Let’s make a statement!

Writing a personal statement can be a very daunting time, there is no doubt about it. However, it is something that I actually really enjoyed in the end, (yes, maybe I’m weird) and it is a great way to show universities that you’re more than a few grades on a piece of paper. Here are my top tips for writing an amazing personal statement:

1. Plan it out!
   • Make a list of everything you have ever done! (I’m only half joking). It doesn’t matter if you don’t think that time you read to year 7s was irrelevant, or if you’d forgotten when you used to play the violin. Making a list of everything extra-curricular you have done can help you to narrow down what is relevant to your personal statement, and ensure you don’t forget anything.
2. Make it personal
   • It’s call a personal statement for a reason – your mum may have written a best seller novel, but she can’t wrote your personal statement. It is easy to just copy something off the internet, but it doesn’t reflect your interests or personality.
3. Link everything back to your chosen degree
   • So, you want to do Law? Try and think about how your chosen activities and experiences could make you a good law (or any) student. Sometimes it will be obvious – specific work experience is always easy to link, but sometimes you will have to be creative. Teaching to younger students in a different subject gives you leadership skills, and good communication. Make sure to include this, and your statement will really stand out.
4. Get it reviewed, a lot!
   • When writing a personal statement, you can never have too many drafts. Write it all down, rewrite it, cut words until it fits the limit, and rewrite it. Get it reviewed by as many people as possible, whether it be your mum, dad, teacher, sibling, pet, whoever. They might spot something everyone else has missed, or have a good suggestion about how to phrase something.

That’s it for my tips, so stop reading and get writing! Comment down below if you have any questions about writing a personal statement.