So I’ve reached the final instalment of this blog series and I want to address one of the errors that is sometimes so hard to put your finger on. As an experienced careers adviser I often read through sound statements …
The danger here exists mainly for those who are applying for courses which are seen as being vocational, but which are in fact, still academic degree courses. Students mistake their UCAS form for a job application. I’ve read, for example, …
“The amplification of the inexplicable joy as I finished producing my first piece was too palpable to ignore. It perpetually hung in the surrounding air as waves of electrifying impetus to the growth of the infantile writer residing in every …
Again, I find myself saying “put yourself in the shoes of the admissions tutor”. If he or she has many more personal statements received than places to offer, then he or she is going to be looking for reasons to …
UCAS has given you 47 lines (or 4,000 characters) for a reason – they expect you to use them. If not all of them, then the vast majority. If you cannot do this then you need to go back to …
This is a tell-tale sign that someone doesn’t have enough interesting stuff to say, usually because they have not put sufficient thought into the planning of their personal statement. “My name is John Smith…” (yes, we already know that from …
When I read through draft personal statements I want to be absolutely convinced that the student is excited by the prospect of studying xyz for the next 3 or 4 years. Similarly, an admissions tutor will be looking out for …
Whilst a list of wonderful hobbies and extra-curricular activities and achievement will no doubt help to create a picture of you as a proactive go-getter (and help to make your personal statement become a little more memorable), it will never …
OK, so I admit, structure is my ‘thing’. I get very annoyed when I see personal statements that have given little attention to proper order and planning (and I see lots of them). But let’s face it, an admissions tutor …
Let’s start at the beginning. We know that first impressions count, and with personal statements it is no different. Picture the scene at a university that you are applying to – the admissions tutor is sitting in his or her …
Now that I’ve recently completed my first series for soon-to-be Year 13 students (Starting uni in 2012? 6 ways to ‘get ahead’ this summer) I thought I’d alert you to the fact that I’m going to be starting my next …
