Plan a Personal Statement: How to Plan a Personal Statement This Summer (With Examples)

Preparing early is key when it comes to a standout personal statement.

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Why Year 12 Summer Is the Ideal Time to Start

Summer offers a golden opportunity to get ahead on your personal statement. With exams behind you and no daily school schedule, you have the mental space to reflect on your experiences and craft your story. Admissions deadlines will come faster than you think! For competitive courses (like Oxbridge or medicine), the UCAS deadline is as early as October 15th, and for most other courses, it's in January of Year 13. Schools often set internal deadlines in the autumn term, so starting in summer ensures you won't be rushing at the last minute. In fact, university advisors strongly recommend drafting your personal statement over the summer before Year 13, so you have time to get feedback from teachers or tutors and refine it well before submissions.

Planning in summer also means you can identify any gaps in your profile and address them. If you realise you have little to write about beyond your schoolwork, you still have the summer months to gain some experiences or deepen your subject knowledge (for example, through extra reading, online courses, volunteering, or work shadowing). By the time school resumes, you'll have both rich content to include and a solid draft in hand. This proactive approach will make the hectic autumn of Year 13 much more manageable.

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What Makes a Great Personal Statement?

Before diving into the planning steps, it's important to understand the purpose and qualities of an effective personal statement. A personal statement is a 4,000-character (about 47 lines) essay as part of your UCAS application where you explain why you want to study your chosen course and why you'd be a great candidate. In other words, it's your chance to show admissions tutors the person behind the grades – your passion, relevant experiences, skills, and aspirations.

Key ingredients of a strong personal statement include:

• Clear Motivation: Explain why you want to spend the next 3+ years studying your chosen subject and what sparks your interest. Admissions tutors want to know why this course excites you and how it fits your future goals.
  
• Relevant Experiences & Evidence: Show that your interest goes beyond the classroom. Give examples of what you've done outside of school to explore your subject – e.g. attending a science fair, volunteering, entering an essay competition, or pursuing a personal project. Highlight any work experience or extracurricular activities that relate to the field (especially important for vocational courses like medicine or engineering). This demonstrates genuine enthusiasm and initiative.
  
• Skills and Qualities: Demonstrate the skills that make you well-suited to the course. These might be technical skills, academic skills (research, analysis, problem-solving), or soft skills like communication and teamwork. Crucially, back up each quality with evidence – show how you developed or used the skill in context. (For example, instead of simply saying "I am organised," mention a time you successfully managed a project deadline or led a team task.)
  
• Academic Engagement: Discuss aspects of your current studies (A-level subjects or IB courses) that you enjoy and excel in, especially those relevant to your chosen degree. Perhaps there was a particular topic or project that inspired you – mention it and why it intrigued you. This shows you are engaged and curious in the academic side of things, not just chasing a grade.
  
• Personal Insight and Reflection: A great personal statement doesn't just list experiences; it reflects on them. Admissions tutors repeatedly say that what you learned from an experience matters more than just what you did. So for each experience or activity you include, briefly explain how it influenced you – maybe it confirmed your desire to study the subject, taught you a new perspective, or strengthened a relevant skill. This insight proves you've thought deeply about your journey.
  
• Enthusiastic Tone (with Authenticity): Let your passion for the subject come through in a positive, confident tone. Show enthusiasm, but keep it genuine – don't resort to overly flowery language or clichés. Remember, it's better to be sincere and specific than to use buzzwords. For instance, admissions tutors won't be impressed just by seeing the word "passionate" unless your story illustrates that passion.

Finally, keep in mind that a UCAS personal statement is one essay sent to all your university choices. You won't write separate versions for each university. So, avoid mentioning a specific university by name, and if you're applying to different courses, focus on common themes between them. Ideally, your choices will be similar (e.g. all biology-related courses) so that one statement can cover all. If not, find a way to make your interest broad enough to apply to all courses (for example, focusing on skills like critical thinking and love of learning, which are transferable).

Now that we know what the admissions officers are looking for, let's move on to planning how to deliver all these elements in your statement.

