UCAS personal statement

[shayne]

Hello!

I am trying to get my personal statement written for university and I am stressing out a little bit......

I know how important it is to sell yourself on this application especially when university places are so competitive.

I saw some professional editing companies on google and student websites and was wondering if anyone has used one or knows if they are any good or reliable?

There seems to be a couple that are charging under £30 and I think that I would be willing to pay that but I wanted to get some feedback first.

[Saladin]

Hello!

I am trying to get my personal statement written for university and I am stressing out a little bit......

I know how important it is to sell yourself on this application especially when university places are so competitive.

I saw some professional editing companies on google and student websites and was wondering if anyone has used one or knows if they are any good or reliable?

There seems to be a couple that are charging under £30 and I think that I would be willing to pay that but I wanted to get some feedback first.

The best letter comes from the heart, just do your best and be yourself. If Unis see that your writing is too professional to be from a Kid, it might lower your chances.

[nid404]

Selling yourself....VERY IMPORTANT

1) Say why you want to get into the particular uni
2) Talk a little about the uni...don't talk too much. Say a little to butter them...don't boast much
3) Say why this is important for you. Make it seem like this is your dream, and if they rejected you, they'd be doing something really mean No one wants to be bad 
4) Talk of what you expect FROM the uni
5) Talk even more of what you can GIVE the uni

Good Luck 

[$tyli$h Executive]

Hello!

I am trying to get my personal statement written for university and I am stressing out a little bit......

I know how important it is to sell yourself on this application especially when university places are so competitive.

I saw some professional editing companies on google and student websites and was wondering if anyone has used one or knows if they are any good or reliable?

There seems to be a couple that are charging under £30 and I think that I would be willing to pay that but I wanted to get some feedback first.

It must be 'genuine', not that you are just trying to make it 'look good'. It  should come from yourself. May lower the credit if they think that you are just trying to 'butter them up'.

[Chingoo]

^The posters above have valid points, but if you're applying to more than one UK university, you will need a personal statement which is applicable to all, since you are not permitted to devise a separate PS for each university. Even if there is only one university, you are expected to talk more about your potential and capability with regards to the course, rather than the university itself.

Tips:
1- Read UCAS guide on PSs. It's precise and helps you understand what your PS should be about. Link
2- Skim through a couple of evaluated PSs. It will give you an idea of how people write PSs, but remember; just because someone posted it up on the internet and got a thumbs up on it by someone else, doesn't validate it. It's just for you to get ideas for how to approach the prospective universities. Here's one of the many directories for PSs, you can always Google them if you want.
3-Remember the basic principles:
a) Why this course? Does it have wings which can take you to Atlanta, or do your future career plans mean this course is a prerequisite, or more importantly--why would this course suit your previous qualifications and achievements?
b) Why you? Do you have wings, too? Or is there something about you that separates you from the other candidates?
c) Academic achievement is good, but it's not enough. You must have a substantial amount of extra-curricular or internship work. HOWEVER, this is very important, you must somehow relate your non-academic achievements to how it could help you in your studies. Even if you won the award in brushing your teeth, tell them it means you could be a very modal dentist! Just kidding, that would be downright stupid. But you get what I mean, right?
d) You should write about your activities which have nothing to do with your course too, but keep it VERY brief. You can use such unrelated activities to give yourself teamwork, leadership, cooperation and maturity marks, which are generally a good thing for every course you go to.
e) Grammar and language should be A-STAR. It's just sad to know you couldn't fix the spellings and typos for your career, as it shows carelessness and lack of seriousness, which is bad.
f) Get your PS read by friends, family and advisers. You don't have to do what they say but be unbiased and open to new ideas. But do not post it on the internet--if UCAS finds your application online through its similarity detection, which it is very likely to, you can get in big trouble. Don't believe me? Click here. Hence, the answer to your question--DO NOT have Google or whoever proofread it for you.
g) Try to stay near to 47 lines' limit, unless you really have nothing to say.

Best wishes for your future!

[$tyli$h Executive]

^The posters above have valid points, but if you're applying to more than one UK university, you will need a personal statement which is applicable to all, since you are not permitted to devise a separate PS for each university. Even if there is only one university, you are expected to talk more about your potential and capability with regards to the course, rather than the university itself.

Tips:
1- Read UCAS guide on PSs. It's precise and helps you understand what your PS should be about. Link
2- Skim through a couple of evaluated PSs. It will give you an idea of how people write PSs, but remember; just because someone posted it up on the internet and got a thumbs up on it by someone else, doesn't validate it. It's just for you to get ideas for how to approach the prospective universities. Here's one of the many directories for PSs, you can always Google them if you want.
3-Remember the basic principles:
a) Why this course? Does it have wings which can take you to Atlanta, or do your future career plans mean this course is a prerequisite, or more importantly--why would this course suit your previous qualifications and achievements?
b) Why you? Do you have wings, too? Or is there something about you that separates you from the other candidates?
c) Academic achievement is good, but it's not enough. You must have a substantial amount of extra-curricular or internship work. HOWEVER, this is very important, you must somehow relate your non-academic achievements to how it could help you in your studies. Even if you won the award in brushing your teeth, tell them it means you could be a very modal dentist! Just kidding, that would be downright stupid. But you get what I mean, right?
d) You should write about your activities which have nothing to do with your course too, but keep it VERY brief. You can use such unrelated activities to give yourself teamwork, leadership, cooperation and maturity marks, which are generally a good thing for every course you go to.
e) Grammar and language should be A-STAR. It's just sad to know you couldn't fix the spellings and typos for your career, as it shows carelessness and lack of seriousness, which is bad.
f) Get your PS read by friends, family and advisers. You don't have to do what they say but be unbiased and open to new ideas. But do not post it on the internet--if UCAS finds your application online through its similarity detection, which it is very likely to, you can get in big trouble. Don't believe me? Click here. Hence, the answer to your question--DO NOT have Google or whoever proofread it for you.
g) Try to stay near to 47 lines' limit, unless you really have nothing to say.

Best wishes for your future!

Thanks. I needed that too. +rep.

[KennySmart]

Paying for your UCAS personal! statement to get done?

I personally do not think it is a good start to student life. After all if you start out cheating before university whose to say when you don't go to university you won't be cheating there as a Student and a Graduate. Don't let cheating become who you are.

Writing a personal statement could not be easier, you can write about your life as a student, your personal life outside of Education, you work life, etc. The main thing UCAS look for is keywords if anything, keywords known as power words (like excel, achieve, accomplished), it does not have to be as big a deal as you think it is. Yes, it is nerve racking but it is important you focus on making it personal to start you student life on the right path.

Try using www.ZOGU.co.uk biographies page to build your personal statement. It will help you to understand yourself better and hopefully help you to achieve the things you want to.