You may think that your personal statement won’t matter as much to unis as your grades and experience but a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grades. Sure, your application might not reach that deal breaker stage.
Does personal statement matter that much?
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application, and your chance to sell yourself to your chosen university. “Ultimately, a personal statement is a chance for you to convey why you would like to study a particular course, and how you hope this will benefit you in the future.
Can a good personal statement make up for grades?
An excellent personal statement can make up for poor grades. It’s important to include a subject-related topic you’re interested in and analyse it. It’s good to list as many different activities you’ve been involved in as possible. You don’t need to say you’ve loved your chosen subject since you were a child.
Should personal statement include grades?
While writing your personal statement, ensure you are not repeating any of this information, e.g. your name, education history, courses and grades. Therefore, you don’t need to write your predicted grades, or that you are studying X, Y and Z for A-Levels.
Do essays matter more than grades?
At the top 250 schools, your essays generally account for 25% of your overall application. This is only slightly behind the 30% for extracurriculars. Essays are actually ahead of the 20% for grades and coursework, 15% for test scores, and 10% for recommendations and interviews.
Is 2 weeks enough to write a personal statement?
Ideally, you want to leave yourself plenty of time – a few weeks or even months – to plan and write your personal statement. Try not to leave it to the last minute, as tempting as this may seem when you’ve got so many other things to think about.
Can you get rejected because of personal statement?
If your writing is flagged as unoriginal, the universities you are applying to will be alerted to this and are unlikely to make you an offer. If your statement is entirely unoriginal, then your application stands a good chance of being rejected entirely, leaving you without any options.
What should you avoid in a personal statement?
7 Things to Avoid in Your Personal Statement
- Whining. Don’t whine in your essay!
- Someone else is the hero.
- Reads like a resume.
- Lack of focus.
- Leaves out personal growth.
- Overcomplicated language.
- Incorrect grammar or spelling.
How do I explain my low grades in personal statement?
If there is a good reason, tell us about it. Note that this can address one or two semesters but not a pattern of poor performance. Indeed, if it’s just one semester, usually a committee will overlook it unless it was a key semester (e.g., the one semester when you took all the core courses in your subject).
What topics should you avoid in a personal statement?
5 Personal Statement Topics to Avoid
- The one-time community service project you did.
- Too much detail about your school awards and prizes.
- Anything too cynical or negative.
- What a party animal you are.
- Traumatic personal experiences.
What makes a bad personal statement?
Avoid using up valuable words with obvious statements. Write succinctly and explain points without repeating yourself. Don’t tell the admissions tutor what they already know – instead, expand on how you’ve acquired certain skills and why they’re important.
What is a bad personal statement?
Additional Personal Statement Mistakes to Avoid
Listing your accomplishments or rehashing your CV and extracurriculars. You need to show, not tell. Choosing a bland topic that admissions committees see over and over again. Overstating the obvious and using clichés.
Should I explain my low GPA in personal statement?
In most cases, it is best not to allude to your low GPA and instead focus on your strengths. But if you think that you have excellent reasons to justify your low GPA, then you should go ahead and clarify yourself.
Is a B+ Good for an essay?
A- to B+ (3.7–3.3): Very Good The paper or test that receives an A- or B+ gives evidence of a strong grasp of the material of the course. A paper receiving this grade has no defects in grammar or punctuation; the thesis is clearly stated, the supporting evidence presented in a logical, coherent manner.
Is 70 on a uni essay good?
Getting over 60% is excellent because it means you have demonstrated a deep knowledge of your subject to the marker. You may be used to getting marks of 90–100%, but this is very unlikely to happen at university. Remember that marks in the 50–70% range are perfectly normal.
What grade matters the most?
Junior Year is the Most Important
While all the years of high school are important, junior year is definitely one that stands out for many reasons, and for college-bound teens, it may be the most important year of their high school career.
Can I write my personal statement in one day?
Entirely possible, but make sure you get it proofread by at least two people before you send it off.
What do universities look for in a personal statement?
Your personal skills and achievements
Universities like to know the abilities you have that’ll help you on the course, or generally with life at university. Don’t forget to include evidence to back up why you’re so excited about the course(s) you’ve chosen. Be bold and talk about the achievements you’re proud of.
Can my Referee see my UCAS application?
The referee can only see the qualifications that require predicted grades. They cannot view the applicant’s full application. Once the referee has completed the reference, UCAS notifies the applicant, although they cannot see the reference.
What should you avoid in a UCAS personal statement?
Writing a Personal Statement for UCAS: The 10 Big Mistakes Students Should Avoid
- Writing a Personal Statement for a subject that isn’t the right fit.
- Spelling & Grammar Mistakes.
- Avoid exuberant language and pointless cliches.
- Endlessly listing extracurricular activities.
- Over-using quotes or taking them out of context.
Can u Lie on your personal statement?
There is no point flat out lying or even embellishing the facts. Even a little white lie could easily come back to bite you. Universities might arrange interviews and discuss parts of your personal statement. Lying on the spot without the aid of Google is much harder, and it’s really not advisable to try.