Sciences po motivation letter

Why do governments function the way they do? Obey the law or bypass it? Go to war or create peace? These are few of the questions I seek to explore and understand at Sciences Po. This interest of the world surrounding us is in my DNA and reflects my inquisitive nature. I always seek to deepen my understanding of how countries or groups interact with one another and the reasons they act the way they do.

Growing up, I have lived in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Switzerland, England, and Lebanon. These settings made me truly multicultural and international. I became versatile and adaptable to change. These qualities will give me an edge in transitioning smoothly into university life.

My interest in global affairs developed during my participation in Model United Nations. It was during these conferences that my enthusiasm for debate was born. Between rapid fire negotiations and propositions, I was able to put forth solid arguments and compromise to obtain the most effective solutions. I discussed current issues in the mindset of the world’s leaders and so was able to look at all aspects of a problem with a solution in mind. Nowadays, problems in our world are interlinked across many fields. Sciences Po’s multidisciplinary program will enable me to master several subjects in order to contribute to finding proper solutions.

Writing and editing for my school newspaper enabled me to exercise my passion for writing and gave me a feel of what being a journalist might entail later on. In this position, I was trained to work efficiently and meet deadlines, a vital skill for any workplace. However, I was truly rewarded in that I was able to control a large part of what went into the paper and how it would be written. I would almost directly channel what our viewers would read. Bringing the students together in this way and revealing overlooked issues gave me the most satisfaction and showed me how exciting the possibilities in the real world could be.

What really impresses me about Sciences Po is its focus on maintaining an international environment. Because I aspire to work in a multinational newspaper with people from all kinds of backgrounds, it has become a crucial objective of mine to seek this in my university life.

In addition, Sciences Po’s small classroom sizes appeal to me as they make for more interactive lessons involving debates and discussions. I also like the critical thinking approach Sciences Po has towards the courses. I believe training our minds to think independently and creatively will allow us to deal with issues in our jobs and life more effectively.

With the high quality of education offered to me at Sciences Po, I will have exceptional opportunities to study journalism at the world’s most respected universities Sciences Po partners with. I will be able to experience a completely different side of my topic in another country during my third year and then during my master’s degree.

I am excited by the vibrant student life at your university and plan to continue my active lifestyle. I hope to write for your school paper, The Sundial, join your debate team, and take yoga classes, as I am an avid student, practicing four times a week.

Throughout my travels, I discovered that language was the only way to effectively communicate with people. It is through Arabic, for instance, that I was able to connect with Lebanese people and embrace the culture in a way that I couldn’t have done through English. I made it a point to learn as many languages as I could. I completed the CNED French course independently and became fluent in the language, and took several Spanish courses.

Therefore, it is with great enthusiasm and interest that I look forward to study in France, where I can further master my French. France is unique in its own culture; after all it isn’t the world’s top tourist destination without reason. Not only is its central position in Europe appealing, but its history, art, museums and food all call for discovery.

My first choice is the Reims campus. At Reims, I will be studying two of the largest political influences on the world. It will be interesting to see how these regions work together to solve world issues. Now that problems are increasingly widespread and cross borders, Europe and North America must work hand in hand. Furthermore, the Reims campus makes it possible for me to study in France in the first place, as its program is in English.

I am also interested in the Dijon campus. As there are considerable amounts of conflict in Eastern Europe, there is a lot of potential to work on in the region. It contains emerging economies and numerous resources, indicating it will play an important role in the future.

I want to create my network at your university made of ambitious thinkers who, like me, want to make an impact. I want to share ideas with them and explore how we could formulate the future. At Sciences Po, I hope to acquire an experience that will shape me into the driven, successful journalist I later want to become and to help me achieve my goals for change, all while bringing something different to the table.

Just a warning: You should not post your essays on the forums where everyone can see them, as (sadly) some people may plagiarize and whatnot. You should instead PM people who agree to read your essay and provide feedback.

@sarahjk Hey there! Nice to see someone else applying to Sci-Po too. Im applying for Le Havre campus. u got ur interview yet?

I have made a number of editorial changes/suggestions. I think the last metaphor or bringing something to the table falls flat, but, in general, great job!! (and don’t post essays online!!)

Why do governments function the way they do? Obey laws or bypass them? Make war or create peace? These are few of the questions I seek to explore at Sciences Po. Having an interest of the world around us is in my DNA and is heightened by my inquisitive nature. I always seek to deepen my understanding of how countries or groups interact with one another and the reasons they act the way they do.

