I’ve watched several of your videos now and I honestly have to say that you’ve been extraordinarily helpful with regards to personal statements, and generally how to think like an academic. Thank you.
You've summarised what multiple seminars, presentations and entire courses have failed to do with hours of time. And more impressively, you did it in a mere 40 minutes. Thank you.
Seeing faculty from Oxbridge speak about the importance of demonstrating genuine evaluation and critical thinking, almost dismissing extracurriculars entirely, has just turned my world upside down. I've been surrounded by a lot of people with little to no actual academic passion, pursuing supercurriculars just to say they have, dogmatically making a beeline for Oxbridge, driven merely by ego and pressure. It's really encouraging to see that that's not what Oxbridge is all about. I might consider actually trying for Oxbridge if I choose to pursue a postgraduate education. Thank you.
I would just like to say that I have found all your videos, especially the videos on how to write a personal statement and the examples of what to do/not to do, have all been so helpful. At first my personal statement was quite impersonal, but following your advice it is much more personal!
THIS PRESENTATION WAS BEAUTIFUL.. the first personal statement advise video i watched through till the end! The animations were great and the advice was very so much needed. Thank you so much for this video and the link to the slides.
Thank you for the guidance, Dr Williams. As a mature student applying for postgraduate study, further to watching this session it was apparent that I had approached my draft PS from the wrong perspective and had failed to answer the three questions you outlined. I had adopted a similar format to that of a CV covering my 25 years' career experience, and had failed to add sufficient reflection on acquired learning and vocational development over that time. I should have watched this first! I now feel confident in my application, albeit not to a Russell Group university.
Thank you very much for this video! I plan on applying for multiple summer internships, one of them being in Cambridge, and this was very helpful. As a bachelor student who doesn't have any academic mentors, this was a great opportunity to get a better understanding of what exactly people, who read personal statements, want to see. Hope to write a good one, thank you!
Incredible video! My first degree is from the US and my personal statement was quite different- it was more vocational and focused on creative writing. I am going to apply for the DPhil in Social Data Science at the University of Oxford and this video really helps streamline my thoughts! Thank you so much :)
OMG! Thank you very much for this video! It was an absolute KILLER! I am currently trying to write a personal statement for the GKS-G scholarship in South Korea and I have literally spent hours on this video, pausing, again and again, reflecting on what I learned from the video, brainstorming ideas for my own personal statement, taking notes, writing down new ideas all the time! These 2 hours were like the most productive hours ever for me
hello mr. Williams! thank you so much for all the resources you provide. I plan to apply for the law course this coming admissions cycle and if i get in ( fingers crossed) it will be greatly due to your guidance and in-depth discussions. Hopefully i’ll get to thank you in person next year! cheers, Anisha
Thank you so much! I'm applying to both US and UK universities, and have no idea how to write essays for UK universities after brainstorming for US universities for so long. Your video is very helpful!
Hi! I've watched your videos to prepare my personal statement and yesterday I've received an offer to pursue a MPhil at Oxford! Your tips were very helpful!
*Before the video* I am short on air, as you have taken my breath away with this helpful video. *After the video* I am short on air, as you have taken my breath away with this helpful video. After reading Vee’s personal statement, I have noticed how Vee told about different historic happenings and used them to show and not just tell. Thanks for these tips! Show and don’t tell is literally the best tip to use for everything, not only a personal statement.
I am aiming for a very different degree, which is professionally steered, so there are a few things that I should do differently than what is suggested. But even that has been made very clear in the video and that's why I think everyone, irrespective of the degree that they are applying to can get very helpful advice here.
I almost spit out my drink as I read the don’t thing in the standing out section 😭😭 however your way of explaining things made it clearer for me on how to write this PS so thank you sm !!
Man I REALLY hope I get admitted so I can shake your hand one day and just at very least thank you for all the help you've offered through this content on CZcams.
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 I look forward to it! I'm working on my second draft of my personal statement now (shaving it down now because I misread the character/page limits). I'm applying for law school but I'm a political science and history enthusiast as well.
Good to know! Just be sure not to burn yourself out. Make sure you find ways of enjoying the process -- because then you'll sustain your motivation and go further. John Stuart Mill was in such a hurry to become the best philosopher in the world that he had a nervous breakdown! In the end, he achieved more by relaxing a bit than by constantly working.
