How To Write A University Personal Statement in 10 MINUTES | Pen & Paper Needed

Summary

In this video, Amina provides a step-by-step guide to writing a personal statement for university applications. She breaks the process down into five key sections: choosing a subject, demonstrating suitability for the course, showcasing academic skills, highlighting personal qualities, and crafting a compelling closing statement. Amina emphasizes the importance of being specific, reflective, and focused, offering practical tips for standing out in the competitive admissions process. By the end of the video, viewers are encouraged to draft a personal statement in under 10 minutes and refine it through feedback and revisions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Takeaway 1: Start your personal statement with a unique and personal story that shows why you are passionate about your chosen subject, avoiding overused clichés.
• 😀 Takeaway 2: Demonstrate your suitability for the course by showcasing relevant experiences, such as work experience, volunteering, or self-driven learning (e.g., virtual events, online courses).
• 😀 Takeaway 3: Focus on the skills you've developed that align with the course you're applying for, such as teamwork, research, and communication.
• 😀 Takeaway 4: Instead of listing your academic grades, discuss the specific knowledge and skills from your previous studies that are most relevant to the course you're applying for.
• 😀 Takeaway 5: Be specific when describing how your experiences have shaped your interest in the subject, ensuring that each example you provide is directly linked to your passion for the field.
• 😀 Takeaway 6: Highlight personal qualities like time management, leadership, and self-motivation, and provide real-life examples to illustrate these traits.
• 😀 Takeaway 7: When mentioning extracurricular activities, explain how they helped you develop important qualities or skills that will benefit your academic journey.
• 😀 Takeaway 8: The closing statement should express your future aspirations and explain what excites you most about studying your chosen degree.
• 😀 Takeaway 9: Make sure your personal statement is a cohesive story, with each section building on the next: why you chose the subject, your qualifications, personal qualities, and future goals.
• 😀 Takeaway 10: Aim for depth over breadth—Admissions tutors prefer detailed reflections on one or two experiences rather than a vague list of many.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of this video?

The main purpose of the video is to help students write an effective personal statement for university applications by breaking down the process into five clear sections.

What should viewers do at the start of the video?

Viewers should actively participate by grabbing a pen and paper and taking notes as the video progresses. They should also jot down the subject they plan to apply for at the top of the page.

How should students explain their interest in the chosen subject?

Students should avoid cliché statements like 'I've always wanted to be.' Instead, they should reflect on a specific experience or moment in their life that sparked their passion for the subject.

What is emphasized when describing the suitability for the course?

It’s important to be specific about the experiences, work, reading, and volunteering activities that have helped you learn more about the subject. Students should explain how these experiences directly inspired their interest in the subject.

What if students don’t have traditional work experience?

Students can use alternatives like virtual volunteering, attending online events, or reading books/articles related to the field. The key is to demonstrate how these experiences contributed to their interest in the subject.

How should students describe their academic background in the personal statement?

Students should focus on describing the specific academic skills or knowledge relevant to their chosen course, such as research techniques or teamwork skills, rather than simply listing grades.

What personal qualities should be highlighted in the personal statement?

Students should highlight qualities such as communication, teamwork, leadership, self-motivation, and time management, and demonstrate these qualities with specific examples from their experiences.

What approach should students take when discussing their personal qualities?

Instead of just listing qualities, students should provide specific examples where they learned or developed these qualities and explain how these experiences will help them succeed in their degree.

What should be included in the closing statement of the personal statement?

The closing statement should briefly mention future career goals or what the student is most excited about in their chosen course. It should tie together the student’s passion, academic preparation, and personal qualities.

What is the biggest misconception about personal statements that the video addresses?

The biggest misconception is that students should mention many different things vaguely. Admissions tutors prefer depth, so it's better to focus on one or two experiences in detail rather than listing many things without sufficient explanation.