do's and don'ts of writing a personal statement

LIVE MASTERCLASS: 7 Strategies For Parents To Help Your Child Earn $100,000 College Scholarships & Ace The New 2024 Digital SAT. Enroll Free!

Personal Statement Do’s & Don’ts

Your grades and standardized test scores are set by now, so the personal statement is your last chance to add something new to your college applications.

An effective personal statement is well-written, avoids cliches, tells a story about you that shows the admissions committee who you are, and brags a little—but doesn’t show off.

I’ve compiled a list of personal statement ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ to help you as you work your way through your first few drafts.

For even more help with the college admissions process, including boosting that standardized test score, consider taking an SAT prep course or ACT prep course with Prep Expert.

Do Tell A Story

To keep admissions officers interested, tell a story about yourself, rather than write a traditional five-paragraph essay.

Admissions officers read thousands of personal statements every year. You want yours to be compelling and memorable. So, be creative—think about an experience or part of your biography that’s special to you, and write about it.

Avoid topics admissions officers are likely to read about over and over again in other personal statements. Plenty of people have volunteered for Habitat for Humanity or been the captain of their high school basketball team, for example.

Remember, you want to stand out—so, if you do write about something like this, put your own unique spin on it.

Do Brag About Yourself

It’s a personal statement—it’s okay to write about your strengths and accomplishments.

Most people aren’t comfortable bragging about themselves. But that is exactly what to do in your personal statement. Talk about:

Sccomplishments
Moments where you made yourself proud

Just be sure to do so tastefully.

How do you strike this balance? Show, don’t tell.

Don’t tell the admissions committee you’re a good person—show them you’re a good person by writing about a good deed that you performed.

Don’t tell them you’re the best basketball player in the state—set the scene and describe how you led your teammates to victory in the championship game.

A good rule of thumb here is to try and use verbs, rather than adjectives.

Do Respect Word Limits

Overworked admissions officers won’t agree that you’re worth more of their time than other applicants—keep your personal statement within the word limit.

Most colleges and universities have a word limit for personal statements. While you might think that you have a particularly compelling story to tell, and need more paragraphs than alotted, don’t give in to this temptation.

Being over by a couple of words isn’t a huge problem—admissions officers aren’t going to count your personal statement word for word—going way over the word limit though will not be a plus for your application.

As mentioned, admissions officers have to read thousands of personal statements every year—so don’t go and give them extra homework.

Besides, you can tell a great story about yourself within the word limit. Being confined to five paragraphs or a couple of pages forces you to write only about the most important and interesting aspects of your story.

If you’re having trouble meeting the word limit, on the other hand, you probably don’t have enough to say about the topic you’ve selected. Go back to the drawing board and try telling a different story.

Do Obey The Rules Of Grammar

It’s okay to use a more personal style of writing, but admissions officers want to know you can write well—check your spelling, and follow the rules of grammar.

Your personal statement is not the place to use slang or casual language. But do show off your command of vocabulary—you want your personal statement to show you’re ready for college-level writing.

Do Personalize Your Statement

Be sure to reference the school you’re applying to in your personal statement— but don’t accidentally tell Yale how much you’re hoping to attend Harvard.

Even if you’re using the Common Application, you should tailor your personal statement to each school to which you’re applying. Mention the school in your closing paragraph, for example.

It’s fine to recycle the same personal statement for several applications—almost everyone does this—but don’t simply use the find-and-replace function to change the name of the school and be done with it.

Do a thorough once-over to make sure you haven’t accidentally mentioned how much you want to attend Duke in the personal statement you’re sending to Georgetown. (This might seem like a no-brainer, but admissions officials report goofs like this do happen all the time.)

Do Get Feedback

Have a few people look over your personal statement for you before you submit it—both to catch typos, and to assess its strengths and weaknesses.

After all the writing you’ll be doing, you’ll need a few other pairs of eyes to help you see what you’ve been missing. So, once you’ve written a draft of your personal statement, it’s a good idea to show it to others—friends, parents, teachers—and ask their opinions.

Do they think you’ve done a good job introducing yourself to the admissions committee? Did you misspell the college’s name or leave a comma out of place? Let someone else’s fresh perspective tighten up what you’ve put together so far and make it as great as possible.

Don’t Restate Your Resume

Don’t use your personal statement to repeat information admissions officers can find in other parts of your application.

You want your personal statement to stand out in a sea of applicants, and you also want to show a side of you that isn’t shown in the other parts of your application. So, don’t make the most common mistake that many applicants make.

That mistake is simply writing a laundry list of your extracurricular activities and academic accomplishments. Admissions officials can already get this information by looking at your application and high school transcript.

[leadmagnet_five]

Don’t Write About Sensitive Topics

Don’t write about anything that might make the reader feel awkward or uncomfortable—your personal statement should be positive and uplifting.

There are certain topics—domestic violence or sexual assault, for example—that might have had a profound impact on your life. You could be tempted to write about these things, to show how you have successfully overcome adversity. Don’t.

Not to downplay these experiences and their personal importance, but these topics, and others like them, are simply too sensitive to write about in a brief personal statement.

It’s not a bad idea to write about how you have overcome adversity, but your personal statement should be positive and leave your reader feeling good, not uncomfortable.

Don’t Have Someone Else Write Your Personal Statement For You

Admissions officers will be able to tell if someone else wrote your personal statement, so make sure the writing is all yours.

This might seem like another no-brainer, but each year, plenty of applicants have someone else write their personal statements for them. These applicants mistakenly think that asking a stronger writer or a native speaker to pen their essay will leave their application in better shape.

However, admissions committees are alert to this practice, and if your ‘voice’ in your personal statement is significantly different from the one in your SAT or ACT essay, admissions officers are going to know they’re not reading your actual writing.

Submitting someone else’s work as your own—better known as plagiarism—is not a good look for your application, and might result in an automatic ding.

Don’t Forget To Show Some Self-Awareness

Show admissions officers that you’re self-aware by avoiding topics that make you look spoiled or insensitive.

Be aware of the advantages you’ve grown up with so far in life. Plenty of students want to write about their life-changing trip to Costa Rica, for example.

But, unless you do so in a way that shows true cultural awareness or engagement with global issues, all you’re really doing is bragging about a really cool vacation that you took.

Unfortunately, that’s not something an admissions officer wants to read about while reviewing a giant pile of applications on their desk.

[leadmagnet_two]

Nor is this type of personal statement likely to reflect well upon you against other applicants, who are writing about topics like being the first in their family to attend college, overcoming an illness, or being an immigrant, for example. Take a minute to think about how your topic choice will come across before writing.

Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute To Write It

If you write your personal statement the same day as its due, it’s not going to be good enough to make a difference in your college admissions chances.

Don’t deprive yourself of the opportunity to write something that’ll catch an admissions officer’s eye, and help you stand out among thousands of other applicants, by procrastinating on your personal statement.

An effective, well-written personal statement takes requires some serious time and thought to do. You should try and get started on it in the summer before your senior year, so when school begins all you have left to do is dot those I’s and cross those t’s.

For more test strategy, college admissions, and scholarship application tips sign up for our FREE class happening right now!

Personal Statement Do’s and Don’ts FAQ

What is a personal statement.

The personal statement is an essay that educates admissions officials about who you are and why you deserve to be admitted to their institution.

What are the elements of an effective personal statement?

How early should i work on writing my personal statement.

You should try and get started on it in the summer before your senior year.

What shouldn’t I do when writing my personal statement?

Don’t restate your resume, wait until the last second, be arrogant, write about controversial topics, or have someone else write it for you.

Top Strategies College Admissions Consultants Use to Get Students into Ivy League Schools

Jun 25, 2024

do's and don'ts of writing a personal statement

How to Get Into Harvard: Breaking Down Harvard Admission Requirements in 2024

Jun 18, 2024

The Erosion of Meritocracy

Jun 10, 2024

Written by Dr. Shaan Patel MD MBA

Prep Expert Founder & CEO

More from Dr. Shaan Patel MD MBA

Is Harvard at the top of your dream school list? If so, you may feel discouraged or even intimidated by…

A Complete Guide to Guaranteed SAT and ACT Score Scholarships

According to data gathered by the Education Data Initiative, there are more than 1.7 million scholarships handed out to college…

Introduction As the Founder & CEO of Prep Expert, an organization dedicated to helping students excel in standardized tests and…

$200 OFF COUPON CODE

Subscribe to our emails and get $200 OFF any Prep Expert Online Course.

Enter the coupon code SHARKTANK200 to save $200 OFF any Prep Expert Online Course!

By providing your email address, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

No thanks, I’d prefer to pay full price.

History, Facts & Figures
YSM Dean & Deputy Deans
YSM Administration
Department Chairs
YSM Executive Group
YSM Board of Permanent Officers
FAC Documents
Current FAC Members
Appointments & Promotions Committees
Ad Hoc Committees and Working Groups
Chair Searches
Leadership Searches
Organization Charts
Faculty Demographic Data
Professionalism Reporting Data
2022 Diversity Engagement Survey
State of the School Archive
Faculty Climate Survey: YSM Results
Strategic Planning
Mission Statement & Process
Beyond Sterling Hall
COVID-19 Series Workshops
Previous Workshops
Departments & Centers
Find People
Biomedical Data Science
Health Equity
Inflammation
Neuroscience
Global Health
Diabetes and Metabolism
Policies & Procedures
Media Relations
A to Z YSM Lab Websites
A-Z Faculty List
A-Z Staff List
A to Z Abbreviations
Dept. Diversity Vice Chairs & Champions
Dean’s Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Affairs Website
Minority Organization for Retention and Expansion Website
Office for Women in Medicine and Science
Committee on the Status of Women in Medicine Website
Director of Scientist Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity Supplements
Frequently Asked Questions
Recruitment
By Department & Program
News & Events
Executive Committee
Aperture: Women in Medicine
Self-Reflection
Portraits of Strength
Mindful: Mental Health Through Art
Event Photo Galleries
Additional Support
MD-PhD Program
PA Online Program
Joint MD Programs
How to Apply
Advanced Health Sciences Research
Clinical Informatics & Data Science
Clinical Investigation
Medical Education
Visiting Student Programs
Special Programs & Student Opportunities
Residency & Fellowship Programs
Center for Med Ed
Organizational Chart
Leadership & Staff
Committee Procedural Info (Login Required)
Faculty Affairs Department Teams
Recent Appointments & Promotions
Academic Clinician Track
Clinician Educator-Scholar Track
Clinican-Scientist Track
Investigator Track
Traditional Track
Research Ranks
Instructor/Lecturer
Social Work Ranks
Voluntary Ranks
Adjunct Ranks
Other Appt Types
Appointments
Reappointments
Transfer of Track
Term Extensions
Timeline for A&P Processes
Interfolio Faculty Search
Interfolio A&P Processes
Yale CV Part 1 (CV1)
Yale CV Part 2 (CV2)
Samples of Scholarship
Teaching Evaluations
Letters of Evaluation
Dept A&P Narrative
A&P Voting
Faculty Affairs Staff Pages
OAPD Faculty Workshops
Leadership & Development Seminars
List of Faculty Mentors
Incoming Faculty Orientation
Faculty Onboarding
Past YSM Award Recipients
Past PA Award Recipients
Past YM Award Recipients
International Award Recipients
Nominations Calendar
OAPD Newsletter
Fostering a Shared Vision of Professionalism
Academic Integrity
Addressing Professionalism Concerns
Consultation Support for Chairs & Section Chiefs
Policies & Codes of Conduct
First Fridays
Fund for Physician-Scientist Mentorship
Grant Library
Grant Writing Course
Mock Study Section
Research Paper Writing
Establishing a Thriving Research Program
Funding Opportunities
Join Our Voluntary Faculty
Child Mental Health: Fostering Wellness in Children
Faculty Resources
Research by Keyword
Research by Department
Research by Global Location
Translational Research
Research Cores & Services
Program for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Team Science (POINTS)
CEnR Steering Committee
Experiential Learning Subcommittee
Goals & Objectives
Faculty & Staff
Issues List
Print Magazine PDFs
Print Newsletter PDFs
YSM Events Newsletter
Social Media
Patient Care

INFORMATION FOR

Residents & Fellows
Researchers

Personal Statement Don'ts and Do's

Hi everyone:

Every year, I read hundreds of personal statements, mostly for residency, but my labor of love is to review the statements you write for fellowship applications. Residency personal statements are straightforward: we don’t expect applicants to have sophisticated career plans; we just want to know a student has a spark, can write well, and would fit into our community. In contrast, fellowship directors want mature applicants with a more advanced career trajectory.

For those of you getting ready to write your personal statements (and those who plan to write one someday), here are some don'ts and do's:

1.Don't dwell too long on why you chose your specialty: Beyond a sentence or two explaining why you chose your field, don't waste space extoling your specialty. All nephrology applicants love the kidney and you obviously love your organ too or you wouldn’t be applying. If you really have a special story—for example, your uncle had cancer and that motivated you to spend two years studying cancer genetics—then tell that story. But if your personal epiphany isn't unique, move on.

2.Don't trash other specialties: You don’t accomplish anything by saying other specialties bore you. Do you really think rheumatology is the only specialty that requires clinical reasoning? What if the cardiology chief’s wife is a gastroenterologist?

3.Don't exceed one page: No matter how fascinating you think you are, no one wants to read a long statement. Program directors have to examine hundreds of statements, often in long, exhausting sessions. Get to the point.

4.Don't pretend you're someone you're not: Be realistic about your trajectory. If you haven't done much research, don't claim you can't wait to return to the lab. And don't try to please everyone- almost no one has a career with one third clinical work, one third teaching, and one third research. Focus.

5.Don't make spelling and grammar errors: Pay attention to details. Read your statement out loud to find mistakes.

Take your time, make yourself shine, craft a masterpiece.

1.Do show how you plan to contribute: Fellowship Directors don't care what their program will do for you; they want to know what you will do for their program. And they really don’t want to hear about how you can’t wait to begin a new chapter or start your journey.

2.Do show sophistication: What are the big opportunities and new directions in your field? How will you contribute?

3.Do show where your career is headed: What do you expect to do after fellowship? How will you spend your time? If you can be specific—“I want to do cardiac transplant”—then be specific. If you don’t know, that's fine, but show you’re thinking ahead because fellowship directors need to know if they can give you the skills you need. And remember, not all fellowships offer the same training; if you want to do interventional pulmonology, you’re not going to excite programs that don't offer that.

4.Do be exciting: Use active voice. Don’t say “Directing a MICU would be a rewarding career pathway.” What a snore! Say “I hope to direct a MICU one day." And think big- fellowship directors like applicants with ambition.

5.Do show your draft to others: Show it to friends and family. I want to read all your personal statements, often if necessary, to make sure they're great.

So remember your personal statement is your last opportunity to boost your candidacy. Once you’ve applied, your clinical performance, board scores, research accomplishments, and extracurricular contributions are pretty much set. A fantastic personal statement will elevate you from a crowd of talented applicants. Take your time, make yourself shine, craft a masterpiece.

