What 3 words…a practical guide to starting your UCAS personal statement
Are you staring at a blank piece of paper? Are you not sure where to start? Is the deadline looming?
If your answer is yes to any of these, then read on.
I too have sat staring at a blank bit of paper, wondering where to start, and hoping that something will magically appear on it. Truly I have, so I understand how daunting it can be.
As there is plenty of information out there on the internet about what a personal statement is, what its purpose is and the sorts of things to include, I’m not going to repeat that here. You are more than capable of doing the same google searches.
Instead, I’m going to share a way of how to get started.
It’s a short but powerful question: What 3 words make you you? These 3 words form the heart of your personal statement. As an example, they might be: passionate, kind, helpful.
Next, write a sentence around each of these words that shows the context behind that word for you. If you are applying to a course in social care for example, the sentence might be “I have always been passionate about helping people”.
Then, add the “because” part. So, the sentence might be “I have always been passionate about helping people as I have always enjoyed bringing a smile to peoples faces where I can, and it makes me feel good”.
Finally, if applicable, give some practical examples. Perhaps, in this example, you’ve done some voluntary work at a care home or helped your elderly neighbours out during the pandemic in some way.
You’ve now started your personal statement!
No longer a blank piece of paper or a blank screen but a work in progress document. And a work in progress document is much easier to work with and finesse.
The 3 words you choose, the way you choose to finish the sentences, relate them back to your chosen course and ultimately articulate why you want to take the course, are unique to you. And uniqueness has a way of coming across as genuine and honest.
