personal statement for post 16

Personal statements

Personal statements for university. all you need to know..

In this blog post I’ll talk you through everything you need to know about getting your personal statement started (the really hard part!), first draft finished, edited, and then final draft submitted. I’ve been a UCAS tutor for 15 years, the last 10 of which I was the lead UCAS tutor. I know what works, what doesn’t, and how to rid you of the dreaded ‘writer’s block’.

It is that time of year for year 13 students and their parents, but spare a thought for the tutors as well. This is their busiest time of the year as writing your reference is not a quick process! 

Once the early applications for Oxford and Cambridge, medicine, and veterinary science are out of the way on 15th October, all attention turns to the general deadline of 15th January. Applications submitted after this are considered ‘late’ and you will only be offered a place by universities that still have spaces on the course applied for. 

Every year there are students dead set against applying for university entry, who then go on to change their minds after the deadline closes. The good news is that they do usually end up with offers, the bad news being that it’s probably not for their desired course. Be decisive and get your application in. If you then decide not to go to university then all you have lost is the £26 application fee. Having offers for university entry gives you options.

What is the purpose of a personal statement?

First impressions are important in most walks of life and your personal statement is essentially you introducing yourself to the admissions tutors at the universities you would like to go to. The majority of courses don’t have interviews, so this electronic document is your opportunity to make it clear that you’re a perfect fit for their course.

Key Dates and deadlines for UCAS personal statements

My advice is to start building your UCAS personal statement content from the start of year 12. Keep a picture on your phone of your GCSE results statement as this shows the results and which exam board was used for each of your subjects. You’ll need this for your application.

Oxford and Cambridge applications: 15th October

Medicine, Vet. Science applications: 15th October

All other courses*: 15th January

*Some art courses have a later deadline so be careful to check if you are applying for an art degree.

Personal Statement format

There are no hard and fast rules about the format. The key rules are that it must be no longer than 4000 characters (with spaces) and less than 47 lines. An easier way of understanding this is that it needs to be one page and 4 lines (approximately) of A4 paper in 12pt font. If you go 1 character over, or 1 line over, the UCAS track website gives you an error message. As a rough (but excellent guide) 75% of what you write about should be centred around the course you’re applying for. Waffle about your success in the Yr 8 football/netball teams is not welcome!

Personal Statement template

So I said there is no hard and fast rule . . .BUT . . your personal statement should have 5 paragraphs. I strongly recommend writing out these 5 headings. (don’t worry – you’ll delete them prior to submission.) 

Paragraph 1 – Why I want to study this course

Paragraph 2 – Evidence to support my application . . work experience undertaken, books read, EPQ studied, online courses studied etc.

Paragraph 3 – Other skills I have developed during my time in 6th form that will support my application.

Paragraph 4 – Extra-curricular activities that show there is more to me than just academic qualities.

Paragraph 5 – Why am I looking forward to studying this course and what is it about university life that excites me?

How to start a personal statement

This is always the hardest part. Once you have pushed past that first paragraph, the statement tends to get easier to write. One way I like to look at this question is ….. “why do you want to invest as much as £60,000 of your money in this course”. 

Yes, I know that rarely is this sum ever paid back (and if it is, it means you landed an awesomely paid job – well done!💪🏽)

The £60,000 question should encourage you to dive deeper than the standard ‘ever since I was a child response that I have read approximately eleventy billion times. (That is always a dull and uninspiring introduction from you to the course admissions tutor.)

Personal Statement Opening paragraph examples

It’s very easy to say to any student that they need to explain why they want to do the course. When I say that to a tutee they nod sagely, return to their computer and sit there with the cursor flashing at the start of a blank opening paragraph. If that’s you . . . here’s a nudge with some real examples.

(Note: All universities use plagiarism software – attempting to copy all or part of a previously submitted personal statement risks your application being discarded)

Opening Paragraph example – Politics

It has become increasingly apparent to me how powerful politics is as a force in our everyday lives. Whether it is political economy or political ideology, it affects every single one of the seven billion people on this planet and it is for its power and effects that I would like to study the ‘master science’. As Tony Blair said, ‘many people belittle politics’; whilst this is the stark reality, I cannot begin to comprehend why. Politics is a constant in all people’s lives and it affects everyone. Current situations, such as the economic difficulties and the Arab Spring, for me, makes it more important for people to get involved in both local and global politics.

