Most Universities all around the world will expect you to send some kind of personal statement through, as well as your grades, to assess whether they want you to attend their university. It is not simply good enough to have a good grade: you have to show to your prospective universities that you are genuinely passionate about your chosen subject.
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Make sure you have a character counter
But why? Well, most University personal statements are limited to 4000 characters, not 4000 words! There is no way to go over this limit so make sure you write your statement with a character counter to ensure that you don’t have to majorly edit it later. Write as close to the maximum amount as you can, to ensure you have said everything you need to say!
2. Concentrate on your strengths
Ensure that you make a list of your strengths, both academic and personal so that you don’t forget any. Also, list any achievements you have had at school; were you a team captain, were you a prefect, did you get awarded with ‘most hardworking student’? Anything like this shows that you are an all-rounder!
3. Start early, take your time
Most Universities don’t open their applications until October, and they close in January. Ensure you give yourself plenty of time to craft your personal statement. It has to pack a punch, speak highly of yourself, and be well-written. Your personal statement will take more than a few hours to do, so don’t leave it to the last minute!
4. Make it your own voice
You want your personal statement to be original and in YOUR voice. There is no “right” way to lay it out: choose what feels comfortable for you. Don’t base your personal statement off of someone else’s. My personal statement, for example, was written as if it was a fairytale. It was risky, but I wanted it to stand out and be interesting, and it ultimately paid off as I was accepted into all of the Universities I applied for!
5. Proofread
Your mum, your friend, your grandpa, your teacher, your dog. Get everyone to read through your personal statement and see what they suggest! Of course, it has to be written in your voice, but you want to ensure it is strong and your point is getting across (as well as having no mistakes!)
