PERSONAL STATEMENT

WRITING GUIDE
Dr S. Ehtasham Junaid
Year 13
Year 12
University
Graduation
Do what you enjoy...
Personal statement
4000 characters including spaces.
Approx 650 words
VERY few words in reality
Most people struggle to cut down the
words
Writing style
Reflective writing
not just what you did, but what you LEARNT
Every sentence needs to show ...
Learnt or realised
Improvements
Skills gained
Evaluations
Application in career/life
Not about listing facts
Positive descriptors
Writing style
In English GCSE...point, quotation,
explanation.

Point
Description
Reflection
Example
I am the school captain, senior student, help
out at the soup kitchen and black belt in tae-
kwon-do.

Waking in the early hours of the morning to

do the paper round before school for two
years reflects maturity of my character,
consistency in work and the ability to
manage my time efficiently.
Reflective writing
Point
Paper round
Description
Early hours
Two years
Reflection
Maturity
Consistency
Time management
Common mistakes

Dilute sentences
Example
I conducted research for Nuffield project
at Nottingham University, investigating
the effect of manipulating endogenous
CAMP-1 expression on the invasion and
diapedesis of lung and noggin
knockdown cancer cells was truly
enthralling.
Common mistakes
Dilute sentences
Sentences that do not add value
Grammar and punctuations
Speling mistakes and typoos
Informal writing style
I didn't enjoy... I watch TV with my
mates...
Leaving too late
Over the word limit
Top tips
Try to avoid starting every sentence with I...
I play football for my local club, where I am also
the captain of the team and I find it exciting.
Being the captain of my local football team...
As a captain of my local football team...
Being elected as the football team captain...
Enjoying the role of captaincy in my football
team...
The responsible role of captaincy has matured
me...
What are they looking?
Motivation
Evidence of interest
What have you done find out more
Career specific skills
Balanced approach to life
Demonstrate
Position of responsibility
Leadership roles
Work independently
Team work
Self directed learning
Work experience
Volunteering and Charity
Hot topics (ethics, law)
Consistency
not one-off projects but sustained things
Demonstrate
Communication skills
Organisation skills
Time management
Dealing with stress
Course/career specific courses
Extra curricular activities
Work life balance
Challenges in your course/degree
Career specific
Healthcare
Caring attitude (working with disabled/elderly)
Engineering
Problem solving, EESW
Science
Research, Nuffield
Subject
Teaching
Competitions in that subject
Career specific
Read literature in the field you are
interested
Mention the bodies/rules that govern and
organise your career
GMC
GDC
NMC
Show prior knowledge of the course
Vocabulary
Responsible
Holistic
Attitude
Dynamic
Enthused
Used Vocab known in your career
Empathy
Attain
Determination
Resolve
Aptitude
Adept
How to start
Think of the course you would like to study
Read the prospectus
Speak to current students
Speak to those working in the career
Arrange work experience
Attend courses or events about your course
Keep up to date with the developments
Immerse yourself fully
Fulfil any prerequisites (BMAT, Minimal WE)
Open days
Overview
Beginning ~ 4-5 lines
Motivation / inspiration / why this subject
Middle
Evidence of the motivation
Desired skills and qualities
End ~ 3-4 lines
Draw conclusion and tie everything
together
Lets get writing
Beginning
Experience
Achievement
Strengths
Thought process
Quotation
Punch line

Make it unique to you

Middle
Position of responsibility
1. What did you do?
Senior student
2. Describe it
Liaise with students and teachers to
improve...
3. What did you learn.
Communication, responsibility
Middle
Position of responsibility
Leadership roles
Work independently
Team work
Self directed learning
Work experience
Volunteering and Charity
Hot topics (ethics, law)
Consistency
not one-off projects but sustained things
Middle
Communication skills
Organisation skills
Problem solving/analytics thinking
Time management
Dealing with stress
Course specific skills Manual dexterity in dentistry
Course/career specific courses
Extra curricular activities
Work life balance
Challenges in your course/degree
End
Some qualities
Conclusions
Quotation
Story
Summary
1st draft
No draft
Where next
Write your next draft
Many drafts lead to the final version