how to write a personal statement for history

Personal statement advice: history

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History personal statements: how to impress

What else to include in your history statement.

Why you want to study history: this is an obvious one, but try and bring your love of history to life with evidence. The best statements are those that go straight into engaging with what currently inspires you about the subject, not simply 'as a child when my uncle took me to a castle...'.
Relevant experiences: one way to show your engagement with the subject is to talk about an experience and – crucially – what it was you learned. This could be a museum or gallery visit, volunteering, wider reading you've undertaken – even a powerful documentary or insightful discussion with your grandparents. A tutor told us one of the best statements they've read opened with a short account of a conversation with a grandad about his experiences in World War II.
How other subjects give you useful knowledge or skills: try to do this in an interesting way (rather than just listing out what else you're studying), giving a sense of your broader reading and intellectual interests.
Career aspirations: if it's relevant, explain where you see yourself in future and how a history degree can help you get there. Don't forget to elaborate on why – many history students say they want to be teachers or journalists, for instance, so saying this alone won't help you to stand out.
Relating it back to history: Dr Selina Todd from the University of Oxford told us she's looking for creative evidence of your engagement with history. That could be through work experience or creative writing, an interest in current affairs and how history helps us to understand them, or maybe something about how your hobbies and personal interests fit with history. For example, if you play in a band, are you also interested in music of the past?

Key skills for history students

Highlight any skills you've developed that would make you a strong candidate for studying the course at university level. These could include:

Independent research: the University of Bristol is 'particularly eager to identify applicants whose interest in the subject extends beyond the A level syllabus and who are keen to engage in independent research', for example.
Awareness of key historical concepts: Dr Pigney from Goldsmiths told us he's especially impressed with applicants whose statements engage with fundamental historiographical questions, such as the extent to which history is a collection of different stories told from different viewpoints, or whether there is a single true account of the past.
Self-motivation: demonstrate how you can think coherently, analytically and critically, can research and write independently, and manage your time effectively.

Things to avoid

The tutors we spoke to stressed the importance of researching your chosen courses to ensure that the content covered actually matches your interests. Your enthusiasm for Ancient Rome won't stand out in a good way if one of the courses you're applying for only covers historical periods after 1500 – so read the course content thoroughly (you can look up courses and read detailed descriptions with our search tool ).

Don't devote too much space in your statement to your extracurricular activities. Keep this section brief and relevant, using it to show how you're a well-rounded applicant. Dr Todd from Oxford told us she doesn’t want to see random hobbies or qualities which have nothing to do with the course or its selection criteria. Here are a few final pointers:

Avoid using long quotations in your statement – 'we want to know what you think!'
Don't just say: 'I have a passion for history' – demonstrate it.
Misspelling and grammatical inaccuracies are a no-no. History is a literate subject, so it needs to be well written.

History Personal Statement Example

History, which has fascinated and engaged me from early on in my education journey, has become my deep passion and formed my intellectual journey. Teaching History at AS-Level proved transformative despite initial scepticism from others: through my independent study of the Crusades and Norman Conquest of England, I achieved outstanding results while honing valuable self-directed learning, exam preparation skills, time management practices and time commitment skills that I now hope to pursue at one of Britain’s premier universities as an undergraduate degree candidate in History.

My interest in history was ignited through reading Ladybird ‘Adventures from History’ books handed down to me, featuring stories about Cleopatra to Charles II and more. As I progressed, my literary journey expanded, including readings from respected historians such as Asbridge and Stubbs. Reading has not only expanded my knowledge but has also inspired a desire to delve deep into historical interpretation and historiography.

Tosh’s works, in particular, have opened my eyes to historical truth and its ever-evolving narrative of history. Additionally, I find comfort in reading both factual and fictional literature like Bernard Cornwell and Sharon Kay Penman who bring history alive through storytelling.

Beyond academic study, I took the initiative of starting an Ancient History Club at my school. Not only has this engaging venture brought me immense satisfaction but has also sharpened my teamwork and leadership abilities. From organizing collective research projects, delivering presentations, and creating lesson plans, to managing my schedule – these responsibilities were met easily due to my inherent love of history, evident through reading National Geographic articles or R. L. Fox’s ‘The Search for Alexander’ book series.

My A-level subjects (History, Biology and German) have not only enabled me to explore historical inquiry more thoroughly but have also given me an appreciation of science. Supplementary AS-level studies in Mathematics and Chemistry have given me an invaluable foundation in the scientific principles that underpin humanities fields, illuminating how scientific insights can shed new light on ancient civilizations. Though I did not travel much during my studies of history, I gained knowledge about many cultures through studying History. Learning German further deepened my fascination with languages; learning ancient dialects has further deepened this appreciation of history’s complexity. While languages are indispensable tools for travel communication purposes, my true passion lies within history – something I plan on continuing my career path.

As part of my commitment to personal growth, I have spent the past year volunteering. This experience has broadened my abilities to collaborate effectively and communicate with individuals from varying backgrounds and age groups; taught valuable time management lessons; helped maintain an appropriate balance between academic responsibilities and social commitments; been immensely fulfilling; particularly realizing its profound effect on lives that may otherwise feel isolated;

My school community is vibrant in tradition; as an active participant, I have taken on multiple positions of responsibility that contribute to its dynamic fabric. From serving as a musical school student and perfect to leading my sixth-form charity team and fulfilling emotional/academic mentoring responsibilities for younger students – each experience has built my leadership and interpersonal skills further. I am immensely proud of these contributions and look forward to expanding them through active involvement in various clubs and activities beyond school, such as rowing which not only keeps me physically fit but also brings with it camaraderie/discipline associated with team sports!

My desire to pursue a History degree at one of the Russell Group universities stems from a strong desire to engage in rigorous academic inquiry, deepen my understanding of history, and contribute meaningfully to ongoing discourse within this field. With my commitment to self-improvement, voracious hunger for knowledge, and steady commitment to community engagement I hope to make an invaluable contribution both at the university level and wider historical scholarship sphere. I look forward to beginning this intellectual journey alongside esteemed academics while forging a future that combines my love of history with my persistent ambition to make lasting changes in society.

Ancient History Personal Statement

Through the centuries and millennia, cultures across history have been profoundly shaped by the relationship between ancient world and present-day cultures. Michael Crawford brilliantly observed this link when discussing how Roman authorities neglected legitimate grievances that led to its downfall, echoing today’s socialist frameworks and political systems. This profound connection between past and present has ignited my intellectual curiosity as I investigate where today’s global landscape originated from; I view classical civilizations study as essential in understanding their character and growth today.

As someone raised in an area rich with Roman archaeology, my interest in Ancient History began early on. Over time, it has transformed from passing intrigue to an eager desire to expand my knowledge base. Engaging with numerous historical texts spanning numerous periods and ancient literature such as The Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeneid has broadened my perspective. Of the many engaging fields of study available to me, the late Roman Republic holds special interest – its multifaceted factors contributing to political and social unrest at that epoch eventually leading up to Empire are particularly captivating and I am eager to uncover their intricacies more thoroughly.

My passion for ancient history led me to launch a web portal dedicated to the art, archaeology, history, culture and literature of Greek and Roman civilizations. Alongside my interest in classical period culture, art and literature is my desire to learn languages: Ancient Greek and Latin are of particular interest as I hope to master them to read, write and converse in them one day; studying this field at university would provide the perfect platform to realize these ambitions.

As part of my college experience, I developed my debate and discussion skills by actively taking part in the college debating society. Participating in lively exchanges of ideas has enhanced my intellectual development; therefore, I am committed to continuing this rewarding pursuit at the university level. Given my firm belief in political engagement, I’m delighted to join forces with the Liberal Democrats. My love for debate and discourse comes through in my written essays, as evidenced by winning an essay competition hosted by my college, where I examined political ideologies in modern British politics. Last year, I had the incredible privilege of participating in a college study trip to Greece that provided firsthand experiences of significant sites of ancient Greek civilisation – such as Delphi’s sacred centre and Epidaurus theatre – which I will always treasure.

As a sports enthusiast, I enjoy participating in and watching football, cricket and golf – I am an active member of Surrey Cricket Club – in my free time. Additionally, walking provides great peace; this summer provided me with an opportunity to traverse a section of North America’s Appalachian Trail! Additionally, as an advocate of architecture preservation, conservation and restoration in Britain – being an active member of the National Trust gives me access to their wide portfolio of properties under their protection and care.