Growing up, I lived in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Switzerland, England, and Lebanon. Having these experiences have made me truly multicultural and international. At the same time, I became versatile and adaptable to change. I believe that hese qualities will give me an edge in transitioning smoothly into university life.

My interest in global affairs developed as a result of being an active participant in my schools’ Model United Nations. It was during these conferences that my enthusiasm for debate was born. Between rapid fire negotiations and propositions, I was able to put forth solid arguments and seek compromises to obtain the most effective solutions. I discussed current issues in the mindset of the world’s leaders and so was able to look at all aspects of a problem with a solution in mind. In today’s world, our problems – and their solutions - require an interdisciplinary focus. Sciences Po’s multidisciplinary program will enable me to master several subjects in seeking to find proper solutions to problems we face.

My work as a writer and editor for my school newspaper has enabled me to exercise my passion for writing and gave me a feel of what being a journalist might entail. In this position, have to work efficiently to meet deadlines, a vital skill for any workplace. Moreover, I was truly rewarded in that I was able to control a large part of what went into the paper and how it would be written. Bringing the students together and revealing overlooked issues gave me a great deal of satisfaction and showed me how exciting the possibilities in the real world could be.

What really impresses me about Sciences Po is its focus on maintaining an international environment. Because I aspire to work in a multinational newspaper with people from many different backgrounds, this is something that I seek to accomplish in my university life.

In addition, Sciences Po’s small classroom sizes appeal to me as they make for more interactive lessons involving debates and discussions, and I believe in the approach involving critical thought that Sciences Po has in its courses. I believe training our minds to think independently and creatively will allow us to deal with issues in our jobs and life more effectively.

With the high quality of education offered to me at Sciences Po, I will have exceptional opportunities to study journalism at the world’s most respected universities which which Sciences Po has partnerships. I will be able to experience a completely different viewpoint with respect to my topic through studying in another country during my third year and again when working towards my master’s degree.

I am excited by the vibrant student life at your university and plan to continue my active lifestyle. I hope to write for your school paper, The Sundial, join your debate team, and continue to take yoga classes, which I currently do several times a week.

Throughout my travels, I discovered that language was the only way to effectively communicate with people. It is through Arabic, for instance, that I was able to connect with Lebanese people and embrace the culture in a way that I couldn’t have done if I only spoke English. I made it a point to learn as many languages as I could. I completed the CNED French course independently and became fluent in the language, and I have taken several Spanish courses as well.

Therefore, it is with great enthusiasm and interest that I look forward to study in France, where I can continue my mastery of French. France has a unique, well-defined and well-respected culture; after all it isn’t the world’s top tourist destination without reason. Not only is its central position in Europe of great interest to me, but its history, art, museums and food are all things that I am anxious to explore

My first choice is the Reims campus. At Reims, I will be studying two of the largest political influences on the world (WHICH ONES?). It will be interesting to see how these regions work together to solve world issues. Now that problems are increasingly widespread and cross borders, Europe and North America must work hand in hand in solving problems. Furthermore, the Reims campus makes it possible for me to study in France in the first place, as its program is in English.

I want to create my network at your university made of ambitious thinkers who, like me, want to make an impact. I want to share ideas with them and explore how we could formulate the future. At Sciences Po, I hope to acquire an experience that will shape me into the driven, successful journalist I want to become and to help me achieve my goals for change, all while bringing something different to the table.

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  • How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

  • Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
  • Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
  • Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

  • A personal experience that changed your perspective
  • A story from your family’s history
  • A memorable teacher or learning experience
  • An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

  • Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
  • Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
  • How does it fit into the rest of your life?
  • What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

  • Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
  • Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

  • What first sparked your interest in the field?
  • Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
  • Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

  • Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
  • Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

  • Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
  • Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
  • Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

  • If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
  • If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
  • If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

  • Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
  • Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

  • Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
  • Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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Founded in 1872, Sciences Po (SP), or the Paris Institute of Political Studies, specialises in the social and political sciences, and is regarded as an elite institution due to its prominent alumni. It exists across seven campuses in France, with the main one being in Paris, France.

The Undergraduate College includes a compulsory year abroad at one of Science Po’s partner universities, as part of its three-year bachelors degree. This includes a global network of 400 prestigious partner universities, including Columbia University in New York, Cambridge, the London School of Economics, and Peking University.

Each campus is focussed on a region of the world for its undergraduate programmes: the Dijon campus focuses on Central Eastern Europe, Le Havre on Asia, Menton on the Middle East and Mediterranean, Nancy on Europe and the Franco-German Region, Poitiers on Latin American and Reims on North America and Africa.

