Fashion Personal Statement

Getting The Structure Right

Each Fashion personal statement will require a similar approach to planning the structure.

The aim of any personal statement is to make sure you get a place at University. One of the biggest complaints Admissions Officers have is that all applications sound the same. The first step in writing the personal statement is to read what is asked from you. Write down how you are going to approach the question and plan out your structure. You need to find an angle that sets you apart from other applications. Spend at least an hour writing down some of the most unusual things you have done that have achieved positive results, or some of the experiences that have led to this career choice. At Get Into Uni we have read thousands of essays and the best structures get results.

The Start

Your personal statement must begin strong. Common mistakes include the use of clichéd and overused sentences in the opening paragraph. For example, you should avoid starting your sentence with a boring start for example: “Fashion interests me.”

The Body

Student’s often abandon the body of the personal statement. It is important to remember that your personal statement must proceed in a logical succession from one thought to the next. The body should lead in a convincing way from the introduction to conclusion. The paragraphing can be used as a planning tool. The beginning of each paragraph should introduce the topic and the paragraph must end in a "hook" to the next paragraph. Whenever possible give the first sentence an interesting angle.

Each paragraph should follow this general structure.
Make sure your sentence is supported by actions.
1. Specific detail (action that supports the point).
2. Specific detail (action that supports the point).
3. Specific detail (action that supports the point).

The ConclusionConclude the personal statement with an attention-grabbing final sentence. You may find it helpful to reflect on your main accomplishments and experience. The main point of the conclusion is to underline your desire to study. Read the sample conclusion below.

"My past experience has shown me what I need to equip myself for my future career. I have creative thinking, but need to gain more academic knowledge to excel in the fashion world".

Having reached the conclusion, admissions officers need to feel that they know more about you than when they started.

The fact that you have been studying the history of fashion is impressive, but what is more interesting is the inspiration behind it: the fact that you had met fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood and why she inspired you.

Remember to keep the essay personal. How much you revel about yourself is up to you. Many students fall into the trap of keeping the reader at arms length and not providing enough information.

Next: Draft Structure Outline.

Note: This guide is not intended to replace the advice of tutors, admissions officers, or teachers; Get Into Uni simply provides advice and exercises to help you write a compelling personal statement.