Thank you very much for sharing this! I'm currently applying to Oxford's Economics and Management. It's a bit stressful writing the Personal Statement, only 3 more weeks left. But your last video was extremely helpful to start it! I'm glad you put out a fresh video to give some more hindsight, as you said.
Unlucky? That's great! Astrophysics at Edinburgh, Glasgow and queen Mary + satellite technology at surrey :) I'm really going to try for Edinburgh though!
Hi Jamie! the link you publish of George Orwill advise is not longer available in the link that you posted, do you have any other source to get it? Thank you, excellent videos =)
Hey! I have a very important question when writing a personal statement: is it good to put quote in your introduction (for example, in 1st line) or is this a mistake to do? I have heard people say both of these things and want to check what do you think! And likewise in the end! Thank you!
Hello, Jamie! Thanks for this very helpful video. I have enjoyed your web-course on writing a Personal Statement as well. However, I am a bit unsure about which books to include in the statement, as books that I chose initially are heavily focused specifically on one area of Economics (that's the course I am applying for in Cambridge). Is it a good or a bad thing or does it even matter? Should I focus more on the breadth of my reading instead of the depth? That wouldn't be a problem if I had any space to write about more than three books. Thank you!
Hello Jamie! Thank you for your very informative and helpful videos about getting into oxford or any other university in UK. As you told that a personal statement must be informative, relevant to the course and as well as interesting so is it wise to start your personal statement with a story? For example: I want to apply for geography as an undergraduate and I am interested in human geography specifically the refugees and migration part so can I start with the story of my grandfather as a refugee from Pakistan to India in 1947 partition? Because this is how I got into this interest of subject. Thankyou.
That sounds like an authentic and genuine motivation for being interested in the course; however, I would keep that to around one-two sentences as a maximum. That is your inspiration, but they'll be more interested in what you have done to develop that spark into something of substance.
+JamoeMills yea! I would definitely include many other things that got me into this course. This story would be of 3-4 lines just for an interesting start. Thank you
Hi Jamie! Thank you for this video! This really cleared things up for me! But I do however have a question: I want to apply to study law and I feel like I still need some "evidence" to show that I would be a good law student. Do you or one of your friends maybe have an idea of what sort of "activity" I could do? Obviously the first thing would be to find work experience but over here (I am from Germany) without a law degree that is basically impossible to find. Are there maybe some other opportunities that I did not think of? Thanks :)
This video (and the previous one) helped me a lot! I've got only one more question - since I'm an international applicant, do you think that I should say why I want to study in the UK and stuff like that? the career advisor I talked to said I had to, but... somehow it just sounds strange to me. what do you think?
Złotowłosa Panda I don't really see why that is relevant? Surely the admissions tutor would be more interested in knowing why you are a good fit for the course rather than for the country. Put it in if you have nothing else to develop the other sections of your statement is my advice.
I didn't actually write anything about that and I was quite worried, thanks for reassuring me that I don't have to do that! applications sent, I hope that I'll at least have the opportunity to visit Oxford in December :D
you said that for interview there are links to help me but when I clicked the link it didn't work... can you sort that out please by the way you are my favourite best teacher I look up too... thanks
Hey Jamoe congrats on graduating! I love your videos and they've really helped me to write my personal statement. I'm applying for HSPS-politics and IR at Cambridge, however am thinking that maybe I should apply for history and politics at Oxford. I can't decide! Have you got any insider tips you could share? Thanks!
Hi! I have just a quick question after watching both part 1 and 2. You mentioned in part 1 that a personal statement should focus on one's academic life (A levels or equivalent) and achievements and then briefly mention extracurricular activities, but I feel that for what I am applying for (archaeo and anthro) extracurricular experience would be more relevant, so I sort of... switched them around. I just brushed over what would be considered 'school time' and wrote about my year of volunteering instead. Do you think that it might be a problem, as in... they don't care about it/ they are not looking for that?
***** This is where the 'indicator framework' comes in useful. So you need to find out skills and traits they are looking for and use examples prove you have those skills. I would assume your A levels are good indicators of your ability to learn, think analytically and solve problems. Thus, these will be useful in showing you can cope with the theoretical side of your course. Your extracurricular experience is great at showing you are engaged with the field in a practical sense. Both have strengths. Identify those and focus on them. Hope that helps!
Vanja Trivanovic Very similar. I would advice looking into who your ideal supervisor would be and looking into their work to provide focus to your application.
