₦airaland Forum

WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT
The personal statement is a key component of your UCAS application. It is the only part of the application process that you have complete control over, so it your best chance to sell yourself to the admissions tutor. Here are my top tips for how to write a successful personal statement;

1. Important Information: First things first, let’s look at the rules. You have a minimum of 1000 and a maximum of 4000 characters to use; it’s important to stick to these limits. The UCAS website has no spelling or grammar checking software so I suggest writing your statement in another word processing package before copying it into your application when you’re happy with it. Please remember, the personal statement should be your own work. UCAS have similarity detection software that will pick up if you have copied someone else – don’t run the risk of plagiarising!

2. Start Early: The personal statement is quite a lengthy piece of work, and will likely take you more than one attempt so it’s important to start early. My top tips to remember are; plan your structure, draft and then re-draft again! Remember, you can always ask your friends and family to read your statement and give you some feedback.

3. Getting Started: It can be tough to know where to start with your personal statement, so I suggest taking some time to organise your thoughts. Put some thought into why you’re interested in your chosen subject area and then think about your personal skills and achievements. You need to include an opening statement which clearly shows why you are interested in that subject area so think about where your interest has come from and provide evidence that you understand what the subject is.

4. Things to include: The overall purpose of your personal statement is to evidence that you have the skills necessary for your chosen subject area in addition to the skills necessary for university life. This means that you don’t only need to focus on your academic achievements but also showcase your hobbies, interests and any work experience that you have. Remember, you need to provide evidence of any skills that you mention. For example, if one of your skills is team-work you should think about which experiences have helped you develop this skill. Towards the end of your personal statement you should include your plans for the future and how the course might help you achieve these goals.

5. Things to avoid: Avoid lying or plagiarising in your personal statement. You may well be found out! Don’t use overly flowery language – it will be obvious to the reader that you don’t normally write in that way. Don’t use negative statements, or list hobbies such as sleeping, shopping, etc. Also, don’t mention a specific institution by name. It may be your first choice just now, but it doesn’t look good to other choices.

6. Use humour and clichés with caution: You may find something funny, but the admissions tutor may not! If in doubt, leave it out. Remember, something that you find funny may even be offensive to others.

7. One statement for all: Remember that the personal statement you write will be used for all 5 choices on your UCAS form. If you do find yourself applying to further courses through extra or clearing, then the same statement will be used for those applications too. Try not to be too course or institution specific, just in case things change.

8. Things to do now: Keep researching the courses and institutions that you are considering applying for. Keep up your extra-curricular activities. If you are in your final year of school or college you may get the chance to organise leavers activities, be a buddy to younger pupils, etc; all of which look good on your application form. Keep getting more work experience – either paid or voluntary, especially if it relates to your course or future career plans. Most importantly, keep up with your school or college work. Many people will rely on grades from the final year to get entry to University. You will also need a reference to support your application, which will normally be written by a teacher. Even if you already have the grades that you need, you should still work hard in your final year. Once you have a qualification nobody can take it away from you, and you never know when you might use it in the future.

9. Don’t ever sell yourself short: Everyone has their own skills and attributes that help set them apart from others. Many people feel uncomfortable when tasked with telling others how fantastic they are – but that’s exactly what you have to do when writing your personal statement. Use these tips to help you get started, but remember this is your chance to tell us what a fantastic person you are and why we should accept you onto the course.

Good luck in writing your personal statement!

Georgina Guest

Student Recruitment, UK & EU

Ajachukwu Asonye popular known as A.J who KS Also a popular YouTube cover creator recently got featured in a popular in a popular Newspaper called Hyderabad times where she granted an interview and talked about how much she loved India culture and music. No be all Nigerians for India be drug peddler... Some are with good reputations.

CodeSapien:
wouldn't mind having a contact there though. Do you think 42k can get a good one year rent there?

no sir

Yes served there just the recent batch... Your taste your price bro...

Rent is per year and you will easily see a cheap and affordable house of your choice depend on your taste

We need ugly governor like this in Ondo in as much as he will appreciate all these teachers working day in day out... and not that idiot bearded RAM called Rotimi Akeredolu

Feel so bad for him mehn

Up arsenal

sorry who is this girl abi should i say lady

so our amiable Governor Yahaya Bello is now writing names of noise makers? ok more to come lets wait and see

Which course did you apply for

debbzJay:
I applied there, still awaiting a decision

MSc. Computer Science

AKFTK:
Same here, waiting for the decision, hope it comes out positive. What course did you apply for?

hello peeps is anyone here aspiring or has anyone applied to University of Saskatchewan Signify please we have something to discuss

I won’t praise nor castigate you... but if this was what you meant during your campaign promises for Nigerians oshey oooo... thanks

And our self acclaimed sensible but senseless government didn’t see a reason in generating income through creation of Nigeria airways, is just sad as big as Nigeria is, a single Airway is not owned by the country in which through this means jobs will be created and incomes will be generated .... btw but people said that there is no money abeg Na watin dem Dey take fly

bayocanny:
Check the following schools

Brandon University
York University
University of Toronto(very competitive tho)
University of Saskachewan (funding is sure if u meet their requirement)

when is application starting

TDultimate:
URegina!!!
whats ur question??

pls don’t refer me back to google o... trying to put in for masters in your uni under computer science can you take me through as I will like to know more?

famora:
Locally student

what’s the response give. When you click on print slip?

famora:
Locally student

just hold on it will still display or you reprocess it

famora:
Please, I paid for call-up number last week Friday which my call-up number is yet to be displayed on my dashboard, I was @(Skyebank) to lodge complain was only given a printed copy of payment which has my RRR, advise pls what can be done to rectify this issue

foreign or locally trained student?

CuteMaro:
I am using a NECO result and i have an issue with date of birth which was wrongly uploaded. How do i go about this? Please i need help urgently.

Goan get neck scratch card and verify your age

CuteMaro:
Just printed that of the foreign student. Thank you.

uwc

CuteMaro:
Yes, i have one case of a foreign student facing same issues as you. Registration was done on Friday last week.

I also have a local student facing the 'awaiting call up number' issue. registration was done Monday this week.

Do you happen to know any foreign student that has successfully printed their green slip after registration?

I just printed mine and I registered since Wednesday... so b patient

CuteMaro:
I successfully registered someone yesterday, and what i get on her dashboard is 'awaiting call up number' Other ones i have registered never had this issue, so i am wondering, what could be the cause?

she’s a foreign student or local student... if is local she will print soon but I want to know if foreign student are also experiencing what am experiencing close to a week now

BeFancy:
Pls how did u go bout your fingerprint scanning ? I am also a foreign student .

I just went there early that day and did the finger print and there was no hitch

Am a foreign student and registered since last week Wednesday and uptill now I can’t still see my green card and also is writing you’ve not been evaluated yet... please any problem or have any foreign student printed his?

Lagos rate of development is becoming rapid and am loving this... at least make naija a catchy place for foreigners also

Preachtimmy@gmail.com

When I heard this story on radio I just concluded that the man is very stupid believing that there is a fetish cure for HIV

First question is how old and secondly how little is he Give him factory reset with hard slap

aonag:
what would your parents' absence do to you on your graduation ceremony?

I did my convocation without them already