It's never to early to start your personal statement

We’ve all got a friend who leaves important work until the last minute and still manages to get top marks but that probably isn’t the best way to make a good impression on the university admissions tutors.

When it comes to writing your personal statement the truth is that it is never too early to start thinking about what you’re going to say. Even if you haven’t decided which course you want to apply for having a list of work experience, extra-curricular activities, and subjects you’ve enjoyed will give you a head start.

In terms of an actual timeline you want to have a reasonable idea of which course you want to study in May or June time. It’s important to read the entry requirements carefully and be realistic about the grades they want before applying to any course.

During July and August you should be thinking about which universities you want to apply to and start going to open days. Once you know where you’re going you can begin the first draft of your personal statement.

It’s good to give yourself at least a month to have the final draft of your personal statement ready. After you’ve written your first draft put it away for a few days to give yourself time to reflect on what you’ve written. At the end of a few days have another look at it and ask teachers, friends, and family to also read it.

Based on the feedback make changes to your statement and then show your second draft to another group of people. Make any additional changes and by mid-September you should have a final draft.

Don’t submit your personal statement until you’re 100% happy with it. This is your chance to show off and stand out from the crowd. Take the opportunity to show the admission tutors how passionate you are about your chosen degree subject. Hundreds of other students will have exactly the same grades as you so your personal statement is going to be the deciding factor between you and them.