How to write a personal statement that truly makes you stand out can be a challenging task. Whether you’re applying for college, a scholarship, or a competitive job, your personal statement plays a crucial role in shaping the first impression you leave on decision-makers. More than just a list of achievements, a compelling statement weaves together your aspirations, experiences, and unique qualities into a narrative that showcases why you’re the perfect fit. In this guide, we’ll break down the essential steps and share expert insights to help you write a personal statement that gets you noticed, and accepted!
What is a Personal Statement?
What is a personal statement? The personal statement is an essential component of the study abroad application, providing applicants with an opportunity to showcase themselves. Specifically, it allows applicants to articulate their motivation for choosing a specific course or field of study, while also demonstrating how their skills and experiences will contribute to their academic pursuits in the field. Actually, at some institutions, the personal statement has even replaced interviews as a key criterion for evaluating applicants. Given its significance in the admissions process, it is essential to dedicate careful attention to crafting a compelling and well-organized statement.
Changes to Personal Statements for University Applications in 2025
UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission Service), the public organization that manages university admissions for all UK institutions, has announced new regulations. These changes, set to take effect in 2025 for students applying for entry in 2026, aim to make the application process fairer, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The table below highlights the key differences and similarities between the old and new formats of the personal statement.
| Old Personal Statement | New Personal Statement | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Long-form essay | Divided into three separate sections |
| Word Count | 4,000 characters in total, including spaces | 4,000 characters in total, including spaces |
| Structure | Free-form essay | Three questions |
| Questions | NA | 1. Why do you want to study this course or subject? |
| 2. How have your qualifications and studies prepared you for this course or subject? | ||
| 3. What other experiences outside of education have prepared you for this course, and why are they useful? | ||
| Minimum Word Count per Section | NA | At least 350 characters per section |
As shown in the table above, the main difference between the old and new personal statement formats is that the new version requires answering three specific questions. To adapt to this change, how to write a university personal statement that enhance your competitiveness? Here are three key areas you should focus on:
- Academic Enrichment: Conducting in-depth research on your chosen subject is essential for demonstrate your genuine passion and deep understanding of the field. Actively engaging in related reading, research, and projects will effectively showcase your intellectual curiosity and academic commitment.
- Subject-Relevant Extracurriculars (or “Supercurriculars”): Participating in activities directly related to your area of interest, such as internships, research projects, or professional clubs. These experiences will help you create a strong, targeted application that stands out among other applicants.
- Strategic Reflection: In response to the specific questions in the new format, it’s important to thoughtfully reflect on how your academic and extracurricular experiences align with each question. Tailoring your personal statement to address these specific questions will help you present a well-rounded and compelling application.
How to Write a Personal Statement: Before You Start
Compared to concrete factors such as academic performance, language proficiency, institutional background, and chosen major, the personal statement is inherently subjective. It requires you to engage your personal initiative and move the admissions committee with your story and passion.
How to start a personal statement? When preparing to write your personal statement, it’s helpful to begin with some brainstorming.
- What motivates you to pursue this major?
How to write a good personal statement? A useful method is to address the question “what motivates you to pursue this field”. When answering this question, you can approach it from the following aspects.
- Academic Background and Interest: Explain your strong interest in the major and how your previous academic experiences have led you to pursue this path.
- Academic Challenges and Growth: Discuss the challenges within the field and how you plan to overcome them to achieve personal growth.
- Personal Values and Goals: Describe how the major aligns with your personal values and long-term goals, and how it will help you achieve your career aspirations.
2. Why are you particularly drawn to this school/program?
How to write a personal statement for university? The answer to “why are you particularly drawn to this school or program” is the key. To address it effectively, consider approaching it from the following perspectives.
- Academic Resources: Highlight the academic resources available at the school in your field of study, such as laboratories, libraries, and research centers, and how these resources will support your academic development.
- Professors and Research Teams: Mention professors or research teams that interest you and explain how their research aligns with your academic interests.
