What do you particularly look for in the personal statement?

I believe the question said it all. And what would also be an ideal personal statement? Do you also take an account to the awards won or activities done?

Reply 1

University of Kent

Official Rep

Hello,

Admissions officers are firstly looking for a genuine interest in the course. If you can show you've done wider reading on the subject, or do things in your spare time related to the subject that shows a real desire to study the course. You should spend about 60-70% of your personal statement about the subject, and where your interest stems from.

Then ideally, your statement should provide specific examples/details of you as a person, showing you to be a well-balanced individual who is mature enough to cope with all that university entails like living alone, financial responsibility, balancing an active social life with studies etc.

Things like your awards and activities should not stand alone in the personal statement - say why specifically they are of interest to a university application. Admissions Officers want to see evidence or examples of you being a well-rounded, mature individual and having certificates and awards for certain things are a great way to do that.

You can work through our personal statements tip sheet to help focus your ideas, and hopefully give you more ideas as to what should go in there (http://www.kent.ac.uk/secondary/students/tips.html).

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

Jay

(edited 11 years ago)

University of Kent

Canterbury

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