As my plans develop, my ultimate career goal involves heritage management and conservation work within museum work environments. To gain first-hand exposure, I am currently seeking relevant work experience. Furthermore, as part of my post-university trajectory, I would love to take up further study; particularly Ancient History due to its captivating figures of antiquity that offer opportunity through primary sources, remnants from ancient built environments, discussion, debate literature history politics architecture of antiquity courses will propel me toward success!

My passion for Ancient History, nurtured through both personal and academic pursuits, compelled me to embark upon an intensive undergraduate program in this field. The ancient world’s myriad lessons and timeless allure draw me in; by exploring its mysteries I hope to gain greater insight into present and future situations. With an insatiable desire for knowledge and a dedication to intellectual growth, I eagerly anticipate contributing and flourishing within the vibrant academic community at the university.

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Successful Personal Statement For History At Oxford

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Rob Needleman

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 a History applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The History Course at Oxford combines the examination of large regions over extended periods of time with more focused work on smaller social groups, shorter periods and particular themes.

Read on to see how this candidate demonstrates that they can understand and analyse history.

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement (the applicant uses most of the 4,000 characters available):

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Oxbridge History comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts.

Your tutor will give you actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.

History Personal Statement

My passion for history can best be explained by discussing the period of German Unification, which displays the most engrossing virtues of studying the subject. Firstly there is great scope for debate and exploration of the interlocking causations, examining the relative importance of Bismarck’s own role against the military strengthening of Prussia or the shifting international relations. But most interestingly it is a defining period in the shaping of modern Europe and the way in which it links the past to the present is most fascinating. Studying this period reveals how international relations progressed after the Napoleonic era leading to the way in which Germany was unified through war and thus became a country built around war. It is therefore arguable that this era created the state which would then trigger the two wars which have shaped the modern world. This period shows how history can give us a more rounded understanding of the world we live in, linking our mysterious and intriguing past to our all too familiar present surroundings. It is partly this, which motivates me to study history as in doing so I gain immense satisfaction from learning how our world has evolved.

An understanding of history also provides a fundamental backdrop for any other areas of study. I have found this through my other A-Level subjects, for example historical knowledge of politics in Britain was essential to AS politics, particularly when studying the political situation in Ireland. An understanding of past conflicts is indispensable when it comes to managing contemporary politics. Furthermore, whilst taking French the study of Un Sac De Billes by Joseph Joffo unearthed experiences of living under Vichy France. To learn a language fully it is important to immerse oneself in the culture and history of the country in order to develop a more rounded understanding of the people who live there. Thus it seems that history is inescapable; it not only provides vital background knowledge but also helps bring to life every other academic subject, which is why in my opinion, it is the most important.

During my A Level history course, the Napoleonic era particularly fascinated me and I pursued my interest through further reading, looking specifically at Napoleon’s downfall, an area I found most compelling as it offers the greatest exposition of the psychology of this exceptional man. I read Digby Smith’s ‘The Decline and Fall of Napoleon’s Empire’ as well as Zamoyski’s ‘1812’. I picked up on several themes throughout Zamoyski’s book and developed my own opinions such as sympathetic stances towards General Barclay and the Tsar, but was particularly intrigued by how Napoleon let his ego drive his pre-war diplomacy and how Napoleon’s own role in the breakdown of the Treaty of Tilsit perhaps triggered his eventual downfall. The fact that I was so gripped by so many different themes within an historical study of one war also reveals another aspect of history that is so appealing to me. It offers vast numbers of different avenues to pursue in one’s research, whether it is Napoleon’s diplomacy or the fallibility of the Russian command.

Outside of my academic studies, I am a dedicated sportsman but have particularly flourished musically as a cellist, obtaining a grade 8 standard in year 11 and am a committed member of various ensembles. Music has coloured my historical studies, for example, I played various Shostakovich symphonies coinciding with my study of Stalinist Russia at GCSE, each with a very different feel depending upon his relationship with Stalin, but perhaps most moving was playing his 10 th symphony, a purely self-indulgent expression of relief after the death of the dictator. It is impossible to appreciate this great work without its historical context, which transforms the piece into something personal, attaching the listener emotionally. History is not only fascinating in itself, but it enriches our appreciation of all other interests.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

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The student speaks intelligently and successfully links their interests – both within history and outside of history – to the study of history on a wider scale. The statement is well organised and reads well. Paragraph three, in particular, has many strong points with a greater focus on what really interests the student and why. The student does well to focus on the different areas of exploration within history showing a strong awareness of the nuances within historical study.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

The statement focuses too much on what the student knows, rather than what interests the student – the first paragraph, in particular, reads too much like an essay, and less like an exploration of why this student actually wants to study history. The student risks falling into a trap of trying to teach and impress the admissions tutor with their knowledge instead of offering a more personal approach. The student also needs to try to avoid repetition, for example ‘most interestingly’ and ‘most fascinating’ within the same sentence in order to ensure the whole statement flows better.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This is a very strong, well-written Personal Statement. The student has clearly proved they can both understand and analyse history. The student perhaps needs to focus more on their own motivations behind studying history, but overall, the statement suggests a student with great potential and zeal for the subject. What would make the student stand out even more is a stronger closing statement – something to bring the whole personal statement together.

This Personal Statement for History is a great example of a strong, well-written Statement. The candidate’s interest and achievements are clearly shown which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Oxford, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

There are plenty more successful personal statements and expert guides on our Free Personal Statement Resources page.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Oxford History application.

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Sample Personal History Statement

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In personal statement samples by field.

A personal history statement (PHS) provides an insight into your academic and professional endeavors. It should include your notable achievements as well as the challenges you have faced. The purpose of a PHS is to provide the admissions committee with a better understanding of your personality, your motivation, and how your prior experiences have prepared you for the future.

Here is a sample personal history statement of a student who applied to the anthropology program and got into several top schools like Columbia, Harvard, and Stanford.

Growing up in a family and society that strictly adhered to the traditional roles of a “proper conservative woman,” I have found pride in breaking free from these restrictive cultural expectations and in embracing my own identity and self-expression.

As the first female in my family to study arts, I remember feeling discouraged when, during a sixth-grade science class, I was lectured by my teacher on the importance of hard sciences and the perceived uselessness of arts. This came after she saw my notebook filled with a detailed sketch of the circulatory system of a frog. Her face betrayed her disdain. The muffled laughter of my classmates seemed to confirm her notions – as if to say that only the truly intelligent pursued careers in the hard sciences.

During my tenth-grade, my family pressured me to choose a science-based curriculum over one that focused on arts and humanities. But I refused to give in and instead found a way to combine my love of art with my disdain for science. When words failed me and I felt stifled by my circumstances, art became a reliable outlet for self-expression, full of vibrant colors and offering endless opportunities for creativity.

During my senior high school year, I finally took control of my own future and decided to study fine arts. This choice opened the doors to a whole new realm of possibilities, allowing me to pursue the future I had always dreamed of. In college, I approached my studies with a sense of exploration, as if I were an adventurer in uncharted territory. Each new topic and area of knowledge helped me to grow in objectivity, intellect, and wisdom.

My journey through the world of art and culture has been filled with magnificent pieces and spellbinding paintings, as well as the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the glorious civilizations that reached the pinnacle of trade, art, and culture. My coursework in the history of art piqued my interest in anthropology, and I was particularly fascinated by the ancient Egyptian civilization, whose artifacts, hieroglyphics, and art offered a window into its evolving languages, unique architecture, and transformative culture. Similarly, in Greek civilization, I discovered how art and politics intersected and shaped public opinion, and how philosophy and politics were intertwined.

Art is often thought of as an individual expression, but when considered as a collection, it can have a powerful impact on society. I am fascinated by the relationship between the arts and the evolution of social, political, cultural, and religious systems and constructs.

It has been difficult for me to come to terms with the fact that I have lived in two worlds that often seem incompatible. On a daily basis, I find myself immersed in a culture that imposes strict rules that limit my intellectual and expressive freedom. Whenever I had the opportunity, I immersed myself in the emotive world of curiosity, human expression, and perspective, where individuals create cultures that have outlasted even the most famous nations throughout history. Unfortunately, this parallel universe abruptly came to an end when I graduated.

Working as a professional graphic designer and photographer made it clear to me that I wanted to pursue a Master’s degree. Unfortunately, it took me over a year and a half to convince my family to allow me to do so, rather than simply getting engaged and becoming the first female in my family to pursue a graduate degree.

Attending the country’s premier National College of Arts allowed me to expand my education and skills across the fine arts. This broader exposure helped to refine my academic interests, and I was able to bring these interests together in my thesis on self-harm.