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Step 1: Brainstorm Your Ideas and Achievements

The first step is to brainstorm and gather content for your personal statement. Writing off the top of your head can be daunting, so start by making some notes or a mind map to capture the key points about you that could go into the statement. Here are a few guiding questions to ask yourself (write down your answers freely at first):

• What subject/course do I want to apply for, and why do I want to study it?
  (Think about what genuinely fascinates you about the subject or what sparked your interest.)
  
• What experiences have I had that show my interest in this subject?
  (Consider extracurricular activities, clubs, competitions, summer schools, work experience, volunteering, relevant hobbies, etc. that align with your subject.)
  
• What personal qualities or skills do I have that would make me a good student in this field?
  (For example, problem-solving, creativity, communication, teamwork, resilience... and how have I demonstrated these?)
  
• What are my other interests or achievements?
  (List any significant things you're proud of; positions of responsibility, music or sports accomplishments, projects, even if not directly related to your course, we might use them to show well-rounded character or specific skills.)

These questions form the spine of your personal statement content. Don't worry about wording at this stage, get down as many ideas as possible. You might end up with more material than you can use, and that's okay. The goal is to have a rich pool of content to draw from when you start writing.

Pro tip: Inspiration can strike at odd times, so keep a small notebook or a notes app on your phone handy over the summer. Whenever you think of a good point, maybe a quality you remembered you have, or an experience you initially overlooked, jot it down. You might recall something noteworthy while doing unrelated activities; capture it so you don't forget. Planning a personal statement is an ongoing process, and your notes will help you crystallise your thoughts.

As you brainstorm, also start thinking about which experiences are the strongest or most relevant. You likely won't have space for everything, so prioritise quality over quantity. For each item on your list, ask yourself: “Does this help show my motivation for the course or my suitability for it?” If not, it may not belong in your final statement (or it should be phrased in a way that it does support your application). For example, your achievement in playing piano might not relate to a physics degree directly – but you could use it to illustrate your discipline and perseverance (if you decide it's worth including at all). Always connect back to how each piece of your story supports your desire and readiness to study your chosen subject.

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Step 2: Use Your Summer to Strengthen Your Profile (and Reflect on It)

While brainstorming, you might identify some gaps – perhaps you feel you don't have enough examples of subject-related experiences to talk about. That's where your Year 12 summer comes in! This step is a bit beyond writing itself: it’s about doing enriching activities during summer that you can later write about in your personal statement. Think of it as killing two birds with one stone: you grow as a person and gather great material to include in your application.

A few ideas to consider this summer:

• Super-curricular Activities: Engage in activities that deepen your academic interest beyond the school syllabus. For instance, read books or journals related to your future course, take a free online course (MOOC), listen to podcasts or lectures, or work on a personal project. Universities love to see that you’ve taken initiative to learn independently about your subject. If you do this, keep notes on what you found interesting and why – you can mention specific insights in your statement to show genuine engagement.
  
• Volunteering or Work Experience: If possible, do some volunteering or get work experience in a relevant field. It doesn't have to be a prestigious internship; even a day shadowing a professional or a short stint at a local business/organisation helps. For example, a prospective medical student might volunteer at a care home, or a future engineer could visit a local engineering firm. Any real-world exposure to your field is valuable. It gives you concrete things to talk about and shows commitment. Remember to reflect on these experiences – what did you observe or learn? Perhaps volunteering at an animal shelter taught you about the responsibilities of veterinary care, or a week at a law firm opened your eyes to the importance of attention to detail. Such reflections can become powerful lines in your personal statement.
  
• Competitions and Summer Programs: Look for academic competitions, summer schools, or workshops. These not only boost your experience but also indicate enthusiasm. For instance, participating in a science Olympiad or attending a creative writing workshop can be mentioned to show you actively seek out challenges and learning opportunities. If you participated in any programs (even virtual ones), think about how it impacted you: did it confirm your interest or teach you a new skill? Those details can be golden in a personal statement.
  
• Hobbies and Other Interests: You don't need to force unrelated hobbies into your statement, but sometimes your non-academic interests can still be helpful. Maybe you play in a sports team – that could demonstrate teamwork or leadership. Or you run a personal blog, which shows initiative and communication skills. Plan to continue or deepen such commitments over the summer, so you have fresh achievements to mention. Just be sure to tie any hobby you include back to qualities relevant to university life or your course (e.g. "captaining the basketball team taught me how to collaborate and persevere, skills I will bring to group projects in an engineering degree").