I am in year 11 right now hoping to gain some knowledge on how to be a better future candidate to universities such as oxford, thank you so much for this lecture which gives so much insight on how to write a strong PS!
I found this fascinating,, As I am taking an access course in social science and humanity.. to go onto philosophy then to take the pg cert in chaplaincy..
On the Bristol slide, the sentence about the adjective 'vulnerable' in legislation. I just wanted to say that I used this paper to talk about the DID model in my personal statement. So thank you Dr. Williams for that one. Hopefully it is both personal and evidence of my interest. Although I seemed to struggle to talk about what I've read without being descriptive.
Thank you so much Sir!Just want to tell you that although 9 out of 10 of my teachers strongly suggested me to change my ps to a less emotional, and more “normal” ps, not quoting quotes from a marmite type celebrity, I decided to stick with your advices and wrote my own PERSONAL statement, which I found satisfying! I’m applying to Cambridge for Mathematics, sorry not Oxford 😅 but please wish me luck 😬😬😬
Notes to self: 18:28 is a very helpful section. Come back to this as I keep redrafting. Another way to critically analyse is to identify the parallels and similarities etc
😂Ok I died on emotional blackmail. Brilliant Insights there! Hope to get ideas on PSs concerning internships I.e into world class organisations or competitive multinational companies.
Thanks for your comment! When applying to companies, they similarly want evidence of activity over platitudes such as "I am highly motivated". So if you can give evidence of what you have done that proves you are highly motivated, that is ideal. Show, don't just tell!
I don't really have many achievements to write about because I'm studying at a night school. I do read a lot of research articles in my own time. Hopefully that can make up for my lack of in-class activities!
Yes, that's the sort of detail we want. We know that "achievements" are relative to what is possible. Some people have loads of opportunities to achieve, and others have to struggle more. Reading articles in your own time whilst attending night school is very impressive and not to be dismissed lightly.
Wow, this is immensely resourceful! Do you think highlighting significant work experience would be advantageous especially for an applicant in a Masters in Business Administration programme?
Many thanks Tony! I think work experiences can be very impactful for MBA applications. When applying to academic institutions, however, be sure to draw the connections between any practical experience and a wider academic debate. For example, if you've had some work experiences with a business, what did it tell you about a topic of academic interest, such as management structuring, behavioural economics... you name it?
being french when you want to study in the UK becomes hard when you have to write your personal statement. No one is able to help me so I thank you!!! My PS is way better now
Essay rewrite easy, do the right thing, not like thing and do the thing right, not thing like.Do the good half of him, the rest do the best of your sure you pass, if not do next.Tips seeing is believing, touching is awaring.Good luck.
Yes, for the most part. You just need to ensure a grad application places greater emphasis on specific research questions you wish to pursue (assuming you're applying for a research degree) with some discussion of the academic literature you may wish to contribute to. Thank you for your comment!
To be frank, I am applying for taught degrees because I do not know if I will be doing a PhD afterwards. I imagine connecting my personal research interest with the in the programme offered modules would not be wrong, too.
Thank you for this guide. Just wondering when applying for a Masters, do you have to also mention the area that you are going to research and if so, could we change it some time in the future?
It's worth describing your research interests, yes. But you don't need to have a fully formed research design, and you're not forced to follow through on the proposal if your research plans change. This would only really apply to a research masters, rather than a taught masters.
1. Express academic interest, not vocational interest 2. Background is okay, but not the main focus 3. Show, don't tell 4. Introductory texts are not as impressive as more academic ones. 5. Let the admissions office see you reflected in your essay 6. Only quote if you use that as a springboard for your own opinion. You don't have characters to waste. 7. Reflect on the things you mention. 8. Super curriculars are quality over quantity. 9. A nice structure always helps - think story arc. 10. Be clear 11. Remember - motivations, evidence, justification 12. Circular structures lend coherence to your essay. 13. Exploration - Substance - Methods - Findings - Other Interests 14. ECs should be relevant to your final goal - showcasing academic interest 15. Grammar, punctuation, and a clear syntax are all incredibly important. 16. Don't use adverbs and adjectives excessively 17. Get some feedback, but don't drown in it. Thank you for the video!