Enjoy your Sunday, everyone. I'm on my way to the MICU,

Featured in this article

Mark David Siegel, MD Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary); Program Director, Internal Medicine Traditional Residency Program

DOs and DON’Ts When Writing a Personal Statement

(1) Pay Attention to Each School’s Prompt Hopefully, for most applicants, this is a no-brainer. The prompt for each school is first available in August/September when law schools release that year’s application. The prompts typically don’t change much year to year, so you can get a head start by looking at the previous year’s application. For many/most applicants, the prompts are similar enough that the same personal statement template can be used with minor adjustments for each school (see Tip #2 on personalization). For some applicants, however, the prompts are different enough that you should write multiple personal statements. Be sure that the personal statement you use for a school does in fact respond to the prompt for that school. The ability to follow directions is a necessity for law school applicants.

(2) Personalize Your Statement Most law schools want to see that you have put time and effort into researching why that school is a good fit for you. One of the ways you can demonstrate your due diligence is to include a paragraph (typically at the close of your personal statement) outlining several specific factors that have drawn you to that law school. Be specific. Important considerations to note: (a) Vague statements asserting that a law school is a good fit for you without any supporting evidence or information are useless, so do your research and work on articulating the reasons for your interest in each school. (b) You can review a school’s website to determine what you like about that school, but don’t just regurgitate information from the website. They want to know why that information is relevant to your interests and/or goals. (c) Top-ranked schools (typically, top 5 or so) pretty much know why you would like to attend, so personalization is less important unless there is something that truly differentiates that school from others to you. (d) Some schools have a separate “optional” essay allowing you to discuss why you want to attend that school. If that is the case for one of your schools, write the separate essay, and omit the personalized paragraph from your personal statement. (e) Be sure to submit the correct versions to each school. Save the school’s name in the title to help minimize any potential for error.

(3) Be Personable As you now know, one of your goals as an applicant is to let admissions committees get to know you. It is just as important that they like you. Admissions committees are in no rush to admit applicants who are arrogant, pretentious, elitist, or rude. So the tone you use in your personal statement is important. Don’t assume that you need to use a formal tone just because you think lawyers write very formally. By using a formal tone, you are actually building a wall between yourself and the admissions committee—the opposite of what you should be doing. Aim for a more conversational (but not casual) tone so that the statement flows easily for the reader. Further, forget the big words that you think make you sound smart. They actually risk making you sound arrogant, pretentious, or even unintelligent (if used improperly). Strong writing conveys intelligence without the need for big words.

(4) Tell a Story Another easy way to be both personal and personable in your personal statement is to start off with an anecdote about yourself that sets up the framework for the rest of the statement. For example, if you are highlighting certain characteristics in your statement, tell an anecdote that demonstrates those characteristics. If you are discussing a defining moment in your life, describe a scene from that experience. A well-told anecdote can immediately capture readers’ attention and draw them into your world. Even if you don’t include an anecdote in the statement, the topic that you choose should, in a sense, “tell a story” about you in a way that captures and keeps the reader’s attention.

(5) Be Concise Some schools set no limit for personal statements, but most suggest either 2–3 or 2–4 pages. Aim for two pages, double-spaced. Do not make the error of thinking that more is better. Law schools value the ability to persuasively convey information in a relatively short space. Also, keep in mind that admissions committees are reviewing thousands of applications. Don’t waste their time.

10 DON’Ts 1. DON’T just restate your résumé in narrative form. That shows no critical thinking ability. If you are going to talk about more than one achievement or experience mentioned on your résumé, then connect the dots. Find a common theme that ties those items together. 2. DON’T address your weaknesses in the personal statement. Use an addendum.The personal statement should highlight the positives about you. 3. DON’T focus on your high school activities or accomplishments. Focusing on achievements in high school can draw attention to a lack of similar achievements in college. 4. DON’T be overly dramatic. Understatement is better. 5. DON’T spend too much time talking about someone or something else. Always bring the focus back to you. 6. DON’T start your statement with a famous quotation, no matter how well you think it might fit with the theme of your personal statement. Admissions committees want to hear your words, not those of someone else. 7. DON’T use legalese or Latin phrases. 8. DON’T be careless. Be sure not to accidentally mention the wrong school in your statement. 9. DON’T use big words in an effort to impress the admissions committees. It sets the wrong tone for the statement. 10. DON’T write a position paper or opinion piece. Even written well, those types of writings are not particularly useful to admissions committees because they miss the point of the personal statement.

Get university advice on The Student Room app

Teacher training
Bangor University
Birmingham City University
Sheffield Hallam University
University of Aberdeen
University of East Anglia
University of Hull
University of Kent
University of Reading
A-level choices
GCSE choices and university
Choosing a course
Making firm and insurance choices
University open days
Top questions to ask at a university open day
Ucas Extra explained
Understanding conditional offers
University offers: what they mean and what to do next
Getting the most from Ucas university fairs
What do I need to get into Oxbridge?
What to do if you don’t get an offer from your first choice university
What you need to know about getting a university scholarship, grant or bursary
AS and A-levels explained
Is a higher or degree apprenticeship right for you?
Universities

By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 18 August 2023 | 22 min read

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Stand out from the crowd: here's how to write a good personal statement that will get you noticed

Share this page

Email & print.

Your personal statement forms a core part of your university application, and the sooner you get going, the better you can make it. You may think that your personal statement won’t matter as much to unis as your grades and experience but a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grades. Sure, your application might not reach that deal breaker stage. But is it something you want to leave to chance? Here we’ll take you through the process of planning, writing and checking a good personal statement, so you end up with something you can submit with confidence. And to make sure the advice we're giving you is sound, we’ve spoken to admissions staff at loads of UK universities to get their view. Look out for video interviews and advice on applying for specific subjects throughout this piece or watch our personal statement playlist on YouTube .

Are you looking for personal statement examples? Check our library of hundreds of real personal statements, on The Student Room

Personal statement deadlines

You'll need to make sure you've got your personal statement written well in advance of your application deadline. Below are the main university application deadline dates for 2024 entry.

2024 entry deadlines

16 October 2023: Deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities, along with most medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses. 31 January 2024: Deadline for applications to the majority of undergraduate courses. After this date, universities will start allocating places on these courses – but you can still apply after the 31 January deadline , as this article explains . 30 June 2024: Students who apply after this date will be entered into Clearing .

Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a central part of your Ucas application, where you explain why you’ve chosen a particular course and why you’ll be good at it. It's your chance to stand out against other candidates and hopefully get that all-important offer. You only write one personal statement which is then read by each university you apply to, so if you are applying for more than one subject (or it's a combined course) it's crucial that you include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects. Personal statements are especially important if you’re trying to get on a very competitive course, where you need to do anything you can to stand out to admissions tutors. Courteney Sheppard, senior customer experience manager at Ucas, advises that your personal statement is "the only part of the application that you have direct control over. Do lots of research to demonstrate your passion, curiosity and drive to pursue your chosen subject." There’s a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. This may appear generous (read: long) but once you've got going you may find yourself having to edit heavily.

Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

1. Plan what you want to cover

The first thing you need to do is make a plan. Writing a personal statement off the top of your head is difficult. Start by making some notes, answering the following questions:

What do you want to study?
Why do you want to study it?
What is there about you that shows you’re suited to studying this subject at university? Think about your personality, as well as your experiences.
What are your other interests and skills?

These few points are going to form the spine of your personal statement, so write them in a way that makes sense to you. You might want to make a simple bulleted list or you might want to get all arty and use a mindmap. Whatever you choose, your aim is the same. You want to get it clear in your own head why a university should offer you a place on its course. Getting those details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. You might try carrying a notebook with you or set up a memo on your phone. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down. Inspiration sometimes comes more easily when you’re thinking about something else entirely. It might help to take a look at The Student Room for some sample personal statements by university and sample personal statements by subjects , to give you an idea of the kind of thing you want to include.

Read more: personal statement FAQs

2. Show off your experience

Some things are worth adding to your personal statement, some things are not. Firmly in the second camp are your qualifications. You don’t need to mention these as there’s a whole other section of your personal statement where you get to detail them very precisely. Don’t waste a single character going on about how great your GCSE grades are – it’s not what the admissions tutor wants to read. What they do want to see is: what have you done? OK, so you’ve got some good grades, but so do a lot of other applicants. What have you done that’s different, that shows you off as someone who really loves the subject you’re applying for? Spend some time thinking about all the experience you have in that subject. If you’re lucky, this might be direct work experience. That’s going to be particularly appropriate if you’re applying for one of the more vocational subjects such as medicine or journalism . But uni staff realise getting plum work experience placements is easier for some people than others, so cast your net wider when you’re thinking about what you’ve done. How about after-school clubs? Debating societies? Are you running a blog or vlog? What key skills and experience have you picked up elsewhere (eg from hobbies) that could be tied in with your course choice? Remember, you’re looking for experience that shows why you want to study your chosen subject. You’re not just writing an essay about what you're doing in your A-level syllabus. Use this checklist as a guide for what to include:

Your interest in the course. Why do you want to spend three years studying this subject at university?
What have you done outside school or college that demonstrates this interest? Think about things like fairs/exhibitions, public lectures or voluntary work that is relevant to your subject.
Relevant work experience (essential for the likes of medicine, not required for non-vocational courses such as English )
Skills and qualities required for that career if appropriate (medicine, nursing and law as obvious examples)
Interest in your current studies – what particular topics have made an impression on you?
Any other interests/hobbies/experiences you wish to mention that are relevant either to the subject or 'going to uni'. Don't just list your hobbies, you need to be very selective and state clearly what difference doing these things has made to you.
Plans for a gap year if you’re deferring entry.

Read more: 6 steps you need to take to apply to university

3. Be bold about your achievements

Don't be bashful about your achievements; that’s not going to help you get into uni. It's time to unleash your inner Muhammed Ali and get all “I am the greatest” with your writing. Do keep it focused and accurate. Do keep your language professional. But don’t hide your qualities beneath a layer of false modesty. Your personal statement is a sell – you are selling yourself as a brilliant student and you need to show the reader why that is true. This doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and if you’re finding it difficult to write about how great you are it’s time to enlist some help. Round up a friend or two, a family member, a teacher, whoever and get them to write down your qualities. Getting someone else’s view here can help you get some perspective. Don’t be shy. You are selling your skills, your experience and your enthusiasm – make sure they all leap off the screen with the way you have described them.

Read more: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement

4. How to start your personal statement

Type your personal statement in a cloud-based word processing program, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word and don’t copy and paste it into Ucas Hub until it’s finished. One of the benefits of doing it this way is that you can run spell check easily. (Please note, though, that Word adds "curly" quotation marks and other characters (like é or ü) that won't show up on your Ucas form, so do proofread it on Ucas Hub before submitting it to ensure it is how you typed it.) Another big benefit is that you'll always have a backup of what you've written. If you're being super careful, you could always save your statement in another place as well. Bear in mind that extra spaces (eg adding spaces to the beginnings of paragraphs as indentation) are removed on Ucas. In your first sentence, cut to the chase. Why do you want to do the course? Don’t waste any time rambling on about the daydreams you had when you were five. Just be clear and concise – describe in one line why this course is so important to you. Then, in the rest of your intro, go into more detail in demonstrating your enthusiasm for the course and explaining how you decided this is what you want to do for the next three or more years. However you choose to start your statement, just avoid the following hoary old chestnuts. These have been some of the most used lines in personal statements over the years – they are beyond cliche, so don’t even think about it.

From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
For as long as I can remember, I have…
I am applying for this course because…
I have always been interested in…
Throughout my life I have always enjoyed…
Reflecting on my educational experiences…
[Subject] is a very challenging and demanding [career/profession/course]…
Academically, I have always been…
I have always wanted to pursue a career in…
I have always been passionate about…

5. Focus your writing on why you've chosen that subject

So you’ve got your intro done – time to nail the rest of it. Bear in mind that you’ve got to be a little bit careful when following a personal statement template. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying someone else’s style, and in the process lose all of your own voice and personality from your writing. But there is a rough order that you can follow, which should help keep you in your flow. After your opening paragraph or two, get into any work experience (if you’ve got it). Talk about extracurriculars: anything you've done which is relevant to the subject can go here – hobbies, interests, volunteering. Touch on your career aspirations – where do you want this course to take you? Next, show your enthusiasm for your current studies. Cite some specific examples of current work that you enjoyed. Show off your relevant skills and qualities by explaining how you’ve used these in the past. Make sure you’re giving real-world examples here, not just vague assertions like “I’m really organised and motivated”. Try to use examples that are relevant. Follow this up with something about you as a person. Talk about non-academic stuff that you like to do, but link it in some way with the course, or with how it shows your maturity for dealing with uni life. Round it all off by bringing your main points together, including a final emphasis of your commitment to studying this particular course.

Read more: how to write your personal statement in an evening

6. How long should a personal statement be?

You've got to work to a very specific limit when writing your personal statement. In theory you could use up to 4,000 characters – but you’re probably more likely to be limited by the line count. That's because it's a good idea to put line breaks in between your paragraphs (to make it more readable) and you only get a maximum of 47 lines. With this in mind, 3,500 characters is a more realistic limit. But when you’re getting started you should ignore these limits completely. At first, you just want to get down everything that you feel is important. You'll probably end up with something that is far too long, but that's fine. This is where you get to do some polishing and pruning. Keep the focus of your piece on the course you’re applying for, why you want to do it and why you’re perfectly suited to it. Look through what you’ve written so far – have you got the balance right? Chop out anything that goes on a bit, as you want each point to be snappy and succinct.

Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements

7. Keep it simple

8. Smart ways to end your personal statement

Writing a closing line that you’re happy with can feel as tricky as coming up with your opener. What you’re looking for here is a sign-off that is bold and memorable. The final couple of sentences in your statement give you the opportunity to emphasise all the good stuff you’ve already covered. Use this space to leave the reader in no doubt as to what an excellent addition you would be to their university. Pull together all your key points and – most importantly – address the central question that your personal statement should answer: why should you get a place on the course?

Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang

9. Make sure your personal statement has no mistakes

Now you’ve got a personal statement you’re happy with, you need to make sure there are no mistakes. Check it, check it a second time, then check it again. Once you’ve done that, get someone else to check it, too. You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you send through a personal statement with spelling and/or grammatical errors. You’ve got months to put this together so there really is no excuse for sending through something that looks like a rush job. Ask your teachers to look at it, and be prepared to accept their feedback without getting defensive. They will have seen many personal statements before; use what they tell you to make yours even better. You’ve also got another chance here to look through the content of your personal statement, so you can make sure the balance is right. Make sure your focus is very clearly on the subject you are applying for and why you want to study it. Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or social media where anyone can see it. You will get picked up by the Ucas plagiarism checker. Similarly, don't copy any that you find online. Instead, now is a good time to make your parents feel useful. Read your personal statement out to them and get them to give you feedback. Or try printing it out and mixing it up with a few others (you can find sample personal statements on The Student Room). Get them to read them all and then try to pick yours out. If they can't, perhaps there's not enough of your personality in there.

