive applications until the middle of September, which makes now the ideal time to put some thought into what you want to say.

So what things should you think about? This is your chance to shine by showing off all your skills and experience. But don't exaggerate - you may well have to answer questions on what you wrote in an interview.

The first step is to explain why you want to do the course. Here you write about your future career plans, why a subject interests you and how you have enjoyed studying it in school.

Tie in hobbies and activities with what is required for the place. Remember that your Personal Statement is about getting a place at university, so don't go too far off-track by talking about how much you enjoy spending time with your cat - unless you are applying for veterinary medicine/science!

Assistant registrar for undergraduate admissions from the University of Warwick says: "The strongest applicants are those who can link their extra-curricular activities to their proposed course of study."

Mention extra-curricular achievements. Universities are keen to hear about the skills you have learned outside of the classroom - your grades will do most of the talking for you when it comes to the academic side of your application.

Things worth talking about include ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network) awards, CREST awards, a Diploma of Achievement, Duke of Edinburgh Award and the Millennium Volunteers Scheme, as well as a host of others.

Another key point is to make sure grammar, punctuation and spelling are 100 per cent spot on. A statement chocked full of errors will create a bad impression in the eyes of an admissions officer. No matter how good your grades, a poor Personal Statement could mean you miss out on a course. Don't rely on spellchecker - it's not right every time.

Undergraduate admissions manager at the University of Nottingham explains: "These types of skills are the basics that academics will expect from someone at this level of education. Incorrect spelling, poor grammar and punctuation can make a poor impression on the reader. For courses such as English, these skills are of paramount importance."

Some people will not just be applying for one subject, and this means paying extra attention. You will need to demonstrate how they are related and the common skills and themes present. This may be quite straightforward if you are applying to do German and French, but more tricky if you are split between history and law.

What other things should you consider? Try not to bore the reader, but also do not be flippant or attempt to be funny. "The first paragraph should read like the first paragraph in a newspaper," Ross Renton, head of recruitment at the University of Hertfordshire explained to the Guardian. "Grab the reader and get them interested in your story."

Remember you have only one Personal Statement, so avoid mentioning any individual institution and make sure it is your best work.

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