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How do i write a good personal statement.

Posted on: 15 Jul 2021 | Category: Business and Management , Computer Science , Education , Medicine and Health Sciences , Psychology

An important part of the application process for our online master’s programmes is to write a short personal statement about your interest and experience in the subject you are applying for, your reasons for choosing the programme, and how you feel your studies will help you in the future. 

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How to write a personal statement for veterinary science

Focus on your experience and motivation – and show you understand the challenges of the job

I f you're applying to study veterinary science, a personal statement will be just one part of your application. Chances are you will also have to fill out a work experience questionnaire, do a test and possibly go to an interview as well.

"The work experience questionnaire is there to check that the student meets our minimum work experience requirements," says Vikki Cannon, head of admissions and recruitment at the Royal Veterinary College.

Some courses don't even look at the personal statement. Dr Kieron Salmon, director of admissions at the University of Liverpool, says: "In our experience, very few personal statements are 'personal'. They read very similarly and have hints of having being written under the guidance of a teacher or parent. So we focus more on face-to-face interviews."

But for the courses that do ask for one, the personal statement can play a really important role.

"If you get it wrong, then it can be the difference between you getting an interview and not getting an interview," says Cannon.

So here are some tips to help you when it comes to writing yours.

What to include

Why do you want to be a vet?

"What we're looking for from a personal statement is to get a feel for why they want to be a vet and an understanding of what they've done about it," says Cannon.

It's also worth thinking about your long-term career aims and what kind of vet you want to be.

Sam Hillage, assistant faculty registrar at the University of Surrey, says: "Showing your motivation and talking about some of your career aspirations would be good. Also acknowledging the diversity of roles in the field."

Work experience

"Sometimes people forget to actually mention the four weeks of work experience they've done," says Hillage. "As that's a mandatory requirement, it's important they get that in."

It might be that a particular moment from your work experience has stuck with you, and if you link that to why you want to be a vet and what you've learned, it can impress tutors.

Claire Phillips, director of admissions at Edinburgh University's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies says: "Sometimes it can be something quite minor that they have seen on work experience that has made an impression and shown them what it is all about."

Relevant hobbies

Use your statement to show your wider interests as well as your interest in veterinary medicine. Phillips says: "We're looking for a holistic, rounded student. It's not just about academic ability, we want to see people who have other things outside work and academics."

Try to link your hobbies back to your interest in veterinary medicine, but don't worry if not everything is relevant.

"It could be sport, music, voluntary work – it doesn't have to be animal-related," says Phillips.

"Being academically very good is not everything. They need an outlet to cope with the veterinary profession when they qualify. It's a tough job, especially if they go into a practice, so the fact they have something outside of academia is important."

Don't forget to mention people

A vet should understand that a big part of their job is dealing with people, say tutors.

"Some people just explain conditions or talk about animals, but it is important to talk about the sensitivity of the profession," says Phillips.

"You need to be aware that it's not just theory but about the overall sensitivity to people."

You could get this across by talking about some of the human interactions you encountered on your work experience, perhaps how you observed a vet dealing with a client.

Things to avoid

Spelling mistakes

You might not be applying to study English, but good spelling is still important.

Phillips says: "It's a professional degree and communication skills are very important."

And if you're going to refer to particular medical terms, it's really important that you spell them correctly.

"The number of people who write that they've witnessed caesareans in their personal statement but can't spell caesarean is amazing," says Cannon.

"One bad spelling isn't going to lose you a place, but you are marked on the quality of your writing, so if it was littered with spelling mistakes then it might be a problem."

"I've wanted to be a vet since I was..."

"We're not interested in the fact that you've wanted to be a vet for the last 16 years," says Cannon.

"You could have been interested in being a vet for the last 16 months, it's what you do about it that is the interesting thing."

That's not to say you should avoid the phrase altogether. Just make sure you link it back to why you would be good on the course.

Cannon says: "Lots of them will start their personal statement with: 'I've known I wanted to be a vet since I was 3, 4, 5, 6'. But then a lot of them do go on and say why. That's what we're looking for."

Too much technical detail

You might want to include some reference to a strand of veterinary medicine or a type of technology that interests you, but don't go overboard.

Sam Hillage, assistant faculty registrar at the University of Surrey, says: "I'd avoid getting bogged down in a lot of technical detail.

