Good personal statements bring up an idea about the course that is a reason you have engaged with it, and then uses the reading as examples to back this up.
Bad personal statements try to make a mini essay out of each subject they bring up in order to try to demonstrate knowledge of the text or idea. You don’t have enough room to show what you know – see the statement as a springboard for the interview. If your interviewer is interested in the fact that you’ve explored a certain idea, they will expect to see what you know in the interview.
Check your personal statement – you cannot sum up a complex academic idea in a sentence so check it doesn’t look as though you’ve tried to do this. Instead, demonstrate your interest in that idea, but referencing the reading you’ve done in it. Then expect to follow this up if you have an interview.
The personal statement is a springboard for your interview…
Interviewers can use it as a platform for discussion or interrogation so having an honest, original and academically rigorous personal statement is a strong start to your application.
When you submit your UCAS form, it includes your grades, school reference and personal details but the personal statement is your chance to speak directly to admissions tutors.
67% of students we surveyed in 2016 were asked about their Personal Statement in their Oxbridge interviews.
It’s important to make yourself stand out as a passionate and scholarly candidate: why should they pick you? If you need any advice, give our in-house consultants a ring for a chat…
Oxbridge aren’t that fussed about extra-curriculars – as you can see from the quote below. Does this mean that all those hours spent practising the clarinet or going to drama club were a waste?
The answer is no. Your achievements beyond your academics are important but keeping the focus on academic commitment is absolutely key.
The rules for writing your personal statement are simple:
Now! Look at it this way: The sooner your Personal Statement is in the bag, you can start preparing for the other aspects of your application: admissions tests, written work to submit and interview skills.
We encourage students to have a strong draft ready by the middle of the summer holidays. That way, you can use the remaining time to start solid BMAT, LNAT or other admissions test practice.
You don’t want to be labouring over the thing right up to the wire.
The deadline for submitting your Personal Statement to Oxford, Cambridge and medical schools is October 15th but your school will ask to see a draft much earlier.
Steer clear of last-minute panic by asking:
When do school want to see a first draft?
When will school want to see a final draft?
Some students may begin drafting a Personal Statement with only a vague notion of the subject they would like to apply for. Something “biology-based” perhaps…
But having a clear idea of what precise course you are applying to is crucial even in the early stages of Personal Statement planning.
A Biochemistry Personal Statement will have a different structure, reading list and approach from a Biological Sciences personal statement.
Grab a piece of paper, write your degree title at the top and brainstorm. Why do you want to study this subject? What have you done that proves your commitment to it? What have you read outside of school that excited you and illuminates aspects of your degree? What work experience, if relevant, have you done?
Working out what content you already have should highlight certain gaps and give you a better picture of what else you need to do. For example, if you can list 20 books you have read about Law but have no work experience, it’s time to make some phone calls…
Equally, if you have already shadowed two doctors but haven’t read any science books outside of your school syllabus, it’s time to head to the library…
If you leave your Personal Statement planning until the last minute, you will realise too late that you need to knuckle down to some serious reading or find yourself trying to squeeze some work experience in the final week of the summer.
You have probably done a number of things to prove your commitment to your subject:
• Your related EPQ or extended essay
• Any other relevant research projects or presentations that you’ve done
• Books, articles, blogs and magazines you’ve read
• Work experience
• Positions of responsibility
• Clubs and societies
• Lectures and seminars you’ve attended
• Trips, visits and expeditions (NOTE: Not just holidays!)
Keep the focus tight. If you’re in the chess club but you’re applying for Law, don’t squeeze a mention of it in there at the expense of more impressive and relevant material.
The Personal Statement is less than a page long. You’ve got a limited space to ‘wow’ someone so be brutal; no fluff, no fuss and nothing that doesn’t back up this key claim:
I am absolutely committed to studying [Earth Sciences] at university level.
Admissions tutors want you to make links between seemingly unconnected subjects – it shows that you’re able to think beyond the confines of your subject. Your aim is to group together your achievements thematically.
A good structure for an Oxbridge Personal Statement is as follows. This may not be right for you and there is certainly no correct way of writing a Personal Statement, so if this doesn’t fit, create your own.
Introduction – Why do you want to read your subject?
Paragraph 1 – What interests you about your subject and what have you read/seen/done to demonstrate this and further your interest?
Paragraph 2 – What have you done that makes you a good candidate for the course – this might be your A level subjects, your extra-curricular activities (related to your subject), your work experience etc.
Paragraph 3 – What else do you do? This should be a relatively short paragraph detailing any other relevant extra-curricular activities, interests, positions of responsibility and achievements.
Conclusion – A jazzy final sentence about why you want to read the subject and what you will bring to the degree course.
The Personal Statement is such a tricky business because although you can source inspiration from elsewhere, ultimately it all has to come down to you. It has to be personal. If you are finding it tough and would like some personalised guidance, our Senior Consultants can help you in a Private Consultation.
If you pack your personal statement full of good, relevant content and then are able to demonstrate how it applies to your subject, and specifically to how you connect with your subject, your personal statement will be interesting and impressive, without sounding arrogant.
This brainstorm sheet is the way to figure out what your content will be. Worried you have nothing to include? You’re wrong. Download this sheet to turn that blank canvas into something you can work with…
Our Oxbridge-graduate consultants are available between 9.00 am – 5.00 pm from Monday to Friday, with additional evening availability when requested.
Oxbridge Applications, 58 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AJ
