영문 서류 작성법 (한글)

영문서류 작성법 대학에서 Autobiography, Statement of Purpose 및 Essay 등을 제출하라고 하는 것에는 여러 가지 목적이 있다. 물론 일차적으로는 이런 서류 등을 통해서 지원자가 어떤 사람이냐 하는 것을 알려고 하는 것이지만 그 외에 제출하는 사람의 기본적인 자질도 보게 된다. 하다 못해 철자가 맞았나, 문법이 맞았나, 문장의 logic은 있는가, 여러 문장을 연결할 수 있는 능력이 되는가, 자기의 생각을 충분히 쓸 능력이 되는가 하는 것도 동시에 체크하게 되는 것이다. 이런 서류들이 입학을 결정하는데 있어서 얼마나 중요한 역할을 하느냐 하는 것은 학교에 따라 다르고 년도에 따라서 어느 정도 다르다고 할 수 있으며, 또한 입학을 결정하는 Committee member 의 구성에 따라서 다를 수 있다. 그러나 학교성적 및 영어성적 등이 이미 fix가 된 상황에서 자기소개서, 학업계획서, 추천서 등의 역할은 절대적이라고 할 수 있다.

아래의 Checkpoint는 Autobiography, Personal Essay, Statement of Purpose, 그리고 Letter of Recommendation의 작성시에도 적용될 수 있는 사항들이므로, 아래의 내용에 대한 기본적인 골격을 머리에 넣고 있는 것이 좋겠다. 또한 서류가 작성이 되었을 경우에도 다시 한번 아래 내용을 체크하여 내용이 충분히 반영이 되었나를 다시 한번 살펴보면 좋을 것이다.

< TIPS BEFORE YOU WRITE >

1. Read what the University says what it is.
대학을 선정하게 되면 응시원서와 카다로그 등을 요구하게 된다. 요즘은 웬만한 학교도 on-line으로 입학원서를 신청하면 자기들이 돈을 들여 관련 서류를 우송하므로 응시대상에 올라 있는 학교들에 미리 자료를 신청해 놓는 것이 좋다. 신청후 서류를 받는데까지 20일에서 1달 정도 소요되므로 일찍 신청할수록 좋다.
서류를 받으면 서류의 내용을 꼼꼼하게 살펴보아야 한다. 응시원서는 물론이고 동봉해온 카다로그 등을 꼼꼼하게 읽어서 학교(과)에서 어떤류의 학생을 뽑는 것인지 충분히 파악을 해야 한다.

2. Read directions carefully.
응시원서에 써진 작성방법은 꼼꼼하게 읽어야 한다. 만약 중요한 아이템을 잘못 썼을 경우에는 원서가 되돌아 올 수도 있고 그렇지 않으면 입학사정시 어떤 '해'가 미칠지도 모른다. 자기소개서, 엣세이, 학업계획서,진술서 등은 학교측에서 요구하는 내용을 따르되 약간의 파격을 넣고자 할 때는 파격이 허용되는지를 판단해야 한다. 특히, 학교측에서 미리 fix 된 format을 보낼 경우에는 이에 맞추어야 하며 요청하는 내용을 정확하게 써야 한다. 무엇을 물어보는지 아리송한 경우도 있을 수 있는데 이 경우에는 교수나 다른 사람한테 물어봐서 정확한 의미를 파악하는 것이 좋다.

3. Clearly specify your objectives.
본인이 공부하려는 목적을 기술해 본다. 대학에서 해당전공을 택한 이유가 무엇인지, 앞으로 할려는 학과나 분야를 왜 공부하려는 것인지, 전공이 바뀔 경우 왜 바꾸려고 하는지 등 미국의 특정대학에서 공부하여 얻을려고 하는 것이 무엇인지를 기술해 본다.

4. Focus on what makes you different from other candidates.
나는 다른 지원자하고 무엇이, 왜 다른지를 기술한다. 종종 한국학생들끼리 경쟁하는 경우도 있으므로 이것도 염두에 두어야 한다. 만약 한국에서 온 학생을 한명만 뽑는다고 하고 두명이 지원했다고 하면 이 경우는 다른 학생들과의 경쟁이 아니라 한국학생과의 경쟁이 되는 것이다. 자신이 다른 사람과 다른 점이 무엇인지 곰곰히 생각해 보고 이점이 서류를 보는 사람들에게 make sense하게 느껴질 것인지를 생각해야 한다. 자신이 가진 강점이 정말 차별화가 가능한 요소라고 하면 이점을 충분히 강조해야 한다. 미국 대학원의 입학경쟁이 치열해 지면서 차별화전략의 중요성이 점점 증가하고 있다. GRE, GMAT, GPA 등에서 월등히 앞서지 않는 한 각종 writing 서류에서 차별화 하는 것이 당락의 주요 원인이 되는 경우가 많다는 것이다.

5. List what you have done and achieved: academic and extracurricular activities, and job expriences.
학부나 대학원에서 자신이 성취한 것들이나 과외 활동에서 성취한 것들을 나열한다. 그것도 상당히 detail하게 하는 것이 좋다. 석사과정으로 가는 학생이라면 이런 것에 대해 별로 이야기 할 것이 없는 경우가 대부분일 테지만 그래도 나열해야 한다. 학부를 4년이나 다녔는 데 뭔가가 없을 수가 없다. 직장 경력이 있는 사람일 경우 비교적 자신이 성취한 것을 기술하기가 쉽다. 특히, 이 경우는 미국에서 확인이 곤란하다(?). 그렇다고 '반드시' 거짓말을 쓰라는 말은 아니다. 과장이나 미화는 허용될 수 있으나 거짓은 재앙을 불러 올 수 있다. 자신이 성취했다고 내세우는 사항들은 의미가 있는 것이어야 한다. 별 것도 아닌 것을 성취했다고 하면 우습게 된다.

6. List your competitve strengths and weaknesses.
자신의 강점과 약점을 솔직하게 정리해 본다. 자신의 성적 뿐만 아니라 성격까지도 폭넓게 기술한다. 자신의 강점을 부각하고 약점으로 비춰질 수 있는 부분을 덮을 수 있는 방안을 강구한다.

7. Brainstorm your thoughts.
위에 기술한 내용을 참조로 항목별로 적어 놓은 다음에 구체적으로 각각의 항목에 대해 brainstorm을 하는 것이 좋다. 다음은 brainstorm을 할 때 참고할 사항들이다.

Brainstorming points.
- What differentiate me from other applicants?
- How I am different?
- What are the examples that I can say I am different?
- What do I enjoy doing: academic and extracurricular?
- What have I accomplished: academic, extracurricular, job?
- What am I proud of?
- What experiences do I have in the field I am applying to?
- How do I project myself in 10 years? What do I want to be?
- Why do I think the school is right for me?
- What do I know about the school and the department?
- What are the main issues in the field I am applying to?
- What are the main issues in the subject I want to study?
- What are the basic necessities for studying the area that I want to study?
- Do I have those basic necessities? On what ground can I say that?
- What are the reputations I have: from my friends, teachers, and family members?