In 2002 the Equal Opportunity Programme was founded at the university, to help recruit high-potential students from non-prestigious preparatory high schools. In 2011, 27 per cent of students were on scholarships, up from just 6 per cent in 2001.

Sciences Po’s education is multidisciplinary and multilingual. In order to train well-rounded students, Sciences Po places great importance on the practical application of knowledge, interaction with professionals, extracurricular activities and student engagement.

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Personal Statement

Applicants will be required to upload a personal statement with the admission application in the space provided. Prior to submitting, please review file upload requirements .

Requirements

Princeton is strongly committed to welcoming students with diverse experiences. Describe a personal experience that influenced your decision to pursue graduate study. Explain how the lessons from this experience would enrich Princeton’s residential scholarly community.

The essay must be written in English and should not exceed 250 words. No specific formatting is required.

Review your final statement before uploading and submitting the admission application. If you submitted an application and need to revise your essay, you may upload the corrected version through the checklist before the deadline. After the deadline, no revised essays will be accepted.

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By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 18 August 2023 | 22 min read

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Stand out from the crowd: here's how to write a good personal statement that will get you noticed

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personal statement science po

Your personal statement forms a core part of your university application, and the sooner you get going, the better you can make it. You may think that your personal statement won’t matter as much to unis as your grades and experience but a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grades. Sure, your application might not reach that deal breaker stage. But is it something you want to leave to chance?  Here we’ll take you through the process of planning, writing and checking a good personal statement, so you end up with something you can submit with confidence. And to make sure the advice we're giving you is sound, we’ve spoken to admissions staff at loads of UK universities to get their view. Look out for video interviews and advice on applying for specific subjects throughout this piece or watch our personal statement playlist on YouTube .

  • Are you looking for personal statement examples? Check our library of hundreds of real personal statements, on The Student Room
The university application personal statement is changing in 2025
University admissions service Ucas has announced that a new style of personal statement will be launched in 2025. This will affect anyone making a university application from autumn 2025 onwards.

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Personal statement deadlines

You'll need to make sure you've got your personal statement written well in advance of your application deadline. Below are the main university application deadline dates for 2024 entry.

2024 entry deadlines

16 October 2023: Deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities, along with most medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses.   31 January 2024: Deadline for applications to the majority of undergraduate courses. After this date, universities will start allocating places on these courses –   but you can still apply after the 31 January deadline , as this article explains . 30 June 2024:  Students who apply after this date will be entered into Clearing .

  • Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a central part of your Ucas application, where you explain why you’ve chosen a particular course and why you’ll be good at it. It's your chance to stand out against other candidates and hopefully get that all-important offer. You only write one personal statement which is then read by each university you apply to, so if you are applying for more than one subject (or it's a combined course) it's crucial that you include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects. Personal statements are especially important if you’re trying to get on a very competitive course, where you need to do anything you can to stand out to admissions tutors. Courteney Sheppard, senior customer experience manager at Ucas, advises that your personal statement is "the only part of the application that you have direct control over. Do lots of research to demonstrate your passion, curiosity and drive to pursue your chosen subject." There’s a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. This may appear generous (read: long) but once you've got going you may find yourself having to edit heavily.

  • Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

1. Plan what you want to cover

The first thing you need to do is make a plan. Writing a personal statement off the top of your head is difficult. Start by making some notes, answering the following questions:

  • What do you want to study?
  • Why do you want to study it?
  • What is there about you that shows you’re suited to studying this subject at university? Think about your personality, as well as your experiences.
  • What are your other interests and skills?

These few points are going to form the spine of your personal statement, so write them in a way that makes sense to you. You might want to make a simple bulleted list or you might want to get all arty and use a mindmap. Whatever you choose, your aim is the same. You want to get it clear in your own head why a university should offer you a place on its course. Getting those details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. You might try carrying a notebook with you or set up a memo on your phone. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down. Inspiration sometimes comes more easily when you’re thinking about something else entirely. It might help to take a look at The Student Room for some sample personal statements by university and sample personal statements by subjects , to give you an idea of the kind of thing you want to include. 

