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How to get started on my personal statement?

How to get started on my personal statement? I dont even know how to start, any tips?

Reply 1

"I realised I wanted to study XXX at Uni when ...."

What was the moment - something you read, something in class, what?

Then go on to explain where that initial interest led you - additional reading, 'finding out', making connections with other ideas, etc etc.

Reply 2

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post

by Student_357

How to get started on my personal statement? I dont even know how to start, any tips?

Hello!

It's exciting to see you are starting your personal statement! As a starting point I would include which A Levels (or equivalents) you are currently doing and how each of these would help you during your course. Perhaps there's a piece of coursework you've done or any related subjects? I would then talk about yourself and if there's any extra curricula's you do or MOOCs and extra reading you've done around the subject that show you are excited and interested about the subject. You could then talk about what you want to do in the future and how doing this course would help you achieve that!

The university wants to understand who you are as a person and what qualities you would bring to being on the course and why you would enjoy doing it!

Hope this helps and feel free to ask any more questions
Lucy (Lancaster University Student Ambassador)

Reply 3

YSJstudents

Official Rep

Hi!

I'm Lewis a second year at YSJ, I remember writing my personal statement being egregiously difficult to begin aswell haha. In the end I first prioritised making sure I had the reason why I wanted to do the course, in my case Creative writing, and supported this reason by expressing my specific interests in the field (In my case stories such as Marvel comics) and the A-levels I was doing and how they linked to the course.

From there I focused on really selling myself and the extracurricular activities I do in my case dungeons and dragons and video games. What I'm trying to say is a great way to develop and build your personal statement is to write it like a autobiography of what you do and how you will succeed upon your chosen course.

I hope my advice proves useful, and please respond if you'd like to ask anymore questions!
Yours's sincerely Lewis

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 4

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post

by username7361591

How to get started on my personal statement? I dont even know how to start, any tips?

Hi @username7361591,
I would recommend starting by creating a bullet point list of what you want to include in your personal statement. Firstly start by displaying your passion for the subject you applying from, maybe include when/how your first became intrested in the subject, what's your favorite area in that subject and include any things you've done outside of school to explore this further (Readings, MOOC'S, podcasts, competitions, university talks, work experience).
Then include a section about you, for instance, your hobbies, part time work, and link all of these to show a skill eg. teamwork, communication, leadership.
Then talk about you aspirations for the future, and how studying this degree will help you with this.
Hope this helps, and feel free to ask anymore questions.
-Jasmine (Lancaster Student Ambassador)