Whatever you do, keep a log or diary of your summer activities. Write down what you did, when, and (crucially) what you got out of it. This habit serves two purposes: it ensures you don't forget to include important experiences, and it trains you to be reflective. Admissions officers appreciate when students discuss not just what they did, but how it affected them. In fact, reflecting on each experience –even briefly – is what turns a list of activities into a compelling narrative. As one advisor put it: it's not just what you’ve done, but how you describe and reflect on it that matters.

Finally, remember that summer is also for rest and recharging. Universities want motivated, passionate students, not burnt-out ones. So yes, use this time productively, but also take care of yourself. Balance is key. A well-rested mind will write better come autumn!

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How Ivy Education can help

Struggling to organise your ideas or structure your statement? Our consultants are here to help – contact us to discuss how we can support your application.

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Step 3: Outline Your Personal Statement Structure

Now that you have lots of ideas and potentially new experiences to include, it's time to plan the structure of your personal statement. Having a clear outline before you start writing will make the writing process much easier and ensure your statement has a logical flow. While there's no one "perfect" structure that fits all, many successful personal statements follow a similar general outline.

1. Introduction: A strong opening that grabs attention and states your motivation for the course. In the very first sentence, try to convey why this subject matters to you. Cut to the chase – avoid generic openings or childhood anecdotes. (We'll discuss in the next section how to craft a great intro and what clichés to avoid.) Your introduction might be one paragraph or two short paragraphs that enthusiastically and succinctly explain why you want to study this subject at university.
   
   
2. Academic and Subject Engagement: After the intro, focus on your academic interest and what you've done to pursue it. This is usually the core of the statement. You can mention aspects of your current studies that you find fascinating, specific topics or projects that inspired you, and any super-curricular activities (like extra reading or courses) you've undertaken. Show that you've engaged with your subject beyond school – for example, "Attending a public lecture on quantum mechanics at the local university sparked my curiosity to read more on particle physics..." – and explain what you learned or why it excited you. This section demonstrates intellectual curiosity and drive.
   
   
3. Work Experience and Extracurriculars: Next, include any work placements, volunteering, or relevant extracurricular activities you've done. Describe what you did briefly, but spend more time on what you took away from it. For instance, instead of just saying "I volunteered at a law clinic," you could write, "Volunteering at a community law clinic for two weeks taught me how legal principles directly impact individuals' lives, reinforcing my desire to study law and improving my ability to communicate complex information clearly." Link the skills or insights gained to your suitability for the course. If you have multiple examples, you can coherently group them (e.g. talk about two different engineering-related experiences in one paragraph). Tip: Admissions tutors acknowledge not everyone has access to internships or specific opportunities, so it's okay if your experience is from school clubs or personal initiatives – make sure to highlight what you gained from it. (Also, you do not need to mention standard school requirements like your A-level coursework; focus on beyond-the-classroom extras.)
   
   
4. Skills and Achievements: Throughout the above two sections, you should be weaving in the skills and qualities you've developed. However, you may also have other achievements or responsibilities worth mentioning (if you haven't already). For example, if you achieved something impressive (Duke of Edinburgh Award, Grade 8 Music, captain of a team, etc.), you could include a short mention in a way that relates to you as a good student. Be selective – choose something that shows dedication, leadership, creativity, or another trait universities value. Crucially, connect it to how it prepares you for university. For instance, "As head prefect, I honed my time-management and leadership skills by balancing schoolwork with organising student events – skills I will bring to university study groups and projects." This section can be combined with extracurriculars or separated, depending on how you prefer to organise.
   
   
5. Conclusion: Finally, wrap up your personal statement with a brief conclusion. This is your chance to leave a strong final impression. Reiterate your enthusiasm for the course and perhaps your long-term goal. You might tie back to your opening theme (if you began with a particular anecdote or idea) for a sense of coming full circle. The last line or two should emphasise why you would be an excellent addition to the university and are fully committed to the subject. You want the reader to finish your statement thinking, "This student is truly passionate and prepared for this course."

