Personal statements & applying to uni

Perfecting your personal statement: your final checklist

By Rebecca Hughes (Editorial assistant, Which? University) - 23 October 2012

Finished your personal statement? Read our checklist before you hit submit...

You've done draft after draft, and now you think your personal statement is finally ready to be sent off to your chosen universities, where admissions tutors will read it as part of your application. But... Hold on just a moment!

Before you hit submit, here’s some advice from students now at university on how to give your personal statement that final polish - it could make all the difference.

Plus, test it against more of our personal statement must-reads - how to sell yourself, what you definitely shouldn't include in your personal statement and top writing tips from our careers expert.

1. Make sure lots of people have read it first

Get teacher(s) to read through and give advice, get your parents and friends to read it too (they know you best!). Finally, if you know someone already on a similar course, or someone that's working in a career area you're aspiring to, get them to have a look too. Fourth Year Primary School Teaching Student | Leeds Metropolitan University

2. Have a break before you edit it

Keep going back to your statement and making little changes rather than sitting for hours staring at it. Second Year Maths Student | University Of Greenwich

3. Spelling and grammar - get it right!

Do a spelling and grammar check! Get someone else to read it before you send it. Often they will notice mistakes that you might have overlooked. Second Year Physiotherapy Student | University Of Salford

4. Ask yourself - is it the best it can be? 

Be sure to give it your all – there’s no point in sending a half-hearted application. Second Year Anatomy Student | University Of Leeds

5. Make sure your personality still shows 

While polishing it up, make sure it still retains your personality so that the interviewer will remember you clearly through your personal statement. Second Year Chemistry Student | University Of Leeds


And finally...

6. Make sure YOU are happy with it

Get lots of different advice so you can cherry-pick the best, but remember that ultimately it's your personal statement and you're the one that has to be happy with it. Third Year History Student | University Of Oxford

Once you've submitted your UCAS application, the waiting game begins while admissions tutors assess your application and decide whether or not to make you an offer. You should hear back from the universities you've applied to by 31 March, but it depends on a number of factors. 

Make sure you take a look at our advice on university interviews and entry tests, as these might also form part of the selection process.

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