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| Author | Message |
|---|
Biggles  
| | #1 posted September 23, 2001 at 11:37am (EDT) |
Help! I know you guys are all very wise and have lots of experience between you of applying for jobs/university/college etc. (That was the buttering up part  ) I'm trying to write my personal statement for applying to university and I just can't!
*bangs head on desk*
It's just not coming out right!
*bangs head on desk again*
I reread the one I used to apply to my current school and it's appalling! I really need to scrap it and write a completely new one, but it's not happening! I want to open by saying why I want to do my course (Biological Sciences) and why I'm well-suited to it. Unfortunately, that's the most difficult part......
Does anyone have any tips or advice for writing personal statements that will look good (it needs to get me an interview from Oxford!)
*bang bang bang*
D'oh!
Biggles, xxx. |
Jemmy
| | #2 posted September 23, 2001 at 4:47pm (EDT) |
I wish I could help. You are briliant. Just breath and concentrate and relax. If they don't want you then they just missed out on a pretty cool person.  |
Oscar
| | #3 posted September 23, 2001 at 6:59pm (EDT) |
I'd help, but I didn't even know you needed to write anything to get into college. *shrugs* Shows you how much I know. |
HareKrishna
| | #4 posted September 23, 2001 at 10:39pm (EDT) |
Biggles wrote:
> Help! I know you guys are all very wise and have lots of
> experience between you of applying for jobs/university/college
> etc. (That was the buttering up part ) I'm trying to
> write my personal statement for applying to university and
> I just can't!
>
> *bangs head on desk*
>
> It's just not coming out right!
>
> *bangs head on desk again*
>
> I reread the one I used to apply to my current school and
> it's appalling! I really need to scrap it and write a completely
> new one, but it's not happening! I want to open by saying
> why I want to do my course (Biological Sciences) and why
> I'm well-suited to it. Unfortunately, that's the most difficult
> part......
>
> Does anyone have any tips or advice for writing personal
> statements that will look good (it needs to get me an interview
> from Oxford!)
>
> *bang bang bang*
>
> D'oh!
>
> Biggles, xxx.
I hope this helps.
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/tips/wri...
Hare Krishna! |
SueBee 
| | #5 posted September 23, 2001 at 10:40pm (EDT) |
Well, first of all, stop banging your head on the desk because it'll be even more difficult to write with a headache! 
I don't recall having to write a personal statement to get into college. Maybe this will help...a quick web search came up with some links that might be helpful to you:
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/tips/wri...
http://www.wisc.edu/writetest/Handbook/apessay.htm...
You are obviously very bright, so be confident in your abilities and just start writing. You can always revise it later. Have you done an outline yet? That always helps me when writing a résumé, which I suppose is a similarly unpleasant task. Good luck!! |
sequel
| | #6 posted September 24, 2001 at 1:09am (EDT) |
Exactly why are you having the problem? Are you not sure what you want to say, or do you know what you want to convey but are having trouble expressing it verbally?
If the former, try asking your friends and family for input. They probably know your strengths pretty well. They may be able to suggest things you hadn't thought of. It's also easier to get people to brag about you than to brag about yourself.
If the latter, try turning on a tape recorder and just speaking, without thinking much about it. Later you can take the better phrases and use them in your paper.
I don't know anything about Oxford, but maybe there is some alumnae association, even informal, that you could ask for input? |
Biggles
| | #7 posted September 24, 2001 at 1:25pm (EDT) |
Breathe and relax. Breathe and relax...... Thankyou! |
Biggles
| | #8 posted September 24, 2001 at 1:27pm (EDT) |
It's horrid! I have to make a general application through UCAS to all 6 universities I'm applying to, then a separate one to Oxford. Because I'm applying to Oxford, my application has to be in early (Oct 15th) which is really scary! |
Biggles
| | #9 posted September 24, 2001 at 1:28pm (EDT) |
Thankyou, it does |
Biggles
| | #10 posted September 24, 2001 at 1:32pm (EDT) |
lol headbanging stopped!
Those sites look helpful, thanks
I keep trying to write the outline and I can do the second part failry easily - it's the first bit I'm having trouble with. I need to explain *why* I want to do that course and I haven't really considered that in words - it's just the course I feel I want to do! I also need to sa why I'm well-suited to the course! The second bit is easier though - I need to discuss all my extra-curricular activities - I've done loads so that shouldn't be a problem. |
Biggles
| | #11 posted September 24, 2001 at 1:37pm (EDT) |
I think my problem is mostly that I don't quite know what I want to say. I roughly know why I want to do the course, but it's more that I feel that it's the right course than a specific reason which makes it difficult! Especially as I want to work in human rights in the future rather than being a scientist! My work experience (in immunohaematology) can go in there though.
I'm going to have a "session" with my mum tonight - she should be able to give me a hand.
Thanks for the advice |
SueBee
| | #12 posted September 24, 2001 at 11:39pm (EDT) |
Any luck yet? I bet your mum was able to help you out. If you're still struggling, I think one of those links had some samples included. Reading samples might spark an idea about your reasons for pursuing that course of study. You must either think it's a fascinating subject, or think the knowledge will help you in all aspects of your life, or else you think you can make good money in that field. Or do you just think the cutest and nicest boys will be in those classes? (If that's your reason, you may not want to include it in your personal statement. ) |
Biggles
| | #13 posted September 25, 2001 at 1:30pm (EDT) |
lol Yeah, because I just spend all my time chasing the boys! lol lol lol That is *so* not me! |
SueBee
| | #14 posted September 26, 2001 at 12:32am (EDT) |
I know...you've mentioned that before. I was trying to be funny.  |
msgman 
| | #15 posted September 26, 2001 at 7:22am (EDT) |
Or maybe prophetic.... |
SueBee
| | #16 posted September 26, 2001 at 10:10pm (EDT) |
Ah! Good point! Some special guy is bound to catch her eye one of these days, probably when she's least expecting it. |
Biggles
| | #17 posted September 29, 2001 at 11:49am (EDT) |
Hmm, I'm being discussed......
Some special guy? Maybe. That's what everyone says, but to tell you the truth I'm just not that bothered. There are people that I like, just not like *that* But I don't even know what liking someone like that means. I imagine that if I liked someone in that way, I'd know so I don't think that what I feel is anything more than friendship....
I'm happy enough! |
SueBee
| | #18 posted September 29, 2001 at 2:19pm (EDT) |
You were being discussed because we love you so! |
SueBee
| | #19 posted September 29, 2001 at 2:22pm (EDT) |
In all seriousness, don't ever let people push you into dating or whatever if you're not interested. That is so totally up to you, and I hate it when people are pushy about that sort of thing. I guess it just comes up around here because of the way you respond to some of the survey questions. It's fun to joke around with you, but please understand that I absolutely respect your choices. |
Biggles
| | #20 posted September 30, 2001 at 2:35pm (EDT) |
I know that
*kiss* |
