Your personal statement is meant to encapsulate your past personal experiences, your individuality, while simultaneously demonstrating why you are the best candidate to be studying your chosen degree.

This can be a tricky task for a number of reasons. You want to be unique without appearing off-topic. Mentioning specific past experiences, that are directly linked to your chosen degree, will turn an average personal statement into an engaging narrative. KEY TIP: continually link/explain these experiences to your reader with the ultimate goal of demonstrating why you are passionate about your chosen subject.

Although passion is necessary, treat your personal statement with the severity that one would treat a job application. Stay on task by listing your credentials. For example: past grades, awards, positions of leadership, specific projects, etc.