How to Write a Personal Statement
Mistakes to avoid in your Oxford personal statement
Knowing how to write a personal statement is often an intimidating task and even more so when it’s for Oxford University. However, there are a few things to look out for so you don’t make any faux pas.
What should the tone of your personal statement for Oxford be?
I think that this is usually a very difficult thing to get right, however, there are certain things to avoid. Above all, make sure that your personal statement is not too ‘funny’ because those jokes are most likely to fall on deaf ears.
It is important to avoid cringe-worthy / cheap gags because they are not impressive and suggest that you are not a serious student. It is also vital that you do not come across too verbose or pretentious because this is extremely transparent. The tutors reading your personal statement for Oxford are well-versed in the pretentious ramblings of candidates who think that this tone makes them appear intellectual. However, in addition to this, make sure that the tone is not too robotic or bland, because your Oxford personal statement may blur into the background.
What should the language be like for an Oxford personal statement?
Ensure that you avoid grammatical and spelling mistakes. This makes for a terrible first impression and should be the first step you should look at when finding out how to write a personal statement. In addition, look at the language that you have used in the statement and check to see if it is academic, engaging and clear.
The language of your Oxford personal statement demonstrates your ability to form and deliver arguments. Therefore, avoid being overly-complicated, unclear and definitely avoid the list format. Listing information suggests that you are trying to prove a point of how much you know or have read without going into detail in any of them.
How to write a personal statement: Areas to mention and areas to avoid:
A personal statement for Oxford is a window into how passionate you are about your subject, how keen you are to learn and how much you already know. Therefore, when how to write a personal statement, avoid (at all costs) mentioning subjects that you would not feel comfortable or at ease explaining or discussing.
Do not do what so many students have done in the past and talk about a book you have not read, or use a quote that you don’t know the origin of! When writing a personal statement, you have to remember that you are furnishing them with information about you and, therefore, you are in control.
The worst thing you could possibly do:
The pet hate of every tutor who reads all the personal statements for Oxford (aside from grammatical mistakes) is when a candidate spends too much time talking about their co-curriculum activities. When it comes down to it the tutor has zero interest in these skills, unless you can carefully find a way to relate them to your subject. If you’re unsure, just leave them out!
You’ve learnt how to write a personal statement but do you know how to plan it? Organising the format of your personal statement can be tricky, you need to learn how to plan your personal statement if you want the chance of wooing those Oxford tutors.
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A personal statement could be the reason why you either walk through those university doors or you don’t. Don’t sell yourself short and take the time to write a statement that works.
The All-Time Personal Statement Tips
You’ve learnt what to avoid in your personal statement, now read our top tips on how to write a personal statement that will succeed. We’ve got all the tips and tricks in this article. We know what you need to include to stand out from the crowd, so why don’t you take a read and find out for yourself?
