Can anyone help? I dont know where to start with writting my personal statement!?

Question

I need to write my personal statement for university this week and im completely stuck. i want to study geography at university but have absolutely no idea as to where to start with writing my personal statement.

Answer 1

I've been in your situation. The best thing first is to google some personal statements for geography and read through them. DON'T COPY THEM, just get an idea what makes a good personal statement. Then bullet point some ideas you want to express in your own statement. You really need to convince the reader that you're fully committed to the course (the uni won't take you if they think you're going to drop out). The convincing should take up most of the statement (talk about what inspired you about geography, any books you've read, work experience etc.); the rest about your hobbies. Make sure you have reasons for putting down your hobbies; try and link them to attributes that are desired by any job you might want to go into with Geography e.g. leadership, teamworking skills.



Then write your first draft. Don't expect it to be good; it WILL be awful. It's just important to make a start and write it. Then you reread it and edit it until you don't think you can change it anymore. Then ask your parents/siblings/teachers/formtutors to read it and give feedback. My personal statement went through so many drafts I doubt there was a single sentence in the first draft that was unchanged in the last draft. Just do it early enough that you can get as many opinions as possible.

Answer 2

Start with an anecdote or a personal experience. Witty sayings do the job best. But it doesn't have to be poetry. Your personal statement should aim to explain three key ideas: why you want to study a particular course; why you will excel at that course; and (where possible) how your other interests support and complement your studies. This last section is particularly important for practical courses, such as medicine and engineering, as you need to convince tutors that you really have gone out of your way to find out what your chosen career entails in practice as well as in theory. You must also use the personal statement to reflect on how these placements developed your skills in a particular way that is of direct relevance to the course for which you are applying.

For less practical courses, the emphasis must be on proving that your intellectual curiosity extends beyond the A-level syllabus. Talk about the books and journals you enjoy reading, think about which articles have influenced you and discuss which recent scientific breakthroughs or seminal contributions to a particular field have intrigued and challenged you.

It is more difficult if you are applying for a joint course where you will be required to address two distinct disciplines, such as philosophy and modern languages. In this instance, your aim is to explain why you wish to study both subjects and, importantly, to reflect on how these subjects relate to each other.

Unlike the hard facts found elsewhere on your Ucas application, the personal statement also allows you to mention your extra-curricular activities and interests, from community service projects to captaining your school rugby team to victory. While this information undoubtedly offers admissions tutors a glimpse of your life beyond lessons and can provide evidence of a responsible and committed attitude, it should not constitute more than 30 per cent of the statement. Bear in mind that an admissions tutor will be wary of offering a place to anyone whose personal statement suggests that they will spend most of their time on the rugby field or the stage.

This is particularly important if you are applying to the most competitive academic universities (such as Oxbridge, Imperial or LSE) and my advice would be to reduce the proportion of time you spend on extra-curricular interests to about 15 per cent. Whereas most employers would be interested in the fact you have been head girl, most Oxbridge dons are supremely uninterested.

A further area you might wish to address is any proposed gap year you might be taking. Here it is essential that you keep your comments brief – admissions tutors do not need to know that you will be travelling in south-east Asia, though they may be interested if what you are doing is of direct relevance to your course.



Also look on these websites:

http://www.studential.com/guide/write_personal_statement.htm

http://www.studential.com/personalstatements/

http://www.dayjob.com/content/personal-statement-examples-772.htm

Answer 3

in line with hazard you may start up by potential of sharing somewhat approximately your self. which contain your pursuits, pursuits, the place you reside, what it became into like starting to be up, what are your targets (for college, employment, and as somebody), and what you should benefit out of your attending their college. wish this gets you started.

Answer 4

>"personal statement"



Lets break this down, Personal & Statement.



Hint: it has something to do with you! Hint 2: Look at examples of personal statements!



www.google.com



keywords: personal statement examples

Answer 5

Start with an anecdote that talks about some good trait of yours that the university would like.