10. Don't think about your personal statement for a whole week

If you followed the advice at the very start of this guide, you’ve started your personal statement early. Good job! There are months before you need to submit it. Use one of these weeks to forget about your personal statement completely. Get on with other things – anything you like. Just don’t go near your statement. Give it a whole week and then open up the document again and read through it with fresh eyes. You’ll gain a whole new perspective on what you’ve written and will be well placed to make more changes, if needed.

Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say

10 steps to your ideal personal statement

In summary, here are the ten steps you should follow to create the perfect personal statement.

Personal statement dos and don'ts

Remember that your personal statement is your personal statement, not an article written about your intended field of study. It should tell the reader about you, not about the subject.
Only put in things that you’re prepared to talk about at the interviews.
Give convincing reasons for why you want to study the course – more than just "enjoying the subject" (this should be a given).
For very competitive courses, find out as much as you can about the nature of the course and try to make your personal statement relevant to this.
Be reflective. If you make a point like 'I like reading', 'I travelled abroad', say what you got from it.
Go through the whole thing checking your grammar and your spelling. Do this at least twice. It doesn’t matter if you’re not applying to an essay-based course – a personal statement riddled with spelling mistakes is just going to irritate the reader, which is the last thing you want to do. If this is something you find difficult then have someone look over it for you.
Leave blank lines between your paragraphs. It’s easier for the reader to get through your personal statement when it’s broken into easily digestible chunks. Remember that they’re going to be reading a lot of these! Make yours easy to get through.
Get someone else's opinion on your statement. Read it out to family or friends. Share it with your teacher. Look for feedback wherever you can find it, then act upon it.
Don’t write it like a letter. Kicking off with a greeting such as "Dear Sir/Madam" not only looks weird, it also wastes precious space.
Don’t make jokes. This is simply not the time – save them for your first night in the union.
Don’t criticise your current school or college or try to blame teachers for any disappointing grades you might have got.
Be afraid of details – if you want your PS to be personal to you that means explaining exactly which bits of work or topics or activities you've taken part in/enjoyed. It's much more compelling to read about one or two detailed examples than a paragraph that brushes over five or six.
Just list what you're doing now. You should pull out the experiences that are relevant to the courses which you're applying to.
Mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated by you or what you learnt from them. Anyone can write "I have great leadership skills" in a PS, actually using a sentence to explain when you demonstrated good leadership skills is much rarer and more valuable.
Refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs (or equivalent).
Give explanations about medical or mental health problems. These should be explained in your reference, not your PS.
Apply for too many different courses, making it difficult to write a convincing personal statement which supports the application.
Write a statement specific to just one institution, unless you're only applying to that one choice.
Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else! This means do not plagiarise. All statements are automatically checked for plagiarism by Ucas. Those that are highlighted by the computer system are checked manually by Ucas staff. If you’re found to have plagiarised parts of your statement, the universities you apply to will be informed and it could jeopardise your applications.
Use ChatGPT or another AI program to write your personal statement for you. Or, if you do, make sure you thoroughly edit and personalise the text so it's truly yours. Otherwise you're very much at risk of the plagiarism point above.

You may want to look at these...

How to write your university application.

Tips for writing your university application, including deadlines and personal statements

What to do if you miss the 25 January Ucas deadline and still want to apply to uni

How long does it take for universities to reply to your application?

It might feel like it's taking forever for your uni offers to come through. Find out what's going on, and when you should hear back

Where could your A-levels take you?

Enter your a-level choices below to find out.

Enter A-level option 1 Accounting Afrikaans Anthropology Arabic Archaeology Art and Design Bahasa Basque Bengali Biology Business Studies Chemistry Chinese Classical Civilisation Communication Studies Computer Science Craft and Design Critical Thinking Czech Dance Danish Design Design and Technology Drama and Theatre Studies Dutch Economics Electronics Engineering English Language English Language and Literature English Literature Environmental Studies Fijian Film Studies Fine Art Finnish Food Technology French Further Mathematics Gaelic General Studies Geography Geology German Government and Politics Graphics Greek Gujurati Health and Social Care Hebrew Hindi History History of Art Hungarian ICT Irish Italian Japanese Latin Latvian Law Leisure and Recreation Malay Mathematics Media Studies Mongolian Music Nepali Norwegian Panjabi Performing Arts Persian Philosophy Photography Physical Education Physics Polish Portuguese Product Design Psychology Religious Studies Romanian Russian Sanskrit Science Slovak Sociology Spanish Statistics Syariah Tamil Textiles Travel and Tourism Turkish Urdu Welsh World Development
Enter A-level option 2 Accounting Afrikaans Anthropology Arabic Archaeology Art and Design Bahasa Basque Bengali Biology Business Studies Chemistry Chinese Classical Civilisation Communication Studies Computer Science Craft and Design Critical Thinking Czech Dance Danish Design Design and Technology Drama and Theatre Studies Dutch Economics Electronics Engineering English Language English Language and Literature English Literature Environmental Studies Fijian Film Studies Fine Art Finnish Food Technology French Further Mathematics Gaelic General Studies Geography Geology German Government and Politics Graphics Greek Gujurati Health and Social Care Hebrew Hindi History History of Art Hungarian ICT Irish Italian Japanese Latin Latvian Law Leisure and Recreation Malay Mathematics Media Studies Mongolian Music Nepali Norwegian Panjabi Performing Arts Persian Philosophy Photography Physical Education Physics Polish Portuguese Product Design Psychology Religious Studies Romanian Russian Sanskrit Science Slovak Sociology Spanish Statistics Syariah Tamil Textiles Travel and Tourism Turkish Urdu Welsh World Development
Enter A-level option 3 Accounting Afrikaans Anthropology Arabic Archaeology Art and Design Bahasa Basque Bengali Biology Business Studies Chemistry Chinese Classical Civilisation Communication Studies Computer Science Craft and Design Critical Thinking Czech Dance Danish Design Design and Technology Drama and Theatre Studies Dutch Economics Electronics Engineering English Language English Language and Literature English Literature Environmental Studies Fijian Film Studies Fine Art Finnish Food Technology French Further Mathematics Gaelic General Studies Geography Geology German Government and Politics Graphics Greek Gujurati Health and Social Care Hebrew Hindi History History of Art Hungarian ICT Irish Italian Japanese Latin Latvian Law Leisure and Recreation Malay Mathematics Media Studies Mongolian Music Nepali Norwegian Panjabi Performing Arts Persian Philosophy Photography Physical Education Physics Polish Portuguese Product Design Psychology Religious Studies Romanian Russian Sanskrit Science Slovak Sociology Spanish Statistics Syariah Tamil Textiles Travel and Tourism Turkish Urdu Welsh World Development
Enter A-level option 4 Accounting Afrikaans Anthropology Arabic Archaeology Art and Design Bahasa Basque Bengali Biology Business Studies Chemistry Chinese Classical Civilisation Communication Studies Computer Science Craft and Design Critical Thinking Czech Dance Danish Design Design and Technology Drama and Theatre Studies Dutch Economics Electronics Engineering English Language English Language and Literature English Literature Environmental Studies Fijian Film Studies Fine Art Finnish Food Technology French Further Mathematics Gaelic General Studies Geography Geology German Government and Politics Graphics Greek Gujurati Health and Social Care Hebrew Hindi History History of Art Hungarian ICT Irish Italian Japanese Latin Latvian Law Leisure and Recreation Malay Mathematics Media Studies Mongolian Music Nepali Norwegian Panjabi Performing Arts Persian Philosophy Photography Physical Education Physics Polish Portuguese Product Design Psychology Religious Studies Romanian Russian Sanskrit Science Slovak Sociology Spanish Statistics Syariah Tamil Textiles Travel and Tourism Turkish Urdu Welsh World Development
Get results

Promoted universities

Durham University
Lancaster University
University of Glasgow
University of the Arts London
University of Southampton
Aston University, Birmingham
Swansea University
Ulster University
Cardiff University

Browse expert advice

Oxbridge applications
Ucas application
Personal statements
Ucas deadline 2024 countdown
Clearing and results day
Preparing for university
Student accommodation
Student life
Student finance
Advice for parents

About this site

Cookie policy
List of universities and colleges
Privacy notice
Terms and conditions
Where we get our info

Who we work with

Your account settings

Ad privacy settings

Popular tools and features

A-level Explorer
Course search

Connect with us

We are aware of a global phishing scam with employees from companies impersonated across email, WhatsApp, and Telegram. We are confident that no PageGroup system has been breached. Find out how to protect yourself and the signs to look out for

Personal Statements: Examples, Do's and Don'ts

As the name suggests, a personal statement is unique to everyone, but that does not mean there are not specific personal statement rules and guidelines to follow. Being able to quickly showcase your skills, personality and job fit can be challenging, so we are here to shed some light on structuring a personal statement that’ll make you stand out from the crowd.

In this guide, we will be looking at how to write a personal statement and the do’s and don’ts. By the end, you should have a better idea of how to structure a personal statement and impress your potential new employers.

💡 Note: We will be covering professional personal statements and not personal statements for University admissions in this article.

What is a personal statement?

Often confused with a cover letter or supporting statement, a personal statement is a small section on various forms of CVs. A personal statement is often no more than a few sentences where you can quickly summarise your skills, experience and job fit into a bitesize paragraph.

A personal statement gives you the opportunity to briefly sell yourself to your potential employer and showcase why you are the best candidate for the role. It is important to note that not all employers will require a personal statement, but if done correctly they can help set you apart from other applicants.

What makes a good personal statement?

As a personal statement is essentially a summary of the rest of your CV and you as a person, you want to ensure you list all the most important things from your CV that are the most relevant to the job you are applying for. You should never use the same personal statement, when applying for multiple jobs you can use a similar statement for each, but it should be tailored to each individual role if possible.

How to start a personal statement

Start your personal statement by introducing yourself and set the tone for the rest of your personal statement.

You want to capture the employer’s interest and summarise exactly why you are a perfect fit for the role. Most personal statement examples start with saying the role you are currently in, how much industry experience you have and key achievements or relevant skills and statistics.

How to finish a personal statement

A good way to finish your personal statement is to summarise your overall goal or aim when moving forwards towards this job and your career. This means you have spoken about the past, present and future, in just a few lines and gives the employer a good idea of you and your potential.

How to finish a personal statement can vary from role to role, but this is a good rule of thumb and will stand you in good stead, as with any application, tailor it to the job, some may call for this, some may not.

Personal statement do’s

Tailor your personal statement - utilise the job description to help you highlight exactly what the employer is looking for, highlight the skills and experience it calls for. The job description is the blueprint to your personal statement for that role, so try and signpost your abilities from the exact things the employer is looking for.
Be concise - ensure that you keep your personal statement short and relevant, aim for the maximum of a few lines or around 200 words at most. Find the most important and relevant things that you can say within that word count.
Highlight you - candidates have a habit of being too generic and not showcasing themselves, it is called a personal statement, so keep it personal to you. Personal does not mean talking about your dog though, but how you personally can succeed at this job.
Include tangibles - always try to give additional details that add value to your application, for instance, quantifying something always makes it sound better. ‘Increased sales by 35%’ sounds better than just saying ‘increased sales’.
Hit key points - a good personal statement will be able to give the employer a quick summary of you and entice them to read more or move you forward to the interview stage.
Get a second opinion - having someone else read over your personal statement can be a real help, they may spot something you haven’t or not understand something the way you had intended. This will help improve your finished personal statement.

Personal statement don’ts

Use the same wording - you can actually hurt your own chances if you use an overly generic personal statement. You want to show that you have put effort into your application and impress the employer.
Make it too long - candidates will often confuse their personal statement with a cover letter, this is a short rundown of you, focus on skills, successes, and statistics, things that can be quickly digested. Grab their attention with your personal statement, but do not bore them with an essay.
Go too personal - this may sound strange, but remember you are writing a professional application, and not setting up a dating profile. Focus on what you can bring to the company, and how your skills would be perfect for the role.
Send off your first draft - always read over your personal statement a few times to make sure it flows right and rolls off the tongue. Having a spelling or grammar mistake can ruin your chances of getting the job.
Be too broad - showing that you understood the job description and are a good candidate for the role can be evident if you have a good personal statement, but being too broad will make you look like you copy and pasted the same response to 20 applications.

What next?

Now you have a better understanding on how to structure your personal statement to increase your chances of getting your new role, you want to start your job search . Currently at Michael Page, we have over 10,000 live jobs on the site so submit your CV today to become discoverable for new roles added in your industry.

For more CV and cover letter advice , read through our collective library of articles that’ll help you create a winning CV.

Download your Job Applicant Toolkit

Want more tips on navigating your job search and landing your dream role?

Is your CV updated and ready to go?

Submit today to become discoverable to all our live roles.

This website has app functionality. Add it to your home screen for fast access and offline features.

Do’s and don’ts of writing your personal statement

Need some inspiration when writing your personal statement? We've got some top tips to help you get your UCAS application done in time.

Do play to your strengths! Remember that you want to stand out from the crowd so ensure you play on your key strengths and achievements.

Do write an original personal statement - the Admissions Tutors and or/academics want an insight into the person who has written the statement.

Do write clearly and succinctly and try not to get caught up in “big” words – be clear and direct whilst creating unique points, ideas, and examples.

Do make yourself stand out! Show personality and enthusiasm alongside examples of your passions and interests outside of school/college such as volunteering.

Do use concrete examples from your life experience to support your accomplishments and distinguish yourself from other applicants – this makes your essay more memorable.

Do ensure that your grammar is correct and that your spelling is accurate. Don't just rely on spell-check – get your friends, family and teachers to help!

Don't make unsupported claims. 'I am the best student you will see all year' doesn't go down too well, even if you think you can prove it!

Don't copy someone else's UCAS personal statement or use something you have found on the internet. UCAS use software to check every personal statement for plagiarism.

Don't make it up! You may be asked to provide evidence of your stated achievements, or if you are interviewed you may be asked detailed questions about things you've mentioned. Honesty really is the best policy!

Don’t use irrelevant personal facts. Before you write about playing netball or a school trip you went on in year seven, apply the 'so what?' rule. Does it make a useful contribution and help explain why you should be given a place on the course? If not, scrap it.

Don’t think of it as a list – ‘I am experienced. I am studious. I am intelligent. I just choose to write every sentence like this…’ Don’t feel confined to list everything you have ever done, similarly, don’t feel restricted to start every sentence with ‘I’.

What should you do next?

Download your free personal statement guide.

Get even more advice on starting, writing and checking your personal statement. Plus, be inspired by real personal statement examples from our students!

Come to an Open Day

If you're applying to study with us, then visiting us at an Open Day will give you the chance to see what your life could be like as a BCU student.

Find out what happens next

If your application is ready to go, then what comes next? Find out what happens after you submit your UCAS application.

