Personal statement criteria

[Kez100]

Finally, the PS is done!

Is there any criteria in addition to 4000 character count (inc spaces) and 47 lines that she needs to check?

The whole UCAS form was gone through by a fine toothcomb at DS's college so if they had made any omissions or errors they could be corrected before it went off.

Oh good - I will throw it back then!

Might like to get a free, secure review done here www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Personal_Statement_Help

Have given the link to DD. Thanks.

Has she checked the websites of the universities she is applying to? Bristol and LSE (for example) both provide advice on what they would like to see in a PS on their websites. This may be general, or it may be specific to her course. Anyway, she should definately check.

I agree with checking TSR for advice too, and getting a PS review done. Although it says the waiting time is 14 days, depending on subject area, she could get one a lot quicker. However, she will get a lot more out of the service if she submits a polished draft, rather than a first rough draft, as they only provide one full review.

Have you (or someone else) checked it for grammar/readability? There shouldn't be any contractions, dashes, brackets or anything informal. Subject names/areas shouldn't be capitalised unless they are part of a qualification e.g. Biology A-level. Everything should be easy to understand to someone who may be reading a lot of statements in one go.

Is it at least 2/3 accademic content directly relating to her chosen course?

She says she has taken into account what she was told at the Open Days of her two main choices (she has three choices so far and one more Open Day to go to but thinks that will be a fourth choice). Her tutors are checking her PS at the moment. I will take a look at the website information and double check when she has completely finished it.

OK. I can get her to submit to them once she is 'finished'.

Yes, I have checked spelling etc but .... what no brackets like ( )? She has used those and some - they were flogged during GCSE English!

Her writing is pretty straightforward as her natural vocabulary isn't particularly flamboyant.

It's about 3/4 academic content almost 1/4 on relevant experience and two lines on her hobbies.

Above all else she needs to make sure she answers the question 'Why I want to go to Uni to study this subject' and come over as enthusiastic and committed to that subject. That should take up the bulk of the PS with examples how that enthusiasm is pursued both in and outside school.

Any 'extra curriculars' (sport, music etc) needs to take a very firm back seat and shouldnt be 'just a list' - he/she needs to explain what they get out of activities (confidence, greater maturity, teamwork, engagement with wider community etc) or dont mention it at all.

Non-flamboyant language is fine. Short sentences, no over-long paragraphs and clear ideas is the 'feel' to go for.

I agree with Mrs Bright, I thought my son's first effort was pretty good but the school suggested major changes which mainly involved reducing the amount he'd talked about his extra curricular activities even when he thought they were relevent to skills gained etc and they told him there was too much stating the bleeding obvious in it. (I'm sure the teacher put it more politely, but not much more). He hadn't mentioned his higher grades thinking they'd be visible anyway but he was encouraged to stress how good they were and write more about his advanced highers and any projects he was doing in them.
He'd have been happier with bullet points so short sentences suited him fine, his first attempt was more like an English essay with a beginning a middle and an end.