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Writing a Winning UCAS Engineering Personal Statement: Ultimate Guide w/Analysed Examples
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Engineering Personal Statement: Why It’s Important
With careers in engineering providing over 20% of the UK’s total economic productivity and with over one-fourth of its workforce working in engineering fields , it’s no surprise that some of the best and highest-ranked engineering schools in the world are located in the United Kingdom. So how do you get a spot in one of the best engineering programmes in the world? You need impressive marks, a good resume, and a stellar engineering personal statement.
Before we get to that, though, let’s back up a little and examine everything it takes to get into a good engineering programme.
Engineering Programme Prerequisites
Before you get ready to apply for an engineering programme at any university, there are several prerequisites you need to have met first. While these prerequisites may differ slightly from university to university, the majority of them should remain the same.
Completed Coursework
You must have, at a minimum, at least two A-Levels if you expect to get into an engineering programme. In the most popular programmes, you’ll need at least three, with grades of A’s and B’s in each. The exact entry requirements may vary, but they tend to range from CCC to AAA. Most universities prefer you to have ABB.
Additionally, one of your A-Levels needs to be in maths. A second A Level in physics is also encouraged for students hoping to study engineering at Uni. There are other courses that may be accepted in place of physics, such as other science courses, additional maths courses, or design and/or computing courses, but your safest bet will always be maths and physics as two of your A-Levels. If you don’t have an A-Level in maths, you may be required to take a maths and/or mechanics aptitude test before being considered for admission.
Vocational Courses
If you don’t have the required A Levels, another option you can use at some schools is to substitute vocational courses for them. For example, if you have Level 3 or Level 6 qualifications, you might be able to use these as replacements for the A-Level courses. These qualifications include the following:
- SVQ Scientific, Technical & Formulation Processing (SCQF Level 6)
- Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Engineering or Construction and Built Environment
It’s important to note that not all universities will accept these as substitutes for A-Levels, so check with each school individually.
Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering
If you’re interested in a biotechnology or chemical engineering programme, the required A Levels are a little different. Universities usually require two A-Levels in science or a Scottish Highers with either biology or chemistry as one of the subjects. Additionally, you’ll also be required to have five GCSEs that include English, maths, and a science.
Scottish Highers
The most common range for entry into Highers is between ABBB and AAAAB. The majority of universities require AABBB. If a university requests an Advanced Highers to supplement Highers, they most often ask for an AA.
Additional Qualifications for Admission
The only true prerequisites for admission into an engineering programme are those listed above, but there are some additional things you may want to have on your application to make it more memorable. These include relevant work or apprenticeship experience, volunteer experience, and personal references.
Applying for Admission
To apply for any undergraduate programme at a university in the UK, particularly an engineering programme, you have to fill out an application through the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) . If you’ve ever applied to a college or university in the United States using the Common App, the UCAS is very similar.
It’s a centralised location for applying to a multitude of different schools/courses, and you’ll use it whether you live in the UK or are an international student. The actual name of the application is the UCAS Apply. Once you’ve completed it, you can apply to up to five separate universities (or five separate degree programmes if you aren’t set in your engineering course) simultaneously.
Filling out the UCAS Apply: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: register for the ucas site.
This is a simple setup process. You’ll sign up by setting up a username and password. You’ll create some security questions in case you lose your password, and then you’ll be asked some basic information such as your name, birth date, and other personally-identifying information.
Step 2: Verify Your Account, Sign In & Enter the Rest of Your Information
After verifying that you really did create an account, you’ll be asked to sign in using the username and password you just created. Then you’ll fill in the rest of your personal information, including your residency status. You’ll also be asked about how you plan to pay for university and whether or not you’ll be requesting scholarships.
Additionally, you’ll be asked about any special needs you have or the accommodations you’ll need. If you have any type of criminal record, you’ll indicate that in this section. You can also give permission for an adult in your life – parent, adviser, mentor, guardian, etc. – to have access to your UCAS profile. This gives them permission to talk to university staff about you, your university goals, and anything else of note.
Steps 3 & 4: For UK Residents Only
If you’re an international student, you won’t be required to fill out steps three and four. (Note: Residents of the EU might possibly be asked to fill out step 4.) Section three asks about your national identity, ethnic origin, and occupational background. There are some additional questions in this section that are optional. These ask about your religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
You’ll also be provided with space to discuss your own, personal circumstances, especially as they relate to your ability to pay for and succeed at Uni. This could include information about your parents’ education or background, activities in which you’ve been involved, whether or not you’ve been in care, etc.
Section four isn’t always asked and only appears if questions in the personal details section have been answered a certain way. If they do appear, they’ll be asking about your finances.
Step 5: Choose Your Courses/Universities
In this section, you’ll be able to apply for up to five different courses and/or universities. This is where you choose what programmes you hope to be accepted into. You can only choose five though, so choose wisely.
Step 6: Provide Your Educational History
Here you’ll enter your entire educational history beginning at secondary education. You’ll enter your A-Levels as well as any vocational courses you’ve taken. It’s important that you list all of these exactly right, including the marks you received in each.
Step 7: Employment History
This is where you’ll attach your work resume. This is for paid work only. If you have any volunteer experience or other unpaid work, it’ll be listed in your personal statement instead. You can only list five places of employment, so if you’ve had more than five jobs, choose the five most relevant to the programme you’re pursuing (in this case, engineering).
Step 8: Your Personal Statement
We’ll discuss this in-depth a little later on.
Step 9: Review the Details
Once you’ve completed all the above-listed steps, you’ll have a chance to review everything. Review it thoroughly and make any changes necessary. You won’t be allowed to edit it once it’s been submitted.
Step 10: Personal Reference, Application Fee & Submit
Finally, you’ll need at least one personal reference. This should be from someone who knows you in a professional capacity, either from working with you or having had you in class. You’ll also be required to pay an application fee of £20 if you’re applying to only one course and £25 if you’re applying for multiple courses. Then you’ll submit the application.
Once you’ve submitted your UCAS Apply application, you’re all set. You can track it using the UCAS Tracker to see if your desired universities have received it. Then you wait for the university to reach out to you for more information, an interview, or acceptance.
Writing Your Personal Statement
If you’re applying to an engineering programme, you’ll be required to write a personal statement as part of step 8 on the UCAS Apply application. We can’t overemphasise how important step 8 truly is. There are very few universities that require you to write an additional essay or personal statement for entrance into their engineering programmes, so this is your one chance to get it right.
So what exactly should you write about?
There isn’t exactly a prompt for writing your UCAS personal statement. Under this same question – “What should I write about?” – on the UCAS website , the answer given is simply, “You.” In other words, write about yourself.
The admissions team wants to know why they should give you a coveted spot in the engineering programme over every other applicant. You need to tell them why you want a spot at the university, but you also need to tell them why you deserve a spot and what it is about you that should make them want to give you a spot. This means showcasing your strengths, achievements, and drive to succeed.
In case you need a little more guidance, here are some questions to ask yourself to help you get started:
- Why are you interested in attending university, and what aspects of university life are you most looking forward to experiencing?
- What are your career goals?
- What first interested you in engineering, and what about it continues to interest you?
- What experiences have you had, either in school or in the work environment, that would prepare you for studying at university?
- Was there anything about your earlier education studies you found to be particularly helpful or interesting?
- What do you most hope to gain from your time at the university, and what strengths and positive characteristics will you bring with you?
- What makes you a good candidate for a position at Uni?
- What elements of your future studies are you looking forward to most?
- Have you taken any higher education courses already, received any awards or accolades, or been recognised for outstanding academic or professional ability?
- What can you write about to prove that you’ve researched engineering beyond what you learned in your early education?
If you consider these questions and keep them in mind while writing, you’ll likely cover everything you need to cover to make a good impression on the admissions team. UCAS also provides you with this personal statement worksheet to help organise your thoughts and guide your writing.
Standard Engineering Personal Statement Length & Format
One thing to keep in mind while writing your personal statement is that it has to stay within a certain character limit . No matter how much you have to say, you have to keep it under 4000 characters or 47 lines of text.
While this isn’t an exact word count, that averages out to approximately 500 words, which isn’t a ton of words. It’s about one single-spaced page worth of text. This means that you must be concise. You want to get in all the important information that’ll help your application stand out from all the other applications universities receive, but you have to do it without being too wordy.
Format Requirements
Worrying about the formatting requirements (double-spaced, single-spaced, font size, etc.) is unnecessary for your engineering personal statement because you’ll be typing or pasting it into a text box on the website. As long as your paragraphs are clearly defined and your font is easy to read, you should be fine on formatting guidelines.
However, because you only get 47 lines of text, it’s important that you structure your paper correctly . This means breaking your personal statement into roughly three sections, with each section answering a specific question. For the sake of clarity, we’ll call these sections the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
Now let’s break it down a little further.
A Brief Introduction
The introduction should take up about 15-20% of your personal statement. That’s approximately seven to ten of the 47 provided lines. In your introduction, try to answer the question, “Why do you want to study engineering?” You can talk about the experiences that shaped your love of the subject and the things about it that continue to interest you. You might even touch on why you feel it’s important that people study engineering at all.
Full, Rich Body Paragraphs
Your body paragraphs should make up about 55-65% of your engineering personal statement, or 26 to 30 lines. In these paragraphs, you’ll address the questions, “What have you done that has prepared you for this course?” and “Why do you deserve a spot in the programme?” This is when you go in-depth into your experiences, educational history, relevant employment, etc.
Other questions you may want to address in your body paragraphs are:
- How have you cultivated the knowledge you need to succeed in this field?
- What did you learn while preparing for this course?
- Did you receive high marks in the classes relevant to an engineering course?
- Did you win any awards or receive any other accolades?
- What about your life experiences that has fully prepared you not just to enrol in the course but to excel in it?
A Brief Conclusion
Your conclusion should make up between 20-25% of your engineering personal statement, which is roughly ten to 12 lines. Here you’ll sum up your personal statement and bring it to a close. This is where you’ll add in any other extracurricular activities that might not be relevant to engineering but are impressive enough that you want the admissions team to know about them. You can also touch briefly on your future career goals in this section.
Other Things to Remember
One statement – five applications.
One of the most important things to remember about your engineering personal statement for your UCAS Apply application is that you can only write one statement, even though you could be applying to five different courses/universities. This means you don’t want to mention any specific university by name. If you do, the four other universities to which you’ve applied may think you aren’t seriously interested in them and disregard your application altogether.
Additionally, if you’ve applied to study different subjects rather than simply applying to five different engineering programmes, you won’t be able to focus your personal statement quite so much on the field of engineering. Instead, you’ll have to take a much more general approach to writing your personal statement, discussing your strengths in general terms as opposed to how they would apply specifically to the field of engineering.
Proofread and Edit
Do not submit your application and your included engineering personal statement without first proofreading and editing your statement. It’s even better if you can ask a mentor, professor, or trusted friend to look over it for you before you submit it. Having a fresh set of eyes looking over your paper is a great way to find errors you might have otherwise missed. Proper grammar and writing style are important, so don’t rush ahead without a proper amount of time spent editing and cleaning up.
The Website Will Time Out
Another important thing to remember is that the UCAS website will time out after 35 minutes of inactivity. For this reason, it’s better if you write your personal statement ahead of time in a separate document and then simply copy and paste it into the text box once it’s been fully edited and is ready to go.
Engineering Personal Statement Examples
Example personal statement 1.
“I hope a degree from your University will allow me to transfer key abilities from a place of study into, eventually, a place in industry. After much extended research, my admiration for the engineering innovator, Karl Benz, has been truly established. Commonly regarded as the originator of the first automobile powered by an internal combustion engine, his contributions to the vast domain that is engineering are simply colossal. One creation of his that captivated my mind tremendously was the ‘Blitzen Benz’; a vehicle fabricated solely for the purpose of speed. […]
Understandably, I am mindful that the finest engineers must possess a resilient skill-set, which should include the ability to thrive in both collaborative and solo tasks, flourish under pressure and blossom in positions requiring a leadership mentality. Hopefully, a place on this course will allow me to reinforce and augment my previously developed skills whilst allowing me to simultaneously acquire many more essential abilities that will prove beneficial in later life.”
– Read the rest here
Although this excerpt is a little longer than we usually like to include, we had to include it. It’s just too impressive to ignore. First of all, you’ll notice the author refers to “your University.” This is how you should always speak of the prospective university in your engineering personal statement because it sounds personal, but it doesn’t call any specific school by name, which would alienate the other four universities to which you applied.
Secondly, the author speaks of his admiration for the engineer and inventor Karl Benz. This shows that he’s researched his field of study outside of what he learned in school. It shows he has a genuine interest and passion for engineering, which means he should do well at Uni. The section that’s been removed goes into more detail about the ‘Blitzen Benz,’ using language that shows he has a solid knowledge of the technical terms associated with engineering.
Finally, he smoothly transitions into highlighting his strengths. He mentions many of the qualities that make for a good engineer and then mentions he has those qualities. In the next section, which has also been removed for the sake of brevity, he talks a bit about how he cultivated those qualities. He also says he hopes his time at Uni will help further these necessary qualities in him, and then transitions into talking about his future goals.
It is a powerfully written personal statement that shows the writer to be an excellent candidate for the engineering programme.
Our Verdict:
![good engineering personal statements Image of a star-struck grinning emoji](https://thecollegeapplication.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/grinning-face-with-star-eyes_1f929.png.webp)
Example Personal Statement 2
“Engineers build societies. More specifically, mechanical engineers apply fundamental maths and physics laws to construct mechanical devices that we use every day, despite sometimes going unnoticed. For this reason, I would like to pursue a career in engineering, as it is such a key component in societies. It combines my fascination of how things work and the mechanics behind devices, with the ability to apply maths and physics concepts to real-life situations.
Studying Maths Mechanics at A-level has given me experience with calculus and more advanced mathematics, including differential equations, creating a firm grounding for the mathematics I should encounter at degree level. Physics has given me an understanding of fundamental notions and reinforced the mechanical aspects of maths […]”
his is another example of a well-written engineering personal statement. The introductory paragraph, in particular, is superb and covers everything that should be covered. The writer starts by highlighting why engineering is important to society as a whole. In doing so, she also demonstrates a solid knowledge of what engineering is all about.
She transitions smoothly into why she wants to become an engineer and mentions that she has a fascination with both “how things work” and “the mechanics behind devices,” which are two key elements for a successful engineer. In her next paragraph, she begins talking about her educational history, showing she has the experience and education necessary for a foundation in engineering.
