Writing a personal statement for 6th form

[Bunbaker]

DD has to write a personal statement on her application to 6th form and is struggling. She wants to stay at the school she is already at.

I have looked at sites with examples of statements and templates of how to write them. Also a list of suggestions of things she can write.

The problems is that she doesn't do any extra curricular activities, doesn't have a part time job, is extremely shy and doesn't join in at school. She is currently seeing a therapist for CBT for social anxiety and depression (which hasn't made any difference at all as she won't engage with her).

She doesn't have many interests, and those that she does have aren't really the kind of thing you would put on a personal statement - watching illegal downloads on Putlocker, watching YouTube and TV.

On the positive side, she does have some friends that she meets up with occasionally, academically she is doing well and is predicted mostly A and A grades. She already has 2 As and has just sat maths IGCSE and hopes to get an A in that. She has had some pretty serious health issues that required many stays in the local children's hospital, and she is still under the consultant for an ongoing issue. As a result she does a fair amount of fund raising for the hospital charity by making and selling crafts and home baking.

I have suggested that she makes the most of these positive aspects, but it seems to me that it is going to be a very short statement.

What else can she do to plump up her statement?

Add her aspirations, what she would like to do with the courses she is choosing. Perhaps where she will see herself in 5/10 years time?

Those positive things you mention at the end are brilliant. Being able to say that she has received care, and is returning that care with fundraising is awesome. Baking, a skill that she is developing and making money from. Ditto the crafts. e.g. she could also say why she chose those activities.

Mentioning taking exams early, saying why, what next academically and if she has any long terms plans for fundraising.

DD struggled initially with her sixth form personal statement, but once she got started, she soon filled up the word count.

Why she wants to do her chosen A levels?
How the A levels link to her aspirations for the future?

Perseverance - overcoming difficulties to still achieve well
What she 'gains' from the charity work

(They probably won't take much notice anyhow. Don't they have to accept her if she meets the minimum grade requirements?
On the other hand this could be a 'wake up' for how her university application personal statement might look unless she consciously does something to improve it during 6th form)

I would have thought that the fact that she has been ill and in and out of hospital but has felt supported by the school during that illness and therefore very much wants to remain within the environment in which she has felt safe and supported during difficult times is an excellent reason for wanting to stay on.

Thanks for your responses.