My experimental short film, “Pain of Disappointment,” and accompanying paper explored how the society cope with the expectations placed on them by their families to be successful. The film and paper highlighted the prevalence of self-harm in the society, and how it manifests itself physically, emotionally, and mentally. Through this project, I sought to educate people about self-harm and its impact on our society.

As the first woman in my family to pursue an advanced degree outside of the country, I hope to use the science of Anthropology to explore how individuals can transform negative energies into positive expressions that contribute to and benefit society. Additionally, as a woman growing up in a male-domindated society, I am interested in using Visual Anthropology to study suppressed issues and effectively inform all segments of society, including those who are illiterate, in order to empower everyone to reclaim their pride.

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History Masters Personal Statement Sample

Written by Hannah Slack

This is an example personal statement for a Masters degree application in History. See our guide for advice on writing your own postgraduate personal statement .

The Black Lives Matter protests over the last few years have sparked interesting debates about the role of nationality, memorial and history in our modern society. I have long been interested in the history of migration and otherness and recent events have shown that these are topics that need ongoing teaching and discussion. I am applying for this Masters programme because I believe it will give me the best opportunity to advance my understanding of these themes and learn more about the complexities surrounding such universal debates.

Last year I completed a Bachelors degree in Politics, achieving a 2.1. My degree allowed me to take cross-discipline modules and so in addition to political theory I studied modules on the African Diaspora and propaganda in the 20th century. I believe having a background in politics will benefit my studies in history because it allowed me to learn about broad ideas such as race theory, modernisation and mobilisation.

After graduating from my undergraduate degree I worked as a freelance writer for an American sports online magazine. I have a strong passion for sports and this job not only helped improve my written communication but it also taught me how to work for myself and manage a sizable workload. Research was another important element in the role which I thoroughly enjoyed. Aside from discussing physical games, I wrote articles on the role of politics in American sports and the many moments of activism that drew the attention of the nation.

My passion for sports did not stem from my interest in politics but rather the two intertwined somewhere along the way. Prior to landing a sports journalism job, I was the team captain of my university’s lacrosse team. I had never played lacrosse when I joined in first year but the dynamics of the game made it an extremely fun and interesting hobby. Advancing to the position of captain within three years shows my dedication and willingness to work hard, as well as my leadership skills. I believe all of these skills will aid me in completing a Masters degree.

I have applied to this institution because the taught modules you offer and the specialists housed in the department align most with my interests. The large emphasis on modern history excites me as a place for me to learn, grow and contribute.

Find a Masters in History

If you're interested in a studying History, then why don't you check out our regularly updated catalogue of available History Masters courses .

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History personal statements

Scroll down this page to find a collection of real personal statements written by students applying to study history and related courses at university.

Plus, over on The Uni Guide, we've also got advice from universities on what they want to see in a history personal statement .

Among the tips shared by admissions experts: talk about the specific topics that fascinate you; focus on your personal skills and history; critique books you've read; think about history you've studied outside the classroom.

Examples of real history personal statements

These history personal statements are written by real students. Among them you will find personal statements that have formed part of successful applications to universities such as Birmingham, Cambridge and Exeter

Bear in mind, these personal statements are presented in exactly the way they were originally submitted to Ucas. Don't expect them all to be perfect! But by reading through a few of these samples, you'll be able to get some ideas and inspiration for your own personal statement.

More help with your personal statement

You can find personal statement examples for other courses by using this subject list, or by returning to our personal statements by subject page.

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History Personal Statement Guide

Y our personal statement is the first, and sometimes only, chance you get to impress admissions tutors as part of your history university application. This makes it a crucial element in a successful application .

Y ou should use your personal statement to demonstrate your dedication to studying history at university level , show tutors that you would be a good student to teach, and prove that you have the skills and motivation to receive an offer.

A lot of applicants understandably find writing personal statements difficult . It’s hard to balance your academic interests with your personal achievements, all the while keeping everything relevant to the history courses to which you are applying. Not to mention fitting it all into a round one page of A4 .

T o help you get on the right track, out Personal Statement Guide takes you through everything you need to know to create a great history personal statement :

Why are Personal Statements Important?
What Should I Include in a History Personal Statement?
What Should I Avoid in a History Personal Statement?

Advice on How to Start a History Personal Statement

Advice on how to finish a history personal statement .

Why are Personal Statements Important?

The personal statement is a written piece that you submit as part of your UCAS application. You write and submit one statement that is sent to all your university choices, and it must fit within either 4,000 characters or 47 lines in the UCAS form (whichever limit you reach first).

The personal statement gives Admissions Tutors a feeling of who you are as a potential student. It gives a personality to the rest of your application and helps universities decide between applicants with very similar qualifications, based on who they think is best suited to the course.

As an applicant, you have to tick certain boxes in your personal statement. You must prove that: you have the skills to succeed on the course, you are academically curious about history , and you are motivated and passionate about studying history at a high level.

This means that a successful history personal statement needs to be unique, interesting, and packed full of specific interests that you have within the field of history.

If you’re applying to Oxbridge or other top-level universities, you especially need to make sure the statement is focused on your academic interests and only includes history-relevant achievements.

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What Should I Include in a History Personal Statement ?

A good history personal statement needs to demonstrate your passion for the study of history, any work experience or academic achievements you have gained that relate to history, and evidence of your independent research into history as an academic discipline outs ide of your classroom study.

Passion for Studying History

You must show admissions tutors that you are dedicated to studying history without giving them unnecessary background or being overly general.

This is best done by thinking about why you personally are interested in history: what led you to the decision to apply for history at university? Which parts of history have you enjoyed the most so far? Questions like these can help you unlock the answers.

Each person will be different here: for one person, it was learning about 20 th century United States history and how it led to present day geopolitics; for someone else, it was hearing family stories about the second world war. For another, it may have been childhood cartoons of Egyptians and Romans that first motivated them to learn more.

Whatever you tell the tutors here must be true to you, and should not be a generic answer or copied from someone else. Tutors are very skilled at sniffing out insincere or plagiarised statements!

Academic achievements and experiences

T hink about your development as a history student so far, what are you proud of having achieved?

This could be more formal accomplishments such as participating in or winning essay competitions or a school subject prize, or it could be a more personal marker, such as reading beyond your A level course or writing a complex essay of which you are proud.

Experiences you discuss can be from a wide range of categories provided you can link it, or the skills you learned, to studying history.

Especially for humanities subjects like history, transferrable skills are certainly applicable here. Perhaps interning at a newspaper helped refine your writing skills, or volunteering as a sports coach encouraged your team working and logical thinking skills?

Specific interests and evidence of research

For Oxbridge personal statements this is the area tutors will look at most closely. It shows that you have immersed yourself in history and have thought about it well beyond the classroom.

You could discuss interesting academic books you have read, relevant news stories that relate to or involve history, or multimedia sources like documentaries, films, or TV programmes that in some way relate to or have inspired you to pursue history.

One mistake applicants often make is simply listing everything they have read. To impress tutors (and convince them that you have engaged with the sources properly) you should highlight the key academic learnings you have made from each. If you are applying to Oxbridge, these are the kind of things tutors will use to open discussions in your interviews , so consider this engagement good interview preparation as well!

What Should I Avoid in a History Personal Statement ?

Firstly, you should try not to be general in any of your assertions . Remember that tutors will read hundreds of history personal statements this year, and you want yours to stand out.

Rather than saying you are passionate about the past, perhaps discuss a specific period of history and how it informs your view of the present; instead of name-checking a famous historian, discuss a key idea of theirs and link it to the themes of your wider research.

Targeting specific ideas and digging down into what you have read will show admissions tutors that you are a good potential fit as a university history student.

Avoid cliched statements like the plague . Even though you are passionate about history, don’t state “I am passionate about history”; find a less cliched way to say it instead.

Your statement might require several drafts to ensure the language is interesting yet accurate, but it’s worth it: if you came up with something in a minute, then it’s likely so did lots of other applicants.

Don’t be tempted to mention personal achievements that are not related or involve transferable skills relevant to history. Every year we see applicants itching to mention their grade 6 trumpet, award-winning dance performance, or silver Duke of Edinburgh award. Unless you can clearly argue its relevance to studying history, it’s unlikely that such an achievement will impress the tutors.

There is no one correct way to open a personal statement. This gives you room for creativity, but can also make it difficult to begin.

The opening of the statement sets the tone for the entire personal statement , so it’s crucial that it’s in your own words and reflects your own personality; admissions tutors will be able to tell if it’s someone else’s words.

