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As well as entering your grades and other academic qualifications, you will also be required to fill in a personal statement. The personal statement is a brief piece on why you feel you should be selected to study on that particular course.

We take a look at how to write a personal statement and what university admissions tutors might expect. As law has been the most popular degree subject in Britain for over a decade, you’re certainly in for some competition.

As such, it is important that your personal statement is as good as possible so it looks better when compared with other people applying for the same course. There is no ‘perfect guide’ on how to write a personal statement, however there are a few guiding principles that can help you on your way.

The most important aim of the personal statement is to get a cross an accurate picture of yourself to the reader. There are many ways that this can be done, but it is always best to keep things simple. It is best to begin by writing down a summary of what you hope to say to the reader. Do not try to perfect the structure or grammar at the start, just get all of your ideas down on paper.

Here is a rough outline of what you could cover:

- Why have you selected the course and university?

- Why does that area interest you?

- What experience you have of that area (previous study, work experience, etc)?

- Why you do intend to go to university or college?

- Details of any interests or hobbies that might be looking upon in a good way

- Any awards, achievements or prizes that demonstrate your skills

- Positions of responsibility that you have held like part time jobs

Once you have managed to write some things down, the next stage to start putting the information into a simple structure. University admissions officers are often expected to read through hundreds of personal statements so it is important that you are concise, to the point and to do not waffle. There is nothing more frustrating to them than reading a piece from somebody that has no idea how to write a personal statement.

Here is an example structure below:

Section one: Why I want to study the subject and why?

Section two: What have I done that demonstrates my interest in the subject?

Section three: Any awards or achievements I have that show my qualities?

Section four: What interests do I have outside school?

Section five: Why do I want to go to university and what I do want to achieve?

The next stage is to expand on your notes and as much as you can on paper. At this stage, don’t worry about going over the amount of words you are allowed to use. It is always easier to take some information away than it is to add extra information. Don’t worry about filling the whole section either. If you can convey yourself effectively in a fairly short piece then that is fine.

Once you have finished the first draft of your personal statement, wait for a few days. By leaving it for a few days, you will be able to assess what you have done far more effectively. Following your initial revisions, you should give to any friends, family and teachers. If your family do not have a good grasp of the English language, consult your English teacher at school. Your local British Council may also be willing to help.

Either way, they have most likely been checking personal statements for years and will be very good at spotting any obvious errors you have made. One of the biggest issues students initially have when thinking of how to write a personal statement is the worry of sounding arrogant. Be under no illusions, you have to sell yourself.

Considering that university places are more competitive than ever, it is important that you are prepared to talk about yourself in a positive way. Now that you have more of an idea on how to write a personal statement, get started! Remember, the first sentence is always the most difficult!