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The Best Way to Write a Personal Statement

Whether you’re applying to university as a mature student, or are helping your teen prepare for higher education, you’re probably well aware of the importance of a good personal statement. They’re often the document upon which an admission offer is made, in the same way in which a cover letter is instrumental in helping you secure the job of your dreams.

While it may seem relatively simple to write a personal statement, more work needs to go into them than first meets the eye. After all, while they must be relatively short (a maximum of 4,000 characters long), this means that you have to say quite a lot within a short space, which can prove difficult.

With that in mind, here is the best way to write a personal statement.

Think Carefully About the Opening

Your opening paragraph of your personal statement is perhaps the most important. It must be clear, engaging, and encourage the admissions team to keep reading. Try to avoid starting with cliches or over-used quotes, instead of using at as an opportunity to introduce yourself.

Know What to Include

There are various different ports of call you must include in your personal statement. For example, you must demonstrate not only your talent and skills, but also your reasoning for choosing the course and university. As such, it would be useful to read the course outline ahead of time, so that you can reference specific modules or texts that interest you. You should also briefly discuss your long-term career goals, alongside your broader interests outside of academic study. For example, this would be the perfect time to discuss any charity work you have participated in.

Reach Out to an Editor

Once you’ve completed the first draft of your personal statement, it’s time to focus on refining the text and making it as compelling (and accurate) as possible. While a typo may seem like a minor issue, it could mean that the reader decides not to offer you the place on the course whatsoever, as it hints towards a lack of care and attention to detail on your end.

During this time, you may find it worthwhile to reach out to a company that offers personal statement editing services. Not only will they be able to identify any errors in your personal statement, but they’ll also be able to suggest any necessary changes that you should make in order to give you a better chance of success.

Be Honest

While it may be tempting, you should never lie in a personal statement. Be honest about your current achievements and interests, as you’ll only be embarrassed should you be asked about something at a later date that you know nothing about. For example, saying that you enjoyed a certain book (that you’ve never read) could only lead to disaster if you’re asked about the text in an interview – and once again could lead to your application getting rejected. Honesty is always key. Remember, admissions teams aren’t looking for ‘perfect’ students, but rather people with potential.