"While it's good to show you have some technical knowledge, it's not necessarily what we look for in a personal statement."

Mentioning the most up-to-date technology won't always win brownie points. "It's the more grounded things that make an impression," says Phillips.

Don't forget to mention animals

It might sound really obvious that a personal statement for veterinary science should include animals. But not everyone remembers. "Sometimes we get people who focus very much on the science side of things, without ever really mentioning animals," Cannon says.

Equally, make sure not to go too far in the other direction.

Cannon says: "Saying 'I want to be a vet because I like cats' doesn't really tell us anything."

If you're looking for more help in getting to vet school, why not apply for a place on a summer school? This year, the Royal Veterinary College is offering 50 places on a summer course with the Sutton Trust that will teach you what it's like to be a vet and give you tips on applying to study veterinary medicine at uni.

The scheme, sponsored by Barclays, is free to students from low and middle income backgrounds. If you're interested in applying for a place, take a look at the Sutton Trust's website .

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Getting your application in: personal statements

If you're working through your university application, whether for this year or next, read our top tips on getting your personal statement just right.

Personal statements: the basics.

• What is a personal statement?

It's your opportunity to tell universities and colleges about your suitability for the course(s) that you hope to study. You need to demonstrate your enthusiasm, passion (without using the word!) and commitment for the subject and above all else, to ensure that you stand out from the crowd.

•   4,000 characters or 47 lines (roughly equates to 500 words)

We suggest that you write your statement in a word processor so that you can monitor the word limit. However be careful, as some word processors get different values if they don’t count tabs and paragraph spacing as individual characters. If you're over the word limit then look at how you can change the structure of your sentences so that you're using as few words as possible.

•   Check your spelling and grammar! 

UCAS doesn't check for spelling, punctuation or grammar mistakes. Make sure you proofread aloud, and get your teachers and advisors to check your statement before you submit it.

• Don't overcomplicate it- keep it clear and concise

Write in an enthusiastic, concise and natural tone. 

•   What Admissions Tutors look for in the personal statement

University Admissions Tutors will have different criteria for their courses. However these are some of the most important factors that they want to see in your statement:

• Research:  demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the course.
• Key transferable skills that are useful for the course and university study, for example: organisational skills; working independently; communication skills (written and oral).
• Motivation and commitment: activities such as paid or voluntary work experience; attending masterclasses/public lectures; further reading or research around the subject, will all help to demonstrate your motivation and commitment in wanting to study the course.
• Self awareness:  evidence your strengths and showcase your skills.
• Good essay writing skills:  it's important to have a clear structure to your statement in order to maximise its impact.

How to structure a personal statement

There isn't a perfect formula for structuring a personal statement. However, we suggest you divide your statement into four sections.

1: Introduction (1 paragraph)

• Why do you want to study your chosen course?
• Why does this subject interest you?
• How did your enthusiasm and interest for this course develop?

2: About your suitability for the course (2-3 paragraphs)  

• Why do you think you're suitable for the course(s)?
• If your current studies relate to your chosen course, focus on elements of your studies that you find interesting and the reasons why. This will not only highlight your subject knowledge but also your passion for the course. 
• Think about the key skills and qualities required for your chosen course and showcase your skills through your studies and work experience.

Important: Make sure all the information in this section is relevant to your chosen course.

3: Outside of your studies (1 paragraph)  

In this section, include extra-curricular and enrichment activities you're involved in outside of school/college, including:

• Hobbies and interests
• Paid employment
• Voluntary activities

If you're planning to defer entry and take a gap year then you will need to address it in this section- outline what you plan to do during your gap year and what you hope to gain from it.

4. Conclusion (1 paragraph) 

• There is no need to summarise your statement in the conclusion. Your conclusion should be concise and include the main benefits you hope to gain from studying the course and career goals/further study (if known).

Still need some help with your application? Contact  the Gateway as your first port of call! 

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team .

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How to write a standout personal statement

Struggling to write a personal statement to support your university application? Our in-house expert, Andrew Cooper, shares his insider knowledge to show you how to approach this essential document.

Watch the video above for a quick guide to writing a personal statement that will get you noticed.

As someone who’s seen plenty of personal statements in his time, Outreach Team member, Andrew Cooper is best placed to offer his tips on how to write a winning personal statement. Watch the video to find out what universities are looking for in a personal statement, how to get the structure right, what not to include, how to get over your writer’s block and much more.

