Can you send your personal statement to lecturers?

My college offers little help with personal statements, and seeing as I am applying to high league unis, I was wondering if I could email my personal statement to university lecturers in the course I’m studying to. It was actually an Oxford student who told me to do this, but I’m second-guessing myself now.

Reply 1

BankaiGintoki

21

Original post by waffelton

My college offers little help with personal statements, and seeing as I am applying to high league unis, I was wondering if I could email my personal statement to university lecturers in the course I’m studying to. It was actually an Oxford student who told me to do this, but I’m second-guessing myself now.

I suggest not - your sharing your personal statement with a person with no known trust. Your teachers and sixth form team are in a position of trust and so is your family. Besides, what advice do you want? Is it to do with the introduction, rewording things, reflecting on experiences, your super curricular activities?

Reply 2

Muttley79

20

Original post by waffelton

My college offers little help with personal statements, and seeing as I am applying to high league unis, I was wondering if I could email my personal statement to university lecturers in the course I’m studying to. It was actually an Oxford student who told me to do this, but I’m second-guessing myself now.

Submit it to the PS review section on here: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=1372

Reply 3

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post by waffelton

My college offers little help with personal statements, and seeing as I am applying to high league unis, I was wondering if I could email my personal statement to university lecturers in the course I’m studying to. It was actually an Oxford student who told me to do this, but I’m second-guessing myself now.

Best case scenario this will end up in someone's spam box. I assure you they have more than enough emails to deal with from their current students, much less 6th formers who haven't even applied yet to their uni...

Reply 4

gjd800

20

Original post by waffelton

My college offers little help with personal statements, and seeing as I am applying to high league unis, I was wondering if I could email my personal statement to university lecturers in the course I’m studying to. It was actually an Oxford student who told me to do this, but I’m second-guessing myself now.

Next to nobody I know would act on this, and I read at Oxford. I din't know where their undergrads get these ideas from.

Reply 5

emilyalexandria

9

Original post by waffelton

My college offers little help with personal statements, and seeing as I am applying to high league unis, I was wondering if I could email my personal statement to university lecturers in the course I’m studying to. It was actually an Oxford student who told me to do this, but I’m second-guessing myself now.

As another Oxford student, I would avoid doing this. I doubt any academics are gonna review your personal statement for free. People charge money for this sort of thing.

Reply 6

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

21

I'd also note that depending on their selection process, you may well email someone that has no involvement in scoring personal statements. Lecturer ≠ Admissions.

So even in the one in a million chance they did respond, you may get some very wonky advice indeed, (although most academics have enough wherewithal to not respond if it's not in their wheelhouse).

Reply 7

gjd800

20

Original post by Admit-One

I'd also note that depending on their selection process, you may well email someone that has no involvement in scoring personal statements. Lecturer ≠ Admissions.

So even in the one in a million chance they did respond, you may get some very wonky advice indeed, (although most academics have enough wherewithal to not respond if it's not in their wheelhouse).

Relatedly (as an academic with little clue in this area), I wanted to ask.you (on behalf of a student) for general pointers on what constitutes a good postgraduate PS for the 'elite' gaffs - I tried to message but you sensibly have that turned off :lol:

Reply 8

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post by gjd800

Relatedly (as an academic with little clue in this area), I wanted to ask.you (on behalf of a student) for general pointers on what constitutes a good postgraduate PS for the 'elite' gaffs - I tried to message but you sensibly have that turned off :lol:

Haha, yes, I got a bit exasperated after everyone ignored the "please don't DM me specific queries" line in my bio.

In general, I would always advise researching the specific uni guidance as much as possible. What one postgrad course wants in a PS may be different to another so avoid copy and pasting with a few module names thrown in, (it's very obvious).

Look out for info and hints about scoring criteria:

•

Postgrad pages

•

Faculty FAQs

•

How to apply webinars

•

Postgrad fairs

•

Call the admissions team directly

But broadly speaking:

•

Demonstrate that you understand that specific course (not just the subject area)

•

Demonstrate that you've thought where it will get you, beyond just one job title

•

Demonstrate that you'll be a positive contributor to the cohort, either via relevant experiences or solid extra/super-curriculars

Reply 9

gjd800

20

Original post by Admit-One

Haha, yes, I got a bit exasperated after everyone ignored the "please don't DM me specific queries" line in my bio.

In general, I would always advise researching the specific uni guidance as much as possible. What one postgrad course wants in a PS may be different to another so avoid copy and pasting with a few module names thrown in, (it's very obvious).

Look out for info and hints about scoring criteria:

•

Postgrad pages

•

Faculty FAQs

•

How to apply webinars

•

Postgrad fairs

•

Call the admissions team directly

But broadly speaking:

•