Altogether, she presents herself as someone with passion, clearly defined goals, and a solid foundation that should allow her to hit the ground running when she begins at the university.
![good engineering personal statements Image of a smiling face with heart-shaped eyes emoji](https://thecollegeapplication.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/smiling-face-with-heart-shaped-eyes_1f60d.png.webp)
Example Personal Statement 3
“My desire to study Engineering stems from the practical application of Maths and Physics to real world situations to enhance and improve them is a field that I find fascinating and perplexing. After partaking in different engineering-based experiences, I learnt how varied and inclusive this subject is, and that is the reason I want to study Engineering at University.”
In contrast to the first two examples, this is an example of a weak engineering personal statement that wasn’t done well. This is the author’s introductory paragraph, and right from the beginning, it fails to paint the writer in a good light. The first sentence is grammatically incorrect and makes no sense as written. The paragraph is also much too short and vague.
Referring back to the common structure of a personal statement, you’ll remember the introductory paragraph should be about seven to ten lines long. This one is about four. It doesn’t have enough information on it, and the information that’s there is too general. It sounds like a child’s version of what an engineer does and why it’d be fun to be an engineer.
The student mentions “partaking in different engineering-based experiences” but doesn’t give any examples to back up that claim. Even his reason for wanting to be an engineer isn’t clearly defined. This is a weak, unmemorable statement that isn’t going to impress anyone on an admissions team.
![good engineering personal statements An image of an unamused face emoji](https://thecollegeapplication.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/unamused-face_1f612.png.webp)
Example Personal Statement 4
“My extra-curricular activities in and out of school have enhanced my ability to lead a group. I joined stem club at the beginning of year 12 and this has contributed to the improvement of my problem-solving skills which has helped me significantly in my maths modules and physics. […] I play the piano […] piano allows me to improve my thinking skills on the spot. My schedule is very busy and challenges me to manage my time carefully […] I am always challenging my own understanding and I believe that I have the right attitude, skills and personality for this degree. I feel that a career in engineering will make good use of my strengths.”
– Read the rest here
Let’s look again at the typical structure of a personal statement listed above. You’ll see that the conclusion paragraph should be about ten lines long. It’s also a good place to list all the extracurricular activities that aren’t strictly associated with engineering but that you want the admissions team to know about you.
This author wrote a great conclusion paragraph. Although sections have been removed, you can see it’s close to the right length. Additionally, she uses the conclusion paragraph exactly as it should be used, listing all of her extra achievements she wants the admissions team to know. Beyond that, though, she uses these extracurricular activities as another way to show her strengths – strengths that would make her a good fit for any engineering programme.
She mentions having good leadership skills. She also talks about being part of a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) club. She talks about playing the piano but then adds that her ability to play has improved her on-the-fly problem-solving skills. She talks about work and her busy schedule, but then stresses that this has helped her learn good time management skills.
Instead of just using her conclusion to provide a list of her extracurricular activities, she uses it as another opportunity to casually and naturally highlight her skills. She ends by saying these skills she learned in all these activities will serve her well in her future career as an engineer, which is a great way to end the personal statement on a relevant note.
Example Personal Statement 5
“During my school life, I have enjoyed taking part in sporting events organised by the French charity “Justice au Coeur” […] My extracurricular activities include athletics […] I also attended a scouts’ club in my neighbourhood, and have passed Grade 7 in drama. […]
I am a native speaker of English and French […] I have also studied Latin at my school for six years, and am going to take it as a subject at the French Baccalauréat.
One of my main hobbies is model rocketry. […]
I completed two weeks of unpaid work experience in a WHSmith bookshop in Wimbledon in June 2012. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.”
By contrast, this is an example of a writer who didn’t do a good job of adding in her extracurricular activities. First of all, even though it’s not evident here, this information is listed in this author’s body paragraphs, not her conclusion. These sentences, along with several similar ones that have been removed, make up four paragraphs of the body of her engineering personal statement.
She used four paragraphs talking about things that have absolutely nothing to do with engineering. She wasted those four paragraphs. All this information is nice information to provide, but it should have all been condensed into one small paragraph at the end of the personal statement.
Instead, she took the paragraphs that should have been devoted to what she’s done to prepare her for engineering and why she deserves a spot in the programme and wasted them on extracurricular activities that aren’t really relevant.
Remember: You only have 4000 characters to write your personal statement, and use those characters wisely.
![good engineering personal statements Image of a yawning face emoji](https://thecollegeapplication.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/yawning-face_1f971.png.webp)
To Sum It All Up…
The main things to remember when writing your engineering personal statement are to be truthful, be concise, and be authentic. It’s also important that you write a 100% unique, “personal-to-you” personal statement. It’s okay to look at other people’s statements for inspiration or to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t, but there are severe consequences for plagiarism ( here’s a plagiarism-checker you can use ) and cheating, including having your entire application trashed at all the universities to which you applied.
Finally, make sure you dedicate enough time to the process. You want to plan your statement out ahead of time and have enough time to write it thoroughly and completely. It’s also important to save time for the editing and proofreading stages after you’ve finished your first draft.
Be specific when talking about your interests, goals, and strengths. Remember, this is one of the few times in life when it is okay to sell yourself. You want to make a good impression, and you want to be memorable. The more easily the admissions team can recall you and your engineering personal statement, the more likely you’ll get a spot in a good engineering programme.
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How to provide evidence
You will need to be enthusiastic about engineering and show evidence of this in the personal statement is the simple advice from University of Dundee. So, here are some ideas on how to do this:
- Work or extracurricular experiences: This doesn't necessarily have to be directly in an engineering field. Try and give examples of things you've done that highlight your technical aptitude, teamwork skills, leadership, or problem-solving abilities. Similarly, reflect on any extracurricular achievements that demonstrate good time management and self-organisation.
- Relevant skills: Admissions tutors are looking for creative people with initiative, curiosity, and a bit of originality. So, if you’re interested in how things work, sketching new ideas, or taking things apart and repairing them, include this here. Perhaps you’ve taught yourself to code or made your own burglar alarm? Reflect on what you learned or the skills you developed.
- Extra reading: Include any examples of things you've read that have influenced your interest in engineering. Don't just list them though – elaborate on one or two specific issues you read about recently and the impact it made on you.
- Your future plans: If you have a particular goal in mind, then mention what you plan to do with your engineering degree, whether it’s your long-term career aspirations or just your ambition to make the world a better place.
- Course suitability: Engineering is a challenging discipline, so demonstrate that you have the ability and motivation to complete the course.
What not to do
- Don’t be irrelevant: The University of Bath says, 'The best engineers have a wide range of interests… but don’t let important information about yourself be buried in irrelevant detail'.
- Don’t say ‘when I was a child’: An admissions tutor doesn't want to know that the first word you ever uttered was 'hydraulics', or that you played with lego as a child. What you did recently is much more relevant than what you did when you were six.
- Don’t list interests or experiences without reflecting on them: It’s not enough just to say 'I have always been interested in X, Y and Z...'. Instead, describe a work experience placement, project or piece of coursework you did and explain what you found interesting or challenging about it (and why).
- Don’t ignore key advice: Check out the department websites of the universities you're applying to, as some explain what they're looking for in an engineering personal statement. Each engineering degree course at the University of Bristol, for instance, has its own list of requirements - starting with leadership for its engineering design degree.
Structuring your statement
As well as relevant detail, Dr Will Whittow from the The Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University wants to see a statement that is properly structured. This way you’ll clearly promote your skills and showcase your technical experience.
There are no cast-iron rules about the structure, but we’ve taken some tips from Dr Whittow to draw up a framework you could use:
- Your motivation: In your first paragraph, explain your motivation and why you’re enthusiastic about the course, giving specific examples of what interests you and a glimpse of any specific knowledge you already have.
- Mention your career ambitions too: Just don’t waste space listing your A level subjects, telling them what an engineer does, or starting with a quote ‘Ever since I was a child…’.
- Your relevant insights or experience: In your second and third paragraphs, show your passion by providing evidence of what you’ve learned from any relevant experience, insights, interests or achievements, starting with your strongest point. This will be all the more impressive if it was outside of school or college, like relevant work experience, engineering taster days or CREST Awards. Commenting on what you’ve learned from your EPQ or a similar school or college project would fit well here too, but it really needs to be relevant.
- Your transferrable skills: In your final paragraph mention anything else that takes up a lot of your time, like a part-time job, caring for a family member, or other interests, responsibilities or extracurricular activities. But draw out the transferable skills you’ve learned from them, like time management, teamwork or leadership. And be specific. Just saying you play badminton or took the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award means nothing – either say something interesting about it that provides relevant evidence or, better still, choose something that not so many people do.
Just like Southampton's Admissions Tutor advised in the quote, try to show a bit of spark and talk about something a bit different from everyone else.
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How to Write a Great Engineering School Personal Statement
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You have spent months researching and identifying the best engineering schools, studying for and completing the SATs, GRE, or other standardized tests, and filling out tedious college applications. You are on the verge of burnout when it hits you: you have to write a personal statement.
How important is it to write a great personal statement? Ask the admissions committee, and they’ll tell you that writing a personal statement is like applying for a job. Stephen J Aguilar, an assistant professor of education at USC, reported in 2020 to Inside Higher Ed that a personal statement should be less revealing and more persuasive. At its core, the personal statement needs to answer these two questions:
- Why are you applying here?
- How do your interests and experiences align with the program or the faculty you’ve identified?
However, the importance of reading and understanding the question prompts cannot be overstated. For example, the University of Iowa College of Engineering, which places 97 percent of its undergraduates in jobs post-graduation and currently has 284 master’s and doctoral students, goes one step further to differentiate personal statements from statements of purpose .
This institution wants to know in the statement of purpose , “Why is this program a good fit for you?” By contrast, the personal statement elicits answers to the question: “Who are you?” and allows applicants to explain themselves to admissions committees regarding academic achievements and life events that have shaped them and will positively influence the campus community.
That said, a personal statement is not just an essay. It has to be intelligent, engaging, typo-free, and capable of convincing admissions reviewers that you are a better fit for their program. Fret not. With lots of research and preparation, you can submit a college essay that reflects your passion and capabilities.
Read on to learn the what, the why, and the how-to of writing great personal statements to gain admission into engineering school.
How Is a Personal Statement Evaluated?
The title “personal statement” is generally synonymous with college essays. However, some admissions professionals use it to refer more specifically to written statements that explore applicants’ program readiness and intentions if admitted. The purpose of these statements for engineering school applicants is three-fold.
First, colleges want to know that they can write well, and not just from a technical perspective. Of course, grammar matters, but perhaps more important is the ability to communicate ideas.
Second, engineering schools want to know who a student is—the nuggets that are not conveyed through a conventional application or school transcripts. This is the written equivalent of the interview question “tell us about yourself” and is the applicant’s chance to share who they are, what they want to do, and how gaining admission to this program will be mutually beneficial.
Finally, colleges want to ensure applicants are familiar with and committed to the program. The best personal statements fulfill these goals, often in 700 words or less.
Does this sound like a tall order? Here are some tips for getting it right.
Six Tips for Writing a Stellar Engineering School Personal Statement
1. Do the research
It may sound simplistic, but one of the most important (and often overlooked) steps toward getting into the right school is taking the time to research a prospective engineering program, review its admissions policies and—this cannot be overstated—read and reread its application essay prompt. Candidates who don’t sufficiently answer an institution’s question or convey some misunderstanding about the prompt or its expectations are unlikely to be admitted.
Prospective students completing the Common Application should take the time to contact each engineering school they are applying to inquire about additional admissions requirements. The Princeton Review emphasizes that a personal statement should not repeat a previously discussed part of your application, nor should its information contradict another part.
2. Go deep, not broad
Personal statement prompts tend to be targeted. Engineering schools want to know what specific qualities or experiences make each student a good fit for their programs. Common inquiries include recalling a time you solved a problem, explaining why you applied, describing your academic goals and intentions, and addressing any extenuating circumstances that might have impacted your school record. Rather than offering a broad synopsis of your life, choose the experience or intent most relevant to the question and explore it in depth.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Graduate School offers advice for writing an in-depth personal statement for engineering schools using the “qualified match” approach. The steps include:
- Make a statement that fits the essay prompt, like “I am a dedicated and hard-working student.”
- Quantify your statement with specific details about your life. You might, for example, discuss how many hours per week you spend on school work and how you overcome any obstacles to committing that time.
- Interpret how those details make you a stronger applicant. To continue with the above example, that might include writing about the knowledge you gained during your studies, your time-management skills, your passion for learning, and your commitment to succeed despite challenges.
3. Be relevant
If a personal statement has only one goal, it is to be shown to a review committee that you are the right fit for its school. That’s why applicants to Stanford University’s Institute for Computational & Mathematical Engineering are asked to specify their personal and professional goals in their statement of purpose, as well as discuss their developments and intentions for study and life beyond their doctoral program.
Read the mission statements of each program to get a feel for what they are looking for and keep that in mind as you write. Rather than getting carried away detailing the hours you log volunteering each week, discuss experiences and activities as they relate to your academic and career goals or scientific interests. Also, be sure not to waste valuable ink rehashing information available elsewhere on your application, such as extracurricular activities or your stellar GPA.
4. Avoid gimmicks and cliches
Did you love playing with Legos as a kid? Did those plastic bricks lay the foundation for your drive to be an engineer? If so, the College of Engineering at the University of Washington suggests you are in good company, but not in a good way. Every year, the committee reads personal essays on how Legos were the building blocks of a student’s career in engineering.
To stand out, engineering school applicants should avoid using cliches in their statements. Of course, setting yourself apart from other applicants is imperative, but you must do so in a meaningful and unique way. Admissions review panels have seen it all and are unlikely to be moved by creative gimmicks and attention-grabbers that do not get to the heart of what makes you a great candidate.
5. Mind your mechanics
This tip refers more to the mechanics of writing than any scientific drive, though the latter undoubtedly has a place in an engineering school personal statement. Remember when we said one of the goals of college essays is verifying applicants can communicate effectively? Applicants should consider the following elements as they prepare their outline (more on that next):
- Voice – Is your voice appropriate for the task? Is it too formal or casual? Are you using active language rather than passive and wishy-washy statements? Do you come across as academic?
