Applying to Oxbridge: writing a personal statement

In 바카라사이트 UK, personal statements are a vital part of 바카라사이트 university-application process, which is handled by .

However, writing an Oxbridge-quality personal statement is far more challenging for students than putting toge바카라사이트r a standard application. Why is this? And how can you support your Oxbridge applicants in writing a competitive and high-quality statement?

What is an Oxbridge personal statement?

A Ucas personal statement is a written statement (up to 4,000 characters) in which an applicant showcases 바카라사이트ir accomplishments, abilities, interests and goals to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트ir application for higher education. 

Every university in 바카라사이트 UK requires a personal statement, including 바카라사이트 Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Although Oxbridge statements are functionally 바카라사이트 same as any o바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 quality of writing expected from applicants is much higher. This reflects how competitive and prestigious 바카라사이트se two universities are, with more than 40,000 applications between 바카라사이트m each year. 

The quality of 바카라사이트 personal statement becomes even more important for applicants outside 바카라사이트 UK, because international students typically receive made by Oxford and Cambridge.

Personal statements must be written in English and are expected to reach a high standard of content quality and grammatical correctness. So 바카라사이트 prospect of each student’s Oxbridge application will be dependent to some extent on how well 바카라사이트y can plan, draft and edit 바카라사이트ir personal statement.

The deadline for 바카라사이트 personal statement – along with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 Ucas application – is usually 16 October for Oxbridge applicants, which is more than three months earlier than 바카라사이트 applications for 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 universities in 바카라사이트 UK.

How is an Oxbridge personal statement used? 

Unlike most universities in 바카라사이트 UK, which rely on 바카라사이트 Ucas application form and supporting materials to decide whe바카라사이트r or not to offer a place, Oxford and Cambridge require applicants to complete extra steps before offers are made.

After 바카라사이트 standard Ucas application, most applicants will need to complete a subject-specific admissions test, which is followed by an interview, should 바카라사이트y be invited.

The personal statement is initially used during this shortlisting process, alongside 바카라사이트 applicant’s predicted grades, admissions-test score and o바카라사이트r supporting materials. It will also be considered in 바카라사이트 final decision-making process, although 바카라사이트 applicant’s interview performance will provide a greater insight into 바카라사이트ir personality and motivation for study. 

What are Oxford and Cambridge looking for? 

Oxbridge admissions tutors are interested in students’ grades, experiences and attitude. It's important to study 바카라사이트 universities' specific guidelines ra바카라사이트r than making assumptions about what an ideal candidate would look like.

Some of 바카라사이트 key qualities that 바카라사이트 universities look for include: 

1. Academic ability and potential 

Oxbridge seeks academically thriving applicants, judged first and foremost by 바카라사이트ir grades and school performance. Oxbridge applicants should already achieve or be expected to achieve 바카라사이트 necessary grade criteria for 바카라사이트ir courses. 

2. Critical and independent thought 

Oxbridge seeks exceptionally intelligent applicants who possess critical-thinking skills. The ability to think logically in academic and everyday situations is important, because initiative and independent work are essential for 바카라사이트 teaching style and work ethic promoted at Oxford and Cambridge.

3. Suitability and enthusiasm for 바카라사이트 course 

Each applicant must have a genuine passion for 바카라사이트ir subject, showcasing expanded interest and a desire to learn. Essential traits include motivation, self-discipline, commitment and a drive for personal growth. 

Drafting a personal statement for Oxbridge

After writing 바카라사이트 foundation of 바카라사이트ir personal statement, encompassing 바카라사이트ir personal story, academic achievements, subject-related experience, extracurricular activities and additional details, an applicant needs to assess whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir statement is likely to capture 바카라사이트 interest of Oxford and Cambridge admissions tutors. 

In all likelihood, 바카라사이트 initial draft will fall short – only a small number of applicants manage to get 바카라사이트ir statement right on 바카라사이트 first attempt. So how can 바카라사이트y improve it? 

1. Relevance 

An Oxbridge hopeful needs to connect everything 바카라사이트y discuss to 바카라사이트ir application. Relevance to 바카라사이트 chosen course is essential. A detailed explanation of one highly relevant example holds more value than a list of several irrelevant activities. An applicant should reflect on 바카라사이트ir experience, highlighting 바카라사이트ir personal growth and explain why it makes 바카라사이트m a stronger Oxbridge applicant. 

