Personal Statement Workshop Wadham College, Structure

• Things to know • Getting started • Being super-curricular • Extra-curricular Personal Statement • • • • • 15th October October 15th forDeadline medicine-relatedOxbridge and subjects: education Evidence yourof preparation for university-style thatuniversitygoesto each document youtoOne apply characterstext of 4,000 lines 47 = Partapplication UCAS of (15 January everywhere else) January (15 Watch the following What are Tutors video and record the looking for? dos and don’ts. What are the outcomes of going to university?

1. Critical thinking 6. Professional skills 2. Discipline 7. Ethics and values knowledge 8. Creativity 3. Problem solving 9. Learning to learn 4. Teamwork 5. Communication Source: OECD 2013 What are universities looking for?

Universities look for skills and attributes tailored to the course you are applying to.

• What are the admissions criteria for the subject you are applying for?

• Your personal statement should demonstrate them Admissions/ Experimental Psychology Selection • Appreciate the scope of psychology Criteria • Can evaluate evidence • Are able to consider issues from different perspectives • Have a capacity for logical and creative thinking • Appreciate the importance of empirical evidence in supporting arguments • Can cope with the quantitative demands of the course. Why do you want to study this course? 80% Academic • Current studies including • Outside reading • What has inspired you? super -curricular Super-curricular • What have you read, watched, visited or listened to that has excited you? 20% Extra- • Why was it interesting? Curricular • How do these support and compliment the course you are applying for?

Extra curricular • Try and focus on transferrable skills • Selection criteria for other four universities Personal Statement Examples personalstatement you’re at looking examples Underline/highlight from the atLook personalthe statement examples: How do they demonstrate university outcomes?demonstrate they university do How demonstratethey passion? do How notice? you do What Getting Started Opening Paragraph • Keepsimply. it Keep short. it - you What have academicallyto done this?show - Why youare excitedyour subject? about - format: Personal statementtendto openings follow similara What do you notice? youdo What examples: personalthe of atstatement Look theopenings Opening Paragraph (Tip 2: Draft2: (Tip 5 first sentences) Leave1: (Tip last)until it Keepsimply. it Keep short. it - Whatyou haveacademicallyto done this? show - Why youare excitedyour subject? about - format: Personal statementtendto follow openings similar a “Classical literature has preserved the history and society Opening of the world that they have come from.• MostMust notably, be received the by College in November connection between drama and society• isArts/Humanities what I find most subjects Paragraph intriguing. From Aristophanes' Lysistrata• whichThink aboutseems yourto interests serve as a criticism of the ongoing Peloponnesian• A piece of War, marked to work submittedExamples as part of Homer's Iliad, which portrays conventionalA-Level ideas of masculinity and heroism.” Classics • May be discussed at interview • www.ox.ac.uk/writwork

“While visiting the Joint European Torus at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, I discovered how strong magnetic fields, radio waves and the injection of high speed neutral atoms can heat plasma to over 300 million degrees to achieve fusion, potentially providing a long term solution for the world's energy crisis. I learnt how mechanical engineering is central to managing the heat transfer; this was a key experience in my choice of course.” Engineering “My first exposure to the concept of genetic disease was Opening whilst doing work experience at a deaf• school.Must beI found received it by College in November incredible that the assortment of four •basesArts/Humanities could have subjectsParagraph such a tangible effect on health and development.• Think about This your interests sparked my curiosity in the theory of genetic• A piece mutation, of marked work submittedExamples as part of and was my first introduction to Biochemistry.”A-Level Biochemistry • May be discussed at interview • www.ox.ac.uk/writwork

“My admiration for French extends beyond its beautiful sounds to the richness of its history and culture. For my EPQ, I studied the Charter of Laïcité in French Schools and the history of secularism in France. In order to determine whether I believed it was coherent policy to ban religious symbols in schools, while subscribing to a motto of Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.” French (and Arabic) Why do you want to study the subject?

With the person next to you, decide who is person A and who is person B

Person A: explain to person B why you’d like to study the subject (or convince them to study it) in 1 min

Person B: is this explanation convincing? Swap! Top Tips “I got my first computer when I was X years old.” The ten most frequently-used opening statements.