Browse our wide range of courses and apply now

Recent searches

We won't record your recent searches as you have opted out of functional cookies. You can change this on our Manage Privacy page should you wish to.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing a Personal Statement

29th December 2023

Speak right now to our live team of English staff

Writing a personal statement is a crucial step in your university application process. This concise piece of writing allows you to showcase your personality, achievements, and aspirations, helping you stand out from the crowd. However, it’s easy to fall into common pitfalls. In this article, we’ll explore the do’s and don’ts of writing a personal statement to ensure yours makes a lasting impression.

The Do’s

Start early and plan ahead.

One of the most common mistakes applicants make is leaving their personal statement until the last minute. Starting early allows you to carefully plan and draft your statement, giving you ample time for revisions. Planning ahead also enables you to gather your thoughts, brainstorm ideas, and tailor your statement to the specific requirements of the institution or position you’re applying to.

Be Authentic and Reflective

Authenticity is key when writing a personal statement. Be true to yourself and reflect on your experiences, values, and aspirations. Share personal anecdotes that shaped your journey and made you the person you are today. Admissions committees appreciate genuine narratives that showcase your uniqueness.

Tailor Your Statement to the Specific Application

Avoid using a generic personal statement for multiple applications. Tailor each statement to the specific requirements of the institution or job you’re applying to. Highlight how your skills, experiences, and goals align with what the institution or employer is seeking. Show that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in the opportunity.

Focus on Your Achievements and Skills

Highlight your accomplishments and skills throughout your personal statement. Provide specific examples of how you’ve demonstrated leadership, problem-solving abilities, teamwork, or other relevant qualities. Quantify your achievements where possible to add substance to your claims.

Show, Don’t Just Tell

Instead of merely stating your qualities, show them through concrete examples. For instance, instead of saying you are a strong leader, narrate a situation where your leadership skills made a significant impact. This approach adds depth to your statement and allows the reader to better understand your capabilities.

The Don’ts

Avoid clichés and generic statements.

Steer clear of clichés and generic statements that don’t add value to your personal statement. Phrases like “I’ve always wanted to help people” or “I have excellent communication skills” lack specificity and fail to make a memorable impression. Instead, provide tangible examples that illustrate these qualities.

Don’t Rely on Templates

While templates can be helpful as a starting point, avoid relying too heavily on them. Your personal statement should be a unique reflection of your experiences and aspirations . Using a template may result in a generic statement that fails to capture your individuality.

Stay Away from Jargon and Overly Technical Language

Unless you’re applying for a course that requires technical language, avoid jargon and overly complex terminology. Your personal statement should be accessible to a wide audience. Use clear and concise language to ensure that your message is easily understood by admissions committees.

Don’t Focus Solely on Weaknesses

While it’s important to address any weaknesses or gaps in your application, avoid dwelling on them. Instead, frame these aspects in a positive light by discussing how you’ve overcome challenges or used them as opportunities for growth. Maintain a positive and forward-looking tone throughout your personal statement.

Steer Clear of Controversial Topics

It’s essential to be authentic in your personal statement, but you should avoid discussing controversial or sensitive topics that may alienate your readers. Keep in mind that personal statements are professional documents, and maintaining a respectful tone is crucial. Focus on your positive attributes and how they align with the goals of the institution or position you’re applying for.

Your Opportunity to Shine

Crafting a compelling personal statement requires time, reflection, and attention to detail. By following these do’s and don’ts, you can create a personal statement that effectively communicates your strengths, experiences, and aspirations. Remember, your personal statement is your opportunity to shine, so make it count.

As you embark on the journey of writing your personal statement, remember that you don’t have to navigate this process alone. Our network of experienced academics is here to provide expert guidance and support, ensuring that your personal statement reflects your true potential. Get in touch today . Whether you’re seeking assistance with structuring your narrative or refining your language, our team is equipped to help you succeed.

How to End a Personal Statement to Make an Impact? Beginner Guide

Things to Include in Your Personal Statement

Crafting Your Future: Strategies for UCAS Personal Statements

How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber

Applying to university

Getting started
UCAS Tariff points
Calculate your UCAS Tariff points
Amendments to the Tariff consultation
Offer rate calculator
How to use the offer rate calculator
Understanding historical entry grades data
Admissions tests
Deferred entry
Personal statement advice and example: computer science
Personal statement advice: English
Personal statement advice: Midwifery
Personal statement advice: animal science
Personal statement advice: biology
Personal statement advice: business and management
Personal statement advice: chemistry
Personal statement advice: dance
Personal statement advice: dentistry
Personal statement advice: drama
Personal statement advice: economics
Personal statement advice: engineering
Personal statement advice: geography
Personal statement advice: history
Personal statement advice: law
Personal statement advice: maths
Personal statement advice: media studies and journalism
Personal statement advice: medicine
Personal statement advice: modern languages
Personal statement advice: music
Personal statement advice: nursing
Personal statement advice: pharmacy
Personal statement advice: physiotherapy
Personal statement advice: politics
Personal statement advice: psychology
Personal statement advice: social work
Personal statement advice: sociology
Personal statement advice: sports science
Personal statement advice: statistics
Personal statement advice: teacher training and education
Personal statement advice: veterinary medicine
Personal statement: finance and accounting
Filling in your application
Staying safe online
How to write a personal statement that works for multiple courses
How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement
Fraud and similarity

How to end your personal statement

Introducing the personal statement tool
Personal statement dos and don'ts
What to include in a personal statement
Using AI and ChatGPT to help you with your personal statement
Using your personal statement beyond a university application
Carers, estranged students, refugees, asylum seekers, and those with limited leave to remain
Personal statement guides
References for mature students

The best statements tend to be genuine and specific from the very start. You'll be on the right track if you show your enthusiasm for the subject or course, your understanding of it, and what you want to achieve.

Admissions tutors – the people who read and score your personal statement – say don’t get stressed about trying to think of a ‘killer opening’. Discover the advice below and take your time to think about how best to introduce yourself.

Liz Bryan: HE Coordinator and Careers Advisor, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College

Preparing to write your personal statement.

Start by making some notes . The personal statement allows admissions tutors to form a picture of who you are. So, for the opener, think about writing down things, such as:

why you’re a good candidate
your motivations
what brings you to this course

If you’re applying for multiple courses , think about how your skills, academic interests, and the way you think are relevant to all the courses you've chosen.

Top tips on how to write your statement opener

We spoke to admissions tutors at unis and colleges – read on for their tips.

1. Don't begin with the overkill opening

Try not to overthink the opening sentence. You need to engage the reader with your relevant thoughts and ideas, but not go overboard .

Tutors said: ‘The opening is your chance to introduce yourself, to explain your motivation for studying the course and to demonstrate your understanding of it. The best personal statements get to the point quickly. Go straight in. What excites you about the course and why do you want to learn about it more?’

Be succinct and draw the reader in, but not with a gimmick. This isn't the X Factor. Admissions tutor

2. Write about why you want to study that course

Think about why you want to study the course and how you can demonstrate this in your written statement :

’Your interest in the course is the biggest thing. Start with a short sentence that captures the reason why you’re interested in studying the area you’re applying for and that communicates your enthusiasm for it. Don't waffle or say you want to study something just because it's interesting. Explain what you find interesting about it.’

It's much better to engage us with something interesting, relevant, specific and current in your opening line… Start with what's inspiring you now, not what inspired you when you were six. Admissions tutor

3. Avoid cliches

Try to avoid cliches and the most obvious opening sentences so you stand out from the very first line . UCAS publishes a list of common opening lines each year. Here are just some overused phrases to avoid using in your personal statement:

From a young age…
For as long as I can remember…
I am applying for this course because…
I have always been interested in…
Throughout my life I have always enjoyed…

And try not to use quotes . Quotations are top of the list of admissions tutors' pet hates.

4. Maybe don't begin at the start?

’Concentrate on the main content of your statement and write the introduction last. I think the opening line is the hardest one to write, so I often say leave it until the end and just try and get something down on paper.’

It may be easier to get on with writing the main content of your statement and coming back to the introduction afterwards –that way you will also know what you’re introducing.

I often advise applicants to start with paragraph two, where you get into why you want to study the course. That's what we're really interested in. Admissions tutor

The personal statement tool image

Don’t be tempted to copy or share your statement.

UCAS scans all personal statements through a similarity detection system to compare them with previous statements.

Any similarity greater than 30% will be flagged and we'll inform the universities and colleges to which you have applied.

Find out more

Joseph bolton: year 2 history& politics student, university of liverpool.

Do talk about you and your enthusiasm for the subject from the very start.
Do be specific. Explain what you want to study and why in the first two sentences.
Do come back to the opening sentences if you can’t think what to write straightaway.
Don’t waste time trying to think of a catchy opening.
Don't waffle – simply explain what you find interesting about the subject and show that you know what you are applying for.
Don't rely on someone else's words. It's your statement after all – they want to know what you think.

One final thought

Think about making a link between your opening sentence and closing paragraph – a technique sometimes called the 'necklace approach’.

You can reinforce what you said at the start or add an extra dimension. For example, if you started with an interesting line about what’s currently motivating you to study your chosen degree course, you could link back to it at the end, perhaps with something about why you’d love to study this further at uni.

Need more advice?

Struggling with the conclusion to your personal statement? Read our guide on how to finish your statement the right way .
Read more dos and don’ts when writing your personal statement .
Discover what to include in your personal statement .
Start your opening sentences with our personal statement builder now.

Start your search now

Get your UCAS Hub

Your place to discover your options and research your future.

You might also like to read

Sponsored articles ucas media service, how to find a job, top ten student money tips, make the most of your student experience.

Undergraduate personal statement dos and don’ts

Get our dos and don'ts for writing a successful personal statement for your bachelor's degree.

Brief as it may be, your personal statement makes a lasting impression: it can also be the deciding factor in securing your university place. If you’ve never written a personal statement before, it’s only natural to feel a little anxious but there’s lots of helpful information and support available to guide you through the process.

As a starting point, below is our list of personal statement dos and don’ts.

A personal statement supports your application to study with Cambridge Education Group (CEG) on one of our undergraduate degrees validated by London South Bank University (LSBU).

You have a recommended word limit of 300-500 words and within this you have to sum up why you are best suited for our part-time, online degrees. It’s your opportunity to tell us what relevant skills, qualifications and experience demonstrate your your passion and suitability for a particular course and why you want to study it.

Personal statements: Dos

Do start early: Give yourself plenty of time to prepare, plan, draft and finalise your personal statement. It may take longer than you think to perfect it.

Do your research: Familiarise yourself with the details of the course and any entry requirements. You can read sample personal statements for reference and inspiration, but don’t copy them.

Do make a plan: This will help you recall all of your activities, experiences, awards and achievements (some of which you may have forgotten about) and prioritise what you want to include.

Do cover the key information: Give your reasons for wanting to study our particular course and why you’re suitable. Tell us why you like the subject and how your interest first came about.

Do mention future aspirations: We like to know you have ambitions for the future and understand how and where our course can take you.

Do blow your own trumpet: There’s no time for modesty in your personal statement, impress us with your skills, experience and enthusiasm – from hobbies and interests to awards and achievements.

Do get feedback from others: Seek feedback from teachers, parents/guardians or other family members and edit your statement again and again until it says what you want it to say.

Do keep a copy: You can reread what you’ve written before any interviews or discussions with our course advisers and tutors.

Want to know what else you'll need to include when you apply? Check out our straightforward application process:

Personal statements: Don’ts

Don’t rush: If you leave things until the last minute, you could find yourself in a panic, more likely to make a silly mistake or omit key information which could jeopardise your chances of success.

Don’t try to be funny: Everyone has a different sense of humour, so your attempts at comedy may fall flat. You also don’t have many words to get across a lot of vital information and evidence.

Don’t use clichés – It’s commonplace for applicants to use the same common phrases, such as ‘ From an early age… ’ or ‘ I’ve always loved… ’ which can make admissions tutors cringe.

Don’t make generalised statements: You should include specific claims and give evidence to back them up without going into too much detail e.g., ‘ My ability to work well in a team was proved when I did… ’

Don’t write about sensitive topics: Your statement should be positive and uplifting, not controversial, so leave out any personal opinions or information that could make an admissions tutor uncomfortable.

Don’t include events from the distant past: Only include information and activities that are directly relevant to the course and your current goals, focusing on your recent experiences where possible.

Don’t exaggerate: Giving a false impression could come back to haunt you at a later date if you’re asked for evidence of your achievements, so just be honest about who you are and what you’ve done.

Don’t let someone else write it for you: As well-meaning as an offer of help may be, your statement should be written in your own words (not picked from a dictionary) and your authentic voice.

Business management software guide

Discover different types of business management software and how they can help you succeed as a...

What are the advantages of studying a BA online?

Find out how studying a BA degree alongside your work can help you access new career opportunities.

How to speak to your employer about study sponsorship

Want to ask your employer for study sponsorship but not sure how to win them over? Discover three...

Start something big today.

Fill in the form below and one of our course advisers will get in touch to discuss the course you’re interested in and answer your questions.

BRITTANY MASCHAL CONSULTING

College & Graduate School Admissions Advising

10 Do’s and Don’ts for Writing the Personal Statement (aka The Common App Essay)

Our essay experts know best. Check out these 10 tips from Emma that will help you write the most effective personal statement. Summer is the best time to tackle this important essay, so start now! Interested in working with Emma? Contact us .

Don’t worry about the prompts. It’s helpful to read through the prompts to see if doing so sparks any ideas; however, there is no need to stress about writing an essay that exactly “answers” a prompt. Your goal is to write the best essay you can about whatever you decide is best to write about. Working with students 1:1, we totally disregard the prompts and usually find that their essay still easily fits under one of the questions. And, if not, there is often an open-ended prompt such as: “Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.”
Do open with a scene. A strong opening scene draws the reader into your essay. Admissions officers and their first-round readers have hundreds of applications to get through—make yours stand out from the first sentence. Intrigue them or scare them or make them laugh. Make them want to keep reading.
Do focus on a single story . You only have 650 words. Perhaps that sounds like a lot to you: it’s not. There is no reason you should worry about filling it up. Through our process, you will find out how to generate enough detail to write an essay about any story. Nor should you worry about cramming as much as possible into the personal statement. Remember that colleges have all of your application data and that trying to do too much in the essay will only end up making your essay feel rushed and scattered.
Do make sure that your story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. You can tell your story out of order—for instance, opening with a scene from a stressful moment in order to build suspense before jumping back into chronology—but you always want to make sure your story has each of these elements. Skipping any single one will confuse your reader and make your story feel incomplete (because it is!).
And yet don’t get bogged down in detail. We usually find students have trouble generating enough detail. But sometimes we get a student who is unable to summarize effectively, too. Having too much detail can make your story confusing and also mean that your reader will have trouble understanding what the most significant elements are. It usually also means you don’t have room for reflection—the most important element in the essay!
Do present yourself in a positive light. We actively encourage you to tell a story that showcases your vulnerabilities, failures, weaknesses, and mistakes. However, either your narrative or your reflection (or some combination of the two), needs to ultimately redeem you so that your essay, in the end, shows you to be someone who is actively working to improve—to rectify mistakes, move past failures, or strengthen weakness. Your essay should be honest, but its main purpose is to make you seem like someone admissions officers want to see at their colleges! Make sure you come off well.
Don’t use huge thesaurus words. Again: you aren’t trying to impress the admissions officers! You are trying to show them who you are—and you are trying to make them like you. Using big words can mean using words you don’t quite know how to use, and that will show. Even if you do know how to use them, unless your essay is about how much you love long words or languages, using the big, 25-cent words can make you sound pretentious and overly formal. The language should sound like you and be relatively casual—not curse-word, talking-with-friends casual, but maybe talking-with-your-grandmother casual.
Do use vivid, interesting words and varied sentence structure. Being casual doesn’t mean the writing shouldn’t be good or interesting! Do push yourself to use words you might not use in your everyday speech, and do mix up the sentence structure to keep the writing varied and exciting. Do feel free to include words from your personal vocabulary—words from the language you speak at home or from a regional dialect or words you’ve made up. That can add a lot of texture and personality to an essay. Just make sure you define the words for your reader if the meaning isn’t clear from context.
But don’t use emotional language : I was happy; I was sad. Instead, let an action depict the emotional state. That is, instead of saying “I was happy,” you might write, “I couldn’t help skipping a few steps down the street after hearing the news.” And, instead of saying “She was sad,” you might write, “Her shoulders slumped, and she cradled her head in her hands.” You can’t see an emotion, and you always want to give the reader something to see.
I need to be true to myself.
Time heals all wounds.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Good things come to those who wait.
I learned more from them than they did from me.
Every rose has its thorn.
You win some, you lose some.
Little did I know.