If you’re struggling to find an opener, we recommend drafting the rest of the personal statement before coming back to write the introduction. This can help you have a better idea of what opening will best set the groundwork for the rest of the statement body.

Some applicants begin with a quote from a historian they admire, others might explain how they first came to realise their passion for history, whilst another might jump straight into a specific historical event which they find interesting.

Do whichever works for you but be sure to avoid cliches (no ‘dictionary definitions’ here).

Closing a personal statement can be just as difficult as beginning: how to sum up what could be almost 1000 words of writing in a brief statement?

The final paragraph must be short, snappy, and highlight the headline reason for your potential as a university-level history student.

Like the opening, the final section of your personal statement will likely need a good few rewrites, so don’t feel disheartened if you haven’t captured it perfectly first time round.

What are some Tips for Writing a Strong History Personal Statement?
How Long Should my History Personal Statement Be?
What Kind of Extracurricular Activities Should I Include in my History Personal Statement?
How Can I Tailor my History Personal Statement to the Oxford/Cambridge Course?

Getting started is one of the trickiest parts of the personal statement process. We recommend making a big list of everything you have done or are interested in to help focus your mind.

Whilst reading is the cornerstone of an Oxbridge history degree, we understand that non-stop academic reading can begin to get stale (even for the most dedicated of students).

Why not get the creative juices flowing with some alternative forms of research:

Watch films centred on key historical events and periods (the most famous examples would be Forrest Gump , Lincoln, or Gladiator , with more recent films being released all the time, such as Oppenheimer and The Zone of Interest ).
Get into a podcast about history. There are hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of good podcasts looking at history via themes, regions, or periods. Try the BBC podcast You’re Dead to Me for a light-hearted take on various historical subjects featuring comedians and celebrity guests.
Watch documentaries on history aimed at the general viewer. While these programmes and films may not give the most in-depth analysis of historical events, it can be an easy way to find new topics to research further.

Remember to k eep note of the things you read, watch, and experience that inspire you as you do them; this will help make writing the statement easier. Check out our blog on alternative personal statement research methods for more ideas!

UCAS has strict limits for all personal statements: 4,000 characters or 47 lines on the UCAS form (whichever limit is reached first). This is roughly one to two sides of typed A4.

This may feel like a lot of space, but once you get going you’ll realise that it’s not. We recommend using up the majority if not all the space given to you so that you give admissions tutors the best possible idea of who you are as a history student.

It can be difficult to decide what you should or shouldn’t include in a history personal statement.

As a general rule, if you include something, you must be able to relate it to history – either through its content or through transferrable skills.

For example, if you have worked part time at a history museum, participated in historical reenactments or historical plays, or tutored history to younger students, then these can clearly be mentioned.

However, we also encourage you to think more creatively: perhaps you study foreign languages which help you access a new set of sources, or maybe you have won maths competitions, proving your logical thinking skills which are helpful in planning history essays.

The key is to think creatively, and for every activity you mention (even the ‘obvious’ ones), clearly state how it links to history, either through content or transferable skills.

Tailoring a personal statement to any one course is difficult, since the same statement is sent by UCAS to all of your university choices (of which you have up to five). This means that you should not directly mention the specifics of any one course, since it signals to other universities that you are not considering their course as your main option.

Instead, we recommend targeting Oxbridge through the style of your statement: keep it tight to the academic study of history and demonstrate your analytical skills.

Showing that you’ve researched history outside of school to a high level, and leaving out any personal interests that don’t relate to history, is a good way to keep Oxbridge tutors interested.

Book your History Personal Statement Package

You can contact our Oxbridge-graduate Consultants on +44 (0) 20 7499 2394 or email [email protected] to discuss our personal statement packages.

If you’d like to know more about History, we have admissions test guidance and interview preparation readily available.

Our Oxbridge-graduate consultants are available between 9.00 am – 5.00 pm from Monday to Friday, with additional evening availability when requested.

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7499 2394
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How to Write a Strong Personal Statement for Graduate School

by Heidi Kerr and Paul David Terry
November 10, 2020

A student sits on his laptop at the Silo at UC Davis.

You’ve made the exciting decision to pursue a graduate degree. Congratulations! There are a wide range of graduate programs to explore , and once you’ve selected the right program for you, it’s time to begin the graduate application process.

The statement of purpose and personal history statement are key components of the UC Davis graduate school application . With fewer than 4,000 characters allowed for each essay, these statements can seem particularly daunting. However, each one has a specific purpose for showcasing your academic journey and creating a holistic application.

Below, we’ve analyzed the differences between the statement of purpose and personal history statement and provided tips for writing these graduate school admissions essays.

Statement of Purpose and Personal History: What’s the Difference?

A student examines chemicals through a beaker while wearing a lab coat and goggles.

The statement of purpose shares your academic objectives with the admissions committee and explains why you want to obtain a graduate degree. The personal history statement provides background about who you are and how your experiences have shaped your interests and ability to overcome challenges. Each essay has specific goals to showcase your experience, passion and story.

How to Write a Strong Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose should highlight your academic preparation , motivation and interests, along with any specializations and career goals that contribute to your program of study. As you write your statement of purpose, it should encompass some of the following:

Academic and research experiences - Include any relevant academic studies or research pursuits, internships or employment, presentations, publications, teaching, and travel or study abroad experiences that prepare you for this graduate program. Explain your motivation or passion for these experiences and how they can enrich your graduate study.
Interests, specializations, and career goals - Highlight your research interests, disciplinary subfields, area(s) of specialization, and professional objectives.
Fit - Explain how your preparation, experiences, and interests match the specific resources and characteristics of your graduate program at UC Davis. Identify specific faculty within your desired graduate program with whom you would like to work and how their interests match your own.

The statement of purpose should also address why you want to pursue the particular graduate degree program at the university and what your goals are in pursuing a degree. Remember, the statement of purpose should explain exactly that, your purpose for becoming a graduate student. This is the primary way it stands apart from your personal history statement.

What to Include in Your Personal History Statement

A student smiles as she inspects yellow liquid underneath a microscope, while her professor watches on.

The personal history statement helps the reader learn more about you as an individual and potential graduate student. Use this opportunity to describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Tell a story that includes any experiences, challenges or opportunities relevant to your academic journey. Consider how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field.

A strong personal history statement begins with an authentic voice and personal narrative. This can reflect your journey to graduate school, any obstacles you’ve encountered, and how you've overcome challenges. Talk about your personal goals and dreams. Explain what motivates and drives you toward this degree. The more your personal statement tells your school about you as an individual, the more it will stand out. Don't write something to impress someone else. This includes language, style and tone. Authenticity is important and resonates well. Tell the truth, in your voice, from your perspective. Use your story to connect.

More Tips and Resources for Applying to Graduate School

Applying to graduate school may be daunting to some, but UC Davis has a variety of resources to help you create a strong graduate school application. Check out the Applying to Graduate School: A Guide and Handbook for ideas and worksheets on how to construct your essays. Or visit our Office of Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Services website for more graduate school prep resources.

Paul David Terry is the assistant director of special interest and affinity networks and alumni diversity lead at the Cal Aggie Alumni Association. He oversees the UC Davis Health Improving OUTcomes blog and enjoys cycling and brewing ginger beer.

Heidi Kerr works as the content and media manager at UC Davis’ Graduate Studies. She has worked as a communications professional at multiple higher education institutions and is passionate about promoting student success.

The authors acknowledge current and former leaders from Pre-Graduate/Law Advising in Office of Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Services, especially Annalisa Teixeira, Ph.D. and Cloe Le Gall-Scoville, Ph.D., who granted us permission to reference Applying to Graduate School: A Guide and Workbook .

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My interest in History was first sparked during a remembrance service at the Menin Gate. Hearing the bugles bellow out the 'Last Post' to a crowd of thousands, instilled in me a deeper appreciation of the past, and the sacrifices that were made to sculpt the world we live in today. The development of creed across time is something that intrigues me. Outside of school I have developed my knowledge of such manifestations through immersing myself in Hobbes' 'Leviathan', and also reading about Callicles in Plato's 'Gorgias'. I found it intriguing that the development of societal structure and legitimate governments differ in various civilizations, whether this is through the Qing dynasties' centralisation of power or perhaps classic republicanism in the days of Cicero. Moreover, I have taken an interest with the works of Locke and Hobbes on the structure of the perfect state. The disparity between differing ideologies is an imperative part of History for me, as it stretches across society as a whole.

