STUCK WITH YOUR UCAS STATEMENT?

Reading through an almost completed personal statement often generates new, paralysing worries. Here is some advice that will move you on.

My statement is too long

Save space by avoiding the obvious. There is no need to say “As long as I can remember, I have always loved history”  if  you are also saying which history book you are currently reading and what else you have done to explore your beloved subject.

Is it best to start with a quotation?

Almost certainly not. With so little space available, it is your voice the reader needs to hear. You certainly don’t want to include any lengthy excerpts.

I am coping well with my A-level work, but how else can I show my Oxbridge potential?

t’s not just what you know but also what you are curious about that matters here. Oxbridge dons like students who bubble with unanswered questions. So, tell the reader what intrigues you about the world or your field.

  

With so many applicants, how can I possibly stand out?

Offering some interesting, course-linked reflections about your own background or experiences can help. So can a challenging, perhaps unusual hobby, holiday job or volunteer post. What will make an Oxbridge candidate stand out most, though, is the range, depth and quantity of her reading. If that sounds scary, check out the section on "How to read serious books" in Chapter 11 of OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE: THE REAL RULES. *

Oxbridge has in the past said that a lack of self esteem causes applicants to fail. How do I prove I’ve got it?

Don’t bother. Oxbridge has now dropped this claim. Over-confidence is far more likely to harm you. Writing that “after following world politics for a number of years, I like to think of myself as a bit of an expert” will just make you look a brat. Given the time and effort spent by Oxbridge dons on becoming experts, they may also feel you lack the patience to succeed.

I’m not really sure I am smart enough to succeed. Should I say so?

While modesty is a virtue, you can overdo it. “I hope I shall be able to cope with the demands of university” is not a wise thing to say in an UCAS statement, yet students from non-university backgrounds often do.  If your teachers encouraged you to aim high and you are getting A-grades, you will cope. So, try to dwell on your enthusiasm for the course now, not your doubts.

Should I mention my career plans?
Only if  they are directly related to the course and you are fairly specific.  Saying that you want to be a scientist or entrepreneur is not enough. Also, try to show an awareness of the challenges involved in your future career and the qualities you bring to it.

I am applying for several different courses. How much should my statement focus on the Oxbridge one?
Not too much, or this may alienate other course leaders.  The best strategy here is to create a broader profile of your strengths and interests first. Then name a couple of different academic areas which therefore appeal to you, with reference to specific courses. Ideally, their subject areas should not be too far apart!
_____________

* - Please note that the alleged downloads of this book offered online are invariably old,   outdated editions. Avoid!