Humanities Personal Statement

Getting The Structure Right

Whether you are studying English, history/political science, or cultural studies it is important to get your personal statement right.The next step in the process of a great humanities personal statement is to make sure you get your structure right. Centre on the results from the survey in our last section, and be particular about each element that you wish to include. If you are lacking practical knowledge, show your curiosity and aptitude to study your topic.

Below we set out our recommended structure. Introduction Giving your personal statement a strong opening will engage the reader's attention from the outset. Common mistakes include the use of clichéd and overused sentences in the introduction. For example, you should avoid starting your sentence with the following:

" I have always wanted to study English."
" English is my calling."
" My passion has always been for English."

Below is an example of a powerful English personal statement introduction:

"As the son of an ambassador, I had always associated travel with endless stacks of cardboard boxes and tear-filled goodbyes. Plane rides were invariably an unpleasant affair, marking either a journey into the unknown or an abrupt departure from what had only just become familiar".

The Body Students frequently fail to remember the middle of the personal statement. It is important to remember that your personal statement must continue in a logical succession from one thought to the next. The body should lead in a convincing way from the introduction to conclusion. The structure below 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 Conclusion

It is important to conclude the personal statement with an attention-grabbing 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 that I need to equip myself for my future career. I have creative thinking, but feel tat I need to gain more academic knowledge". Having reached the conclusion, admissions officers need to feel that they know more about you than when they started.

Remember to keep the discussion personal. How much you revel about yourself is up to you. Many students fall into the trap of keeping the reader at arms length.Now you have completed the questionnaire, the next process is to review the results and get your structure right. It is important to remember that this is a short personal statement, not an autobiography. Focus on your results from the questionnaire, and be particular about each element that you wish to include. If you are lacking practical experience, demonstrate your interest and ability to study your topic. Below is our recommended structure.

Remember to keep the discussion personal. How much you revel about yourself is up to you. Many students fall into the trap of keeping the reader at arms length.

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.