Of course, your essay might have one of these messages at its heart. Maybe you did learn more from the kid you tutored than they learned from you. Maybe you did find the “silver lining” in a terrible situation. Both of these could make for great essays. But you want to verbalize that realization in your own unique and surprising way.

*Stay in the know! Subscribe *

Registration for the 2024-2025 Wharton Global High School Investment Competition is now open!

What Makes an Effective Personal Statement or Common App Essay

What is a Personal Statement (Example: The Common App Essay)

Application Tips: Writing a Personal Statement

Writing personal statements for scholarship applications.

In many ways, writing a personal statement is a 180-degree turn from what you’re used to doing in college. You have been trained to write rather staid, formal, academic papers in which you know the format and what is expected of you, and the challenge lies in researching the topic at hand. In crafting a personal statement you are the world’s leading expert on the topic, but must create the method of conveying this information to the committee.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is…

Your introduction to the committee.
The heart of your application, which is your ticket to an interview, where the scholarship or fellowship will be decided.
A picture of you.
An invitation to get to know you.
An indication of your priorities.
Your story.
“a serious examination of the intellectual and personal experiences that have motivated you to participate in this process and to pursue the particular project you are proposing in your application, and the ways in which your intellectual and personal experience since entering college have informed your choices.”
Among your best opportunities to gain solely from the process of applying for a scholarship or fellowship. Even if you aren’t nominated or don’t win, you will have this amazing document that crystallizes who you are and what’s important to you in just a few hundred words. Taking the time to really work hard on this will pay dividends – if not financial reward in the form of a scholarship, then as help as you look for other next steps after graduation.

In the end, every personal statement I’ve read that I thought was truly exceptional had one thing in common: when I finished reading it, I thought, “I’d like to meet this person. I’d like to take this student out for a cup of coffee and learn more.” A really effective personal statement tells the reader what makes you different from everyone else in the applicant pool, and does so while utilizing engaging, interesting, and concise prose.

With that very general advice in mind, here are more specific do’s and don’ts for writing a personal statement:

Write from your gut. You’re used to writing from your head. Don’t let your head make it up. Listen to your gut, and get it down.
You can’t tell them everything. Have a few main points you want to get across, and let them find out the rest of your story in your resume, interview, letters of recommendation, and other elements of your application.
When you decide on the main points and stories you want to tell, answer these questions: What is the point of the story you’re telling? What do you need to include to tell it well? What isn’t necessary?
Have many others read it for objectivity and distance, since this is the most personal topic you’ll ever write about.
Remember your high school English teacher’s advice of “show don’t tell.” Don’t tell them that you’re enthusiastic or passionate about a topic; tell them a story that shows your enthusiasm and passion.
Include anecdotes of life-changing moments, or moments that clarified and crystallized what you want to do.
Tailor your essay to the opportunity and application. What instructions do they give you for topics, length, etc? What parts of your story does the committee most want to hear about?
The first paragraph is vitally important. It sets tone and direction of the rest of the essay, and provides quick personal insights. The conclusion should pull the essay together, but also point to the future and indicate how the themes developed throughout the essay will continue to develop. Give the committee a sense of how this opportunity will impact you in the long-term, and what the link is between your personal statement and proposed program of study.
Sell yourself. Students have a wonderful sense of egalitarianism (“We’re all talented. We’re all smart. We’re all wonderful. I’m no different from my peers.”) that I love, but that can hurt you in a personal statement, where you really need to set yourself apart from everyone else who is applying. Be careful, though, because there is a fine line here that you don’t want to cross. You have to write about yourself without being egotistical; be confident but not arrogant; be informative but also persuasive; and believe in yourself without seeming self-important.
Think about, plan, and pay careful attention to your tone. How will your tone come across to your reader? What does it say about you? Tone can speak to who you are more loudly than do your words.
Be authentic, accurate, and honest. Interview questions are usually based on your personal statement more than any other element of your application, so don’t write just what you think the committee will want to hear. Phoniness will come out in the interview and hurt you. In an interview, be prepared to delve much further into the topics and issues raised in your personal statement.
Give yourself lots of time to experiment and prepare many, many drafts, and perhaps even wholly different versions. Your first few drafts are likely to be awful. That’s ok. Don’t be afraid to be terrible. The important thing is to get your ideas down on paper, then dress them up later.
Think about how this fits in with the flow of your application – how does it mesh with your letters of recommendation? Your transcript? Your proposal?
Be human. Talk about your preferences, foibles, and obstacles. Explain and own your shortcomings.
Write about what excites you, and don’t be afraid to be sophisticated, detailed, and enthusiastic about it. This is especially true for scholarships that are strongly academic in nature, and that are being decided by academicians; they enjoy seeing young scholars excited about arcane or obscure ideas and research proposals.
Don’t be flowery in your prose
Don’t refer to me/I too many times
Don’t use this as a resume in narrative form. You should only talk about those accomplishments that are directly germane to the subject at hand. Let them find out about your other activities through the other elements of your application.
You should try to avoid references to past traumas, such as deaths or alcohol and drug use in your family. While these may be important moments in your life, it is too easy to accidentally write about them in a way that seems schmaltzy, exploitative, or designed to create pity for you. Only write about traumatic events if they are crucial to understanding your topic to be studied or to your theme. If you are writing about trauma, try to treat these moments with some distance and objectivity, and be sure to have others read your statement with this concern in mind.
Remember that this is not a confessional. Don’t be overly personal or reveal details that could cause your reader to squirm.
An academic paper with you as the subject.
A journal entry in which you reveal your most private thoughts and actions.
A plea or justification for the scholarship. Don’t whine or beg.

GETTING STARTED ...

Okay, that’s all well and good. Now you have some very vague idea of what this is supposed to look like and some basic ground rules. But how do you get started?

In general, remember that this is about listening to your gut, not letting your head talk. You have to find ways to turn off the logical, academic, editing part of your brain and tune in to your gut. Do this by engaging in mindless, repetitive activities that allow your mind to wander away, like doing dishes, jogging, or driving on a long, straight, uncrowded interstate. Or try writing first thing in the morning, every day, before your brain has a chance to really wake up and kick in.

Listen for the small voice inside that really knows you best.

Then, start writing. Here are three plans of attack to begin writing your personal statement:

Brainstorm / Free write / Organize. Just sit down and just start writing about yourself. Don’t edit anything out. Just let everything about you spill out on the page. Then pick a bunch of the most promising-looking ideas and give yourself five minutes to free write on each of those topics to see which ones you can tease the most out of. Lastly, start organizing them: which ones fit together the best? How can you make sense of these disparate parts? Make a schematic, organizational, or flow chart that shows the relationship between them.

Make a timeline of your life. What three or five or ten events would someone have to know to understand you? How do they connect to one another?

Write short answers to a bunch of the following questions. Keep track of which ideas keep popping up, and when you seem to be repeating yourself. Limit yourself to one or two paragraphs so that you can answer as many of these as possible.

What experiences do you like talking about the most? What has been the most interesting, intriguing, and exciting part of your life – why, and what did you learn from it?
Discuss an activity or experience that has helped you to clarify your long-term academic goals.
Name a class or internship that you have taken to develop expertise in your major field of study.
Describe a person who has shaped your values or beliefs.
In five years, where do you see yourself working and what do you envision yourself doing?
Discuss a need of society that you hope to address in your career Use statistics and other published resources to document the magnitude of the problem.
Describe your hometown and explain its impact on your beliefs or values.
Discuss an obstacle that you’ve had to overcome to achieve your academic goals.
Write me a letter, and tell me everything you do, your personal history, and what matters to you.
What do you enjoy doing?
When I was in kindergarten, one of my best friends loved to eat so much that he would hum with joy when he ate. What makes you so happy that you can’t help but hum? When are you really you ? When have you been so immersed in what you were doing that time seemed to evaporate?
What ideas, books, theories, or movements have made a profound impact on you? Be honest and don’t try to impress anyone.
Where or how do you seem to waste the most time?
How are you a typical product of your generation and culture? In what ways do you deviate from the norm?
Which famous person (alive or dead; real or imagined) do you most identify with, and why?
What errors or mistakes have you made that have taught you something about yourself?
How have you changed since you came to Grinnell?
What is something you haven’t tried yet, but want to? What is keeping you from trying this?
Of which decision or accomplishment in your life are you the most proud?
What do you wish you had done differently in college?
What makes you different from everyone else?
What kind of contribution do you want to make, and how?
When did you first become interested in your field of study and why?
What motivates you?
What are your goals? When did these become your goals, and why?
Describe an experience that changed you. How did you change? What does this change mean?

In the end, the process is worth it. Finalizing a personal statement and getting it to a point where you’re happy with and proud of it is not easy and takes a huge amount of time and energy. But even if you don’t win or even get an interview, going through the process of defining yourself and accounting for your life and decisions to this point will help you step back, look around, and engage your future.

Contributors include: Paula Warrick, American University; Jane Curlin, Willamette University; Mary Hale Tolar, Harry S. Truman Foundation; the Scholars and Fellows Office at Columbia University; Linda Critchlow, University of Puget Sound; Lori Coliander, University of Washington; and Barri Gold, Muhlenberg College.

Global footer

©2024 University of Massachusetts Amherst
Site policies
Non-discrimination notice
Accessibility
Terms of use

How to Approach Your Personal Statement: Dos and Don’ts

By Sammi Scarola
May 6, 2021
Medical Student , Pre-med
Medical School Application , Personal Statement

Like many premed students, you are diligently working hard on applications, getting transcripts, asking for letters of recommendation , and choosing how to approach your personal statement. Writing your personal statement is a daunting and, in some cases, painful experience, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be motivating to recall the events and influences that have led you to this point in your life—applying to medical school.

Learn from the many, many premeds who have been down this road before. Our list of personal statement Dos and Don’ts will help you make the most of the experience and ensure you don’t make any of the usual mistakes.

Read our free Step-by-Step Guide: How to Write a Medical School Personal Statement for tips on getting started, what to include, and common mistakes to avoid.

The Purpose of a Personal Statement

Medical school admissions committees want to see what inspired you and prepared you to go to medical school. They want to know if you truly have a passion for medicine and are ready for the rigor of medical education.

Medical school is challenging, stressful, expensive, and only the beginning of a much longer journey. Medical schools want to ensure they are accepting students that are equipped for the journey and have a genuine desire to practice medicine. This saves both the school and the student time and money.

|| 6 Common Medical School Application Mistakes – Pre-Meds Be Warned ||

The Personal Statement is an Opportunity

Instead of looking at the personal statement as yet another hurdle to jump through when applying to medical school, view it as an opportunity. All of the other aspects of your application are pretty standard. They see your MCAT score , your college GPA and course performance, your volunteer hours, and your listed clinical experiences. What they don’t see is who you are underneath your accomplishments.

This is what the personal statement allows you to demonstrate. Admissions committees already have your CV and transcripts, so the personal statement should show a more multifaceted view of who you are.

This is your chance to convey your personality, character traits, and personal narrative. Your personal statement is what helps you to stand out among thousands of similar applicants. Be sure to share meaningful information and help the readers feel a personal connection with you. Tell your story.

Getting Started

Many students find getting started is the hardest part of writing a personal statement. Writing your personal statement requires ample time for reflection. To get started, brainstorm some of your best qualities and character traits and list them on paper. Ask yourself: “ What character traits do I want admissions committees to focus on? ”

Then, brainstorm some of the events and experiences in your past that best portray these qualities. For example, avoid telling the admissions committee that you are “ motivated, empathetic, and compassionate .” Instead, SHOW them that you’re motivated, empathetic, and compassionate by telling a story that exemplifies these characteristics. It is important that your personal statement is a narrative rather than a list of your accolades and qualifications.

For more on how to begin your process, read: How to Start the Medical School Personal Statement .

Writing your Personal Statement

Once you’ve identified the personal traits and experiences you want to convey to the admissions committee, writing your personal statement will come much more easily. Remember to share moments of your life that mattered. The experiences you choose to share must have played an active role in shaping who you are as a person and influenced your desire to pursue medicine.

When writing about your experiences, ensure they showcase your passion for medicine and be sure to include your own reflections and lessons learned. These experiences are not required to be medical in nature but should portray why your journey through medical school will be successful.

With so many career paths relating to science and the medical field, it is imperative that you portray why being a physician is the only path for you and why it’s a good fit for who you are as a person. Show them why you would be a good physician and what unique gifts you will bring to the field to help your patients. Remember to share information that makes you memorable and unique so that you stand out among many similar applicants.

Don’t forget that during your interviews , the admissions committee will certainly ask you about the experiences or traits expressed in your personal statement, so share information you want to be asked about and can elaborate on in person.

Learn more in The Anatomy of a Medical School Personal Statement .