Opening paragraph example – Psychology

Being injured during an important time in my athletics career and having to watch my competitors slowly gain an advantage over me was mentally challenging. This fuelled my curiosity as to why everyone was telling me I had to get it mentally right in order to make a comeback. At that time, I was studying the sports psychology unit in PE, where my curiosity in psychology grew as I began to learn the different ways the mind affects the body’s performance. This curiosity developed quickly; I constantly wonder how our minds impact our behaviour in all aspects of life. From this point, I realised that it is the subject I want to take forward into the next stage of my education.

Opening paragraph example – Aeronautical Engineering

As a child I would prefer a complex Meccano set over a toy any day. Ever since I can remember, engineering has always been a key aspect of my life. Throughout the years, my parents have owned various cars, classic and modern, and I’ve always been there to lend a helping hand. I volunteered at a local garage and although I quickly got bored of the simplicity of cars, it fuelled my love a more complex form of engineering. I have also built a model propulsion system for a jet plane and although it was simple, it too enforced my plans of studying this course further at university. Aeronautical and aerospace engineering are now my next step forward in my education.

Personal Statement opening paragraph ideas

• What was the ‘eureka’ moment that has culminated in you sitting struggling for an opening line to your statement? 
• How does this course fit with your aspirations for the future?
• Why does this course enthrall you?

Personal statement top tips.

• Even if it is still your first draft, copy your statement and paste it into a repetition checker on the web. The one I use is repetition-detector.com. You’ll be surprised at how many times you repeat yourself. Repeat this process for every draft you create. 
• Don’t ever use timescales in your personal statement. ‘In year 10 I’ . . . . . . . it’s never necessary and ‘dates’ some of the great stuff you have done. 
• If possible, get work experience banked as early on as possible. Two weeks is the ideal length, or possibly even better still, do two different work experiences for a week each. This gives you sooooooo much to talk about so long as the experience is relevant to your application. If it isn’t relevant, why did you do it in the first place? If you haven’t done this, it’s still possible to plug the gap by conducting an ‘informational interview’ with someone who does the job you wanted to shadow as part of a ‘normal’ work experience placement. In the Covid year(s) this is becoming more commonplace.
• You should submit your personal statement draft as early on as possible. It takes time for these to be reviewed and any recommendations for changes to come back from the tutor. Be proactive because I can assure you that the majority of your peers won’t be so get themselves to the front of the queue. 
• Pay your UCAS fee (it’s £26 for 2021 entry and generally goes up by a pound every year) as soon as possible. Normally you pay this to your school and the fact you have paid makes you that little bit closer to sending your application off. 
• Give your tutors something to write a great reference about you on. Don’t be shy about asking them about the reference and telling them some of the great things you have done at school. Your teachers will also have a say in what goes into your reference. Always bear this in mind when thinking about how you conduct yourselves in lesson and whether you hand work in on time. 
• Get involved in as many extra curricular activities as you can. It helps with paragraphs three and four.  
• Research all university choices online and make contact with admissions tutors if you have questions. They are PAID to answer your questions and love to hear from prospective students. Remember, it’s their job to sell the course to you. They know that you have a huge choice of courses but they will want you to apply to theirs. They need bums on seats! 
• Don’t use words like partake, passion, ignite. I’ve seen them a million times and they always come across as naff. 
• Get your parent/parents to proofread your statement. They may not have a ‘trained eye’ but they can probably spot poor grammar or total nonsense from a mile off.
• Get your personal statement done, checked and your application sent off. There is no benefit in delaying this process, apart from perhaps giving you more Xbox/TikTok time while your personal statement lies unfinished.
• Be careful with your use of capital letters. All subjects like biology, chemistry and psychology should not be capitalised. The only subjects that should be capitalised are the languages. Other common mistakes include university names; University of York (for example) would be capitalised because it’s the name of something, but ‘I want to go to university’ would not. If this seems a bit obvious and patronising then I’m sorry . . . trust me, 50% of statements I see get this wrong. If there is one grammar faux pas that most students are guilty of in a personal statement, it’s chucking capital letters in almost at random. Please don’t! Good luck, and remember that writer block is your enemy. Get your first draft written and it will all flow from there.

Need more help? 

Personal Statements Made Simple

I’ve recorded a series of short videos that talks you through what you need to include in each paragraph. Each video is supported by a PDF with top tips for that paragraph along with a selection of real examples of each paragraph to try and release any writer’s block. Speak to your parents about the £47 cost. It is money well spent!

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How to Write a Personal Statement

A personal statement can be a key part of your college application, and you can really make yours shine by following a few tips.

When you're applying to college—either to an undergraduate or graduate program—you may be asked to submit a personal statement. It's an essay that gives you the chance to share more about who you are and why you'd like to attend the university you're applying to.  