< TIPS WHEN YOU WRITE >

1. Try to show yourself-don't just tell: use examples instead of stating things.
'저는 일찍이 충남의 한 시골에서 둘째로 태어나서...' 이런 소리는 적어봤자 별 도움이 안된다. 자신의 가치를 어떻게 하면 나타낼 수 있는가가 중요하다. 어떻게 해야 자신의 가치를 부각시킬 것인가를 생각하고 이를 표현해야 한다. 또한 문장의 전체 구성도 전략적으로 접근할 필요가 있다. 예를 들어 도입부에서 결론을 내리고 진행한다거나, 도입부에서 약간은 shocking한 출발을 하는 것도 괜찮다고 본다. committee member들은 엄청나게 많은 서류를 본다. 재미없는 도입부보다는 흥미있거나 shocking한 도입부로 시작하면 보는 사람의 눈을 끝까지 잡는데 유리하다.

2. Write positive and proactive.
글에는 자신이 긍적적이고 진취적 또는 적극적인 사고를 가진 사람이라는 것이 나타나야 한다. 공부할 기회를 적극적으로 추구하고 있다는 것이 문장의 tone & manner에 나타나야 한다.

3. Be a main actor, not a supporting actor.
글의 tone & manner 에 있어서도 남의 이야기 하듯이 서술적으로 쓰는 것 보다는 주관적으로 쓰는 것이 좋다. 자기소개서, 학업계획서 등은 일종의 광고와도 같다. 자기를 제품으로 하여 Committee 에 자신을 파는 것과 같다. 따라서 허황된 광고는 금물이나 자기자신을 팔기에 충분한 '자신의 이야기'가 들어 있어야 한다.

4. Be clear, conscise, direct and meaningful.
모호한 문장이나 문체, 단어는 피하는 것이 좋다. 분명하고 단호하되 직접적인 용어를 고르는 것이 좋다. 또한 현란한 수식어는 피하고 sentence 하나 하나가 완전하기 보다는 하나 하나의 단락이 완전한 것이 중요하다. 단어는 자신이 뜻하는 바를 정확히 전달할 수 있는 단어를 신중히 선택하는 것이 좋다. 서류는 보는 사람에게 자신이 하고 싶은 바를 'simple, clear & fast'하게 전달하는 것이 중요하다.

5. Don't be redundant.
경우에 따라 알게 모르게 쓴 내용을 또 쓰는 경우가 있다. 똑같지는 않아도 내용이 비슷한 문장은 선택을 하여 삭제하는 것이 좋다.

6. Don't put too many ideas. 자기소개서나 학업계획서에 너무 많은 아이디어가 들어가 있으면 곤란하다. 똘똘한 놈 하나가 잡동사니 여럿보다 더 낫다.

7. Be formal.
입학을 위한 서류는 공식서류이다. 주관적인 시각을 견지해야 하나 'personal'한 인식을 주면 안된다. 좀 어려울 지 모르나, 내용은 personal해도 tone & manner는 공식적이어야 하고 단어의 사용도 공식적이어야 하며, 특히 문장작성의 형식도 통일되어 있어야 한다.

< TIPS AFTER YOU WRITE >

1. Take a break a few days and review it yourself.
작성을 끝마치고 나서 본인이 약간의 시간을 가진 다음 서류를 다시 보는 것이 좋다. 종종 어제 쓴 글이 아침에 일어나서 보면 우스운 생각이 들 때가 있다. 따라서 약간 시간이 지난 후에 다시 보되, 이때의 포인트는 글의 전체 윤곽이 잡혀 있는가, 학교에서 요구하는 사항이 충분히 반영이 되어 있는가, 내가 보기에 다른 지원자가 쓴 것보다 차별화가 될 수 있는가, 보는 사람이 관심을 보일 만한 내용이 충분하게 들어 있는가 등에 초점을 맞추어야 한다. 본인이 보기에 좀 이상한 단락이나 문장이 있으면 그것은 다른 사람도 그렇게 본다고 생각하는 것이 정확할 것이다.

2. Have someone review what you wrote.
대부분의 한국지원자가 TOEFL이나 GRE, GMAT 등의 점수와 관계없이 영작이 서투른게 정상이다. 또한 문법적으로 아무리 완전하더라도 syntax나 문장의 flow에 문제가 발생하는 경우가 다반사이다. 외국인이 지원한 것이니 좀 감안을 해 줄 것이다 하는 기대는 안하는 것이 좋다. 어느정도 랭킹이 되는 학교의 경우 그러기가 힘이 들다. 특히, 박사과정의 경우는 꿈 깨는 것이 좋고, 석사과정의 경우라 해도 다른 한국학생이나 다른 외국학생과 비교가 된다는 것을 염두에 두어야 한다. Review는 다음과 같이 받는 것이 좋다. 우선은 정상적으로 미국에서 학사과정 이상을 이수한 미국인한테 받는다. 철자, 문법, 문장의 흐름등을 review point로 하고, 그런 다음에 해당 학과의 교수한테 review를 받는다. 이 때에는 글 내용의 적절성, 문장의 logic 등에 point를 맞춘다. 가능하다면 영문과 교수한테 가서 자문을 받는다. 최종적으로 수정이 되면 다시 한번 미국인한테 proofreading을 받는 것도 좋다.

[출처] [본문 스크랩] 학업계획서 작성법|

(영문 학업 계획서 샘플) Government personal statement

Government personal statement

On a vacation to the Krak des Chevaliers and Palmyra in the Syrian Desert, I witnessed the rich culture of the Middle Eastern people. This region is generally perceived by western democracies as a constant source of political and social turmoil. This may be true for the most part; however, many areas in the region are as modern and peaceful as any western nation. Further to being raised in a multi-cultural family with a Beirut-born father of Palestinian, Syrian and Armenian heritage and a Maltese mother, I have developed a strong interest in foreign cultures. Therefore, I believe that Political Science will be the most appropriate and applicable course to pursue given both my personal background and interests.

 

As one of Canadas most cosmopolitan cities, my native Toronto attracts many foreigners: some are looking for better living conditions and job opportunities; others are on exchange to learn English and benefit from higher education. As a child growing up in this vibrant city, I would look forward to my family housing exchange students. This rewarding experience prompted me to volunteer at summer camps, where I taught ESL to students from 6 to 18 years of age.My many encounters and experiences with foreign cultures have nourished my passion for travel. This was fostered by my parents who, three years ago, decided to move our family to the Turks and Caicos Islands, a small but rapidly developing country in the Northern Caribbean. Many deprived nations in the region, such as Haiti, have seen their people immigrate to the TCI, whose economic stability has been underpinned by many of these immigrants who have undertaken most of the menial work necessary for a flourishing economy. However, I have too often witnessed many of these workers being the victims of exploitation and discrimination. During an internship at the Magistrate Court in the summer of 2008, I personally marshalled the Court Magistrate and took a particular interest in Immigration Law and the consequences of working in a country illegally. Further to working at the courts, I interned at a law firm, where I was given the opportunity to shadow lawyers at the Labour Tribunal and see, first-hand, the exploitation of workers, and their employers' disregard for labour laws.

