UCAS personal statements

[WhyNotDuckie]

Hi, I am wondering if anyone can help clarify something for me. My son is writing his PS at the moment and we both think that he needs to pick a subject area and write his PS round that, as well as applying for courses in that subject area. (He is interested in two areas which don't have any crossover at all, and cannot be done as joint honours).

However, my friend says no, he can pick courses in both of the subjects which interest him and write a PS which says he has an interest in both areas.

Please can anyone clarify for me whether he has to pick one subject, or if he can apply for courses in both?

Much appreciated!

Why not wait a bit until he has a better idea. Has he already decided where he wants to go and the exact courses. Unless he is an Oxbridge applicant he doesn't need to firm things up for another few months.

Has he been on many open days? One of my DCs revisited a Uni just to double check it was the right choice. Better to spend the money doing extra open days than doing the wrong degree.

It's a good idea to think about what he would put in his PS now though even if he isnt sure. At least it gets him thinking

Another thing to consider is the Unis he is applying to. If they are lower or middle tariff Unis it probably won't matter at all but if it's a highest tariff Uni then it may matter a lot. IYSWIM

Sorry I meant to say if it's a lower or middle tariff Uni then it probably won't matter if the PS is talking about two different subjects.1

Also, there is no harm in enailing the Unis involved and asking them directly.

That's excellent advice. Thank you so much. Got a few open days planned, so we'll use that time to clarify the subject choice. Will also speak to school, and email the unis directly.

He was pretty much decided, until a rogue AS paper shook things up a bit...

It is very hard to write a good PS that covers 2 subjects. It can come across as indecisive. It would be better for him to make a choice and then write it.

Thank you jeanne. He is going to have to make some tough, grown-up choices I think.

Hi why

May I invite you to our very friendly thread with lots of helpful posters at the same stage as you?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/3010071-New-Batch-of-Year-13-parents-this-way

Thanks, chocolateworshipper!

We have a Facebook group too for all things Uni.

Everyone welcome and my DC is just starting year 13 too so I would appreciate as much advice as possible too!

I did one statement for two different areas. I basically broke it up a bit and said a bit about myself in general, then why I wanted to study subject one, then why I wanted to study subject two before adding a general closing statement. It worked for me; I got five unconditional offers, including two from a Russell Group uni.

The advisers at the colleges are very good at tweaking them and will send them back if they are not quite right!

Forgot to post the link

m.facebook.com/groups/488235648182391

(What I wish I knew about uni)

If grades aren't amazing then its better to focus on one. Similar subject areas could be combined (e.g. psychology and forensic psychology) but as a teacher I would advise against two different subject areas in one statement.