Having to complete section 10 of the UCAS form, the personal statement, can seem a daunting task for many people. Don't despair. Follow this step-by-step advice and you can't go far wrong.

What to write in your personal statement
How to write your personal statement
Common errors
Sample personal statements

What to write in your personal statement

The UCAS booklet 'Instructions for Completion of the Application Form' suggests you include some or all of the points below:

• Your reasons for choosing the course(s) listed in section 3
• The background to your interest in the subject(s) you wish to study
• Any jobs, work experience or placement, or voluntary work, as it could help if this is linked to your choice of course/subject
• Details of key (core) skills gained e.g. through AVCE/ NVQ courses
• Other evidence of achievement e.g. Duke of Edinburgh Award etc
• Particular interests you have in your current studies
• Your career goals
• Details of any subjects you are taking that do not involve exams
• Details of any industrial or professional sponsorship or placements you have applied for
• If you are planning to do so, your reason for applying for deferred entry and your gap year plans
• Your social, sporting or other hobbies

How to write your personal statement

• Take the time and trouble to prepare your personal statement. It's your big chance to 'sell yourself' to admissions tutors.If you want to apply for a popular course or a vocational course you will need to make a special effort.
• Make a list of the points above and write down all you can think of about yourself under each heading. Use your e-Progress File to remind you of things you have done in the past, which might be useful.
• You may not think that your weekend job in a shop will help you get on to a nursing degree but it could, if you use it to show how his has helped you to deal with a range of people.
• If your spare time centres around the sofa and the TV, don't panic. You're not the only one and you will surprise yourself with what you can come up with if you put your mind to it. Ask friends, family and teachers for help. If you really don't have much to say focus on your reasons for applying for your chosen course and how keen you are to study X, Y or Z.
• Take a copy of your form and write out a first draft of your statement. You don't have to use up all the space, but one paragraph might look as if you're not trying. You're not allowed to use any extra pages so think hard about what you wat to include.
• Structure your statement. Use paragraphs and/or headings based on the points above.
• Be literate. You are applying for a place in Higher Education so you should be able to present written work. Try to be fluent and use correct spelling and grammar. If you're not very good at this sort of thing, get help from someone who is.
• While it's important to get advice from others, avoid sounding as if someone has written it for you as admissions tutors may spot this.
• Show your draft to someone, such as your sixth form tutor or college tutor. Make a note of their comments and suggestions. Fine tune your statement until you're happy that it's the best you can do. Show it to your tutor again for a final check before going ahead.
• Make sure your statement is clear. Don't forget that your form will be reduced to two-thirds of its size before being passed to admissions tutors. If you can, word process it, but good handwriting is just as acceptable (unless of course you are applying online).

Common errors

• Make sure you don't make errors in spelling and grammar
• Repeating information appearing elsewhere on the form
• Wasting space by including information which doesn't include details that do not add to the application in any way
• A stereotyped statement that looks as if you have just filled in the gaps

Sample personal statements

Sample 1
Vocational A Level in Health and Social Care student applying for a Health Studies degree

'I chose to take the A Level in Health Social Care due to my long term interest in social issues. My career aim is to enter the field of health service management. My interest in this stems from some work experience I did in the admin department of a local hospital. I spent two weeks in the department and had a chance to observe and assist the staff. I like the idea of contributing towards the efficient running of a large organisation and while doing so also have the feeling that I am helping others.

I feel my current course has prepared me well for Higher Education. I am used to managing my workload and meeting deadlines for assignments. I have utilised the learning resources centre at college for research purposes using both paper based resources and the Internet. I have excellent IT skills and have presented my project work using word processing and spreadsheets. My course has also equipped me with a good understanding of social issues and how these impact on

people's health. As well as developing a broad insight into health and social services, during the course we have explored areas such as equal opportunities and clients' rights. I feel knowledge of these issues will help to inform my decision making when I eventually achieve my goal of becoming a manager.

Outside college I have a part-time job in a local supermarket where I work on the check-out and shelf stacking. I enjoy working as part of a team and talking to customers. I think the job has helped me become more confident dealing with people and in using my communication skills.

In my spare time I enjoy aerobics, cycling and socialising with my friends.'

Sample 2
A Level student applying for a joint degree in Economics and Politics

'I decided to take economics even though, at the time, I had a limited understanding of what it was about. Having followed the course for a year at AS Level it has become my favourite subject and the one that I currently perform best in, and I am keen to continue studying it at a higher level. My interest in politics has developed over the last few years through the study of history at school and a growing interest in current affairs, both at home and abroad.

Taking a joint degree course will, if my application is successful, give me the opportunity to take a broad view of economic and political issues and the ways in which they interact. It will also allow me to delay specialisation until I have a clearer picture of what the study of social science subjects at degree level really involves.

I enjoy all aspects of my current economics course, both the theoretical ideas and the ways in which economic models and methods can be applied to practical problems. This has helped me to understand how economic factors contribute to and explain events in history. Conversely, the study of history has shown me how political and social factors can sometimes determine economic policy and decisions. Studying Russian and American history at AS Level has allowed me to look at two contrasting political and economic ideologies and systems, and to examine how this led to very different practical outcomes.

New ideas and ways of looking at the world have always attracted me and I get pleasure from analysing, discussing and arguing points with other people. Last year I took part in an inter-school public speaking competition on 'Is cloning morally or politically acceptable in today's society?' I also acted as agent for the successful Plaid Cymru candidate in the school's recent mock election.

Outside of school my two main activities are sport and my part-time job in Burger King. I play a wide range of sports including football, tennis and basketball, but my main interest is rugby, where I play in the back row for both the school and town teams.

My career plans are uncertain at this stage. My main reason for applying to study economics and politics is because I want to know more about these intellectually challenging areas, and I am happy to base my future career prospects on the broad-based skills that I believe will result from a study of these subjects at degree level.'