 

After successfully completing my IGCSE's, I have enjoyed the challenge of Advanced level studies in Geography, History, Business Studies and English Literature. As a young Geographer, I have attended local conferences, such as the symposium, with former US vice-president, Al Gore, as the main speaker on the contentious topic of climate change. My perception of how environmental issues affect all aspects of human welfare was reinforced when I was selected to spend a day with the Minister of Natural Resources. Last September, I was able to further develop my knowledge of local environmental issues, as I witnessed the impact of hurricane Ike on the welfare of residents and the economy. At school, I eagerly participate in many social activities. I particularly enjoy being a mentor to younger students, whom I advise and tutor whenever needed. I have been able to further develop both my leadership and communication skills, as I was selected as Deputy Head Boy by the Principal and elected House Captain by my peers. Being a team player is vital to me. I have tried to do so by being an active member of the Yorkland swim team, trumpeter in the school orchestral band, Senior Editor of the yearbook and the Current Events Editor of the school newspaper. As a result, my enthusiasm and dependability within the school were rewarded when I received the "Top Student in Year 12" award, an achievement that I hope to repeat in my final year of A-Levels.

 

I hope this presents to you a well-rounded student, equipped with the skills necessary to succeed at university. I look forward to being introduced to new academic and social challenges as well as experiencing European culture.

(영문 학업 계획서 샘플) History of Art Personal Statement

History of Art Personal Statement

History of Art is the door to artistic, cultural, historical and personal enrichment. With motivation and effort it can also lead to truly interesting career opportunities, most notably as far as I am concerned, fine art auctioneer. It is one of the most appealing and diverse subjects you can work with as it expresses itself through various supports. It allows you to gain access to cultures throughout the world, their beliefs and history through a single still image, a sculpture or even a white canvas.
Art is an uncompromised, satirical and beautiful gateway to the world and the history of mankind. Art is not only beautiful, choking, impressive or esthetical, Art is a testimony of historical patrimony, and this is one of the main reasons I want to study History of Art.

 

My interest in the subject started in my school years during which I obtained outstanding grades in History, Art and Literature. My passion for the subject flowed out into my social life as I attended weekly cultural seminars organized by "Les Amis des Arts et de la Culture" in Monaco. For personal reasons I decided not go to university after completing my Baccalaureat but this did not affect my interest in Art. In my spare time I developed a great enthusiasm for photography. My grand-father taught me how to develop pictures when I was 13 and I was at once attracted to the mixture of art and information as captured by the legendary Cartier Bresson. Furthermore, being able to step away from the world and become more than a spectator was a welcome relief from a hard day's work.

 

During my professional experience I was fortunate enough to be involved in the "Dali a Monte-Carlo" exhibition organized in Monaco during the summer of 2005, by contributing to the research and drafting of the Press Book. This was a challenging and demanding task, which involved to compiling and summarizing the content of the exhibition/show. I thoroughly enjoyed carrying out an in-depth study of the artist as revealed by the photographs exposed to the public, which were taken during the autumn he spent in Monaco. Recently I have been fortunate enough to work as assistant to Walera Martynchik two nights a week, which I believe, will greatly expand my artistic horizons.

 

Outside of Art I very much enjoy music including blues, folk, rock and jazz. During my professional career I have had the good fortune to be involved in various radio and music magazine based projects, culminating in an interview with Frank Black over a cup of tea after the Pixies concert in Six-Fours-les-Bains. I try to attend concerts as often as possible as I enjoy combination of the enthusiasm and spectacle with the music that create 'the show'. I am also very much a travel enthusiast and recently traveled around South America. On my travels I learnt Spanish, giving me a firsthand insight into the various foreign cultures.

All this considered, I would like to make Art a greater part of my life and turn my passion for the subject into a career. I aim to work in an auction house, as a Fine Art specialist. As a mature student, I can truly benefit from the cultural background I acquired through my personal and professional activities and become a successful student.
I realize I still have so much to learn and discover and I believe that an undergraduate course in History of Art presents me with the perfect opportunity to achieve my goals.

(영문 학업 계획서 샘플) Maths Personal Statement

Maths Personal Statement

The idea of proof has always held a real fascination for me. The process of starting from a simple set of axioms and deriving almost any mathematical truth (putting Godel to one side) is what truly separates Mathematics from any other subject. It is the closest we can ever get to absolute truth, and therein lies its sheer beauty and the reason it is the only subject for me. Of course, it's also a good deal of fun.

 

I have tried to extend my Maths as much as possible beyond the classroom, and whenever I do so I uncover either some completely new and intriguing area of Mathematics or a very neat trick I hadn't thought of in more familiar territory. One example of this is my attendance at weekly lectures given by the department of Mathematics at Bristol University, covering topics from the Mathematics of juggling to quantum mechanics, although some of my favourites have been those on the less exotic "inequalities", which taught me a lot about thinking about problems creatively. I also attended a summer school run by the National Academy of Gifted and Talented Youth at the University of Durham, where I spent two weeks being introduced to various approachable first year undergraduate topics such as proof by induction, Markov chains and using Maple. This experience not only allowed me to discover areas of Mathematics I would not otherwise have encountered, but also gave me a small taste of university life, as there was a large number of us living in one of the colleges. I am also involved in the UKMT mentoring scheme, whereby each month I am given a sheet of questions in areas not touched on at A level, such as geometry and number theory, giving me a good opportunity to explore new mathematical ideas myself, and gain a much deeper appreciation of the interconnections within Mathematics and the creation of proofs. I am a member of the school's Maths team and we are regularly successful in competing against teams from other schools in the area. I also attend STEP sessions at local schools when available, as I find the questions much more interesting than the standard A level ones, and thinking about how to solve them has greatly improved my rigour in approaching problems.

 

Among the mathematical books I have read, I enjoyed "Godel, Escher, Bach", which gives a good grounding in axiomatic reasoning and formal systems, whilst at the same time pointing out their major flaw. I also liked "To infinity and beyond" by Eli Maor, which deals with the concept of infinity, its implications and its paradoxes, both in Maths and elsewhere.

 

I particularly enjoy the pure side of the A level syllabus, especially trigonometry and calculus, as they involve a certain degree of proof and introduce new concepts. I believe my other academic subjects all complement Mathematics as they are about finding ways of describing reality, be it through language in French or through equations and models in Physics and Chemistry. I find Critical Thinking especially relevant as it is about the construction of sound logical arguments, an art lying at the heart of Mathematics in proof. I have acheived an A grade in all modules across all my subjects.