- Structure – Do your ideas flow logically and support one main idea? If you are unsure where to start, know that following the reliable five-paragraph essay format is perfectly acceptable: introduction, three supporting paragraphs, and a tidy conclusion.
- Length – Engineering schools usually have a good reason for requesting personal statements with a specific word count. Those that are too short have too little to say, and those that are too long are likely to repeat the same concepts.
- Grammar – College students are expected to know and use basic grammar. Edit, edit, and then edit again.
- Completeness – Have you addressed the admissions essay prompt in full? What about any supplemental school or department-specific requests?
6. Edit, edit, edit
Writing a personal statement may seem like a herculean task, so it is tempting to push it aside when you type that final period and not look back. This is a mistake—and perhaps the biggest one you can make. Sometimes we get so caught up in our thoughts and ideas that we miss lapses in our writing, whether grammatical or contextual. To avoid this:
- Begin with an outline.
- Write the first draft.
- Write a second draft.
- Read the essay out loud.
- Review your essay again a day or two later.
- Ask parents, friends, teachers, and others to read your work.
There is never any excuse for typos, and even the slightest error can turn a committee review member off. Ask a friend or family member to review your essay for grammatical mistakes when in doubt. It may be intimidating, but the process is an excellent way to identify missing words or ideas. What’s more, applicants today are blessed with the power of technology. Online tools like Grammarly are free to use and quickly catch any glaring typos.
Starting Your Engineering School Admissions Essay
One of the biggest challenges to writing a stellar college essay is simply getting started in the first place. Personal statements are, by design, personal, and that can be intimidating. Applicants also put significant pressure on themselves to write the perfect essay.
Fortunately, many colleges try to ease the burden by providing tips online. Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab offers examples of successful personal statements. Some engineering schools even post examples of successful personal statements, including MIT , Johns Hopkins University , and Cornell University . While your essay should be wholly original, these resources can guide you through creating a unique and inspirational narrative to impress admissions committees.
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Aimee Hosler is a long-time journalist specializing in education and technology. She is an advocate for experiential learning among all ages and serves as the director of communications for a non-profit community makerspace. She holds a degree in journalism from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
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- Engineering Masters Personal Statement Sample
Written by Jennifer Bevan
This is an example personal statement for a Masters degree application in Engineering. See our guide for advice on writing your own postgraduate personal statement .
With an ever-increasing population, the upscaling of processes to efficiently mass produce food, pharmaceuticals and chemicals is essential to society. From COVID-19 vaccines to vegan products, over recent years there have been many examples of manufacturing processes that have inspired me to specialise in the field of chemical engineering. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the ability of engineers worldwide to suddenly and rapidly mass produce the coronavirus vaccines in order to save countless lives. In contrast to the abrupt demand seen in the vaccine industry, challenges also arise in keeping up with the constant growing demand for products such as vegan food. As I aspire to become a specialist in chemical engineering, I am applying for this Masters as the first step on my career journey.
During my undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, for which I achieved a 2:1, I was able to select modules to cater to my interests, therefore studied materials and manufacturing and industrial management. These modules expanded upon the more basic principles introduced in the initial two years which allowed for a significant improvement to not only my technical skill but also the confidence in my ability to analyse and rectify mechanical failure. Through several of my core modules I developed my skills at utilising computer aided design (CAD) software packages such as SolidWorks for the design and analysis of products. For my final year project, I worked as project lead in a group to determine the advantages and disadvantages of additive manufacturing through the design and printing of a part. This allowed me to gain invaluable first-hand experience with fused deposition modelling machines and further refine my CAD skills, whilst developing excellent team management skills.
By the end of the second year of my degree, I knew my interests lay more towards chemical engineering and decided to undertake a placement year in industry. During this year I worked at a pharmaceutical company, adopting minor design roles within pre-existing projects and learning the importance of effective teamwork in producing a successful project. I attended several career fairs across universities and talked to students about the company, how best to apply and my experience working with them. This significantly improved my public speaking ability and communication skills, which are key for teamwork. I also gained some managerial experience during my free time as the president of the university running club. This involved planning and organising events, attending meetings with the student union and looking out for the welfare of members of the club.
I have applied to your university because of your excellent reputation in chemical engineering and am eager to study the specialist modules you have on offer, most notably pharmaceutical process development and advanced bioprocess engineering. On completion of my Masters I hope to pursue a career in industry and become a chartered engineer. This course would be an excellent opportunity to be at the forefront of chemical engineering technique development and to achieve a Masters accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers.
What are my options for studying Engineering?
Advanced structural engineering msc (campus), aberdeen university school of engineering, advanced mechanical engineering msc, advanced chemical engineering msc, civil engineering - msc, university of glasgow college of science and engineering, master of engineering in geotechnical engineering with structural engineering, atlantic technological university online, flexible and professional development, find a masters in engineering.
If you're interested in a studying Engineering, then why don't you check out our regularly updated catalogue of available Engineering Masters courses .
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10 Top Oxford Engineering Personal Statement Tips
What makes you different from all the other applicants? Your engineering Oxford personal statement is a crucial component in your university application. It gives you a chance to articulate why you’re interested in Engineering and to distinguish yourself from other applicants. Additionally, it offers the interviewer a focal point to base discussions about your personality, interests and deduce your commitment to the subject you’re applying for. To help guide you through the process, our Oxford application experts have compiled a list of top 10 tips for everything you should do and not do for your Oxbridge Engineering Personal Statement for the 2024/25 application cycle.
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Table of Contents
The Engineering Science programme is a four-year course, leading to the degree of Master of Engineering. The first two years are devoted to topics which Oxford believes all Engineering undergraduates should study. In the third and fourth years there is scope for specialisation into one of six branches of engineering. These include Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Information and Mechanical. Decisions about which of these will be your specialisation can be deferred until the third year.
All candidates must take the Physics Aptitude Test (PAT) as part of their application. Find out more about this here .
For the first time, for entry in October 2023 Oxford offered a Foundation Year route to access Engineering Science. So if you’re interested in studying Engineering Science but your personal or educational circumstances have meant you are unlikely to achieve the grades, then choosing to apply for Engineering Science with a Foundation Year might be the course for you. More information can be accessed here .
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Top 5 Tips for an Oxford Engineering Personal Statement
1. tell your story.
Your story will be what makes your UCAS personal statement stand out. In your Engineering personal statement Oxford admissions tutors will be looking for you to outline the reasons as to why you want to study Engineering, along with relevant experience and skills for the subject. Some ways to do this include thinking about your plans for the future, why you have decided to pursue Engineering, and any relevant experience you have.
2. Choosing a discipline
Oxford offers six branches of Engineering- (Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Information and Mechanical). While you can still write about your interest in Engineering more broadly, both academically and as a professional field, you can also narrow down on your chosen discipline and discuss some skills and experiences specific to this branch. This will show the Oxford Admissions tutors that you have a clear plan for your studies and where you hope your degree will take you in your career.
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3. Read around the subject you’re applying for
Students who carry out extra-curricular work are more impressive to Oxford admissions tutors than those who do not. Podcasts such as ‘ The Engineering Commons ’, or those produced by the University of Oxford itself are useful for students. Additionally, reading research, such as that from ‘Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal’ could act as a talking point at an interview.
4. Proofread & read aloud your work
Once you’re happy with the content of your engineering Oxford personal statement draft, check it, check it and check it again! Certain people such as a current Oxford student, a teacher of Engineering, or an Engineering student would be useful in proofreading your work as a fresh pair of eyes can pick up improvements that you may have glossed over.
5. What makes you suitable
In your engineering personal statement Oxford tutors will also be looking for what qualities you possess that means they should grant you a place on an Oxford Engineering course. Think back to any relevant skills or experience you have undertaken on placements and link these to your future career. Relevant skills would include problem-solving and teamwork, as well as more.
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Top 5 things to AVOID for your Oxford Engineering Personal Statement
1. writing a list of achievements.
Avoid listing things for the sake of it. Make sure each point in your Oxford Engineering personal statement is relevant and backed up by evidence. Expand on statements in order to explain why you’re an ideal candidate. It will look more impressive if you are able to reflect on your experience because it will show that you have learnt and understood a little of the Engineering speciality.
2. Write anything that isn’t true
Don’t exaggerate. You may be asked to provide evidence of your stated achievements, or if you are interviewed you may be asked detailed questions about things you’ve mentioned. It will reflect badly on you if you are asked questions about an event that didn’t happen, so don’t exaggerate for the sake of trying to impress the Oxford admissions tutors.
3. Copying other people’s personal statements
Don’t plagiarise. Do not copy someone else’s UCAS personal statement or use something you have found on the internet. UCAS uses software to check every personal statement for plagiarism. Not only will this reflect badly on you, but it won’t sell your personal statement as being authentic.
4. Not reflecting on or justifying your point
Write succinctly and explain points without repeating yourself. Don’t tell the admissions tutor what they already know – instead, expand on how you’ve acquired certain skills and why they’re important. Remember, quality is always better than quantity- it’s better to expand on a few points than to list every point you can without going into detail.
5. Don’t sound unprofessional
Steer clear of slang, clichés and quotes. It will sound repetitive to Admissions Tutors to hear about how students are “passionate” about their subject or that they have a “thirst for knowledge”. Write about your personal experience with your Engineering journey, and allow the Admissions Tutor to do the rest.
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Successful Personal Statement For Engineering At Oxford
Last Updated: 3rd August 2020
Author: Adi Sen
- Engineering
Table of Contents
Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it.
Today, we are looking through an Engineering applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Engineering Course at Oxford is based on a unified course in Engineering Science, which integrates study of the subject across the traditional boundaries of engineering disciplines.
Read on to see how this candidate managed to navigate the many disciplines of Engineering.
Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:
SUCCESSFUL?
The universities this candidate applied to were the following:
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With our Oxbridge Engineering Premium Programme, your tutor will give you regular actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.
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Engineering Personal Statement
I have always considered myself creative; much of my youth was spent designing and building with my Dad in his workshop. I would read encyclopaedias on cars and watch design-related TV programmes such as BBC’s Robot Wars, analysing the strengths and weaknesses of each robot and thinking about how they could be improved. This background, combined with a genuine enjoyment of mathematics and physics, has given me a desire to read engineering at university.
Reading Marcus du Sautoy’s “The Music of the Primes” and Simon Singh’s “Fermat’s Last Theorem” has shown how individuals have dedicated their lives to solving seemingly simple problems. The main attraction of these books and mathematics more widely, is problem solving, which is also what draws me to engineering. Solving a wide variety of problems is something I really enjoy; in the most recent UKMT Senior Maths Challenge, I was awarded a gold certificate, also the best score in my year at school.
Studying physics at A-Level has helped me to understand the world, and answered questions I had as a child; why does a satellite stay in orbit? How does gravity work? Why does a clock pendulum keep in time? My favourite aspect of physics is mechanics, complemented by my maths mechanics modules. The application of physics and mechanics to engineering was obvious from the outset; it is a fundamental skill set which bridges the gap between science and invention. I also enjoy studying Further Pure Mathematics, in particular calculus, and am interested in how the solutions of second order differential equations apply to problems in mechanics.
Projects including designing and making a desk lamp, a torch and bench vice grips in GCSE Engineering gave me an initial insight into the discipline. The course gave me hands on experience with equipment typical of an engineering department. Considering the benefits of materials was important too; from an economic, aesthetic, and practical perspective. I also secured work experience at a BMW Mini Plant in the ‘Whole Vehicle Analysis’, section. One project involved heating up a Mini’s bonnet to address complaints from customers in hot countries that the bonnet scoop sagged. I used CNC measuring equipment and helped to write up one of a series of reports, resulting in an alloy being added to the scoop so it retained its structure. The week introduced me to engineering in the real world, the importance of quality control and precision and the cost of a company’s mistakes.
Aside from my studies, I have always had a musical interest and am working towards grade 7 piano. I completed work experience at the local ‘Yamaha Homeworld’ music shop specialising in top range digital pianos. I am constantly impressed at how a digital piano can look, feel, and respond exactly like a real piano. I like being part of a team and am a keen rugby and cricket player. Being elected as prefect and head boy has further helped me to work well, and get on with others, as well as improving my public speaking. This has been complemented by taking Grade 8 ‘Speaking in Public’ last year, in which I achieved a distinction. I now feel confident talking in front of large groups and being able to communicate my ideas easily. Reading Steven Johnson’s “Where Good Ideas Come From” discussed the theory that “ideas are generated by crowds where connection is more important than protection” and for me this epitomises the importance of team work and communication within engineering.
Ultimately, I would like to play a role in the future of our rapidly developing world; studying engineering at university will not only give me the skills to do this, but will also stimulate my passion for mathematics and science.
For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:
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Good Points Of The Personal Statement
This is an excellent statement.
The student begins with personal reasons as to why they are interested in engineering, and by the end of the introduction, the reader is left in no doubt that the student is absolutely sure they want to pursue engineering at a higher level. The student successfully describes a range of experiences and interests covering several engineering disciplines and keeps the application general enough to be relevant to a general engineering degree. The statement is well-structured with a clear introduction, main body, and end.
Bad Points Of The Personal Statement
Although the student mentions several experiences/interests covering several engineering disciplines, they fall short of naming a specific engineering discipline that captures their interest.
Whilst this is not a requirement, naming a particular field of engineering as capturing one’s interest above other fields would demonstrate a level of decisiveness to the reader. Many universities do not offer general engineering degrees, and it is possible a student who is applying for engineering at Oxford or Cambridge will also make several applications to universities for specific engineering disciplines.
It is important to keep the statement general enough for applications to general engineering courses but also specific enough for applications to individual engineering disciplines. This would have been possible by stating an interest in a particular engineering discipline.
UniAdmissions Overall Score:
This is an excellent statement, one that is well-written and well-structured. The student’s motivation to study engineering is clear, although the student falls short of naming a specific field of engineering which capture’s their interest above all others.
Because of this one negative, we’re awarding this statement 4/5 stars. However, it’s important to note this rating is based on the overall strength of the statement. Although it had potential to be a little stronger, this had no impact on the number of offers the candidate received.
And there we have it – an Oxford Engineering Personal Statement with feedback from our expert tutors.
Remember, at Oxford, the Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.
Check out our Free Personal Statement Resources page for even more successful personal statements and expert guides.
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Sample Personal Statement Mechanical Engineering (USC, Imperial)
by Talha Omer, M.Eng., Cornell Grad
In personal statement samples by field.