- Courses and Programs: Discuss how the courses and programs offered by the school meet your academic needs and will help you achieve your career goals.
- Campus Culture and Environment: Describe the campus culture and environment you seek, and how the school provides the ideal setting for you.
- Career Development Opportunities: Mention the school’s career development services, internship opportunities, and alumni network, and how these resources will contribute to your career planning.
3. What makes you an ideal candidate?
The question of how to begin a personal statement often leaves many candidates feeling uncertain. To craft an impactful personal statement, a great starting point is to address the question “what makes you an ideal candidate?”. When doing so, focus on the following key aspects:
- Academic Background: Provide a brief overview of your academic background, including your major, research focus, and achievements in the field.
- Research Interests and Goals: Articulate your research interests and career goals, and explain how you plan to leverage the school’s resources to achieve them.
- Personal Traits and Experiences: Highlight personal qualities such as leadership, teamwork, and innovative thinking, and explain how these traits will contribute to your success in both academic and professional pursuits.
- Contribution to School Culture: Reflect on how you can contribute to the academic and cultural life of the school, showcasing your diversity and inclusiveness.
The answers to the three questions mentioned above are essential when writing a personal statement. In addition to these, other questions can also help guide your writing:
- What excites you about this course?
- Have you had any internships? What did you learn from them?
- Have you participated in any competitions? What were your achievements?
- What skills do you possess that will help you succeed in this course?
- Why do you want to change your field of study? (If the program you’re applying for differs from your undergraduate degree)
……
Note: If you’re applying to multiple schools or programs, don’t use the same personal statement for all applications. Each should be tailored to the specific school or program you’re applying to.
How to Write a Personal Statement: The Writing Process
Principles of Writing a Personal Statement
Principle 1: Be Specific
How to write a personal statement? The first principle is to be specific. The more details you provide, the more vivid and persuasive your narrative will be.
Case Analysis: Suppose you are an applicant applying to a marketing program and want to convey how an internship sparked your interest in the field. Rather than making a generic statement, your statement should include concrete details that substantiate your claim. For example, what was the nature of the internship? What were your main responsibilities? Was there a particular task, mentor, or experience that ignited your passion for marketing? … In conclusion, by providing these concrete details, you not only enhance the authenticity and persuasiveness of your narrative but also allow the admissions committee to gain a clearer sense of your enthusiasm and genuine interest in the field.
Principle 2: “Show, Do Not Tell”
How to right a personal statement? Another important principle to follow is “Show, Do Not Tell”. It is also a golden rule in journalism, which means that instead of using excessive adjectives or vague statements, you should illustrate your ideas with specific examples and concrete experiences. For example, if you want to convey your passion for music, simply repeating “I love music” multiple times is far less compelling than sharing a vivid story about how you have dedicated yourself to it.
When comes to the writing style for a personal statement, it is highly recommended to adopt the “Wall Street Journal Style”, a widely used structure in non-fiction writing that has also proven effective in personal statements. This writing style is characterized by the “small to big” and “seeing the big picture through a small detail”. It begins with a specific personal perspective, such as a small story, a particular individual, or a detailed scene, then gradually expands to a broader context. Finally, the essay circles back to the introduction, reinforcing the main theme and creating a well-structured, impactful narrative.
Structure of a Personal Statement
The above content outlines two essential principles that should be followed during the writing process of a personal statement. You may now wonder, “What is the basic structure of a personal statement?” To be honest, there is no fixed template for a personal statement, but its structure is generally quite clear. A personal statement typically includes three main sections: the Introduction, the Body, and the Conclusion.
Introduction: Briefly explain why you chose this field of study and discuss the origin of your interest. The introduction should be around 150 words.
Body: Detail your academic journey during your undergraduate studies, including the challenges you encountered and how you addressed them, along with any competitions and activities you participated in. Then, transition smoothly from discussing your academic learning to your practical experiences, such as internships and hands-on projects. You need to discuss how you applied the theoretical knowledge gained in your studies to real-world situations. Conclude this section with personal reflections and the lessons you’ve learned from these experiences. The body should be approximately 230-250 words.