 

In my spare time, I practise kickboxing, and have competed in various local competitions. As a volunteer, I am involved in a year seven Maths mentoring scheme and help at a homeless shelter. I enjoy travelling, and will be going to Nicaragua for a month after my A levels to help in a small village, explore the local jungles and volcanoes and practise my Spanish. I lived in France from the ages of 9 to 12, and learnt to adapt to a new language and culture.

I very much look forward to exploring the new ideas of University level Mathematics, and playing a full part in University life.

(영문 학업 계획서 샘플) Medicine personal statement

Medicine personal statement

From an early age I have been fascinated by the workings of life. The human body is a remarkable machine with many diverse systems producing an organism that could never be artificially reproduced. My love of science is just one of my reasons for choosing medicine. I enjoy a challenge particularly towards a rewarding objective and although medicine is a tough career it can be enormously gratifying, highlighted by the doctors I have spoken to during my experience and on a personal level.

 

To further my insight into the medical field I participated in a work shadowing week at a GP surgery. I gained a valuable understanding of the workings of the surgery, with opportunities to observe and speak to the doctors regarding a medical career. I arranged another placement week myself at a local hospital, which was a superb opportunity to observe medicine from another point of view. I observed the ward rounds, an MRI scan, a skin biopsy and an endosocpy clinic all which I found interesting. I spent the most time with the haematology team, responsible for patients with diseases such as Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia (CML), haematology being one of my interests it was captivating that I could see the specialty from a more complex side than the AS biology course. For example I was able to understand how the level of platelets affects blood clotting. Throughout the week I expanded my confidence and communication skills through speaking to patients and doctors. Although I enjoyed the week it was at times extremely heart-rending, I was able to get close to many of the terminally ill patients helping and caring for them where I could, getting them tea or just talking and empathising with them to build their spirits. I volunteered at a local home for the elderly which was very rewarding as I built my caring skills, helping residents by making them tea or playing cards with them. At school I took part in a paired reading scheme for 6 months where I was able to help young children to read, speaking and listening to them to help their English. All my experience has made me more determined to accomplish my ambition to be a doctor.

 

My love of science and aspiration for a medical career is reflected in my A-Level choices where good time management, self motivated study skills and ability to cope with stress and pressure are essential. Biology and chemistry have helped me further my interest and develop my analytical skills, maths helps my problem solving skills helping me to work logically and ICT gives me a valuable insight into the rapidly developing technological world where computers are crucial. I believe all the qualities I have developed through my courses are essential for any good doctor.

I have participated in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme which enabled me to achieve a first aid certificate including cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. I also enhanced my inter-personal, communication and team building abilities, valuable skills for any medical occupation, as I witnessed during my experience. For 2 years I have volunteered at a local vet hospital observing and helping out 2 hours per week communicating with the public in a different environment. I enjoy reading, mainly factual books to expand my general knowledge. To relax, I enjoy sports including football, and cricket for which I was captain of the school team and my local team for the past 3 years improving my leadership skills. I also recently rekindled my childhood passion for golf, another pastime I enjoy even if it is a little expensive!

 

I am a self motivated, determined individual and I look forward to the social and academic challenges of university. I am aware of the demands of a medical career but my commitment and desire to become a doctor has only been strengthened through my experience and work in a voluntary capacity.

(영문 학업 계획서 샘플) Economics personal statement

Economics personal statement

Examination of any quality newspaper will probably demonstrate that more of the headlines address economic problems than any other topic. The importance and relevance of economic related disciplines to the modern world have led me to want to pursue the study of the subject at a higher level. I am particularly interested in the behaviour of firms and organisations from an economic point of view and I have based my A-level coursework in this field. During my study, I have come across many real life complexities and while attempting to explain these theories, I have developed a keen interest in analysing and understanding how the world of business is influenced by economics.

 

I have created an economics revision website for A-level and GCSE students. It is primarily intended to help younger students gain an understanding of core economic principles but has also helped me improve my own computer and presentational skills. I regularly read newspapers and economic publications to keep up to date with economic developments and I am able to use my mathematical and analytical skills to apply different economic theories to a range of real-life economic situations.

 

Last year, I took part in an economics and business project called Young Enterprise in which I set up a small company and sold products to students at our school. I enjoyed the chance to put some of my business economic theory into practice and was able to enhance my management and communication skills. I also gained a distinction in the associated exam.

 

To gain practical experience in the workplace, I worked for two weeks at a small software company specialising in financial software. I currently have a part time job and this has taught me much about teamwork, responsibility and time management in the workplace.

 

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, swimming, sketching and solving puzzles and logic problems. I have redesigned and been responsible for the maintenance of my school’s website.

I believe that I will gain a highly marketable set of skills from the study of economics at university. I have found economics to be a challenging and diverse discipline and I am interested in both macro and micro economics. It is this variation of perspective, combined with its real world importance, that makes economics an appealing subject to study at university.

(영문 학업 계획서 샘플) Maths personal statement

Maths personal statement

Mathematical logic and concepts underlie functionality of practically every process from rocket science to the budget of a household. It is this diversity of application that intrigues me and makes me want to study it in depth. I feel it will give me logistic and reasoning abilities that are pivotal for virtually all areas of study, consequently giving a very strong base for a wide range of careers. My interest in mathematics dates back to primary school - I have enjoyed the challenge ever since. Throughout my O'levels in Pakistan, I received merit certificates not only for math but for all other science subjects as well. I have always marveled at the interrelation between these and math, and have always sought to explore their common underlying principles.

 

An opportunity to do that was when I was among the 40 top candidates selected, from all over Pakistan, by Buraq Planetary Society to participate in a ten day ‘Space Camp’. Here I was not only exposed to wider prospects of knowledge, but was given an invaluable experience of interaction with like-minded people. I also gained useful communication skills and a great confidence boost.

 

Due to a clash in my timetable during O'Levels, I could not take Additional Mathematics at school. Nevertheless, I decided to study the course on my own initiative. I managed to grasp the syllabus’ concepts during year 11 and achieved 96% on the paper. This was a great sense of achievement for me and encouragement to pursue my interest further. Having had no formal lessons, I developed an independent, self-reliant approach to maths which I believe is crucial for university level study. Achieving the maximum number of A grades ever in my school’s 25 year history, I was offered a full scholarship for A'Levels. However, I was not able to avail it as I moved to the UK.

 

I have always been active in extra curricular. Due to my immense interest in singing I have always been in the school choir and participated in many competitions and festivals including one in which I performed a solo for an audience of 2000. I also appeared in a weekly musical program for three years on national television. At school, I was elected the house Captain by the entire student body. This required a high degree of leadership as well as organisational skills and involved an active role in the student council, which meant coordinating major social events and sport competitions where I was responsible for pulling together teams for my house. This experience invariably taught me to strike a sensible balance between academics and extra curricular activities.

