How do I fit everything into my personal statement?

A common mistake that students make when writing their personal statement is trying to fit in everything they've ever achieved. You should only include things that are relevant to your course. For example, if you did the Duke of Edinburgh Gold award, don't just shove that in there and leave it at that. Instead, think about what you did there that would be of value to your course. Did you volunteer at your school to help students with reading? This could help with an English course. Did you volunteer at the local hospital? This could help with a nursing course for example. If you cannot think of anything specific to your course but you still really want to include it, think about specific qualities that it shows about yourself which would be helpful at university. Did it show reliability and the ability to allocate your time well in a particular area? 

It can also be tempting to fit in everything that you think the uni wants to hear. But, if you're applying to do English for example, they've more than likely heard "I have studied Sylvia Plath and I love reading her poetry in my spare time due to her raw and emotional style," a gazillion times. Be personal! 

Using these few tips, review your personal statement and see if you can cut anything out. Remember that you should not be alarmed if your personal statement takes many, many drafts!