Comprehensive Guide to Crafting a Winning University Application and Personal Statement
2022-23
PERSONAL STATEMENTS
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Qualification requirements are met
Predicted grades are acceptable
You have genuine interest in the course
You’ll be able to cope with the course
So what’s taken into account?
Past and predicted performance (main form and reference)
Focus, motivation, interest, passion for the subject
Evidence of reasoning ability and inquisitiveness
Evidence of independence and critical thinking
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.
Watch this video that covers the UCAS process and personal
statements made by Aston University and replaces the material that I
would normally talk through in this presentation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtZqZIxZ6kY
Look at this UCAS web page that helps you get started
https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/when-
apply/how-write-ucas-undergraduate-personal-statement
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Independent study skills
Self-awareness
Motivation and commitment
An understanding of the course
Good numeracy and literacy
Essay writing
Research skills
Time management skills
Enthusiasm to go beyond the syllabus
A
ctivity
B
enefit
C
ourse
What you’ve done
What skills it has given you
How these relate to your course
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Intellectual pretensions
Misdirected humour
Plagiarism
Mentioning one institution
Committing GBH on English
language
‘
I so don’t want to miss
this
opportunity
’
‘It was a catch 12 situation’
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•
Mention future aspirations
•
Get feedback from others
•
Advisers
•
Parents / Guardians
•
Write it early and edit
•
Take it with you to interview
•
Be prepared to answer questions
about it
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!
!
Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is.
All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful
people, who are not like you. Admit to being
useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For
other men, I yearn. For you I have no feelings
whatsoever. When we are apart, I can be forever
happy. Will you let me be. Yours, Gloria
Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is
all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful.
People who are not like you admit to being
useless and inferior. You have ruined me for
other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings
whatsoever when we are apart. I can be forever
happy – will you let me be yours? Gloria
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Same words same order but punctuation…
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…
…
…
AND
WHEN
I’M
NOT
WORKING
TOWARDS
WORLD
PEACE
,
I
ENJOY
LEARNING
LANGUAGES
FROM
SCRATCH
,
WRITING
SYMPHONIES
AND
PLAYING
A
STANDARD
OF
GOLF
THAT
TIGER
WOODS
CAN
ONLY
DREAM
ABOUT
.
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•
Personal Statements are checked against a library of those already
in the system, and from a variety of websites and paper publications
•
Each new statement is added to the library every year!
•
You are saying it is all your own work when you enter it into the form.
•
A copy of everything plagiarised is highlighted and sent to each
university you apply to if found, it won’t look good to the admissions
tutor!
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d
o
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i
n
n
g
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n
n
o
o
w
w
?
?
•
Researched the course entry requirements and
gained relevant work experience if it is required
•
Do extra curricular activities and go beyond the
syllabus
•
Started all sections of the UCAS form except the
statement and course choices.
Work on first draft of Personal Statement!!
V
i
d
e
o
L
i
n
k
s
•
https://www.unitasterdays.com/ondemand/webinar/58/personal-statements
- A
good up-to-date on demand webinar that splits the information between three
different areas and delivered by three different universities.
•
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jQ3MJgdkJY&feature=youtu.be&list=PL2SyLa
SjZODmkfy2uZa0I_zT3AIZqdjiK
– This is a great video to highlight the good and
bad ways to write your statement and I still highly recommend it as even though
made in 2011 it is totally relevant to applications now!
•
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWxFVtSUAsQ&feature=youtu.be
– A good
insight into what admissions tutors are looking for.
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…
•
Read the excellent “Personal Statement Guide” – Essex University
•
Read individual university websites and the course information to
personalise towards the course applied for (careful not to make one
university obviously stand out)
•
Complete the “Improving a Personal Statement” Tasks 1-4 and take your
time to do them properly in order rather than skip through them
•
Use the Oxford Masterclass Personal Statement log in details to set up
and work through the material at your own pace to come up with a first
draft of your own personal statement
Universities evaluate applications based on various criteria like past and predicted performance, focus, motivation, reasoning ability, and more. Personal statements play a crucial role in showcasing independence, critical thinking, enthusiasm, and self-awareness. Admissions tutors seek qualities such as research skills, time management, and a genuine interest in the course. This guide provides insights into what universities look for, dos and don'ts of personal statements, and reasons for unsuccessful applications.