 

Last year I completed a work experience placement in an engineering firm, Enotrac, that mainly involved computer based investigation reports . Although the work itself was not directly related to my field, it was useful in giving me an insight to a professional atmosphere.

 

I'm looking forward to experiencing university life - it will not only give me the academic grounds to get into careers like actuarial science, research and commerce, but the social experience in itself is something to look forward to.

(영문 학업 계획서 샘플) Computer Games Programming personal statement

Computer Games Programming personal statement

I find the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Games Physics interesting and so I have decided to study a course to include these areas. I am currently studying an A level in Information Technology in which I have used Visual Basic in Microsoft Excel and Access. At home I have used the actionscript language in Macromedia Flash to build an interactive personal website. I found this aspect of computing very interesting and so I will really enjoy programming in C++ and other programming languages. I am also studying an A level in Mathematics that I really enjoy. This would be useful for many parts of the course such as games physics.

 

When I’ve played computer games in the past I have always wanted to be able to create something similar. Consequently, the computer games programming course stood out as something that I really wanted to do. I have used some software programs such as Microsoft Visual Basic, Softimage|XSI ESP 3.0, Discreet 3DS MAX 5 (evaluation version) and Maya Personal Learning Edition. I would like to see people’s enjoyment when playing a game, knowing that I took part in producing it.

 

I have emailed a few programming companies such as Valve Software, id software, Lionsoft, Electronic Arts and Codemasters explaining my situation and asking whether it would be better to take a games programming course or a software development course and learn game specific items afterwards or in my spare time. All of the replies advised me to take the computer games programming course as this way I would already possess the games programming knowledge.

 

Undertaking my work experience as a sales assistant in a computer store allowed me to develop skills such as working in a team and dealing with customers. Although I was working with others a lot of the time, I also had to work independently. This allowed me to use my own initiative and solve problems.

Whilst attending Sutton High Sports College, I have done a large amount of voluntary work. During years 10 and 11, I helped with the schools open days and sports days where I did scoring. I also took part in after school activities such as playing music. Outside of school I have helped at “Darby and Joan’s” which is for old aged pensioners where they can get together for company, and to talk and play bingo. Year 12 saw me helping with the year 6 induction day, and assisting with scoring on both the school’s open day and the St. Helens Athletic Finals. Participation in a first aid course gained me a certificate in “Emergency Aid in the workplace for Appointed Persons.” This involved areas such as resuscitation and control of bleeding.

 

Hobbies and interests include reading books; the genres preferred being science fiction and horror. I also like playing piano of which I am currently working towards grade 8, and I have played “The Skaters’ Waltz” at Parr Hall (a concert hall) in Warrington. I enjoy using my computer for playing games, including playing games online, and for using the internet to keep up to date with current news in the computing and gaming world, new hardware and software releases.

My interests cover a wide area, which I believe will help me in both academic and social life at university.

My aim is to become a computer games programmer developing any type of game for PC or console, and I believe that a university course will help me achieve my goal.

(영문 학업 계획서 샘플) Biology Personal Statement

Biology Personal Statement

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by all living things. Throughout my childhood travels I have encountered many natural wonders in various parts of the world, from the giant redwood forests of California, to the rich variety of aquatic life populating the coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea, which have all greatly inspired my imagination. Studying Biology at school, especially at A-Level, has made me realise the broad spectrum of fields the subject encompasses, and I am eager to study the different areas in greater depth.

 

Reading around the subject has allowed me to extend my biological knowledge beyond the A-level specification. I am particularly interested in evolution, undoubtedly one of the central concepts underlying Biology. David Attenborough's 'Life on Earth' helped me to understand the major events in the evolution of life by considering animal and plant species which are alive today, whilst Richard Dawkins' 'The Blind Watchmaker drew my attention to the importance of Darwinian natural selection. I have enjoyed books by Steve Jones such as 'The Language of the Genes' and 'In the Blood', as they provide a fascinating insight into many of the issues associated with human genetics and heredity. I also read New Scientist magazine, and have been particularly intrigued by recent articles exploring the various controversial ways in which we may attempt to combat global warming, such as ocean fertilisation and geoengineering.

 

During the Summer I participated in a 'Biosciences Boot Camp' run by Babraham Research Institute, which gave me a useful insight into the world of biomedical research and enabled me to explore a range of career possibilities. I had the unique opportunity to work alongside a team of researchers in the molecular signalling laboratory, and I learned how to carry out polymerase chain reactions and use TIRF microscopy to observe the activity of signalling enzymes within cells. I was also able to attend various talks and lectures held at the institute, and hearing Professor Michael Berridge talk about his life research was inspirational, definitely one of the highlights of the week. After the boot camp I was invited back to the Institute for two further weeks of work experience, during which I conducted my own small scale research project investigating the effects of PI3 kinase inhibitors on the activity of mouse neutrophils. Carrying out different experiments improved my practical technique, and I learned about the importance of good planning and the use of controls.

 

As a student I am able, conscientious and focussed. My enthusiasm for my subjects has given me the motivation to succeed academically, and I was delighted to receive the Governors Award for Excellence at the end of last term. Life in the Sixth Form is rewarding, and being a senior prefect has allowed me to become more involved in the school community. For the past year I have been able to develop friendships with some of the younger students by participating in the mentoring scheme, and have enjoyed assisting the charities team at numerous fundraising events.

 

Among my non-academic interests I play flute in the school orchestra, and have sung in the choir for six years. I am also an enthusiastic member of the rowing team with an ever growing passion for the sport. Outside school I am an active member of my local riding club and regularly compete in various equestrian disciplines including cross country, show jumping and mounted games. Although owning a horse of my own is a huge responsibility it is nevertheless enjoyable, and has certainly taught me to manage my time effectively. I am looking forward to living independently, and feel ready to take advantage of all the challenges, academic and otherwise, that I will encounter at university.

