Your Personal Statement Planner

Your Personal Statement is probably the most important part of your UCAS form and admissions tutors use it, along
with your reference from college and predicted grades, to decide whether to invite you for an interview at university
or make you a ‘Conditional Offer’. It must be related to the course you are interested in, so you need to have an idea
of what subjects you would like to study at university before starting.

It is often the hardest part of the UCAS application form for most students and many students find it difficult to
write about themselves, particularly their own strengths, so don’t worry if you’re struggling for ideas. Use this guide
to help you to get started and to ensure you write a great personal statement.

Now you’ve chosen your A. Key Facts

course and made your
university choices, your
personal statement is next.
This is your opportunity to
‘sell yourself’ to University
admissions tutors. The guide
will help you to prepare:-
❖ Your personal statement can be a maximum of 4000 characters.
❖ This is roughly one page long.
❖ Only one personal statement can be uploaded onto UCAS.
❖ This means every university will see the same personal statement.
❖ UCAS does not ‘spell check’, so write your statement in ‘Word’.
❖ UCAS has a ‘Copycatch’ programme, which detects plagiarism.
❖ You can change your statement up until your application is sent.
❖ ‘Admissions tutors’ will read your application form and statement.

• Key Facts

• CANVAS Resources
• The ABC Method
• Do’s and Don’ts
• Structure and Planning
B. Careers CANVAS Resources
for Personal Statements
Careers CANVAS has a range of resources to help you write a stand out
statement to get you into the university of your choice. It has:
❖ A selection of printable guides
❖ Videos clips from university admissions tutors
❖ A UCAS time line and IT tools to support you
❖ Links so you can find example personal statements

C. Help in College
❖ Arrange to see your personal tutor in college
❖ Work through your UCAS application in Tutor Group
❖ Book a careers appointment through Students Services
❖ Remember that teachers, friends and family can also help

Universities
Look on are
flooded with UCAS statements every year.
the Careers CANVAS
How can you make sure that yours makes an impact?
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 Before you start thinking about the structure of your personal statement,
The ABC Method you need to reflect on the skills you have developed through your academic
achievements and extra-curricular activities. It’s important that you provide
It is important that your
evidence for any skills that you mention in your personal statement.
statement is not full of lists. Lists
of what you have done or lists of
skills you have. It’s also important D. The ABC Method
to highlight the skills you
Activity: e.g. I am the school captain of the rugby team
developed and how they are
relevant to the course.
Benefit: e.g. This shows I have strong leadership, communication and
The ABC method is one way of
team working skills
writing about these experiences in
more detail. Course: e.g. This is relevant to Business Studies as being able to
Activity: What you have done communicate effectively is an important skill when working on projects.
Benefit: Skills you have gained
Course: How this prepares you Activity:

Why not try for you

Benefit:
yourself?
Course:

Activity

Benefit

Course:

DOS DON’TS
Research thoroughly, via websites, open days and Talk about a single institution unless you are only
prospectuses. This shows your knowledge and applying to one – it will put others off.
commitment to the course

Check course requirements, including UCAS points and Sell yourself short – be positive and confident about
GCSEs. yourself and the course you are applying for.

Write about your reasons for choosing the course – be
sincere and provide evidence.
Talk positively and honestly about yourself (avoid being
critical of events/courses/activities that didn’t go to plan).
Be clear and succinct – make sure that each point is
relevant.
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Lie or plagiarise – each personal statement is checked to
see if it matches any previously submitted applications of
those that are on-line.
Write about irrelevant activities – e.g. If your hobby or
part time job relates to your application then talk about it
in detail but otherwise keep it short.
Write your statement on UCAS – it doesn’t have a spell
checker, so use Word, or even better - ask someone else
to check it!
 F. Personal Statement Planner
Section 1 Introduction – write about why you are applying for the course
Explain why you want to study the course and factors that have influenced your decision. You might want to
talk about some of the following:
• Why you are interested in the subject and what motivates you to studying it further.
• What you want to learn about at university or career options after university.
• Personal experiences that have motivated you.
• For courses such as teaching, nursing and other health courses, you might know people who work in this profession or you
could have an interest in health, psychology, children etc.