The information you provide in your personal statement can help build on your other application materials, like your transcripts and letters of recommendation, and build a more cohesive picture to help the admissions committee understand your goals.

In this article, we'll go over more about personal statements, including why they're important, what to include in one, and tips for strengthening yours.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement—sometimes known as a college essay —is a brief written essay you submit with other materials when applying to college or university. Personal statements tend to be most common for undergraduate applications, and they're a great opportunity for an admissions committee to hear your voice directly.

Many colleges and universities in the US, especially those using Common App , provide prompts for you to use. For example, "Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea" or "Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time" [ 1 ]. If the school you're interested in attending doesn't require prompts, you will likely want to craft a response that touches on your story, your values, and your goals if possible.

In grad school, personal statements are sometimes known as letters of intent , and go into more detail about your academic and professional background, while expressing interest in attending the particular program you're applying to.

Why is a personal statement important?

Personal statements are important for a number of reasons. Whereas other materials you submit in an application can address your academic abilities (like your transcripts) or how you perform as a student (like your letters of recommendation), a personal statement is a chance to do exactly that: get more personal.

Personal statements typically:

Permit you to share things that don't fit on your resume, such as personal stories, motivations, and values

Offer schools a chance to see why you're interested in a particular field of study and what you hope to accomplish after you graduate 

Provide an opportunity for you to talk about past employment, volunteer experiences, or skills you have that complement your studies 

Allow colleges to evaluate your writing skills 

Bring life to a college application package otherwise filled with facts and figures 

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How to write a personal statement.

As we mentioned earlier, you may have to respond to a prompt when drafting your personal statement—or a college or university may invite you to respond however you'd like. In either case, use the steps below to begin building your response.

Create a solid hook .

To capture the attention of an admissions committee member, start your personal statement with a hook that relates to the topic of your essay. A hook tends to be a colorful sentence or two at the very beginning that compels the reader to continue reading.

To create a captivating hook, try one of these methods:

Pose a rhetorical question. 

Provide an interesting statistic. 

Insert a quote from a well-known person.

Challenge the reader with a common misconception. 

Use an anecdote, which is a short story that can be true or imaginary. 

Credibility is crucial when writing a personal statement as part of your college application process. If you choose a statistic, quote, or misconception for your hook, make sure it comes from a reliable source.

Follow a narrative.

The best personal statements typically read like a story: they have a common theme, as well as a beginning, middle, and end. This type of format also helps keep your thoughts organized and improves the flow of your essay.

Common themes to consider for your personal statement include:

Special role models from your past

Life-altering events you've experienced

Unusual challenges you've faced

Accomplishments you're especially proud of

Service to others and why you enjoy it

What you've learned from traveling to a particular place

Unique ways you stand out from other candidates

Be specific.

Admissions committees read thousands of personal statements every year, which is why being specific on yours is important. Back up your statements with examples or anecdotes.

For instance, avoid vague assertions like, "I'm interested in your school counseling program because I care about children." Instead, point out experiences you've had with children that emphasize how much you care. For instance, you might mention your summer job as a day camp counselor or your volunteer experience mentoring younger children.

Don't forget to include detail and vibrancy to keep your statement interesting. The use of detail shows how your unique voice and experiences can add value to the college or university you're applying to.

Stay on topic.

It's natural to want to impress the members of the admissions committee who will read your personal statement. The best way to do this is to lead your readers through a cohesive, informative, and descriptive essay.

If you feel you might be going astray, ensure each paragraph in your essay's body supports your introduction. Here are a few more strategies that can help keep you on track:

Know what you want to say and do research if needed. 

Create an outline listing the key points you want to share.

Read your outline aloud to confirm it makes logical sense before proceeding. 

Read your essay aloud while you're writing to confirm you're staying on topic.

Ask a trusted friend or family member to read your essay and make suggestions.

Be true to your own voice.

Because of the importance of your personal statement, you could be tempted to be very formal with structure and language. However, using a more relaxed tone is better than you would for a classroom writing assignment. 

Remember: admissions committees really want to hear from you . Writing in your own voice will help accomplish this. To ensure your tone isn't too relaxed, write your statement as if you were speaking to an older relative or trusted teacher. This way, you'll come across as respectful, confident, and honest.

Tips for drafting an effective personal statement.

Now that you've learned a little about personal statements and how to craft them, here are a few more tips you can follow to strengthen your essay:

1. Customize your statement.

You don't have to completely rewrite your personal statement every time you apply to a new college, but you want to make sure you tailor it as much as possible. For instance, if you talk about wanting to take a certain class or study a certain subject, make sure you adjust any specifics for each application.