1.”I am currently studying a BTEC National Diploma in ...” #1 Avoid 2. “From a young age I have always been interested in ... “ 3. “From an early age I have always been interested in ... “ Clichés 4. “Nursing is a very challenging and demanding career ... “ 5. “For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with ...” 6. "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only” ... “ 7. “Nursing is a profession I have always looked upon with ... “ 8. “For as long as I can remember I have been interested in ... “ 9. “I am an International Academy student and have been studying since ...” 10. “Academically, I have always been a very determined and ... “ Top Tips Don’t Copy

“Ever since I accidentally burnt holes in my #1 Avoid pyjamas after experimenting with a Clichés chemistry set on my eighth birthday, I have always had a passion for science.”

#2 Don’t Don’t Lie Copy (or Lie) Saying things you haven’t done. Saying you’ve read something you haven’t Top Tips “My interest in #3 Biology began when Don’t be my pet cat Snuggles #1 Avoid quirky died and I performed Clichés an autopsy.”

"On the 20th of April a great figure in #2 Don’t history was born...It was me, who will Copy go on to make great changes in (or Lie) history as we know it" Why do you want to study this course? 80% Academic • Current studies including • Outside reading • What has inspired you? super -curricular Super-curricular • What have you read, watched, visited or listened to that has excited you? 20% Extra- • Why was it interesting? Curricular • How do these support and compliment the course you are applying for?

Extra curricular • Try and focus on transferrable skills • Selection criteria for other four universities Being Super-Curricular

How have you developed your knowledge?

What have you read, watched, visited or listened to that has inspired you? • Books, magazines, exhibitions, talks, podcasts

Why was it interesting? How do these support and compliment the course you are applying for? skills / knowledge Super-Curriculars examples: toback Go the personal statement through these activities? these through they demonstrating are skills What interest curricular course? their in tothey have done What super- show Examples from current students Super-curricular activities Evidence of your interest Can they grouped?be Can resources/activities? you fromdidWhat learn these activities. Telltheperson next to these you about Yearsince Note 10? down. them manyHow have academic activities you done “To find out more about the complexity of the brain, I read Admissions Tutor Comment: “So you want to be a brain “While this illustrates that surgeon” by Stephan Sanders. the candidate is reading This has around the subject, some given me a great deal of insight further significance [should] into neurosurgery.” be given.” Top Tips

#4 • What did you learn? Don’t List • What do you think?

• What questions do you have?

• What do you agree/disagree with? “After reading John Donne's "The Flea", I was intrigued by his choice to represent love for a woman through the conceit of a parasite, eating away at himself. I saw this as an example of Donne's alleged misogyny furthering the stereotype of women as "cruel and sudden", in contrast to his predecessors who idealized and even worshipped them. However, I think it is equally interesting to consider the view expressed by Ilona Bell that Donne does not present the woman as singularly cruel, but as being capable of Critical independent thought and challenging patriarchal Thinking authority, even if Donne himself viewed that in a negative light and considered it a perversion of gender roles.” English What looks really impressive is if you can... …take your super- Or…say what it made curricular activity and you think, and use it as say what it made you a stepping stone to think or link it to things other activities you are have done or are learning about. (Using it as a stepping (critical thinking) stone) Can you see any examples in the personal statements you have? “Reading the book prompted me to listen to a Radio 4 series, Darwin: In Our Time, about how Darwin reached his theory of evolution and how this was received by 19th century society. As well as reading seminal texts on Biology, I have taken the opportunity to attend lectures, at the Imperial College Festival and at a residential course at Trinity College Cambridge, amongst other events. I particularly enjoyed a lecture by science author Kat Arney on genetics. It highlighted how much we don't understand about the function of much of our DNA, and expanded on what I had previously read in 'The Animal Stepping Kingdom: A Very Short Introduction', by Peter Holland, about embryological development and how DNA can Stones code for the construction of a complex body plan.” Biology “After realising how much Archaeology and History can combine to allow you to understand the ancient world I read 'Archaeology: A Very Short Introduction'. As a new subject to me the methods and theories behind archaeology were less apparent. I was struck most by the idea of scientific and social theories affecting archaeologists' work. Theories I studied in A- level Sociology, such as Engels and Marx's idea of 'primitive communism' had such a profound Linking effect on the discipline that Marxist Archaeology was founded. This showed me how connected Knowledge 'social sciences' can be in determining how we think about the world and the past.” Classical Archaeology & Ancient History 1. Select something that you have done. 2. What were you struck by? What Example: Stepping Stone Scaffold questions did it raise? 3. What did you do to find our more find out more? 4. What struck you about this?