Thank you so much for this very informative piece. It was absolutely helpful. Please is there a way I can get my personal statement through to you to review. It'll be greatly appreciated
Yes, that can work well. Just be sure to explain your academic interests in the topic and some relevant academic literature you have read to further your interest.
Thank you so much for this video! It really was helpful. I had a question , i am applying for masters in healthcare management and finding it difficult to begin my personal statement , any tips on how to begin and what points to include in the first paragraph?
I would usually open a personal statement at the beginning of your story. When did you realise that you wanted to pursue this Masters? Why did you realise that you wanted to pursue this Masters? You can use this as a way in to discussing your specific academic interests and your potential to be an outstanding student on the programme.
I have so many little interests that I move on from quickly I wouldnt know what to say about myself. I dont have any permanent hobbies other than volunteering and my work, I feel that sounds too try hard to put in a personal statement. I feel like I should just create a new hobby around my wanted degree. I feel the best thing to do is create a hobby around creating a portfolio of work in the area I want to apply to or something related to it. For interactive media ---> animation/art as well as video games?
There's no harm in having lots of interests. It would be more of a problem to have so few interests that you don't know what to write about. You can create a hobby, or you could isolate which of your hobbies best confirms your hypotheses that a) you want to study your chosen degree, and b) you will perform exceptionally well on course. Best of luck.
This has been incredibly helpful, thank you! I'm very close to submitting my personal statement and this has given me some great insight on what to add next. I'm applying for Politics and would love some feedback from a professional in the field, is there any chance I could email you a few questions? I understand how busy you must be but any input would be very appreciated! thanks :)
This may be a silly question, but if referencing certain texts in a personal statement, should I include a works cited list? The more I research my program of interest at Oxford, the more I'm getting my heart set on attending. I really want to nail this personal statement! Thank you so much for the information in this video -- it is incredibly helpful!
Thanks a lot! I wrote my personal statement starting my fascination and curiosity about light and electromagnetism, went on to tell that my interest in EM motivated me to attend a bsc level online course hosted by iitk, and then what books I've read (on vector calculus for electromagnetism, and one on multivariable calculus). Then talking about what I'm looking forward to in university and my aspirations. Does that work?
Can be. Depends on the stats and how you use them. Typically statistics are speaking to a population trend, whereas your personal statement is n=1 (i.e. just you!). So just take care that you clearly situate yourself in the personal statement, even if you use stats.
Thank you so much for this amazing video. I am a social science student hoping to do a MA at Oxford :) If possible, I was wondering that, having a really messed semester would affect the entire application?? I have a good personal reason and have professors perhaps to write an additional letter about that matter, and after that I recovered and the relevant major subjects are almost A's but I did have a record or a semester completely messed (and these subjects are still there because I didn't take resit, therefore around 2:1 (mid)) How would that affect my application? I really have no idea about that so it would be really helpful if I can hear any from the experienced tutor. Thanks !
Thank you for this! What do you mean by Substance and Methods? They seem to entail the studying that you’ll do at university, but surely you can’t write about that seeing as you’re meant to be writing about yourself?
This is just an idea as to what you can discuss about your interests. Most people focus on substantive matters, i.e. academic questions and answers (e.g. Why is Gold yellow?) But, you can also consider methodological matters, in other words how you go about asking questions and providing answers (e.g. what methods could we use to work out the reason for gold being yellow?)
I’ve watched several of your videos now and I honestly have to say that you’ve been extraordinarily helpful with regards to personal statements, and generally how to think like an academic. Thank you.
Well, that's very kind of you! Thank you! Best wishes MW
You've summarised what multiple seminars, presentations and entire courses have failed to do with hours of time. And more impressively, you did it in a mere 40 minutes.
Thank you.
Thank you Ben, that's very kind!
You might want to check this out czcams.com/video/5ZUgT5cgTg0/video.html
Seeing faculty from Oxbridge speak about the importance of demonstrating genuine evaluation and critical thinking, almost dismissing extracurriculars entirely, has just turned my world upside down. I've been surrounded by a lot of people with little to no actual academic passion, pursuing supercurriculars just to say they have, dogmatically making a beeline for Oxbridge, driven merely by ego and pressure. It's really encouraging to see that that's not what Oxbridge is all about. I might consider actually trying for Oxbridge if I choose to pursue a postgraduate education. Thank you.
Thank you!
Got my acceptance letter today. Thanks Dr. Matt
Fantastic! Congratulations!
