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Higher education

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Original poster

Personal statements. Is it always a no no

76 replies

LaaDeeDa321 · 07/09/2023 10:09

to start them with a quote? I read that it was. This is a very short quote which relates to the subject in quite a clever way.

OP posts:
BiscuitsandPuffin · 07/09/2023 12:20

@BorrowedThyme your first post to the OP read as abrasive and got her back up. She then didn't want your advice but you kept giving it. You're clearly very experienced in personal statements so it's a shame it went that way but you must be able to see your tone turned it into a confrontation.

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 07/09/2023 12:49

Think of it like a cover letter for a job application - starting with a quote usually comes across badly. Say what you're interested in, what you've done. Rather than quoting something clever that an author said about cat behaviour it's better to say "I enjoyed "Wildlife of the Domestic Cat" because I'm fascinated by feline social behaviour and I spent two weeks observing the local cats and keeping a diary like the author". Meaning you're either a nutter or a social biologist or (like the author whose name I forget!) you're both - and you'll get in. Grin

NeverAgree · 07/09/2023 13:12

This reply has been deleted

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NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 07/09/2023 14:20

Having read thousands of personal statements over the past 20 years, I would say it is only worth starting with a quote if it is directly relevant to what comes after. A quote that is never referred to after the first paragraph (or, in some cases, after the first sentence) adds nothing at all, is a waste of words and makes you look a bit silly. I have seen a tiny number of personal statements that used quotes in a good way: relating subsequent points to the vision set out in the quote and summarising by reference to the quote.

The vast majority of students who use quotes pick ones that are very trite or clichéed. If it's something people are likely to have read before, don't use it: you're not going to exposit it better than anyone who has tried before. On the other hand, a more challenging quote will probably require the full 4,000 characters to address it, so the statement will lack a lot of what is being looked for.

Overall, I would say don't use quotes unless you are an exceptionally talented writer who can use them well.

Blodwen9 · 07/09/2023 14:41

DS included a quote from Damon Hill - he's applying for engineering and got 5 offers.......

Original poster
LaaDeeDa321 · 07/09/2023 14:42

It’s a very short quote, which I’ve never seen before which relates directly to the subject and to PS. We’ve deleted it anyway now.

OP posts:
6ampatrol · 07/09/2023 15:30

Hi OP. It is hard for them to know how to start the PS. I seem to remember a talk at DC school and they said to avoid opening a PS with "Ever since I was a child..." or a quote. I recall using the word "passion" is also a no no. I think it's because they want to see "the applicant on the page" (this phrase Is bloody annoying, I know), rather than someone hiding behind quotes.

I think it's ok to be quite straightforward and direct. Make it easy for them. What subject is it?

ShadowPuppets · 07/09/2023 15:34

Ha, this is fascinating - I opened with a quote in mine and got all my offers bar Oxford (I did interview though!). This was back in the midsts of time (2006) mind…

Original poster
LaaDeeDa321 · 07/09/2023 16:05

Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
FarEast · 07/09/2023 16:06

I tend to think that the applicant is showing off and wanting to appear more sophisticated than a 17 year old really is. And in my field anyway, it’s often a “tell” for an over-tutored PS, or not written by the applicant.

Applicants should use their own words.

Original poster
LaaDeeDa321 · 07/09/2023 16:48

This is why it’s a minefield. They’re told to make a good impression but admissions tutors are put off by them ‘showing off.’

OP posts:
KittyMcKitty · 07/09/2023 16:58

LaaDeeDa321 · 07/09/2023 10:09

to start them with a quote? I read that it was. This is a very short quote which relates to the subject in quite a clever way.

At a department talk at Durham open day the person giving the talk about personal statements opening remark was “do not use a quote” - the message was that the space is limited and they want to hear your own words not someone else’s.

KittyMcKitty · 07/09/2023 17:01

This is the slide from Durham

Personal statements. Is it always a no no
Original poster
LaaDeeDa321 · 07/09/2023 17:08

They won’t be applying to Durham but thanks.

OP posts:
PackBacker · 07/09/2023 17:12

They just need to show they love the subject, love doing extra reading, going to seminars, volunteering or doing online courses related to the subject. I found the more they can demonstrate that they do off their own back that is connected to the subject they want to study the better.

KittyMcKitty · 07/09/2023 17:13

LaaDeeDa321 · 07/09/2023 17:08

They won’t be applying to Durham but thanks.

I appreciate that but was thinking that one universities views would be probably very similar to anothers in terms of what they want from a personal statement.

Bunnyannesummers · 07/09/2023 17:14

LaaDeeDa321 · 07/09/2023 16:48

This is why it’s a minefield. They’re told to make a good impression but admissions tutors are put off by them ‘showing off.’

They can make a good impression by showing genuine interest in their subject and focusing on their skills and experience. None of that is showing off.

Original poster
LaaDeeDa321 · 07/09/2023 17:15

They’ve done all that. This was a specific question about quotes. Which has had a somewhat mixed response. We’re erring on the side of caution and have deleted it. It was only about six words anyway!

OP posts:
CerealUnderachiever · 07/09/2023 17:35

Massively curious what this quote is - please share, I really can't see how this could be outing now you're not going ahead :)

My worst mistake in doing something cliched was to end my masters thesis 'and thus...'. I knew it was too much then and have regretted it evert since. Still got the distinction but oh, I wish I hadn't done that.

Best of luck with the application - my extra bit of advice is get someone independent to proof-read for typos etc, it's incredible what a fresh pair of eyes spots :)

CerealUnderachiever · 07/09/2023 17:36

I clearly needed those eyes myself for my post!

Original poster
LaaDeeDa321 · 07/09/2023 17:46

Thanks @CerealUnderachiever I would share it but I’m not feeling brave enough to deal with the inevitable barrage of posts about how pretentious/stupid/showoffy it is so I won’t if you don’t mind

OP posts:
Carouselfish · 07/09/2023 18:12

I once got into a heated and prolonged email argument with an admissions officer who said that saying you were passionate about or had a passion for, something meant absolutely nothing and was irritating nonsense. To quote him, ' I might have a passion for snowboarding but it doesn't mean I'm any good at it'. So, I'd avoid the overused word passion and concentrate on specifics and evidence.

Original poster
LaaDeeDa321 · 07/09/2023 18:14

there’a no mention of the word passion in the PS. Just evidence of it 🙂

OP posts:
titchy · 07/09/2023 18:16

You'd need to cite it properly though so it wouldn't just be six words Wink

thepresureofausername · 07/09/2023 18:30

This thread is interesting. I'm pretty sure I've included a quote in every personal statement and job application I've ever written. I'm a graduate of Oxford and Cambridge. Now having a pretty great career.
Quotes are statements worthy of record because they convey something significant - succinctly. So personally I don't get the hate.