This outline isn't rigid, but it helps ensure you cover all important points. Notice how the focus remains heavily on the chosen subject and your readiness for it. In fact, we would suggest that about 60% of your content should be about why you want to study the course and how you're suited to it, ~30% on relevant experiences (academic or extracurricular), and maybe 10% on your career aspirations or closing thoughts. While you don't need to follow an exact percentage, it's a good reminder not to go off on tangents. University admissions tutors primarily care about your academic passion and potential. Things like hobbies or general statements should not take up too much space, unless they directly contribute to that narrative.

Take your brainstorm notes from Step 1 and start slotting the ideas into this rough structure. For example, if you have three science-related experiences, they might all fit into one body paragraph about what you've done to explore science outside class. If you have a unique story for why you chose the subject, that belongs in the intro. If an experience gave you a specific skill, decide whether to mention that in the experience paragraph or a separate skills paragraph. Organise your content logically, so the statement flows like a cohesive story of you, the aspiring university student.

It can help to actually write an outline on paper or a document: bullet out each paragraph with its main point and which examples you'll use. This will be your roadmap when writing the full draft.

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Step 4: Write the First Draft – Tell Your Story, Don’t Just List (with Examples)

Once you have a plan, it's time to start writing your personal statement draft. This is often the hardest part – facing the blank page. But remember, since you've done the prep work, you now know what you want to include. The key now is to convey it in a clear, engaging way. Here are some writing tips and common pitfalls to keep in mind as you draft:

• Grab attention from the start: Your opening sentence should be strong and specific to you. Avoid overly common openings like "From a young age, I have always been interested in X..." or "I have always been passionate about Y..." – admissions tutors have seen these clichés countless times. Instead of a generic statement, consider starting with a brief anecdote, a vivid observation, or a reflection that led you to your subject. For example, instead of "I have always been fascinated by computer science," you might start with "When I built my first simple mobile app to help my classmates schedule homework, I realised computer science was not just theory – it was a powerful tool to solve everyday problems." This kind of opening is personal and memorable, and it immediately shows why you care about the subject. It also avoids the trap of sounding like everyone else.
• Show, Don't (Just) Tell: This writing rule is crucial in personal statements. Rather than making big claims about yourself with fancy adjectives, demonstrate those qualities through examples. Admissions officers read lines like "I am extremely dedicated and hardworking" all the time – those words alone don't impress. Instead, show your dedication by describing an instance of it. For instance:
  • Telling (weaker): "I am a very curious and committed student of history."
  • Showing (stronger): "Curiosity drove me to spend my summer tracing my town’s World War II history at the local archive, where I often lost track of time delving into primary documents."
    The second version demonstrates curiosity and commitment through action, rather than just stating it. Whenever possible, replace a claim with a concrete example or story. This makes your personal statement far more convincing. As one guide puts it, simply calling a subject “thrilling” or “amazing” is ineffective – you need to prove your enthusiasm by sharing what you've done about it.
• Be Specific and Personal: General statements like "I love reading" or "I find science interesting" could apply to anybody and won't make you stand out. Always tie statements to specifics about you. If you love reading, name a book or author that particularly inspired you (and why). If science fascinates you, mention a specific concept or project that hooked you. For example, "Learning about entropy in chemistry class, I was so intrigued that I conducted a small experiment at home to measure how temperature affected reaction rates, which taught me how scientific theory translates into reality." Specific details like that paint a picture of you as an engaged learner. They also give admissions tutors something concrete to remember.
  
• Reflect on Every Experience You Include: As emphasized earlier, don't just list achievements or responsibilities without context. For each experience in your statement, include a sentence about what it taught you or how it influenced your goals. For example: "Volunteering at the city library’s summer program not only improved my communication skills, but also revealed to me the joy of teaching others – a discovery that solidified my decision to pursue English literature and eventually a career in education." This shows the admissions tutor why the experience was meaningful. A common mistake is to present a long list of activities hoping to impress; it's far better to pick a few and really delve into what you got out of them
  
• Avoid Repetition and Irrelevant Details: You have limited space (4,000 characters isn't much, roughly 600-700 words), so every sentence should add value. Don't repeat information that appears elsewhere in your application. For instance, there's no need to state your A-level subjects or grades in the personal statement – those are already in your UCAS form. Use the space for things that aren't captured elsewhere, like your insights and experiences. Also, avoid padding your statement with lengthy descriptions of minor activities or overly flowery language. Aim for a clear, concise style. Remember the personal statement is not a literary essay; it's more of a motivational and reflective piece. As the Uni Guide advises, keep each point snappy and succinct, and once you've made a point, move on.
  