2. Avoid cliches.

Admissions committees are ultimately looking for students who will fit the school, and who the school can help guide toward their larger goals. In that case, cliches can get in the way of a reviewer understanding what it is you want from a college education. Watch out for cliches like "making a difference," "broadening my horizons," or "the best thing that ever happened to me."

3. Stay focused.

Try to avoid getting off-track or including tangents in your personal statement. Stay focused by writing a first draft and then re-reading what you've written. Does every paragraph flow from one point to the next? Are the ideas you're presenting cohesive?

4. Stick to topics that aren't controversial.

It's best not to discuss political beliefs or inappropriate topics in your essay. These can be controversial; ideally, you want to share something goals- or values-driven with an admissions committee.

Polish your writing skills on Coursera.

A stellar personal statement starts with stellar writing skills. Enhance your writing ability with a writing course from a top university, like Good with Words: Writing and Editing from the University of Michigan or Writing a Personal Essay from Wesleyan University. Get started for free to level up your writing.

Article sources

1. Common App. " 2022-2023 Common App Essay Prompts , https://www.commonapp.org/blog/2022-2023-common-app-essay-prompts." Accessed January 9, 2024.

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How to write a Post 16 Personal Statement

Subject: Student careers advice

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

30 December 2020

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Help your students prepare for Post 16 College and Sixth Form applications with this template for writing a Personal Statement.

Tried and tested over the years, this writing template with visual aids helps students of all abilities to order their thoughts and write coherent personal statements to attach to their applications.

Can be used as a standalone activity of part of an extended Careers/PSHE lesson.

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How to structure your personal statement

Need some direction on your university personal statement? We've got a handy example of a personal statement structure for you to use!

There’s no single right or wrong way to write a personal statement, but the successful ones are usually well-researched, sincerely written and follow a familiar structural form. It’s a good idea to read examples of existing personal statements to get an idea of the many ways they can be written, but make sure the text you end up submitting is your own. 

To help you get an idea of how you could structure your personal statement, we’ve got a guideline for you to have a look at below. 

First paragraph   

Introduce yourself and why you want to study your chosen subject. It sounds obvious, but it’s what admissions tutors want to know.  

You can keep it simple and straightforward, or you can allow yourself some artistic license and explain how your interest in the subject began – perhaps a person or place where your curiosity is rooted, and why the subject is important to you.  

It's good to kick things off with something personal, but be mindful not to waffle or spend too long on it. Try to avoid the well-trodden cliches which you will certainly encounter as you research past examples online. 

Second paragraph   

Demonstrate your understanding of your chosen course through your current studies. Mention specific modules, and why they’re relevant to your degree, as well as things which you’ve recently learned which excite you.  

Include details in this section to reference later on – for example, mention what A-levels you’ve chosen, then when you’re writing about your career goals, reference how those A-level choices will help you achieve this. Doing this helps to create a cohesive and connected piece of writing. 

Third paragraph 

Detail any work experience, summer internships, jobs and volunteering positions which you’ve recently held. Ideally these will be relevant to your course, but remember that they are not expecting you to know everything about working professionally before starting your undergraduate studies.  

What you’re really doing is showing a dedication to pursuing your education in your own time. It shows initiative and the ability to take responsibility for your direction, both of which will be extremely useful to you while studying at undergraduate level. 

Fourth paragraph 

Use this paragraph to write about extracurricular activities and hobbies, because, yet be aware of pitfalls. Avoid simply listing all your hobbies and achievements, as this can feel quite impersonal if they are not written in context.  

Instead, choose two or three key examples and spend a few sentences linking them to your degree choice. It’s a nice touch to include a future-focused comment about how you intend to continue with a hobby at university, and how it might complement or combine with your studies. 

Fifth paragraph 

Make the final paragraph about your future career goals. It’s one of the most important paragraphs of your personal statement, so take your time with it.  

If you know what you want to do after university, give an outline of this. If you haven’t planned that far ahead, use the opportunity to dream a little. Using the skills, interests and qualifications that you mentioned earlier, build a narrative of how you might develop yourself through studying your degree. 

It’s important to note that you don’t have to follow these guidelines – it’s not the only way you can structure a personal statement by any means! You might use a few ideas from it, you might use all of them, you might use none. Find what works best for you in showing why you’re a good choice for the university admissions team. 

Want more personal statement help? Check out our personal statement guide!

Looking to find out what a uni is really like?  Book an open day visit!