Andrew’s top tips

• Treat your personal statement the same way you would an interview. Highlight three positive things about yourself; these don’t have to be really huge achievements but things you’ve accomplished that you’re proud of and make you stand out
• Spend time planning your structure before you start writing. Having that initial plan of what you’re going to talk about will really make it easier for the flow of your writing and will help you tell the ‘story of you’ in a natural way
• If you’re having trouble getting started, then begin by writing paragraph two of your personal statement rather than the introduction. Get down your thoughts on why you want to apply for the course and this inevitably will lead you to talk about related interests, hobbies and extracurricular activities. These will serve as evidence to back up your enthusiasm for the subject matter

If you are looking for more advice UCAS also provide helpful tips and videos on how to approach writing your personal statement . 

Thinking of applying to study at LJMU? Take a look at the courses on offer .

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How to write a great personal statement

Crafting a personal statement that stands out is an important part of the UCAS process. However, it can be hard to know exactly what to include, how to write it, and how to stand out. With this in mind, we caught up with Student Recruitment Manager Richard Palmer for his tips on writing a great personal statement.

By Cara Fielder . Published 13 October 2021. Last updated 12 January 2024.

Why is a personal statement important?

Your personal statement is about much more than just meeting the grade requirements and needs to tick a few boxes to stand out. These statements are a top factor when it comes to consideration for admissions experts – but don’t see it as a chore, your personal statement provides an opportunity to communicate your unique skills and strengths to secure your place at university.

What are admissions looking for?

Students must have the appropriate qualifications and grade predictions to meet entry requirements, but this will need to be elaborated on in your personal statement. As you think of your different qualifications, accomplishments, and qualities remember to link them all together to show how this makes you suitable for your chosen course.

• Excellent spelling, grammar and attention to detail.
• Illustrate your suitability for the course by linking it to different areas of life. For example, earlier studies, extra-curricular activities, personal hobbies/experiences and work experience (if applicable).
• Your personality – not in terms of humour or sarcasm but show that you are a responsible and hardworking student.
• A strong reference that supports your application.

Our nine tips for writing your personal statement

Map out the structure.

A great way to approach this is visually: create a diagram splitting the personal statement into sections. Firstly, you want a strong opening introducing yourself. The middle section can then be split into three sub-sections: your course choice, education experience and your wider experiences (e.g. extracurricular activities and work). Then conclude with a concise summary of the points you’ve made.

Whilst the whole statement needs a good deal of work, a robust opening can hook the reader and make all the difference to an application. It’s an opportunity to briefly cover everything you’ll discuss in greater detail throughout your statement. Consider why you want to study the course, your passion for the subject, where you hope it leads and why it’s right for you.

Similarly, a strong closing paragraph can leave a positive and lasting impression. Try and consolidate what you’ve covered in your statement and reinforce why you would make a great candidate for the course.

Transferrable skills

When discussing your suitability, share how the content and skills learned from your current or previous study relate to your chosen course, and how they will help you succeed. For instance, if you studied A Level Business and apply to study accounting and finance try and highlight how your current learning will influence your degree choice.

Of course, there are many degrees where it might not be possible to study the subject before university, so you’ll need to be a little more creative and think outside of the box. For those subjects which aren’t directly related to your chosen course consider any crossover and highlight those links. For example, if you’ve chosen to study criminology and studied A Level Geography you could discuss globalisation, green crimes, or illegal pollution.

You should also discuss the wider skills you’ve developed. Consider how a variety of teaching environments, coursework, and creative projects have provided you with relevant skills to succeed in a degree such as organisation skills, time management, communication, and multi-tasking.

If you are applying for slightly different courses, remember that all your university choices will see the same personal statement. Make sure to prioritise talking about your main subject for consistency.

Be original

While it might be tempting to copy your friends or take inspiration from example personal statements online, avoid it at all costs. Plagiarism is often unintentional but the best thing you can do to avoid it is steering away from using templates or writing similar personal statements to your peers.

UCAS (for example) puts every statement through plagiarism software. If your statement has 30% similarities to others, a report is sent to all your university choices. They decide the outcome, which could be to revoke your offer. Don’t let this worry – if you honestly write an original statement and the software still picks it up by fluke the university will know what to do.