During my studies through History I have become familiar with British political History, mostly centred on the 20th century. Such study in school has driven me to delve into further reading around the period, whether this is through learning more about the chance factor of a simple dentist appointment which allowed Churchill to take the reins of Britain in Roy Jenkins' 'Churchill', or perhaps the reading of 'Imperial Transform' by Aldrich. Interesting comparisons are drawn between France and its Empire as a whole. Whilst France yielded to an era of democracy, its Empire was still controlled by the aristocracy which I found fascinating. I have begun to understand the ubiquity of History through my other academic studies. I have become aware of how History has altered through the study of English Literature. Studying English has armed me with powerful analytical and comparative skills, as well as a wider understanding of modern historical issues. This was formed through the reading of 'Darkness at Noon', which explores the presence of Communism in modern society. Studying Geography has showed me how climate has affected the course of History. Reading 'Guns, Germs and Steel' by Jared Diamond showed me how a fragmented Europe harnessed the power of outside invention and use it to dominate the world. I was ultimately drawn to research The East India Company as a result, and became fascinated at how it subjugated the eastern world in terms of trade.

My dedication to academia is reflected in my position as Head Boy. Such a position demonstrates my commitment to an institution as well as possessing a good level of communication. Additionally to being Head Boy of the College, I am part of a successful debating society. This has given me the opportunity to travel across the country with a few moments of success along the way, including best speaker at Liverpool University. Debating has developed not only my communication skills, but also my ability to work within a team, and speak publically as well. I am also fortunate enough to be a part of a school reading program, in which I help younger students with reading difficulties develop. Doing so not only has developed me as a person but more so those I read with as well.

My passions are not just limited to academia however, as outside I am a great lover of Music, whether this be listening to or playing guitar. For me Music and History are intertwined as they both offer inspiration to many and act as a challenge as well. As with History, Music is crafted slowly over time showing the desire and passion to succeed in something which you love. Armed with a passion for History, I happily anticipate spending the next few years of my life immersed in as many aspects of History as possible. Thereby furthering my own understanding of the past and how it has crafted the world we live in today

Profile info

This personal statement was written by Matthew103542 for application in 2014.

Matthew103542's university choices Oxford University The University of Warwick London School of Economics University College London

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

Matthew103542's Comments

Thought I'd upload my ps, in the hopes that it will help some of you, in applying to university.

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Your personal statement forms a core part of your university application, and the sooner you get going, the better you can make it. You may think that your personal statement won’t matter as much to unis as your grades and experience but a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grades. Sure, your application might not reach that deal breaker stage. But is it something you want to leave to chance? Here we’ll take you through the process of planning, writing and checking a good personal statement, so you end up with something you can submit with confidence. And to make sure the advice we're giving you is sound, we’ve spoken to admissions staff at loads of UK universities to get their view. Look out for video interviews and advice on applying for specific subjects throughout this piece or watch our personal statement playlist on YouTube .

Are you looking for personal statement examples? Check our library of hundreds of real personal statements, on The Student Room

Personal statement deadlines

You'll need to make sure you've got your personal statement written well in advance of your application deadline. Below are the main university application deadline dates for 2024 entry.

2024 entry deadlines

16 October 2023: Deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities, along with most medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses. 31 January 2024: Deadline for applications to the majority of undergraduate courses. After this date, universities will start allocating places on these courses – but you can still apply after the 31 January deadline , as this article explains . 30 June 2024: Students who apply after this date will be entered into Clearing .

Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a central part of your Ucas application, where you explain why you’ve chosen a particular course and why you’ll be good at it. It's your chance to stand out against other candidates and hopefully get that all-important offer. You only write one personal statement which is then read by each university you apply to, so if you are applying for more than one subject (or it's a combined course) it's crucial that you include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects. Personal statements are especially important if you’re trying to get on a very competitive course, where you need to do anything you can to stand out to admissions tutors. Courteney Sheppard, senior customer experience manager at Ucas, advises that your personal statement is "the only part of the application that you have direct control over. Do lots of research to demonstrate your passion, curiosity and drive to pursue your chosen subject." There’s a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. This may appear generous (read: long) but once you've got going you may find yourself having to edit heavily.

Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

1. Plan what you want to cover

The first thing you need to do is make a plan. Writing a personal statement off the top of your head is difficult. Start by making some notes, answering the following questions:

What do you want to study?
Why do you want to study it?
What is there about you that shows you’re suited to studying this subject at university? Think about your personality, as well as your experiences.
What are your other interests and skills?

These few points are going to form the spine of your personal statement, so write them in a way that makes sense to you. You might want to make a simple bulleted list or you might want to get all arty and use a mindmap. Whatever you choose, your aim is the same. You want to get it clear in your own head why a university should offer you a place on its course. Getting those details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. You might try carrying a notebook with you or set up a memo on your phone. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down. Inspiration sometimes comes more easily when you’re thinking about something else entirely. It might help to take a look at The Student Room for some sample personal statements by university and sample personal statements by subjects , to give you an idea of the kind of thing you want to include.

Read more: personal statement FAQs

2. Show off your experience

Some things are worth adding to your personal statement, some things are not. Firmly in the second camp are your qualifications. You don’t need to mention these as there’s a whole other section of your personal statement where you get to detail them very precisely. Don’t waste a single character going on about how great your GCSE grades are – it’s not what the admissions tutor wants to read. What they do want to see is: what have you done? OK, so you’ve got some good grades, but so do a lot of other applicants. What have you done that’s different, that shows you off as someone who really loves the subject you’re applying for? Spend some time thinking about all the experience you have in that subject. If you’re lucky, this might be direct work experience. That’s going to be particularly appropriate if you’re applying for one of the more vocational subjects such as medicine or journalism . But uni staff realise getting plum work experience placements is easier for some people than others, so cast your net wider when you’re thinking about what you’ve done. How about after-school clubs? Debating societies? Are you running a blog or vlog? What key skills and experience have you picked up elsewhere (eg from hobbies) that could be tied in with your course choice? Remember, you’re looking for experience that shows why you want to study your chosen subject. You’re not just writing an essay about what you're doing in your A-level syllabus. Use this checklist as a guide for what to include:

Your interest in the course. Why do you want to spend three years studying this subject at university?
What have you done outside school or college that demonstrates this interest? Think about things like fairs/exhibitions, public lectures or voluntary work that is relevant to your subject.
Relevant work experience (essential for the likes of medicine, not required for non-vocational courses such as English )
Skills and qualities required for that career if appropriate (medicine, nursing and law as obvious examples)
Interest in your current studies – what particular topics have made an impression on you?
Any other interests/hobbies/experiences you wish to mention that are relevant either to the subject or 'going to uni'. Don't just list your hobbies, you need to be very selective and state clearly what difference doing these things has made to you.
Plans for a gap year if you’re deferring entry.

Read more: 6 steps you need to take to apply to university

3. Be bold about your achievements

Don't be bashful about your achievements; that’s not going to help you get into uni. It's time to unleash your inner Muhammed Ali and get all “I am the greatest” with your writing. Do keep it focused and accurate. Do keep your language professional. But don’t hide your qualities beneath a layer of false modesty. Your personal statement is a sell – you are selling yourself as a brilliant student and you need to show the reader why that is true. This doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and if you’re finding it difficult to write about how great you are it’s time to enlist some help. Round up a friend or two, a family member, a teacher, whoever and get them to write down your qualities. Getting someone else’s view here can help you get some perspective. Don’t be shy. You are selling your skills, your experience and your enthusiasm – make sure they all leap off the screen with the way you have described them.

Read more: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement

4. How to start your personal statement

Type your personal statement in a cloud-based word processing program, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word and don’t copy and paste it into Ucas Hub until it’s finished. One of the benefits of doing it this way is that you can run spell check easily. (Please note, though, that Word adds "curly" quotation marks and other characters (like é or ü) that won't show up on your Ucas form, so do proofread it on Ucas Hub before submitting it to ensure it is how you typed it.) Another big benefit is that you'll always have a backup of what you've written. If you're being super careful, you could always save your statement in another place as well. Bear in mind that extra spaces (eg adding spaces to the beginnings of paragraphs as indentation) are removed on Ucas. In your first sentence, cut to the chase. Why do you want to do the course? Don’t waste any time rambling on about the daydreams you had when you were five. Just be clear and concise – describe in one line why this course is so important to you. Then, in the rest of your intro, go into more detail in demonstrating your enthusiasm for the course and explaining how you decided this is what you want to do for the next three or more years. However you choose to start your statement, just avoid the following hoary old chestnuts. These have been some of the most used lines in personal statements over the years – they are beyond cliche, so don’t even think about it.