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How to write a postgraduate personal statement

29 th September 2021

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Applying for postgraduate study? This guide supports you in writing a great postgraduate personal statement that’s tailored to your course.

• What do admissions tutors look for

How to write a personal statement

• What to write

Check and check again

What do admissions tutors look for in a postgraduate personal statement.

A personal statement is part of your university application. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate your suitability for a course. Admissions tutors want to know why you want to study the course and how your experiences make you the ideal candidate.

The difference between a postgraduate application from an undergraduate one is that it is fully tailored to a particular university’s course. As an undergraduate, your statement is more generic as it can be sent to five universities. Whereas your postgraduate personal statement is for one course only – it should be a lot more specific to what and where you’re applying for.

Postgraduate study is also a significant level up from undergraduate, so avoid using the statement you wrote for your bachelor’s course as a template. The admissions team is interested in how you’ve grown since your previous studies.

Writing a personal statement for university is different to writing one for a job application. It should show your academic interests and explain why the university will help develop your learning and research. You’re not trying to charm the reader. Instead, you're providing insight into who you are, your achievements and your enthusiasm for the course.

Before putting pen to paper, read through all information about the course and what you need to do to apply.

If you can, arrange to speak with one of the course tutors or a current student to discuss what admissions tutors are looking for. Are you able to see examples of successful personal statements from previous applicants?

• Your relevant academic and practical experiences
• The bits about the course that particularly interest you
• Anything else the university has asked you to include

You can then use this to structure your plan.

Carefully plan what you’re going to write in each paragraph to ensure you include all the important information and present it coherently. Your course will demand effective communication from you, and admissions tutors will look for evidence of this in your writing.

• An interesting introduction that outlines your academic background and relevant experiences
• Engaging middle paragraphs that detail, with examples, how your interests, achievements and experiences make you right for the course
• A strong conclusion that pulls together the main points and summarises why you want to study it

Each paragraph and sentence should flow logically into the next. If you want, you can split up sections with headings (like ‘Academic achievements’ or ‘Career goals’) to make the statement easy to navigate.

For the word count, check with the university you’re applying to, as each may ask for different things.

What to write in a personal statement 

You want to show how your interests and experiences make you the right person.

• How will the course help with your future goals?
• What experiences do you have that provide evidence of your interest in the course?
• What modules or projects in your undergraduate degree really challenged your thinking?
• How has any employment shaped your ambitions?
• Have any personal or public events inspired you?
• Which books have you read, or activities have you been involved in, that have influenced you?

Rather than just listing experiences, explain how they shaped you and how they will help you succeed. There’s no need to write down your qualifications as the admissions tutor will have these details with the rest of your application.

• What are your hobbies?
• Are you part of any sports teams or societies?
• Do you volunteer?

This builds a picture of who you are and what you’ll be like as a student. If you want to and if relevant, refer to challenges you encountered during the pandemic – but in a positive way.

You don’t need to include everything in your statement. It should highlight the key information and leave the reader wanting to interview you to find out more.

The admissions team will be looking through many personal statements – they want to see a variety of experiences and stories. You can reflect this in your writing style; avoid repetition and use a variety of words to paint a unique picture.

Try not to use obvious phrases such as ‘I have always been interested in...’ or a gimmicky opening line like a famous quote. Instead, get to the point quickly and say in your voice why you’re excited about the course.

Be concise and make every word count. What you write should be relevant and honest, demonstrating your potential. Everything should be balanced; you can be confident in your abilities but try not to come across as arrogant. Show why you should be given the place, but don’t beg.

• First-person narrative
• Correct use of spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Varied and interesting vocabulary
• A positive and friendly, yet professional tone
• Paragraphs that flow logically into the next
• Clear and concise points backed up with evidence
• Clichéd language
• Waffle or too much irrelevant information
• Vague or confusing sentences
• Excuses for gaps in your experience

Proofread your statement to check that your points are clear and there are no spelling or grammatical errors. You can use spellchecking tools and free writing assistants like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor to perfect your work. Reading your statement aloud can be helpful to see if it makes sense and flows well.

Ask at least one other person to read through and check it. This could be a friend, family member, careers adviser or a tutor if you’re still at university. A second pair of eyes may spot anything that doesn’t make sense or errors that you’ve missed.

Personal statement tips

• Give yourself plenty of time to write, edit and check
• Take lots of breaks and return to your work with fresh eyes
• Make sure your statement is unique and written by you
• If you’re an international student, say why you want to study in the UK
• Be prepared to talk about what you’ve written in an interview
• And if you’re applying for more than one course, make sure to write a different, tailored statement for each application!

