Defining the UCAS Personal Statement: Examples of Paragraphs

Difference between UCAS Personal Statement and US Personal Statement

For those who think that US and UCAS Personal Statement are alike, there are several basic differences:

1. In UK schools, you will be studying one specific degree program during almost all years of attendance. So, UCAS personal statement must be more about your competence in this specific study filed than about your own characteristics.
2. For UCAS, your Personal Statement will be read by professors or other academic staff who needs to make sure you meet the academic requirements for studying this particular subject.
3. Only one personal statement is needed from you. And you can send it to all the schools that you consider entering. That’s why you have to prove in your essay that you are a good fit, not mentioning any particular university or college.
4. It is not required to write about all your extracurricular activities in the statement – unless they are connected to your selected study field, they are not relevant here. The exception is the extracurriculars, which have a direct relation to your future specialization. For example, being a sports team captain demonstrates your leadership skills.

A Brief Guide for Composing the UCAS Personal Statement

First of all, you have to select 1 out of 5 subjects to apply for, and then write your UCAS Personal statement for it. Otherwise, you will face difficulties in writing if you try to
compose an essay, which covers several subjects.

To decide which information you should include in the essay, we offer efficient exercise to brainstorm ideas:

The Courtroom Exercise

Pretend to be in a court prosecuting a case. Your task is to be accepted to a university for the subject you’ve selected. Now, present your case in a 4,000-character statement to the judge. Platitudes are not accepted, as well as points without evidence.

To start with, briefly describe why this subject is your preference, and when you realized that.
Then provide detailed pieces of evidence that you are a really good candidate for this subject. Mention projects or activities you were engaged with in high school that illustrate your fitness and good performance.

Use the ABC approach to talk about each activity of yours:

1. Name of Activity;
2. Benefits of this activity for your selected degree course;
3. Provide a connection between those benefits and skills required for this Course.

Ultimately, close your case without repeating your previous conclusions.

FAQ about UCAS

What if I still doubt what to study? Should I apply anyway?

Programs available at UK universities can be broader (like. Liberal Arts, etc.), where two or three study areas should be selected. However, if you still need more, then, maybe, look for something different.

Should I apply if I haven’t enough evidence of my academic or extracurricular work for my degree?

You can, but be ready to realize that your application might look not strong enough. Very selective schools prefer such evidence, while for others, it may be enough to see your potential to develop further. Another variant is to apply for a ‘Year 0’ course. It will give you an additional pre-university year to accumulate the required amount of evidence.

Can I be admitted for another course if I don’t get into the selected one?

At some schools, you can have an offer to apply for a similar course (like “Business with a Language” instead of “Business”). Unrelated fields of study can’t be substituted with one another. For other colleges, you can submit a post-application to be considered for similar courses.

UCAS Personal Statement Examples: Physics

The following introduction shows the origin of the student’s interest in Physics. If we add more information, the reader will see why this area is so interesting for a student:

When I was eight, my dad told me about atoms and molecules that constitute all objects in the world. I was so interested that I asked him to tell me more every time he had the opportunity. Ever since, I’ve been in love with Physics, as it is not only a theory, but it has lots of practical value in our everyday life.

In the next paragraph, you can write in detail how deeply you’ve studied the subject, using academic terminology.

Together with introducing a new topic, we demonstrate that the student goes beyond the curriculum and explores the subject deeper. It shows the reader that the applicant is capable of studying for a degree:

Additionally, I attended an undergraduate CS course, but it turned out that only fixed rules applied there, and no creativity was required. Meantime, I became interested in neuronal web and attended lectures of professor Thomas Hilton. I was so fascinated that I even took part in the field competition, where I worked on a script. I didn’t win any prize, but this experience improved my level immensely.

At the end of the Statement, we describe future plans, which show the willingness to build a career in the selected field. Admission readers may find it advantageous for an applicant:

I am sure that post-graduate education in Physics will increase my insight into this subject. And hopefully, I will be able to launch a startup after graduation.

UCAS Personal Statement Examples: Veterinary Medicine

For this field, a student must show a deep commitment to a career and a subject itself. It is advisable to mention a work experience here to demonstrate motivation and serious attitude:

I adore observing animals in their natural habitat. And I was so lucky to experience it during my trip to Tanzania. Together with watching animals hunting, I got inspired to work near them. I helped the animals when they were sick as a veterinarian.

The next paragraph of the statement connects the academic experience of the student with subjects in the university he/she is going to have:

For my IB Diploma, I have concentrated on HL Biology. Studying body systems and cell biology was very exciting, as I started to understand the way the body works and how it is applicable to animals. Works on DNA replication, which I investigated, helped me comprehend genetics and protein synthesis, which is essential if working with animals’ hereditary diseases.

More UCAS Personal Statement Examples

Whatever field of study you select, be it Aeronautical engineering, Liberal arts, Economic and Social policy, Philosophy, your UCAS Personal Statement should contain Introduction, where you specify where your interest in the subject comes from.

In body paragraphs, you need to write about your experience, both academic and extracurricular, in exploring this subject. It is advisable to use specific terms when describing your research projects, courses you’ve attended or competitions, you’ve taken part in.

To develop my passion for Economics, I served an apprenticeship at the National Bank of Arizona. In Arizona, I did a research project on Efficient Management methods and presented the results when my internship finished. I also attended Yale’s University conference on leadership, which taught me how to solve major problems of our age, like poverty, discrimination, using leadership skills.