New (ish) UCAS personal statement format

[Justlurkingmostly]

Has anyone seen a good explanation of the new (to me anyway - older DC was last of the free format) UCAS PS format? And advice on what info to park where? Thanks

You essentially want to include the same kind of info as before but the new format makes it easier to know what to write and cuts out irrelevant waffle. The three questions are:

Why do you want to study this course or subject? Think about what sparked your interest, why you want to do that particular course (show you understand what the course/ career entails) and how this fits your future career goals.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject? This is about academic readiness and relevant skills. Include topics, projects, or coursework that sparked your interest, and how your studies have developed your analytical or research skills.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful? Here you can talk about super-curricular activities, work experience, and personal skills. Volunteering, part-time jobs, relevant hobbies, or work experience can all go here.

How can you differentiate #2? Wouldn't everyone applying for, say, physics just talk about A level physics and maths?

There are subject examples on the UCAS website which are really helpful.

Don’t stress about what you put where. The new format is to help students who have zero help from their family/schools/counsellors and therefore no idea what you’re supposed to discuss in the PS.

Meanwhile unis are stressing that they read the statement as a whole… some students prefer to tackle their PS in the old way, as one single integrated essay, and upload it in three sections. I have attended seminars with UCAS and Cambridge plus a few other RG unis and they say that approach also is perfectly OK.

Wouldn't everyone applying for, say, physics just talk about A level physics and maths?

This is where it gets tricky because ideally you don’t talk about your school work in isolation, but link it to wider reading or extra-curricular experiences, summer jobs etc. And then you’re unsure whether this bit goes in section two or three. But again, don’t worry precisely where this goes, as long as it’s in there somewhere!