Oxbridge Personal Statement Support Package

We understand that putting together a personal statement can be stressful, however, we are here to ease that stress. Here are our tips on how to write a great Oxbridge personal statement: 

• Start early - It takes an extra level of preparation to apply to Oxbridge, therefore you should ideally have your first draft done by the end of the summer holidays before Year 13. 
• Focus on academic interests - Admission decisions are based on academic ability, therefore you should focus on showcasing your understanding and passion about your chosen subject.  
• Give yourself pointers for the interview stage - All successful Oxbridge candidates are invited for an interview and interviewers will often use your personal statement as a prompt. Therefore, you should leave some ‘hooks’ for them to direct topics towards.
• Don’t mention the university by name - Your personal statement needs to be relevant to all universities you are applying to.
• Try to be original but don’t overdo it for the sake of it.
• Proofread and proofread some more. 

If you would like more tips, we have put together a guide on how to write a brilliant personal statement.

Just because it’s called a personal statement doesn’t mean Admissions Tutors want a timeline of your life. They want to see the best side of your academic self and your interest for the subject you are applying for. It’s beneficial to include: 

• Any subject-related work experience you have completed. 
• Any courses or lectures you have been to to advance your knowledge. 
• Demonstrations of your interest in the subject beyond the classroom.

Your personal statement is submitted alongside your UCAS form, so you don’t need to rehash any details which are included on the form in your statement. Remember your personal statement shows off why you are going to be a good choice for the university, so you should avoid explaining any potential disagreements that influenced your grades or reasons behind extended periods of leave.