From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
For as long as I can remember, I have…
I am applying for this course because…
I have always been interested in…
Throughout my life I have always enjoyed…
Reflecting on my educational experiences…
[Subject] is a very challenging and demanding [career/profession/course]…
Academically, I have always been…
I have always wanted to pursue a career in…
I have always been passionate about…

5. Focus your writing on why you've chosen that subject

So you’ve got your intro done – time to nail the rest of it. Bear in mind that you’ve got to be a little bit careful when following a personal statement template. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying someone else’s style, and in the process lose all of your own voice and personality from your writing. But there is a rough order that you can follow, which should help keep you in your flow. After your opening paragraph or two, get into any work experience (if you’ve got it). Talk about extracurriculars: anything you've done which is relevant to the subject can go here – hobbies, interests, volunteering. Touch on your career aspirations – where do you want this course to take you? Next, show your enthusiasm for your current studies. Cite some specific examples of current work that you enjoyed. Show off your relevant skills and qualities by explaining how you’ve used these in the past. Make sure you’re giving real-world examples here, not just vague assertions like “I’m really organised and motivated”. Try to use examples that are relevant. Follow this up with something about you as a person. Talk about non-academic stuff that you like to do, but link it in some way with the course, or with how it shows your maturity for dealing with uni life. Round it all off by bringing your main points together, including a final emphasis of your commitment to studying this particular course.

Read more: how to write your personal statement in an evening

6. How long should a personal statement be?

You've got to work to a very specific limit when writing your personal statement. In theory you could use up to 4,000 characters – but you’re probably more likely to be limited by the line count. That's because it's a good idea to put line breaks in between your paragraphs (to make it more readable) and you only get a maximum of 47 lines. With this in mind, 3,500 characters is a more realistic limit. But when you’re getting started you should ignore these limits completely. At first, you just want to get down everything that you feel is important. You'll probably end up with something that is far too long, but that's fine. This is where you get to do some polishing and pruning. Keep the focus of your piece on the course you’re applying for, why you want to do it and why you’re perfectly suited to it. Look through what you’ve written so far – have you got the balance right? Chop out anything that goes on a bit, as you want each point to be snappy and succinct.

Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements

7. Keep it simple

8. Smart ways to end your personal statement

Writing a closing line that you’re happy with can feel as tricky as coming up with your opener. What you’re looking for here is a sign-off that is bold and memorable. The final couple of sentences in your statement give you the opportunity to emphasise all the good stuff you’ve already covered. Use this space to leave the reader in no doubt as to what an excellent addition you would be to their university. Pull together all your key points and – most importantly – address the central question that your personal statement should answer: why should you get a place on the course?

Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang

9. Make sure your personal statement has no mistakes

Now you’ve got a personal statement you’re happy with, you need to make sure there are no mistakes. Check it, check it a second time, then check it again. Once you’ve done that, get someone else to check it, too. You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you send through a personal statement with spelling and/or grammatical errors. You’ve got months to put this together so there really is no excuse for sending through something that looks like a rush job. Ask your teachers to look at it, and be prepared to accept their feedback without getting defensive. They will have seen many personal statements before; use what they tell you to make yours even better. You’ve also got another chance here to look through the content of your personal statement, so you can make sure the balance is right. Make sure your focus is very clearly on the subject you are applying for and why you want to study it. Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or social media where anyone can see it. You will get picked up by the Ucas plagiarism checker. Similarly, don't copy any that you find online. Instead, now is a good time to make your parents feel useful. Read your personal statement out to them and get them to give you feedback. Or try printing it out and mixing it up with a few others (you can find sample personal statements on The Student Room). Get them to read them all and then try to pick yours out. If they can't, perhaps there's not enough of your personality in there.

10. Don't think about your personal statement for a whole week

If you followed the advice at the very start of this guide, you’ve started your personal statement early. Good job! There are months before you need to submit it. Use one of these weeks to forget about your personal statement completely. Get on with other things – anything you like. Just don’t go near your statement. Give it a whole week and then open up the document again and read through it with fresh eyes. You’ll gain a whole new perspective on what you’ve written and will be well placed to make more changes, if needed.

Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say

10 steps to your ideal personal statement

In summary, here are the ten steps you should follow to create the perfect personal statement.

Personal statement dos and don'ts

Remember that your personal statement is your personal statement, not an article written about your intended field of study. It should tell the reader about you, not about the subject.
Only put in things that you’re prepared to talk about at the interviews.
Give convincing reasons for why you want to study the course – more than just "enjoying the subject" (this should be a given).
For very competitive courses, find out as much as you can about the nature of the course and try to make your personal statement relevant to this.
Be reflective. If you make a point like 'I like reading', 'I travelled abroad', say what you got from it.
Go through the whole thing checking your grammar and your spelling. Do this at least twice. It doesn’t matter if you’re not applying to an essay-based course – a personal statement riddled with spelling mistakes is just going to irritate the reader, which is the last thing you want to do. If this is something you find difficult then have someone look over it for you.
Leave blank lines between your paragraphs. It’s easier for the reader to get through your personal statement when it’s broken into easily digestible chunks. Remember that they’re going to be reading a lot of these! Make yours easy to get through.
Get someone else's opinion on your statement. Read it out to family or friends. Share it with your teacher. Look for feedback wherever you can find it, then act upon it.
Don’t write it like a letter. Kicking off with a greeting such as "Dear Sir/Madam" not only looks weird, it also wastes precious space.
Don’t make jokes. This is simply not the time – save them for your first night in the union.
Don’t criticise your current school or college or try to blame teachers for any disappointing grades you might have got.
Be afraid of details – if you want your PS to be personal to you that means explaining exactly which bits of work or topics or activities you've taken part in/enjoyed. It's much more compelling to read about one or two detailed examples than a paragraph that brushes over five or six.
Just list what you're doing now. You should pull out the experiences that are relevant to the courses which you're applying to.
Mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated by you or what you learnt from them. Anyone can write "I have great leadership skills" in a PS, actually using a sentence to explain when you demonstrated good leadership skills is much rarer and more valuable.
Refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs (or equivalent).
Give explanations about medical or mental health problems. These should be explained in your reference, not your PS.
Apply for too many different courses, making it difficult to write a convincing personal statement which supports the application.
Write a statement specific to just one institution, unless you're only applying to that one choice.
Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else! This means do not plagiarise. All statements are automatically checked for plagiarism by Ucas. Those that are highlighted by the computer system are checked manually by Ucas staff. If you’re found to have plagiarised parts of your statement, the universities you apply to will be informed and it could jeopardise your applications.
Use ChatGPT or another AI program to write your personal statement for you. Or, if you do, make sure you thoroughly edit and personalise the text so it's truly yours. Otherwise you're very much at risk of the plagiarism point above.

You may want to look at these...

How to write your university application.

Tips for writing your university application, including deadlines and personal statements

What to do if you miss the 25 January Ucas deadline and still want to apply to uni

How long does it take for universities to reply to your application?

It might feel like it's taking forever for your uni offers to come through. Find out what's going on, and when you should hear back

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Personal Statement

Writing a personal statement (statement of purpose).

Your personal statement (also called a statement of purpose) is an essential component of your application to the graduate program in history at UGA. This short document serves multiple purposes . In it, you:

Introduce yourself;
Explain what "sparked" your interest to pursue graduate study in history;
Showcase your academic background;
Describe your specific academic goals while in graduate school; and
Align your academic interests with our graduate program.

Before beginning your statement, you might want to free write answers to the following questions (courtesy of the AHA ): "Why do I want to pursue a graduate degree in history? What do I want to study? Academically, how well prepared am I for graduate study?" Our faculty are looking for applicants who have a clear sense of purpose and can demonstrate a strong commitment to their chosen area of study.

All good statements will highlight your academic and research experiences , and how these experiences will help you while in graduate school; your specific academic interests and career goals , including your proposed research project while in graduate school, any specific disciplinary subfields (e.g., museum studies or Latin American and Caribbean Studies), and your professional objectives after graduate school; and your specific fit with our program , including faculty you would like to work with and why and how your research interests fit with their own intellectual trajectories.

They will also be succinct and well-written. Make sure you adhere to the page and/or word limit. Proofread and edit your statement multiple times. Our program has a 2-page, single-spaced maximum limit for the personal statement.