Consider your strengths

Follow this simple framework:

• What are you good at?
• How can you demonstrate that skill?
• Keep it positive

For example - “I was a debate team captain and lead in making arguments” is good, but it could have something added to it to make it pop. A great way to do this is to add positive adjectives and adverbs to build up the sentence. “I was a successful debate team captain and lead in making winning arguments”.

Everybody has weaknesses, and it’s important to recognise these too. However, be sure to frame it as a positive. Be honest and recognise areas you haven’t experienced or aren’t as confident at – and consider positive ways that you can develop in that area. 

Highlight any previous work experience

Even if it was short-term or voluntary, any experience is good and helps to emphasise your skills. Demonstrating that you have actively sought out work experience presents you as someone with initiative and independence.

Start writing it as early as possible and be aware of all the important deadlines. Draw out a timeline detailing when you aim to have your first draft done, your second draft, any reviews and submission deadlines. This will help to get you in the right mindset from the outset, because nobody likes last-minute stress.

Triple check your work

Sometimes when you have been working on something for a long time, it’s easy to overlook mistakes so it’s also helpful to ask someone else to proofread it for you. Double and triple check your work, keeping an eye out for typos. Getting family or friends to proofread your personal statement will also help to ensure that it sounds authentically you.

Stand out from the crowd

Try to think outside of the box and communicate what makes you unique. For example, if you have any creative ideas on how to improve a certain area within your chosen industry/subject, put this forward. This might tie in with your hobbies and work experience and be a good way to build on it.

Make evidence-based points

Highlighting your experiences is a crucial part of the personal statement but must be backed up with solid evidence. For example, if you have experience as a sports captain or society member, rather than just listing what you did, explain how you got there and what you achieved. Mention actions and outcomes, this shows how you strive for self-improvement and highlights an ability to clearly define goals.

If you’re still considering which degree to apply for, check out our range of undergraduate courses in law , business , criminology , policing , psychology and computer science . 

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Personal statements

The purpose.

The purpose of a personal statement is for recruiters to understand you and your suitability for the job or course that they are offering and not because they want to make things difficult for you.  It is an opportunity for you to present your goals, experiences and qualifications in the best possible light as well as demonstrating your written communication and other skills. From your point of view the main purpose of a personal statement is to make your application stand out against all the others.

You may be asked for a personal statement as part of an application for a postgraduate course, or as part of a job application form .

Preparation

• Research the company or organisation using resources such as: the company/organisation website, news articles or social media. For more information about how to best research and improve your commercial awareness .
• Thoroughly read through and research the role or course you are applying for.
• Identify aspects of the role or course that are most important to you.
• Check the word or character limit (if applicable) as this will indicate how much the employer is expecting to read. Do not go over – most online forms will automatically cut your answer off.
• Read through any guidance provided by the employer or institution and ensure you follow the instructions.

Based on the information you have gathered, when planning consider the following:

• How does the job or course link with your career ambitions?
• What differentiates this job and company to you from its competitors?
• What interests you about the field of work/study?
• What relevant skills/experiences do you have that will help you be successful in this line of work?
• What difficulties have you overcome and what skills did you use in order to do so?
• Why should you be chosen above the other applicants?

Writing your first draft

Make sure that your statement has a clear structure, so that recruiters can easily recognise what parts of the job application you are addressing. We suggest using a structure similar to the one below.

Start with a strong introductory paragraph about why you want the position that will grab the reader's attention. This can be what makes your application unique.

Middle section

Provide details of your interests, knowledge and experience that are relevant to the job and your application to show you can do the job or course. Try to provide recent and relevant examples and ensure you use these examples to evidence the competencies that required for the opportunity. Try to use no more than two or three paragraphs. 

End section

Summarise your suitability and motivation for the job or course and demonstrate what particularly attracts you to this employer or course provider. Do not include any new information in this section.

• Try to make your statement unique. Be clear and concise and try to avoid using long sentences
• Carefully tailor your personal statement to the job or course you are applying for. Copying & pasting from another application will tend not be very successful. As with cover letters , if you could substitute the name of the employer, organisation or course provider for another, then you have not tailored your statement sufficiently.

Proof-reading and amending

After all the time and effort you have spent developing your personal statement, it would be a shame to submit it before you have proof-read and thoroughly checked it through. To make absolutely sure, get someone else to read it – the best of writers miss mistakes in his/her own work due to familiarity with the text.

