O/T: Personal Statement Crisis

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IckleDitty

'Kay, um, I'm going into Yr 13 or Upper 6th in a few days, and Have just finished filling in my UCAS forms... The only thing I have left to do is my personal statement.. and it's proving a problem...

I am not a writey person, hence why I do mathematical subjects, so I would REALLY appreciate any help or tips...

Errrrrrm, I guess I should tell you what's good about me... and stuff so you can help...

- I have 10 GCSE's: 5 A*'s, 3 A's and 2 B's
- 6 AS Levels, all A's
- Next year I'm continuing with 5 subjects, Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry, Physics and DT
- Planning on doing Chemical Engineering MEng, preferably at Imperial
- Currently at boarding school on a full Physics and Maths Scholarship from Toshiba and the Ogden Trust
- Have done Motorsport, Entrepreneurial Engineering and Nanotechnology courses with Smallpeice Trust
- Come from a less well off background than many people applying for uni..

Errrrr.... I can't think of much else without making myself cringe, at horrid phrases like "self-starter"

Basically I need help starting it, how to order it, what to say, what not to say... and maybe some good vocab and good wordings of stuff... I've never really been good at wording things unless they include vampires or wizards

Sooooo, thank you very much just for reading this waffle, and thank you een more if you can be of any held

Replies sorted oldest to newest

MoominMember

Ickle - good luck - I am helping my younger son do his at the moment, bu he has far less to sell about himself than you, Wow - with all that you have done, they should welcome you with open arms!!
Keep it concise - ie don't waffle, but sell yourself, concentrating on all the things that you have done already re engineering. Think about things (however minor) in your life that have helped shape you as a person - maybe about how you settled down in boarding school, clubs/ organisations that you belong/have belonged to that may have helped you acquire certain skills.

That should be enough to be going on with - don't try and do it all in one go, as you'll think of other things you can add later on.
My older son didn't get the grades he wanted for his choice last year, but the uni still accepted him, so I like to think that the personal statement he did (and I helped him with) helped clinch him his place!!
If you want any more advice, let me know.
xx

9/4/106:35 AM

Rawky-RooMember 10 years

Say something like:

I want to go to your Uni, you want my money, lets make a deal! Innit!

Make sure you emphasise the 'innit'

9/4/106:36 AM

IckleDittyMember

Okay thats great

I hadn't thought about clubs and settling in, but I give that mull over

Thank you very much

9/4/106:38 AM

IckleDittyMember

Reference:

I want to go to your Uni, you want my money, lets make a deal! Innit!

Hahaha yeah, they could take me in and show that they're diverse in their decisions

9/4/106:43 AM

SazBombMember

Gawd, its been ages since I had to do mine *coff*

All the academic stuff is already covered, so the personal statement is kinda 'everything else' where you can show a bit of personality... the motorsport and engineering courses you mentioned would be fab to include cos they're different.... Has the school given you any advice on what sort of things to include/what the uni admissions peeps will be looking out for?

I've always been better with 'wordy' things - though thats not saying much cos I'm shit at maths/physics etc

9/4/106:44 AM

justafriendMember

theres some helpful websites you could look at ditty for personal statements, just do a search hun. i never went to uni, i envy you so good luck and hope it all works out for you x

9/4/106:45 AM

SazBombMember

Reference:

- Currently at boarding school on a full Physics and Maths Scholarship from Toshiba and the Ogden Trust

Definitely mention that... and probably how many people are awarded it annually... I assume it is quite rare and you have to be a high achiever with good prospects to get it!

9/4/106:46 AM

XochiMember Memoriam

Ickle

I don't know nuffink about the Personal Statements but would instinctively think they would initially be most interested in why you want to study the subject... you know, what inspired to choose it, what you'd hope to do with your qualification in the job world after etc. Then bring in the stuff about what a team player you are etc etc.

I'm a wordy person by trade, so if I can help pull it together for you once you've worked out the content just let me know.

9/4/106:46 AM

DuckyMember 10 years

Reference:

Wow - with all that you have done, they should welcome you with open arms!!

I totally agree with this!

Ickle your personal statement will almost write itself.

Concentrate on your opening paragraph for now..... as long as you start and end well (and with what you have to fill in the middle bit)... you should have no problem!

Your first paragraph needs to be about the subject you are choosing to study and why. Then you can go on to talk about your achievements in and out of school, (include any employment or voluntary work) then hobbies etc. Try and end with a sentence or two about how all your achievements/endeavours make you the ideal candidate.

Don't worry if you cringe....we all cringe when blowing our trumpets (well the sane amongst us do

).,..but it has to be done. Try and emphasise those qualities that you think would be important for the course you have chosen.....and if you feel you have to mention wizards, as long as it's mildly relevant and makes you stand out....go for it.

