The Perfect Personal Statement
In a Personal Statement, the candidates should mention their academic strengths and their enthusiasm towards studying the subject at degree level. It should persuade the selectors to offer the students a place in their institute. It should show the candidates enthusiasm and positive approach. As selectors read many personal statements, and if the candidate wants that his personal statement should catch their attention, then it must be lively, attractive and to the point.
A good personal statement should include certain issues which are highly inevitable. A candidate should mention why he has chosen the particular course and what inspires him towards the chosen subject? What the candidate has learned about it, what insight he has gained and how many classes, seminars and discussions he had with academicians should be mentioned. The person should also mention what he is going to do with the degree which he has chosen to get into, and also about the sponsorship or placements details from a company if he has got any.
Information with regard to the previous work experience or placements of the candidate in the chosen field and other non-accredited qualification should be mentioned. If the candidate had received any award such as award scheme development or accreditation network awards, that should be noted. All the strengths of the candidates should be mentioned to prove that they are better than other applicants.
He should write about the projects, dissertations or any other essays which he has done and also should demonstrate relevant skills. If he has travelled abroad to carry out any academic or professional activity, that should be mentioned. Anything that shows his creativity and innovation should occupy the space in the statement. His interest in sports, extra-curricular activities and other interests in arts should also be quoted.
While preparing a statement, there are certain things which should not be done by the candidate. They should not use the same statement for all applications. The applications should be modified depending on the university the candidate is applying to, because the statement which is suitable for one university may not be suitable to the other. He should have conducted certain research about the university and should mention why he has chosen the particular university leaving other universities.
While drafting a personal statement, the students must be very careful. Before drafting a final statement, it would be better for the candidates to write a rough copy. The candidates must see to it that it does not have any grammatical mistakes or lengthy jargons. The candidates must not use gimmicks or other illusory things in the statement. They must be honest and convey only the truth in the statement.
The candidate should use English to write down the statement. Statement should be read and spell-checked carefully. It can also be checked out by another friend to rectify the mistakes. The prescribed word limits should not be exceeded. Rather than sending it by handwritten mode, it would be better if it is typed. The statement should be structured with an introduction, a main body and a conclusion.
Normally, the candidates would be allowed to write about one page in the personal statement or else they will be asked to answer the questions which would be more prescriptive. No question in the statement should be left unanswered. The candidates will also be asked to attach the evidence for all their declarations in the application as well as the statement.
The candidates should not mention money as a motivating factor for their future plans and they should not complain about the education system and other distresses in their life. However, reasonable criticism relating directly to the career is to some extent acceptable. They are also not supposed to discuss their minority status or any other disfavoured position.
The personal statements fall under two categories. One is very much comprehensive and the other being a response to specific questions. The earlier one gives enough freedom and will be more suitable for standard medical or law school application forms. The business and graduate school applications normally ask for the second type of statements. The applicants should not repeat the statements and often give unnecessary promises.
Thus, a perfect personal statement alone can fetch a good course to the students to have a successful career in the future.
James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are a UK or Overseas student applying for a place in a UK University, to stand out from the thousands of others, it is essential to have striking Personal Statement, for more information and professional guidance, see http://www.personal-statement.co.uk