An NYU’s senior applied to 7 top Mechanical Engineering grad programs in the US and the UK and got into all but one. He spent nearly a month writing the perfect personal statement that he used to apply to top schools. Variations of this personal statement got accepted to Stanford University, Imperial College London, University of Texas A&M and UCLA. He has graciously shared his personal statement so that prospective applicants can benefit from it.
Sample Personal Statement Mechanical Engineering
I am eager to pursue a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering to deepen my knowledge in engineering design, mechanics, and analysis. My research interests are primarily driven by my life aspirations, dynamic undergraduate experience, and professional mechanical engineering expertise. Given my credentials, I firmly believe that I resonate with core values at [Name of School] and I will make an ideal candidate for this institution.
I cannot agree more with Dorothy Parker’s quote: “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity”, as I have always been a curious soul and things that pique my interest stays with me forever. I remember the first time I watched a dense network of nuts and bolts in my dad’s car engine. I could not look away. The tiny moving objects aroused an unquenchable curiosity in me. Logically, I entered college as a major in sciences, eyes widened by the boundless world of science I had just begun to get to know.
I did my undergraduate in mechanical engineering, where I was engaged in research about combustion, machine design, mechanics of materials and computer-aided engineering. Through this coursework, I developed a basic understanding of a breadth of theoretical areas of mechanical engineering and their socioeconomic applications. However, what I enjoyed most about being a mechanical engineer was developing my ideas through coursework and discussing them with my peers outside the classroom.
Outside the classroom, my advocacy for innovative ideas was well rewarded when the Student Section Enterprise Team (SSET) in ASME International, based in New York, elected me as the Student Regional Chair (SRC) – a prized position among mechanical engineers’ community all around the globe. So naturally, I was also the Chairperson for my own Campus’s ASME chapter, which I had laid the ground for in my sophomore year. I was elated to know that ASME International and my department showed trust in me, which I fulfilled in its true spirit. As a chairperson, I managed high-powered university-level competitions and conferences to induce collective synergies of mechanical engineers from all over the country. I also took the self-initiative of developing my juniors’ interpersonal skills and arranged several professional development competitions.
Based on my performance in class and leadership abilities as an ASME chair, I was selected by my university to work with the national defence authorities in designing a mechanically simple yet multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle for my final year project. I was mainly selected because I had a firm grip over software packages involving calibrations and simulations.
The simple thought of working for the defence authorities excited me as it was an honour to work on such a classified project.
This assignment was my first formal parametric study in mechanical engineering, which was a thorough scientific investigation. As I became proficient in many programs and databases, notably through these packages, the calibrations I proposed for the vehicle were well received by my professors. Later, the defence authorities developed an actual model on those parameters. My final year project was the catalyst that sparked a passion for studying vehicles and vehicle designs, and I actively looked for careers in top automobile firms in my country.
I found an ideal opportunity to start my career as a management trainee in the Development and Quality Assurance Department at Tesla Inc. During my brief stint of three months at Tesla Inc., I was introduced to the vast world of manufacturing techniques employed in the automotive sector. As a trainee engineer, I optimized methods to get the least number of defective parts per million. The more I was involved in optimization, the more I developed a desire to understand design mechanics, which could be engineered to reduce energy consumption. As luck would have it, during one of the events organized by ASME, I was a keynote speaker at a panel involving energy consumption. In the same panel, the CEO of Chevron Corporation took notice of my ideas. After the event, he encouraged me to work at Chevron and work on my proposed fluid design and mechanics ideas to reduce energy consumption.
It was an honor to be offered a job at Chevron, which I duly accepted. As an associate manager for the past 18 months at Chevron, I’ve developed a dynamic skill set around supply chain, projects and maintenance departments. Through my work in these departments, I have honed my data analytics and the ability to draw meaningful inferences from raw data. I have also become adept at management related to engineering practices. I have strived to increase my knowledge base at Chevron by constantly exploring Maintenance & Operation manuals. Through these manuals, I have bolstered my knowledge of Turbo-machinery, Engineering Materials, Machine Design and Fluid Mechanics.
Although my professional trajectory is burgeoning, while working hand to hand with the Engineering Design department, I strongly resonated with celebrated sportscaster Vin Scully when he famously said: “Good is not good enough when better is expected.” I felt that although my four-year undergraduate coursework provided a baseline theoretical knowledge, I needed to hone my learning and practical exposure to further my passion in the area. During my work with this department, I was commissioning a new gas processing facility and felt way behind in design and problem-solving scenarios. I particularly struggled with interpreting compressor and prime mover big data. I realized that if I had a more advanced knowledge base in mechanical design and engineering information modelling, I would have been able to give better theoretically sound solutions and help with process optimization. Given these technical handicaps, I strongly feel the need to upgrade my current knowledge base through a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
While searching for programs that match my research interests and professional experience, the Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from [Name of School] tops my list for its numerous attractions. Firstly, the prospects of studying at [Name of School] are fascinating because of its location in California, the hub of tech-based research in the U.S., like driverless vehicles etc., and numerous opportunities for internships in world-leading firms. Secondly, [Name of School] satiates my desire to study in schools with top-notch faculty specializing in areas where I want to further my research. I am particularly excited about working with Ivan Bermejo Moreno and Julian A. Domaradzki on crucial research areas such as computational fluid mechanics and high-performance computing.
Thirdly, by taking courses related to engineering analysis and engineering design modules at [Name of School] , I am looking forward to gleaning more information on methods of Finite Element Analysis coupled with Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics. I want to learn more about mechanical system design concerning tribology. Ideally, I would like to further my current tribological research of skid vehicles by calibrating it to be adaptive to the implications of environmental, cost and safety issues.
Lastly, having been a chairperson of an elite group of mechanical engineers, I am looking forward to enhancing my leadership capabilities. I genuinely believe that [Name of School] student-led design teams make this program stand out among other programs as they are an ideal platform where I can test and enhance the capabilities of my prototype vehicle and put it for wide-scale use. I am confident that the above-outlined graduate degree plan and vibrant opportunities at [Name of School] will accelerate my career growth after my master’s degree.
After completing my master’s program, I want to start my career as a mechanical design engineer in a top engineering design company such as Stantec. As a design engineer, I want to work on different global projects and provide design engineering solutions to a portfolio of industries for their needs. Various projects for other industries would give me new challenges each time and thus help me gain experience to evolve my skills. Leading design firms worldwide will help me get up-to-date with the latest tools with their training programs focusing on continuous professional development. I am confident that [Name of School] brand image, dynamic coursework grounded in its state-of-the-art research facilities and renowned faculty will be an ideal conduit for achieving my career goals. I will continue to work in the field of mechanical engineering with the same curiosity that was sparked in me when I first saw the engine parts of my dad’s car.
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University of Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement Writing Tips
Engineering Oxbridge Personal Statement
Last updated: 13 October 2023
Your University of Cambridge engineering personal statement is your chance to shine, to show your passion for engineering, and to demonstrate why you're the ideal candidate. In this article, we'll provide you with a comprehensive guide, offering more in-depth insights into creating a standout Cambridge Engineering personal statement.
Before you apply
To get into Cambridge's engineering MEng programme, you should be a candidate with a solid foundation in engineering principles who can showcase their abilities both academically and passionately. Research Cambridge's achievements in engineering and mention them to show your interest. Learn more about key dos and don't and contact SI-UK today to begin your application.
Contact SI-UK about your application
Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement
Five recommendations, 1. reflect on experiences.
Listing your experiences is just the beginning; you must also reflect on them. Explain how each experience nurtured your interest in engineering or equipped you with valuable skills.
Let's say you were part of a high school engineering club where you built a working model of a renewable energy system. Don't stop at merely stating the achievement. Reflect on how this experience deepened your passion for engineering, what challenges you encountered during the project, and how you overcame them.
2. Emphasise your passion
Your personal statement should exude your passion for engineering. It's not enough to say you're interested; you must explain why. Start by reflecting on what specifically draws you to engineering. Is it the prospect of designing innovative solutions to real-world problems? Is it the fascination with how technology shapes our lives? Is there a particular aspect of engineering, such as civil, electrical, or mechanical, that enthrals you?
Share personal experiences or moments that ignited your interest. Maybe you participated in a robotics competition that opened your eyes to the endless possibilities of automation. A visit to an engineering firm inspired you with its cutting-edge projects.
3. Showcase relevant qualities
Cambridge seeks students who are a perfect fit for their engineering course. To stand out, you must demonstrate that you possess qualities, skills, or traits that align with this ideal.
For instance, engineering demands strong analytical skills. To prove you possess these skills, mention creative problem-solving competitions you've participated in and won. Share anecdotes of how your analytical thinking helped you tackle complex challenges.
Another valuable trait in engineering is perseverance. Research projects often involve facing setbacks and challenges. If you've been part of such a project, talk about how you persevered and remained committed despite difficulties. Provide concrete examples of how this experience enhanced your resilience.
4. Demonstrate depth of knowledge
Engineering is a field that demands a strong intellectual foundation. While you don't need to be an expert, your personal statement should convey that you're well-read and intellectually curious about engineering. This demonstrates your readiness for the academic challenges ahead.
One way to do this is by exploring Cambridge Engineering reading lists. These lists are curated by experts and provide valuable insights into the recommended literature for aspiring engineers. They are a goldmine of information and can help you discover key texts that can enhance your understanding of the subject.
Moreover, don't limit yourself to books. Engage with various media formats, such as magazine columns, news articles, podcasts, and documentaries related to engineering. This broadens your knowledge and shows you are comfortable absorbing information from diverse sources.
5. Start early and proofread
A rushed personal statement is unlikely to do justice to your qualifications and aspirations. Begin the process early, allowing ample time for revisions and improvements.
As you revise your statement, consider seeking feedback from seniors, teachers, or friends. They can provide valuable insights and help you identify areas for improvement. Their fresh perspectives can highlight aspects of your personal statement that need clarification or expansion. When enlisting others to review your statement, exercise caution to avoid potential plagiarism issues. It's advisable not to share your statement to prevent any complications widely.
Five things to avoid
1. lack of structure.
Your personal statement should have a clear and organised structure. Begin with an engaging introduction that briefly conveys your interest in engineering. This introduction should serve as a hook to capture the reader's attention.
Follow up with well-structured body paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of your interest in engineering or a particular quality or skill you possess. Keep each paragraph focused on one major theme to maintain clarity and coherence. Conclude your personal statement by summarising the key takeaways you want the admissions tutors to remember. This final section should leave a lasting impression and reinforce your passion and qualifications.
2. Misguided understanding
Conduct thorough research into Cambridge's engineering course; delve into the curriculum, faculty expertise, and unique aspects of the programme. Mention specific aspects of the course that intrigue you. This demonstrates that you've invested time and effort into understanding what Cambridge offers and why it's your top choice for engineering.
3. Complex language
While a rich vocabulary can enhance your writing, avoid excessive use of complex language. Prioritise clarity and readability above all else. If you encounter an unfamiliar word, opt for a simpler, more accessible explanation. The main goal of your personal statement is to convey your thoughts and ideas to the admissions tutors effectively.
Cambridge itself emphasises the use of clear, plain English in personal statements. This means that clarity and coherence are highly valued.
4. Sweeping statements
Steer clear of vague, sweeping statements that lack substance. For example, stating that you're a great analytical thinker sounds promising but adds zero value if you don't provide evidence or context. Instead of making broad claims, focus on specific instances where you've demonstrated these qualities. Share concrete examples, such as your participation in analytical competitions or real-world scenarios where your analytical thinking made a difference.
5. Unrealistic reflections
Reflection is key to a great personal statement, but it should be authentic and realistic. Avoid attempting to convey too many ideas from a single experience. Each experience should emphasise one key quality or lesson learned.
For instance, if you discuss your participation in a national debate competition, focus on how it improved your public speaking and critical thinking skills. Attributing multiple qualities to a single experience can dilute your message and make your personal statement less effective.
Crafting Your Cambridge Engineering Personal Statement
Crafting a compelling Cambridge engineering personal statement is no small feat, but it's vital in securing a place at one of the world's most renowned engineering programmes. Keep these tips in mind as you write and revise your statement, and remember that your personal story and passion for engineering are what will set you apart from the rest of the applicants.
Cambridge Engineering FAQ
Can i send the same personal statement to multiple universities.
Yes, you can use the same personal statement for different universities when applying through UCAS, but it's a good idea to tailor parts of it to each university's course or requirements to make it more relevant.
What A-level is best for engineering at Cambridge?
Taking A-levels in subjects like mathematics and physics is often recommended for engineering at Cambridge. These subjects provide a strong foundation for engineering studies.
Why do people want to study at Cambridge?
People want to study at Cambridge because it's one of the world's top universities known for its high-quality education, expert professors, and access to cutting-edge research. It offers a prestigious learning environment and great opportunities.
Is Cambridge a good engineering school?
Cambridge is considered one of the best engineering schools globally. It has a strong reputation for its engineering programmes, excellent faculty, and research facilities, making it a top choice for engineering students.
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- Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Examples
Find three examples of Mechanical Engineering personal statements that you can use as inspiration when writing your own.
These Mechanical Engineering personal statement examples will provide you with insight into what makes a great statement and how to make your UCAS application better.
Whether you’re a secondary school student applying to a mechanical engineering programme or a postgraduate applicant, we hope these examples will help you write a good personal statement that showcases your skills and passion for the field.
Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example
As a child, I always had an insatiable curiosity about how things worked. I would spend hours taking apart household items, trying to decipher the mechanics behind them. This early fascination with the inner workings of machines has continued to shape my academic pursuits and my personal interests.
Currently studying mathematics and physics, I am constantly intrigued by how these subjects can be used to solve real-life problems. The theoretical aspects of these subjects certainly interest me, but it is their practical applications that truly capture my attention. I am particularly drawn to the field of mechanical engineering, as it allows me to apply my problem-solving skills to real-world situations and phenomena.
My love for mechanics began at a young age, as I dismantled household goods in an attempt to understand how they worked. As I grew older, I became involved in repairing mini motorbikes, which I eventually became bored with due to their simplicity. Seeking out more complicated challenges, I began designing and building a large-scale, remote-controlled quad bike with a 49cc engine. This project has been a complex and highly rewarding challenge, allowing me to develop my practical design and engineering skills.
