Writing a personal statement is an important part of your child’s university application, and there’s a clear structure to follow.
As a parent, guardian, or carer, your support can make a real difference. This page offers advice to help your child write a statement that reflects their experiences and goals, along with tips on what to avoid.
The personal statement focuses on three key questions to help students clearly communicate their motivations and suitability for the course. These questions ensure all students, no matter their background, can present a strong case.
Why do you want to study this course or subject?
Your child should explain their passion for the subject, how their interest developed, and what they hope to achieve.
How have your qualifications and studies helped you prepare for this course?
They should link their academic achievements to the skills needed for the course.
What else have you done to prepare, and why are these experiences useful?
Here, your child can discuss any activities outside school—such as work experience, volunteering, or personal projects—and how these experiences have prepared them for university.
We've created an engaging video to help students explore what to write in their three answers, and how to think about examples for what to include. This can be a good jumping off point before starting, as it gives an overview of the format of the personal statement.
Encourage reflection:
Help your child think about why they are interested in the course and what sparked their passion. This reflection is key to answering the first question.
Identify experiences:
Support your child in identifying both academic and personal experiences that relate to their course. Whether it’s a project, job, hobby, or a balancing of their responsibilities like caring for a family member, these experiences can demonstrate their commitment and readiness.
Discuss future goals:
Talk about your child’s career goals and how the course can help them achieve these. This will help them focus their personal statement.
Emphasise relevance:
Encourage your child to avoid vague statements and focus on specific experiences and achievements that support their application.
Our subject-specific guides will show your child what universities and colleges want to see in their personal statement and how they can set themselves apart.
You can find lots of information on how to support students with individial needs, including application and personal statement advice.
Your child can focus on academic achievements and personal responsibilities. Encourage them to:
These programmes, run by Springpod through the UCAS website, offer an unparalleled insight into courses, subjects and careers, and can be included in their personal statement as relevant evidence.
Proofreading:
Encourage your child to check their statement for spelling and grammar mistakes and have someone review it for clarity.
Seek feedback:
Suggest they share their personal statement with a trusted person for constructive feedback.
Check relevance:
Remind them to ensure every part of their statement is relevant to the course and their goals.
By following this guidance, you can help your child create a personal statement that reflects their strengths and ambitions. This is their chance to tell their story - ensure it truly represents who they are and what they want to achieve.
Use our handy checklist to guide your child through the process of writing their personal statement under the new three-question format.