J C you will!
THAT IS AMAZING!!! CONGRATULATIONS!
Great job!
Congratulations. Is it to Oxford?
Thank you so much for being so helpful!
All of your videos have helped me a lot!
literally just saved me with the difference between program and programme
Brilliant video! Just in my time of need! Thank you Dr Williams!!!🤩
This was super useful! I watched it the whole way through. Thank you!!!
Very helpful video. Concise, well presented, relevant and to the point, this video is great!
Thank you for your insights 🙏. I hope I can act upon them, but definitely a resource I will share in the future
This is helping me massively as I look to write a my PS for a Mst, this September.
This is by far the best video I've seen on this topic. Informative and well detailed. Thank you!
That's really kind, thank you!
I would just like to say that I have found all your videos, especially the videos on how to write a personal statement and the examples of what to do/not to do, have all been so helpful. At first my personal statement was quite impersonal, but following your advice it is much more personal!
Excellent! Best of luck to you!
Probably the best video ive watched on preparing a personal statement
Thanks a bunch
Wow, thanks!
The most useful video on personal statements I've watched so far!
Wow, thank you!
Thank you, Bless you for the very detailed suggestion,✊🙏 It would certainly make feel less stressed as I prepare to apply
You are so welcome!
Thank you, I can finally start writing with an idea on my mind.
Wonderful!
This is very useful indeed. Thank you very much.
THIS PRESENTATION WAS BEAUTIFUL.. the first personal statement advise video i watched through till the end! The animations were great and the advice was very so much needed. Thank you so much for this video and the link to the slides.
Wow, thank you! That's very kind!
Thank you for the guidance, Dr Williams. As a mature student applying for postgraduate study, further to watching this session it was apparent that I had approached my draft PS from the wrong perspective and had failed to answer the three questions you outlined. I had adopted a similar format to that of a CV covering my 25 years' career experience, and had failed to add sufficient reflection on acquired learning and vocational development over that time. I should have watched this first! I now feel confident in my application, albeit not to a Russell Group university.
We wish you the very best Allie!
Wow, I've watched the video until it's donee....so helpful. Thank you so much sir
Thank you, it’s clear, helpful and supportive, great video!
Great! Thank you
Thank you very much for this video! I plan on applying for multiple summer internships, one of them being in Cambridge, and this was very helpful. As a bachelor student who doesn't have any academic mentors, this was a great opportunity to get a better understanding of what exactly people, who read personal statements, want to see. Hope to write a good one, thank you!
Best of luck!
Incredible video! My first degree is from the US and my personal statement was quite different- it was more vocational and focused on creative writing. I am going to apply for the DPhil in Social Data Science at the University of Oxford and this video really helps streamline my thoughts! Thank you so much :)
Fantastic! Thanks for your comment!
OMG! Thank you very much for this video! It was an absolute KILLER! I am currently trying to write a personal statement for the GKS-G scholarship in South Korea and I have literally spent hours on this video, pausing, again and again, reflecting on what I learned from the video, brainstorming ideas for my own personal statement, taking notes, writing down new ideas all the time! These 2 hours were like the most productive hours ever for me
Fantastic -- thank you Jeyran! Best of luck in your applications.
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Thank you very much!
Hi, how did it go for you? i am thinking of applying this year.
Yes how did it go?
Extremely helpful presentation. Very reassuring too. Thank you very much.
Good to know. Thank you!
Absolutely loved this! So helpful.
Great to know, thank you!
Your video was so much helpful !
Thank you very much! It was the information which I was really looking for! super-puper useful!
Great to hear! Thank you
hello mr. Williams! thank you so much for all the resources you provide. I plan to apply for the law course this coming admissions cycle and if i get in ( fingers crossed) it will be greatly due to your guidance and in-depth discussions. Hopefully i’ll get to thank you in person next year!
cheers,
Anisha
Did you get In?
Awesome video. I'm writing my personal statement right now, and this video is so handy!
Glad it was helpful! Best of luck with it
Thank you so much! I'm applying to both US and UK universities, and have no idea how to write essays for UK universities after brainstorming for US universities for so long. Your video is very helpful!
Great to hear! Thank you! Best of luck
Thank you so much for this amazing guidance.
It's a pleasure! Thank you!
