University Supporting Statements
July 21st, 2008 | by admin |We know how tough it can be to write a supporting statement for university. It is your one opportunity to really show off to the university admissions officer. Your worries can be compounded further if you are an international student, as English may not be your second language. Writing a good personal statement in English may prove a challenge for you. We have some great tips on how to write a supporting statement as well as advice for you on getting more help.
The most important thing to remember about your university supporting statement is that it will be your only real opportunity to demonstrate your ability and achievements. You really must take advantage of this and also remember that it’s a double edged sword – while a great supporting statement will impress, a poor personal statement in English with errors will severely damage your chances of success with your application.
You should take the opportunity to explain why you think you would be a good student for your choice of course at university. You should also be able to demonstrate why the university should accept you instead of giving your place to someone else. You should keep these things in mind when writing your supporting statement – it should be an academic document and it must be tailored and targeted towards the subject that you are applying for. This means you will have to write multiple copies of your university supporting statement if you are applying to more than one course. You should also be sure to include your interests and hobbies to show that you are a well rounded individual with wide interests.
You should be beginning to appreciate how important your supporting statement is. If you have any concerns, especially about having to write multiple supporting statements, my advice for you would be to take a look at the English clinic. The English Clinic prepares personal statements based on three guiding principals: why this subject; why you; and are you interesting and unique.. As well as a wealth of free guidance and advice, your application can be managed by UK based consultants, who have years of experience of writing personal statements and supporting statements in English. Below are some details about our three guiding principals for writing English personal statements, which you are welcome to follow too.
Why this Subject?
Ideally you should sum up your feelings for a subject in a short, snappy sentence. You need to really capture the reason why you are interested in the subject. We believe that great personal statements begin simply and get straight to the point, so an opening of, “I want to study Geography because…” is as great a start as any. You have got to really transfer your enthusiasm for the subject to the university admissions officer. The following are examples of the areas that we would cover in this area:
- Your knowledge of the subject area
- What does the programme involve? (i.e. demonstrate that you’ve researched what you will be studying)
- Why does it interest you?
- What interests you most?
- Where could studying the course take you in the future?
Why You?
So far in your university personal statement you’ve outlined your reasons for being interested in the course you are applying to. Now you will need to show that you would be a good student and are suited to the subject you have chosen. It is very important to show that you have ability to study at degree level and more importantly you must demonstrate that you are motivated. Universities do not appreciate unmotivated students so you must not convey this message in your university supporting statement. An English personal statement from our English Clinic would cover your academic ability and your desire to study. More importantly, we would link back to what the course involves, making your personal statement stand out for good structure and substance. Areas that we would cover and you should think about are:
- Previous studies
- Any voluntary work?
- Hobbies and interests
- Things you have learnt from newspapers, TV etc
- If you are having a Gap Year, what you hope to learn and achieve
- Relevant work experience
- Examples of project work and leadership skills in your previous studies
Are you Interesting and Unique?
The last but certainly not least, part of writing your supporting statement is to show that you are interesting and unique. Your supporting statement should reflect your character and this can be especially hard when writing a personal statement in English, if English is your second language. Our university supporting statements would cover themes such as what makes you unique; what experiences have you had that would bring something extra to the university community. Some things you could think about are:
- What you enjoy doing in your spare time
- Sports you participate in
- Significant positions of responsibility you may hold
- Special achievements and awards
- What you have learned during employment
From experience, we have found that this kind of formula, when followed correctly can produce an outstanding English personal statement. As you are working on your personal statement you are likely to have questions which you’d like to ask the universities themselves. It can be a real pain if you are in an awkward time zone compared to the UK. By having your applications managed in the UK by our Head Office, you we can get your questions answered immediately. This service offered by Advice For You, will have your English personal statement written, checked and polished by native English speakers and are guaranteed to be of the highest possible standard.
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