(영문 학업 계획서 샘플) Pharmacy Personal Statement

Pharmacy Personal Statement

I have always had a great interest in Science and Mathematics because of the impacts that both of these have on our daily lives. I have become fascinated by Pharmacy as a career because it brings together Chemistry and Maths and directly effects on the lives of people in the community. Pharmacists are now more actively involved with the patients and have become more accessible to the community and I am looking forward to the challenge of career that involves life long learning.
I have learnt valuable skills in the subjects I have taken which will be beneficial to a career in Pharmacy.
In Chemistry, I have learnt an important skill in producing written and illustrated results from experiments. From this I am able to evaluate and modify these results. I enjoy the application of logical scientific thinking and knowledge of natural laws to analyse and solve problems occurring in Pharmacy. The practical side of Chemistry involving laboratory work was my main interest in this subject and would like to continue this work in helping others.
As a Pharmacist, you do require some skills in maths. With a knowledge of Mathematics I can analyse and solve problems and gained the skill of producing written and illustrated results for a mathematical problem. With Maths, I am able to calculate the accurate dosage of the drug which is required for the patient in relation to hospital pharmacy.
I can bring skills from Computing that can directly relate to a career in Pharmacy. A main skill developed is producing an analysis of a problem that can help in research work. Coursework in computing has enabled me to tackle complex subjects such as building a system via computer programming, I am confident this will be useful in a pharmacy degree.
I have pursued many activities that have given me experience in this field of study. I have encountered independent voluntary work for local Pharmacy branch located in Stretford. From this, I have learnt the insight of being a Community Pharmacist and dealing with prescriptions, which will prove valuable in the future.
I have advanced in my communication skills from part-time employment at Sport World International at Trafford Park. This has given me the opportunity to use my initiative and enabled me to interact with various kinds of situations with different people such as dealing with the consumer’s problems. This has helped me gain responsibility, which I know will be required in the career of Pharmacy.
With my studies aside, I have a passion for cricket and football. My favourite pastimes involves playing cricket and listening to music of all genres. My ongoing hobbies include squash, snooker, gym and travelling when and wherever possible. I enjoy going to the gym which help improves my self-esteem and motivates me in doing my work. Believing in yourself can help to establish your thoughts in a confident way.
At University, I would like to contribute to university life, as this will be a new experience and I will look forward to meeting new people. I am a reliable, determined and enthusiastic person who will relish the opportunity to study pharmacy if I am given the opportunity.

(영문 학업 계획서 샘플) Business personal statement

Business personal statement

Since my early age, I have always tried to find out the differences that make us conspicuous and distinguish one from another: our own belief, our aims, our culture... Understanding people a little bit better each day helps me appreciate the world as it is, but I am deeply convinced that being able to apprehend the interactions of the world will allow me, one day, to carve out my place in the 21st century society that is ours. Indeed, the business sphere is becoming more and more omnipresent and powerful and managing to understand the mechanisms and subtleties of it - at first glance - is pretty hard to do. That is how I took a keen interest in economy and relevant fields.

Somebody once told me that business is all about money and big deals, that businessmen are selfish. I want to prove to all people who think the same way that there are many respectable businessmen and businesswomen who are ethical and have a strong ideal of fairness.

My curiosity for the unknown lies in my interest for foreign languages; in addition to French which is my mother tongue, I studied Dutch, German and English in which I have a pretty good level. Indeed, I used to live in the U.S.A. and in 2004, in order to improve my English and get prepared for studying in England, I decided to change school and went to the European School of Elsene (Brussels).

I am fully conscious that the path to success is full of pitfalls but I will make it a point of honour to learn and grow richer step by step. This philosophy is not a closed book to me having played both collective and individual sports on a high level. Each match - in volley-ball as well as in tennis - is a challenge in the eyes of our modern society. From the victories I learned humility and perseverance - the match is not over as long as you have not won the match-point. From the defeats I learned perhaps more: not to let failures get me down - are failures not the best way to learn?

During my high school life, I did not only focus on my school work and sport. I used to write for the school newspaper, introducing various subjects such as the war in Iraq and the European enlargement to the East. I also enjoy reading English novels, especially those of Conn Iggulden.
In order to improve my social skills I also took part in some extra curricular activities. For example, I was a boy scout for more than 6 years at the International Unit of Brussels, learning leadership, management and how to deal with people from different cultures.

As Saily Berger said: "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." I believe this is quiet true. Your university provides the ideal business course to get ready for entering the business world and is recognized worldwide. I am confident that I will be successful in my academic studies and that, when I return home, I can put my talent to good use for the benefit of all people.

영문 학업계획서 작성법 (Hot to wirte personal statment)

Writing a personal statement is probably one of the most difficult parts of the UCAS form. Many students won't have done much creative writing since GCSE and even if you have, it's still very hard to write about yourself.

We've produced this short guide to try and help you write a personal statement. Just read through it, follow the steps, and you should be ok.

We suggest you have a pretty good idea of what course you want to study before continuing much further with your personal statement. Generally personal statements are quite specific so if you decide to change the course you are applying for you would need to rewrite your personal statement.

Before you start remember this is a "personal" statement - i.e. it's about you, and there is no real right or wrong way to do it. What we've written below is just a guide, and should not be stuck to rigidly. You may find by choosing your own structure, and writing what you want to write about, gives a better picture of yourself to the reader than anyone else can.

 

UCAS advice - read what UCAS tell you first to get a general overview
Aims of the statement - Why write a personal statement, what are you aiming to do
Notes about yourself - Make notes about what to put in your statement before you start
You and your subject - Why do you want to take this subject?
Read example statements - Read other peoples statements to give you some ideas
Personal goals of your statement - What do you think will work well in your statement
Language of the statement - How are you going to make your statement sound
Structure of the statement - How are you going to layout and write your statement
Writing the statement - A few last minute tips before you begin
After writing the statement - After you first draft is complete what's left to do
Formatting the statement - Now your statement is perfect you've got to format it

 

UCAS advice

In the advice for applicants book, UCAS give you a short overview of the personal statement. This doesn't really tell you much, but should tell you enough to get you started. You get a description of the personal statement, a list of bullet points of information you want to include and some information about printing it. You may also find you college or school gives you some additional information. If you think this information is enough to go on, and your statement is already forming in your mind then you can stop reading here and get on with your statement!

Aims of the personal statement

Many universities don't interview applicants, so the only information they have about you is your UCAS form. Most of the UCAS form only contains your details, the bits the universities are interested in is your grades, your references and your personal statement. The personal statement is the only bit you really have control over, so this is your chance to present a good image to the admissions tutor, even if your grades don't really reflect that image.

If you are applying to an oversubscribed university course, and everyone applying is likely to have good grades, the personal statement is the only thing that tells you apart from other applicants, so you want to try and make yours as good as possible.

When the admissions and subject tutors look at your personal statement, they are likely to be asking two main questions:

1. Do we want this student on this course?
2. Do we want this student at this university?

These can be broken down into a number of easier to answer questions:

• Is the student suited to the course that they are applying for?
• Does the student have the necessary qualifications and qualities for the course?
• Is the student conscientious, hardworking and unlikely to drop out?
• Will the student do their best and cope with the demands of the course?
• Can the student work under pressure?
• Will the student be able to adjust to their new environment at university?
• What are their communication skills like?
• Are they dedicated to this course and have researched it well?
• Do they have a genuine interest in the subject and a desire to learn more about it?

These are the sort of questions you need to answer in your personal statement. Unfortunately you cannot answer them directly, you need to provide evidence and make it sound believable.

Ultimately, admissions tutors are human too, and may well have hundreds of personal statements to shift through, so even if you think you've answered all these questions really well you may still be unlucky. There are other techniques you can use to make your statement stand out and appeal to admissions tutors, but remember they are all different and may have different ideas about what they look for in a prospective student. Some of these techniques are discussed in the personal goals section.