Hi! I've watched your videos to prepare my personal statement and yesterday I've received an offer to pursue a MPhil at Oxford! Your tips were very helpful!
Excellent news! Congratulations!
It was a much detailed and on point video I have came across on such a critical thing.
Great! Thank you!
*Before the video*
I am short on air, as you have taken my breath away with this helpful video.
*After the video*
I am short on air, as you have taken my breath away with this helpful video. After reading Vee’s personal statement, I have noticed how Vee told about different historic happenings and used them to show and not just tell.
Thanks for these tips! Show and don’t tell is literally the best tip to use for everything, not only a personal statement.
That's very kind of you! Best of luck!
I am aiming for a very different degree, which is professionally steered, so there are a few things that I should do differently than what is suggested. But even that has been made very clear in the video and that's why I think everyone, irrespective of the degree that they are applying to can get very helpful advice here.
That's kind of you to say! Thank you. Best of luck in your applications.
Thanks for this video Dr Williams ! Your videos are very very helpful
Thank you!
Thank you so much! This is really helpful 👍 Amazing 😊😊☺️
This was really helpful. Thanks a lot
wow this is the most practical and helpful video ever.
Thanks very much!
This has been incredibly helpful, thank you :) I’m on my 9th draft and I’m losing hope aha, especially as my college haven’t been too helpful😅
Thank you for posting this video, it has been really helpful :)
You’re very welcome!
thanks a lot for all your explanations, very useful.
You are welcome! Thank you
Aww..This is so helpful..Thank you Mathews
You're welcome! Thanks for your kind comment!
This is really useful, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank u!!! This was so helpful !!
No problem! Thanks for watching. Please share and subscribe!
I almost spit out my drink as I read the don’t thing in the standing out section 😭😭 however your way of explaining things made it clearer for me on how to write this PS so thank you sm !!
33:02 to relive the moment
I love this proffesor.
Thanks!
Incredible, God bless you.
Thank you! You too!
36:33 As a French applicant, this part was very useful to clarify haha, thank you !
Glad it was helpful!
Man I REALLY hope I get admitted so I can shake your hand one day and just at very least thank you for all the help you've offered through this content on CZcams.
Thanks! It would be a pleasure meeting you.
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571
I look forward to it! I'm working on my second draft of my personal statement now (shaving it down now because I misread the character/page limits). I'm applying for law school but I'm a political science and history enthusiast as well.
LOVETHIS!
This will help me construct my Personal Statement.Thanks
Good to know! Best of luck to you
You don’t understand how many of these videos I’ve been watching. I’m in Year 11 and looking to do Law at Oxford so I’m working my butt off already
Good to know! Just be sure not to burn yourself out. Make sure you find ways of enjoying the process -- because then you'll sustain your motivation and go further.
John Stuart Mill was in such a hurry to become the best philosopher in the world that he had a nervous breakdown! In the end, he achieved more by relaxing a bit than by constantly working.
same !!
Thank you so much !
Today was my first brainstorming session
Thanks for your comment! Good luck with it
this was such a good video thank you so much!!
Glad you liked it!!
I am in year 11 right now hoping to gain some knowledge on how to be a better future candidate to universities such as oxford, thank you so much for this lecture which gives so much insight on how to write a strong PS!
Best of luck!
i know this is a long time past when you posted this but I’m in year 11 doing the same, did you end up getting in?
Thank you so much. This is a good video for my students in Indonesia
Excellent! Best wishes to you and your students
Brilliant, thank you sir.
You're very welcome!
I found this fascinating,, As I am taking an access course in social science and humanity.. to go onto philosophy then to take the pg cert in chaplaincy..
Thank you! Best wishes to you
I am the 500th like for this video :)
Let's get 500 likes for your comment!
I'm the first dislike for this comment 😂
On the Bristol slide, the sentence about the adjective 'vulnerable' in legislation. I just wanted to say that I used this paper to talk about the DID model in my personal statement. So thank you Dr. Williams for that one. Hopefully it is both personal and evidence of my interest. Although I seemed to struggle to talk about what I've read without being descriptive.
I'm really glad to hear the DID model was interesting and helpful! All best wishes to you
this is so helpful, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much Sir!Just want to tell you that although 9 out of 10 of my teachers strongly suggested me to change my ps to a less emotional, and more “normal” ps, not quoting quotes from a marmite type celebrity, I decided to stick with your advices and wrote my own PERSONAL statement, which I found satisfying!