If you're still struggling, just write ANYTHING.... it's only a first draft and can be rearranged and re-jigged later!

9/4/106:52 AM

MoominMember

When you've done it. the school should be able to help you with what you should add and what you should keep out and what things to tweak - after all, they've had more experience with these that most other people.

9/4/106:56 AM

SazBombMember

Reference:

Don't worry if you cringe....we all cringe when blowing our trumpets (well the sane amongst us do ).,..but it has to be done.

Like when you're applying for a new job

9/4/106:58 AM

DuckyMember 10 years

Reference:

Like when you're applying for a new job

God yeah! And it's even worse when applying for promotions! There is nothing worse than blowing your own trumpet to people who know your trumpet all too well

I can sympathise with students who feel uncomfortable getting their own teachers to check their personal statements. I'm sure that's why half of them put it off and put it off.

Well done to Ickle for getting started on it now I say.

9/4/107:04 AM

Former Member

Aren't you getting help from the sixth form staff at school with your statement? My daughter is at the same stage as you, and had to start work on her personal statement as soon as the AS exams had finished. Everyone has now had several sessions with their subject tutors, careers adviser, and the senior sixth form staff to go through their personal statements. The staff at your school are the ones who are used to getting students into top universities, and know exactly what you should and shouldn't say. Good luck!

9/4/107:38 AM

CroctacusMember

Yeah at my kids' school they did all the personal statement with help from their tutors and subject teachers. They had several drafts before it got finalised so I wouldn't worry too much at this stage.

9/4/108:22 AM

DirtyprettygirlthingMember

Reference:

Come from a less well off background than many people applying for uni..

...anyone got any spare change?

- Ickle will come back & read & reply shortly... she is currently slumped on the sofa, watching the clock til she can take paracetamol again (she has tonsillitis at the mo!)

9/4/108:32 AM

DirtyprettygirlthingMember

Reference:

and probably how many people are awarded it annually.

at her school... ONE!

9/4/108:36 AM

DirtyprettygirlthingMember

Reference:

Your first paragraph needs to be about the subject you are choosing to study and why. Then you can go on to talk about your achievements in and out of school, (include any employment or voluntary work) then hobbies etc. Try and end with a sentence or two about how all your achievements/endeavours make you the ideal candidate.

SEE!! this is why I wish you were HER Head of Sixth!

Reference:

and if you feel you have to mention wizards, as long as it's mildly relevant and makes you stand out....go for it.

and then you go and say this!!!!!!

9/4/108:40 AM

SazBombMember

Reference:

at her school... ONE!

see, thats fab

9/4/108:48 AM

DirtyprettygirlthingMember

TBH no... we haven't really had much help from the school... I think, cos its a boy's school, which is built upon is reputation for sports... they are used to helping kids with statements that include... Captain of the Rugby Team... Went on the sixth form trip to Calabash (Ickle didn't go on Calabash... as they needed £2k from us for it... and gave us a fortnights notice for it, just before Xmas)... she had too much work to do to do Duke of Edinburgh, hates hockey...

but you lot have helped us put it back into perspective!

Her grades, her short courses, her scholarship do more or less speak for themselves... she has a (bizarre) obsession with Korean & Japanese culture... so I think she might be able to get that in there somewhere.

9/4/108:51 AM

♥PinkBabe1966♥The Angel under the tree!Member

Can't really add much more than what others have said Ickle, apart from try and sell yourself in the opening paragraph, when I was working and had to look at CV's and letters of application, 'twas always the opening paragraph that grabbed me... and don't be afraid to blow your own trumpet, you have some amazing qualifications and courses to put on your statement. Just want to add my congratulations on your exam results and good luck on your uni applications, I am certain you will get the place you are looking for.

9/4/108:58 AM

CroctacusMember

Yyeah that's the sort of thing she should mention cos that will make her stand out

9/4/108:59 AM

DuckyMember 10 years

Reference:

and then you go and say this!!!!!!

And you have picked up on the one thing that scares me about doing assemblies....things can go so well....and then I always go one sentence too far!!!

9/4/109:00 AM

DirtyprettygirlthingMember

Reference:

.and then I always go one sentence too far!!!

now... that is most definitely one of your strengths... not a weakness...

don't try & change into your perception of what Heads of SIxth have been Ducky... you are perfect the way you are... honest.. you were made for this job!

