CRAFTING AN OUTSTANDING PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR MSC, MA, MBA, PHD OR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

The personal statement is your first opportunity to sell yourself to the University you are trying to get into. It is not as tricky as some people make it seem. These few tips can help you get it right. It is essential that you get it right, if you want to get admitted or get a scholarship.

First of all, please do not submit a generic personal statement. Your statement should be unique to you and should detail your experience, academic ability, your passion, skills and future plans.

Normally, for master’s degree, your personal statement shouldn’t be longer than a side of an A4 paper, maximum, two pages. That should be roughly around 400-650 words.

It is important to note that some Universities have different regulations. Please check their websites and read the information there carefully, especially for those applying for a Doctorate Degree.

WHAT YOU SHOULD INCLUDE

·Your reason for applying for the course, why it will benefit you and why they should admit you (Research the course you are applying for carefully and tailor your statement to suit the course)

·Highlight your skills and explain how your skill set is suitable for the course

·If you are changing courses or if your selected master’s degree course is totally unrelated to your bachelor’s degree, explain why you are changing and what this means for your future plans

·Demonstrate passion, enthusiasm and positivity all through the personal statement. No personal criticisms or sad tales

·Highlight what makes you different or stand out from the crowd. These could be your work experiences or volunteering experiences in the last few years

·Highlight your future plans, career goals and aspirations (for international student, always highlight that you want to go back to your home country and effect some positive change).

WHAT YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO

·A very interesting introductory section. Like they say, first impression matters a lot

·Logical flow: Your statement needs to flow from one sentence to the other and paragraph to the next. Do not include disjointed sentences

·Back all the claims you make with evidences. As an example, if you say you have 5 years’ experience in the IT sector, you need to highlight the company or companies and discuss your roles/achievements briefly

·It is important you demonstrate you have a clear understanding of the field you are getting into. Applying because you love the city is not a smart justification

·Avoid long and unnecessary sentences, technical jargon and cliches. Use key words and be concise

·Do not include your entire life story. Only include details and sentences that enhances your chances of getting in

·Check your spelling, grammar and punctuation. This cannot be over-emphasised. Also, write as you speak. Short sentences are great.

·Lastly, you need to find a way to communicate that the course you intend to undertake will benefit you in some way in the future.

Good luck!