I’m applying to Cambridge for Mathematics, sorry not Oxford 😅 but please wish me luck 😬😬😬
Good luck!
super helpful!!
Thank you! Very helpful
You're welcome!
Notes to self:
18:28 is a very helpful section. Come back to this as I keep redrafting.
Another way to critically analyse is to identify the parallels and similarities etc
Best of luck with it!
Thank you very much! 🙂
I applied to St Johns but the videos from this channel are still really helpful :3
That's great to know! We're all on the same team (St John's, Jesus etc). Just glad we can help.
😂Ok
I died on emotional blackmail. Brilliant Insights there! Hope to get ideas on PSs concerning internships I.e into world class organisations or competitive multinational companies.
Thanks for your comment! When applying to companies, they similarly want evidence of activity over platitudes such as "I am highly motivated". So if you can give evidence of what you have done that proves you are highly motivated, that is ideal. Show, don't just tell!
@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Thank you!
I don't really have many achievements to write about because I'm studying at a night school. I do read a lot of research articles in my own time. Hopefully that can make up for my lack of in-class activities!
Yes, that's the sort of detail we want. We know that "achievements" are relative to what is possible. Some people have loads of opportunities to achieve, and others have to struggle more. Reading articles in your own time whilst attending night school is very impressive and not to be dismissed lightly.
43 minutes well spent. Thanks
You're very kind! Good luck!
I'm so thankful for this material being published online.
Excellent. Thank you for your kind remark!
thanks.
Wow, this is immensely resourceful! Do you think highlighting significant work experience would be advantageous especially for an applicant in a Masters in Business Administration programme?
Many thanks Tony! I think work experiences can be very impactful for MBA applications. When applying to academic institutions, however, be sure to draw the connections between any practical experience and a wider academic debate. For example, if you've had some work experiences with a business, what did it tell you about a topic of academic interest, such as management structuring, behavioural economics... you name it?
Thank you for being so constructive despite being from the greatest Oxford Uni college
Very very helpful
Glad to hear that!
being french when you want to study in the UK becomes hard when you have to write your personal statement. No one is able to help me so I thank you!!! My PS is way better now
Great! Thank you for your comment. Best of luck to you
Thank you very much :)
You're welcome!
Essay rewrite easy, do the right thing, not like thing and do the thing right, not thing like.Do the good half of him, the rest do the best of your sure you pass, if not do next.Tips seeing is believing, touching is awaring.Good luck.
Thank you very much! This has helped me to try to figure out a structure. Would you recommend your presentation also for post-grad admission?
Yes, for the most part. You just need to ensure a grad application places greater emphasis on specific research questions you wish to pursue (assuming you're applying for a research degree) with some discussion of the academic literature you may wish to contribute to. Thank you for your comment!
To be frank, I am applying for taught degrees because I do not know if I will be doing a PhD afterwards. I imagine connecting my personal research interest with the in the programme offered modules would not be wrong, too.
I wish I came across this video before I submitted my personal statement 😔
Thank you for this guide. Just wondering when applying for a Masters, do you have to also mention the area that you are going to research and if so, could we change it some time in the future?
It's worth describing your research interests, yes. But you don't need to have a fully formed research design, and you're not forced to follow through on the proposal if your research plans change. This would only really apply to a research masters, rather than a taught masters.
ahahahaha love letter from an affectless husband lol Love it!
Super useful🙌👍
Glad it was helpful!
1. Express academic interest, not vocational interest
2. Background is okay, but not the main focus
3. Show, don't tell
4. Introductory texts are not as impressive as more academic ones.
5. Let the admissions office see you reflected in your essay
6. Only quote if you use that as a springboard for your own opinion. You don't have characters to waste.
7. Reflect on the things you mention.
8. Super curriculars are quality over quantity.
9. A nice structure always helps - think story arc.
10. Be clear
11. Remember - motivations, evidence, justification
12. Circular structures lend coherence to your essay.
13. Exploration - Substance - Methods - Findings - Other Interests
14. ECs should be relevant to your final goal - showcasing academic interest
15. Grammar, punctuation, and a clear syntax are all incredibly important.
16. Don't use adverbs and adjectives excessively
17. Get some feedback, but don't drown in it.
Thank you for the video!
