Help with Personal Statement!

Hi I’m applying to study English Literature and Spanish ab initio at Universities like Birmingham and Exeter.

I’m finding it difficult to think of ways show in my personal statement that these two subjects can be taught together and is why they have been put together in the first place.

I’m structuring my personal statement in terms of my 4 interests...

- dystopian literature
- presentation of class
- language
- Hispanic culture/history (which isn’t a particular interest of mine because I don’t know much about it yet but in the course this is an integrated focus with the language learning)

Can anyone give me advice of how to do this? I intend to talk about some of these books: Vox, Handmaids Tale, 1984, Hunger Games, We (dystopian) and Paula and Requiem por un (Hispanic literature I’ve read). I’m also going to include talk about some Irish and Spanish poetry I’ve read e.g. Seamus heaney or yeats maybe and Lorca.

Hi Josh5718. English Lit and a Modern Language is a very common combination here at Exeter, so we are used to receiving applications from students who wish to study both. A personal statement should reflect your passion for the subject(s) you wish to study, what particularly interests and motives you to learn about the subject(s) and why you wish to read the subject(s) at university level. From your post it seems that you have already given this lots of thought and have a lot of relevant and interesting content. Try not to over worry as this may overwork it a bit and not allow your personality and passion to come through.
Since you mentioned Exeter, I think you should know that the most important aspect of your application for us will be your achieved or predicted academic results, as we believe this is the best predictor for success on one of our degree programmes. Personal statements are considered, but mainly to identify any mitigating or extenuating circumstances that may have affected your achieved or predicted grades. All universities are different though and some put more emphasis on the personal statement, so it's worth making it the best you can.
Hope that this helps.
Karen

Hi I’m applying to study English Literature and Spanish ab initio at Universities like Birmingham and Exeter.

I’m finding it difficult to think of ways show in my personal statement that these two subjects can be taught together and is why they have been put together in the first place.

I’m structuring my personal statement in terms of my 4 interests...

- dystopian literature
- presentation of class
- language
- Hispanic culture/history (which isn’t a particular interest of mine because I don’t know much about it yet but in the course this is an integrated focus with the language learning)

Can anyone give me advice of how to do this? I intend to talk about some of these books: Vox, Handmaids Tale, 1984, Hunger Games, We (dystopian) and Paula and Requiem por un (Hispanic literature I’ve read). I’m also going to include talk about some Irish and Spanish poetry I’ve read e.g. Seamus heaney or yeats maybe and Lorca.

sorry just to clarify? you're applying to them as a joint degree?

Yes!

Thank you for your reply! Your advice is so valuable to me. I understand that that’s what I need to let shine through in my personal statement, however I wanted to make a point of saying why I think these two subjects compliment each other and give evidence as to how I’ve shown this with the literature I’ve read. One question though...I’m applying to study Spanish from beginners level because I haven’t studied the A Level. How do you think I can show my aptitude and enthusiasm for the language?

I dont think you really need to explain that in your personal statement . My personal statement was about me and the skills and experience i have to show my ability to do the course . Dont think too much into it jus show that your capable
Hope this helps ?