How do I make my personal statement stand out?

A personal statement needs to be just that: personal. The admissions tutor is hoping to find out what kind of a person you are, and what kind of a student you will be. They are not looking for someone who is very ‘impressive’; they are looking for someone with a clear passion for their subject and who has the potential to succeed at their university. Although there is no formula for writing a successful personal statement, there are a few tricks that can help you stand out. First, remember that, while your personal statement is incredibly important to you, to the admissions tutor it is just one of hundreds. This means that clichés (like “I have wanted to study Physics at university since I was a child”) or unsupported claims (like “I have an immense passion for History”) will make you look just like everyone else. So how do you stand out? Passion for your subject is important, but you must show this. Don’t say “I am passionate”; ask yourself, what have I done that proves my passion for the subject? Have you read widely around your subject, beyond your A Level/Highers syllabus? Maybe you have a subscription to a relevant magazine, like New Scientist or the Economist? Tell them what you’ve read – and, crucially, what you think of what you’ve read. This shows that you are already engaging thoughtfully with the subject. Have you been to a summer school, or a public lecture? Tell them what you learnt and what you thought of the experience. Have you done some relevant work experience (this will be more relevant in some subjects than others)? Tell them what you’ve done and what you learnt while you did it. You should be able to show your passion for a subject without once using the word “passionate”. You might have done other things that you want to include in your personal statement – your sporting or musical ability, extra-curricular activities like debating, or being the head girl or boy of your school. These are all excellent, but think about how these things show that you’ll be a good student. Music and sport demonstrate commitment and perseverance; the debating society will have taught you excellent communication skills; as head girl or boy you will have learnt to be organised and responsible. These are all vital skills that will allow you to be successful at university and will make your personal statement stand out. Remember, a university admissions tutor isn’t looking for someone who can show that they are brilliant right now – everyone applying for university has done well and got good grades. What makes you stand out is being able to show that you have the potential to be brilliant as a student. Showing your knowledge and achievements now is really important, but the key to a successful stand-out personal statement is showing how what you’ve done so far has preparing you to be a fantastic student when you get to university.