Notes about yourself

Now you have some idea of why you're writing a personal statement you need to think about what you're going to write in it. You don't need to start thinking about the wording or structure yet, just get down some ideas of the things you think you could put down.

The best way to do this is to use a set of headings and write bullet points about how you relate to these headings. Here are some headings to think about.

What you want to study at university and why

• Specific aspects of the courses that interest you
• Examples of coursework you have completed
• Practical work you have enjoyed
• Things you have read related to the subject area
• Work experience or voluntary work in this area
• Conferences you have attended
• Personal experiences which lead to the decision to take this subject
• Where you hope a degree in this subject will lead

Experiences that show you are a reliable and responsible person

• Part-time job
• Business enterprise
• Community and charity work
• Sixth form committee
• Helping out at school events and open days
• Young Enterprise, World Challenge, Duke of Edinburgh award, Asdan Award Debating societies and what you've gained from these experiences.

Your interests and skills

• What you like to do in your free time
• Sport and leisure activities
• Subjects you study which are not examined
• Musical instrument which you play
• Languages which you speak
• Prizes you have won or positions achieved in your interests

Gap year

• Why you're taking a Gap year (if you are)
• Why you want to take a gap year
• What you plan to do
• How this may relate to your course

If you're not taking a gap year avoid this section. If you are it could still be left out, but you may be asked why you're taking it at an interview.

You should now have lots of bullet points about yourself, all of which will be useful in preparing your personal statement. Don't worry too much if you don't seem to have done much off the list, just think about things you've done which show all your good qualities, or could be written as to show your good qualities.

The important thing is that you have a good reason for why you want to study the course, it doesn't matter if the reason sounds stupid at the moment - you can work on the language later. All admissions tutors will be looking for people who are enthusiastic and passionate about the subjects they want to study, so make sure you really are. If you're choosing this course just because you can't think of anything better to do, that's not a good enough reason, and maybe you should consider looking for a course you enjoy more.

Now you've got some ideas together, it's time to think about turning them into a personal statement - almost.

You and your subject

Saying why you want to take your course is possibly the most important part of your personal statement. You can have perfect grades, great extra curricular activities and be a really great person, but if admissions tutors feel you aren't committed to your course, you won't get a place.

Hopefully the notes you have written for the section above have already given you a good idea of what to write about why you want to take your course. If not then you should at least be sure you want to take that subject - writing a personal statement is a lot of work, and you don't really want to get to the end of it and decide you want to study a different subject, so before you go much further be sure you have chosen the right subject for you. Remember you don't actually have to choose the course you want to take yet, just have a rough idea of the subject area or areas you might be interested in.

Now you need to think about exactly why you want to take this subject. Even if you are 100% sure that this is the course for you, you still need to get this idea across to the admissions tutors. If they accept you, you are going to be studying this course for at least the next three years, and you need to convince them that you are committed to it. Have a think about exactly why the subject appeals to you, and write down as much as you can about it. It doesn't matter if you only scribble a few notes, you can modify them before you write the statement, the important thing is you can be sure of the key reasons why you want to take the subject. Write down as many as you can, if you have too many you can always just pick the best. Other than that I can't give you much more advice - only you know exactly why you want to take your chosen course, but bear in mind, if you can't think of any good reasons - should you really be taking that subject?

What if I want to do a joint degree?

There are two options you can use to tailor your personal statement to joint degrees (ones where you take two subjects e.g. economics and politics). You can talk about just one subject which you feel is most important, and not mention the other. This has the advantage that you can apply for two different joint degrees and only talk about the common element e.g. for economics and politics and politics and law, you would only talk about law. If you decide to do this make sure you talk about the qualities you have which show you are suitable for the other part of your joint degree. Alternatively you can just talk a bit about why you want to do both subjects, although the approach you choose will probably depend on how closely related your subjects are.

What if I want to apply for different subjects?

There is no easy way to write personal statements for two unrelated subjects. If the subjects are similar such as maths and statistics or accounting and business studies you may find you can write a general personal statement which applies equally to both courses. If this is the case you many not want to mention either of the subjects by name, and instead talk about the related work that you've already done and how you've enjoyed it.

If your subjects are totally unrelated there is no way you wan write a personal statement which will cover all of them. Instead you need to come up with a statement that gives you the best chance of being accepted. For example if you are applying for one subject at four of your choices and another subject at the other two, you may just want to write a statement related to the subject you chose to study at four universities and either forget about, or change the course at your other two choices.

You also want to consider your predicted grades in relation to the universities you are applying to. Universities which normally make lower offers are less likely to be concerned about a badly targeted personal statement, whereas for universities which make high offers, the statement will be much more important. Try and alter your statement so it is more specific to the universities which ask for higher grades, as this will give you the best chance of being offered places at all your choices.

There will probably be some cases where there is nothing you can do, for example, if you are applying for three totally unrelated subjects each at two different universities. There is no advice which will help in a situation like this, except just to consider whether this is really what you want to do. Even if you do apply for three different courses, you will only be able to study one of them, so if you can try to limit your choices to similar subjects.

Read example statements

Some people may know exactly how they are going to lay out and write their personal statement, but for the rest of us it's a bit more difficult. Even though you now know what you're going to put in your statement, do you know how to make it read well?

The best way to get an idea of how to go about producing your personal statement is to look at some other people's statements. This gives you a chance to see the sort of structure and language other people use, how they explained why they wanted to study their chosen course and also their own interests and abilities.

When you read through statements have your own notes from the section above ready, if you find anything you've done but haven't already thought about note it down. Also after reading lots of personal statements you will be able to judge which ones you think are good or bad, and fine parts of statements you really like or dislike, this will come in useful in the next section.

Hopefully your school or college will give you some example personal statements, but if they don't, there are some personal statements on Studential, and also a list of links to personal statements on other sites. Also if should be easy to find personal statements by searching on Google.

See the personal statements on Studential

Personal goals of your statement

Now you've looked at some personal statements, you may have an idea of how you think yours might go. Whether you do or you don't you should have seen lots of statements you do like, and also a few that you don't. Use this knowledge to decide how you are going to write yours. At this stage you don't need to think about structure very much just think about what your are, and what you are not going to do, to give yourself a set of guidelines to follow when writing your statement.

If you still have no idea what I'm talking about here are some example guidelines or goals for a personal statement:

Not sound arrogant and pretentious
I would try not to start any sentences with I
Try and have an interesting phrase to start and finish on
Try not to quote books, magazines or publications and make it sound like I had only read them so I could put them on the statement
Not lie outright and stay as close to the truth as possible

Goals like this give you an idea of things to focus on and think about when writing your own statement. They also stop your statement from looking too much like one of the examples which you might have copied bits from.

