Just spend 5 hours outlining. drafting, editing, revising my personal statement of interest for a 2-wk *long-envisioned* dream opportunity to a study-abroad intensive in Copenhagen.... WISH i would found this first. But better off none-rhe-less! Tomorrow: back to the drawing board. This advice is par-none. THANK YOU!! Its an incresible thing to be so filled with enthusiasm and KNOW you are the best candidate...and still have no idea how to properly and respectably frame that....especially in
How did you get on with the changes? What were the main changes you made? To move to the 5-pillar framework? Academic demonstration is probably the most important pillar for undergraduate and is often 50-80% of the statement. For postgraduate states, it is often the least important pillar and university-specific research, work experience and career plan pillars are more important. Good luck!
Thank you Richard, how about writing a personal statement for a switch in career?, it's tricky since there is no such relevant experience. I mean applying for an MBA with an Engineering undergraduate background.
Switching career is a very common theme for an MBA application. It is especially effective for those applying from quantitative degrees (such as engineering, computer science, or hard sciences) and/or highly-competitive degree such as law and medicine, usually into finance or possibly senior-management-career paths. If you do not feel you have relevant experience, then lay out a really well-researched 5-year career plan, showing each promotion and job title along the way to show the steps you image taking to get the experience that you need to get where you need to get to. Good luck!
Do top universities really care about your career plan/employment statistics? Surely they already know that by admitting the best of the best these will be exceptional? If I were to say that I would want to go on to become a quantitative trader after doing computer science could it instead make it seem like I only want to go to the uni for the prestegie to get a top job? As many topics that the uni would teach me wouldn't be absolutely necessary for that job? Thank you
Great question - just demonstrating that you know what a quantitative trader is puts you above 50% of candidates and this is why we recommend the career plan. The university does not care what you are going to be, but those candidates who demonstrate they have researched and thought about how their degree might open doors, come across as smarter and better suited than those who don't seem to have any knowledge of the real world. Hope that helps!
Yes - any career goal can be made relevant if backed up by well-researched specifics and a robust career plan. For you example, you would want to mention which government, and which department. How will your economics education be used to solve problems that this department faces and how will you progress through the department? What will be your first job title, and what will be your job title after 2-5 years? The more you demonstrate your research, the stronger you come across as a candidate. Good luck!
In terms of finding supercurriculars, there is so much to read on in any subject and it can feel quite daunting at times as if you need to know as much as possible about your chosen subject. How would you recommend dealing with this? My teachers say to focus on a niche area of your subject and go really deep into that rather than having surface level knowledge across many different areas - depth not breadth. I am not completely sure on what I should do and would appreciate some feedback, thank you.
Your teacher is correct! A niche is a great idea to show deep understanding. Part of your applications journey should be to find this niche and your statement will be stronger by you going through the process of finding a niche you are interested in so that you are authentic and convincing when you write about this (it's very easy for an experienced admissions officer to spot a superficial understanding). Why don't you do a quick Google/UA-cam/Chat GPT of your subject to identify a list of 3-10 topics that you could explore and then talk to your teacher to ask if they can help you to identify yours from this long list. It's important that you find your own interest, and researching this is part of the journey, but hopefully your teacher can narrow down your options.
Great question! Our consultants say that it is most naturally found either in the first two lines or else in the final paragraph (or both). You have really stand out demonstrating that you have done some careers research and come up with a plan for your next 5 years. E.g. "I am applying to History with Economics programmes because the combination of deep quantitative and qualitative analysis will set up me up well for my future career as a Strategy Consultant in a Big 4 firm." "During my degree I intend to make the most of university career services to help me to earn places at competitive spring week programmes and internships, such as , so that immediately after graduating I have maximising my chances succeeding in the working world."
Great question! It's really tough for a UK undergrad when the same essay goes to all universities (who an earth thought that was a good idea??). What we suggest is that you pick your #1 university and namedrop a professor from that university - you can also mention their academic paper or an open day that you attended and how that inspired you to apply to courses. In doing so, you are hinting which is your first choice university, but in the context of you are passionate and well researched in your subject, so it is still beneficial to your other courses. Download our exemplar in the description to see how Richard does just this in the opening line of his exemplar personal statement. Good luck!
Then you are in the majority of people :) Go to open days, talk to people you know who have been to university and ask them about careers they think you'd be suited to. Talk to your favourite teacher. Research careers and courses and try and get inspired. It's your future - you're in the driving seat and the more proactive you are, the better your life will likely turn out :)
Undergraduate: 4,000 characters (including spaces) - although it's good to aim for 3,500 if you are able to write succinctly Postgraduate: it varies for each course from 500 words to 5,000 characters
Yes - many scholarships are automatic, meaning that all eligible students are considered without a further application, but check the universities' fees and funding pages for details of additional scholarships that you can apply to (e.g. the Stelios Scholarship at LSE - which is aimed at students from Greece and Cyprus). Some of these tips, and especially free exemplar that you can download, can be easily adapted to help for scholarship and even job and internship applications. Good luck!
No that is actually a pretty optimal length. Don't panic when you see that the UCL limit is only 3,000 characters (not words). There is an option to upload your own statement which can be longer. UCL asks for size 12 font (use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Calibri) and 1.5 pages is about right. We recommend 800-1000 words for UCL, but we've had students go up to 1,200 and over two pages and still get in. However, longer is not better if there are no specifics and most of it is 'fluff'.
The most amazing content, l have been searching for long time
Many thanks.
Just spend 5 hours outlining. drafting, editing, revising my personal statement of interest for a 2-wk *long-envisioned* dream opportunity to a study-abroad intensive in Copenhagen.... WISH i would found this first. But better off none-rhe-less! Tomorrow: back to the drawing board.
This advice is par-none. THANK YOU!!