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Presentation Transcript
What evidence do universities look for in an application? Qualification requirements are met Predicted grades are acceptable You have genuine interest in the course You ll be able to cope with the course So what s taken into account? Past and predicted performance (main form and reference) Focus, motivation, interest, passion for the subject Evidence of reasoning ability and inquisitiveness Evidence of independence and critical thinking The last three points are sought in your personal statement.
Personal Statements Watch this video that covers the UCAS process and personal statements made by Aston University and replaces the material that I would normally talk through in this presentation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtZqZIxZ6kY Look at this UCAS web page that helps you get started https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/when- apply/how-write-ucas-undergraduate-personal-statement
What admissions tutors are looking for Independent study skills Self-awareness Motivation and commitment An understanding of the course Good numeracy and literacy Essay writing Research skills Time management skills Enthusiasm to go beyond the syllabus
PERSONAL STATEMENT ABC GUIDE Good Activity What you ve done Better What skills it has given you Benefit Best How these relate to your course Course
REASONS GIVEN TO UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS Unsuccessful as you have You failed to demonstrate not expressed a strong Your personal statement sufficient knowledge and enough interest in the Your personal statement did not show sufficient interest in the subject in subject area does not strongly support understanding, your personal statement in your relevance
PERSONAL STATEMENT: DOS & DONTS Do s Mention future aspirations Don ts Intellectual pretensions Misdirected humour Plagiarism Mentioning one institution Committing GBH on English Get feedback from others Advisers Parents / Guardians Write it early and edit language I so don t want to missthis Take it with you to interview Be prepared to answer questions about it opportunity It was a catch 12 situation
PUNCTUATION Same words same order but punctuation Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is. Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. people, who are not like you. Admit to being People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men, I yearn. For you I have no feelings other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever. When we are apart, I can be forever whatsoever when we are apart. I can be forever happy. Will you let me be. Yours, Gloria happy will you let me be yours? Gloria
DO NOT GO OVER THE TOP AND WHEN I M NOT WORKING TOWARDS WORLD PEACE, I ENJOY LEARNING LANGUAGES FROM SCRATCH, WRITING SYMPHONIES AND PLAYING A STANDARD OF GOLF THAT TIGER WOODS CAN ONLY DREAM ABOUT.
REMEMBER: Similarity Detection Service Personal Statements are checked against a library of those already in the system, and from a variety of websites and paper publications Each new statement is added to the library every year! You are saying it is all your own work when you enter it into the form. A copy of everything plagiarised is highlighted and sent to each university you apply to if found, it won t look good to the admissions tutor!
What you should have done and still be doing now? Researched the course entry requirements and gained relevant work experience if it is required Do extra curricular activities and go beyond the syllabus Started all sections of the UCAS form except the statement and course choices. Work on first draft of Personal Statement!!
Video Links https://www.unitasterdays.com/ondemand/webinar/58/personal-statements - A good up-to-date on demand webinar that splits the information between three different areas and delivered by three different universities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jQ3MJgdkJY&feature=youtu.be&list=PL2SyLa SjZODmkfy2uZa0I_zT3AIZqdjiK This is a great video to highlight the good and bad ways to write your statement and I still highly recommend it as even though made in 2011 it is totally relevant to applications now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWxFVtSUAsQ&feature=youtu.be A good insight into what admissions tutors are looking for.
To do now and in the next three weeks Read the excellent Personal Statement Guide Essex University Read individual university websites and the course information to personalise towards the course applied for (careful not to make one university obviously stand out) Complete the Improving a Personal Statement Tasks 1-4 and take your time to do them properly in order rather than skip through them Use the Oxford Masterclass Personal Statement log in details to set up and work through the material at your own pace to come up with a first draft of your own personal statement
