To put in a mum on my personal statement?

[Beesandhoneys]

Have 2 kids and I'll be a 'mature student'. I want to apply for nursing and I thought that me putting that I'm a mother could actually benefit my application but I don't want to look silly. Would it help or should I leave it off? TIA.

Context of the sentence*

Also, several lecturers who deal with admissions remembered my personal statement when I was speaking to them about various things, made an effort to check in on me and gave me lots of extra support due to my circumstances.

Totally put it in, but relate it to the knowledge and skills it has given you that are relevant to your chosen career - not just multi-tasking, organisational skills etc. but also as a parent you know the fear that is felt when a child/loved one is ill meaning you can empathise with patients and their families, see the holistic picture, know the importance of being person-centred etc. Mature students, especially parents, are very welcome on the programme I'm involved in, they often bring a range of insights and a balance to the classroom that can benefit everyone

Don't be silly, purpledaisies, she is just saying that's an example of her 'caring experience'. People who aren't mothers could put other experience they have.

I did, also a mature student, was accepted onto the nursing programme and now, after a wonderful career about to retire. Good luck with your application

I wouldn’t unless it’s relevant somehow- one of your children received excellent care from nurses which has inspired you etc.

@PurpleDaisies get a grip. She clearly didn't mean that

I think this is like asking whether it's possible to write a literary classic of a book by writing about a older man and woman falling in love. Such a plotline covers loads of Mills & Boon books, Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, the Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey something, Jane Eyre and, of course, 50 Shades of Grey.

It's all in how you write it that will make your personal statement more or less successful.

If you can phrase it around skills (that will make you a good student and nurse) such as resilience, leadership, teamwork, determination, time-management etc. I help mature international students do personal statements and UCAS like examples of times you used these skills and what you learnt from that experience and how that will help in your chosen career. There is good help on the UCAS website for personal statements so be lead by that. I'd say half statement on why you want to be a nurse, your understanding of the course/job and your future plans, and half on your skills. If you don't have experience of caring within a clinical setting, they will want to know you'll be a good student willing to learn. It's what makes you 'different' and 'special' compared to other applicants they're interested in.

For a UCAS personal statement, then yes.

Twee.

And a bit sinister - being an ordinary human with empathy is kind of a default expectation in most jobs. What sort of person would think it wasn't?

When I applied for midwifery, I mentioned it in my personal statement, but it was in the context of overcoming challenges (I got pregnant at 14, went back to school at 4 weeks PP), and in relation to the voluntary work I had done, and the support group and website I had set up, so it’s relevance was what being a parent had prompted/inspired me to achieve, and how it had been the beginnings of my interest in midwifery.
Simply stating you are a parent will gain you neither more nor less interest than someone who isn’t, because it comes with it advantages and disadvantages

It depends what you say about having dc.

Think of the ABC for personal statement.
A = the Activity you did
B = the Benefit you got from it
C = how it relates to the Course

As a Senior Sister interviewing then yes, does show maturity and understanding. That is one of my roles, so yes, I would think it an advantage, not necessarily a disadvantage.
I’m not a university person- but souls assume they would take these elements into consideration as they often do with other student issues.
Please do not fail to apply. Nursing is an amazing job and I personally always look for more than just the degree.

OP I am about to start reading some of these over the next few weeks.

It really depends on how and why you mention it in your statement.
Motivation and decision making are important factors within the statement. Maybe having kids was what opened your eyes to the importance of good nursing care?? Don't forget this should be nursing centred and about what would make you appropriate for this course.
If you can incorporate it succinctly and appropriately I don't see a problem.

I'm looking to study midwifery and have mentioned it in mine but only because I've had previous miscarriages (mentioned) and related it to strengthening my character and becoming aware things arent always as smooth as they could be and this is why I'm so passionate about being there for women in the way others were there for me.

I didn't put it in mine, I'm doing children's nursing, so put what inspired me (brothers being in hospital when they were younger).

It's all about transferable skills. Life skills included!

The majority of first year students are 18 and don’t have children themselves, so the majority of personal statements will not reference being a parent. You wouldn’t be at a disadvantage if you didn’t mention it all as that’s the norm.

If you mention being a parent, do your best to tie it into nursing (ie focus more on being a carer) and possibly how your children could have spurred you into choosing this as a career path etc.

I did with mine - but I was applying for speech and language therapy and had experience of it all from the other side with a child with a severe speech impairment. That was what had really fired my interest and made me want to do the course - so it was all really interlinked together. Also drew upon it on the interview as well where they were looking for some empathy toward the feelings of service users which I obviously could relate to.

I’m an admissions tutor (although in totally different discipline). I’d say include - shows you can manage multiple demands, perhaps be more organised etc etc. State why you think this is relevant/ valuable e.g. “alongside xyz I am also a parent of xx number of children, which has encouraged me to work towards being a committed role model for my children and balance the various demands of combining home and work....” blah blah. Just a sentence or two can’t hurt in my opinion.
Best of luck

It's about as relevent as putting down that you've mastered wiping your own bottom.

I read PS for med school applicants. Not once had anyone mention they were a parent.

Being a parent has transferable personal skills... but it could come across as so cringeworthy if statements seemed overhyped or exaggerated.

My gut feeling is fine to mention it, fine to use some story from parenting as tangible example how it's led to knowing you have appropriate or transferrable skills, but keep it low key part of whole statement.

But you are applying to nurse - you are applying to train to triage patients, deal with life or death situations, do drug calculations and understand drugs, you are applying to advocate for people's last wishes, notice deterioration in a bay full of patients and escalate, wound care.
I don't agree putting that you are a mum on your ps. As a mature student.
You would need to give examples of how you handled a situation under pressure - you would have many of those life situations under your belt through work or volunteering as a MS.
You will be the new guy every 6-10 weeks and each placement demands quick on the job learning and people skills - which you can prove with previous experience.
You would need to prove multi tasking which is easily proved in many previous work situations, and you need to show that horrendous start times, not seeing your children for 14/15 hour shifts is something that you are emotionally prepared for especially as when you get home, you've got to write a 6000 word essay that's due in by the end of your placement.