Its an incresible thing to be so filled with enthusiasm and KNOW you are the best candidate...and still have no idea how to properly and respectably frame that....especially in
How did you get on with the changes? What were the main changes you made? To move to the 5-pillar framework? Academic demonstration is probably the most important pillar for undergraduate and is often 50-80% of the statement. For postgraduate states, it is often the least important pillar and university-specific research, work experience and career plan pillars are more important. Good luck!
did you get in?
Thank you Richard, how about writing a personal statement for a switch in career?, it's tricky since there is no such relevant experience. I mean applying for an MBA with an Engineering undergraduate background.
Switching career is a very common theme for an MBA application. It is especially effective for those applying from quantitative degrees (such as engineering, computer science, or hard sciences) and/or highly-competitive degree such as law and medicine, usually into finance or possibly senior-management-career paths. If you do not feel you have relevant experience, then lay out a really well-researched 5-year career plan, showing each promotion and job title along the way to show the steps you image taking to get the experience that you need to get where you need to get to. Good luck!
Do top universities really care about your career plan/employment statistics? Surely they already know that by admitting the best of the best these will be exceptional? If I were to say that I would want to go on to become a quantitative trader after doing computer science could it instead make it seem like I only want to go to the uni for the prestegie to get a top job? As many topics that the uni would teach me wouldn't be absolutely necessary for that job? Thank you
Great question - just demonstrating that you know what a quantitative trader is puts you above 50% of candidates and this is why we recommend the career plan. The university does not care what you are going to be, but those candidates who demonstrate they have researched and thought about how their degree might open doors, come across as smarter and better suited than those who don't seem to have any knowledge of the real world. Hope that helps!
Sir, please tell whether having a goal for working for the government as an Economist a good career plan to state for Bsc Economics at LSE?
Yes - any career goal can be made relevant if backed up by well-researched specifics and a robust career plan. For you example, you would want to mention which government, and which department. How will your economics education be used to solve problems that this department faces and how will you progress through the department? What will be your first job title, and what will be your job title after 2-5 years? The more you demonstrate your research, the stronger you come across as a candidate. Good luck!
In terms of finding supercurriculars, there is so much to read on in any subject and it can feel quite daunting at times as if you need to know as much as possible about your chosen subject. How would you recommend dealing with this? My teachers say to focus on a niche area of your subject and go really deep into that rather than having surface level knowledge across many different areas - depth not breadth. I am not completely sure on what I should do and would appreciate some feedback, thank you.
Your teacher is correct! A niche is a great idea to show deep understanding. Part of your applications journey should be to find this niche and your statement will be stronger by you going through the process of finding a niche you are interested in so that you are authentic and convincing when you write about this (it's very easy for an experienced admissions officer to spot a superficial understanding). Why don't you do a quick Google/UA-cam/Chat GPT of your subject to identify a list of 3-10 topics that you could explore and then talk to your teacher to ask if they can help you to identify yours from this long list. It's important that you find your own interest, and researching this is part of the journey, but hopefully your teacher can narrow down your options.
how do naturally implement what you intend to do with your degree/career plan into the personal statement?
Great question! Our consultants say that it is most naturally found either in the first two lines or else in the final paragraph (or both). You have really stand out demonstrating that you have done some careers research and come up with a plan for your next 5 years.
E.g. "I am applying to History with Economics programmes because the combination of deep quantitative and qualitative analysis will set up me up well for my future career as a Strategy Consultant in a Big 4 firm."
"During my degree I intend to make the most of university career services to help me to earn places at competitive spring week programmes and internships, such as , so that immediately after graduating I have maximising my chances succeeding in the working world."
👍👍👍👍
Sir, Is it advisable to name drop professors from the target university or will it cause a conflict of interest in terms of the other 4 universities?
Great question! It's really tough for a UK undergrad when the same essay goes to all universities (who an earth thought that was a good idea??).
What we suggest is that you pick your #1 university and namedrop a professor from that university - you can also mention their academic paper or an open day that you attended and how that inspired you to apply to courses. In doing so, you are hinting which is your first choice university, but in the context of you are passionate and well researched in your subject, so it is still beneficial to your other courses.
Download our exemplar in the description to see how Richard does just this in the opening line of his exemplar personal statement. Good luck!
What happens if you don't actually know what you want to do in the future but still want to go to Uni?
Then you are in the majority of people :)
Go to open days, talk to people you know who have been to university and ask them about careers they think you'd be suited to. Talk to your favourite teacher. Research careers and courses and try and get inspired. It's your future - you're in the driving seat and the more proactive you are, the better your life will likely turn out :)
How long should my personal statement be?
Undergraduate: 4,000 characters (including spaces) - although it's good to aim for 3,500 if you are able to write succinctly
Postgraduate: it varies for each course from 500 words to 5,000 characters
Hi, My UCL MSc Finance statement is of 900 words. It it too long?
Can l apply for scholarships, programs and so on with those advices?
Yes - many scholarships are automatic, meaning that all eligible students are considered without a further application, but check the universities' fees and funding pages for details of additional scholarships that you can apply to (e.g. the Stelios Scholarship at LSE - which is aimed at students from Greece and Cyprus). Some of these tips, and especially free exemplar that you can download, can be easily adapted to help for scholarship and even job and internship applications. Good luck!
@@the_profs thanks for the reply
Hi, my UCL MSc Finance application is 900 words. Is it too long?
No that is actually a pretty optimal length. Don't panic when you see that the UCL limit is only 3,000 characters (not words). There is an option to upload your own statement which can be longer. UCL asks for size 12 font (use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Calibri) and 1.5 pages is about right. We recommend 800-1000 words for UCL, but we've had students go up to 1,200 and over two pages and still get in. However, longer is not better if there are no specifics and most of it is 'fluff'.