Constructing a Personal Statement

A personal statement is something which supports your application to move onto University or sometimes College. Your personal statement is your chance to explain who you are and why you'd make a good addition to the specific course, explain your skills set, talk about your past work experiences and opportunities, and more.

When writing your personal statement, you talk about one thing - You. This is your first impression to those at either your chosen University, so it needs to count, as you're explaining why they should choose you and why you would be suitable. 

It is important to avoid mentioning any Universities by name, as you only write one personal statement and it is the same for every course you apply for. For example, if you were to apply to a number of different universities, but only mentioned one in your personal statement, it would no longer appeal to the other Universities. Furthermore, avoid naming specific course titles, as again your personal statement should make you sound like the best candidate for each course, not just one. Instead of mentioning the specific course title, talk about the subject in general and the skills that would help you along the way. 

How to Structure Your Personal Statement 

First Paragraph - An introduction

• Explain why you are interested in the course and passionate about the pathway it may lead to
• Demonstrate an understanding of the skills needed for the course
• How the course will support your career path

Second Paragraph - Course Info

• How your course has supported your chosen degree route
• Be specific about units that are particularly relevant to your degree - research into the modules covered on the degree and make links between them
• What skills you have gained and how they can help on your chosen degree

Third Paragraph - Placement / Work Experience 

• Give details of any experience and highlight the relevance to your chosen degree / career path
• Discuss the skills you have gained through this
• Give examples of relevant responsibilities and perhaps scenario's and again how they are relevant to the degree 

Fourth Paragraph - Other Relevant Experience / Positions of Responsibility 

• Employment / Volunteering / Student Council
• The skills you have gained in these experiences and what you have learned - how are they relevant to the skills required for the course you have chosen.

Fifth Paragraph - Conclusion

• Why you should be chosen, what can you bring to the course?
• Demonstrate you have the relevant skills and qualities required

My Personal Statement - First Draft

Upon uploading my first draft of my personal statement, I hadn't yet completed it due to one of the paragraphs being missing ( in this paragraph it is common for people to discuss their work experience ), but when I begin my work experience next month I will be able to include it, furthering my personal statement and ensuring it contains as much information as possible. 

In this newly updated version, I changed some things to make it seem more professional. I added things like specific projects I have completed in college which I think are relevant, including my Culture in the Digital Age work. As well as this I also discussed the different software I have used while being in college to show what I have experience in and am capable of using. To add to this, I went on to discuss my work experience at Sunshine Co-operative and the skills I have gained in my time being there. Lastly, I decided to change my last paragraph to make it more suited to the courses I am applying for, this making me more relevant.