Writing your personal statement is a challenge that many students struggle with.
Here are 10 common personal statement mistakes that students make, as well as some tips for making sure you're on the right track.
1. Telling a story
So many students fall into this trap - writing a personal statement that reads like a summary of their life story. While some background information won't hurt, the best personal statements will only include experiences directly related to the applicant's chosen course.
Keep your focus on recent study (from the last year or two). Anything older than that should only be included if it's relevant or provides important context.
2. Repeating information already contained in your application
You only have 4,000 characters to play with and it can be hard to make everything fit. So don't waste space on information already included in your application, such as your A-level subjects or previous grades.
This includes for the second personal statement question: 'how have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?'
You're not being asked to list your qualifications there, but to make a connection between what you have studied and the course you are applying for. Remember, the admissions tutor can see your whole application so there's no need to repeat yourself.
3. Spending too long discussing personal issues
Many applicants mention personal issues in their statement, like health and bereavement. This is relevant as it affects studying, but it's normally best to have this covered in your reference instead.
If you do decide to include this in your personal statement, it's worth keeping it short. One or two sentences is enough.
4. Making simple grammatical errors
Don't forget to check your grammar and spelling. Even if you're not applying for an essay-based course, it's important to have a personal statement free of mistakes. It shows you've taken care over putting it together.
Read your statement out loud to make sure it flows well. Then get someone else, such as a friend, teacher or parent, to read through it. They can check for any mistakes and give you some overall feedback too.
5. Failing to demonstrate capability of university-level study
One of the key things you want to show in your personal statement is that you can study in a university style. Try to cover instances where you have taken your studying beyond the confines of the classroom.
For example, you could discuss a topic you learned about and then explain how you did further independent study (like reading a book chapter, an article or completing an online course) to expand your knowledge.
6. Using clichés
Avoid overused phrases like 'my passion for history began...' or 'I have been interested in geography since a young age'.
Admissions tutors read a ton of personal statements and you want to stand out. So get creative with your sentences (but be sure not to go off-topic).
7. Not going into enough detail about experiences
In the third question ('What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?') you have plenty of space to show how well-rounded and dedicated you are.
But if you try to cram in too many experiences, the character limit will stop you from going into any detail.
Instead, aim to explain one or two experiences in detail, with examples and links to the course.
8. Telling the admissions tutor things they already know
You can safely assume the person reading your personal statement is an expert in their field. While it's tempting to include facts, you aren't there to tell them about the subject.
Your personal statement will be far stronger if you keep the focus on talking about yourself and why you'd be a great candidate.
9. Losing sight of what the personal statement is actually for
Your personal statement should explain why you want to study the course at university and also demonstrate your ability to complete the degree to a high standard.
When you've written your personal statement, read it through and check that everything you've written connects with these areas.
10. Forgetting that the personal statement should be personal
When it comes to something like a personal statement, everyone has an opinion. You might be given advice that you disagree with, and that's fine.
It's a good idea to be receptive to feedback, but it's just an important to be happy with your own personal statement.
More advice on writing your personal statement