How to Approach Your Personal Statement: Dos and Don’ts

DO organize your personal statement . It should have a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion that flow into each other.
DO start writing as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the perfect idea magically pops into your head. Do some brainstorming and get writing as soon as possible. Your first draft won’t be anywhere near perfect so the sooner you begin, the more time you will have to edit, refine, or start over again with a better idea.
DO have a theme. Ensure that the theme is present throughout the entire personal statement.
DO use transition sentences. Transition sentences highlight the logical relationship between paragraphs and sections of a text. They provide greater cohesion and make explicitly clear how ideas are related to one another. Think of a transition sentence as a bridge between one idea and the next.
DO follow the requirements: 5300 character limit for MD applications. Remember that if you are applying to DO schools your personal statement must address why you want to become an osteopath specifically, and if you are applying through TMDSAS, there’s a 5000 character limit. ( AMCAS vs. AACOMAS vs. TMDSAS Application Differences )
DO put significant effort into editing your essay. Read your essay over and over again for proper grammar and sneaky typos. Use editing apps such as Grammarly and Hemingway Editor , but don’t rely on bots alone.
DO consult experts : You don’t have to go it alone. Seek out help and personal statement editing from professionals who have years of experience reviewing personal statements and serving on admissions committees. Ask mentors, or anyone else you know, with intimate experience in the medical school admissions process. If you don’t have anyone in your own network, Med School Insiders has top advisors who have admissions committee experience as well as extensive experience editing thousands of successful Personal Statements.
DON’T use clichés. It’s great that you like science, but I can assure you that all applicants like science. It is important that you want to help people, but so do all of the other applicants. Avoid stating the obvious. Instead, try to be unique.
DON’T make careless grammatical errors. This can be the difference between an interview offer and a rejection . Grammatical errors suggest that you are either careless or don’t really care about entering medical school. Attention to detail is important in medicine, so exhibit that skill while writing your personal statement.
DON’T lie or fabricate stories or information . Just don’t do it. You do not want to get caught in a lie in the middle of an interview, and it is simply unprofessional. Remember that your personal statement is your only chance to demonstrate who you are , so tell your story truthfully.
DON’T make excuses for poor grades or MCAT scores. This is definitely not the place for that. Focus on sharing your story and expressing the personal qualities you’re most proud of. If there was an event that played a large role in your journey, feel free to write about it, but do not simply make excuses for weak parts of your application.
DON’T speak negatively about a physician or healthcare professional. You may have had negative interactions with a physician and feel compelled to discuss how those negative encounters shaped your desire to become a physician, but leave this out of your statement. These experiences may have strongly impacted you, but admissions committees may be deterred by your cynicism towards the healthcare profession.
DON’T overuse the word I. Doing so makes you more likely to state your accomplishments instead of telling a story.
DON’T use flowery language or words you found in a thesaurus. Be respectful and thoughtful with your language, but focus on using words that come naturally to you.
DON’T list your accomplishments or rehash your CV and extracurriculars. They already have access to those aspects of your application. Use the personal statement as an opportunity to provide a deeper insight into who you are as a person and prospective physician.
DON’T beg for an interview or acceptance. This is unprofessional and not at all the purpose of your personal statement.
DON’T explain to a physician what medicine is all about. Talk about yourself and your experiences; the admissions committee already understands medicine.
DON’T procrastinate. Get started on your personal statement as soon as you can. Set time aside every day to reflect on the moments in your life that have shaped your desire to become a physician.
DON’T edit your personal statement by yourself. You should get outside opinions and have others edit your essay to ensure there’s nothing you missed. Having strong writers edit your essay is helpful, but it’s best to have physicians and those who have served on admissions committees as editors. They can edit beyond spelling or grammar to provide an insider’s perspective on what will impress medical schools. Med School Insiders offers a range of personal statement editing packages , from general editing to unlimited, in-depth editing with a physician.

Learn more about our Comprehensive Medical School Admissions Packages and follow our blog for the latest premed advice, study strategies, and more.

|| Guide to Understanding the Medical School Application Process ||

Sammi Scarola

The Benefits of Shadowing a Doctor & How to Do It Right

Shadowing a doctor is an absolute must on the medical school application. We outline the benefits of shadowing a doctor and how to do it right.

How Late Can You Submit Your Primary Application? (Without Consequence)

Top applicants do everything they can to be competitive, and a key piece of that is submitting early. So, how late can you submit your primary application?

Hands on laptop keyboard - Ready to Apply to Medical School

Am I Ready to Apply to Medical School?

Are you ready to apply to medical school? Applying before you’re ready is a costly mistake. Find out if you’re on the right track for acceptance this cycle.

Join the Insider Newsletter

Receive regular exclusive MSI content, news, and updates! No spam. One-click unsubscribe.

Customer Note Premed Preclinical Med Student Clinical Med Student

You have Successfully Subscribed!

The Dos and Don'ts of Writing a Personal Statement

The time has come to start applying for university. It’s the next step in education and you’ve never been more excited. Your parents are proud, already picturing your graduation. Meanwhile, you’re thinking about freedom, the socials and fiery academic debates. But first you need to secure your place and the question of the moment is looming: how do you write a personal statement?

Well you’ve come to the right place. We've compiled a list of 8 do’s and don’ts when it comes to writing your personal statement . Follow each step and you’ll have conditional offers from all your top 5 choices . You’re welcome.

Before we start, let's get a few technical details out of the way. You probably know already that your personal statement will be processed by UCAS and needs to be 4000 characters maximum (bet you've never thought in characters before, right?). Unfortunately you will be penalised if you don’t adhere to the rules. This means you need to use your words wisely. So with that in mind, let’s get into the nitty gritty.

Don’t write your introduction first — save it until the end.

This might sound backward, but you actually want to write your introduction last. This is because an introduction is essentially a summary, and it's much easier to sum up something you've already written than ideas that haven't yet taken shape.

Instead, plan the main points that you want to talk about. Consider why you want to study the course and your inspirations. At the end, read through your content and highlight the important points in your introduction. This will help you save time and a lot of confusion!

Do be honest and true to yourself.

There is no point flat out lying or even embellishing the facts. Even a little white lie could easily come back to bite you. Universities might arrange interviews and discuss parts of your personal statement. Lying on the spot without the aid of Google is much harder, and it's really not advisable to try.

We understand how intimidating it is to write a personal statement. You want to present yourself as the best candidate for the course (considering the competition) and impress those reading it. The best way to do that is to just be honest and authentic. No one is expecting you to be an expert — that’s why you’re applying to study in your chosen area! So just stick to the facts.

Don’t use a quote. ‍

It can be tempting to use a quote that has inspired you when writing your personal statement. However, admissions officers generally won’t appreciate this, and it will most likely result in eye rolls. They want to hear about the passion you have in your subject through your own words, not somebody else's, so using a quote is the easiest way to waste that precious word count.

It is better to reflect on the source the quote came from, and your own relationship with it. Address how this shaped your view and love of the course you’re applying to. Alternatively, you might draw upon a memory that first sparked your interest in your subject. This is a much better way to philosophise and show off your knowledge.

Do start writing your personal statement ahead of time.

The famous saying “fail to prepare, prepare to fail” is apt here. Avoid leaving your personal statement until the last minute. You need time to draft, re-draft, scrap it and start again. This also allows you to get it reviewed by a teacher or admissions expert. There is nothing worse than missing the deadline and having to wait another year.

Check when the deadline is on the UCAS website or for the actual course at your university. For Oxbridge applicants and medical students the deadline is earlier than the national date. You want to make sure you’re prepared and happy to submit your statement. Otherwise, you’re more likely to make a mistake which could cost you your future.

Don’t open with predictable or corny statements.

Similar to the use of quotes, you also want to avoid predictable statements. For example: “ever since I was a child…” or “my Mum was a doctor so it makes sense that…” . Again, these are filler words that do not demonstrate your passion and will likely hinder your chances of grabbing the reader’s attention.

A more appropriate way to open your personal statement or paragraph is to be succinct, punchy and original. Draw on a book, programme, extracurricular or life event that then sparked an “aha moment”. For instance: “after reading Yoval Noah’s ‘Sapiens’, I knew that this was only the beginning of anthropological study.”

Don’t just say why a course interests you — show it creatively.

Anyone can say that they like or love a particular subject - this alone does not prove your passion. You need to demonstrate that you have a keen interest in your subject in a way that will ensure you stand out.

Talk about the extracurricular activities you partake in, or what you read, listen to and watch in your spare time. Provide a link between these interests and how they show you are a good candidate for the course.

Do follow formatting guidelines.

There are a few annoying but important guidelines that will help your personal statement stand out. Choose a professional font (like Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman) in a standard size 12 and in black. Don’t make the text smaller to fit more words in on the page — it’s still measured by characters. The line spacing should be 1.5 for easy reading.

It’s important to structure your content into 4 main sections: why you want to study this course, subjects or texts studied, work experience and then hobbies or extracurricular activities. Then obviously an introduction and killer conclusion.

Don’t compare your application to others.

One thing to remember is that you should never compare yourself to others in life. The same goes true for your personal statement. Treat yourself as someone who is unique with different experiences to those around you. Whilst it’s possible that there are thousands of applicants who want to do the same course as you, it doesn’t mean your application is less than.

Personal statements will differ depending on the course you are applying to, whether that’s Law, English or Music. Therefore it makes no sense to worry yourself with what to say based on someone else’s application.

Do get someone to proofread your work.

Finally, make sure that a friend, teacher or professional proofreads your work. You’ll be working on your personal statement for a few months, in which time you’ll get sick of reading it! This is why it’s worthwhile to get your application checked before you submit. Particularly for spelling errors or format issues that you can easily miss.

Don’t let your ego trip you up. Even the most intelligent people need a supportive nudge and some constructive criticism. However, we know that getting professional advice can be expensive. You also don’t want to spend hundreds of pounds and risk getting poor feedback. Fortunately, we have an in-house personal statement review service monitored by a UCAS expert that allows you to submit your latest personal statement draft and receive feedback within 48 hours.

To sum it all up…

Hopefully you now feel more confident writing your personal statement. The best advice we can give you is to just keep it simple. As much as research is great, you really just need to put pen to paper. Get your ideas down, review it, seek a second or third opinion, then submit. Good luck!

Looking for a good personal statement checker?

For more advice on the university process, applications and more, speak to our experts today. With over 15+ years of experience, we can give you exclusive advice to help you reach your goals. You can submit your personal statement for free and get a review within 24 hours. We won’t share or advertise your application without your permission, it’s kept safe under lock and key. Our trusted advisors will give you feedback to ensure you write the perfect personal statement. Did we mention that our service is free? At this point, it would be rude not to get help.

Naida is a witty wordsmith with a love for writing and reading. She is a Content Writer and Social Media Executive at Tutor House — the top UK provider of online and in-person tuition. She specialises in topics relating to mental & physical wellbeing and career advice.

Get in Touch!

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form

Top University in USA
Top University in Canada
Top University in Ireland
Top Universities in UK
Top Universities in Australia
Best MBA Colleges in Abroad
Business Management Studies Colleges

Top Countries

Study in USA
Study in UK
Study in Canada
Study in Australia
Study in Ireland
Study in Germany
Study in China
Study in Europe

Student Visas

Student Visa Canada
Student Visa UK
Student Visa USA
Student Visa Australia
Student Visa Germany
Student Visa New Zealand
Student Visa Ireland
JEE Main 2024
MHT CET 2024
JEE Advanced 2024
BITSAT 2024
View All Engineering Exams
Colleges Accepting B.Tech Applications
Top Engineering Colleges in India
Engineering Colleges in India
Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu
Engineering Colleges Accepting JEE Main
Top IITs in India
Top NITs in India
Top IIITs in India
JEE Main College Predictor
JEE Main Rank Predictor
MHT CET College Predictor
AP EAMCET College Predictor
GATE College Predictor
KCET College Predictor
JEE Advanced College Predictor
View All College Predictors
JEE Advanced Cutoff
JEE Main Cutoff
MHT CET Result 2024
JEE Advanced Result
Download E-Books and Sample Papers
Compare Colleges
B.Tech College Applications
AP EAMCET Result 2024
MAH MBA CET Exam
View All Management Exams

Colleges & Courses

MBA College Admissions
MBA Colleges in India
Top IIMs Colleges in India
Top Online MBA Colleges in India
MBA Colleges Accepting XAT Score
BBA Colleges in India
XAT College Predictor 2024
SNAP College Predictor
NMAT College Predictor
MAT College Predictor 2024
CMAT College Predictor 2024
CAT Percentile Predictor 2024
CAT 2024 College Predictor
Top MBA Entrance Exams 2024
AP ICET Counselling 2024
GD Topics for MBA
CAT Exam Date 2024
Download Helpful Ebooks
List of Popular Branches
QnA - Get answers to your doubts
IIM Fees Structure
AIIMS Nursing
Top Medical Colleges in India
Top Medical Colleges in India accepting NEET Score
Medical Colleges accepting NEET
List of Medical Colleges in India
List of AIIMS Colleges In India
Medical Colleges in Maharashtra
Medical Colleges in India Accepting NEET PG
NEET College Predictor
NEET PG College Predictor
NEET MDS College Predictor
NEET Rank Predictor
DNB PDCET College Predictor
NEET Result 2024
NEET Asnwer Key 2024
NEET Cut off
NEET Online Preparation
Download Helpful E-books
Colleges Accepting Admissions
Top Law Colleges in India
Law College Accepting CLAT Score
List of Law Colleges in India
Top Law Colleges in Delhi
Top NLUs Colleges in India
Top Law Colleges in Chandigarh
Top Law Collages in Lucknow

Predictors & E-Books

CLAT College Predictor
MHCET Law ( 5 Year L.L.B) College Predictor
AILET College Predictor
Sample Papers
Compare Law Collages
Careers360 Youtube Channel
CLAT Syllabus 2025
CLAT Previous Year Question Paper
NID DAT Exam
Pearl Academy Exam

Predictors & Articles

NIFT College Predictor
UCEED College Predictor
NID DAT College Predictor
NID DAT Syllabus 2025
NID DAT 2025
Design Colleges in India
Top NIFT Colleges in India
Fashion Design Colleges in India
Top Interior Design Colleges in India
Top Graphic Designing Colleges in India
Fashion Design Colleges in Delhi
Fashion Design Colleges in Mumbai
Top Interior Design Colleges in Bangalore
NIFT Result 2024
NIFT Fees Structure
NIFT Syllabus 2025
Free Sample Papers
Free Design E-books
List of Branches
Careers360 Youtube channel
IPU CET BJMC
JMI Mass Communication Entrance Exam
IIMC Entrance Exam
Media & Journalism colleges in Delhi
Media & Journalism colleges in Bangalore
Media & Journalism colleges in Mumbai
List of Media & Journalism Colleges in India
Free Ebooks
CA Intermediate
CA Foundation
CS Executive
CS Professional
Difference between CA and CS
Difference between CA and CMA
CA Full form
CMA Full form
CS Full form
CA Salary In India

Top Courses & Careers

Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
Master of Commerce (M.Com)
Company Secretary
Cost Accountant
Charted Accountant
Credit Manager
Financial Advisor
Top Commerce Colleges in India
Top Government Commerce Colleges in India
Top Private Commerce Colleges in India
Top M.Com Colleges in Mumbai
Top B.Com Colleges in India
IT Colleges in Tamil Nadu
IT Colleges in Uttar Pradesh
MCA Colleges in India
BCA Colleges in India

Diploma Colleges

Top Diploma Colleges in Maharashtra
UPSC IAS 2024
SSC CGL 2024
IBPS RRB 2024
Previous Year Sample Papers
Free Competition E-books
Sarkari Result
QnA- Get your doubts answered
UPSC Previous Year Sample Papers
CTET Previous Year Sample Papers
SBI Clerk Previous Year Sample Papers
NDA Previous Year Sample Papers