In recent years, my interest in mechanical engineering has matured into a desire to pursue it as a career. Reading books such as ‘Invention by Design: How Engineers Get from Thought to Thing’ and ‘The New Science of Strong Materials: Or Why You Don’t Fall Through the Floor’ has given me an insight into the challenges faced by engineers when they design everyday objects. I am now committed to completing a degree in mechanical engineering and following a career in the field.
I am a resourceful and enterprising person who relishes a challenge, and these aspects of my character have been honed through my involvement in mechanical engineering and my part-time online business. Running a business has taught me to deal with problems and work efficiently and independently, skills that will undoubtedly serve me well in my future career.
In addition to my passion for mechanics, I enjoy designing and programming remote-controlled models, going open-water scuba-diving, mountain biking, and flying 3D aerobatics with a model helicopter. These pursuits reflect my love for creativity, adventure, and innovation.
I believe that my passion for mechanics and engineering, coupled with my strong work ethic and creative mindset, make me an ideal candidate for a degree in mechanical engineering. I am excited about the opportunity to further develop my skills and knowledge in this field and to contribute to the innovative and dynamic world of engineering.
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Best Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example
I was fascinated with building things and watching engineering shows on TV. From there, I chose A-Level subjects that would equip me with the necessary skills to pursue a degree in engineering. With interests spanning from biology to philosophy, and from art to technology, I saw engineering as a discipline that could satisfy and further develop my interests.
During my A-Levels, I studied Maths and Physics, which helped me to refine my problem-solving skills while increasing my theoretical knowledge. I am particularly interested in how maths reveals parallels between separate branches of physics. This has further solidified my decision to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering .
My first experience with engineering work was during a Christmas holiday, when I worked in a cycle shop, dealing with assembly, maintenance, and repair. This whetted my appetite for more. Every weekend since November 2003, I have worked in the warehouse at a Comet store, where one of my responsibilities is to deal with returned products. Working with faulty electrical goods has shown me first-hand the opportunities for improvement that exist across the field.
After finishing my GCSEs, I participated in a 12-week training placement at Chromogenex, a local medical engineering firm. I was fascinated by the experience and accepted an offer of employment with the company until I started college. My work at Chromogenex was varied, including production and service, and I was given significant quality control duties. One of my most interesting responsibilities was to write the Work Instructions and Procedures that production and service engineers will refer to as guidance to ensure that all products are of the highest standard.
In October 2008, I took a week’s work placement at Rhos Designs, a design engineering firm whose main client is 3M. I enjoyed the CAD work and the chance to take part in real projects, which will soon be put to use at 3M’s various sites across Britain.
One of my favourite hobbies is using CAD for my projects, which recently included drawing up a design for a competition in which I participated. The competition involved planning and designing a homemade potato launcher within a tight budget and deadline. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and am already working on my next design!
In 2007, I was part of a four-person team working on a project on the EESW scheme run by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The project was an exciting task set by Corus at Trostre Tinplate Works. We were asked to design and build a solution to the problem of split edges in the cold rolling line. Our solution was effective and economical, and if adopted by Corus, could save the company thousands of pounds per hour, as the line would no longer need to be stopped to carry out emergency repairs. We designed and built a prototype solution, and a mock-up of Trostre’s SCADA system to demonstrate the solution’s potential. Our project received a prize for ‘Most effective use of IT’ at the Welsh National Convention of Excellence in Engineering.
Before starting my degree course, I intend to enrol in the YinI scheme, which should give me an in-depth experience of engineering work and help ground my subsequent studies.
Personal Statement for Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering has always been my dream career, and my experiences have only further cemented my desire to pursue this field. I have always been fascinated by the intricacies of machines, and how seemingly simple components can come together to create complex systems. My passion for cars has been a driving force behind my academic pursuits and professional experiences, and I am eager to take this passion to the next level by studying mechanical engineering at university.
Throughout my A Levels in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, I was consistently drawn to the areas of study that related to mechanics. I was particularly interested in how mathematical concepts could be applied to real-world problems, and how physics principles could be used to explain the behaviour of machines. I found that my love of cars provided me with a unique perspective on these subjects, as I was able to see firsthand how these principles were applied in the automotive industry.
My work experience in mechanical engineering has further solidified my desire to pursue this field. During my placement at a contractor’s sister company, I was exposed to the world of mechanical maintenance and discovered the possibilities of a career in engineering. I was able to witness firsthand how skilled technicians were able to diagnose and repair complex machinery, and I was inspired by their dedication to their craft. My subsequent work placement at a car maintenance company was equally rewarding, as I was able to observe and assist in the basic engineering of cars. This experience gave me a deeper understanding of the inner workings of machines and reinforced my passion for mechanical engineering.
As I prepare to embark on my university studies, I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. I am eager to explore new areas of mechanical engineering and gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles that underlie the machines that we use every day. I am particularly interested in the areas of materials science and robotics, and I look forward to learning about how these fields are shaping the future of mechanical engineering.
In addition to my academic pursuits, I am committed to being an active member of the engineering community. I am excited to join engineering clubs and organizations on campus and to participate in hands-on projects that allow me to apply the skills and knowledge that I will acquire in my coursework. I am also eager to contribute to the field of mechanical engineering through research and innovation, and I hope to one day make meaningful contributions to the industry.
In summary, my love of cars and science has led me to pursue a career in mechanical engineering. My academic and professional experiences have prepared me well for the challenges that lie ahead, and I am excited about the opportunities that studying mechanical engineering at university will provide. I am committed to being an active member of the engineering community, and I am eager to make meaningful contributions to the field of mechanical engineering in the years to come.
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Statement of Purpose for Graduate School
Criteria for success.
- qualified for their program, and
- a good fit for their program’s focus and goals.
- You show a select group of skills and experiences that concisely convey your scientific accomplishments and interests.
- Your experiences are concrete and quantitative .
- Your personal statement is no more than 2 pages (less if you can, or if it is required by the school).
Structure Diagram
The graduate school Personal Statement (≈ Statement of Purpose ≈ Statement of Intent) is a document that complements your resume and application form, describing your profile in a narrative way and convincing the admission committee that you would be a good match for a particular department or program. Take into account that matching goes both ways: they should be interested in you, and you should be interested in them. Your personal statement should make this match clear.
Analyze Your Audience
Your personal statement will be read by a graduate committee – a handful of faculty from the program. They’re trying to determine if you will be a successful graduate student in their department and a successful scientist after you graduate. They are interested in your qualifications as a researcher, your career goals, and how your personality matches their labs and department.
The graduate committee probably reads hundreds of applications every year. To make it easy for them to figure out that you are a good fit, keep in mind the following suggestions:
- Make direct, concrete statements about your accomplishments and qualifications.
- Create a narrative that serves as a personal brand and helps them remember you.
- Give them some unique examples that describe you and make you stand out, and which will make them remember you as “that candidate that was so passionate about…” or “who has a lot of experience in…”, although they might not remember your name.
- Align your academic goals and motivations with specific research projects or research directions of the target department.
Assessing your match to the target program
A key point on writing your Personal Statement is to demonstrate that you have done previous research about the program to which you’re applying, that you understand its characteristics and objectives, and that you are really interested in joining it and willing to do your best to be successful in it. To do this:
- Read the program’s website. Learn about its faculty members and the projects they are working on. Check what topics and high level goals the department is committed to. Identify the main research areas.
- Get in contact with faculty and students in your target program. Browse recent publications and presentations but remember lab websites can be outdated and a publication may lag a few years behind the active research in a lab so pay attention to the motivation, direction, and methods of the faculty member over specific results. If you have had a positive discussion with someone at the department, you can include in your essay how those interactions confirmed that you would be a good match for the program.
Reflect before you start
To convince a graduate committee that you are ready for and excited about graduate school, first you need to be able to articulate this to yourself. Earnestly reflect on the following types of questions. A lack of authenticity is easy to detect.
- Why do I want to go to graduate school?
- How am I sure?
- Why will I be successful in graduate school?
- What can I do with the help of this degree that I couldn’t do before?
- Where do I want to be in a few years?
- How am I going to get there?
Create a personal narrative
Graduate programs invest in the professional and scientific growth of their students. Get the committee excited about investing in you by opening your essay with a brief portrait of what drives you as a scientist. What research directions are you passionate about, and why? What do you picture yourself doing in 10 years?
- E.g. “Graduate study is the first step towards my goal: I want to improve my ability as a researcher and gain more technical depth and breadth to maximize my impact. In the long term, I hope graduate school will better position me to be a leader in shaping the conversation about what problems can be addressed by mechanical engineers.”
Close your essay with a 2-3 sentence discussion of your long-term career interests. No one will hold you to this; this just helps your committee visualize your potential trajectory.
- E.g. “Above all else, a MIT PhD would help me achieve my long term career goal of becoming a professor, the position in which I can best see myself accomplishing my mission to show others the hidden beauty in everyday life through science.”
Connect your personal narrative to whichever degree you are applying to (be it research-based or course-work-based, or a Master of Science, Master of Engineering, or PhD). Especially in mechanical engineering, each of these degrees will enable different career trajectories and provide different educational opportunities. Articulate clearly why the degree you are applying for helps you achieve your goals. In the same vein, consider mutual benefit: what will you contribute to the academic community over your time at your target school? Remember, it all comes back to “qualified match” , no matter what level of degree you are applying for.
Describe your experiences
Experiences are the “what” of your essay. They are the most efficient and easiest way to prove your capabilities to the admissions committee.
- What experiences led you to develop your skill set and passions ?
- Where have you demonstrated accomplishment, leadership, and collaboration?
- Show your depth with a range of experiences: research, teaching, relevant extracurriculars and leadership positions.
- State concrete achievements and outcomes like awards, discoveries, or publications, or projects completed.
Achievements need not be limited to research projects or publications. Think about all the experiences that demonstrate your ability to conduct research and succeed within the structure of your target program. (Where have you demonstrated creativity? Self sufficiency? Perseverance? What open ended problems have you tackled? What enabled you to succeed at them?)
Quantify your experiences to show concrete impact. How many people were on your team? How many protocols did you develop? How many people were in competition for an award? As a TA, how often did you meet with your students?
As a senior, I received an A in a graduate-level Structure Mechanics course. | My interest in structural analysis led me to take advanced coursework to learn more about steel structures. At the graduate-level Structural Mechanics course, I learned about joints design which boosted my interest in… |
During my third year, I worked on a project for my Hydrology class that made me get interested in numerical modelling. | During my third year, I had the chance to conduct a research-oriented class project about the hydrology of the Mississippi river and the impact of global warming in its regime. In this project, I ran a hydrological numerical model using the open source software … While working on this project, I was faced with the difficulty of getting updated topographic data of the study area. I managed to overcome this issue by… |
I volunteered for the Campus Preview Weekend for the last three years. At this position, I demonstrated my leadership and management skills. | Committed to being a great ambassador of our residence hall, I volunteered for the Campus Preview Weekend for the last three years, scheduling events within our dorm, then welcoming the prospective students as they arrived and directing them and their parents around campus to the activities we had planned. This experience allowed me to gain training on dealing with time constraints and a large group of people. Last year, for example…. |
For each experience you include, focus on how the experience affected you. Describe your actions, and always direct the message to highlighting your performance and growth (not how important the company was or how well-known the professor you TAed for is). Remember, it is not an essay about science, it is a personal essay—about you and how you have positioned yourself to succeed in graduate school.
Explain the meaning of your experiences
![good engineering personal statements Meaning of Experiences](https://mitcommlab.mit.edu/meche/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/11/Meaning-of-Experiences.png)
Your goal in sharing your experiences is to demonstrate that you have the qualifications, qualities, and drive needed to succeed in graduate school. Therefore, you will need to not only choose experiences wisely but also state specifically what they mean within the context of your application.
- Why was this experience important to your growth as a scientist?
- What did you gain from or demonstrate during that experience?
- How will this make you a better grad student?
Even if it feels obvious to you, you need to explicitly answer these questions to your audience. Here are some examples experiences that have been expanded to contain meaning:
“As a senior, I received an A in a graduate-level CFD course.” | “My advanced coursework demonstrates my ability to thrive in a challenging academic environment. A graduate-level computational fluid dynamics course challenged me to…” |
“I independently developed a digital data acquisition software for gamma spectroscopy.” | “My research experiences have developed my problem-solving abilities. When the commercial software was insufficient for my gamma spectroscopy project, I … This has given me the confidence and software skills to attack open-ended research problems.” |
Contemplate how disparate activities can be unified into a common narrative about your motivations and achievements. Articulate this clearly to make your statement cohesive.
![good engineering personal statements disparate activities example](https://mitcommlab.mit.edu/meche/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2021/11/unnamed-1.png)
Demonstrate your match to the target program
Using the research you did to assess your chosen programs, clearly articulate why you are a match . Consider both directions of the match: not only why you want to go to the school, but also why you would fit in well and contribute to the program.
State which professors in the program you would be interested in working with. Demonstrate that you have done your homework regarding the program. Show how their research areas align with your background and your goals. If you have had conversations with students or professors in the program, be sure to include that as well.
Common Pitfalls
Write about you , not your role models. One of the most common pitfalls we see in the Comm Lab is students writing touching Personal Statements about family members or role models who have inspired them. There is nothing wrong with including personal stories about people who have helped you understand yourself better, or positioned you to succeed in graduate school, but it is important to tread very carefully. Don’t leave the reader wondering why they are reading about someone else in a document that is meant to be about you. If you take time to talk about someone who positively affected you, make sure to be very clear about how that experience with that person molded you into a strong graduate school candidate.
Be judicious with childhood stories. A brief mention of some childhood experience that shaped your interests in STEM is probably okay, but if you talk about it at length (more than ~2 sentences), you are taking up space that should probably be used to talk about who you are today, not who you were over a decade ago.
Don’t simply restate your resume. Your Personal Statement should be a technical document (having evidence, numbers, and supporting facts) with personal outcomes (talking about your motivations, ambitions, and ability to succeed as a graduate student). Of course, you will reiterate parts of your resume in your Personal Statement , but what uniquely makes it a “Personal Statement” is the discussion of how those professional experiences affected you , as a researcher and person well-suited to the graduate program at X University.
Insufficient quantification of your experiences. We are all scientists and engineers; our line of work is inherently quantitative. Quantification is a quick and easy way to add context, lend credence to your experiences, and impress the reader. Even little quantifications can help: “I spent two semesters working on a project about…” is much better than “I spent some time working on a project about…”. See more examples in the section on Experiences, above.