Interviews and assessments

View our interview and assessment centre tips.

Explore how to make your application form stand out from the crowd.

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Your Guide to Personal Statements

It’s been a long journey across your four years as an undergrad. You tried the different topics and modules and in your final year, you spent time deliberating your next step.

In today’s hyper-competitive jobs market, a postgraduate qualification is a big advantage for climbing the career ladder – and it will give you the chance to gain expertise in a subject you love.

So, you’re finally sitting down to write the application for the perfect postgraduate course – this should be the easy bit, right? But it’s a typical pressure-cooker situation. Your heart is so set on getting on this course, you get writer’s block when you reach the ‘statement of purpose.’

With so much competition for places on postgraduate courses, your application is crucial to getting accepted on the course. Here are some insider tips on how to make your application stand out and make sure you get on the educational track to fulfilling your dreams.

Creating the ‘statement of purpose’ for your postgrad application

Research your course.

It may sound obvious, but before writing your statement of purpose, make sure you do solid research into the course. Gavin Connell, Head of Careers in UL, recommends asking several key questions:

• Can you break down the course title into a summary of the main learning points?
• What course material will be covered in each module?
• What is the output of each module, in terms of skillsets and potential careers?

“Don’t be afraid to contact the head of each course,” he advises, “and ask them for the information you need. They are experts on the course material, and on the future careers and skillsets connected to each module.”

You’ll need to know exactly what is taught and what you’ll need to learn yourself. Familiarise yourself with the facilities on offer, each module, and crucially, why you want to learn these subjects. Make sure you know how you will fund your studies too.

As a final point of note, prioritise research and a clean edit.

“Do not submit your application until it’s as polished and well-researched as it can possibly be,” advises Sarah Moore, Course Coordinator for Creative Writing and Dean of Teaching and Learning in UL.  

“It should have something of you in it but treat it as thoroughly professional application.”

Write an informal statement to yourself

You may be asked to provide a statement of purpose or a personal statement to accompany your application. Some people get stressed at the thought of having to explain their interest in the course, particularly if it’s a course that they are especially committed to. Instead, think of the statement of purpose as your chance to shine. Use it as a platform to set out all that you want to achieve within your chosen field.

Although this statement usually isn’t any longer than 700 words, you should spend several hours on it, to get it right.

“Don’t undersell yourself; it’s a competitive process. Put in all the relevant information you have. But be truthful and authentic,” Sarah advises.

“It’s also really important to evidence that information. The more hard evidence you can show about what you can say about yourself the better. You need a convincing trail of evidence.”

Before you write the formal wording, it’s a good idea to write an informal statement  to yourself.  This will help you harbour your true ambitions and your words will flow more easily. Ask yourself informal and forward-thinking questions, like “What makes me most excited to do this course? Where do I see it taking me in five years?”

Edit and revisit after 24 hours

It’s a good idea to revisit your statement 24 hours after you think it’s finished. You’ll be surprised what fresh eyes can pick up on. Try to rewrite the draft and tidy it up as much as you can. Direct sentences and clean structure is key. Ask someone to cast their eye over it before submitting (it’s even better if you can ask anyone who has experience editing content).

Show evidence of your interest

You should have a genuine interest in the subject you want to study and more importantly, you should be able to demonstrate that interest. Think: writing or blogging on the subject, conducting your own research or belonging to an organisation associated with the topic.

Dot the Is and cross the Ts

The requirements for every course are different, so make sure you tick all the boxes when making your application. The documents you’ll need may include:

• Certified results for all examinations mentioned on your application form.
• Confirmation of the award of your qualifications.
• Evidence of English language proficiency.
• Certified translations of your award and transcripts (if they aren’t in English).
• A copy of your birth certificate or passport.
• You may also be asked to provide references (make sure to ask for these two weeks in advance).
• An up to date CV
• Last but not least: don’t forget the application fee.

We hope this supports you on your journey to Stay Curious.

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Personal Statement

Lakshmi is a Lecturer in Economics at the University of Liverpool Management School. She received her Ph.D. from the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research in Mumbai, India. She is an applied economist with research interests in international trade, productivity, industrial and regional economics. Her papers on India’s export performance vis-à-vis China have featured in the Economic Survey 2019-2020 released by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. She is a recipient of the Pacific Trade and Development Fellowship for Young Scholars.

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