Upcoming Events

NDA Application Form 2024
UPSC IAS Application Form 2024
CDS Application Form 2024
CTET Admit card 2024
HP TET Result 2023
SSC GD Constable Admit Card 2024
UPTET Notification 2024
SBI Clerk Result 2024

Other Exams

SSC CHSL 2024
UP PCS 2024
UGC NET 2024
RRB NTPC 2024
IBPS PO 2024
IBPS Clerk 2024
IBPS SO 2024
CBSE Class 10th
CBSE Class 12th
UP Board 10th
UP Board 12th
Bihar Board 10th
Bihar Board 12th

Top Schools

Top Schools in India
Top Schools in Delhi
Top Schools in Mumbai
Top Schools in Chennai
Top Schools in Hyderabad
Top Schools in Kolkata
Top Schools in Pune
Top Schools in Bangalore

Products & Resources

JEE Main Knockout April
NCERT Notes
NCERT Syllabus
NCERT Books
RD Sharma Solutions
Navodaya Vidyalaya Admission 2024-25
NCERT Solutions
NCERT Solutions for Class 12
NCERT Solutions for Class 11
NCERT solutions for Class 10
NCERT solutions for Class 9
NCERT solutions for Class 8
NCERT Solutions for Class 7
CUET PG 2024
IGNOU B.Ed Admission 2024
DU Admission 2024
UP B.Ed JEE 2024
LPU NEST 2024
IIT JAM 2024
IGNOU Online Admission 2024
Universities in India
Top Universities in India 2024
Top Colleges in India
Top Universities in Uttar Pradesh 2024
Top Universities in Bihar
Top Universities in Madhya Pradesh 2024
Top Universities in Tamil Nadu 2024
Central Universities in India
CUET DU Cut off 2024
IGNOU Date Sheet
CUET DU CSAS Portal 2024
CUET Response Sheet 2024
CUET Result 2024
CUET Participating Universities 2024
CUET Previous Year Question Paper
CUET Syllabus 2024 for Science Students
E-Books and Sample Papers
CUET Exam Pattern 2024
CUET Exam Date 2024
CUET Cut Off 2024
CUET Exam Analysis 2024
IGNOU Exam Form 2024
CUET PG Counselling 2024
CUET Answer Key 2024

Engineering Preparation

Knockout JEE Main 2024
Test Series JEE Main 2024
JEE Main 2024 Rank Booster

Medical Preparation

Knockout NEET 2024
Test Series NEET 2024
Rank Booster NEET 2024

Online Courses

JEE Main One Month Course
NEET One Month Course
IBSAT Free Mock Tests
IIT JEE Foundation Course
Knockout BITSAT 2024
Career Guidance Tool

Top Streams

IT & Software Certification Courses
Engineering and Architecture Certification Courses
Programming And Development Certification Courses
Business and Management Certification Courses
Marketing Certification Courses
Health and Fitness Certification Courses
Design Certification Courses

Specializations

Digital Marketing Certification Courses
Cyber Security Certification Courses
Artificial Intelligence Certification Courses
Business Analytics Certification Courses
Data Science Certification Courses
Cloud Computing Certification Courses
Machine Learning Certification Courses
View All Certification Courses
UG Degree Courses
PG Degree Courses
Short Term Courses
Free Courses
Online Degrees and Diplomas
Compare Courses

Top Providers

Coursera Courses
Udemy Courses
Edx Courses
Swayam Courses
upGrad Courses
Simplilearn Courses
Great Learning Courses

How to write a UCAS Personal Statement? (Examples)

To write an appealing UCAS personal statement for 2025 intake, start by exploring the courses and universities you are interested in. Understand what they are looking for and create the content accordingly. Start your statement with a clear introduction, a detailed main body, and a strong conclusion.

What is a Personal Statement?

10 steps to your ideal personal statement, how to open a personal statement, what to include in your ucas personal statement 2024, how to end your ucas personal statement, what makes a good ucas personal statement 2024, how to make your ucas personal statement stand out.

Dos and Don'ts for UCAS Personal Statement 2024

How to write a UCAS Personal Statement? (Examples)

Candidates must start the introduction by describing why they are interested in the topic. In the main body, discuss the academic achievements, relevant experiences, and personal strengths. Applicants must try to avoid general statements, and instead provide specific scenarios to support your points of view. Lastly, the conclusion should summarise the primary points while supporting your passion for the course of study.

All international students planning to study undergraduate courses in the UK are required to apply through UCAS application . Students are required to write a UCAS personal statement 2024 demonstrating their skills, education and other relevant information. A personal statement is usually like a one-page essay and UCAS personal statement word limit contains either 47 lines or 4000 characters.

Shortlist best ranked universities & get expert guidance

Want to study in Ireland? Explore Universities & Courses

Writing a UCAS personal statement can be an exhausting and time-consuming task, but with careful planning and efficient writing, it is possible. In this article, we will guide you on how to write a UCAS personal statement 2024, what to include in your personal statement and more.

An undergraduate personal statement is an excellent opportunity to highlight your unique abilities and professional background. It plays an important part in the application process because it enables students to demonstrate their passions and interests along with the academic achievements. UCAS personal statement 2024 is a mandatory component of your application for admission to UK universities.

Here are 10 steps guide on how to write a UCAS personal statement 2024:

1. Start with a plan. Make a list of all the points you want to cover.

2. Highlight your experience and interests, describing how they relate to the course.

3. Demonstrate your achievements honestly.

4. Begin with a clear statement regarding why you wish to take this course.

5. Make sure your writing explains why you are passionate about the subject.

6. Write your statement freely; you can change it later.

7. Avoid using complex language. Be simple.

8. Use your closing sentences to summarise the main components of your statement.

9. Carefully review the content and have someone else review it as well.

10. Take a break from your personal statement before reading over it one last time with a new perspective.

The admissions committee read many personal statements on a daily basis, so it is important to write a strong UCAS personal statement 2024 to grab their attention and be considered for admission to the university of your choice. Candidates have a UCAS personal statement word limit of 4,000-character, which is two sides of A4. Students must choose their words wisely to fit everything in.

Here are a few tips on how to start your personal statement:

Do not overthink the opening.

Begin by demonstrating your passion for the subject, displaying your understanding and proficiency, and expressing your goals.

Your opening statement should introduce yourself and enable the admissions committee a chance to know you.

Keep it relevant and simple.

Use brief sentences to effectively convey your point of view.

Candidates must begin their application by highlighting their particular skills and achievements. Universities want to know what skills you have that can help you on the course or in your daily life at university. Students should be able to boldly discuss their previous achievements, which may involve positions of responsibility within or outside the school.

In addition, while writing your UCAS personal statement 2024, explain your professional experience, including details about jobs, placements, work experience, or volunteer work, especially if it is relevant to your course of study. Students must explore their short and long-term job goals and how the course will help them develop a successful career.

Additional questions you can add in your UCAS Personal Statement

International students must explain their motivation for studying in the UK and their confidence in their own ability to succeed in English-taught courses. Specify if parts of their academics were taught or tested in English, as well as any extracurricular activities where they used English. Here are a few questions you can answer to help you in writing your UCAS personal statement:

Why did you choose this course?

What interests you about the subject?

Is my previous or present research relevant to this course?

Do you have any work experience that can benefit you?

What life experiences could you share?

What achievements make you proud?

What skills do you have that qualify you for the course?

What goals do you have for your future career?

Manipal University Online MBA

Apply for Online MBA from Manipal University

Read more: How to write Statement of Purpose?

Candidates must consider the conclusion an opportunity to make a lasting impression on the admissions committee. It is beneficial to connect the beginning and end of your statement, highlighting your key points. This section of your UCAS personal statement should summarise the main points that you have presented and explain why you deserve a spot on the course.

This is an opportunity to show your excitement and dedication while also demonstrating how you can add value to a university. In most situations, colleges or universities choose to make offers rather than reject candidates, hence, your UCAS personal statement 2024 will play a major role in choosing the right university.

Explain why you chose this course and how it fits with your future goals. Provide examples of relevant academic or professional experiences. Demonstrate your understanding of the course content by stating particular topics that interest you. Remember that admission specialists are going to review your statement online, therefore keep it clear and brief.

Focus on what you can add to the course, rather than simply listing your experiences and discussing how they prepared you for university success. The personal statement not only highlights your skills and accomplishments, but it also provides details about your goals and potential contributions to the academic community.

One might have outstanding academic achievements or a strong application, but if they are not able to present their ideas properly, they might not be able to stand a chance to get admission to the university of their choice.

A well-written personal statement with a clear and refined framework will not only effectively display your knowledge but also demonstrate your ability to organise written work, which is required for many university courses.

The personal statement can also be used for other purposes, such as gap year applications, employment, internships, and apprenticeships. Hence, candidates must include the following:

A strong opening stating why you wish to study this course.

Approximately 75% of the application should focus on your academic achievements

Around 25% should highlight your extracurricular activities.

A clear conclusion.

Dos and Don'ts for UCAS Personal Statement 2024

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

Start your UCAS personal statement with an honest passion for your chosen subject. Introduce yourself briefly, showing your knowledge and write in simple language. Students must try to attract admissions tutors with a straightforward and convincing introduction. This sets the tone for the rest of the essay by highlighting your ability and dedication.

The UCAS personal statement prompt asks applicants to explain why they chose their course, highlight relevant experiences, demonstrate understanding of the course content, showcase their strengths and achievements, maintain uniformity across their five choices, and explain what they can bring to university life.

Begin your personal statement with an interesting start that shows your passion for the subject. Share a specific experience that has increased your interest in that particular field. Maintain a simple tone throughout your personal statement and provide instances of your related work experience to boost your chances of admission in UK.

Latest Articles

Related E-books & Sample Papers

Study mbbs in usa.

23 + Downloads

Immigration laws for foreign students in USA

518 + Downloads

Quick guide to study in USA

548 + Downloads

Want to study in the US? Study Abroad Advisory- USA

570 + Downloads

Study in USA 2020 (India Edition)

256 + Downloads

Study In USA (2021) India Edition

273 + Downloads

Study In The USA - A Complete Guide

353 + Downloads

Post-study work opportunities in USA

898 + Downloads

Questions related to

Yes you can try to learn various courses that are for approximately 3 months to 6 months in duration.

Yes you can learn before going to us. Learning skills definitively adds some value to the life of a candidate and also improves in getting good recognition in life..

Below i have mentioned some courses that you can try before visiting us:

Social media marketing
Content writer
Content creation
Video editing
Photography skills
Digital marketing
Makeup artist course
Hairstyling course.

So these are some courses you can try.

Hope this answer will help you. Revert incase of any query.

Thank you and good luck:)

Hello Samarasimha,

YES, you can MS in UA after completing Bsc in Statistics. . All you have to do is score good marks in your PG and prepare for GRE. You should also decide upon the country and the university in which you are going to study.

Furthermore, the requirements to pursue MS in USA are as follows :

3 to 4 years bachelors degree in relevant field.
3.5 or higher GPA, equivalent to 87% in bachelors.
GRE score of 330 or above.
Statement of Purpose.
Research Internships/ Published Research Papers.
Project work/Seminars.
2-3 Letter of Recommendation.
Social & Leadership Activities.

Further, requirements for Software jobs in USA are as follows :

Enroll in a software development program. The first step to becoming a software engineer is to enroll in a software development degree program. ...
Gain internship experience. ...
Choose your specialty. ...
Pursue industry certifications. ...
Continue your education.

I hope that this will help.

Dear aspirant hope you are doing well..

To study at foreign universities/abroad in U. S , the admission process will require the candidate to give one language exam and one standardized exam. However, depending on the country, course, college, or university you are applying for you may be exempted from standardized exams. The language test will showcase your English proficiency skills. These exams are required for pursuing almost all courses abroad. Different countries have different language exams such as

TOEFL exam for getting admission to the universities in the US and Canada. The score of this exam is valid for two years after the declaration of results
There are plenty of universities abroad where you can apply to do master-level course, MSc in statistics, MSc in Operation Research, and Applied Mathematics, MSc in Mathematical Modeling, etc are some of the Master level Course in Mathematics that are available abroad. Students who have completed their graduation or bachelor's degree in Mathematics can apply for these courses. Foreign universities like Uppsala University, Dublin City University, Oxford Brookes University, University of York, University of Liverpool, etc offer all the above-mentioned courses in mathematics.

Top university of The USA for master degree courses

John Carroll University
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Michigan State University
West Virginia University
Rhode Island College
University of Arkansas
Vanderbilt University
DePaul University
Delaware State University
Texas A&M University-Commerce
University of South Florida
California State University Northridge

You can get the detailed information about the process how to apply for MS in USA. read the given article. Link is given below

https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/how-apply-for-ms-in-usa/amp

Hope it's helpful for you..

There are many ways to choose your university such as fees, the ranking of the university, which state it is located and scholarships. My suggestion is to choose your research focus and write academic papers. In the US, PhD in Commerce admission into the university depends on what you want to study (your area of research) and your already completed research papers. You can begin your research by searching online for US universities offering PhD in Business Administration. One example is University of California Los Angeles (https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/phd-program/admissions#app-req) .

Hello Student

You are aBHM means Bachelor in Hotel Management so after doing BHM,to gain a bright future inthis trade you have to do MSc in Hotel Management,post graduation in Hospitality Management,Master degree in travel and tourism management,or MBA in hotel management,AFter doing post graduation in Hotel management or travel and tourism management will give you the best return in employment opportunity.

Hope this will help.

Applications for Admissions are open.

