How to Write a Great Personal Statement for University or Scholarship – Guidelines, Tips & Tricks

Top universities receive so many applications that they need to find a way to separate the extraordinary students from the others. This is why nearly all of them are asking students to create a personal statement. While most students are seeing that personal statement as a difficult task, we advising everyone to instead see it as an opportunity to showcase everything that makes them stand out from the rest and why they should be picked for the university position.

We also want to mention that many scholarships require applicants to write personal statements and this is why we have decided that for today, we are going to present readers with the best tips and tricks and that will help them write the best personal statements. Not just that, but we are going to give a couple of examples that can be easily modified.

How to Write a Personal Statement?

  • Start a Draft and Don’t Count the Words

The biggest mistake that most students make when they start writing a personal statement is that they worry about the character counter too much. Even though most personal statements have a requirement of 4,000 characters, we are advising everyone to not look at the character counter before they are finished with the draft. Simply express yourself and fill up the remaining characters after the draft is finished.

  • Patience is Key

Since most personal statements require students to tackle private matters, it’s always better to simply take your time. Wait for a good idea and only after that you can start writing a great looking personal statement. There’s no need to rush.

  • Focus On Character Traits

The best thing that someone who starts writing a personal statement can do is to focus on their best character traits. Just think of the personal statement as a way to basically sell yourself to the university of scholarship. You wouldn’t undersell yourself, right?

  • Don’t Lie

Even though introducing a couple of “white lies” here and there might seem like a great idea, it’s actually not. The university might catch onto the lie and once that happens, your chances of getting in will instantly drop to 0 percent. It’s always better to be honest.

  • Proofreading is Key

We can’t stress enough just how important proofreading the personal statement can be. This essay is an essential part of your university or scholarship applicants and you want it to be perfect from a grammatical point of view. A good idea here is to get someone else to proofread the personal statement.

Personal Statement Examples

Now that we have covered the top five tips and tricks for writing a great personal statement, lets’ go ahead and check out some examples that anyone can modify and make them unique.

#1 Example

A highly motivated and hardworking individual, who has recently completed their A-Levels, achieving excellent grades in both Maths and Science. Seeking an apprenticeship in the engineering industry to build upon a keen scientific interest and start a career as a maintenance engineer. Eventual career goal is to become a fully-qualified and experienced maintenance or electrical engineer, with the longer-term aspiration of moving into project management.

#2 Example

A recent business economics graduate with a 2:1 honors degree from the University of X, looking to secure a Graduate Commercial Analyst position to use and further develop my analytical skills and knowledge in a practical and fast-paced environment. My career goal is to assume a role that allows me to take responsibility for the analysis and interpretation of commercial data for a well-respected and market-leading leading company.

#3 Example

Driven Retail Manager with over ten years’ experience in the fashion industry. Proven track record of success, including managing the top performing store in the region, and having the lowest staff turnover rate of all UK outlets. Currently out of work due to company closure, looking for the right opportunity to bring my expertise to a well-established fashion brand in an upper management position.

#4 Example

As an experienced sales manager, my tenacious and proactive approach resulted in numerous important contract wins. My excellent networking skills have provided my team with vital client leads, and my ability to develop client relationships has resulted in an 18% increase in business renewals for my current organization. After eight years in sales, currently seeking a new challenge that will utilize my meticulous attention to detail, and a friendly, professional manner.

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