• Keep the Focus Academic/Course-Oriented: While it's okay to mention one or two non-academic interests to show you're well-rounded, the bulk of your statement should relate to your chosen field. Admissions tutors mainly want to see your aptitude and enthusiasm for the subject you're applying for. If you talk about a hobby or other achievement, connect it to how it prepares you for university or your course (as mentioned in the structure outline). For example, talking about playing football is only helpful if you draw a link like, "Years of playing as a team taught me discipline and teamwork, which I now apply in collaborative science projects." If something you initially wanted to mention doesn't tie in, consider leaving it out to keep your statement tightly focused.

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Dos and Don'ts on Writing the First Draft of Your Personal Statement

Let's illustrate the dos and don'ts with a quick example around a hypothetical student interested in Biology:

• Don't (Generic statement): "I have always loved biology, and I am very passionate about science. I am also a hard worker and have good time management skills."
• Do (Specific example with reflection): "My passion for biology truly took off when I spent a week at a marine biology centre during Year 12. Observing marine life up close – and even assisting a researcher in tagging baby turtles – gave me a first-hand look at animal conservation. This experience not only cemented my desire to study biology at university, but also taught me the importance of patience and meticulous observation (especially when those turtles didn't always cooperate!). Back at school, it motivated me to undertake an extended project on marine ecosystems, which improved my time management as I balanced it with coursework."

The "Do" example above packs in a lot: it shows specific interest (marine biology centre, tagging turtles), it reflects on what was learned (patience, observation skills), and connects to an academic pursuit (an extended project), demonstrating skills like time management. It shows the student's enthusiasm and qualities, rather than just telling in vague terms. Plus, it's personal to that student; no one else will have the exact same story, which makes it memorable.

As you write your first draft, don't worry about the character limit too much. It's actually recommended to write freely and get everything important down, even if you end up with more than 4,000 characters initially. You can always edit and trim later. It's easier to cut down a long draft than it is to add more to a too-short one. So let your words flow. You might end up writing, say, 5,000 or 6,000 characters – that's perfectly fine for a first draft.

Lastly, write your draft in a safe place (like a Word document or Google Doc) and save your work often. UCAS Hub (the application portal) does have a form for the personal statement, but it's best to paste your final version in later. Writing in a separate document allows you to spell-check and revise without stress and you'll have a backup saved in case of any technical issues. Just remember that certain special characters or formatting (like fancy quotation marks or accents) might not transfer perfectly to UCAS, so double-check after pasting that everything looks correct.

With your first full draft written, congratulations – the hardest part is over! You now have raw material to work with. The next step is making it shine.

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Step 5: Revise, Refine, and Get Feedback

Writing is rewriting. Once you have a draft, expect to go through multiple rounds of edits. Even professional writers refine their work many times, so don't be discouraged. Here’s how to polish your personal statement into its best form:

• Take a Break, Then Review with Fresh Eyes: After completing your draft, take a day or two away from it. Coming back with a fresh perspective will help you catch mistakes or awkward phrasing you might have missed. When you reread, look for clarity and impact: Does the opening grab you? Is each paragraph supporting your central theme (your suitability for the course)? Are there any sentences that are repetitive or not pulling their weight? Cut out any fluff. Ensure that every sentence either reveals something about your interest in the course, your relevant experiences, or your positive qualities. If it doesn't, consider removing or rephrasing it.
  
• Check Spelling and Grammar Meticulously: A personal statement riddled with spelling or grammatical errors leaves a poor impression. It might suggest carelessness or lack of effort – not the message you want to send after spending months writing it. So, proofread carefully (more than once). Use spell-check tools, but also read it yourself slowly (reading out loud can help catch errors or weird phrasing). It's often effective to print it out on paper; seeing it in a different format might make mistakes stand out. Remember, you have months to prepare this, so there really is no excuse for sloppy errors by the end.
  