Thank you so much for your informative videos, they were really helpful. If you don't mind, I have a few more issues that I wanted to address: 1. A significant part of the reason why I want to apply for my chosen course has to do with the fact that I find it absolutely vital in regards to my two biggest dreams -- in fact, they have been my main motivation in life for a very long time now, but this somehow feels far too "private" to include in my statement, which worries me, since it's the biggest thing I've got going for me. Also, I have very little professional background concerning the subject of my course, and most of the things I've "achieved" have been on a non-academic/completely informal/"everyday-sort-of-thing" level. And all of this is bothering me immensely, because it means I have almost nothing "solid" to show. 2. Perhaps this is extremely stupid of me to ask, but does Oxbridge have a good Careers Service office? Does it offer or guarantee internships/work placements? Thank you in advance.
littlejune131 1. They are looking for the candidates who have the highest level of potential. Can you frame the things you have done to show that, compared to peers you are a high achiever or that you were able to achieve commendable things against resistance? It isn't impossible, but you will have to frame what you have done in a way they can easily assess your abilities. The assessment test will work in your favour, as this will show your potential. 2. Yes there is a careers service and it is very good. It is very well connected, offers lots of workshops, and advice. But no, there are no guarantees, you have to work hard and then maybe you'll get one of the internships ;)
Another excellent and very informative video! I'll be sure to re-watch this when I begin drafting my personal statement in a few months :D
literally you are such a saviour, thanks!
That George Orwell advice is gold.
Thank you very much for sharing this! I'm currently applying to Oxford's Economics and Management. It's a bit stressful writing the Personal Statement, only 3 more weeks left. But your last video was extremely helpful to start it! I'm glad you put out a fresh video to give some more hindsight, as you said.
コちゃん
If you don't mind me asking, how did it go?
Dear Jamoe , thanks a lot for your support and help. I never knew you liked Japan. Well I am a Japanese. 大変お世話になり ありがとうございました !
Thanks Jamie! I am really happy you did this video since I asked you about! This is why JamoeMills is the best youtube channel!
I thought when I was uploading this, 'Ah Matt will be pleased!'. Good to hear it lived up to expectations :)
Hahaha, it isn't common when a youtuber with 4 000 subscribers thinks of you when he does a video :)
Where have you been??? thank god i found you before my deadline.
Can we have a look at your PS?
I like the "Apple munching" sound effects. :-)
Damn! I just submitted my personal statement with my UCAS application yesterday! :D
Snap! I sent mine then too! What are you applying for if you don't mind me asking?
Haha well aren't we unlucky! I'm applying for Japanese studies (Oxford, Edinburgh, SOAS etc.). What about you?
Unlucky? That's great! Astrophysics at Edinburgh, Glasgow and queen Mary + satellite technology at surrey :) I'm really going to try for Edinburgh though!
Great, good luck!
Ibolya Běláková Saiko no koun to you too :) keep me updated on PM!
Hi Jamie! the link you publish of George Orwill advise is not longer available in the link that you posted, do you have any other source to get it?
Thank you, excellent videos =)
jessicakathe Thanks for the heads up, since updated the link.
Hey! I have a very important question when writing a personal statement: is it good to put quote in your introduction (for example, in 1st line) or is this a mistake to do? I have heard people say both of these things and want to check what do you think!
And likewise in the end!
Thank you!
Thank you so much! This is great advice.
Can u please make one specifically for civil eng it would be a great help
Hello, Jamie!
Thanks for this very helpful video. I have enjoyed your web-course on writing a Personal Statement as well. However, I am a bit unsure about which books to include in the statement, as books that I chose initially are heavily focused specifically on one area of Economics (that's the course I am applying for in Cambridge). Is it a good or a bad thing or does it even matter? Should I focus more on the breadth of my reading instead of the depth? That wouldn't be a problem if I had any space to write about more than three books.
Thank you!
Hello Jamie!
Thank you for your very informative and helpful videos about getting into oxford or any other university in UK. As you told that a personal statement must be informative, relevant to the course and as well as interesting so is it wise to start your personal statement with a story? For example: I want to apply for geography as an undergraduate and I am interested in human geography specifically the refugees and migration part so can I start with the story of my grandfather as a refugee from Pakistan to India in 1947 partition? Because this is how I got into this interest of subject.
Thankyou.
That sounds like an authentic and genuine motivation for being interested in the course; however, I would keep that to around one-two sentences as a maximum. That is your inspiration, but they'll be more interested in what you have done to develop that spark into something of substance.
+JamoeMills yea! I would definitely include many other things that got me into this course. This story would be of 3-4 lines just for an interesting start.
Thank you
Thanks Jamie! I was wondering...do you offer personal statement reviews?
Hi Jamie!
Thank you for this video! This really cleared things up for me!
