Firstly I wouldnt worry about sounding stuck up, personal statements and CV's are two of the only times you get to sell yourself as much as possible and as long as you back up your statements with relevant valid examples you are allowed to sound arrogant.

Supporting every statement with a real-world example is important though in my opinion. I found thinking of things the other way around helped, if I thought an example of [leadership|motivation|team-work|excellence|skill] would benefit the application I work back from that and try to fit something I have done to that attribute.

Firstly I wouldnt worry about sounding stuck up, personal statements and CV's are two of the only times you get to sell yourself as much as possible and as long as you back up your statements with relevant valid examples you are allowed to sound arrogant.

Supporting every statement with a real-world example is important though in my opinion. I found thinking of things the other way around helped, if I thought an example of [leadership|motivation|team-work|excellence|skill] would benefit the application I work back from that and try to fit something I have done to that attribute.

Thanks! It's the skills and achievements I'm finding the most trouble with, I was never a prefect, and I don't know any foreign languages, so that's the biggest gap I have in it. Also it's hard to say about employment because I've never had a job before ):

I'll take your advice on board though, and have a think about it later, see if I can elaborate on anything else or think of extra stuff to put in (:

I've not got anything else to add really, it is about those real life scenarios that show off your skill set. I've no idea what course you are doing, but sometimes thing about the indirect skills, so they wont care if you play hockey, but would be interested in the team work skills associated, and there's no harm in pointing them out in relation to that...

Think about the skills you need and build scenarios around them, and if you are really struggling to think of anything, then there is no real harm in lying, as long as they can't prove it

And to be honest most uni's are happy to have paying students at the moment!

I'm currently working in a uni admin office, have worked as a demonstrator in the labs, as a researcher at uni, and of course as a student.

I cant speak for higher ranking uni's, but here they're pretty much glad to take anyone who has the minimum requirements for the course. Given how we have had science MASTERS students who didn't know how many 1000ml tubs of water would be needed to make up 15L of water...

I'd say the main thing people look for here, if they do actually look at that stuff, is the desire to learn the subject you're going for. People study degrees unrelated to past skills and experience, this doesn't matter if they have a genuine desire to study the subject, it goes a long way to helping you get the most out of it all.

If you dont have related experience or skills, even saying things like having always had a passion for xxx, ever since seeing xxx at a museum or school trip is good.

What subject and where are you wanting to study out of interest?

you should do it in Sunderland, that way I could come visit you and prey on say hello to your girly student friends 

Quote from: knighty on December 07, 2011, 00:16:13 AM

you should do it in Sunderland, that way I could come visit you and prey on say hello to your girly student friends 

I'm pretty sure what you meant to say was so you could abuse Nigel

You should seriously consider Sunderland!