  • Read more: personal statement FAQs

2. Show off your experience

Some things are worth adding to your personal statement, some things are not. Firmly in the second camp are your qualifications. You don’t need to mention these as there’s a whole other section of your personal statement where you get to detail them very precisely. Don’t waste a single character going on about how great your GCSE grades are – it’s not what the admissions tutor wants to read. What they do want to see is: what have you done? OK, so you’ve got some good grades, but so do a lot of other applicants. What have you done that’s different, that shows you off as someone who really loves the subject you’re applying for? Spend some time thinking about all the experience you have in that subject. If you’re lucky, this might be direct work experience. That’s going to be particularly appropriate if you’re applying for one of the more vocational subjects such as medicine or journalism . But uni staff realise getting plum work experience placements is easier for some people than others, so cast your net wider when you’re thinking about what you’ve done. How about after-school clubs? Debating societies? Are you running a blog or vlog? What key skills and experience have you picked up elsewhere (eg from hobbies) that could be tied in with your course choice? Remember, you’re looking for experience that shows why you want to study your chosen subject. You’re not just writing an essay about what you're doing in your A-level syllabus. Use this checklist as a guide for what to include:

  • Your interest in the course. Why do you want to spend three years studying this subject at university?
  • What have you done outside school or college that demonstrates this interest? Think about things like fairs/exhibitions, public lectures or voluntary work that is relevant to your subject.
  • Relevant work experience (essential for the likes of medicine, not required for non-vocational courses such as English )
  • Skills and qualities required for that career if appropriate (medicine, nursing and law as obvious examples)
  • Interest in your current studies – what particular topics have made an impression on you?
  • Any other interests/hobbies/experiences you wish to mention that are relevant either to the subject or 'going to uni'. Don't just list your hobbies, you need to be very selective and state clearly what difference doing these things has made to you.
  • Plans for a gap year if you’re deferring entry.

Read more: 6 steps you need to take to apply to university

3. Be bold about your achievements

Don't be bashful about your achievements; that’s not going to help you get into uni. It's time to unleash your inner Muhammed Ali and get all “I am the greatest” with your writing. Do keep it focused and accurate. Do keep your language professional. But don’t hide your qualities beneath a layer of false modesty. Your personal statement is a sell – you are selling yourself as a brilliant student and you need to show the reader why that is true. This doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and if you’re finding it difficult to write about how great you are it’s time to enlist some help. Round up a friend or two, a family member, a teacher, whoever and get them to write down your qualities. Getting someone else’s view here can help you get some perspective. Don’t be shy. You are selling your skills, your experience and your enthusiasm – make sure they all leap off the screen with the way you have described them.

  • Read more: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement  

4. How to start your personal statement

Type your personal statement in a cloud-based word processing program, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word and don’t copy and paste it into Ucas Hub until it’s finished.  One of the benefits of doing it this way is that you can run spell check easily. (Please note, though, that Word adds "curly" quotation marks and other characters (like é or ü) that won't show up on your Ucas form, so do proofread it on Ucas Hub before submitting it to ensure it is how you typed it.)  Another big benefit is that you'll always have a backup of what you've written. If you're being super careful, you could always save your statement in another place as well. Bear in mind that extra spaces (eg adding spaces to the beginnings of paragraphs as indentation) are removed on Ucas. In your first sentence, cut to the chase. Why do you want to do the course? Don’t waste any time rambling on about the daydreams you had when you were five. Just be clear and concise – describe in one line why this course is so important to you. Then, in the rest of your intro, go into more detail in demonstrating your enthusiasm for the course and explaining how you decided this is what you want to do for the next three or more years. However you choose to start your statement, just avoid the following hoary old chestnuts. These have been some of the most used lines in personal statements over the years – they are beyond cliche, so don’t even think about it.

  • From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
  • For as long as I can remember, I have…
  • I am applying for this course because… 
  • I have always been interested in… 
  • Throughout my life I have always enjoyed… 
  • Reflecting on my educational experiences… 
  • [Subject] is a very challenging and demanding [career/profession/course]… 
  • Academically, I have always been… 
  • I have always wanted to pursue a career in… 
  • I have always been passionate about…   

5. Focus your writing on why you've chosen that subject

So you’ve got your intro done – time to nail the rest of it. Bear in mind that you’ve got to be a little bit careful when following a personal statement template. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying someone else’s style, and in the process lose all of your own voice and personality from your writing. But there is a rough order that you can follow, which should help keep you in your flow. After your opening paragraph or two, get into any work experience (if you’ve got it). Talk about extracurriculars: anything you've done which is relevant to the subject can go here – hobbies, interests, volunteering. Touch on your career aspirations – where do you want this course to take you? Next, show your enthusiasm for your current studies. Cite some specific examples of current work that you enjoyed. Show off your relevant skills and qualities by explaining how you’ve used these in the past. Make sure you’re giving real-world examples here, not just vague assertions like “I’m really organised and motivated”. Try to use examples that are relevant.   Follow this up with something about you as a person. Talk about non-academic stuff that you like to do, but link it in some way with the course, or with how it shows your maturity for dealing with uni life. Round it all off by bringing your main points together, including a final emphasis of your commitment to studying this particular course.