Write your ideas here:

Section 2 College Course – Your course knowledge and understanding

Write about how your college course links to the subject you are applying for at university. This could include:
• What you have learnt about in your courses and how it will prepare you to succeed in your chosen subjects.
• Modules that you have particularly enjoyed, challenges you’ve overcome or things you are proud of.
• Projects you’ve taken part in (e.g. film making, presentations design projects, performances, group assignments).
• Relevant extra-curricular visits, trips and additional activities (e.g. geography field trips, Crown Court visits).

Write your ideas here:

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 Section 2 College Course – Other educational activities
Write about other relevant activities you have taken part in whilst you’ve been at college, such as:
• Independent research outside of college - additional reading /visits/ lectures.
• Your EPQ project and your assignment outline.
• Summer school, taster sessions, GM Higher events and open days to universities
• Widening Participation programmes you have taken part in, such as MAP, Social Mobility, Access to Leeds, and the
academic assignments you have completed for these.

Write your ideas here:

Section 2 College Course - Skills

Write about the skills you’ve gained that are ‘subject specific’, as well as ‘academic and transferable skills’.
• Subject specific skills are those that you have acquired through your subjects (e.g. problem solving, analysis, lab work skills,
communication/interpersonal etc.)
• Academic/Transferable skills are more general (e.g. communication, research, organisation, independent learning, time
management, critical thinking, essay writing etc.)

Write your ideas here:

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 Section 3: Work experience, college placements and volunteering
For some courses it is essential to have relevant work experience (paid or voluntary).
• As a general rule, the more closely related your work experience is to your university course, the more you should write
about it.
• You could include details of placements that are part of your course, work experience or volunteering roles that you have
organized independently.
• Remember to write about what you have learned from your placement/work experience.
• Use appendix A to help you identify skills

Write your ideas here:

Section 4: How to make the most of your part time job

• If your part time job is not related, keep this section brief.
• Identify the transferable skills that may be relevant to your course.
• Whether you work in retail, a restaurant, have done babysitting, or worked for a member of your family, you’re likely to have
developed several key skills (verbal communication skills, initiative and motivation, time management etc.)
• Use Appendix B to help you identify your skills

Write your ideas here:

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 Section 5: Other Information
Use this section to write about any interests which you may have developed through college and work experiences, extra-
curricular activities, personal interests and hobbies or achievements, remembering to give examples of these. These might
include some of the following:

Categories Activities you have taken part in
College Activities Student Council, Student Voice, fundraising,
prefect or mentor.
Personal Development National Citizen Service (NCS), Duke of
Edinburgh, Princes Trust, Scouts or Guides.
Positions of responsibility Head of Year, form representative, Student
Council, sports captain, charity fundraising.
Sport Playing a team sport, being captain of a team,
regular gym goer.
Religious or community Activities undertaken as part of a religious centre
activities (e.g. church, mosque or synagogue) or
youth/community centre.
Achievements Played sport at county or national level,
certificates for attendance or punctuality, driving
test.
Hobbies Computer Gaming, writing programs, sports,
reading, blogs, photography, first aid.
The skills you can show
Communication skills, interpersonal skills, empathy,
presentation skills or team work.
Organisation skills, independence, empathy, insight,
communication and interpersonal skills, or caring skills.
Responsibility, organization, planning, commitment,
team work, leadership or communication skills.
Team work, leadership, commitment, hardworking.
Organisation, team work, commitment, communication
skills.
Dedication, commitment, reliability, hardworking,
responsibility.
Show balance between academic and other
commitments, communication, and dedication.

Write your ideas here:

Paragraph 6: Conclusion
Finally, write a brief conclusion that summarises the whole statement. You could include some of the following:
• Why you wish to pursue a career in this profession.
• Highlight the reasons you feel you will make a good candidate for the course.
• Remember what the admissions tutors are looking for and leave them with a good impression.

