Writing your Oxbridge personal statement? Being 2 of the most prestigious universities in the world, as well as having many applicants that surpass the requirements of theirs, we have provided a few pointers to support your personal statement stand out with your Oxbridge application.
- Start early
The extra degree of preparation that an Oxbridge application demands, mixed with the October deadline, means that pupils ought to try to begin setting up Oxbridge personal statement help in Year twelve.
The initial draft of the personal statement should be done by the end of summer holiday between Year twelve and 13, this means any extra reading or work experience that a pupil may want to have in it must be accomplished before this time.
- Focus on your academic strengths
Prove the academic strength of yours in the subject of yours with examples of books you have read around your subject matter, an essay you have written, a prize you’ve won, lectures you have attended, documentaries you’ve seen or even podcasts you have listened to.
Admissions decisions at Oxford and Cambridge are exclusively based on academic potential and ability. Whereas a standard private statement is split 75/25 into academic material and material focussed on extracurricular activities, this really should be more like an 90/10 split for an Oxbridge personal statement.
Students should therefore make an attempt to use the minimal word count to only discuss experiences which have helped grow their understanding or passion for their subject.
Here are some questions for to think on:
How have my experiences expanded my enthusiasm for my subject?
What skills/knowledge have I obtained from my experiences?
Exactly how will this make me an even better pupil in the future?
- Discuss the subject
Be enthusiastic. A necessity rarely used in standards for Oxbridge applications but that is of just as much value is real love and interest for the topic you’d like to learn. Attempt to illustrate this in your private statement not just through your achievements but also through really talking about the subject.
Tutors will expect you to have followed up on the interest of yours in your subject through extracurricular activities and having read all over the topic. You’ll want to mention what you have read and accomplished and explain to them in a way that shows you really understand what you are speaking about. Consider the way in order to show genuine interest is not to tell them’ I’ve read X and I’ve completed Y’ but to survive implicit from what you are saying. Speaking About the content of what you have performed or perhaps hear as opposed to mentioning it in a phrase is a more effective way of doing this.
Voice your opinions and thoughts, be at liberty to criticise or state the point of yours of view on anything related to the subject matter as it will show analytical abilities which is what the admissions tutors will be looking for. In planning for composing your UCAS statement it’s important to read widely, visit places of interest, attend conferences and lectures and get work experience to be able to deepen and grow your knowledge and understanding of your subject. Don’t just take in all of the info, but actually significantly engage with it and form your own views. Thinking about and engaging in the existing topics around the subject of yours is a major part of the life of yours at university, so it’s vital that you stay current with items by reading journals, newspapers and magazines. Showing you’re already doing this can make you get noticed from the group, and if you’re invited to interview it’ll provide the tutors a good place to start for conversation.
Write about the way your wider research has developed your thinking inside your personal statement too. For instance, in case you have read through a book about many history you have been studying at A Level you are able to write a sentence about just how that book gave you an alternate point of view you hadn’t previously considered. Or perhaps, you are able to speak about the job you took in a controversy at school and just how that either confirmed or even changed your opinion on a subject area.
Be truthful. Don’t lie about having read guides that you have not or being considering items you aren’t as you may get caught out at the job interview phase. Most admissions tutors are searching for potential instead of prior knowledge so try to never create stuff up. In the past men and women who have fallen in have quoted from the likes of Harry Potter or perhaps nursery rhymes; which if done very well, comes across just as well (if not somewhat cooler) than quoting from a popular academic. If you do choose to use a popular quote or perhaps talk about a well known book then try to say different things!
- Talk about yourself
Make them want to meet up with you! Oxford and Cambridge place a good deal of value on the interview so to make sure you get selected for one, make an effort showing the real you in your declaration. It should not just be a listing of your achievements (though I am certain for some of you this could fill the whole word count). Whilst what you have done may be impressive, giving them a sense for your real interest and suggestions will always make them should cover you and discuss these in an interview.
Tie in your interests and hobbies to your academic skills (where possible). This can make you a more the tutors and fascinating candidate will be keen to learn more about you.
Most prosperous Oxbridge candidates are interviewed together with the admissions process, and interviewers frequently draw on things mentioned in the Personal Statement. To help put you in control of the employment interview almost as possible, you are able to leave’ hooks’ because of the interviewer which directs them towards subjects you will be able to expand upon. If an applicant writes: “I was fascinated by the parallels between Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte” they’re able to look to be asked what it was in particular they found interesting, and think of some specific examples to speak about in the job interview.
This’s one reason why you need to always be truthful in the personal statement of yours. You must certainly not claim to have read a book that you have not, even if you want to read it after submitting your UCAS form. In addition, do not pretend to have a desire for a particular topic only since you think it will sound impressive.
- Be original
Try not to be cliched and just let them know you read publications like the Economist, as they’ll already be rolling the eyes of theirs as they read it. Talk instead about an article you found especially fascinating or maybe the views of yours on that paper to make you differentiate yourself from the group and show you have something to say.
A strong opening is essential. This might look very obvious but far too many people begin their statement with a line about how they have recently become enthusiastic about the subject they’ve chosen to study. Think of ways which are different to start, perhaps with a story or a quote or talking about an article you have read, once again remember not to go for overused stories or quotes again.
Use language that you are comfortable with, and do not rely on a thesaurus to make you sound smart. Stick to phrases and words you will use in daily conversation, and you will come across as an genuine person that the tutors should connect with.
Do not necessarily stick to the regular format for personal statements. Whilst it’s important to include all of the required information about your subject and yourself in case you can imagine an alternative technique to show it therefore do not be afraid going for it.
For 2018 entry, Oxford University received over 21,500 undergraduate uses for around 3,300 undergraduate locations. This means there are around 6 purposes for every available spot. In 2018, Cambridge University received 18,378 applications for approximately 4,500 places. With several of these applicants holding top grades, it is usually very difficult to stick out from the masses. This is exactly where your original thinking comes in handy. In the personal statement of yours, consider the way the topic you’re using relates to your various other studies, the world around you and your personal experiences.
It’s important for any person to bear in mind the interviewers have made a career out of their chosen subject; they will truly be interested to have a discussion with you if you are able to provide an original or interesting thought to your personal statement and interview.