What makes a successful personal statement? (October 2018)
Content type
Webinars
Audience
Resource for teachers and their learners
Description
This webinar was delivered at the Advancing Access virtual conference on 16th October 2018.
It was presented by staff from the University of Nottingham, the University of York, Newcastle University and Advancing Access.
This session provides an overview of what admissions tutors are looking for in a personal statement. It has been designed to help teachers and advisers supporting learners with university applications.
Weblinks:
Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing administers tests to enable access to a number of universities, not just the University of Cambridge. They produce admissions tests for higher education institutions and government ministries worldwide. Their assessments support selection and help to enable fair access to higher education and the workplace, measuring applicants’ potential for success.
The Medical Schools Council has published a series of booklets for teachers and careers advisers who are supporting students with medical school applications.
The five booklets in the 'A journey to medicine' series are:
- Preparing your students
- Routes into medicine
- The UCAS application
- The admissions process
- Results day and beyond
You can also click here to view the full set of resources.
This website provides information and advice from the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing service on the BMAT.
Bright Knowledge is a guide to careers, education and student life. Bright Knowledge aims to help students work out what they want to achieve and how they can get there.
Future Learn offers a diverse selection of courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world. These are delivered one step at a time, and are accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop.
This is a Government website providing information and advice on how to find volunteer placements.
This is an article published by The Guardian providing a range of tips and advice on preparing for interviews.
InsideUni is a student-led project aiming to support those applying to study at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Find a link below to their teachers' guide.
This is the official LNAT website providing information and advice about the test. The website includes guidance on how to prepare for the test including hints and tips, a preparation guide, sample essays and a practice test simulator.
This website provides information and advice from the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing service on the Mathematics Admissions Test.
This website provides information and advice from the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing service on the STEP test.
This is an interesting TED talk by social psychologist Amy Cuddy on how using body language, and particularly ‘power posing’, can affect the brain and our chances of success.
This interesting article summarises some useful information and advice about how to prepare for interviews.
A reminder of some of the key dates in the UCAS application cycle.
This is the official UCAT website providing information and advice about the test. The website includes practice tests and questions, a tour tutorial providing insight into the format of the test and a question tutorial that takes you through example questions and offers strategies on how to approach and answer them. This website also provides the Official UCAT Practice App, this is a free preparation tool to help students prepare for the test.
Interview tips provided by some of our Advancing Access university partners are listed below. Please note this is not an exhaustive list and you should check individual university websites for further information.
- University of Cambridge - An overview and advice including two useful videos that will help students prepare for interview.
- University of Nottingham - a student blog post on the Multiple Mini Interview process.
- University of Oxford - An overview, tips, sample questions and lots of videos featuring previous applicants.
Guidebook
| How do I help my students apply to university? |
Information sheets
Presentations
| Presentation slides - Writing effective UCAS references |
Activity sheets
| Supporting personal statement writing - activity for students |
Teacher and adviser reflection sheets
| Teacher and adviser reflection - helping students apply to university |
Webinars
Conference presentations
Weblinks:
Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing administers tests to enable access to a number of universities, not just the University of Cambridge. They produce admissions tests for higher education institutions and government ministries worldwide. Their assessments support selection and help to enable fair access to higher education and the workplace, measuring applicants’ potential for success.
The Medical Schools Council has published a series of booklets for teachers and careers advisers who are supporting students with medical school applications.
The five booklets in the 'A journey to medicine' series are:
- Preparing your students
- Routes into medicine
- The UCAS application
- The admissions process
- Results day and beyond
You can also click here to view the full set of resources.
This website provides information and advice from the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing service on the BMAT.
Bright Knowledge is a guide to careers, education and student life. Bright Knowledge aims to help students work out what they want to achieve and how they can get there.
Future Learn offers a diverse selection of courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world. These are delivered one step at a time, and are accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop.
This is a Government website providing information and advice on how to find volunteer placements.
This is an article published by The Guardian providing a range of tips and advice on preparing for interviews.
InsideUni is a student-led project aiming to support those applying to study at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Find a link below to their teachers' guide.
This is the official LNAT website providing information and advice about the test. The website includes guidance on how to prepare for the test including hints and tips, a preparation guide, sample essays and a practice test simulator.
This website provides information and advice from the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing service on the Mathematics Admissions Test.
This website provides information and advice from the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing service on the STEP test.
This is an interesting TED talk by social psychologist Amy Cuddy on how using body language, and particularly ‘power posing’, can affect the brain and our chances of success.
This interesting article summarises some useful information and advice about how to prepare for interviews.
A reminder of some of the key dates in the UCAS application cycle.
This is the official UCAT website providing information and advice about the test. The website includes practice tests and questions, a tour tutorial providing insight into the format of the test and a question tutorial that takes you through example questions and offers strategies on how to approach and answer them. This website also provides the Official UCAT Practice App, this is a free preparation tool to help students prepare for the test.
Interview tips provided by some of our Advancing Access university partners are listed below. Please note this is not an exhaustive list and you should check individual university websites for further information.
- University of Cambridge - An overview and advice including two useful videos that will help students prepare for interview.
- University of Nottingham - a student blog post on the Multiple Mini Interview process.
- University of Oxford - An overview, tips, sample questions and lots of videos featuring previous applicants.