Are personal statements really that important?

Is a PS that doesn't stand out really that bad? What if they have the required grades?

Obviously for courses like medicine and oxbridge applications, PS's are important. But what about everything else?

Put yourself in the place of an admissions tutor. you have several applicants applying for the same course all with the same expected grades. how do you select the person who you think should have a place? Flip a coin? Or read through their personal statements and see who really wants to do the course, who's done some research about the course, maybe gained some relevant experience and knows what to reasonably expect on that course?

In the end, if you want to do a certain course and give yourself every chance possible to get on it, then it makes sense to write a good PS.

Yes, the PS is important, if you don't stand out you're needlessly putting yourself at a more disadvantaged position than other applicants.

But won't the majority of PS's be average?
I wouldn't say my PS is bad. It's written well, I've researched the course and hopefully I've been able to express why I want to do the course. But I'd still say mine is pretty average. Not bad, but not anything special. Will I be at a major disadvantage?

But won't the majority of PS's be average?
I wouldn't say my PS is bad. It's written well, I've researched the course and hopefully I've been able to express why I want to do the course. But I'd still say mine is pretty average. Not bad, but not anything special. Will I be at a major disadvantage?

What course are you applying for?


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Do you want to make yourself stand out as a candidate or are you not particularly bothered if you get a place or not? What are you applying for btw?

Biomedical engineering.
Of course, I want to get a place. After reading a ton of sample PS's, I'd say a few are amazing, some are terrible, and the rest are pretty much on the same level. Sadly, I don't think mine is amazing. I didn't have a lot of work experience to talk about. Not much I can do about it now that I've already sent it off - except worry!

Biomedical engineering.
Of course, I want to get a place. After reading a ton of sample PS's, I'd say a few are amazing, some are terrible, and the rest are pretty much on the same level. Sadly, I don't think mine is amazing. I didn't have a lot of work experience to talk about. Not much I can do about it now that I've already sent it off - except worry!

Is a PS that doesn't stand out really that bad? What if they have the required grades?

Obviously for courses like medicine and oxbridge applications, PS's are important. But what about everything else?

Actually not as important in medicine as you might expect. There are probably about 8-12 medical schools where you can get interviews without your personal statement being seen or with little more than a cursory glance to check that you've done some work experience.

I think they are becoming less important in some places because they can be so done by someone other than the candidate, and because some kids get way more help than others.