Nowadays, education and courses in foreign universities, international programs,
and work in international companies are available like never before. But in order to get the desired place, you need to pass the selection process, and before that, submit an application and a package of documents in English. And one such document is often – Personal Statement.
However, when you start browsing how to write a Personal Statement, you end up finding many different websites, and they tell you the same thing – “How to write an amazing/memorable Personal Statement?” The instructions could be vague, unreasonable, and even irrational, that’s why people end up paying fortunes to get personal plans on writing a personal statement, as they do not even have an idea, of what is it.
This article will help you understand how to write a Personal Statement for the university (or other higher education provider) admission.
What is a Personal Statement?
A Personal Statement is a piece of writing that is used as an additional document for your main education provider (e.g. university) or CV application. The purpose of the Personal Statement can be defined by the phrase: "to present and sell yourself." You need to tell about yourself: reveal your motivation, describe your skills and achievements, explain how you differ from other applicants, what makes you stand out and why you should be selected. For admission to the university, you will need a Personal Statement as a separate document in the form of an essay.
Points on what to include in a Personal Statement
1) Remember that the purpose of your Personal Statement is to give additional information about you. Therefore, in the opening paragraph (introduction) make it interesting by adding facts that could be relevant to your future studies and why you decided that you want to do this course.
2) Show your skills in effective self-presentation – how you can briefly present basic and relevant information about yourself. Having limited space and volume of characters, you will show your ability to distinguish the main from the secondary.
3) Avoid vague wording and unsupported statements. For example, if you say “I am flexible and open-minded”, explain why, and illustrate it with situations and examples from your life.
4) Divide the main part into a few sections:
· Your experience that could be relevant to the course. For example, when applying for a teaching degree, you could talk about past volunteering positions or experiences and how they were relevant to your self-development. If you have been employed, but it is not suitable for a future profession, you could explore the advantages of the job and what knowledge you could transfer.
· Include your personal achievements. All of the accomplishments, awards, and previous diplomas you have achieved and explain how could they be relevant.
· Embrace talents or skills that you have acquired throughout your life. However, include the ones that are necessary for your future studies.
· Explain, why you would be a great asset to the university you are applying to, and how your past experiences could support you in your application.
· Describe, what are you planning to do with your career. This will provide the education provider with evidence that you are ambitious and have goals in life.
5) When you are writing a conclusion, make it look proper by starting it with “in conclusion” or similar appropriate phrases. Summarize the main parts of your Personal Statement in the conclusion and mention the introduction points and the main reason why you want to study the selected course.
Conclusion
Personal Statement – this is just a convenient personal document. It varies depending on the purpose, place of filing and personal circumstances, and level of development. Therefore, if a CV, for example, remains practically unchanged - you add new experience there, deleting old and irrelevant jobs, then a Personal Statement is a changing document that changes and develops with you - with your experience, life, and professional beliefs, views, and values.
If you need additional help or advice with your Personal Statement, send me a message, using the web chat, and I will reply as soon as possible.
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