  • Read more: how to write your personal statement in an evening  

6. How long should a personal statement be?

You've got to work to a very specific limit when writing your personal statement. In theory you could use up to 4,000 characters – but you’re probably more likely to be limited by the line count. That's because it's a good idea to put line breaks in between your paragraphs (to make it more readable) and you only get a maximum of 47 lines. With this in mind, 3,500 characters is a more realistic limit. But when you’re getting started you should ignore these limits completely. At first, you just want to get down everything that you feel is important. You'll probably end up with something that is far too long, but that's fine. This is where you get to do some polishing and pruning. Keep the focus of your piece on the course you’re applying for, why you want to do it and why you’re perfectly suited to it. Look through what you’ve written so far – have you got the balance right? Chop out anything that goes on a bit, as you want each point to be snappy and succinct.

  • Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements  

7. Keep it simple

8. Smart ways to end your personal statement

Writing a closing line that you’re happy with can feel as tricky as coming up with your opener. What you’re looking for here is a sign-off that is bold and memorable. The final couple of sentences in your statement give you the opportunity to emphasise all the good stuff you’ve already covered. Use this space to leave the reader in no doubt as to what an excellent addition you would be to their university. Pull together all your key points and – most importantly – address the central question that your personal statement should answer: why should you get a place on the course?

  • Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang  

9. Make sure your personal statement has no mistakes

Now you’ve got a personal statement you’re happy with, you need to make sure there are no mistakes. Check it, check it a second time, then check it again. Once you’ve done that, get someone else to check it, too. You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you send through a personal statement with spelling and/or grammatical errors. You’ve got months to put this together so there really is no excuse for sending through something that looks like a rush job. Ask your teachers to look at it, and be prepared to accept their feedback without getting defensive. They will have seen many personal statements before; use what they tell you to make yours even better. You’ve also got another chance here to look through the content of your personal statement, so you can make sure the balance is right. Make sure your focus is very clearly on the subject you are applying for and why you want to study it. Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or social media where anyone can see it. You will get picked up by the Ucas plagiarism checker. Similarly, don't copy any that you find online. Instead, now is a good time to make your parents feel useful. Read your personal statement out to them and get them to give you feedback. Or try printing it out and mixing it up with a few others (you can find sample personal statements on The Student Room). Get them to read them all and then try to pick yours out. If they can't, perhaps there's not enough of your personality in there.  

10. Don't think about your personal statement for a whole week

If you followed the advice at the very start of this guide, you’ve started your personal statement early. Good job! There are months before you need to submit it. Use one of these weeks to forget about your personal statement completely. Get on with other things – anything you like. Just don’t go near your statement. Give it a whole week and then open up the document again and read through it with fresh eyes. You’ll gain a whole new perspective on what you’ve written and will be well placed to make more changes, if needed.

  • Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say  

10 steps to your ideal personal statement

In summary, here are the ten steps you should follow to create the perfect personal statement.  