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Writing the Personal Statement

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The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories:

1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:

This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.

2. The response to very specific questions:

Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions.

Questions to ask yourself before you write:

• What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
• What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
• When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
• How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
• If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
• What are your career goals?
• Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?
• Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?
• What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
• What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
• Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school—and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
• What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

General advice

Answer the questions that are asked

• If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar.
• Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked.

Tell a story

• Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.

Be specific

• Don't, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, or whatever should be logical, the result of specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.

Find an angle

• If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.

Concentrate on your opening paragraph

• The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.

Tell what you know

• The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Too many people graduate with little or no knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the profession or field they hope to enter. Be as specific as you can in relating what you know about the field and use the language professionals use in conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other source of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited to it. Since you will have to select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your judgment.

Don't include some subjects

• There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).

Do some research, if needed

• If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.

Write well and correctly

• Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.

Avoid clichés

• A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.

For more information on writing a personal statement, see the personal statement vidcast .

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• Tips for Writing Your Personal Statement

Tips for Writing an Effective, Memorable Personal Statement

Start here! At the Pre-Application Workshops , we will provide you with the foundational knowledge you need to write a compelling personal statement. We hold the live versions of Parts 1 and 2 of the Pre-Application Workshop once per year, but the video version is available at any time.

To begin, we recommend learning about this style of writing as well as reading examples of effective personal statements. Many students found the following resources useful:

• The Continuing Education Pre-Health Advising Personal Statement Writing Tips  handout
• AAMC Advisor Corner: Crafting Your Personal Statement
• The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement , by Dr. Ryan Gray. You may purchase a copy, or borrow one of ours.
• Ohio Wesleyan University's  Writing Guidelines: Medical School Personal Statements . This free download offers tips on topic selection, essay organization, and logistical tips. It also provides sample essays so that you can gain exposure to this genre of writing.

Allow 20-30 minutes for the following exercise. We recommend really doing it: get out some paper and some markers and sit down to really focus on this exercise:

• Get out a big piece of paper (legal size, if possible) and a set of colored pencils or markers
• Did certain life events profoundly influence your values, goals, or life trajectory?
• Which of your experiences have impacted who you are and what you stand for?
• Which of your intellectual experiences (coursework, research, etc.) got you excited about learning (in general, or about a specific topic area) and intellectual problem-solving
• What are some of the accomplishments that you’re most proud of?
• Have you overcome tough challenges?
• Which of your hobbies do you hold most dear?
• Keep it short—one or two words, not full sentences. For instance, if you worked at a summer camp, just write down the name of that camp.
• Draw a circle around each entry, to keep it separate from the others.
• Fill the page with as much information as you can.
• Do not try to organize your entries, and do not censor or edit what you're writing. Anything that comes to mind should go on the paper—even if it seems trivial or silly, and even if it has nothing to do with becoming a health professional.
• Look for underlying themes that different entries have in common. For instance, if you were the captain of a sports team in high school, served as a dorm RA in college, and then worked as a teacher in your first career, you might identify "leadership" or "mentoring" as the motivating factor they all had in common.
• When you identify a theme, write it down ("leadership," etc.) on the side of the page in a certain color, and then use that same color to circle all of the entries on the page that fit that theme.
• Finally, write down 3-5 of the top motivations or themes that you have uncovered. You can now start to think about how you might want to convey those themes in your professional school applications, essays and interviews.

​ Personal statement mapping exercise adapted from an exercise presented by Dr. Katharine Brooks in You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path from Chao to Career, as presented in Eileen Tom's 2014 article in The Advisor   1 .

One of the keys to writing an excellent personal statement is storytelling. Space is limited, but the best personal statements typically include two or three vignettes from relevant and meaningful experiences in the person's life. Tell your stories with enough detail that the reader will be able to imagine the scene unfolding as you describe it. In addition, it is important to reflect upon the ways in which your life experiences have changed you and have shaped your motivations.

Avoid using buzzwords; for instance, rather than saying, "I am a compassionate person" (which is something that anyone could say, so it's not particularly compelling), tell an engaging story from a meaningful life experience that illustrates your compassion in action and then share your thoughts on the ways in which experiences like that one have helped you understand your own value system.

By telling illustrative stories from your life experiences and sharing thoughtful reflections upon the ways in which your experiences have shaped you, you will end up with a personal statement that not only helps the reader truly get to know you but also will be truly unique to you. 

