Applying to university is an exciting step, but with thousands of students submitting applications each year, how can you make yours stand out? When I was in college and applying to university, I remember how important my personal statement felt, it was my chance to show who I was beyond my grades. Weather you\u2019re still choosing your course or putting the finishing touches to your personal statement, these tips will help you showcase your strengths, personality and potential.<\/p>\n
Do your research<\/strong> Highlight relevant experience<\/strong> Show who you are<\/strong> Avoid cliches<\/strong> Use AI carefully<\/strong> Check it over<\/strong> Visit an Open Day<\/strong> Start early<\/strong> Remember, your UCAS application is your chance to tell your story, who you are, what motivates you and why you\u2019ll thrive at university. Good luck!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Applying to university is an exciting step, but with thousands of students submitting applications each year, how can you make yours stand out? When I was in college and applying to university, I remember how important my personal statement felt, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23134,"featured_media":1863,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[25,7],"tags":[71,70],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/students\/files\/2025\/11\/Chloes-top-tips.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1862"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23134"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1862"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1864,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1862\/revisions\/1864"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nLook beyond course titles, check the modules, teaching style and opportunities like placements or studying abroad. Mentioning specific details in your application shows genuine interest and preparation.<\/p>\n
\nInclude any work, volunteering or part-time roles that have developed useful skills such as teamwork, communication or problem-solving. Always link what you have learnt to how it prepares you for university.<\/p>\n
\nGrades matter, but universities also want to know about you. Talk about hobbies, achievements or interests that reflect who you are and explain why they are meaningful to you.<\/p>\n
\nSkip phrases like \u201cI\u2019ve always been passionate about\u2026\u201d and focus on specific experiences that sparked your interest in your subject. Authentic, reflective writing stands out far more than generic statements.<\/p>\n
\nAI can help with structures or ideas, but don\u2019t rely on it to write your personal statement. Universities want to hear your genuine voice.<\/p>\n
\nProofread carefully for spelling and grammar. Reading it aloud helps spot awkward phrasing. Ask a teacher, friend or family member to review your application before you submit.<\/p>\n
\nOpen days help you decide if a university feels right for you. You can also mention specific things you enjoyed or learnt about, showing real engagement.<\/p>\n
\nGive yourself time to plan, write and refine. A calm, confident application always beats a rushed one.<\/p>\n