• Get Feedback from Trusted People: Seek out a teacher, tutor, or mentor to review your statement. In Year 13, usually your form tutor or a college counsellor will be experienced in this and can provide invaluable advice. Given that you're doing this in summer, you might email a teacher or use any available advisors (some schools have personal statement workshops before summer break ends). Additionally, a parent or friend can read it to give a general impression (do they understand your motivations clearly? Does it sound like you?). When you receive feedback, be open to critique. If a teacher suggests that a section doesn't make sense or that you should elaborate on something, give it serious thought – they've likely seen many personal statements and know what works. However, remember the final piece must be in your voice. Use others' feedback to improve your writing, but ensure it still feels genuine to you and not like a template.
  
• Common Edits to Look For: Check that your statement has a good balance of components. Is it too tilted toward extracurriculars and barely mentions academics? If so, adjust to emphasise academic interest more. Is the tone positive and confident without being arrogant? You want to "sell" yourself confidently, but not come across as bragging or insincere. Also, verify that the flow is logical – maybe have someone who doesn't know you read it and see if your reasoning for choosing the course is clear to them and if the statement as a whole tells a coherent story.
  
• Trim to Fit the Limit: If your draft is over 4,000 characters or 47 lines, you'll need to cut it down. This can be challenging, but it often leads to a tighter, better statement. Look for any redundancies (are you saying the same thing twice in different words?). Remove filler phrases ("in order to", "I believe that", etc., can sometimes be cut without changing meaning). You might have to sacrifice less important details or an example that isn't as strong – refer back to your brainstorm list and ensure only the best stuff made the cut. Aim to get under the limit with a bit of room to spare (some recommend keeping to around 3,500-3,800 characters) so that you're safely within both the character and line count when pasted into UCAS. Remember that adding paragraph breaks (which you should, for readability) counts toward the 47-line limit, so keep an eye on that too.
  
• Final Quality Control: Do a last quality check before you consider it final. Ensure the formatting is simple (no special characters that might not appear correctly). Double-check any course specifics if you mentioned them (e.g., if you reference a book or work, make sure you got the title/author right!). Ensure your facts are accurate (don't claim 10 months of volunteering if it was 5, or an award that you actually didn’t complete – honesty is important because you might be asked about anything you wrote at an interview). And definitely do not plagiarise any part of your statement – UCAS uses plagiarism detection software across all submitted statements. It's fine to get inspiration by reading example statements online, but your wording must be your own and reflect your own experiences. (Copy-pasting someone else's clever line isn't worth the risk because admissions tutors have likely seen it before anyway.)

Before you hit submit, it's normal to feel a bit nervous. Take comfort in the fact that you've put in the time and thought to make your personal statement as strong as it can be. You've had it reviewed by others, you've edited it thoroughly, and you've been honest and reflective. That’s exactly what you’re supposed to do. At some point, you have to declare it "done."

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Final Thoughts: Confidence and Next Steps

Planning your personal statement over the summer sets you up for success. You'll enter Year 13 with a polished draft, a clear sense of direction, and less stress when deadlines hit. It’s also great preparation for interviews, where you may be asked to discuss anything you've written.

Be authentic. Your personal statement should sound like you – sincere, clear, and confident. Admissions tutors read thousands of statements and can spot when someone’s writing what they think they're supposed to say. Speak in your own voice, and focus on what genuinely excites you about your chosen course.

Use examples. Specific experiences, projects, or books say more about your enthusiasm and ability than vague claims ever could. If you write, “I’m a great team player,” show us how you proved that.

Anticipate next steps. If you're applying to a competitive course, make sure you've addressed the key qualities they look for. And coordinate with your referees – some information might be better left to your reference than squeezed into your statement.

Get ready for interviews. Keep a copy of your final statement and review it before any interviews. Be prepared to talk in more detail about anything you've mentioned – and stay honest throughout.

Lastly, give yourself credit. Starting early takes initiative and maturity. A strong personal statement now gives you space to focus on other parts of your application later. And when it’s finished – celebrate! You’ve completed a major milestone in your journey to university.

Good luck – and enjoy the process!

If you'd like expert, personalised help with your university application, explore our UK University Consultancy to see how we can support you.

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