When submitting the application to a foreign university, many questions may arise: am I sending the correct documentation? Have I included all the necessary information in my letters? I actually wrote a good one personal statement?
O loveUK knows very well about the insecurity and lack of practice that many face when going through this stage, especially to write the personal statement, this letter that, even if it is entirely about you and your achievements, could cost you a place in the long-awaited course you chose if written the wrong way.
With that in mind, we asked Michele Raimondo, International Officer at the University of Westminster, about some tips on what to include in your text and what to avoid. According to Raimondo, this is one of the most important documents for a candidate, as “most courses and universities do not do interviews – and those that do are based on their personal statement to ask the questions – so this is your only chance to differentiate yourself from the other candidates and impress the evaluators”.
Check out the advice of the International Officer:
Format Your text must be 4000 characters or 47 lines long. Paragraphs are very important, so organize your material in a way that is informative and interesting to read. Oh, it's worth remembering that grammar, punctuation and spelling must be perfect!
Speaking of perfection, be prepared to do multiple versions and drafts. Nobody writes something infallible the first time.
Beware of plagiarism! Evaluators use software that analyzes word for word and compares your text with that of other candidates from that year or previous years. Be authentic.
Contents
Here are some questions you can answer throughout your text:
– What do you have to offer the university?
– What makes you stand out from the rest?
– What are your career plans?
– What was your biggest achievement and why?
– Are you inspired by anyone? Who and why?
– Have you ever faced any difficulties in life? How did that change you?
– Do you have a favorite movie, book or hobby? How has that influenced you in life?
– Have you ever worked hard for something and finally achieved your goal?
– What would your family and friends say if they wrote your personal statement?
Only mention things that you are prepared to talk about – evaluators may ask you questions, if universities do interviews. The personal statement should have 75% of content focused on your academic background and other professional achievements. In the other 25% mention your skills, qualities and future plans.
Remember: this is your chance to say “this is my place”, so make a good impression!
interests and activities
This part should include interesting stuff. Don't write, for example, that your activities include "hanging out with friends" or anything like that. What's relevant about this? Try to relate everything to the course you are applying for and explain how these attributes make you a better person.
Are you going to talk about sports or music? Only if they are related to the course. Explain what sports you play or what instruments you play and why you chose them and what skills you developed.
If you know any languages, indicate which ones and why you chose to learn them, in addition to mentioning your level and skills. If you lived abroad, it's important to include this part.
Remember: it's a personal text!
Show commitment, interest and enthusiasm in words. Be authentic and persuasive – why would you be eligible for this course? Why did you choose this course? Show that you understand the area of study you want to enter, this is essential.
Identify course-related skills and how you got them by being analytical and reflective. Don't just be descriptive.
common mistakes
– Plagiarism
– Irrelevant or unjustified phrases
– Undervaluing or going beyond the truth
– repeated words
– Bad jokes or humor out of context
– Talking about a very distant past (for example: “when I was five years old…”)
– Not understanding the course you are applying for
– Negativity
After following the tips above, send us your text! the consultants loveUK specialize in reviewing personal statements and other application documents. And best of all, it's a free service. What are you waiting for? There is still time to apply for courses starting this year. Contact us: contato@loveuk.org.br