Great summary! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this very informative piece. It was absolutely helpful. Please is there a way I can get my personal statement through to you to review. It'll be greatly appreciated
Yes, that can work well. Just be sure to explain your academic interests in the topic and some relevant academic literature you have read to further your interest.
7:58 best line
Thank you so much for this video! It really was helpful. I had a question , i am applying for masters in healthcare management and finding it difficult to begin my personal statement , any tips on how to begin and what points to include in the first paragraph?
I would usually open a personal statement at the beginning of your story. When did you realise that you wanted to pursue this Masters? Why did you realise that you wanted to pursue this Masters? You can use this as a way in to discussing your specific academic interests and your potential to be an outstanding student on the programme.
I have so many little interests that I move on from quickly I wouldnt know what to say about myself. I dont have any permanent hobbies other than volunteering and my work, I feel that sounds too try hard to put in a personal statement. I feel like I should just create a new hobby around my wanted degree. I feel the best thing to do is create a hobby around creating a portfolio of work in the area I want to apply to or something related to it. For interactive media ---> animation/art as well as video games?
There's no harm in having lots of interests. It would be more of a problem to have so few interests that you don't know what to write about. You can create a hobby, or you could isolate which of your hobbies best confirms your hypotheses that a) you want to study your chosen degree, and b) you will perform exceptionally well on course. Best of luck.
This has been incredibly helpful, thank you! I'm very close to submitting my personal statement and this has given me some great insight on what to add next. I'm applying for Politics and would love some feedback from a professional in the field, is there any chance I could email you a few questions? I understand how busy you must be but any input would be very appreciated! thanks :)
I can't right now, I'm afraid. But, if you follow the advice in the video you wouldn't need me to review your statement anyway. Best of luck to you!
This may be a silly question, but if referencing certain texts in a personal statement, should I include a works cited list?
The more I research my program of interest at Oxford, the more I'm getting my heart set on attending. I really want to nail this personal statement! Thank you so much for the information in this video -- it is incredibly helpful!
No, that’s not necessary and you probably won’t have space for it. Best of luck!
Amazing video! Very helpful - now I finally know how to write a personal statement to a fine degree. Thanks1!
Excellent! Thank you
Thank you, so much! However, I was wondering what special advice could you give for writing postgraduate personal statements?
Not sure if you've seen this video, but it may help: czcams.com/video/u7zQLe3BDo0/video.html
Thanks a lot! I wrote my personal statement starting my fascination and curiosity about light and electromagnetism, went on to tell that my interest in EM motivated me to attend a bsc level online course hosted by iitk, and then what books I've read (on vector calculus for electromagnetism, and one on multivariable calculus). Then talking about what I'm looking forward to in university and my aspirations.
Does that work?
Sounds good! Given these are your interests, that's ideal.
Kicking an introduction with numerical data/statistics , is that a nice way to start your intro?
Can be. Depends on the stats and how you use them. Typically statistics are speaking to a population trend, whereas your personal statement is n=1 (i.e. just you!). So just take care that you clearly situate yourself in the personal statement, even if you use stats.
Just discovered your channel
Thank you so much for this amazing video. I am a social science student hoping to do a MA at Oxford :) If possible,
I was wondering that, having a really messed semester would affect the entire application??
I have a good personal reason and have professors perhaps to write an additional letter about that matter,
and after that I recovered and the relevant major subjects are almost A's
but I did have a record or a semester completely messed (and these subjects are still there because I didn't take resit, therefore around 2:1 (mid))
How would that affect my application? I really have no idea about that so it would be really helpful if I can hear any from the experienced tutor. Thanks !
9:10 But B also explicitly says "I am fascinated".
29:34 But that extra information won't tell you that their GP-shadowing placement was cancelled.
16:38 18:28 24:20 30:38 35:37 36:47 37:14 38:05 39:20 41:02
Thank you for this! What do you mean by Substance and Methods? They seem to entail the studying that you’ll do at university, but surely you can’t write about that seeing as you’re meant to be writing about yourself?
This is just an idea as to what you can discuss about your interests. Most people focus on substantive matters, i.e. academic questions and answers (e.g. Why is Gold yellow?) But, you can also consider methodological matters, in other words how you go about asking questions and providing answers (e.g. what methods could we use to work out the reason for gold being yellow?)