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Thoughts on starting a personal statement with a quote?
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I've seen a lot of people saying quotes at the beginning, or in any part, or a personal statement are a no-go. Personally, as long as it's relevant I don't see the problem. What do you guys think?
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#4
Don't do it, it's cliche and over-used. The universities want to see what you think, not what whoever you've quoted thinks
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#5
I used a quote that was relevant to what i was saying and to my course and i was told to take it out 😂 admissions officers don't like quotes.
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#8
Better to start with your own words, it's quite common to use quotes best to do something different
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#9
I have seen many hundreds of statements and do not recall a single time that a quote improved one. It is very unlikely to directly cost you an offer obviously, but it is typically a very poor use of space.
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#10
(Original post by SomethingQuarky)
I've seen a lot of people saying quotes at the beginning, or in any part, or a personal statement are a no-go. Personally, as long as it's relevant I don't see the problem. What do you guys think?
I've seen a lot of people saying quotes at the beginning, or in any part, or a personal statement are a no-go. Personally, as long as it's relevant I don't see the problem. What do you guys think?
Now it can seem ostentatious. I certainly didn't put a quote in mine.
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#11
(Original post by SomethingQuarky)
I've seen a lot of people saying quotes at the beginning, or in any part, or a personal statement are a no-go. Personally, as long as it's relevant I don't see the problem. What do you guys think?
I've seen a lot of people saying quotes at the beginning, or in any part, or a personal statement are a no-go. Personally, as long as it's relevant I don't see the problem. What do you guys think?
you only get limited characters so may as well put in something showing your personal interest in the subject and relevant experience 
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#12
(Original post by SomethingQuarky)
I've seen a lot of people saying quotes at the beginning, or in any part, or a personal statement are a no-go. Personally, as long as it's relevant I don't see the problem. What do you guys think?
I've seen a lot of people saying quotes at the beginning, or in any part, or a personal statement are a no-go. Personally, as long as it's relevant I don't see the problem. What do you guys think?
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#14
I did about 6 years ago and got all 5 offers. I used a quote (2 lines) from a mathematician and linked if to the beauty of maths and why i wanted to study it. This was also the tine when people told me not to do it for the same above reasons. So dont rule it out.
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#15
(Original post by loloway)
I did about 6 years ago and got all 5 offers. I used a quote (2 lines) from a mathematician and linked if to the beauty of maths and why i wanted to study it. This was also the tine when people told me not to do it for the same above reasons. So dont rule it out.
I did about 6 years ago and got all 5 offers. I used a quote (2 lines) from a mathematician and linked if to the beauty of maths and why i wanted to study it. This was also the tine when people told me not to do it for the same above reasons. So dont rule it out.
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#16
(Original post by chazwomaq)
It's a cliché or it's clichéed.
It's a cliché or it's clichéed.
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#17
(Original post by PQ)
For maths you could have copied a 40 line quote from scooby doo and still got offers from most universities. Maths admissions staff don't normally put any weighting on a personal statement. Other subjects do. Your personal experience doesn't mean you're qualified to advise future applicants.
For maths you could have copied a 40 line quote from scooby doo and still got offers from most universities. Maths admissions staff don't normally put any weighting on a personal statement. Other subjects do. Your personal experience doesn't mean you're qualified to advise future applicants.
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#18
It's called personal statement for a reason. Using a quote is using someone else's words which is in no way personal to you. Just make up your own quote...
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#19
DONT DO IT!
a personal statement is exactly that - PERSONAL to you. yes a quote might sum up your views on something but they dont want to hear about the person who quoted it, they want to read about just you
a personal statement is exactly that - PERSONAL to you. yes a quote might sum up your views on something but they dont want to hear about the person who quoted it, they want to read about just you
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#20
I just think there's better ways of doing it. I can imagine an AT sort of rolling their eyes and groaning as soon as they see the quote marks: 'here we go again with another smart arse'. I'm sure there are ways of using a quote effectively in a PS - it's just that I can't recall seeing one!
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