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Tips on Writing a UCAS Personal Statement | Economics Blog

Tips on Writing a UCAS Personal Statement


Many students agonise over writing a UCAS personal statement. As a general rule, I suggest keeping it relatively simple – be honest, and give the impression you would be a suitable student for the course. Don’t worry if you haven’t got a huge list of extra curricular activities. At the same time, you don’t want to appear one dimensional.

Things to Do in Your Statement:

  • Write with perfect grammar and spelling.
  • Be Honest
  • Give the impression you are interested in this subject and will be motivated to study
  • Give the impression that you will be a likeable student to teach.
  • If possible, Make a link between what you have done in your spare time and the course you propose to do

Don’t

  • Be arrogant. You have to give a good impression of yourself without appearing over the top. It is a fine balance, which many students have difficulty doing.
  • List your hobbies with little explanation ( I play football, I watch TV e.t.c)
  • Say in your spare time you play computer games (yes, I have seen drafts with sentences in like. ‘My favourite hobby is playing computer games’
  • Feel obliged to excessively promote yourself (your not a politician standing for election. – Your admission to University does not depend on how many swimming badges you received at the age of 11.)
  • Put in tired cliches “It’s always been my life long dream to be an Economist…” (no body has this dream)
  • State the obvious all the time. “I read newspapers, which gives me upto the date information about the economy”
  • Make sentences excessively long

More ideas here on writing a personal statement

If you are still unsure what to write check out this model College application letter , which is apparently real  :)

 

3 comments ↓

#1 lauren on 01.06.08 at 11:35 pm

good tips! thanks

#2 Tameem on 09.25.08 at 1:48 pm

Hi,

i think, the personal statement should be kept simple and reflect you real interests.

The real it is the better chances of getting an offer, as you will look genuine.

Dont forget, A degree from A top University in Ecnomics will not gurantee you a big job in the long run or comforts in life.

As You should be productive and make an efficient use of all posibalites in hand.

Give a try, be genuine, Dont be upset if things did not go your way. You will happy, eventually.

#3 Ben Dover on 11.12.09 at 9:53 am

‘Things to Do in Your Statement:

Write with perfect grammar and spelling.’

then

‘(your not a politician standing for election.)’

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