Being a great student and having an impressive resume is only half the battle when it comes to graduate school applications. You need to be able to communicate and convince the committee that your personality and particular set of skills and experiences are well-suited to the graduate program you are applying for. This extends beyond graduate school applications: as scientists and engineers, we write papers and technical reports to communicate with our peers and convince them that our work is meaningful.
By reading this article, you have recognized the value of communication and are well on your way to crafting an effective and powerful Personal Statement. This is your opportunity to make yourself shine among all the other candidates, so make it count! You can do it!
Acknowledgements : This content was adapted from the NSE and CEE Communication Labs’ CommKits for graduate applications.
Resources and Annotated Examples
Annotated example 1, annotated example 2.
Imperial College London Imperial College London
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- Dyson School of Design Engineering
- Faculty of Engineering
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10 Do's and Don'ts of Personal Statements
Personal Statements are, by definition, personal. There is no one 'perfect' personal statement, and for a subject like Design Engineering, which covers a wide range of topics and skills, we are looking for a wide range of experiences and interests in our applicants. However, there are some common pitfalls, and we have created these tips to help you avoid them and use your personal statement to show off your best self.
Please note, these tips are specifically for applicants applying to study Design Engineering at Imperial College London. Some of them might be useful for other personal statements but some of them are very specific to our course.
5 Things to do:
1. start with your proudest achievement.
Many people view personal statements as the story of their lives and tell that story in chronological order. This means their first paragraph is about a Year 6 project using lollipop sticks and they wait until the last paragraph to mention the two-headed animatronic dragon that they're building in their spare time. We assess more than 600 personal statements each year - putting your most impressive achievements in the first paragraph means that your application stands out straight away. If you're not sure how to start your Personal Statement, just complete this sentence - 'The thing I am most proud to have created is...'
2. Provide specific examples with details
It is always better to provide specific examples and go into enough detail to demonstrate that you understand what you are talking about. For instance, just saying 'I'm interested in coding' doesn't tell us anything other than that you know coding will be on the course. Citing the specific coding languages you have been learning and how you have used them will tell us that you're interested in coding and that you've applied that interest to learn and build with your new skills.
3. Sometimes, less is more
Don't worry about listing everything you've ever created. You have limited space and sometimes it's better to show depth and understanding of one project than list everything you've ever tinkered with. If you've been working on lots of things, pick the one that's most interesting to you, or that you're proudest of, and dedicate a few paragraphs to exploring that project. You can always add a short sentence explaining that this is one of many projects you've worked on.
You will have probably noticed in the first three tips that we talk a lot about building, creating and projects. That's because we are a very hands-on course. From the very first term, you will be designing, drawing, and building. Every year you will work in teams or on your own to develop multiple projects from brief to prototype. Creating things now helps prepare you for this course. Writing about the things you have created in your personal statement shows us that you have done this preparation work.
5. Include your hobbies
Design Engineering looks for people with technical knowledge and creativity. Quite often creative activities are less formally regulated than the technical side of things. Tell us about your web comics, your indie bands, and your handbag designs. Creativity comes in many forms and just because you haven't been tested on something in a school environment, that doesn't mean you don't learn a lot from it.
5 Things to avoid:
1. don't worry about formal work experience.
Both Design and Engineering are areas where it can be very hard to get work experience when you are under 18. Often you need to know someone who already works in the field or at the very least, you need to live near one of the companies that offer placements. Obviously if you get the chance to get some work experience, grab it with both hands, but if you don’t get that chance, don’t worry! We do not expect our applicants to have had design or engineering work experience. Making something in your own bedroom out of whatever you have available is just as useful, if not more so.
2. Leave out your family history tell us about yourself , not the people around you
If your parents or wider family work in engineering or design, it can be tempting to tell us about it in your Personal Statement. Afterall, they are probably strong influences on your choice of course so it’s easy to think that this might be relevant. However, every word you spend writing about your family’s history and experiences is a word that you’re not using to tell us about your own achievements, plans and passions. We want to know what makes you a suitable candidate for the programme, so use this opportunity to tell us as much as you can about yourself.
3. Look beyond the classroom - we know what’s on your school curriculum
If you are taking an ‘obviously relevant’ school subject (see our FAQs here for a list), we have already taken into account your chosen subjects and predicted grades. What we are looking for in your Personal Statement is interest and application of technical and creative skills beyond your school syllabus. Don’t waste too much of the precious word count telling us how good the chair you’re building in A Level Design Technology is - that’s what your A Level assessments are for. Instead, use this space to tell us about your designs, builds and experiments outside of school hours.
Of course, if you have created something particularly outstanding in school that demonstrates skills and techniques that you have learned in your own time, we want to hear about it. Likewise, if you are studying ‘non-obvious’ subjects but still using creative or technical skills in those subjects, please tell us everything. Perhaps for your History coursework, you data modelled birth and death rates in England after the Black Death, or maybe you designed and 3D printed props for your Media Studies A Level - if so, your Personal Statement is absolutely the place to tell us about it.
4. Keep it relevant
Your Personal Statement should focus specifically on two key points:
1. Why you want to do the course you’ve applied to
2. Why you will succeed on the course you’ve applied to
We are assessing you not on your whole life experience, but specifically on your interest and readiness to study Design Engineering at one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
5. Don’t fear failure
If you have a project or experiment that you ran and it all went wrong (the wheels literally fell off or the resulting data was both unexpected and unexplainable), that is totally ok! You can still write about the project in your Personal Statement because failure is a very valuable data point. You learn by failing. When discussing a project, you don’t need to focus only on what went well; embrace what went wrong and demonstrate what you learned from the experience. Failure is a very normal part of any process - do not fear it.
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Personal Statement for Engineering: Examples and Advice
In this article, we look at how to write a personal statement for engineering courses with examples and advice.
A roller coaster helped one student to decide to specialise in engineering, and her experience in coaching younger students helped her application.
Why did a student volunteering in Mississippi decide to study structural engineering? How much of your family history should you add in? Keep reading for useful tips and great examples.
Table of Contents
What is a personal statement for engineering, how to write an engineering personal statement, engineering personal statement example 1 – structural engineering, engineering personal statement example 2 – general engineering, engineering personal statement example 3 – marine engineering, faq (frequently asked questions), more personal statement tutorials.
It’s an important document used by universities to evaluate a student’s strengths, skills, experience and ambitions.
It is also used to show a student’s enthusiasm for engineering (either in general, or for a specific type such as civil or aeronautical), and what aspects of the subject they enjoy and why.
It is essential for an applicant to craft a 100% unique, yet effective personal statement as it allows universities to make an informed decision on who to admit to their engineering course.
Step 1: Start with your proudest achievement
Volunteering to help construct houses in Mississippi through Habitat for Humanity was a life-changing experience that made me want to become a structural engineer.
Starting with your proudest achievement in your engineering personal statement can help make your application stand out.
By mentioning your most impressive achievements first, the admissions committee will be able to quickly recognize your capabilities, dedication, and skills.
Step 2: Describe your ambitions and experience
In an engineering personal statement, it is important to clearly explain your ambitions and experiences that demonstrate your skills and passion for the field.
A good framework to follow is to first explain your motivation and enthusiasm for the course, and provide examples of any specific knowledge you already have.
Then, outline any relevant experience, insights, interests or achievements you have that relate to engineering, starting with the most impressive.
Step 3: Show evidence of being capable, by describing a project in depth
When writing a personal statement for engineering, it’s important to showcase your capabilities (skills) and qualifications to potential admissions committees or employers. Here are a few tips to help you demonstrate your capabilities in your personal statement:
- Highlight your technical skills: As an engineer, you will need to have a strong foundation in technical skills. Make sure to list the technical skills you possess and provide examples of how you have used them in your past experiences.
- Showcase your academic achievements: Highlight your academic achievements, including your GPA and any awards or honours you have received. This demonstrates that you have a strong academic foundation and are capable of handling challenging coursework.
- Discuss relevant work experience: If you have relevant work experience in engineering, make sure to discuss it in your personal statement. Highlight any projects you have worked on, problems you have solved, or skills you have developed in your previous roles.
- Emphasize your problem-solving skills: Engineers are problem solvers, so make sure to emphasize your ability to analyze and solve problems. Provide examples of how you have approached problems in the past and the steps you took to solve them. These can include time management, teamwork, or leadership
By focusing on one project and exploring it in depth, you can demonstrate your understanding of the subject and show that you are ready and committed to study engineering.
Step 4: Leave out (most of) your family history
Growing up, it was my job to fix anything that broke around the house. My father, a third-generation oil rig supervisor, was often away for months at a time and he taught me resilience and problem-solving along with practical DIY.
Why is it important to leave out (most of) your family history in an engineering personal statement?
The personal statement is an opportunity to tell a university or college about yourself and why you are a suitable candidate for the program.
Every word you spend writing about your family’s history and experiences is a word that you’re not using to tell the university about your own achievements, plans and passions.
Your family’s history and experiences may be influential on your choice of course, but keep it very brief – less than a sentence, to give a bit more context to your achievements, plans and aspirations.
By doing so, you can demonstrate to the university that you have the necessary skills and qualifications to succeed in their program.
Step 5: Include your hobbies
While hobbies may not be directly related to engineering, they can still be included in your personal statement to showcase your personality, interests, and skills.
Here are some tips on how to effectively include hobbies in your engineering personal statement:
- Choose relevant hobbies: Make sure to choose those that are relevant to your engineering career or showcase your technical or problem-solving skills. For example, if you enjoy building and programming robots as a hobby, you could mention this as evidence of your technical skills.
- Explain how your hobbies relate to your engineering goals: For example, if you enjoy designing and building furniture as a hobby, you could mention how this has honed your ability to create complex designs, which could be applicable to engineering projects.
- Showcase your teamwork and leadership skills: If you participate in team sports or volunteer in leadership roles, make sure to mention this in your personal statement.
- Avoid irrelevant or controversial hobbies: I f you enjoy partying or binge-watching TV shows, these hobbies may not be seen as relevant or professional.
Overall, including hobbies in your engineering personal statement can help the panel to get to know you a bit better and showcase your skills and interests beyond your academic achievements and work experience.
Step 6: Edit and proofread your statement
Editing and proofreading your engineering personal statement is an important part of the application process. To ensure your statement is professional and free of errors, follow these tips:
- Read your statement aloud slowly to catch any minor spelling or grammatical errors.
- Ask a friend or colleague to read it for you and provide feedback.
- Analyze your document with an online application to provide suggestions for improvement.
- Have a mentor, professor, or trusted friend look it over before you submit it.
- Make sure you dedicate enough time to the process by planning ahead and leaving time for editing and proofreading.
- Be truthful and concise, and ensure it is 100% unique.
- Avoid including unrelated information, maintain your professionalism, and make it a reflection of yourself.
By following these tips, you can make sure your engineering personal statement is as polished and professional as possible.
Growing up, it was my job to fix anything that broke around the house. My father, a third-generation oil-rig supervisor, was often away for months at a time and he taught me resilience and problem-solving along with practical DIY.
Volunteering to help construct houses in Mississippi through Habitat for Humanity was a life-changing experience. I worked with a group that included veterans being trained in construction skills and volunteers from all over the country. I saw first-hand how important it is to have a safe, well-run construction site and communicate clear expectations to the whole team.
As a result of an incredible team effort, families are able to transition from temporary, unsafe accommodation to having their own homes. I want to combine my love of construction, design and problem-solving in a career that makes a positive difference to people.
Already drawn to civil engineering, my fascination with designing made me want to become a structural engineer, specifically to design buildings. Majoring in structural engineering will allow me to further develop my IT skills by using computer-aided design technology, which I have been fortunate enough to learn to use during an internship with a local company this summer. I am already confident with using the AutoCAD program.
My time-management skills have been honed this year as I have combined volunteering, my internship and working 16 hours a week on a local construction crew to save for college while maintaining a 3.7 GPA. I am confident that I am well able to handle any workload asked of me.
I am highly analytical and can approach a problem from several angles. I am particularly drawn to your structural engineering program because of its reputation for hands-on, practical experience. I am confident that I will be a positive addition to the team and your program will provide me with the skills and experience I need to achieve my dream of becoming an outstanding structural engineer.
I am excited by the prospect of applying fundamental principles to real-world design challenges. Of all things, it was the mechanics of roller coasters, which I learned about in a lecture, that highlighted the practical applications of engineering principles and sparked my interest in pursuing a career in this field.
Studying engineering has always appealed to me because of its heavy reliance on problem-solving and its integration of two of my favourite subjects, Math and Science. The ability to apply logical reasoning to create solutions to complex problems is what attracts me to engineering as well as the huge range of specialisms to choose from further down the road.
My academic background has prepared me well for a degree in engineering. I have excelled in my Math and Science coursework, receiving high grades in all of my relevant subjects. I have also participated in extracurricular activities, such as robotics competitions and science fairs, where I have had the opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills in practical settings while mentoring and coaching younger students.
I am eager to pursue a degree in engineering to further develop my problem-solving skills and gain a deeper understanding of the principles and concepts that underpin this field. I believe that a degree in engineering will enable me to make a positive impact on society by contributing to the design and development of innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, in a field in which women are still under-represented.
In addition to my academic and extracurricular experiences, I bring a strong work ethic, determination, and a passion for learning to my studies. I am confident that my skills, combined with the resources and opportunities provided by your engineering program, will enable me to excel in my studies and make meaningful contributions to the field.
I look forward to the opportunity to pursue a degree in engineering and whether I will be designing roller coasters or factory equipment, I will be making a positive difference in the future and hopefully, inspiring other young women to become engineers.
As an aspiring engineer, I am driven by the opportunity to apply fundamental principles to the design of complex systems. With a fascination for engineering plants and an interest in the sea, I have been drawn to the marine industry as a way to combine my passions with the challenge of problem-solving.
I have chosen a major in marine engineering because it will allow me to further explore the fascinating findings of physics and put my mathematical knowledge into practical application. It is my ambition to work in the submarine design industry and gain Chartered Engineer status, and I believe that pursuing a graduate degree in marine engineering will help me achieve these goals.
Throughout my academic and professional career, I have demonstrated a strong work ethic, determination, and a passion for learning. I have excelled in my coursework and participated in research projects, internships, and other extracurricular activities that have allowed me to apply my knowledge and skills in practical settings.
