Personal statement help

How do you start each question??
Im planning my answer for question two and at the moment, it just starts with "my studies at school have helped me to prepare.......". I don't know if that sounds good at all. And how are the others meant to start.
All the examples I've seen online start with some dramatic sob story, I don't know how to begin my personal essay because nothing dramatic happened. I just really enjoy the subject and think it's interesting

For the second question, it asks what qualifications or studies have helped you to prepare for this course or subject.
I assume studies is a level subjects and any transferable skills you got from that, but what are qualifications???

My understanding is that it's supercirriculars as they already know your subjects and grades. For example, olympiads, certificates from courses, online MOOCS etc. Make sure to elaborate on these as well such as what skills you have gained from this. It would be good to hear other peoples interpretation of this too though.

But wouldn't that go into question 3 : 'what else have you done outside of education, any why are these experiences useful?'

How do you start each question??
Im planning my answer for question two and at the moment, it just starts with "my studies at school have helped me to prepare.......". I don't know if that sounds good at all. And how are the others meant to start.
All the examples I've seen online start with some dramatic sob story, I don't know how to begin my personal essay because nothing dramatic happened. I just really enjoy the subject and think it's interesting



For the second question, it asks what qualifications or studies have helped you to prepare for this course or subject.
I assume studies is a level subjects and any transferable skills you got from that, but what are qualifications???

I'd reccomend having a look at this page on the UCAS website: Medicine 2026 personal statement guide | UCAS I think there is quite a bit of overlap between Q2 and 3. Q2 relates more to research, online courses and reading and Q3 refers more to hobbies with transferrable skills and work experience I think.

Hiya, I've combined your two questions into one discussion thread.
First of all qualifications are any studies that you get a certificate for. A Levels, GCSEs, degrees at university are all qualifications.
"Studies" can just mean anything you are learning. And I would encourage you to not just list 3 A Levels and waffle on about transferrable skills. That's not unique to you. Instead, write about the things you have chosen to do to learn more about your subject. Extra books you have read outside of your A level spec, podcasts, documentaries, lectures you have attended, that kind of thing.
Further advice here: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7601149

Hi, thanks for the response!

Wouldn't the extra stuff I do outside of school and super curriculars go into the third question rather than the second? As the second is focus on in-school stuff. If this is the case, what do I write for the second? I created a draft answer yesterday, just it was literally listing the transferable skills I got from my a levels as I thought that's what I'm meant to do.

Also, you said a levels, gcse's etc, to go under qualificationz, but ucas already have the information for my grades and I've read from many websites that I shouldn't mention it again, so what kind of things do I say if I can't just list my grades.

The second question doesn't say in school stuff. The second question says qualifications and studies. Studies can be anywhere.
Question 3 is for things that are a bit less relevant to your actual course. So alongside a love for history if you also enjoy piano in your spare time - that would go in section 3. It's there to show you are a human and not just a learning machine.
For section 2 (and section 1) content, please see this from my previous answer:
"Instead, write about the things you have chosen to do to learn more about your subject. Extra books you have read outside of your A level spec, podcasts, documentaries, lectures you have attended, that kind of thing."
More info here -> https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7601149

What if I don't have any non-academic things I do in my free time? Can I still put super Curriculars and academic stuff in question three and just not mention them in the other questions??
Thanks very much for your help and sorry for having so many questions - I'm extremely clueless about all this

What if I don't have any non-academic things I do in my free time? Can I still put super Curriculars and academic stuff in question three and just not mention them in the other questions??
Thanks very much for your help and sorry for having so many questions - I'm extremely clueless about all this