Write your ideas here:

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Appendix A: How to write about work experience, placements & volunteering
Skill or Knowledge
Relating ‘theory’ to ‘practice’
Awareness of your degree
course or career
Communication Skills
Initiative and Motivation
Resilience
Time Management
Team Work
What you can write about in your personal statement
• Give examples of how you may have linked theory in college with practice on
college placements, work experience and volunteering.
• For example, you could write about studying ‘Equality and Diversity’ and how
you support children in primary school with additional needs.
• You might have completed a STEM summer placement, used particular CAD or
numeracy skills.
• Courses such as teaching and healthcare professions (nursing, radiography,
physiotherapy, audiology, paramedic etc.) have compulsory work experience
requirements, so will need to write in detail about your experience.
• Give details of your activities, but focus on the skills you have developed.
• Make sure you include what you have learned from your placement/work
experience and some reflection about this.
• Your placement will have given you the opportunity to communicate with
customers, patients or colleagues.
• Strong communication skills are essential not only for working life, but life as a
student, so that you can develop good working relationships with students and
tutors, for delivering presentations, discussing ideas and working in groups.
• You can show that you are motivated and able to take the initiative by having
organised your own work experience placement or volunteering roles
independently.
• What did this involve doing, and how does it relate to the course you are
applying for?
• Did you have to persist in contacting lots of organisations to get your work
experience? This shows your resilience in sticking to a task.
• Resilience is the ability to bounce back from a difficult situation without letting
it bother you. It’s an increasingly popular quality required by employers, and is
also essential for university life
• Highlight your time management skills, by showing that you successfully
manage your placement/volunteering with your college studies.
• You could mention how changed your volunteering hours, when you needed to
focus on exams, progress tests or assignments.
• Successful students are able to prioritise effectively, plan their studies and
to meet course deadlines.
• You can also show your flexibility and adaptability
• Have you been working in a team on placement? Duke of Edinburgh or NCS?
• Team work is the ability to work well with others and be adaptable in order to
meet a required objective.
• This is useful for joint projects and assignments at university.
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 Appendix B: Skills from Part Time Jobs
Skill Examples of your duties
Serving customers Working in a customer service role gives you
the chance to communicate with a wide
range of people. It allows you to experience
and deal with a mixture of personality types
and age ranges.
Using your initiative You can show that you are motivated and able
to take the initiative by having looked for a part
time job to support yourself, especially if you
organised this yourself or need to contribute to
your family income.
Dealing with difficult Students who can show that they are able to
situations or deal with criticism or difficult customers can
customers show their resilience and ability to remain calm
in stressful situations.
Working to deadlines Highlight your ability to work long hours and
or meeting sales meet sales targets at busy times of the year
targets (e.g. Christmas).
Managing your Highlight your strong time management skills,
college studies with by showing that you successfully manage your
your PT job PT job with your college studies. You could also
mention how changed your shift patterns when
you needed to focus on exams, progress tests or
assignments.
Working in a team You can show your team working skills if you
work in retail, a restaurant or behind a bar.
Show that you understand that you work
together to ensure all tasks are completed in
order to provide an excellent service to your
customers.
Ability to solve You can show your ability to solve problems
problems through you part time job. For e.g. If you’re
working on commission (retail sector) and
need to coming up with creative ways to
make sales or being flexible about shift
patterns.
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How this is relevant for university
Strong communication skills are essential not
only for working life, but life as a student, to
develop good working relationships with
students and tutors, for delivering
presentations, discussing ideas and working in
groups.
Universities want students who are able to
take the initiative when it comes to their
studies. They are looking for students who
have the drive and motivation to see tasks
through to the end and who are able to
produce work of a high standard.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from a
difficult situation without letting it bother you.
It’s an increasingly popular quality required by
employers, and is also essential for university
life
This will highlight your stamina and
commitment, which will demonstrate how
well-prepared for the demands of university
life.
Successful students are able to prioritise
effectively, plan their studies and to meet
course deadlines. You can also show your
flexibility and adaptability.
Team work is the ability to work well with
others and be adaptable in order to meet a
required objective. This is useful for joint
projects and assignments.
At university, some of the problems that are
faced by students include: putting together an
argument for an essay, debugging a computer
program or developing a strategy to reach the
next level of a computer game.
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