I need to write my masters application today and I just can’t!

[IsTheRainEverComingBack]

I NEED to get my personal statement done. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I know why I want to study the subject and what I want to do with it, so why is it so impossible to write about that?

It’s an applied professional course with academic theory, rather than pure academic, which seems to be making it harder to describe why I have an academic interest in it. I work in a related field but not directly in it, it would facilitate a career change. I’m usually a very confident writer, but I keep writing half a paragraph and then flapping and leaving the computer! I need to just get it done so I can send it off, because if it’s a yes I need to apply for finance ASAP.

Any words of wisdom or encouragement would be gratefully received

Just write anything down at all, any thoughts that come into your head about it.
Work on fine tuning it after you’ve done that.
Include any previous relevant experience, what you hope to achieve from studying for the qualification, plans for the future, areas of specific interest

Maybe how any learning can be applied and perhaps put into practice in your current job?(if possible)

When I got stuck on essays (different, I know) I used to write an email to my (academic) sister telling her what I wanted to say in the essay. She'd usually write back saying "Say that." Would doing an informal email to an imaginary friend help you get over the block?

I’ve tried the ‘just write’ and I think I’m going to keep doing that. The problem is I’m the one other people usually ask for advice on how to word things. I feel like I’m swinging from being too bland to being too flowery in my language and need to find the middle.

Is this an especially competitive masters that your personal statement will make or break your admission?

I have done two and I cannot tell you what I wrote on my statements as it wasn’t a big deal. Probably how interested I was in x and y, how I enjoyed learning about x in my own time by doing/ reading z and how I hoped that by learning more about x and y at masters level I would enhance my career options/ open new pathways etc. You’re overthinking! Just write it! Best of luck

Agree with writing to a single specific person to start with.

No it’s not particularly competitive - there’s very little chance it’ll be a no tbh, with my previous academic record and work history to date. I’m pretty sure they just want my money and I definitely am over thinking it.

Thanks Golden I think I just need a kick up the butt.

At times like these, you have to remember the Nike slogan. Just do it.

Always good advice!

I feel your pain - I just had to do two of these for my MA application and faffed around for ages. Really, just write everything you need to in one splurge - don't think about language, just do it as practically a stream of consciousness and then edit, edit, edit. I ended up getting one acceptance just a week after applying so something obviously worked haha.

Good luck!

Write something down and walk away from it for an hour.

You cannot edit and improve a blank piece of paper (or document). After a break you can come back and work out what's irrelevant, needs tidying, rearranging, adding. Then walk away again to give that edit a chance to settle.

Personally I find very boring housework tasks are good for quietly mulling over my written words. And I'm a world class slattern.

(MA creative writing student, with an occasionally tidy house when assignments are due)

Make bullet poinst first
Lists of:
Personal reasons (desire) for wanting to do it
Personal attributes and experience that make you a good candidate
Practical interest in the field (ie skills you will acquire)
Academic interest in the field (theory/conceptual development of areas of key interest to you/opportunity for wider research into academic research into your field

Pick the most interesting and relevant bullet pints from each and make them into paragraphs, using PEEL/PQA or similar paragraphing structure.

Make sure you never repeat yourself.

That's 90% of the job. Then get someone to read it and help you open and close it. Proof read it and send it off.

Thanks all. I’ve already managed to get the start of something down, going for stream of consciousness for a bit and then will edit.

I have a very rough draft! Probably needs a lot of editing but there’s something there. I’ve come away for a bit and will get back to it in the morning with fresh eyes with the aim to submit tomorrow.