The first step to writing a good personal statement is to make an outline or list of things about yourself that you should include in your personal statement. Think about your personal traits and the things you have done that illustrate your good qualities. Your list should include things like:



?coursework you have completed

?work experience or voluntary work

?personal experiences related to your chosen subject

?experiences that show you are a reliable and responsible person

?your other interests and skills

?sport and leisure activities

?languages you may speak

?prizes you have won or positions achieved with your interests

?what you have learned from your experiences

You will also need a good reason why you want to study a particular subject and your experiences and past coursework should support this interest. Admissions tutors look for people who are enthusiastic and passionate about the subject they want to study so make sure you are really interested in the subject you apply for.

Once you have a list of the most important things about you that demonstrate your positive qualities and interest in a subject you should look at some other personal statements to get some ideas on language and layout. You can see if there is anything you may have left out and see which structure and language seems the best to you. It is best to keep in mind the following when writing your personal statement:

?do not sound arrogant or pretentious

?avoid starting sentences with I

?start and finish your statement with an interesting phrase

?use humor carefully

?use language that comes naturally to you, don't use awkward words

?do not lie or embellish your achievements

?do not include political viewpoints or other personal subject matter

It is best to use language that makes you sound enthusiastic about your chosen subject and seem like an interesting person. Find sentences in sample statements that seem exciting and figure out which language makes them seem that way and incorporate it into your statement.

Most personal statements are written in an essay format but this is not your only option. You can also write your statement more like an outline with short descriptions to each fact and short paragraphs. Always be honest in your personal statement and make sure you are passionate about the subject in your UCAS registration.