Personal statement dos and don'ts

  • Remember that your personal statement is your personal statement, not an article written about your intended field of study. It should tell the reader about you, not about the subject.
  • Only put in things that you’re prepared to talk about at the interviews.
  • Give convincing reasons for why you want to study the course – more than just "enjoying the subject" (this should be a given).
  • For very competitive courses, find out as much as you can about the nature of the course and try to make your personal statement relevant to this.
  • Be reflective. If you make a point like 'I like reading', 'I travelled abroad', say what you got from it.
  • Go through the whole thing checking your grammar and your spelling. Do this at least twice. It doesn’t matter if you’re not applying to an essay-based course – a personal statement riddled with spelling mistakes is just going to irritate the reader, which is the last thing you want to do. If this is something you find difficult then have someone look over it for you.
  • Leave blank lines between your paragraphs. It’s easier for the reader to get through your personal statement when it’s broken into easily digestible chunks. Remember that they’re going to be reading a lot of these! Make yours easy to get through.
  • Get someone else's opinion on your statement. Read it out to family or friends. Share it with your teacher. Look for feedback wherever you can find it, then act upon it.
  • Don’t write it like a letter. Kicking off with a greeting such as "Dear Sir/Madam" not only looks weird, it also wastes precious space.
  • Don’t make jokes. This is simply not the time – save them for your first night in the union.
  • Don’t criticise your current school or college or try to blame teachers for any disappointing grades you might have got.
  • Be afraid of details – if you want your PS to be personal to you that means explaining exactly which bits of work or topics or activities you've taken part in/enjoyed. It's much more compelling to read about one or two detailed examples than a paragraph that brushes over five or six.
  • Just list what you're doing now. You should pull out the experiences that are relevant to the courses which you're applying to.
  • Mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated by you or what you learnt from them. Anyone can write "I have great leadership skills" in a PS, actually using a sentence to explain when you demonstrated good leadership skills is much rarer and more valuable.
  • Refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs (or equivalent).
  • Give explanations about medical or mental health problems. These should be explained in your reference, not your PS.
  • Apply for too many different courses, making it difficult to write a convincing personal statement which supports the application.
  • Write a statement specific to just one institution, unless you're only applying to that one choice.
  • Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else! This means do not plagiarise. All statements are automatically checked for plagiarism by Ucas. Those that are highlighted by the computer system are checked manually by Ucas staff. If you’re found to have plagiarised parts of your statement, the universities you apply to will be informed and it could jeopardise your applications.
  • Use ChatGPT or another AI program to write your personal statement for you. Or, if you do, make sure you thoroughly edit and personalise the text so it's truly yours. Otherwise you're very much at risk of the plagiarism point above.

You may want to look at these...

How to write your university application.

Tips for writing your university application, including deadlines and personal statements

The Ucas personal statement is changing in 2025

A question-based personal statement will be required as part of university applications from autumn 2025 onwards

How long does it take for universities to reply to your application?

It might feel like it's taking forever for your uni offers to come through. Find out what's going on, and when you should hear back

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  • CAREER FEATURE
  • 23 April 2021

Sell yourself and your science in a compelling personal statement

Andy Tay is a science writer in Singapore.

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Personal statements — essays highlighting personal circumstances, qualities and achievements — are used extensively in science to evaluate candidates for jobs, awards and promotions. Five researchers offer tips for making yours stand out in a crowded and competitive market.

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How to provide evidence

You will need to be enthusiastic about engineering and show evidence of this in the personal statement is the simple advice from University of Dundee. So, here are some ideas on how to do this:

  • Work or extracurricular experiences: This doesn't necessarily have to be directly in an engineering field. Try and give examples of things you've done that highlight your technical aptitude, teamwork skills, leadership, or problem-solving abilities. Similarly, reflect on any extracurricular achievements that demonstrate good time management and self-organisation.
  • Relevant skills: Admissions tutors are looking for creative people with initiative, curiosity, and a bit of originality. So, if you’re interested in how things work, sketching new ideas, or taking things apart and repairing them, include this here. Perhaps you’ve taught yourself to code or made your own burglar alarm? Reflect on what you learned or the skills you developed.
  • Extra reading: Include any examples of things you've read that have influenced your interest in engineering. Don't just list them though – elaborate on one or two specific issues you read about recently and the impact it made on you.
  • Your future plans: If you have a particular goal in mind, then mention what you plan to do with your engineering degree, whether it’s your long-term career aspirations or just your ambition to make the world a better place.
  • Course suitability: Engineering is a challenging discipline, so demonstrate that you have the ability and motivation to complete the course.

What not to do

  • Don’t be irrelevant: The University of Bath says, 'The best engineers have a wide range of interests… but don’t let important information about yourself be buried in irrelevant detail'.
  • Don’t say ‘when I was a child’: An admissions tutor doesn't want to know that the first word you ever uttered was 'hydraulics', or that you played with lego as a child. What you did recently is much more relevant than what you did when you were six.
  • Don’t list interests or experiences without reflecting on them: It’s not enough just to say 'I have always been interested in X, Y and Z...'. Instead, describe a work experience placement, project or piece of coursework you did and explain what you found interesting or challenging about it (and why).
  • Don’t ignore key advice: Check out the department websites of the universities you're applying to, as some explain what they're looking for in an engineering personal statement. Each engineering degree course at the University of Bristol, for instance, has its own list of requirements - starting with leadership for its engineering design degree.

Structuring your statement

As well as relevant detail, Dr Will Whittow from the The Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University wants to see a statement that is properly structured. This way you’ll clearly promote your skills and showcase your technical experience.