Some example goals you may or may not want to use:

Don't try to be funny or make jokes in your statement
Don't start every sentence with I
Don't include your hobbies and interests unless they are relevant
Don't use vocabulary you don't normally use and just looked up in a dictionary
Don't use famous quotes in your statement
Don't repeat things already on your UCAS form
Don't write a list of all your hobbies and interests without explaining them
Don't lie or embellish the truth
Don't say you are going to do something before you come to university
Don't include boring phrases or hobbies which everyone does
Don't take any political viewpoints

View the personal goals in more depth

Remember you don't have to have any of these goals as your own. If you think you are really witty and some light humour will go down well in your statement then put it down. These goals are really just ideas you might want to use - remember a personal statement is supposed to be personal and you should write whatever you think will work for you.

Language of the statement

From looking at example personal statements you have probably found some language which you like or think works well. The first thing to remember is don't directly copy any of it - not even a single sentence! The reason is, copying statements is plagiarism, and if an admissions tutor sees a statement they recognise they will probably reject you instantly. You should also not copy single sentences for the same reason, sentences which stick out in your mind, may stick out in the examiners also. It is ok to find a sentence or paragraph which is saying what you want to say and adapt it to fit yourself though.

You need to use language which makes you sound enthusiastic about your courses and an interesting person. If you're still wondering what sort of language to use look at existing personal statements, prospectuses and on the web to find sentences which you think fit your views.

University prospectuses are a good place to look, find your course, see how it is described and see if you can work anything similar into your personal statement. Write down a list of words or sentences you would like to use like this:

to gain greater understanding of the world around you.

sends a signal to prospective employers and graduate schools

students of economics become problem-solvers.

the fact is economics affects our daily lives.

a challenging and diverse discipline

develops analytical skills, quantative skills, research skills

It's interesting and relevant

Don't copy the sentences you find outright, change them or write your own sentence in a similar style. If you can't find any sentences you like try and write your own - it is a personal statement after all.

Structure of the statement

Now it's time to think about the structure of your statement, you should have read lots already, and may have a fair idea about how yours is going to look, but this section should clarify things a bit if you don't.

Most statements are written in an essay format, but you don't have to do yours like this. I wouldn't recommend writing it as one large block of text. Even though you can fit more words in, this just makes it hard to read. You could however use headings rather than write in an essay style. I haven't seen many statements which do this but if you think yours would work better like that then do it.

A starting guideline is to spend half the statement talking about the course and why you want to take it, and spend the other half writing about yourself and your own abilities, though one you get into it this can be easily changed. Another approach is to split up your notes into a few categories and write a paragraph on each category. For example:

Paragraph 1: Introduction to my subject, the parts I'm interested in and why
Paragraph 2: What I had done related to my subject which wasn't on the UCAS form
Paragraphs 3 and 4: work experience and things I had done in school
Paragraph 5: My interests outside of school (also contained my responsibilities)
Paragraph 6: My goal of going to university and closing comment

Again this is only a guideline, and depending on yourself and your course you may want to change things. The last option is to simply find a statement you like and use it as a template. Take its structure and write your personal statement using this structure, being careful that you don't use any of the language mentioned there.

Spend most of your time on the start and finish of the personal statement. A good start will interest the reader and cause them to read the statement properly rather than just scanning it. A good ending will mean the reader remembers what you wrote, and hopefully will recommend you. In my opinion it's a good idea to start with why you want to take your subject, and finish with why you want to go to university or what you want to do next.

Writing the statement

Hopefully you now have your notes ready, you've thought about how you want your language and structure and the goals of your statement. You are almost ready to start writing it, here are a few things to bear in mind before you start.

Remember the aims of a personal statement. You need to show the admissions tutor why you should be accepted on your chosen course at your chosen university. In addition to what you say in your statement, the language you use and the way it is laid out will be judged as well.

Also remember you only have a limited amount of space, but don't let this put you off too much. A long personal statement can easily be trimmed down. It's harder to increase the length of a short personal statement, but if yours it too short don't worry. There is no requirement that you fill the entire space, its better to have a short and well written statement than a long and irrelevant one.

Be positive and interesting, if there is something you are unhappy about, try to portray it in an attractive light. You can find more information about how to write about bad things in your personal statement here (link)

Before you go, have a look at the websites and prospectuses of universities you are applying for, and see if they say anything about writing personal statements. This information would probably be written by the admissions tutors, and would give you a much better idea of what sort of things to put down.

Now you're ready to go. You want to write in a way that is informative, interesting and useful. Along with writing about what you've done, try and explain why you did it, or what you think you learned from it. For example:

I currently have a part time job and this has taught me much about teamwork, responsibility and time management in the workplace.

From this point, you're more or less on your own, so move on to the next section when you've got a complete (draft) statement.

After writing the statement

By now you should have a pretty much complete first draft of your statement. Don't worry if it sounds disjointed, you've missed bits out or it's too long or too short, you can correct things like this later.

First read through what you've written slowly and try to read it from someone else's point of view. Make sure it's easy to read and not confusing, make sure you've said everything you want to say and not under or oversold yourself - if you are confused by reading your own personal statement, it is likely anyone else reading it will be too.

Next get other people to read it, mainly your family, friends, teachers and anyone else who you think will be able to give you a good opinion. As well as checking for spelling and grammar mistakes, they will be able to tell you if they think there is anything you've missed out. Also show it to head of year or career advisers, people like this will have seen a lot of statements, and have a good idea what they should sound like.

You could also get people on the internet to look at your statement, and see what they think. There are many web based communities where you can post your statement or email it to people and they will happily give you advice for free. There is one downside though: if you post your statement on a message board or forum, anyone can look at it, so you may get people who steal parts of your statement.

Hopefully by looking at your statement again and showing to other people you should have a whole bunch of changes to make to your original statement. Before making these changes, save a copy of your original statement so you can go back to it if you need too. Keep making changes, showing people your statement, and making more changes - it's not unusual for people to have done 10-20 drafts (though many do much less) before they are happy with their statement.

Once you've got a statement which reads well, and you are happy with it, it's time to look at the size of it.

Formatting the statement

Personal statements can no longer be submitted on paper, so not much formatting is required. The software used to upload your personal statement to UCAS can be quite temperamental, so carefully check through your statement line by line once you've submitted it. I've also written a few guidelines on particular things to check for - though this may change as the software is updated and improved.

Online applications using UCAS Apply

Now that UCAS are phasing out applications, the dynamics of the online form become more important. There are still little tricks to squeeze more words in, but take care using them, as using them will only clear you through the automatic preview – you can’t tell how it will appear to the admissions tutors.

Now that UCAS are phasing out applications, the dynamics of the online form become more important. There are still little tricks to squeeze more words in, but take care using them, as using them will only clear you through the automatic preview - you can't tell how it will appear to the admissions tutors.

Word, character and line limits

Firstly remember, there is no word limit - instead you're concentrating on a character limit (4000 characters including spaces) and a line limit (47). Both of these must be satisfied to allow you to save your personal statement.

Checking you're within the character limit is easy, just use the “word count