The Whatuni UCAS Application Guide

The Whatuni Personal Statement Doctor

Writing a personal statement can be a tricky part of the application process. Combine it with finalising your uni and course choices and concentrating on your A levels, and it can seem like there's a lot on your plate. Well don't fear Whatuni.com can help with the 2 out of 3 (the course and uni choices and the personal statement), which as they say, ain't bad;

1. The course and uni choices

Here on Whatuni.com you can search every uni course in the UK and read 'insider' student reviews plus get masses more info to help you choose the courses and universities that are right for you.

2. The Personal Statement

Below is the Whatuni Personal Statement Doctor, which is basically some darned sound advice on how to write a UCAS personal statement that includes what admissions tutors are looking for, and how to write a personal statement that sets yours apart from the rest.

3. The concentrating on your A levels

Didn't we say we could only help with 2 out 3? Well sorting out 1 and 2 will help with 3, because if you've used Whatuni.com to help find the right course and university choices and to help you write a great personal statement, then that frees you up to concentrate on your A levels right? Also you'll have extra motivations because you'll feel confident in the choices you've made and eager to get the results you need to get to uni!

The Personal Statement Doctor or How to Beat Your Evil Twin

So there's one place left on the course and the tutor's considering two UCAS applications; yours and that evil version of you that lives the other side of the country.

You're the same height, weight, age, mass, density... and you're both predicted exactly the same grades. The personal statement is your chance to differentiate yourself from the evil you, or anybody else for that matter.

You, your course and your UCAS personal statement

Of course uni's want to attract passionate, interesting, pro-active individuals - but ultimately they are academic institutions. It 's the passion, interest and pro-activeness towards your subject that you really need to communicate to the tutors through your personal statement. They want to find out why you've chosen your subject and what it means to you. The more this can be illustrated in your UCAS statement with reference to experiences and activity beyond your school work, the better.

Try the Whatuni UCAS personal statement brainstorm:

• 1. List all the things you enjoy or that interest you about your subject.

• 2. Brainstorm everything you've done or experienced that's related to your subject outside of lessons.

Activities and interests to mention on your personal statement

You don't have to have organised a hike through the Himalayas or have built a grain store in Africa to be able to give examples of positive personal qualities on your personal statement. Doing your gran's shopping every week, or organising a mini league football team also show dedication, organisation and community spirit and it's these sorts of things that can give an individual touch to a UCAS personal statement.

Likewise, interests don't have to be high brow. An obsession with shopping and clothes can be described as a strong interest in fashion and retail, or an encyclopaedic knowledge of celebrities as 'literate in pop culture'. If you can tie these interests back to the subject you've discussed on your personal statement, all the better.

Once more, do the Whatuni UCAS personal statement brainstorm:

• 1. List all the things you've done, no matter how ordinary (or unusual), that require dedication, organisation, hard work, responsibility, initiative, imagination. Decide which ones communicate your skills and personality the best.

• 2. What are you passionate about? What area(s) do you know masses about?

• 3. Try and link these activities and interests when writing your personal statement to the skills and experience needed for your course.

Personal statement grammar

Make 100% sure that the grammar and spelling on your personal statement are perfect. There can be nothing worse than a department receiving a personal statement with poor grammar and spelling mistakes. Get at least a couple of clever people to check your personal statement. Running a spell check on your UCAS statement is also a good idea.

Keeping a copy of your personal statement

Make you sure you retain a copy of your personal statement, as more often than not the UCAS personal statement is used as a basis for an interview.You need to make sure you can back up everything you've written on your UCAS statement, so make sure you know what you're talking about and can talk at length about anything you've written down on your personal statement.

Further personal statement advice

If you get really stuck, make sure you talk to your head of sixth form or careers advisor, they'll have lots of advice on how to write your personal statement, some university or department web sites have advice sections telling you what they look for in a personal statement.