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[Ain't Nobody Here]

ES has to do his personal statement in the next couple of weeks. He's so laid back, he's horizontal so I suspect I'm going to have to offer quite a bit of encouragement.

 

My worry is the section on "why you want to study the course you're applying for". He's chosen Computing but it's not exactly a burning desire or a lifelong vocational dream . "Demonstrating enthusiasm and commitment" to the course will be totally beyond him .

 

Any tips on how to fill in this section successfully? I don't want to write it for him but if I leave it all to him it'll be rubbish (sorry, DS ). The school will help, I know, but I want him to do a good application as he doesn't (so far) have fantastic grades and he's not going to be exactly dynamic in an interview situation.

[ChrisP]

I hated having to write mine, and put it off until the last possible minute!

 

I also wasn't sure what to put in thats ection, as I want to study geography, so ended up putting "I wish to study geography at university because I feel that, as we are living in this ever-changing environment, the skills and knowledge you learn through it are useful and can be applied to everything. " and then going into why I personlly like the subject, what parts of it I like (like human/physical) and then stuff i've done outside school to do with geog.

 

The tips I were given were not to lie, (but could exagerate the good points ) and be sure to say things which will catch peoples attention.

Sorry this isnt very good advice, but just thought i'd share the advice I was given

[Ain't Nobody Here]

No, that's fine . Personal experience of it is very useful too, thanks .

[sadietoo]

Hi, The advice my DD was given re personal statements was to remember that the lecturers are passionate about their subject, and they are going to want to be convinced that the applicant shares the enthusiasm for that particular subject first and foremost before they offer them a place on the course. On this basis at least 85% of her personal statement was about why she wanted to study Geography, with only about 15% mentioning the other stuff - D of E, hobbies etc. DD didn't have to do an interview, and got offers from her first and second choice uni and is soon to return for her second year at Exeter so she must have done something right. Don't know if this helps much, but good luck anyway. Oh also, watch the reference the school gives, some of them can be very wishy washy. DD's was written by her form tutor (with whom she had registration once a week and no other lessons ) Consequently, we asked one of her geography tutors to re-write some of it...at least he knew who she was )

[Egluntyne]

Don't know if you have seen **this site** or not ANH......I thought it looked quite helpful.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That looks really helpful, thanks .

[laurmurf]

writing these is a nightmare, I remember!

 

The Lurker's school required that they hand in drafts every month from year 12 Easter time or so until the deadline in October of year 13. Lots of drafts and get other people to read it too!

 

There's not only a word limit, but a character limit too. We threw good typing out the window and used only one space after full stops, etc.

Motivation can be linked to any outside work experience or interests: The Lurker even managed to link biomedical science to working in a cattery (exposure to bodily fluids !).

 

anything like duke or edinburgh or scouts should go in too, they like to see outside interests as well as subject specific stuff.

 

GOOD LUCK!

[ubereglu]

Join Thestudentroom forum, they're really helpful and have a whole section of a forum devoted to Personal Statement help.