Introduction to Personal Statements How to promote yourself

Introduction to Personal Statements How to promote yourself on paper © Into. University 2015

Attending this session will allow you to ; Understand what a personal statement is and why it is needed Improve self-awareness by reflecting on your skills, experience, expertise and aspirations, and how these relate to your chosen university course Begin to plan and draft your personal statement, deciding on which information to include and how this might be presented Understand the ‘dos and don’ts’ of personal statement writing Be able to identify and take responsibility for your future development goals © Into. University 2015

Brainstorming In your groups share the information that you know about Personal Statements © Into. University 2015

Other things to consider • Each statement can only be 47 lines long • Each statement must not exceed 4000 characters (including spaces) • You can only submit one personal statement for all of your five different university choices © Into. University 2015

Skills Bingo It’s not about what you have done, but what you have gained from it © Into. University 2015

Best Candidate for the Course Who would you choose? © Into. University 2015

Wallpaper Skills An invaluable skill that comes so naturally to you that you do not even notice it. For example • Translating for your parents – multi-lingual, good communicator • Helping out in the family business – financial competency • Looking after younger siblings – trustworthy and responsible • Enjoyed an activity since childhood - commitment © Into. University 2015

UCAS Personal Statement Worksheet Time to plan your own Personal Statement © Into. University 2015

Choosing a Course Do your research! • UCAS website www. ucas. com • University Prospectuses and websites Look at: Entry requirements How you will be assessed Career opportunities © Into. University 2015 Course length Course content

SMART Targets Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time specific © Into. University 2015

Introduction to Personal Statements Plenary You now have an excellent head start • Linked your own skills to the qualities that a university will be looking for • Produced a UCAS worksheet that is the template for your statement • Identified and created an action plan to strengthen specific areas using SMART targets © Into. University 2015

Overview of Workshops The Higher Education in FOCUS Teacher’s Toolkit consists of Module 1 Workshop Title and Topic Why Higher Education? Introduction to the benefits of choosing higher education 2 Steps to choosing the right course Looks at the key factors to be considered 3 UCAS and the university application process University application process explained 4 Introduction to Personal Statements Students plan their own statements using a structured approach 5 Preparing for Interviews Acquiring effective verbal and non verbal communication skills 6 Preparing to go to university Practical steps to having a smooth transition from home to university life 7 Student Finance Overview of the main areas of student finance and information on how to apply © Into. University 2015