“I find human and cell biology interesting and this inspired me to read '' by Matt Ridley (1). It explained each chromosome and its relationship to a part of human history or a disease. The chapter on stress was especially interesting, but what really intrigued me was the section on cancer (2). This led to me reading 'The Emperor of All Maladies' by Siddhartha Mukherjee (3) which I enjoyed, as it included cases rather than just being a history of cancer. The book demonstrated how current treatments were developed and tested (4).” Medicine 1. Select something that you have done. 2. What were you struck by? What Example: Stepping Stone Scaffold questions did it raise? 3. What did you do to find our more find out more? 4. What struck you about this?

“Reading A Very Short Introduction to Molecular Biology (1), I was struck by a segment on regulatory RNA molecules. I was particularly fascinated by the concept of RNA used in the regulation of expression (2). This led me to a Nature article about Riboswitches: RNA molecules that can bind to a ligand and change their physical conformation (3). This happens in the expression region of the riboswitch, and determines whether the RNA is transcribed or not... Taking biochemistry at degree level would allow me to learn more about cell function and control... (4)” Biochemistry 1. Select something that you have done. 2. What were you struck by? What Example: Stepping Stone Scaffold questions did it raise? 3. What did you do to find our more find out more? 4. What struck you about this?

Try and draft a paragraph 1. Reading/ Attending/ Listening/ Work Experience in/ Participating in 2. I was struck by/ I was particularly interested in/ 3. This led me to/ To further my understanding/ In response, I/ Fascinated, I/ Extending my knowledge, I Why do you want to study this course? 80% Academic • Current studies including • Outside reading • What has inspired you? super -curricular Super-curricular • What have you read, watched, visited or listened to that has excited you? 20% Extra- • Why was it interesting? Curricular • How do these support and compliment the course you are applying for?

Extra curricular • Try and focus on transferrable skills • Selection criteria for other four universities Link them to skills useful for university

“Balancing my work in school as a language and student council prefect, as well as working part-time, has greatly improved my organisational skills, as well as teaching me how to properly arrange my time.” Classics

“…represent my school in hockey and netball, for which teamwork and commitment are crucial.” Human Sciences Or keep it short and simple

“To relax I play hockey and was captain of the team at school. I enjoy Music and Dance; achieving Grade 8 in Dance, Grade 7 in Piano and Singing, and competing at a national level in Dance.” Medicine

“Outside academia, I enjoy reading, playing hockey, and taking part in drama productions, both on and off stage.” Biochemistry

Top Editing Tips

#1 Avoid Using “I find that studying the lives of the Same people in the past is fascinating, and Words I have recently become particularly fascinated by the way that history is effected by people’s perceptions and biases. I also find it fascinating that…” Top Editing Tips

#1 Avoid Using the Same “Biology is a facsinating Words discipline what help’s us to understand our world and #2 Check spelling and wear it might be going.” grammar Editing takes time. Make sure each sentence is doing work.

This February I attended a taster lecture at Oxford University focussing on the usefulness of lasers in visualising nature (1,2). I was intrigued to see the role that technology plays in being able to visualise things on a cellular level, particularly the role of fluorescence (3). The ability to use adaptations from other organisms (e.g. the GFP gene from Jellyfish) to see the inner workings of the cell, is incredibly powerful. Subsequently I accessed the Cell Library Online to explore other examples of fluorescent labelling of cell components, e.g. LipidTOX to visualise fat stores (5).

Attending a lecture at Oxford University on the usefulness of lasers I was intrigued by the role of technology in viewing nature at a cellular level, particularly fluorescence. The use of adaptations from other organisms (e.g. the GFP gene from Jellyfish) to see the inner workings of the cell, is incredibly powerful. Subsequently, I used the Cell Library Online to explore other examples of fluorescent labelling e.g. LipidTOX to visualise fat stores. TRUE OR FALSE

1. Personal statements should start with an attention-grabbing sentence, which catches FALSE the admissions tutors’ eye and makes them want to read on.

2. Giving specific details about activities you have done, and insights you have gained, is TRUE more important than listing more activities.

3. The personal statement is about showing your personality so it should focus on your FALSE hobbies and interests as opposed to your academic activities.

4. It is vital to outline a “lightbulb” moment – a one-off personal experience which gave FALSE you your reason for wanting to study your chosen subject.

5. Personal statements should include a paragraph where you take a specific topic you are TRUE interested in and analyse it in detail. Look at the admissions criteria for your courses

What are your stepping stones going to be?

Set yourself 3 targets for super- curricular activities, and give SUMMING yourself a time frame UP Start drafting! Get in touch

Email Twitter Website [email protected] @WadhamAccess wadham.ox.ac.uk