There are no cast-iron rules about the structure, but we’ve taken some tips from Dr Whittow to draw up a framework you could use:

  • Your motivation: In your first paragraph, explain your motivation and why you’re enthusiastic about the course, giving specific examples of what interests you and a glimpse of any specific knowledge you already have.
  • Mention your career ambitions too:  Just don’t waste space listing your A level subjects, telling them what an engineer does, or starting with a quote ‘Ever since I was a child…’.
  • Your relevant insights or experience: In your second and third paragraphs, show your passion by providing evidence of what you’ve learned from any relevant experience, insights, interests or achievements, starting with your strongest point. This will be all the more impressive if it was outside of school or college, like relevant work experience, engineering taster days or CREST Awards. Commenting on what you’ve learned from your EPQ or a similar school or college project would fit well here too, but it really needs to be relevant.
  • Your transferrable skills: In your final paragraph mention anything else that takes up a lot of your time, like a part-time job, caring for a family member, or other interests, responsibilities or extracurricular activities. But draw out the transferable skills you’ve learned from them, like time management, teamwork or leadership. And be specific. Just saying you play badminton or took the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award means nothing – either say something interesting about it that provides relevant evidence or, better still, choose something that not so many people do.

Just like Southampton's Admissions Tutor advised in the quote, try to show a bit of spark and talk about something a bit different from everyone else.

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Do not exceed the word limit indicated in the section "motivation letter" of your online application.

Your letter must be written in the language of the chosen programme. For a dual degree programme, write your letter in English (unless otherwise instructed).  If you apply for two programmes, you must write two motivation letters in separate sections.

Assessors read a large number of letters every day. Therefore, they appreciate those that are carefully written and structured .

Applicants should show a clear idea of the professional field (or even position) they are aiming for and state clearly which aspects of their personality or background have led them to this choice. 

The adequacy between the applicant's career plans and the requested programme is assessed in order to ensure that the prospective student stands to gain the most from it. We want to be certain to offer the training and academic framework that the applicant is seeking. Applicants must therefore explain in detail why they are applying to this particular programme, which elements of the programme they are interested in and how it fits their career plans.

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You will be asked to provide a copy of your bachelor diploma (or equivalent) by the time of your administrative registration (early spring or by the end of September at the latest). Should you fail to do so, our offer of admission will be revoked.

We fully understand your disappointment and your wish to know more about the reasons for our decision. Here are some explanations why your application was unsuccessful . We do not provide for a waiting list. 

The committee's decisions are final and cannot be appealed. Once the decision is released, no new assessment can be made. 

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  6. Personal Statement for Univeristy Admissions

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  1. Graduate Admissions: Tips and Tricks For Writing Your ...

    As part of your application to one of Sciences Po's graduate schools, you will have to write a formal letter of motivation respecting the rules and guidelines given. Your letter should be written in the language of the programme you are applying to. For special focus and dual degree programmes, additional letters may be required.

  2. Undergraduate Admissions, Evaluation 3: The written pieces

    The written pieces represent the third evaluation of the application. They aim to better understand the candidate's background, motivation, intellectual project for Sciences Po as well as his writing and thinking skills, thanks to a series of written productions, integrated into the application.Please note:Candidates from the French secondary.

  3. Sciences po motivation letter

    At Sciences Po, I hope to acquire an experience that will shape me into the driven, successful journalist I want to become and to help me achieve my goals for change, all while bringing something different to the table. Hey guys! So I'm applying to the Sciences po reims campus and wrote a motivation letter. Could anyone have a look and tell ...

  4. Graduate Admissions: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    Sciences Po students should only submit an application through the platform if they wish to apply to a dual degree programme. Do not select any Master's programme as a second choice. You will be prompted to choose your Master's programme through your student platform at the invitation of the Academic Affairs office, as explained in several ...

  5. Admitted to SciencesPo : r/gradadmissions

    Admitted to SciencesPo. Hi, if anyone is curious about the application process or what my application looked like feel free to reach out to me. I was just admitted 2 days ago into the Master of Public Policy with a concentration in Social Policy & Innovation at SciencesPo in Paris. Super ecstatic! Ooh paris. That's exciting!

  6. How to Write Your Personal Statement

    Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene. An effective way to catch the reader's attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you're stuck, try thinking about: A personal experience that changed your perspective. A story from your family's history.

  7. Sell Yourself: Guidance for Developing Your Personal ...

    A personal statement (also known as graduate school essay, statement of interest, statement of goals, among other names) is a document, submitted as part of a graduate school application, that describes your abilities, attributes, and accomplishments as evidence of your aspirations for pursuing a graduate education and, beyond that, a career in ...

