This is how I wrote the Personal Statement that got me an offer from Warwick and Kings College London with 3 B’s and a C in my A-Levels.
By: Fatima Pasha
Tags: Personal Statement, Future, Self Improvement, UK, College

This is how I wrote the Personal Statement that got me an offer from Warwick and Kings College London with 3 B’s and a C in my A-Levels. Fatima Pasha Dec 22, 2020·4 min read

With the January 15th deadline approaching, the class of 2020–2021 has the daunting task of submitting an A-class personal statement for a place at top UK universities. If you are struggling here is a tried and tested nine step guide to get you started and finished with your personal statement in no time:

Step 1: Figure out the courses you want to apply for.

Figure out your top five universities and the courses you want to choose. Doing this is extremely important as you need to make relevant links from your prior knowledge to what exactly it is the course requires from you, or plans to teach you.

Step 2: Start listing BEFORE you start writing.

Your personal statement needs to pack a punch in 450–550 words. This however, does not mean listing down all your achievements like the medal you won in the third grade spelling bee. Instead before you start writing, list down all the achievements you have had since GCSE’s or equivalent. Now choose the most relevant two and write a few sentences about them, always remembering to link them back to the course you have chosen.

Step 3: Start writing… from the second paragraph.

Admittedly, it is a given that your introduction needs to be extraordinary so that it grabs the attention of the admissions tutor. However, not all of us have a clever anecdote at our disposal and starting with “I have been passionate about ____ since a very young age”, is a cliched beginning that is destined for failure. Which is why instead of spending hours, even days (yes, I am guilty of this) staring at a blinking cursor on your laptop thinking of a witty introduction, start with your second paragraph. Start writing about your sixth form A-Level subjects and connect what you have learnt to your course. Your academic profile is what is important for the UK, hence making this second paragraph the most essential part of your statement.

Step 4: Show academic prowess outside the classroom, but do not write a wikipedia page in your statement.

Explore your chosen field through books, articles, movies, podcasts or even TED talks. Was there anything inspirational that struck out to you? Write a few but intriguing lines about that. Remember your statement is being read by experts in your field, so do not attempt to explain a phenomena or theory. Instead, write about your observations and questions that may have arisen in your mind while reading an article.

Step 5: Time to conclude and talk about why the UK and any future plans you might have.

Your conclusion should never introduce anything new and completely unrelated to the content of your personal statement. Personally, I stuck to two sentences only- the first one was a quick wrap up of why exactly I have chosen the course, and the second one was how I thought the UK would help me with my career trajectory. Your structure can obviously differ but remember to be concise and to the point!

Step 6: Fit in an introduction, finally.

Now is the time to write your introduction. If you cannot think of the above mentioned anecdote or personal story, starting with why you have chosen your course is a perfect beginning. Often times a crazy personal story or your years old passion serves as an overkill in the introduction. Admissions tutors love a personal statement that gets to the point- quickly.

Step 7: Edit and check your flow.

All the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle are now ready to be stuck together in place. Connect all the paragraphs, check all the links to your course and remove any bits of repetition to stay within the word count.

Step 8: Proofread, then get two more people to proofread.

In your first proofread, remember to remove all bits of flowery language and fix all the grammar or spelling errors in your writing. When you are happy with your work, let two people who you trust and most importantly are experienced within their field to proofread your work. Observe them while they read it, if possible. Take note of any part where they appear disinterested and attempt to change that. However remember to learn to trust your own instincts- if you are quite happy with something, do not change it.

Step 9: Submit!

Congratulations! You have completed your personal statement and are already one step closer towards achieving your desired future.

If you want access to my biomedical engineering personal statement or want any help with editing or perhaps even proofreading your personal statement get in touch with me:

email- pasha.fatima14@gmail.com

instagram- @fatimapashaa

With love and luck.