TOEFL ® Registrations 2024

Accepted by more than 11,000 universities in over 150 countries worldwide

GRE ® Registrations 2024

Apply for GRE® Test now & save 10% with ApplyShop Gift Card | World's most used Admission Test for Graduate & Professional Schools

PTE Exam 2024 Registrations

Explore Universities, Courses & Subjects | Work while study

Apply for upcoming intake & plan your journey

MET Institute of International Studies BBA Admissions 2024

B.Sc (Hons)/BA (Hons) Business Administration, is an International BBA programme offered at MET Institute of International Studies, Mumbai

Explore on Careers360

Explore Top Study Abroad Exams
Study Destinations and Visa
TOEFL Syllabus
TOEFL Exam Pattern
TOEFL Eligibility
TOEFL Registration
TOEFL Result
LSAT Eligibility
LSAT Scores
LSAT Test Dates
LSAT Test Centres
LSAT Eligibility Criteria
LSAT Sample Papers
LSAT Exam Pattern
LSAT Preparation Tips
LSAT Syllabus
LSAT Selection Process
IELTS Application Form
IELTS Cut Off
IELTS Eligibility Criteria
IELTS Preparation Books And Study Materials
IELTS Preparation Tips
IELTS Sample Paper
IELTS Selection Procedure
IELTS Syllabus
IELTS Test Dates
IELTS Test Pattern
GRE Test Syllabus
GRE Sample Paper
GRE Eligibility Criteria
GRE Registration
GRE Test Pattern
GRE Test Dates
GRE Test Centres
GRE Preparation Tips
GRE Selection Procedure
SAT Preparation Tips
SAT Syllabus
SAT Test Centres
SAT Exam Pattern
SAT Test Eligibility
SAT Registration
SAT Exam Dates
SAT Sample Papers
USMLE Exam Dates
USMLE Test Centres
USMLE Scores
USMLE Application Form
USMLE Eligibility Criteria
ACT Test Dates
ACT Registration
ACT Eligibility Criteria
ACT Exam Pattern
ACT Test Centres
MCAT Test Dates
MCAT Exam Pattern
MCAT Syllabus
MCAT Registration
MCAT Eligibility
MCAT Scores
GMAT Test Dates
GMAT Exam Pattern
GMAT Syllabus
GMAT Registration
GMAT Eligibility
GMAT Scores

Popular Study Abroad Countries

Study in Singapore
Student Visa For Canada
Student Visa For UK
Student Visa For USA
Student Visa For Australia
Germany Student Visa
New Zealand Student Visa
Student Visa For Ireland

Download Careers360 App's

Regular exam updates, QnA, Predictors, College Applications & E-books now on your Mobile

Certifications

We Appeared in

0 Shopping Cart $ 0.00 -->

🎉 JD Advising’s Biggest Sale is Live! Get 33% off our top bar exam products – Shop Now 🎉

Learn to study efficiently for the bar exam with our free guides on how to pass the MEE and MBE ! Plus memorize all of the MPT formats with our attack outlines !

Overwhelmed by your bar exam outlines? Our expert-crafted, highly-tailored bar exam outlines are now available for individual purchase! It’s not too late to change your approach!

Do’s And Don’ts For Writing A Personal Statement

Writing your personal statement is one of the most difficult parts of applying to law school. In this post, we give our best do’s and don’ts to help guide you along your way!

DO Take weeks or months to work on your personal statement.

The process of brainstorming and writing a personal statement can be long and difficult. Rest assured that this is completely normal. Take time to reflect. Think about who you are, the experiences that molded you, passions that motivate you, and your aspirations after law school. Whenever an idea strikes you, make sure you write it down along with a few bullet points on the idea. Soon thereafter, try to make a rough outline of what your topic will look like. Your ideas will evolve. You’ll discard many drafts and change your direction multiple times. That’s typical and all part of the process of writing a compelling personal statement.

DON’T Re-write your resume.

Though it can be tempting to try to highlight everything you’ve accomplished, avoid doing this in your personal statement! Most law school applications will ask for a resume. Allow the resume to speak for you. Your personal statement should build on one or two experiences listed in your resume, but not reiterate the entire thing.

DO Focus on a specific topic or theme.

A compelling statement will be narrowly tailored to a specific topic or theme. Through your chosen theme, tell the story of who you are and how you’ve developed as a person. Your theme may be overcoming adversity, community involvement, family struggles, or other defining qualities about yourself or experiences you’ve had. Trying to fit too many themes into a personal statement will leave it sloppy and generic. Choose one and focus on that.

DON’T Be a cliché

Though you may truly want to save the world, avoid being a cliché. Create a narrative about the work that you’ve done through your passion and motivation to make the world a better place. Do not state that you simply want to “help people” and let that be the end of it. While it’s an admirable quality, it’s also a very common theme among law school applicants and it won’t help you stand out.

DO Remember that it’s a PERSONAL statement.

There’s not one correct way to write a personal statement. This is a statement completely personal to you and no one else! Don’t try to write what you think an admissions office wants to read. Keep it focused on yourself and your own honest experiences. It’s perfectly okay if your personal statement doesn’t look like anyone else’s. In fact, that’s great!

DON’T Have it too heavily edited.

Your final statement should be flawless. The topic should be well thought out, demonstrative of your experiences and abilities, and free of any spelling or grammatical errors. While you should certainly have one or two people offer edits and feedback on your personal statement, you need to make sure it’s not too heavily edited. Ultimately, it needs to be an accurate reflection of your own writing abilities.

Pursuing Law School? We’ve Got You Covered!

🌟 Special Offer: Enroll in our FREE on-demand law school prep course, meticulously crafted by a top-ranked law student. Secure your spot now

What to Do After Submitting Your Law School Applications

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Public Interest

By using this site, you allow the use of cookies, and you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service .

Cookie and Privacy Settings

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy Overview
Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

IMAGES

Personal Statement Do's & Don'ts
💣 Personal statements dos and don ts. Personal Statement Do's and Don
💣 Personal statements dos and don ts. Personal Statement Do's and Don
Dos and Don’ts of writing a personal statement
Do’s and Don’ts of Personal Statement Writing
13 Dos and Don'ts of Writing Personal Statements for Scholarships [By

VIDEO

City, University of London: What do you look for in a Creative Writing personal statement?
SEMAGLUTIDE DO’S + DON’TS 👍🏽✨❌
Tips to writing personal statement
Sharing my experience of writing PERSONAL STATEMENT for UGRAD 2024
Learn the Do's and Don'ts of Choosing the Right Words
The do's and the don'ts of writing a successful personal statement!

COMMENTS

Personal statement dos and don'ts
Don'ts. Don't be modest or shy. You want your passions to come across. Don't exaggerate - if you do, you may get caught out in an interview when asked to elaborate on an interesting achievement. Don't use quotes from someone else, or cliches. Don't leave it to the last minute - your statement will seem rushed and important ...
Personal Statement Do's & Don'ts
Personal Statement Do's & Don'ts. Published in College Admissions, College Prep · 10 min read · May 2, 2017. Your grades and standardized test scores are set by now, so the personal statement is your last chance to add something new to your college applications. An effective personal statement is well-written, avoids cliches, tells a ...
9 Do's and Don'ts of Writing Personal Statements
Here are five don'ts of the writing process to keep in mind: 1. Don't write about sensitive topics. When outlining your personal statement, try to avoid writing about sensitive, controversial topics that may cause a reader to feel uncomfortable or overly emotional. While it's worthwhile to write about your personal hardships in your statement ...
Personal statement do's and don'ts
Tip #5. Though you should ask several people to review your statement and offer suggestions, the finished product should be 100% your writing. "Nobody is better equipped to write about you than you," Dr. McClain says. For more personal statement guidance, see The DO's recent article on how to write a compelling personal statement. Editor ...
Personal Statement Don'ts and Do's < Yale School of Medicine
For those of you getting ready to write your personal statements (and those who plan to write one someday), here are some don'ts and do's: The Don'ts. 1.Don't dwell too long on why you chose your specialty: Beyond a sentence or two explaining why you chose your field, don't waste space extoling your specialty. All nephrology applicants love the ...
DOs and DON'Ts When Writing a Personal Statement
2. DON'T address your weaknesses in the personal statement. Use an addendum.The personal statement should highlight the positives about you. 3. DON'T focus on your high school activities or accomplishments. Focusing on achievements in high school can draw attention to a lack of similar achievements in college. 4.
How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps
Writing a personal statement off the top of your head is difficult. Start by making some notes, answering the following questions: ... Personal statement dos and don'ts Do. Remember that your personal statement is your personal statement, not an article written about your intended field of study. It should tell the reader about you, not about ...
Personal Statements: Examples, Do's and Don'ts
Personal statement do's. Tailor your personal statement - utilise the job description to help you highlight exactly what the employer is looking for, highlight the skills and experience it calls for. The job description is the blueprint to your personal statement for that role, so try and signpost your abilities from the exact things the employer is looking for.
The Do's and Don'ts Of Writing a Personal Statement
Discover the do's and don'ts of writing a personal statement. Starting the process is often the most difficult step. When writing a personal statement for college scholarship, it's a good idea to just write freely at first. Think about the story of your life — past, present, and future.
Do's and don'ts of writing your personal statement
Dos. Do play to your strengths! Remember that you want to stand out from the crowd so ensure you play on your key strengths and achievements. Do write an original personal statement - the Admissions Tutors and or/academics want an insight into the person who has written the statement. Do write clearly and succinctly and try not to get caught up ...
The Do's and Don'ts of Writing a Personal Statement
Crafting a compelling personal statement requires time, reflection, and attention to detail. By following these do's and don'ts, you can create a personal statement that effectively communicates your strengths, experiences, and aspirations. Remember, your personal statement is your opportunity to shine, so make it count.
Personal statement: dos and don'ts
Confuse it with your cover letter - Your personal statement is meant as a short introduction. Keep it that way. Small representations of your success (e.g. a Financial Analyst with eight years' experience) are necessary - but keep them brief. Use your cover letter and employment history to elaborate on your achievements and your personal ...
How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber
Top tips on how to write your statement opener. We spoke to admissions tutors at unis and colleges - read on for their tips. 1. Don't begin with the overkill opening. Try not to overthink the opening sentence. You need to engage the reader with your relevant thoughts and ideas, but not go overboard. Tutors said: 'The opening is your chance ...
Undergraduate personal statement dos and dont's
As a starting point, below is our list of personal statement dos and don'ts. A personal statement supports your application to study with Cambridge Education Group (CEG) on one of our undergraduate degrees validated by London South Bank University (LSBU). You have a recommended word limit of 300-500 words and within this you have to sum up ...
PDF How to Write Your Personal Statement: the Big Do'S and Don'Ts
Dos and don'ts when writing your personal statement Do n Do brainstorm your ideas on paper before attempting to write anything. n Do check university websites as they may provide information about what they are looking for from applicants. n Do aim to use about five paragraphs, making sure that each flows in logical way.
10 Do's and Don'ts for Writing the Personal Statement (aka The Common
Check out these 10 tips from Emma that will help you write the most effective personal statement. Summer is the best time to tackle. ... 10 Do's and Don'ts for Writing the Personal Statement (aka The Common App Essay) By Brittany Maschal On July 16, 2019 December 24, 2019.
PDF 100 Do's and Don'ts of Personal Statement Writing DO
Do's and Don'ts of Personal Statement Writing • Leave it to the last minute - your statement will seem rushed and important information could be left out. • Expect to be able to write your personal statement whilst watching TV or surfing the internet. • Use gimmicks to try to show the readers that you are original. The personal ...
Application Tips: Writing a Personal Statement
A really effective personal statement tells the reader what makes you different from everyone else in the applicant pool, and does so while utilizing engaging, interesting, and concise prose. With that very general advice in mind, here are more specific do's and don'ts for writing a personal statement: DO ... Write from your gut.
How to Approach Your Personal Statement: Dos and Don'ts
Do some brainstorming and get writing as soon as possible. Your first draft won't be anywhere near perfect so the sooner you begin, the more time you will have to edit, refine, or start over again with a better idea. DO have a theme. Ensure that the theme is present throughout the entire personal statement.
The Dos and Don'ts of Writing a Personal Statement
We've compiled a list of 8 do's and don'ts when it comes to writing your personal statement. ... Do start writing your personal statement ahead of time. The famous saying "fail to prepare, prepare to fail" is apt here. Avoid leaving your personal statement until the last minute. You need time to draft, re-draft, scrap it and start again.
How to Write a UCAS Personal Statement?
Don't be tempted to buy or copy a personal statement; plagiarism software is now extremely advanced, and if you're detected, you won't receive a place at the university. Make no excuses for not being able to participate in events or gain experience. Don't use AI or ChatGPT to write your personal statement.
Do's And Don'ts For Writing A Personal Statement
Do's And Don'ts For Writing A Personal Statement. DO Take weeks or months to work on your personal statement. The process of brainstorming and writing a personal statement can be long and difficult. Rest assured that this is completely normal. Take time to reflect. Think about who you are, the experiences that molded you, passions that ...
PDF Personal Statement Do's and Don'ts
The personal statement is the only place in your application where you can showcase your writing skills. A poorly written personal statement may cause a program to reject your application. DO show your personal statement to others to obtain their feedback and for proofreading, but not for their rewrites. It is good to reach out to friends and ...
Do's and Don'ts for Writing a Strong CASPA Personal Statement
Writing the statement - do's and don'ts. Do demonstrate your knowledge of the PA profession. Your essay should make it clear why you are pursuing medicine, and why you have chosen to become a PA specifically. Don't say why you don't want to be a different kind of healthcare provider, write about how you want to be a PA!
Resume personal statements: How to write one
How long should a personal statement be on a resume? A few sentences should be enough for a short but powerful statement. They should focus on the most relevant information that fits the job description. What are some dos and don'ts for writing a resume personal statement? Dos: Personalize your statement for the position and company.

Personal Statement Do’s & Don’ts

Do Tell A Story

Do Brag About Yourself

Do Respect Word Limits

Do Obey The Rules Of Grammar

Do Personalize Your Statement

Do Get Feedback

Don’t Restate Your Resume

Don’t Write About Sensitive Topics

Don’t Have Someone Else Write Your Personal Statement For You

Don’t Forget To Show Some Self-Awareness

Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute To Write It

Personal Statement Do’s and Don’ts FAQ

What are the elements of an effective personal statement?

What shouldn’t I do when writing my personal statement?

Related Articles

Top Strategies College Admissions Consultants Use to Get Students into Ivy League Schools

How to Get Into Harvard: Breaking Down Harvard Admission Requirements in 2024

The Erosion of Meritocracy

Written by Dr. Shaan Patel MD MBA

More from Dr. Shaan Patel MD MBA

A Complete Guide to Guaranteed SAT and ACT Score Scholarships

$200 OFF COUPON CODE

Personal Statement Don'ts and Do's

Featured in this article

DOs and DON’Ts When Writing a Personal Statement

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Share this page

Personal statement deadlines

2024 entry deadlines

What is a personal statement?

1. Plan what you want to cover

2. Show off your experience

3. Be bold about your achievements

4. How to start your personal statement

5. Focus your writing on why you've chosen that subject

6. How long should a personal statement be?

7. Keep it simple

8. Smart ways to end your personal statement

9. Make sure your personal statement has no mistakes

10. Don't think about your personal statement for a whole week

10 steps to your ideal personal statement

Personal statement dos and don'ts

You may want to look at these...

How long does it take for universities to reply to your application?

Where could your A-levels take you?

Related to this article

Promoted universities

Browse expert advice

About this site

Who we work with

Popular tools and features

Connect with us

Personal Statements: Examples, Do's and Don'ts

What is a personal statement?

What makes a good personal statement?

How to start a personal statement

How to finish a personal statement

Personal statement do’s

Personal statement don’ts

What next?

Download your Job Applicant Toolkit

Is your CV updated and ready to go?

Related articles

Do’s and don’ts of writing your personal statement

What should you do next?

Come to an Open Day

Find out what happens next

The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing a Personal Statement

Speak right now to our live team of English staff

The Do’s

Be Authentic and Reflective

Tailor Your Statement to the Specific Application

Focus on Your Achievements and Skills

Show, Don’t Just Tell

The Don’ts

Don’t Rely on Templates

Stay Away from Jargon and Overly Technical Language

Don’t Focus Solely on Weaknesses

Steer Clear of Controversial Topics