We suggest you follow the department of history at the University of Alabama's guidance when structuring your statement. It should include:

An introduction. This is less personal autobiography and more a brief explanation of why and how you became interested in historical research.
A brief summary of your undergraduate and (if applicable) previous graduate career. This summary should be about your academic and intellectual trajectory (how you got to be interested in your current project) and any projects undertaken (undergraduate or MA thesis) and specific skills acquired during that time (including research, language, and programming skills).
A discussion of your recent/current activities. Here, you can elaborate on what you have included in your CV. Remember to connect your activities to your academic and intellectual goals.
UA's Department of History succinctly outlines what you should include in this section: "First indicate the area of your interests — describe the place and period you want to study and what kinds of broad questions you wish to explore. It is often a good idea to indicate which scholars’ work you admire, or what approaches to historical research interest you most. Next explain precisely what you want to research and what specific questions are shaping your project. PhD applicants should describe the project they wish to undertake for their dissertation." MA applicants can describe specific projects as well.
The last section of the essay should describe "fit": why are you good for our program and why is our program good for you? Rather than simply listing faculty names with whom you want to work, explain why their approaches, methods, topics fit with your own academic goals. Remember to highlight what you will bring to our program, whether that's a new perspective or new skills.

Additional Resources:

AHA, Resources for Graduate Students (see their Admissions section)

Paul Boyer (AHA), "Graduate Applications: The Important Elements"

Emily Elia, (Rice University), "Grad School 101: Writing the Personal Statement"

National Council on Public History, "Writing the Personal Statement"

Princeton University Department of History, Example Statements

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How to Write a Personal History

Last Updated: December 28, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Pete Canalichio . Pete Canalichio is a Brand Strategist, Licensing Expert, and Founder of BrandAlive. With nearly 30 years of experience at companies such as Coca-Cola and Newell Brands, he specializes in helping brands find the most authentic parts of their story to build a brand strategy. Pete holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BS in Physics from the United States Naval Academy. In 2006, he won an MVP Award from Newell Brands for his contributions to their Global Licensing department. He’s also penned the award-winning book, Expand, Grow, Thrive. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 90% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 177,951 times.

Writing your personal history is something that you may do either as part of an application or as a literary endeavor. In a personal statement for an application, you will need to provide information about history that proves you have the knowledge and experience necessary to perform certain tasks. A personal history, written for your own enjoyment or for publication, will relate your life’s story, requiring some research and a much larger time commitment. With some preparation and a little time management, you will be able to write a strong personal history that will impress an application committee or entertain readers.

Writing a Personal Statement for an Application

For example, if you are applying to get into medical school and a graduate program in English somewhere else, you will want to avoid spending a lot of time highlighting your extensive medical knowledge in the English application or your remarkable writing skills in the medical school application. Although a review committee might be impressed that you have such diverse interests, they also want to make sure that you have the requisite knowledge to be in the program.

However, this does not mean that your statement should be formulaic or bland. Follow the guidelines, but give your readers something exciting or memorable to take away from your letter.
In general medical and law schools ask for a more open-ended personal statement. One the other hand, business and graduate schools tend to ask specific questions. However, each application is different and has it owns guidelines, so be sure to follow those.

Avoid going off on tangents. Consider whether or not a certain topic fits in your overall theme. If it does not, do not include it.

Briefly introduce yourself and then provide the framework that the rest of the essay will follow. Allude to things you will discuss later, but do not give it all away.
Avoid clichés like “my names is Steve and I’m applying to join your program” or “Allow me to introduce myself…”

For example, if you are applying for medical school, list any experience you have volunteering in a clinic or specific pre-med courses that you found particularly interesting.
If you are applying for graduate school, be sure to discuss any relevant scholars you like or books you find particularly interesting.

Avoid clichés like “thank you for taking the time to consider my application” or “It is my sincere hope that you will grant me the opportunity to attend your school.”

You can also ask someone else to proofread your essay for you. It is often hard for most people to adequately proofread their own writing, so finding someone to read your statement will likely make it better.

Creating Your Own Personal History

Some examples of important documents might be your birth certificate, photographs or videos of you, correspondence (letters and emails) with other people, and old social media posts.

Many cellphones have a recording function that will help you save your interviews.

Try creating a spreadsheet that lists all of the sources that you would like to use. This will help you find them quickly and not lose them.

Step 4 Decide on how to organize the history.

You can organize your story thematically to emphasize important interests or life lessons. For example, if you want to highlight your skills as an athlete, you may only mention the life events that are relevant to that subject.
You can also chronologically format your history to tell a sequential story. Start with the earliest relevant event and move forward in time from there.
Ultimately, it is up to you how you organize your story, find a style that makes sense and tells your history.

Try setting a timer for 45 minutes and write until it goes off. Then, take a 15 minute break and start writing again once those 15 minutes are up. Repeat this process as long as you feel fresh and engaged in your writing.
Find a writing schedule that works best for you.

If you are publishing your personal history, you will have to work with an editor to get your manuscript ready for publishing. In this circumstance, the editor’s comments often need to be addressed in the manuscript.

Developing Good Writing Habits

A journal might be useful for freewriting. It will allow you to jot ideas down if you are on the go.

Keep your documents in a digital spreadsheet for quick reference. You could also organize them in folders if that is more convenient.

Consider sharing your outline or timeline with someone who you believe will give you good feedback.

Avoid loud and busy spaces. These can be audibly and visibly distracting. Although it might be cool to work in a coffee shop, it is not an ideal place to write.

Community Q&A

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about writing a personal history, check out our in-depth interview with Pete Canalichio .

↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/642/
↑ http://www.williamcronon.net/researching/documents.htm
↑ https://terpconnect.umd.edu/~jklumpp/comm712/narrative.html
↑ https://www.inc.com/glenn-leibowitz/8-simple-writing-strategies-that-helped-stephen-king-sell-350-million-books.html
↑ http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/pw-select/article/59767-why-all-self-publishers-need-a-good-editor.html
↑ https://www.grinnell.edu/sites/default/files/documents/Writing-Personal-Statements-for-Scholarship-Applications.pdf
↑ http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/outline.html
↑ https://lifehacker.com/how-to-stick-to-a-writing-schedule-1653234644

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How should I write a "Personal History Statement" - does a lack of "challenges" mean I cannot contribute to diversity?

I am hesitating whether to apply to some of the "University of California" universities. The problem is, many of them ask for a "personal history statement":

Describe how your background, accomplishments, and life experiences led to your decision to pursue the graduate degree for which you are applying. Include any educational, personal, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges or opportunities relevant to your academic journey. In addition, please describe any aspects of your personal background, accomplishments, or achievements that will allow the department to evaluate your contributions to the University's diversity mission. Contributions to diversity and equal opportunity can take a variety of forms, such as efforts to advance equitable access to education, public service, that addresses the need of a diverse population, or research that explores inequalities. Your department may have special prompts and directions for the Personal History Statement; be sure to check the requirements.

(Note that the Personal History Statement is not the Statement of Purpose; it is a separate statement that is required in addition to the Statement of Purpose. See e.g. these application instructions . )

Honestly, as an Asian male international student, I really have nothing to say about this. I have a very happy family, so I really don't have "challenges". I honestly just want to study math because probably that's the only reason why someone would want to get a PhD in math.

I've been struggling with this for days but still have absolutely no idea how to write this. I mean, I live a happy life. My parents are divorced but I was not particularly "challenged" per se. Does that mean I cannot contribute to the diversity? I don't even know what they are looking for. Should I market myself being overcoming huge difficulties (even though I did not face huge difficulties)? Or should I pretend that I am really under-represented? :/

graduate-admissions
application

First of all, did you: "Your department may have special prompts and directions for the Personal History Statement; be sure to check the requirements"? Also, from what country are you? – dimpol Commented Nov 23, 2016 at 9:03
@dimpol China :( – 3x89g2 Commented Nov 23, 2016 at 15:41
While many institutions have woven talk about supporting diversity into their admissions and hiring processes, don't be confused - the vast, vast majority of institutions are not restricting their processes to the point that they simply will not admit/hire people at all who seem like a member of their current majority groups (none that I know of have gone so far). Note that especially at UC colleges, with 40-50% of their undergraduates being of Asian decent, colleges state they want to be "more diverse" - not stop admitting Asian people entirely. More competitive, probably - but not declined. – BrianH Commented Nov 23, 2016 at 22:18
Related: What should go in a diversity statement if I believe I have had no relevant experiences? – ff524 Commented Nov 24, 2016 at 9:15
"I don't mentor students, I don't volunteer neither, I am not eligible for scholarships since I'm not US citizen." As an international student, this is to be expected. Don't let that deter you. That being said, your English seems to be pretty good for a Chinese international student. Does that mean you grew up in the US for a part of your life, or that you grew up in a place like Singapore or Hong Kong? – Stephan Branczyk Commented Nov 24, 2016 at 21:57

2 Answers 2

The previous answer was great, but since it didn't assuage your doubts, I'll try a different approach.