"Some of the best statements I have read focus on ordinary events that many other people may have experienced. What makes the essay stand out are the writer's unique insights and ability to reflect on these experiences." (Dr. Rachel Tolen, Assistant Director of the Health Professions Center at Indiana University 2 )

What fires you up about science and learning? Why do you find it rewarding to help others? Tell stories that help the reader understand your motivations. Your personal stories and reflections will be different from everyone else’s.

When you are ready to start working on your personal statement in earnest, you can start scheduling your 1:1 application coaching sessions with Jessica Talbot. You may want to use your first session for brainstorming, to explore ways to describe your motivations and can help you identify meaningful anecdotes to include in your writing. You can use your subsequent coaching sessions to review drafts of your written materials. (Each coaching session must be focused on either your personal statement, your set of application experience descriptions, or a representative set of your supplemental application essays.) Jessica will provide you with candid feedback on what is working well in your current draft and will help you identify topics you may want to add, change, or delete. We recommend you complete your first personal statement coaching session relatively early in your writing process.

Visit our Preparing Your Written Application Materials webpage for details on scheduling your coaching sessions.

Most people end up writing 10 or more drafts of their personal statement before they are happy with the final version. In addition to your coaching sessions with Jessica Talbot, ask several other people to read subsequent drafts. Include people who know you well in addition to those who know you in a more limited fashion. Ask each reader to provide you with the following feedback:

• What are the key impressions of me that came across in this essay?
• Are there any sections you found especially compelling or that fell flat?

We suggest you provide your reviewers with our  Personal Statement Writing Tips handout as a reference tool.

Before submitting your application, have a well-qualified person proofread your personal statement for flow, word choice, grammar, and punctuation. (In fact, you should have that person proofread all of your entries for the Activities section of your application, as well.) Even if you are excellent at grammar and punctuation, you should have another person check for errors that you may have missed. The Writing Center in Norlin Library is a good resource.

References Mapping Out The Personal Statement: A Visual Thinking Strategy for Students  (Eileen Tom,  The Advisor , September 2014) Personal Statement Writing as a Developmental Process: Reflections from One Advisor  (Rachel Tolen,  The Advisor , March 2016)

• Becoming a Strong Applicant to Professional School
• Profession-Specific Details & Prerequisites
• Choosing Your Schools
• Pre-Application Workshops
• Tips for Your Common Application
• Tips for Experience Entries
• Tips for Supplemental Applications
• Comprehensive Application Review Session
• Letters of Recommendation
• Navigating the Application Process
• Preparing for Interviews
• Upcoming Events
• Video Presentations

CV template for 16 year old + examples

Leaving school and entering the world of work is an exciting challenge.

You want to land yourself a good well-paying job, but you’re going to need a strong CV first.

Knowing how to write a CV and what information to include in it can be tricky when you’re 16 years old, so I’ve put together this guide which has a CV template and some example CVs to help you.

16 year old CV template (no experience)

• 16 year old CV template (with part-time work experience)

What is a CV?

How to write your cv.

CV templates 

This is an example CV of a 16 year old who has left school and has no work experience.

16 year old CV template (with some experience)

This is an example CV of a 16 year old who has some part-time work experience working in a shop.

So, you’ve been told that you need to write a CV if you want a job, but what the hell is a CV anyway?

A CV (short for curriculum vitae ) is simply a written document that contains lots of work-related information about you; such as your education, qualifications, skills… and experience (if you have any yet)

You send your CV to employers when you apply for jobs, and they read it to decide whether or not you are suitable enough to be invited to an interview.

Your CV is often the only thing an employer will have to judge you on, so getting it right will really help you to get more interviews and land better jobs.

It’s probably one of the most important documents you will ever write in your life.

Who reads your CV?

When you apply for a job online, your CV will normally be reviewed by one of two people;

• Recruiters and

Hiring managers

These are the bosses within the employer’s organisation who are looking for somebody to work in their team or department – They are the person who you will end up working for if you get the job. For example if you apply for a sales assistant role in a shop, the hiring manager could be the shop manager or supervisor.

These are the middle-men who help hiring managers to find the right people for their jobs. It’s their full-time job to review CVs and applications, and pass on the best ones to the hiring managers to be considered for an interview.

So, if you want to land job interviews, your CV must impress these people.

Now that you’ve seen some good example CVs, I will show you step-by-step how to write your own interview-winning CV.

Structuring your CV

For most young people, this will be the best way to structure your CV , so that you are giving employers the information they need, in the order they would like to see it.

• Contact details – At the top of the CV so they don’t get missed
• CV profile – Your introductory paragraph

Core skills and achievements

Hobbies and interests.

