personal statement

Hi Adam_203 it should be around 4000 characters, so that you have given yourself the best chance at getting into the university you want, by giving them more of who you are, why you chose this course and why you think you would succeed on the course. When I have trouble thinking of what to write, in an essay or an application, it can be helpful to step away for a moment and do something else, while your mind works on it subconsciously. Then, when you come back to it, you may have some new ideas for what to write.

Some pro-active options though, include:
- look up the university's values, or the values of your specific course (most courses should have a regulatory body/a higher organisation with chosen values) and you can write about how you embody these.
- Write about what first got you interested in the subject (could be a book you read, something you saw or participated in etc) then write about how you continued this passion (work experience, read books, did a research paper etc). From here you can write about why you are excited about your chosen university course. You can talk about what career you can go into once the course is complete, and specific modules you are especially intrigued by (if there are multiple courses you are interested in, see if they have similar modules and talk about those ones).
- If it is a specific university you are applying for, you can also talk about why them, why this uni? and you could also write about what you like about the city as well.

What universities are looking for in applications is passion, to know that you are are willing and able to do well, and that you want to be there and will appreciate your time at their university and city.

You could also receive help from staff at school, there should be someone who's job includes helping students with their personal statements. They will read through you application, make notes of words to change, they will look at the structure and give advice, and they will tell you what they think you could add. I found this so helpful when I was doing my personal statement, and so I think you would too.

I hope this helps.

- Rosie.