Conclusion: Clearly outline your career plans, including both short-term and long-term goals.
What to Include in a Personal Statement?
As outlined above, USCA has introduced new regulations that divide the previously lengthy personal statement into 3 sections, each accompanied by guiding questions. The guiding questions for each section are as follows:
Section 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?
Section 2: How have your qualifications and studies prepared you for this course or subject?
Section 3: What other experiences outside of education have prepared you for this course, and why are they useful?
Based on these guiding questions, it’s clear about what to write in a personal statement. The core content of your personal statement can be summarized as follows:
- Motivation: Clearly explain why you want to study this particular field. You can start with a personal experience or a key event that shaped your motivation.
- Academic Background: Include your research experience, papers you’ve written or published, awards you’ve received, and any key courses you’ve taken that are relevant to the field.
- Practical Experience: Such as internships, community service, volunteer work, or professional experience.
- Key Skills: Highlight the skills you’ve developed during your experiences, such as organizational skills, critical thinking, communication, time management, and teamwork.
- Other Skills and Experiences: For instance, membership in academic organizations or any other relevant experiences.
- Career Goals: Explain how this program will help you achieve your future career aspirations.
How to Write a Personal Statement: Finishing up
How to End Your Personal Statement --- What to Write
How to write a personal statement? An impactful conclusion is important. It should seamlessly tie back to the points made in the introduction or body, creating a cohesive narrative. You can end in one of two ways:
- Reaffirm your passion: Reiterate your enthusiasm for the field you are applying to and your excitement about joining the institution.
- Look ahead: Briefly mention how you are prepared for the challenges ahead, or discuss the goals you aim to achieve during your studies and the potential positive impact on your future.
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Personal Statement?
During the writing process, you should not only think about what to include in a personal statement but also avoid turning it into a lengthy checklist or a mere account of events. Additionally, avoid repeating information already found in your application forms or resume. It’s recommended to allocate at least 6weeks for the writing process to ensure the quality and depth of your content.
- Week 1: Brainstorm (Begin by brainstorming ideas and outlining your main points.)
- Week 2: Start Writing (Begin drafting your personal statement, focusing on content and structure.)
- Week 3: Get Feedback (Share your draft with seniors or peers for feedback.)
- Week 4: Revise and Rewrite (Revise your draft based on the feedback received. You can either refine your arguments and flow.)
- Week 5: Polish (Share your revised draft with a wider group for additional feedback and further polish.)
- Week 6: Perfect it (Make any final adjustments and perfect your personal statement before submission.)
How to Write a Personal Statement: Dos and Don’ts
How to type a personal statement? An attention-grabbing personal statement should be distinctive and authentic, effectively showcasing your unique strengths and motivations. Below are key Dos and Don’ts to keep in mind when writing your PS. I hope they can offer insights and guidance to help you write your PS that make a strong impression.
Dos for Writing a Personal Statement
- Showcase Your Personality and Values: Use personal experiences and stories to highlight your values and unique qualities. Meanwhile, support your points with concrete examples to make your narrative engaging and compelling.
- Be Authentic and Honest: Avoid exaggeration or fabrication. Even if you lack compelling internships or research experiences, discussing the courses you’ve taken or the knowledge you’ve acquired can be more sincere and persuasive than embellishing your background.
- Express Your Passion and Motivation: Clearly articulate your reasons for choosing this program. You can highlight aspects such as the program’s academic reputation, distinctive curriculum, abundant academic resources, faculty expertise, or how the school’s location offers strategic advantages for your future development.
- Use Positive Language: When describing your achievements and growth, use strong and affirmative words such as achieved, developed, committed to, and enthusiastic about to convey your dedication and proactive attitude.