But I do however have a question: I want to apply to study law and I feel like I still need some "evidence" to show that I would be a good law student. Do you or one of your friends maybe have an idea of what sort of "activity" I could do? Obviously the first thing would be to find work experience but over here (I am from Germany) without a law degree that is basically impossible to find. Are there maybe some other opportunities that I did not think of?
Thanks :)
This video (and the previous one) helped me a lot! I've got only one more question - since I'm an international applicant, do you think that I should say why I want to study in the UK and stuff like that? the career advisor I talked to said I had to, but... somehow it just sounds strange to me. what do you think?
Złotowłosa Panda I don't really see why that is relevant? Surely the admissions tutor would be more interested in knowing why you are a good fit for the course rather than for the country.
Put it in if you have nothing else to develop the other sections of your statement is my advice.
I didn't actually write anything about that and I was quite worried, thanks for reassuring me that I don't have to do that! applications sent, I hope that I'll at least have the opportunity to visit Oxford in December :D
you said that for interview there are links to help me but when I clicked the link it didn't work...
can you sort that out please
by the way you are my favourite best teacher I look up too...
thanks
Hey Jamoe congrats on graduating! I love your videos and they've really helped me to write my personal statement. I'm applying for HSPS-politics and IR at Cambridge, however am thinking that maybe I should apply for history and politics at Oxford. I can't decide! Have you got any insider tips you could share? Thanks!
isabel oakes Perhaps look at the flexibility of the course, what papers you can take and the tutors who teac them? That may help you decide :)
I'll look into that thanks!
Hi! I have just a quick question after watching both part 1 and 2. You mentioned in part 1 that a personal statement should focus on one's academic life (A levels or equivalent) and achievements and then briefly mention extracurricular activities, but I feel that for what I am applying for (archaeo and anthro) extracurricular experience would be more relevant, so I sort of... switched them around. I just brushed over what would be considered 'school time' and wrote about my year of volunteering instead. Do you think that it might be a problem, as in... they don't care about it/ they are not looking for that?
***** This is where the 'indicator framework' comes in useful. So you need to find out skills and traits they are looking for and use examples prove you have those skills.
I would assume your A levels are good indicators of your ability to learn, think analytically and solve problems. Thus, these will be useful in showing you can cope with the theoretical side of your course.
Your extracurricular experience is great at showing you are engaged with the field in a practical sense.
Both have strengths. Identify those and focus on them. Hope that helps!
Helpful=]] Thank you
Hi..Any advice for someone who wants to apply for a chem eng course and then join the family business?
Is there a piece of advice that is particularly relevant for graduate applicants? Or is the structure fairly similar? Thanks very much!
Vanja Trivanovic Very similar. I would advice looking into who your ideal supervisor would be and looking into their work to provide focus to your application.
Thank you so much for your informative videos, they were really helpful. If you don't mind, I have a few more issues that I wanted to address:
1. A significant part of the reason why I want to apply for my chosen course has to do with the fact that I find it absolutely vital in regards to my two biggest dreams -- in fact, they have been my main motivation in life for a very long time now, but this somehow feels far too "private" to include in my statement, which worries me, since it's the biggest thing I've got going for me. Also, I have very little professional background concerning the subject of my course, and most of the things I've "achieved" have been on a non-academic/completely informal/"everyday-sort-of-thing" level. And all of this is bothering me immensely, because it means I have almost nothing "solid" to show.
2. Perhaps this is extremely stupid of me to ask, but does Oxbridge have a good Careers Service office? Does it offer or guarantee internships/work placements?
Thank you in advance.
littlejune131 1. They are looking for the candidates who have the highest level of potential. Can you frame the things you have done to show that, compared to peers you are a high achiever or that you were able to achieve commendable things against resistance? It isn't impossible, but you will have to frame what you have done in a way they can easily assess your abilities. The assessment test will work in your favour, as this will show your potential.
2. Yes there is a careers service and it is very good. It is very well connected, offers lots of workshops, and advice. But no, there are no guarantees, you have to work hard and then maybe you'll get one of the internships ;)
JamoeMills Thanks for the info. :)
Thank you Jamie! Raza =)
If we have only partially read a book is it alright to mention it
Thanks for this. One thing, is it okay for me to write about two subjects in my personal statement?
Agastya If you are mainly applying for joint-honours course, e.g. Philosophy and Theology, you'll need to speak about both subjects.
I wonder how important it is with paragraphs? Because I waste 5 lines for that if it is crucial.
would you be open to reading my personal statement?
how did you learn english so fluently ?
I imagine it’s something to do with being English mate.