9/4/109:09 AM

TrixyMember

We were told when I did mine (admittedly nearly 5 years ago now...i'm getting old) to always start with why you want to do that course, so try and find out something interesting that you can put about it. For example, I started mine with the quote "Biochemistry;the chemistry of life" (and then I put who said it but I can't remember that now) and basically explained why that had pulled me in. Then in the middle I sold myself, so just try and expand on "I'm blimmin brilliant and you would be lucky to have me", and then at the end I was told to put why the degree I had chosen would suit me, my personality and my career choices...at which point I wrote something completely cringeful and a load BS.
With everything you have Ickle the selling yourself bit will be easy, obviously make sure that it is all spelt correctly and such. As for why you chose the course, just try and make yourself seem really passionate because that's what they are looking for. And try to make yourself stand out, the people reading these will read so many that you need to jump out and make them remember you. Also getting it in quickly and early will mean that they are more likely to say yes.

9/4/1010:42 AM

DirtyprettygirlthingMember

We have an opening line..

"In the film The Matrix, Neo see's the world in numbers, I find myself walking around seeing the world in chemical formulae."

9/4/1010:53 AM

TrixyMember

That could actually work

anything to grab attention lol.

My friend who applied for architecture had as her first line "I first decided I wanted to be an architect when at the age of 4 I drew a building while my friends all drew flowers."

9/4/1010:55 AM

XochiMember Memoriam

Reference:

"I find myself walking around seeing the world in chemical formulae."

Is it just me who finds that a tad weird?

Good if you're applying to the University of Weird tho'!

9/4/1010:57 AM

DirtyprettygirlthingMember

It IS a tad weird...

but it is actually true... she does walk around seeing the world in chemistry & physics terms.. I know... I have to look interested when she goes off on one working out the chemical formula of acetone.. whilst taking her nail varnish off!

9/4/1011:07 AM

Former Member

Reference:

We have an opening line.. "In the film The Matrix, Neo see's the world in numbers, I find myself walking around seeing the world in chemical formulae."

PERFECT!!!!!

My daughter studied classics at uni and did the same sort of geekish sentence - she was accepted by 4 red bricks - no question.
Ditty - what a lovely daughter you have BTW

9/4/1012:58 PM

LeccyMember

This is all over my head but I just wanted to say good luck Ickle! xx

9/4/101:20 PM

DirtyprettygirlthingMember

Reference:

PERFECT!!!!!

Thank you!

Reference:

what a lovely daughter you have BTW

thank you again...

9/4/101:34 PM

liverbirdMember 10 years

I'm with leccy - I have no idea how to put these things together but wish you all the luck in the world! xxx

9/4/101:36 PM

charlisockMember

Reference:

she does walk around seeing the world in chemistry & physics terms.. I know...

*remembers one of Ickle's blog entries* Crap about soap in a toaster?!

Anyway, Ickle, good luck not long ago your mum helped me with my CV

9/4/101:36 PM

DirtyprettygirlthingMember

She's feeling proper poorly again this evening (her tonsils are huge... with big blisters on them!)...

but she has asked me to thank you all, and says she will return to this thread tomorrow when she's not feeling so bad.

Thank you from me too... you've all really really helped!

9/4/101:38 PM

DirtyprettygirlthingMember

Reference:

Crap about soap in a toaster?

shhhhhhh Charli!

I remember reading that blog in horror & shame!

for the record she's never cleaned the toaster since... it was a one off toaster cleaning

9/4/101:39 PM

charlisockMember

9/4/101:40 PM

Former Member

Reference:

She's feeling proper poorly again this evening (her tonsils are huge... with big blisters on them!)... but she has asked me to thank you all, and says she will return to this thread tomorrow when she's not feeling so bad. Thank you from me too... you've all really really helped!

Hot honey and lemon with a couple of aspirin dissolved in it is helpful. If she is not allergic to aspirin get her to gargle with it as well .

9/4/101:40 PM

SazBombMember

soap inna toaster?

9/4/101:46 PM

DirtyprettygirlthingMember

Reference:

If she is not allergic to aspirin get her to gargle with it as well .

they've put her on effervescent co-codamol (paracetamol & codeine)... which she is supposed to gargle with.... but won't/can't/freaks out when I try to get her to do it.

She's also on her 2nd course of penicillin... and ibuprofen.

We thought the first course of antibiotics had worked... but 24 hours after she finished the course it was back with a vengeance. She's supposed to be going back to school on Monday... but I don't think she'll be able to (the school won't accept her there in this state, on meds... and I certainly don't want her going til she's better)...

she is stressing about someone nicking her bagsied bedroom... or class seating arrangements not being to her liking!

I am going to have to track down her bessie mate on Facebook and get her to sort these things out for her.

I know its wrong... but I am glad I get to keep for an extra couple of days

9/4/101:49 PM

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