Blog post by Koko Lotharukpong | October 2020

So, you’ve decided to apply to the UK, chosen your course, and now you’re sitting down and thinking about how to write your UCAS Personal Statement.

Only problem: you don’t know how to start writing a Personal Statement.

Here’s how to get started.

1. Brainstorming

The first thing I’d do is to write down a bullet-point list of all the things you’ve done that are relevant to your course or want to include.

This could be internships, books you’ve read, the leadership positions you’ve had - anything and everything that you think you might want to put into your Personal Statement. Try to think of super curriculars - things you’ve done that are outside of your course syllabus, things that you chose to pursue out of your own interest!

(Of course, if you’re more of a mind map person, you could alternatively do a mind map.)

Here’s an example of a Philosophy applicant’s list:

• Read Michael J. Sandel’s Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?
• Read Simon Blackburn’s Think
• Did an online course on Coursera called Introduction to Philosophy
• 2 week work experience with a law firm
• 2 week work experience with the U.N.
• Did TOK
• Took Philosophy for A Level
• President of Smile Club at school
• Took part in Model UN