(And if you have any work experience, you can add that too like the example above)

Formatting your CV

When formatting your CV, you need to ensure that it;

• Looks professional so that employers take you seriously
• Is very easy to read so that busy recruiters and hiring managers don’t have to spend too much time reviewing it

So how do you do this?

• Keep the CV short and sweet – 1 page long is fine if you have no experience – 2 pages if you have some work experience to add.
• Make the text clear – Use a simple font like Arial or Tahoma and keep the colour scheme basic, like black text on white
• Break text up as much as possible – using short sentences and bullet points (this makes it easy for readers to digest the info on the page)
• Divide the CV sections clearly – with bold heading and borders to make navigation easy

What writing software to use?

It’s best to write your CV using a word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs because they are easy to use, and the most commonly accepted format for CV across the globe. They can also be saved into PDF format to restrict readers from editing.

Quick tip:  If you struggle with spelling and grammar, try our quick-and-easy CV Builder

Now, let’s take a detailed look at each section of your CV, and how to write it.

(If you prefer to learn visually, you can check out my video guide here instead)

Name and contact details

Head the top of your CV with your name and contact details, so that readers know who you are, and how to reach you.

Never hide your contact details at the bottom of the CV, in case they are missed!

All you need to include is:

• Telephone number
• Email address (use one that looks professional – no silly nicknames)

You don’t need to include your date of birth or full address – they aren’t needed at this early stage of the application.

Your CV profile

Start your CV with a powerful profile (sometimes called a personal statement ) which is a short paragraph that introduces you, and summarises all of your most impressive skills and knowledge.

The purpose of the profile is to catch hiring managers attention and quickly show them that you are a good candidate for them.

The type of information you should include is:

• Education  – Grades, subjects, courses, awards
• Hard skills  – Numeracy, writing, languages, IT system experience etc.
• Soft skills  – Communication , team work, adaptability, personal skills
• Your objective  – e.g. You want to work in finance, or you want to become a lawyer (you should also write about this in your  cover letter )

Quick tip: Research the types of jobs you are applying for, before you write your CV, by looking at lots of similar job adverts online. Make a list of the things they are looking for in candidates, such as skills , qualifications, interests etc. Then try to include as many of these things as you can in your profile and throughout the rest of your CV.

To ensure that recruiters and hiring managers don’t miss your most important skills and impressive achievements – add a bullet pointed section like this to put them in.

Here, you can show off any skills that are highly relevant to the jobs you are applying for, or anything really impressive you have achieved in school, or in your personal life.

For example, you may want to highlight the fact you were a school prefect, or captain of the hockey club.

Employers will be keen to see what you have achieved as a student , so use your education section to show them.

Include details such as:

• Which school you attended and the dates you attended from and to
• Which subjects you studied and your exam results (GCSEs, A levels)
• Any clubs you were a member of
• Any awards you received
• Any sports you played
• Any extracurricular activities you took part in
• Volunteer work you did through school

Work experience

If you have any work experience, such as a paper round or part-time job in a shop , then add it to showcase the valuable skills you have picked up.

Use a structure like the role in the example CV above and list the contributions you made to the employer, showing how you helped them to run their business.

If you haven’t got any work experience, don’t panic. We all have to start somewhere, and there’s plenty of ways to prove you have valuable skills and experience without it.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

If you have little or no experience, your hobbies can provide you with a great way to showcase some important workplace skills.

Some good hobbies to include are:

• Sports – Playing individual or team sports can demonstrate teamwork, communication, leadership, coordination and more
• Clubs – Being a member of a club like scouts or a book club proves dedication, motivation and can involve lots of other skills
• Volunteering – supporting a charity or business can require lots of workplace skills like dealing with customers and working to deadlines
• Accomplishments – If you’ve run a marathon or raised money for charity, it proves you are hard working and will look great on your CV
• Career-related interests – If you have any interests that are closely related to the jobs you are applying for, you should definitely include them. E.g. if you are applying for writing jobs, and you write your own blog, that’s a perfect way to highlight relevant skills.

You can also check out my video on how to add hobbies and interests to your CV…

Writing a CV as a 16 year old

Writing your CV when you have little or no experience can be challenging, but it’s not impossible.

If you follow the steps above and focus on showing employers that you have the skills and knowledge they need – you should easily be able to write a winning CV.

Once you’ve written your CV, you must work hard applying for plenty of jobs on job websites, and also by searching out companies and sending them direct emails to ask if they are hiring.

You won’t get a reply from every application you make, so just be patient and persistent, and you will soon land that job!

Good luck with your job search!