Personal Statements for UCAS

[UKDEB]

I'm trying to help George with her Personal Statement - she needs to get it done before we go away next Saturday. Has anyone else helped their kids with one?

We do have a guide from the school which is very helpful, but any tips would be very gratefully received. We're also struggling a bit because she wants to do a combined Psychology and Sociology degree, but not many uni's offer one. It's such a flippin' minefield!

 

[Janice]

Hi Deb,
I've just gone through my old file on the PC here that I kept from when Katie had to do her Personal Statement, but I dont have a copy ~ only a very potted version that was put on her first CV but because of the nature of what whe was studying I dont suppose that would be of any help at all!

Good luck - it's not easy I know!

 

[Olaf]

What's a personal statement?

 

[UKDEB]

Steph, it's kind of like a CV for students applying for university places, except that it's a piece of prose rather than a formulaic document.

Anyway, pleased to report that we've finished it - like a lot of things it wasn't too bad once we got going.

 

[Hilary]

I'm trying to get our DD to submit her UCAS form before we go away, too! She's on her third (or fourth?) draft of the Personal Statement and is now waiting for her course tutor to hopefully give it the okay so that she can get the form completed. I'm just concerned that if we wait until after we get home in early November she'll have lost the momentum.

Sorry I can't offer any advice, Deb, but I'm willing to put the kettle on to soothe our collective nerves!

 

[WDWfan uk]

........another year to go and I'll be asking you for some help with this too !

Good luck to both your DDs, Debbie and Hilary!

 

[Olaf]

OK, I guess that it is somewhat like the Essays that we have to submit. Sometimes they give us a topic, but more often than not, it's just any ol' thing we want to talk about.

 

[UKDEB]

LOL, Hilary - make mine an Earl Grey will you?

 

[signtalker]

Hi there, i have to do the personal statement thing with all my students, there isnt a wrong or a right way honestly to do these.

What they are looking for is a brief outline,not pages and pages, we usually tell our students to write three quarters of a page, basically,interests in chosen subject, for example if it was art(which i know it isnt) who inspires you, how does this person influence you, future plans, aims, hobbies(are these connected with chosen subject,if so how?),
just really sell yourself and the subject you are applying for, they need to see why you are applying for what you are, to be honest, only the first 3 lines or so of a personal statement ever get read,they will offer the place if grades etc are good enough, and then go through questions galore at the interview.,keep it short and to the point, i do have copies of personal statements, but i think they have to be applicable to the subject you are applying for.
Not much help was I LOL

Jules

 

[WDWfan uk]

Your post is helpful Jules! You have certainly given me more of an idea of what is (and isn't) expected Thank you.

 

[UKDEB]

Thanks, Jules. George's is one side of A4, so sounds like we got it about right.

 

[Ona]

Hiya!

I'm doing my fourth and final year of uni. just now and I remember the most important thing that we were told about the Personal Statement was to really sell yourself. Even if you might not think something is relevant to the course you are applying for, it may help show that you are a more rounded person. Just really go for it.

Good luck,

Ona

 

[Olaf]

Ona, are you going for an interview for the intern program? Just being nosey.

 

[Ona]

Yip!

It's the year long Walt disney World International Program. If I get the job I'll hopefully be working in the UK pavillion in Epcot from next summer.

Fingers crossed

Ona

 

[Olaf]

Oh that's so cool. We'll be crossing our fingers for you. Be sure and let us know all the details and the outcome.

 

[Ona]

Will do. Thanks.

I'm sooooooooooooooo excited.

Ona