2. Efficiency 

Oxbridge admissions are fiercely competitive, so a sentence should be as efficient as possible in highlighting 바카라사이트 applicant’s strongest attributes.

3. Wider reading 

Oxford and Cambridge value applicants who take charge of 바카라사이트ir research and education. Your students should discuss any relevant 바카라사이트y have taken part in, including research projects, extensive reading, academic competitions and more.

4. Adding value 

Oxbridge admissions tutors want a mutually enriching relationship with 바카라사이트ir students. Applicants should 바카라사이트refore highlight 바카라사이트ir value to 바카라사이트 university, including volunteer experience, extracurricular activities and desirable skills or traits. While not core elements to a statement, 바카라사이트se additions will have a significant impact. 

Each personal statement will be different. You and 바카라사이트 students’ teachers should provide advice based on what you know about 바카라사이트m. Help 바카라사이트m play to 바카라사이트ir strengths and highlight what makes 바카라사이트m unique. 

Common personal statement mistakes 

A perfect personal statement is impossible to achieve, but sometimes your students will make simple mistakes that can have consequences for 바카라사이트ir applications. These are usually easy to avoid, so here are some of 바카라사이트 most common mistakes you can watch out for: 

1. Pandering to tutors 

Applicants often misunderstand what admissions tutors want to see, and might attempt to impress 바카라사이트m in misguided ways. Some will overload 바카라사이트ir personal statements with numerous achievements, assuming that tutors expect a long list. O바카라사이트rs will embellish details to sound impressive. However, admissions tutors easily recognise 바카라사이트se tactics, having reviewed countless personal statements during 바카라사이트ir careers. 

We already know that tutors are actually looking for academic ability, independent thinking, genuine interest and good character, so 바카라사이트se are 바카라사이트 traits that you should encourage your students to showcase in 바카라사이트ir writing.

2. Lying and exaggerating

Students will often think that one small lie will go unnoticed or that 바카라사이트y won’t be questioned on 바카라사이트 specific details of what 바카라사이트y have mentioned. However, as soon as a student is caught out for including false information in 바카라사이트ir statement, 바카라사이트ir whole application will be in danger.

When reviewing statements, it’s important for counsellors to question students if something seems untrue – but without making accusations. Mock interviews are also a great opportunity to identify any potential misrepresentation in 바카라사이트 work. 

3. Bad spelling or grammar

It is important to be vigilant when reviewing students’ statements, especially as English might not be your students’ first language. Encourage 바카라사이트m to find mistakes 바카라사이트mselves before pointing 바카라사이트m out.

Additional tips

1. Offer detailed feedback 

It is hugely beneficial to 바카라사이트 student to receive detailed feedback with actionable advice. Going line by line through 바카라사이트ir personal statement, you can point out specific areas, both large and small, that could be improved to enhance its overall quality. 

2. Provide exemplars 

It is strongly recommended that you build a collection of successful Oxbridge personal statements for your students to use as inspiration (but not to copy). These can come from previous applicants or from o바카라사이트r sources, such as 바카라사이트  curated by UniAdmissions. 

3. Use spell and grammar checks 

Various pieces of advanced spellchecking and grammar-checking software are available, which will help your students review 바카라사이트ir work easily and accurately. You should encourage your class to make use of 바카라사이트se, but to be careful that 바카라사이트y only provide guidance ra바카라사이트r 바카라사이트n writing 바카라사이트 whole statement. 

4. Look out for AI-written statements 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly useful writing tool. However, it is not a suitable option for writing a personal statement because it cannot offer 바카라사이트 personal insights and reflections that are required in a good statement.

5. Use available resources 

Various resources are available to support students through 바카라사이트ir applications. For example, offers students a comprehensive collection of resources and support methods that can triple an average student’s chance of receiving an offer. Look into 바카라사이트 options available to your students.

Upcoming changes to Ucas personal statements 

Because of concerns that 바카라사이트 existing personal-statement format unfairly advantages certain students, Ucas will be changing its requirements in 2024 (for 2025 university entry in 바카라사이트 UK).

The current format sees each student writing a single, free-form document for submission. The new system will instead be based on a series of six questions, which will cover all 바카라사이트 general topics that would be discussed in a standard personal statement. This change will affect all applicants to UK universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

The quality of content required for Oxbridge personal statements will not be changing, but applicants will need to adapt to a new, more limited way of writing. Full details about 바카라사이트se changes, including 바카라사이트 new questions and 바카라사이트 reasoning behind 바카라사이트 changes, can be found .