HomeEducationPersonal Statement Do's and Don'ts

Personal Statement Do’s and Don’ts

You may be looking for admission to a university of your choice. Most universities want you to write a personal statement along with your admission application. It helps them assess your abilities and to know about you and your goals. Personal statements are essays you submit as a part of the application for admission to a college or graduate school.

You need to add details like personal background, academic credentials, professional experience, career interests, and goals. These details help the admission committee if you’re a right fit for their college. It is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to an admissions committee. With your personal statement, you can make a positive first impression and increase your chances of getting admission to the college. However, writing a personal statement can be a difficult process and you may want expert assistance to write a brilliant personal statement. Thus, get in touch with UCAS Personal Statements to get premium UCAS personal statement assistance.

5 Do’s of Writing a Personal Statement  

You need to follow certain things and avoid some in your personal statement. Let’s first look at the things you should do to write a perfect personal statement.

1. Do Use A Narrative Structure

It’s important to convey a story in your personal statement about your accomplishments, aspirations, and plans. You may produce an effective statement that follows an understandable timetable by adhering to a narrative framework. This format usually draws readers in because it gives them a clear understanding of your life, the events that shaped it, and the range of your work. It may also help you to create a good first impression.

2. Do Write According To The Instructions

Different colleges may have different requirements for personal statements from applicants. Make sure you completely understand the instructions and include everything. Also, make the necessary edits to make sure you’re writing up to the expectations. Additionally, it could be advantageous for you to tailor the information in your remarks to highlight your interest in attending particular universities.

3. Do Discuss Your Value As A Candidate

Even while it could feel awkward to boast about your credentials and achievements in your personal statement, it’s crucial to emphasize your worth as a candidate. As you write, keep in mind that you are competing with other applicants to each program, so focusing on your strongest points might give you an edge. Write about your abilities and try to be diplomatic so the people reading your statement will understand why you are a good candidate for admission.

4. Keep it Concise and Within the Word Limit

Fitting all the information you want to convey in your personal statement inside the word count limit could be difficult. However, during the application season, admissions examiners routinely read through hundreds of personal statements each day and might only have a limited amount of time to spend on yours. Hence, you must adhere to word restrictions and make an effort to keep your personal statement concise.

5. Get Feedback From Someone You Trust

Make careful to obtain input from a variety of sources after you’ve finished writing your personal statement. Consider asking a reliable friend, coworker, or mentor to review your statement and provide feedback on how to make it stronger. You may check your work for faults like typos and grammar issues. You may now go back to your writing, apply the feedback, and make your statement ready for submission.

5 Don’ts of Writing a Personal Statement

You might find it useful to know about a few mistakes that applicants do while drafting their personal statements. Here are a few things which you should avoid when writing a personal statement:

1. Don’t Write About Sensitive Topics

Avoid writing about sensitive subjects that can make a reader uncomfortable or too emotional reading your personal statement. While it’s important to include your personal struggles in your statement to show that you can overcome obstacles, strive to do it positively and simply. This can make sure that readers can concentrate on your general qualifications.

2. Don’t Just Restate Your Resume

Consider your personal statement as a chance to elaborate on your CV and explain why you’re a worthwhile, qualified candidate. Don’t waste this chance by merely restating anything you said in your CV or other application materials. Instead, make good use of the room you have to work within your personal statement by sharing an inspiring story of your past and career objectives.

3. Don’t Delay

Don’t procrastinate and start right away. Put your thoughts on the paper and edit them afterward. Also, you must have enough time to consider the topics you want to write about. Similarly, organize your ideas, rewrite your statement several times, and get input from others to improve. If you delay and keep it till the last minute then you may not be able to write a brilliant personal statement.

4. Don’t Use Complex Language

Try to avoid showing off by writing in complex language. Writing your personal statement in your voice can help it represent who you are as a person. To be true to yourself while writing effectively, attempt to mix informal and formal language in your message.

5. Don’t be Vague

You need to be to the point and be specific. This is a personal statement; therefore, you need to talk about your personal self. Write about your aspirations, career plans, and why you are a good fit for the college. Being vague and talking generally will not help the reader to assess you as a potential candidate. Therefore, the reader may reject your application altogether.

Conclusion

A personal statement is a good opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability and prove that you’re the right candidate for the college you’re applying to. However, keep in mind certain dos and don’ts while writing your personal statement. Try not to be vague and talk about yourself even if you have nothing much to show, stick to yourself. Be concise and talk in formal and simple language. Nonetheless, many students struggle to get started with writing their personal statements. If you’re one of them then get in touch with UCAS Personal Statementsto submit a perfect UCAS Personal Statement. We have a team of highly experienced scholars who are ready to help you write a well-articulated personal statement.

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