Students applying to university want to write a great personal statement about themselves. But how do you make yourself stand out, especially if you are applying to a top institution?
I work with students applying for a wide range of subjects to Oxford, Cambridge and other top-ranking universities. Our Nurture Your Uni Dream programme takes the long view, and builds expertise in research, knowledge and discussion in depth over many months. This ensures that students actually have quality content to write about. And this is what matters.
The three questions candidates must write about for undergraduate applications are these:
- Why do you want to study this course or subject?
- How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
- What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
Students have 4000 characters in total (not 4000 characters for each question). Universities have said that each personal statement will be read as a whole. So decisions about what material goes in which section are not crucial.
For top universities, Section 2 is probably the most important, as it gives candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment and intellectual interest in the subject they wish to study. Our Nurture Your Uni Dream programme ensures that students have substantial material to include in this section.
Section 3 gives the opportunity to list work experience. This is especially important for subjects like Medicine and Veterinary Science. Although it’s not always straightforward to find, I continue to be impressed with the opportunities that young people often secure: in industry, through volunteering, through friends and family.
To secure your place on our Nurture You Uni Dream programme, use our Contact Form to get in touch.
Or sign up for a free introductory session for a discussion about how we can support your university application.
Are you applying for a Master’s degree? Are you preparing for an IELTS exam? We also work with students applying for Masters, including international students and preparation for IELT: use our contact form or sign up for our free introductory session.
Read a testimonial from Lam, a past student, who worked with us as she applied for her Master’s.