My own experience in the marine industry has given me a unique perspective on engineering and the challenges of designing complex systems in a dynamic environment. As a mature student, I am excited by the opportunity to further develop my skills and knowledge in a graduate engineering program and to apply these to real-world challenges in my chosen field.
I am particularly drawn to your graduate engineering program because of its reputation for academic excellence and its focus on hands-on, practical experience as well as strong links with the outstanding teams at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyards. I am confident that your program will provide me with the resources and opportunities I need to achieve my goals and make meaningful contributions to the engineering industry.
In conclusion, I am passionate about engineering and am committed to pursuing a career in this field. I am excited about the prospect of joining your graduate engineering program and am eager to continue developing my skills and knowledge in this dynamic and challenging field. Thank you for considering my application.
Some of these questions were already covered in this blog post but I will still list them here (because not everyone carefully reads every paragraph) so here’s the TL;DR version
What are the key components of a personal statement for engineering?
The key components of a personal statement for engineering include:
- expressing your enthusiasm for engineering
- conveying your strengths, skills, experience and ambitions
- being truthful, concise, and authentic
- providing specific examples of your interests, goals, and strengths.
Additionally, you should explain why you want to study engineering at the university level, back up everything with examples, and have a good introduction, middle, and conclusion. Finally, be sure to save time for editing and proofreading the statement.
What qualifications should I include in my personal statement for engineering?
In your engineering personal statement, you should include qualifications that are related to engineering as well as other academic or practical qualifications, such as project management.
What skills should I demonstrate in my personal statement for engineering?
In your personal statement for engineering, you should aim to demonstrate a range of skills that are important for success in this field. Some of the key skills that you may want to highlight include:
- Problem-solving: Engineering is all about solving problems and coming up with creative solutions to complex challenges.
- Technical knowledge: Engineering is a technical field, and it is important to demonstrate that you have a strong foundation in math, science, and other related subjects.
- Communication: Engineering often involves working in teams and communicating complex ideas clearly to a range of stakeholders.
- Creativity: While engineering is a technical field, it also requires a certain level of creativity and innovation. Highlight any projects or activities that have allowed you to demonstrate your creativity or come up with innovative solutions to problems.
- Leadership: As you progress in your engineering career, you may be called upon to lead teams or manage projects. Show that you have leadership potential and are able to work effectively with others.
- Adaptability : Engineering is a dynamic and ever-changing field, and it is important to demonstrate that you are adaptable and can handle uncertainty and change calmly and flexibly.
How should I structure my personal statement for engineering?
Writing a successful engineering personal statement can seem like a daunting task. But by breaking it down into smaller steps, you can make the process much easier. To get started, here are some steps you can take to structure your engineering personal statement:
- Start with an introduction: This should take up about 15-20% of your statement and answer the question “Why do you want to study engineering?” Talk about the experiences that shaped your love of the subject and the things about it that you find interesting.
- Add in body paragraphs: In these paragraphs, address questions such as “What have you done that has prepared you for this course?” “How have you cultivated the knowledge you need to succeed in this field?,” and “Did you receive high marks in the classes relevant to an engineering course?”
- End with a conclusion: Here you’ll sum up your personal statement and bring it to a close. Include any other extracurricular activities that might not be directly related to engineering, but are impressive enough that you want the admissions team to know about them.
What should I do to make my personal statement for engineering stand out?
To make your engineering personal statement stand out, follow these steps:
- Be truthful, concise, and authentic. Avoid plagiarism and cheating.
- Start your statement by explaining why you want to study engineering and which aspects of the field you enjoy.
- Back up everything with examples.
- Write your statement clearly and concisely, with a good introduction, middle, and conclusion.
- Take inspiration from engineering personal statement examples, but make sure yours is unique.
How do I avoid plagiarism in my personal statement for engineering?
In order to ensure that your engineering personal statement is completely original, here are some steps to take to avoid plagiarism:
- Research: Spend some time researching engineering topics and schools before writing your statement. This will help you to get a better understanding of the field and come up with unique points and ideas.
- Brainstorm: Take the time to brainstorm some ideas for your statement before putting your pen to paper. This will help you to come up with unique ideas, rather than using someone else’s.
- Outline: Create an outline for your statement that includes all of the points that you want to make. This will help you to stay organized and make sure that your statement flows naturally.
- Write: Once you have your outline and research, start writing your engineering personal statement. Be sure to use your own words and phrase each sentence the way you would say it.
- Check: Once you have finished your statement, it is important to double-check that all of your words and phrases are unique. Use a plagiarism checker (such as this one) to make sure that there are no similarities to any other statement.
- Proofread: Finally, make sure to dedicate enough time to the editing and proofreading stages after you have finished your first draft. This will help to ensure that there are no errors or mistakes in your statement.
By following these steps, you can be sure that your engineering personal statement is unique and free from plagiarism. Remember to be truthful, concise, authentic, and professional when writing your statement. Good luck!
What should I research when writing my personal statement for engineering?
When writing your personal statement for engineering, it is important to conduct thorough research to ensure that you are able to tailor your statement to the specific program or institution you are applying to. Some areas to research include:
- Curriculum: Look into the specific courses and areas of focus within the engineering program. This can help you highlight relevant coursework or projects you have completed that align with the program’s focus.
- Faculty and research: Look into the faculty members within the engineering program and their areas of expertise. This can help you tailor your personal statement to align with specific research areas or interests within the program.
- Industry partnerships and internships: Look into any partnerships the program may have with industry organizations or companies, as well as any internship or co-op opportunities offered through the program. This can help you highlight any relevant industry experience you may have and demonstrate your interest in pursuing practical experience in the field.
- University values and culture: Research the university’s overall mission and values, as well as the culture of the campus community. This can help you tailor your personal statement to demonstrate your fit with the university and program culture.
By conducting thorough research on these areas, you can tailor your personal statement to align with the specific program and institution you are applying to, demonstrating your interest and fit for the program.
How can I check my personal statement for engineering for errors?
Checking your engineering personal statement for errors is an important step in the application process. You should:
- Read your statement aloud to catch any minor spelling or grammatical errors.
- Ask a friend, colleague, or mentor to read your statement and provide feedback.
- Use online applications to analyze the document and suggest improvements.
- Seek advice from a careers centre or advisor to help polish the statement.
- mxddasasProofread and edit the statement multiple times.
By following these steps, you can ensure your engineering personal statement is professional and error-free before submitting your application materials.
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- Engineering personal statements
Aerospace engineering degree personal statement example (1a) University of Manchester offer
This is a real personal statement written by a student for their university application. It might help you decide what to include in your own. There are lots more examples in our collection of sample personal statements .
From the Wright Flyer to today's Airbus A-380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the development of the Aviation industry has been immense. Yet, there are still many contemporary issues facing the engineers of today; I aspire to be part of this rapidly advancing industry. Studying the engineering behind one of man's greatest achievements would be an educational challenge I would relish and it would build upon my experiences in the field. I am eager to broaden my mind on the applications of the engineering practices followed in the aeronautical industry. I am fascinated by discovering how different components function together.
I studied Engineering at secondary school and completed a two week work experience course at Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council's civil engineering department which gave me an insight into engineering practices and procedure. In my A2 Physics coursework, I chose to investigate how variations in the design of an aircraft's aerofoil affect its performance. Furthermore, I am a student member of the Royal Aeronautical Society which enables me to read the Aerospace International Journal, and I am a member of the Lancashire Aero Club. These two organisations increase my knowledge and understanding of a range of aviation operations.
Being a member of the Air Training Corps, I have already gained a lot of knowledge about aircraft: how they perform and the principles of how flight works. I completed a Gliding Scholarship in May 2012 which involved flying nine hours of training flights in a motorised glider (Grob 109b Vigilant) after which I was allowed to complete a solo circuit of the airfield. This was one of the most fulfilling and exciting experiences I have ever had. Also, I completed an engineering work experience course at RAFC Cranwell where I observed engineering training on the Sepecat Jaguar and on-going engineering work on the E3-D Sentry at RAF Waddington. As part of the Air Training Corps, I currently hold the rank of Flight Sergeant; I have the classification of 'Master Air Cadet' and am a qualified Instructor Cadet and first aider. I was selected to be one of only twelve cadets from the entire country to attend a prestigious International Air Cadet Exchange to Canada in the summer of 2012.
In my educational career I have also accomplished a great deal. At secondary school I was elected a Senior Prefect and also Vice Chairman of the School Council, both of which developed my communication skills through a series of public speaking events. I was a peer mentor and I also represented the school on the Local District Assembly. At Sixth Form College I was a member of the Maths Club where I helped low ability year seven pupils with their maths skills. I am Deputy Head Boy and as part of this role I am the sixth form representative on the School Council. This enables me to express my views, and the views of others, in a formal environment whilst also taking into consideration the opinions of others.
In my spare time I enjoy engaging in the athletic event of pole vault. This year I have competed for my club, Sale Harriers, in many events including the British Athletics League Premiership. I won the Greater Manchester Schools Athletic Championships and was selected to represent Greater Manchester at the English Schools Athletics Championships. I volunteer at a local hospice charity shop which raises funds to provide specialist palliative care for sufferers of life changing illnesses. Engineering is a profound application of my enjoyment of maths and physics, and combined with my interest in aviation, the field of aeronautical engineering would be an exciting amalgamation of my academic and vocational interests.
Universities Applied to:
- University of Manchester (Aerospace Engineering BEng) - Offer (AAB) Firm
- Brunel University (Aviation Engineering) - Offer (ABB) Insurance
- University of Leicester (Aerospace Engineering) - Offer (BBB)
- University of Salford (Aeronautical Engineering) - Offer (280 points)
- Loughborough University (Aeronautical Engineering) - Offer (AAB)
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Biomedical engineering personal statement example 1.
I think that applying engineering techniques to the human body is a fascinating, absorbing and rewarding endeavour with many potential benefits for health care.
Arguably, all engineering disciplines seek to further our quality of life, however, what interests me in bioengineering is that it can directly affect and improve our health and well being.
Applications like innovatively designed needle-less injections could reduce the great number of injuries due to syringes, and developments in minimal access surgery using imaging techniques will be incredibly valuable, for example, in reaching otherwise inaccessible disease areas.
While undertaking work experience at a General Practice, I quickly realised that I would like to have a positive impact on health care, whilst retaining a focus on engineering.
Physics is a subject which absolutely fascinates me; I really enjoy observing theoretical ideas being utilized in real world situations. This passion has led me to be the Physics Student Leader, where I have taken the responsibility of going into physics lessons in the Lower School and helping the younger students.
Furthermore, I have spent time with other subject leaders considering the possibility of reducing the environmental impact of our school. I also attended a Particle Physics Master class at Durham University, where I learnt about projects such as CERN.
Mathematics also greatly interests me; so much so that I have been independently reading about topics like the calculation of pi by mathematicians including Gregory, Leibniz, and Machin which I first read about in Enigma by Robert Harris. I also enjoy working through the complex problems I encounter in mechanics and applying the techniques I have learnt.
Whilst Physics and Mathematics are my preferred subjects, I also enjoy all aspects of science, whether it is from the biological or the physical sciences. For example, in biology I found the structure of the heart and the way it works particularly interesting. Thus the multi-disciplinary bio-engineering course appeals to me as it will incorporate many different areas of science.
I read both Student BMJ and the New Scientist; recent articles of interest include one on apparent imperfections in human evolution.
In July 2006 I spent three weeks doing volunteer work in Costa Rica organised through my local Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. We worked for a short period with an indigenous tribe and also worked at a turtle conservation project, where we built a raised walkway from local bamboo.
My experience there opened my eyes to third world culture and environment, and improved my communication skills and my ability at working as part of a team. I can also work independently which is shown in my success in studying an A-level in Religious Studies a year early, in my own time.
I am currently studying Further Maths AS-level in my own time because I enjoy the challenge it presents me, and because I believe it will help develop my mathematical aptitude, which is an important ability for any engineer.
One of my main leisure interests is playing the guitar, which I find thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable. I play many styles, including classical, jazz and I am involved in a rock band called 'Required By Fashion,' with whom I helped organise two charity gigs. In my church I play in the worship band.
Through church I have been on Christian Adventure Holidays in the Lake District where I took part in mountaineering, rock climbing, canoeing, sailing and ghyll bashing, which were all great fun! The Christian faith has also helped me to develop a strong sense of morals and a compassionate attitude to other people.
I like to think that I have the maturity and commitment to succeed at university, and believe I will enjoy and rise to the challenges I encounter. I feel I will also add to the university community and have the potential to achieve.
Profile info
This personal statement was written by joshmctigue for application in 2008.
Related Personal Statements
Mon, 03/10/2011 - 15:08
I like the intro :D which unis did you apply to?
Your Christian faith has
Wed, 25/07/2012 - 10:55
Your Christian faith has nothing to do with the course your applying to, I dont understand why its mentioned? For me biomedical engineering and religion dont go well hand in hand lol
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Writing a Personal Statement
![good engineering personal statements Wellesley Career Education logo](https://www1.wellesley.edu/careereducation/sites/careereducation/files/styles/110_110/public/WCE_Monogram.jpg?itok=4C_kpkFa)
Preparing to Write
Brainstorming, don't forget, sample prompts.
A personal statement is a narrative essay that connects your background, experiences, and goals to the mission, requirements, and desired outcomes of the specific opportunity you are seeking. It is a critical component in the selection process, whether the essay is for a competitive internship, a graduate fellowship, or admittance to a graduate school program. It gives the selection committee the best opportunity to get to know you, how you think and make decisions, ways in which past experiences have been significant or formative, and how you envision your future. Personal statements can be varied in form; some are given a specific prompt, while others are less structured. However, in general a personal statement should answer the following questions:
- Who are you?
- What are your goals?
- How does this specific program/opportunity help you achieve your goals?
- What is in the future?
A personal statement is not:
- A variation of your college admissions essay
- An academic/research paper
- A narrative version of your resume
- A creative writing piece (it can be creative, though)
- An essay about somebody else
Keep in mind that your statement is only a portion of the application and should be written with this in mind. Your entire application package will include some, possibly all, of the materials listed below. You will want to consider what these pieces of the application communicate about you. Your personal statement should aim to tie everything together and fill in or address any gaps. There will likely be some overlap but be sure not to be too repetitive.
- Personal Statement(s)
- Transcripts
- Letters of recommendations
- Sample of written work
- Research proposal
For a quick overview of personal statements, you might begin by watching this "5 Minute Fellowships" video!
