How To Write a Personal Statement for University

For any A Level student, writing a personal statement for university can feel like a mammoth task. Where to begin? How should you describe yourself? The cursor waits impatiently. 

We know it’s tricky to write about yourself. So, here we provide you with clear, step-by-step guidance on how to write your personal statement, with expert tips and specific advice on structure. 

What Is a Personal Statement and Why Is It Important?

A university personal statement articulates decisions that led you to your choice of course. It’s an opportunity to present yourself as an enthusiastic learner with a keen interest in your chosen subject. 

University admissions tutors use personal statements to:

• Understand your suitability for further study

  • For example, if you can work in a group as well as independently

• Find out what motivates you, and that you have a clear purpose for choosing the course

• Prepare interview questions personal to you

In a competitive climate, and for popular courses, a strong personal statement can separate you from other applicants. 

If you’re applying to a prestigious university, you may want to read our article on How To Get Into Oxford University. 

Regardless of the university, though, a personal statement helps tutors understand you beyond academic achievements. It helps assess:

• Character and personality

  • They don’t need you to be a comic: they’re looking for values like reflectiveness, initiative, or responsibility 

• Future academic potential: skills like critical thinking and communication

How To Start Your Personal Statement

Over the course of my career as an A Level teacher, “How do I start my personal statement?” has likely been the question most asked. And the answer is always the same! Don’t start writing without an initial plan.

Think of planning as ‘thinking time’. Remember, planning isn’t drafting. So, rather than launching straight into full sentences (a draft), you could first consider how you will best achieve your purpose. 

Here are some tips on how to plan effectively:

• Categorise your ideas according to topic sentences

  • Recent recommendations suggest you answer three questions:

1. why you want to study this particular subject

2. how your studies have prepared you so far

3. what relevant experience you've gained

• You could use visual tools like mind maps or a spreadsheet to identify:

  • academic interests and achievements

  • relevant work experience, volunteering, or clubs attended

  • future plans and career goals

  • strengths and areas you wish to improve 

When you write your opening paragraph or introduction, it’s a good idea to think about your reader. In this case, your reader’s an admissions tutor with a pile of similarly written statements! With this in mind, your opening paragraph should engage their attention. 

1.    Start with a strong and concise statement

• Avoid clichés like “From an early age…”

• Choose more specific language for over-used words like “drive” or “passion”

• For an assured tone, begin with a short sentence and elaborate in your second sentence

• Immediately express your interest in the subject 

  • You could start with a brief anecdote, such as “It began in my father’s workshop.”  

2. Write a tailored introduction

• Your introduction shouldn’t be a lengthy summary of everything you’re about to write

• Mentioning details about a specific university isn’t required, but do closely refer to the subject

• Let your ‘voice’ come through

  • This means you should show your enthusiasm (and your humility)!

What To Include in a Personal Statement

Once you have a plan and you’ve thought about your introduction, you can add the relevant information. Using the three question structure (opens in a new tab) may help you collate this information. 

Your Passion for the Subject

Why do you want to study this specific subject? 

To show enthusiasm without sounding hyperbolic, you can:

• Be specific 

  • Avoid generic sentences like “I have always loved reading.”

  • In fact, try not to use absolute words like "always"

  • Use verbs like “immerse” or “pursue” rather than passive verbs like “believe” or “desire”

• Offer examples of wider reading that led to your curiosity in the subject

  • Maybe you could quote from a book you’ve read

Relevant Skills and Experiences

Remember to relate your experiences to the skills you’ve gained. Of course, this doesn’t mean that your volunteering or work experience in the local nursery school or building site is irrelevant because you’re applying to a course on politics, for example. It means that you need to think about what you learned in your time there. 

• Work experience teaches you how to work as a team or use initiative

• Clubs and hobbies may form leadership skills

• Volunteering means you have a sense of community 

• Entering competitions builds confidence and resilience

If your work experience does closely relate to the course you’re applying for, focus on how you were inspired. You could:

• Give an example of a rewarding experience 

• Describe something you realised you were good at

• Explain how you were motivated to improve something that you noticed

It may seem a bit odd to write about hobbies. The trick is to refer to extracurricular activities, sports, or personal interests in terms of personal development. 

For example: "As a dedicated member of …, I have proven myself as a reliable and committed team-player" or "My interest in … sparked a greater curiosity about…”

Academic Strengths and Achievements

Your academic achievements, and the skills you’ve learned while completing coursework, EPQs or projects, have prepared you for further study. Write about:

• Time management: coursework and EPQs teach you to work to a brief and deadline

• Research and cross-referencing, preparing you for more independent study

• Academic skills: you’ve learned to analyse, summarise, evaluate, solve problems, and think critically

Career Ambitions 

When it comes to writing about your future goals, be specific about how your course might help you achieve them. Don’t worry if you aren’t entirely sure what you want to do after university. The admissions committee simply wants to see that you’ve thought about the course.

• Research how the course might help you access your potential career

  • For example: “An aspect of your course that resonates with me is the opportunity to …, which will foster necessary skills to become a …" 

• Show preparedness by highlighting transferable skills gained at school or elsewhere 

  • Relate this to the role rather than to your personality

• Explain what this career path means to you, or what you hope to contribute

  • You could describe how you wish to make positive changes to the field

How To Structure Your Personal Statement

Although there is no rule about the order of information, it is best to structure your personal statement into focused paragraphs for coherency. 

Here is a more detailed breakdown:

• Plan a three-part structure

• Paragraphs can, and should, be varying lengths  

• Use discourse markers to improve the flow of your writing

  • Words like “Moreover” or “Furthermore” develop a point

  • Words like “However” or “Nevertheless” contrast a point

  • Time words like “Subsequently” and “Recently” introduce examples

Dos and Don’ts of Personal Statement Writing

Now you know how to write your personal statement for university, here are some last tips.

Dos:

• Write “concisely”, avoiding unnecessary words

• Vary sentence structure (a short sentence followed by a longer one)

• Specifically relate everything to the course of study

• Provide precise examples and evidence

Don’ts:

• Clichéd words like “dream” and “passion”

• Exaggerations or things that you haven’t done

• Lists of achievements and experience unconnected to your course or goals

How To Edit and Finalise Your Personal Statement

Be prepared for a few drafts of your personal statement. Editing takes time, but it’s worth submitting the best version you can. 

• Proofread for obvious grammar and spelling errors

• Refine and improve sentences that are unclear or clumsy

• Change anything that is irrelevant or doesn’t best articulate your point

• Use feedback from teachers or tutors to identify areas to improve, such as impact and clarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should my personal statement be?

UCAS guidance (opens in a new tab) suggests 4000 maximum characters including spaces and punctuation. Aim for 350 characters for each of the three answers in the body of your statement

Can I write a personal statement before choosing my universities?

Yes, writing it may help you make decisions about further study. Start early, make revisions later!

Can I mention more than one subject in my personal statement?

UCAS (opens in a new tab) says you can apply to more than one subject of study. They suggest you “try to make everything in your statement as relevant as possible” to all the subjects. 

Should I include hobbies or extracurriculars?

Yes, mention hobbies and extracurricular activities, but exemplify the experience or skills gained, and make them relevant. This is a chance to show tutors who you are outside of school too. 

References

How to write a personal statement that works for multiple courses | UCAS (opens in a new tab) 

 The new UCAS personal statement (opens in a new tab)