What did you put on your personal statement?

[MarioandLuigi]

I have applied to Birmingham University to do a CertHe. I have done the online application but I need to send ina personal statement and I have writers block. Everything I write sounds crap or really wishy washy.

What do I need to put in it, and is there anything I should leave out?

You don't have to fill the page.

It should be about why you want to do the course and why you're suitable for it. Include relevant experience showing what you have learned from it. Also the things that particularly interest you in the chosen field.

If you are changing careers by doing this then say so and say why. Avoid being critical of your former work but instead highlight what you have gained from it and positive aspects that you will take from it into your studies.

You can include other interests too if you want - whatever makes you come across as a well-rounded person.

Read the course info carefully in the prosectus. That will give you clues about what they are looking for but don't lie!
Highlight the positive and avoid the negative.

It's worth highlighting skills that are relevant to managing your study commitments, such as experience budgeting and managing deadlines etc ... sometimes what'll make the difference between applications is how likely it seems that you'll be able to balance full-time study with other commitments without falling behind or failing the course. It's something they take into consideration, because taking on lots of students likely to drop out is likely to have an effect on their own stats.

Good luck with the application :)