How to include skills in Personal statement?

I have gotten feedback on my first draft and was told to include more skills and less topics (I had talked about spec areas in bio and chem). How would I include skills as I just see the same skills in my subjects. Could someone give me an example of how to include them? For Q2, I had written about a book I read outside the curriculum to do with immunology and how i read on from the book regarding a hypothesis but she said this may be better suited to Q3? As a guide what would go in Q2 and Q3?

Background:
I study Biology, Chemistry, Maths, EPQ (on outbreaks) and am applying to Immunology and Biomedical Science Degrees

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

I would have thought books you read would be most relevant in the first section, albeit they could fit in others potentially.

For skills avoid talking about generic skills without reference to the specific course. Also bear in mind general skills like time management, team working, and such are common to all degrees and there's really no relevance in listing them as they expect you to have those!

Reply 2

marcus.0

What information goes into what Q shouldn’t be a major concern, as universities will read it as one cohesive piece of writing.

What you should do when presenting skills is mention how you are continuously developing them. Present them as interests, where you read books to learn more about said interest.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 3

04MR17

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

I feel you may have been advised badly here, but can't know for sure of course.

You don't need to talk about your A Levels at all. Certainly not where there may be little relevance to your course.
I would focus heavily on your EPQ research and give details about the process you are going through to find out more. On its own this demonstrates your skills - and the best personal statements I review don't explicitly say "through this I developed critical thinking skills" because they don't need to, it's already obvious from what they've described.
Books you have read are best suited to Q1 or Q2. I've never seen them done well in Q3 which literally says "outside of education".
Q2 says "qualifications and studies" - reading a book is certainly studies, so I would disagree with the advice that books aren't suitable content for Q2.

Reply 4

fullofregrets

Original post

by 04MR17

I feel you may have been advised badly here, but can't know for sure of course.
You don't need to talk about your A Levels at all. Certainly not where there may be little relevance to your course.
I would focus heavily on your EPQ research and give details about the process you are going through to find out more. On its own this demonstrates your skills - and the best personal statements I review don't explicitly say "through this I developed critical thinking skills" because they don't need to, it's already obvious from what they've described.
Books you have read are best suited to Q1 or Q2. I've never seen them done well in Q3 which literally says "outside of education".
Q2 says "qualifications and studies" - reading a book is certainly studies, so I would disagree with the advice that books aren't suitable content for Q2.

Could I still talk about it as I'm linking it to mechanisms I've studied it because immunology is just complex mechanisms?