  8. Preparing an Effective Personal Statement

    Preparing an Effective Personal Statement. W hen applying to graduate schools, you will be required to submit a personal statement as part of your application packet. Writing a personal statement takes time because it requires taking a deep look at the things that make you special--who you are, your background, your experiences, your abilities ...

  9. SciencesPo Personal Statement

    SciencesPo Personal Statement. A. Deekal. 6. Hey guys, I'm an international applicant applying for Masters in Human rights and humanitarian action at SciencesPo. I have already submitted my application but now I'm freaking out so need advice. It has been long debated whether domestic violence is a human rights issue.

  10. mwallacepro.com

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  11. Personal Statement: Sciences Po's Multicultural Community

    Personal Statement: Sciences Po's Multicultural Community. "No one can make a free person kneel"- I was shocked by this chanting slogan in the documentary film of Euromaidan Revolution and felt the authenticity of word "democracy" for the first time. And thereafter I started to wonder what kind of power or spirituality support the ...

  12. Undergraduate Applicants: Tips for Writing Your ...

    The undergraduate admissions procedure emphasises the importance of written pieces in both French and international candidates' applications. You will be asked to write two pieces on the following subjects: Your motivations for applying and your project for Sciences Po; An essay on a subject chosen from amongst 5 proposed themes.

  13. Sciences Po

    Basic information and contact details for Sciences Po. Founded in 1872, Sciences Po (SP), or the Paris Institute of Political Studies, specialises in the social and political sciences, and is regarded as an elite institution due to its prominent alumni. It exists across seven campuses in France, with the main one being in Paris, France.

  14. Postgraduate International Security Personal Statement Example

    Sciences Po will give me the tools so that I can reach my goals with specialized courses such as those on conflict resolutions or the thematic concentration on Global Risks. ... There is no profile associated with this personal statement, as the writer has requested to remain anonymous. Ratings. This personal statement is unrated.

  15. Natural Sciences Personal Statement Examples

    Natural Sciences Personal Statement Example 5. "Eureka!" This joyful exclamation sums up my satisfaction when I have finally solved an intractable problem. I frequently experience such "eureka" moments in my passionate exploration of science. My curiosity drives me to immerse myself in studying many scientific fields; which is why I believe the ...

  16. Personal Statement

    Review your final statement before uploading and submitting the admission application. If you submitted an application and need to revise your essay, you may upload the corrected version through the checklist before the deadline.

  17. How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

    Use your closing couple of lines to summarise the most important points in your statement. 9. Check your writing thoroughly and get someone else to check it, too. 10. Give your brain a rest by forgetting about your personal statement for a while before going back to review it one last time with fresh eyes.

  18. Admission to a PhD

    Sciences Po's Graduate School is careful to limit PhD admissions to students whose thesis proposal is likely to succeed. ... Indicate at least one potential Thesis supervisor from Sciences Po's Center for History in the "Personal statement" tab. The Thesis project mustn't exceed 3,000 words excluding bibliography, that shouldn't ...

  19. Sell yourself and your science in a compelling personal statement

    In a personal statement, I can demonstrate my ambition in greater detail. A good personal statement should avoid exaggerating your contribution. This is especially true for a multi-author paper on ...

  20. Personal statement advice: sports science

    Writing a sports science personal statement? One way to win over sports science admissions tutors is to dig into the detail of the course itself, and focus your personal statement accordingly. We've been asking sports science tutors what they're looking for in your personal statement - here's what they told us.

  21. All you need to know about undergraduate applications

    The Sciences Po Undergraduate College is currently accepting applications from international students for the 2021 intake. To help you with your application, our admissions team has selected some of the most frequently asked questions from prospective international undergraduates. ... The personal statement is an opportunity to present your ...

  22. Personal statement advice: animal science

    Dr Darren Juniper, Programme Director and Admissions Tutor for Animal Science at University of Reading, explained what he's looking for and how a well worded, logical personal statement that 'shows where you're coming from and going to' can sometimes be the deciding factor.

  23. Engineering Personal Statement Advice

    Don't ignore key advice: Check out the department websites of the universities you're applying to, as some explain what they're looking for in an engineering personal statement. Each engineering degree course at the University of Bristol, for instance, has its own list of requirements - starting with leadership for its engineering design degree.

  24. International graduate admissions

    About international admissions. The international graduate admissions procedure is open to applicants who have obtained or will obtain (this academic year) a Non-French undergraduate degree (or 180 ECTS credits / bachelor's degree or equivalent) from an institution located in France or abroad. Check the eligibility criteria.