WEAVING YOUR POSTGRADUATE PERSONAL STATEMENT

1. SECRETS TO SUCCESS

2. MAKING A POWERFUL FIRST IMPRESSION

3. AVOID AMBIGUITY

4. MAKING A PROFESSIONAL IMPRESSION

5. BONUS SAMPLE PERSONAL STATEMENT

The failure of the vast majority of postgraduate professionals to gain admission to their chosen university is one of the great unpublicised stories of our time.

Why do they fail?

Because they think in their terms and do not consider the reader: the admission officer.

They don't even know they are doing it.

THAT is why they fail to gain a place on an MBA course.

This article will help you craft a perfect personal statement. Everyone is special and everyone has a personal statement inside them. The main premise of this article is to inspire you. Please don’t feel daunted at the personal statement – simply write the way you speak and you are half way there.

1. SECRETS TO SUCCESS

Your first aim is to make sure that your personal statement gets read; start with a powerful selling point that catches the admission officer’s eye. Admission officers usually give each personal statement a quick scan before picking the best for a more thorough reading. Your personal statement must therefore clearly show the most perfunctory reader what you have to offer.

This means that your words need to be short and punchy.

2. MAKING A POWERFUL FIRST IMPRESSION

The first and main section of your personal statement will almost certainly be a career and achievements, as this is the crucial area that shows that you can do the course on offer. Within each paragraph of your personal statement, put details of your most impressive or relevant achievements at the top of each section.

Always end your personal statement on a high note so that you leave the reader with a final positive image of you as they put the personal statement down. Make sure you describe yourself in a way that does you justice:

* Give evidence supporting your claims

* Quantify your achievements

* Show that you are a high performer in the most important aspects related to your course

* Use clear and positive language

3. AVOID AMBIGUITY

Phases such as ‘I supported the change process’ or ‘I assisted with financial planning for the company’ leave the admission officer none the wiser as to what you were actually doing. Make it clear what your contribution was. For example:

‘..The position involved analysing past financial performance to identify areas for future improvement and preparing budgets to ensure sound financial planning’

4. MAKING A PROFESSIONAL IMPRESSION

Your personal statement should have a highly professional image.

* Be clear and easy to read

* Draw attention to the most important points

* Be attractive and professionally presented – utilise online forms!

5. BONUS PERSONAL STATEMENT

Postgraduate Application - Teaching

For three years I have worked as a volunteer Art teacher at a local youth charity. Through these experiences, I have learned how to convey my enthusiasm for art in both the classroom setting and with my students one-on-one. Working with disadvantaged students proved both rewarding and challenging, as I had to make art theory applicable to everyday life. Working in these workshops, I discovered my love for teaching and became determined to help more students understand the relevancy, applicability, and necessity of art in their lives.

I achieved my Bachelor’s of Art degree with honours from Cheltenham University. After receiving my degree, I decided to delve into the media world to apply the theory I had learned. My duties as Production Manager for the BBC involved presenting workshops, script proof and organising training events. My diverse responsibilities have given me the opportunity to interact with every business department from media relations to finance. For instance, I played a crucial role in a short course where I trained a production team in African Art.

This experience provided me with an opportunity to refine my understanding of the inner workings of the organisational environment. In my spare time, I have continued designing websites, and the prospect of developing a web-based learning environment for students remains one of my foremost professional goals. I understand the importance of Web CT and if given this opportunity, would like to design an on-line art portal, including news, course information, forums, and lesson plans.

Indeed, my experiences as a mentor have solidified my desire to become a teacher. I am in constant pursuit of ways to improve my abilities as an instructor and have recently completed my postgraduate diploma in Art History. I hope to combine this academic knowledge with my existing production expertise to stimulate and encourage my students.

From experience, I understand that teaching has both its rewards and challenges. If given the opportunity to study at Manchester University, I would like to create art courses that will provide opportunities for students to apply their theoretical knowledge in real life situations and allow them to give feedback to continually improve the lessons. Although I do not have a formal teaching qualification, I believe my business expertise has amply prepared me for a position at Manchester and that I will bring the unique perspective of a seasoned professional to the students of the course.

End Note:

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