Maintain a Clear and Coherent Structure: A well-structured personal statement enhances readability. A recommended organization includes:
- Personal Background: Introduce yourself and provide an overview of your experiences.
- Academic Experience: Highlight your academic journey, research interests, and accomplishments.
- Internship/Work Experience: Showcase how your practical experiences have strengthened your skills and align with your future aspirations.
- Reasons for Applying and Future Plans: Connect your background with your motivation for choosing this program and outline your career goals.
6. Proofread and Seek Feedback: After drafting your statement, carefully check for grammar, spelling, and coherence. Ask professors, mentors, or peers for feedback to refine your writing and enhance clarity.
Don’ts for Writing a Personal Statement
When writing a personal statement, avoid the following:
- Exaggerating accomplishments: If the interviewer asks you to provide more details about your accomplishments and you cannot offer a convincing explanation, it will leave a negative impression.
- Using quotes or clichés: Your personal statement should reflect your own personality and uniqueness. Refrain from quoting famous people or relying on clichés, as this can make your personal statement seem unoriginal and inauthentic.
- Leave it to the last minute: Writing your personal statement at the last minute makes it appear rushed, and important details may be overlooked, which can negatively impact its overall quality.
- Overusing technical jargons: It’s fine to mention professional concepts you are familiar with in your personal statement. However, remember that this is a PS, not an academic paper, so the use of technical terms should be moderate. Focus more on showcasing your thought process and passion for the field.
- Rely solely on AI: While AI technology is advanced, its output lacks emotion and cannot capture your genuine passion for the field. You can use AI for inspiration, but the writing should come from you to reflect your unique thoughts and experiences.
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Conclusion
How to write a personal statement is all about crafting a compelling narrative that highlights your strengths, experiences, and aspirations. While writing an outstanding personal statement that leaves a lasting impression on decision-makes is undoubtedly challenging, it plays a vital role in securing admission to your dream university. By effectively showcasing your academic passion and potential, you can distinguish yourself apart from other applicants. I hope this article offers useful guidance to help you navigate the application process with confidence, and I sincerely wish you success as you move closer to your goals!
FAQs
How do you start your personal statement?
You can start your personal statement by engaging in brainstorming. Take the time to reflect on the following three questions will help spark your inspiration. First, what motivates you to pursue this field? Second, why are you particularly drawn to this school or program? Third, what makes you an ideal candidate?
How do you write a killer personal statement?
A killer personal statement should include the following elements:
- Be authentic: Highlight your uniqueness (skills, experiences, etc.) and connect them to your chosen field of study.
- Show, don’t just tell: Use concrete examples to demonstrate your abilities instead of making vague statements.
- Express your passion boldly: Don’t hesitate to showcase your enthusiasm for the subject. Your genuine passion will make a lasting impression on the admissions committee.
- Be confident yet humble: When discussing your achievements, strike a balance between confidence and humility. Excessive pride and humility are both inappropriate.
How long should a personal statement be?
UCAS set the maximum length of a personal statement at 4,000 characters (or 47 lines of text). Since the primary purpose of the PS is to convince the admissions committee that you are a strong fit for the program, so the content should focus on academic-related topics and cover all key elements within the limited word count.
What is a good opening sentence for a personal statement?
By analyzing successful personal statements from top universities, we have identified 3 common ways to begin a killed personal statement:
1. Personal Anecdote: Start with a personal story or firsthand experience.
2. Straight to the Point: Clearly state your academic background and intentions.
3. Question and Answer: Engage the reader by posing a question and addressing it in the following content.
What words should be used in a personal statement?
1. Action verbs (to showcase initiative and achievements), such as demonstrate, develop, initiate, achieve, etc.
2. Expression of passion and enthusiasm (to express genuine interest), such as fascinated by, driven by, inspired by, eager to, etc.
3. Future aspirations (to show motivation and direction), such as aspire to, seek to, aim to, committed to, etc.
4. Academic and professional readiness (to demonstrate expertise and preparation), such as acquire, refine, excel in, master, etc.
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