Sixth Form Personal Statements - share tips and ask for advice

We get a number of people asking about Sixth Form Personal Statements on here and all get answered separately - so here is a place for people to ask for help and maybe post up what they have written to looked at. With PS for Sixth Form apparently becoming more common and more important, it might be useful to ask questions about your PS.


We have the PS Helpers for the Uni PSs - but speaking to them they don't know much about Sixth Form PSs, so think this thread is a good idea where Sixth Form people who know more about them can take a look an help other people.


So if you want help do the following



While it's different for every school and college, we could also try to draw up some general advice and tips on what to do and how to find out more information specific to your school or college. So let's get posting in here and see what we can come up with

Are in an in area or out of area student?
If you're in area then don't worry about it. At all. Just write a bit about your hobbies and interests, what subjects you do and what skills you have. In the general style of: I enjoy(...) as well as (....) which I feel has greatly enhanced my ability to(...). I'm a friendly outgoing person etc. etc. lie lie lie.

They probably wont even read it, they just think it's good practise.

However if you're not in the catchment area it might be a bigger deal, but to be honest if you follow the detailed instructions given above I'm sure it'll be more than enough. Just make sure your spelling, punctuation and grammar is all up to scratch and that you have some interests which set you apart. An 'extreme' sport was mine since I don't play instruments or debate take part in team activities. Anything will do really.

"
Why I selected my subjects:
From my early days, I have always thrived on the sense of accomplishment or the feeling of satisfaction once a problem has been solved. That said, I've always wanted exciting courses in which studying isn't part of a routine but involves various projects and working with people. This, combined with the college’s remarkable reputation and my academic strength in dealing with problems and equations - the above lead me to choosing to study maths, further maths, physics and chemistry at Woodhouse College.


Career aspiration - engineer
When I was younger, I learnt that when something works, we tend to over look it; yet when things break, only then do we realise its true value. This is how society naturally operates and is exactly why the world is dependent on engineers to keep things going. For this reason, being an engineer has always been my career aspiration. It brings together many aspects which I admire, including using creative flair to solve problems, mathematical reasoning and working with people. Hopefully, my desired subjects would aid me significantly in the success I wish to hold in the future as an engineer.


Why im applying for Woodhouse College:
After attending the open day held on the 8th of November, I learned that the college provides students with fantastic learning environments and a range of useful facilities which I feel will be highly beneficial to me. This includes having the opportunity to play for the college’s football team. Also, the student hosts were very friendly, approachable, and enthusiastic about their learning. These are the kind people I hope to share my studies with. The fact that the college allows room for more students than most other colleges means that there are more people to befriend and socialise with, making the two years experience more worthwhile. Overall, my attendance to the open day has motivated me to perform better in my upcoming exams, so that I can meet the required grades (or do better) for entry to the sixth form.


Interests and activities outside of the classroom:
Outside of the curriculum, one of the things I enjoy is paintballing. I take part in paintball sessions at least once every two months with my friends. This is because I like a challenge but I also like to socialise. I also have an interest in magic and illusions and although I haven't performed in any major events, I've performed at my secondary school's talent show and have enjoyed the experience. Finally, attending regular table-tennis tournaments every Sunday at my local youth club is another pastime. In fact, I was awarded with a silver medal in the Finsbury table-tennis tournament of 2004. Of course, when exams or other school deadlines are nearby, I adjust my schedule accordingly.


Previous work experience:
In total, I have taken part in 2 work experience programs. One of them was arranged by my secondary school and was compulsory. It consisted of a 2 week placement in Boots Stores plc. My main tasks included general till work as well as customer services. My work hours were 9am – 4pm and I was allowed the weekends off. From this experience I gained transferrable communication skills as I had to advise customers on products suitable for their needs and also deal with refund and exchange queries. The reason why I enjoyed this experience was because it allowed me to interact with people of different ages to me.

The other work experience was last summer at the Deutsche Bank for 4 weeks. I requested a work placement here because I felt I needed to expand my knowledge of financial handling, working as a team and of course, learning to work under a pressurised environment. I believe that these skills are essential as they provide the foundation on which my life should be based and built upon. Tasks I did include; buying meals for employees, helping to prepare rooms for employees use and organising paperwork. Although my duties at the bank were restricted due to the nature of my employment, I still feel that I have gained an excellent insight into the day to day workings within a large banking community. On the whole, it was a fantastic experience .."

is mine okay so far?