Yr 12s: What are your thoughts on the changes to personal statements for 2026 entry?

This poll is closed

Yr 12s: What are your thoughts on the changes to personal statements for 2026 entry?

I'm in favour of the changes 16%

I don't really mind either way 18%

I don't think they should be changed 27%

I'm unsure how I feel about them 14%

I haven't heard about the changes 23%

Tell us more about your answer in the thread2%

Total votes: 254

CamembertPaws

Hey, Year 12s! :angel:

With Ucas announcing changes to personal statements for the 2026 entry, there's a lot of buzz about how this shift might impact uni applications.

What are the changes?

According to the Ucas website, 'personal statements will transition from a single long piece of text to three distinct sections, each with a specific question designed to guide students' responses.'

What will the questions be?

Currently, the three questions are confirmed as:

1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

So, whether you're happy about the changes, don't think they should change or simply don't mind either way - we want to hear your thoughts!

Drop your vote and let us know why you feel the way you do in the comments below! :u:

Reply 1

Kd_0

Those 3 questions seem to cover the key elements of a personal statement. Maybe they could add a 4th section, titled "Additional Information," or something similar for anything that doesn’t quite fit with those 3 sections?

Reply 2

sdfj

Original post

by CamembertPaws

Hey, Year 12s! :angel:

With Ucas announcing changes to personal statements for the 2026 entry, there's a lot of buzz about how this shift might impact uni applications.
What are the changes?
According to the Ucas website, 'personal statements will transition from a single long piece of text to three distinct sections, each with a specific question designed to guide students' responses.'
What will the questions be?
Currently, the three questions are confirmed as:
1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
So, whether you're happy about the changes, don't think they should change or simply don't mind either way - we want to hear your thoughts!
Drop your vote and let us know why you feel the way you do in the comments below! :u:

Personally would just prefer the normal personal statement format - it would probably suit me more.

Though I see how some people would benefit from the initial framework to a "personal statement" that the three sections would provide.

Reply 3

KRaphLane

Original post

by CamembertPaws

Hey, Year 12s! :angel:

With Ucas announcing changes to personal statements for the 2026 entry, there's a lot of buzz about how this shift might impact uni applications.
What are the changes?
According to the Ucas website, 'personal statements will transition from a single long piece of text to three distinct sections, each with a specific question designed to guide students' responses.'
What will the questions be?
Currently, the three questions are confirmed as:
1. Why do you want to study this course or subject?
2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
3. What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
So, whether you're happy about the changes, don't think they should change or simply don't mind either way - we want to hear your thoughts!
Drop your vote and let us know why you feel the way you do in the comments below! :u:

I've noticed that everything gets dumbed down - what was wrong with writing a long one pager? This seems like they have to guide every paragraph and spoon feed students with what they need to write rather than allowing personal voice to shine through. It wasn't broken, why fix it?

Reply 4

04MR17

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post

by KRaphLane

Because quite a lot of applicants' personal voices weren't very good. It's much easier to misinterpret a PS and write the wrong kind of thing that universities aren't looking for than it is to misinterpret three rather clear questions which have been created based on what universities have fed back to UCAS.

Reply 5

niamhsrevision

As a current uni student who wrote the old style PS, i get it, but also don't. I'm fairly academic, i did three essay subjects at A Level, so writing it was really not a problem for me. For people who do STEM and/or aren't used to writing long-form, it can be difficult, especially if your school doesn't give you support with the process. I guess their thinking is this would help level the playing field, and it probably will, but i also think it puts some students at a disadvantage in the application process and in the long run. Specifically am wondering how this will impact those applying to Oxbridge as the personal statements are usually less focused on extra-curriculars and more about your pursuit of academia outside of school. Personally I would've found it hard to write my PS without the flow and overall themes and links between sections. It prevents the better writers from conveying themselves in the best way. Also, pretty much everyone is going to have to write a cover letter or some kind of application at some point. The PS is a good starting point, that most people will have access to help for, and you do learn how to sell yourself. So yeah. I get why they've done it, and it will probably help some people short term, but i don't think it was the best decision necessarily.

Reply 6

seri0uscandidate

Personally I'm in my final year of sixth form right now - so these changes won't have any impact on me. That said, I don't think they'll help students and will end up cramping how they write.

Yes they will make it easier for people applying to set their thoughts out in the way the university wants them to read, but let's face it, most schools know how to help students do that anyway. All it does is restrict how most people apply for university for the benefit of a few people who don't know how to and don't want to learn how to.

Reply 7

Clearing and Applications Advisor

dreading the influx of responses to 2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

"Studying Mathematics A level gave me maths skills" :indiff:

Reply 8

sdfj

Original post

by PQ

dreading the influx of responses to 2. How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
"Studying Mathematics A level gave me maths skills" :indiff:

I doubt that that's the worst of it...

Reply 9

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

As I said at the time when these were proposed, I think it will make it easier for applicants, and hard for admissions staff.

We're going to get even more similar statements, and I think in all honesty it's going to reduce the number of unis that use them in any meaningful way.

Reply 10

aspalax

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

I think for my course especially, personal statements were hardly used before and I doubt this will make them any more or less likely to take them into account. I'd imagine it's similar for most subjects that require a portfolio.