The Student Room Group

Personal Statement

I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right place, but I was just wondering if 2623 characters is enough for a personal statement? I can't think of anything else to put as I havent really done anything extra curricular and nothing that relates to my course at all :frown:
Original post by Caitlinnnmay
I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right place, but I was just wondering if 2623 characters is enough for a personal statement? I can't think of anything else to put as I havent really done anything extra curricular and nothing that relates to my course at all :frown:


That is very short - you should be aiming at about 4,000 characters that you can then edit down to 3,400-3,600.

Have you tried going through the TSR PS builder: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/personal_statement_builder/make_some_notes

Your PS isn't a document listing all of the things you've done relating to your course - it's explaining to admissions staff that you understand what the course involves, are interested and motivated to study this subject for 3+ years and have the appropriate skills/knowledge to succeed.

There's still 2 months before the deadline to do some more research around your course - it doesn't have to be books it could be watching documentaries, listening to radio programmes, watching TEDtalks or university lectures online, taking an online MOOC (a free online course), visiting your local university for public lectures, going to an exhibition at a local gallery or museum or theatre...

You should be trying to do some of these activities - otherwise you risk choosing the wrong course for you and ending up unhappy or failing. It's nothing that can't be done usually over a weekend or two and it means not only will your PS be stronger but you'll have the background and information to make a really good choice of course and university.
Original post by PQ
That is very short - you should be aiming at about 4,000 characters that you can then edit down to 3,400-3,600.

Have you tried going through the TSR PS builder: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/personal_statement_builder/make_some_notes

Your PS isn't a document listing all of the things you've done relating to your course - it's explaining to admissions staff that you understand what the course involves, are interested and motivated to study this subject for 3+ years and have the appropriate skills/knowledge to succeed.

There's still 2 months before the deadline to do some more research around your course - it doesn't have to be books it could be watching documentaries, listening to radio programmes, watching TEDtalks or university lectures online, taking an online MOOC (a free online course), visiting your local university for public lectures, going to an exhibition at a local gallery or museum or theatre...

You should be trying to do some of these activities - otherwise you risk choosing the wrong course for you and ending up unhappy or failing. It's nothing that can't be done usually over a weekend or two and it means not only will your PS be stronger but you'll have the background and information to make a really good choice of course and university.


I'm applying for Marketing, would talking about shows such as The Apprentice and Dragon's Den be appropriate?
Original post by Caitlinnnmay
I'm applying for Marketing, would talking about shows such as The Apprentice and Dragon's Den be appropriate?


Not in any detail - they're better to use an example when discussing a topic. The best bits of PSs are where you can link together concepts - so talking about something you might have covered in your A levels, that you then went away and watched a documentary about which made you realise/think about how that topic applied to something else (and how that is demonstrated in popular culture like the shows you've mentioned).

Try spending an afternoon watching this lot: https://www.ted.com/talks?q=marketing&sort=newest and sign up and work through the first few lessons in https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/the-secret-power-of-brands and have a listen to http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04tjfvy and start listening to (and going through old editions of) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dv9hq and spend half an hour a week having a read of some of these blogs: http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/great-new-marketing-blogs
Original post by PQ
Not in any detail - they're better to use an example when discussing a topic. The best bits of PSs are where you can link together concepts - so talking about something you might have covered in your A levels, that you then went away and watched a documentary about which made you realise/think about how that topic applied to something else (and how that is demonstrated in popular culture like the shows you've mentioned).

Try spending an afternoon watching this lot: https://www.ted.com/talks?q=marketing&sort=newest and sign up and work through the first few lessons in https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/the-secret-power-of-brands and have a listen to http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04tjfvy and start listening to (and going through old editions of) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dv9hq and spend half an hour a week having a read of some of these blogs: http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/great-new-marketing-blogs


Thank you for your help :smile:

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