If you are writing your first personal statement or working to improve upon an existing personal statement, the video below is a helpful, in-depth resource.
A large portion of your work towards completing a personal statement begins well before your first draft or even an outline. It is incredibly important to be sure you understand all of the rules and regulations around the statement. Things to consider before you begin writing:
- How many prompts? And what are they? It is important to know the basics so you can get your ideas in order. Some programs will require a general statement of interest and a focused supplementary or secondary statement closely aligned with the institution's goals.
- Are there formatting guidelines? Single or double spaced, margins, fonts, text sizes, etc. Our general guideline is to keep it simple.
- How do I submit my statement(s)? If uploading a document we highly suggest using a PDF as it will minimize the chances of accidental changes to formatting. Some programs may event ask you to copy and paste into a text box.
- When do I have to submit my statement(s)? Most are due at the time of application but some programs, especially medical schools, will ask for secondary statements a few months after you apply. In these instances be sure to complete them within two weeks, any longer is an indication that you aren't that interested in the institution.
Below is a second 5 Minute Fellowships video that can help you get started!
Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on your experiences and motivations as they relate to the programs to which you are applying. This will offer you a chance to organize your thoughts which will make the writing process much easier. Below are a list of questions to help you get started:
- What individuals, experiences or events have shaped your interest in this particular field?
- What has influenced your decision to apply to graduate school?
- How does this field align with your interests, strengths, and values?
- What distinguishes you from other applicants?
- What would you bring to this program/profession?
- What has prepared you for graduate study in this field? Consider your classes at Wellesley, research and work experience, including internships, summer jobs and volunteer work.
- Why are you interested in this particular institution or degree program?
- How is this program distinct from others?
- What do you hope to gain?
- What is motivating you to seek an advanced degree now?
- Where do you see yourself headed and how will this degree program help you get there?
For those applying to Medical School, if you need a committee letter for your application and are using the Medical Professions Advisory Committee you have already done a lot of heavy lifting through the 2017-2018 Applicant Information Form . Even if you aren't using MPAC the applicant information form is a great place to start.
Another great place to start is through talking out your ideas. You have a number of options both on and off campus, such as: Career Education advisors and mentors ( you can set up an appointment here ), major advisor, family, friends. If you are applying to a graduate program it is especially important to talk with a faculty member in the field. Remember to take good notes so you can refer to them later.
When you begin writing keep in mind that your essay is one of many in the application pool. This is not to say you should exaggerate your experiences to “stand out” but that you should focus on clear, concise writing. Also keep in mind that the readers are considering you not just as a potential student but a future colleague. Be sure to show them examples and experiences which demonstrate you are ready to begin their program.
It is important to remember that your personal statement will take time and energy to complete, so plan accordingly. Every application and statement should be seen as different from one another, even if they are all the same type of program. Each institution may teach you the same material but their delivery or focus will be slightly different.
In addition, remember:
- Be yourself: You aren’t good at being someone else
- Tragedy is not a requirement, reflection and depth are
- Research the institution or organization
- Proofread, proofread, proofread
- How to have your personal statement reviewed
The prompts below are from actual applications to a several types of programs. As you will notice many of them are VERY general in nature. This is why it is so important to do your research and reflect on your motivations. Although the prompts are similar in nature the resulting statements would be very different depending on the discipline and type of program, as well as your particular background and reasons for wanting to pursue this graduate degree.
- This statement should illustrate your academic background and experiences and explain why you would excel in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (UMass Amherst - M.S. in Civil Engineering).
- Describe your academic and career objectives and how the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies can help you achieve them. Include other considerations that explain why you seek admissions to the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and your interests in the environmental field (Yale - Master of Environmental Management).
- Please discuss your academic interests and goals. Include your current professional and research interests, as well as your long-range professional objectives. Please be as specific as possible about how your objectives can be met at Clark and do not exceed 800 words (Clark University - M.A. in International Development and Social Change).
- Write a 500- to 700-word statement that describes your work or research. Discuss how you came to focus on the medium, body of work, or academic area you wish to pursue at the graduate level. Also discuss future directions or goals for your work, and describe how the Master of Fine Arts in Studio (Printmedia) is particularly suited to your professional goals (School of the Art Institute of Chicago - MFA in Studio, Printmaking).
- Your statement should explain why you want to study economics at the graduate level. The statement is particularly important if there is something unusual about your background and preparation that you would like us to know about you (University of Texas at Austin - Ph.D in Economics).
- Your personal goal statement is an important part of the review process for our faculty members as they consider your application. They want to know about your background, work experience, plans for graduate study and professional career, qualifications that make you a strong candidate for the program, and any other relevant information (Indiana University Bloomington - M.S.Ed. in Secondary Education).
- Your autobiographical essay/personal statement is a narrative that outlines significant experiences in your life, including childhood experiences, study and work, your strengths and aspirations in the field of architecture, and why you want to come to the University of Oregon (University of Oregon - Master of Architecture).
- Personal history and diversity statement, in which you describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may refer to any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education (U.C. Davis - M.A. in Linguistics).
- A Personal Statement specifying your past experiences, reasons for applying, and your areas of interest. It should explain your intellectual and personal goals, why you are interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary degree rather than a more traditional disciplinary one, and how this degree fits into your intellectual and personal future (Rutgers University - Ph.D in Women’s and Gender Studies).
- Your application requires a written statement to uploaded into your application and is a critical component of your application for admission. This is your opportunity to tell us what excites you about the field of library and information science, and what problems you want to help solve in this field. Please also tell us how your prior experiences have prepared you for this next step toward your career goals and how this program will help you achieve them (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - Master of Science in Library Science).
- After watching the video, please describe what strengths and preferences as a learner you have that will facilitate your success in this innovative curriculum. What challenges in our curriculum do you anticipate and what strategies might you use to address these challenges? (MGH Institute of Health Professions PT - They recently redesigned their curriculum)
- Your personal goal statement should briefly describe how you view the future of the field, what your goals are to be part of that future, and what brought you to pursue an advanced education degree in your chosen field. You may include any other information that you feel might be useful. (Northeastern PT)
- Personal Statement: In 500 words or less, describe a meaningful educational experience that affected your professional goals and growth and explain how it impacted you. The educational experience does not need to be related to this degree. Focus on the educational experience and not why you think you would be a good professional in this field. (Simmons PT)
- Personal Statement (500 word minimum): State your reasons for seeking admission to this program at this institution. Include your professional goals, why you want to pursue a career in this field and how admission to this program will assist you in accomplishing those goals. (Regis College Nursing)
- “Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to this type of program.” (AMCAS)
- Address the following three questions(Though there is no set limit, most statements are 1–2 pages, single-spaced.): What are your reasons for pursuing this degree? Why do you wish to pursue your degree at this institution? How do you intend to leverage your degree in a career of this field? (Boston University MPH)
- Please submit a personal statement/statement of purpose of no more than 500 words for the department/degree of choice. Professional degree essays require a clear understanding of the _______ field and how you hope to work within the field. Be sure to proofread your personal statement carefully for spelling and grammar. In your statement, be sure to address the following: what interests you in the field of _____ what interests you in a specific degree program and department at this institution and what interests you in a particular certificate (if applicable). Please also describe how you hope to use your ________ training to help you achieve your career goals. (Columbia PhD in Public Health - Epidemiology)
- Because each Home Program requires significant original research activities in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree, we are interested in obtaining as much information as possible about your previous research experiences. Those who already have such experience are in a better position to know whether they are truly interested in performing ______ research as part of a graduate program. Please include specific information about your research experience in your Statement of Purpose. You may also use the Statement to amplify your comments about your choice of Home Program(s), and how your past experiences and current interests are related to your choice. Personal Statements should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). Make sure to set your computer to Western European or other English-language setting. We cannot guarantee the ability to access your statement if it is submitted in other fonts. (Stanford Biosciences PhD)
- Your statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the Department of ____ at ___ University. It would be helpful to include what you have done to prepare for this degree program. Please describe your research interests, past research experience, future career plans and other details of your background and interests that will allow us to evaluate your ability to thrive in our program. If you have interests that align with a specific faculty member, you may state this in your application. Your statement of purpose should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). (Stanford Bioengineering PhD)
- Statement of purpose (Up to one page or 1,000 words): Rather than a research proposal, you should provide a statement of purpose. Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at this institution and your relevant experience and education. Please provide an indication of the area of your proposed research and supervisor(s) in your statement. This will be assessed for the coherence of the statement; evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study; the ability to present a reasoned case in English; and commitment to the subject. (Oxford Inorganic Chemistry - DPhil)
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COMMENTS
Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 3. It is my ambition to work in the engineering industry and gain 'Chartered Engineer' status. Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement Example 4. I am passionate about Engineering and will embrace any opportunity to develop my skills and flourish in my chosen career.
Your engineering personal statement reflects who you are, and each candidate may structure theirs differently. Though the process is personal and unique to everyone, these are some steps you can take to create an effective engineering personal statement: 1. Creatively introduce who you are. The first paragraph of your personal statement is your ...
Example Personal Statement 1. "I hope a degree from your University will allow me to transfer key abilities from a place of study into, eventually, a place in industry. After much extended research, my admiration for the engineering innovator, Karl Benz, has been truly established.
You will need to be enthusiastic about engineering and show evidence of this in the personal statement is the simple advice from University of Dundee. So, here are some ideas on how to do this: Work or extracurricular experiences: This doesn't necessarily have to be directly in an engineering field. Try and give examples of things you've done ...
2. Go deep, not broad. Personal statement prompts tend to be targeted. Engineering schools want to know what specific qualities or experiences make each student a good fit for their programs. Common inquiries include recalling a time you solved a problem, explaining why you applied, describing your academic goals and intentions, and addressing ...
Degree Course Quiz. Find the ideal university course for you in minutes by taking our degree matchmaker quiz today. Browse our range of Engineering personal statement examples. Gain inspiration & make sure you're on the right track when writing your own personal statement.
Good Points Of The Personal Statement. This is a very good statement. The statement is well-written, and structured. The student clearly explains their motivation for wanting to pursue engineering. The statement mentions and describes the student's desire to pursue a number of different engineering disciplines, which is very good as this ...
Chemical engineering degree personal statement example (1h) Chemical engineering degree personal statement example (1i) work experience, Imperial offer. Chemical engineering degree personal statement example (1j) with year abroad. Civil engineering degree personal statement example (1a) international applicant, Cardiff offer.
Written by Jennifer Bevan. This is an example personal statement for a Masters degree application in Engineering. See our guide for advice on writing your own postgraduate personal statement. With an ever-increasing population, the upscaling of processes to efficiently mass produce food, pharmaceuticals and chemicals is essential to society.
Top 5 things to AVOID for your Oxford Engineering Personal Statement. 1. Writing a list of achievements. Avoid listing things for the sake of it. Make sure each point in your Oxford Engineering personal statement is relevant and backed up by evidence. Expand on statements in order to explain why you're an ideal candidate.
The Engineering Course at Oxford is based on a unified course in Engineering Science, which integrates study of the subject across the traditional boundaries of engineering disciplines. Read on to see how this candidate managed to navigate the many disciplines of Engineering. Here's a breakdown of the Personal Statement: CHARACTERS. 3,709. WORDS.
Sample Personal Statement Mechanical Engineering. I am eager to pursue a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering to deepen my knowledge in engineering design, mechanics, and analysis. My research interests are primarily driven by my life aspirations, dynamic undergraduate experience, and professional mechanical engineering expertise.
The main goal of your personal statement is to convey your thoughts and ideas to the admissions tutors effectively. Cambridge itself emphasises the use of clear, plain English in personal statements. This means that clarity and coherence are highly valued. 4. Sweeping statements.
These Mechanical Engineering personal statement examples will provide you with insight into what makes a great statement and how to make your UCAS application better. Whether you're a secondary school student applying to a mechanical engineering programme or a postgraduate applicant, we hope these examples will help you write a good personal ...
This is an Example personal statement by a successful Oxford Engineering applicant. I have always enjoyed solving problems, understanding the questions raised by them and the physical and mental processes required to find a solution. Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Art at AS have presented me with a variety of challenges, which with my ...
The graduate school Personal Statement (≈ Statement of Purpose ≈ Statement of Intent) is a document that complements your resume and application form, describing your profile in a narrative way and convincing the admission committee that you would be a good match for a particular department or program. Take into account that matching goes ...
Applying to: Southampton. Bath. Loughborough. Cambridge. Warwick (but for Computer Science) This personal statement is unrated. I remember my first experience of engineering was when I was quite young. In year 2, a couple of students and I were taken to complete a project where we had to build a small cart out of household items and we competed ...
Writing about the things you have created in your personal statement shows us that you have done this preparation work. 5. Include your hobbies. Design Engineering looks for people with technical knowledge and creativity. Quite often creative activities are less formally regulated than the technical side of things.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Personal Statement Example 1. I have always had a creative ability and a fascination with how things work. The challenge of solving practical problems inherent in the field of engineering appeals directly to these traits. I am particularly interested in electrical and electronic engineering (EEE) because it ...
Engineering Personal Statement Example 1 - Structural Engineering. Growing up, it was my job to fix anything that broke around the house. My father, a third-generation oil-rig supervisor, was often away for months at a time and he taught me resilience and problem-solving along with practical DIY.
Personal Statement - Mechanical Engineering. Personal Statement: Mechanical Engineering. A degree in engineering strongly appeals to me on a range of different levels. The need for thinking clearly and logically to find solutions to problems is the reason I have always enjoyed mathematics and physics. I enjoy the theory and principles of pure ...
This is a real personal statement written by a student for their university application. It might help you decide what to include in your own. ... Aerospace engineering degree personal statement example (1a) University of Manchester offer ... Not so good, I didn't get everything I expected. Terrible, I didn't get any of the grades I wanted.
Biomedical Engineering Personal Statement Example 1. I think that applying engineering techniques to the human body is a fascinating, absorbing and rewarding endeavour with many potential benefits for health care. Arguably, all engineering disciplines seek to further our quality of life, however, what interests me in bioengineering is that it ...
A personal statement is a narrative essay that connects your background, experiences, and goals to the mission, requirements, and desired outcomes of the specific opportunity you are seeking. It is a critical component in the selection process, whether the essay is for a competitive internship, a graduate fellowship, or admittance to a graduate school program.