I will rewrite the instructions for you, removing the parts you're having trouble with.

Describe how your accomplishments led to your decision to pursue the graduate degree for which you are applying. Include any educational opportunities relevant to your academic journey. Your department may have special prompts and directions for the Personal History Statement; be sure to check the requirements.

Sample response: I always felt that my math teacher and I were on the same wavelength. I always loved going to math class, and my math assignments were always my favorite part of doing homework. I had a wonderful opportunity in 9th grade when I was invited to participate in _________. It was an honor to represent my school, and participating in the event, with scores of other math geeks, was thrilling.

You have my permission to stop there.

Now, if you decide to make a stab at addressing the diversity question, consider this: what is the demographic make-up of the state of California, and how did that come to be? (I will let you find the answer to those questions, as homework.) Has there been a historical gender imbalance in your field? Is there anything about you that would make you an effective graduate student instructor, mentor or outreach specialist, enabling you to effectively support the success of underrepresented groups in your field? Perhaps you have had experience communicating with someone with a different dialect. Perhaps you had more patience with this than some of your fellow students. Perhaps you have been lucky enough to be educated in a system where women were not underrepresented in your field, and this experience left you with a firm belief in the role of women in your field. (These are just examples to give you an idea.)

The dreaded personal statement!

Put yourself in the shoes of the people reviewing your application. They will have a large pile (50-100+) of applications. They will be tired. They'll probably do some skimming. This is your audience. Your goal is to attract their attention.

You can attract attention in your statement with simple and clear organization, and by bolding the major points that you want to make. Think of the statement more like a sales pitch. Make the argument simple. Then bold the main points. This will help the reviewers literally "see" your application.

Also, think of the questions that a reviewer will have. They will be reading your application looking for the answers to these questions:

Can this person write well?
What research/scholarship skills do they have?
Why does this person want to come to this university?
Does this person want to work with me? Do they mention my name?

Your statement should be an argument that answers these kinds of questions.

Tips for organization: Come up with a simple story-structure for your statement. For example:

Section 1: Very brief intro. Hi, I'm Misakov... Here are my general interests, let me tell you why I'm an excellent choice for your program.
Section 2: Previous training/experience. In this section, write a short paragraph for each experience, highlighting the relevant skills you learned in each. Also, having some parallel structure across the paragraphs will help the readers find the info they are looking for. For example, each section could tell the same story: I worked with X person, we worked on Y conceptual issue and found Z result. I learned A, B and C skills.
Why this program? I'm interested in this program because...
People I would like to work with: Mention some specific faculty that you would like to work with. You don't need to say more than a couple sentences about each person. (This may be unnecessary in Math, I come from a different field)

Now for some specific comments:

I want to point out that when they say challenges, they don't mean they want to hear about your parents divorce. They mean that time you couldn't find software to do X for you, so you wrote an app that could.

Do not pretend anything (I'm going to assume that comment was made out of desperation and not with any real intent to do something so unnecessary and unethical)! Your story is enough. You are an international Asian student. Mention this. It need not be dramatic, but yes that is considered an increase in diversity.

Other things they are looking for/other things that can relate to you increasing diversity: Do you mentor or tutor students? Do you do any volunteer work? What efforts have you made to disseminate research findings to the broader public? Have you received any scholarships or awards that demonstrate your commitment to Z? Are you in a math club of some kind and do you go to grade schools once a year to get young children excited about math?

Increasing diversity is not just about you. It's about the people and community you support as well.

Bottom Line: Despite its name, the personal statement is not personal. It's professional.

Hope this helps! Good luck.

I don't mentor students, I don't volunteer neither, I am not eligible for scholarships since I'm not US citizen. I think I probably shouldn't apply to UC schools, but thanks for your answer anyway :( – 3x89g2 Commented Nov 23, 2016 at 18:31
1 As the hackneyed saying goes, you miss all the shots you don't take. They make their prompt broad because any of those things could help you make your pitch, not because all of those things are necessary for admittance. If attending a phd program at a UC school is what you want, then you should apply! Keep in mind, professors do not expect applicants to have already had all of the relevant experiences involved in earning a higher degree. Indeed, then you would have no need to attend. Instead they want to see that you have the aptitude and a genuine interest in doing the work. – kindredChords Commented Nov 24, 2016 at 6:37
4 Note that the "Personal History Statement" is a separate document from the "Statement of Purpose". See e.g. these application instructions . A lot of what's described in this answer seems more appropriate for the "Statement of Purpose" part of the application. – ff524 Commented Nov 24, 2016 at 9:46
Writing exactly these myself at the moment, I can just emphasize that they have to be different, as @ff524 correctly states. I think they expect more something like: "Why did you start in your domain, did you maybe already start a child, how did it shape you, a memorable situation in the past, a deep anchored passion, anything that leads to you as you are today, with the endeavor to study X. – Michael Brenndoerfer Commented Nov 24, 2016 at 9:56
@ff524 and Michael, you're correct. That was an oversight on my part. In my field, cognitive neuroscience, applications typically ask for one statement which is meant to cover all of those things. In any case, I'm a newb; is it better to delete answer or leave with comments serving as a caveat? – kindredChords Commented Nov 27, 2016 at 2:48

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Personal History Statement

The Personal History Statement helps reviewers learn more about you as a whole person and as a potential graduate student. This may include relevant details on community service, leadership roles, participation in diverse teams, and significant barriers that you overcame to pursue graduate studies.

The Purdue University graduate application allows applicants to select up to three campuses and/or graduate majors per application. If you are applying to a 2nd or 3rd choice program, you are only required to submit one personal history statement with your application. Be sure your personal history statement is is all-inclusive, and supports your suitability for your enrollment in all the graduate programs listed on your application.

Required of all applicants:

Describe how your background and life experiences contribute to your ability to be both persistent and resourceful in your graduate studies.
Describe how your life experiences have prepared you to contribute to an academic community where scholars with diverse research interests, abilities, backgrounds, and experiences are supported, respected, and valued.
Please address concerns that you may have that your academic record does not reflect your true capabilities and discuss mitigating factors that have affected your academic record. Reviewers will be interested in understanding your accomplishments relative to your opportunities.

The Academic Statement of Purpose and the Personal History Statement are two of the most important documents in your graduate application. The documents should be concise, clear, and free of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. You should have others review your document for content, organization, and to ensure that there are no errors. Information in the Personal History Statement should complement but not duplicate information in the Academic Statement of Purpose.

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Tips for Drafting a Free Example of Personal History Statement

Table of Contents

A personal history statement can be crucial to many applications, from university admissions to job search processes.

This blog will provide readers with a guide to writing an example of a personal history statement that is effective and meaningful. Read on to learn tips to draft an example of personal history statement .

What Is a Personal History Statement?

A personal history statement is an autobiographical essay describing an individual’s activities, experiences, and accomplishments . It should be written clearly and directly, focusing on key events or achievements.

The purpose of a personal history statement is to provide insight into the individual’s background, motivations, challenges, and successes.

Tips for Writing an Example of Personal History Statement

1. Begin by determining your purpose for writing the statement – Are you writing it for university admissions? A job application?

2. Brainstorm ideas about what to include in your statement- Consider experiences from childhood through adulthood that helped shape who you are today.

3. Write down key points – Make sure these are easy to find when drafting your statement.

4. Write an outline – This will help you organize the flow of your essay and stay on track.

5. Write the main body of the personal history statement

Begin with a strong introduction that outlines who you are, followed by a few paragraphs describing key events or experiences that have shaped you.

6. Conclude with reflections on what you have learned from these experiences and how they have prepared you for the next step.

7. Proofread and edit – Make sure there are no errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation before submitting your example of personal history statement .

Examples of Personal History Statements

Personal history statements can be written in many different ways, depending on individual experiences. To give an idea of what a personal history statement might look like, here are two examples:

I am a 22-year-old recent graduate from Montshire University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Growing up, I overcame many obstacles and adversities, including poverty and homelessness.

Despite these hardships, I was able to find strength through my family and succeed academically, graduating at the top of my class. My experiences have taught me resilience, hard work, and dedication – essential qualities needed for success in any field. In the future, I hope to use my knowledge and experience to make a positive change and impart in the lives of others.

I am a 45-year-old veteran of the US Army, serving for over 20 years. Growing up in an unstable home environment caused me to develop resilience and independence at an early age.

My experiences in the military were also hugely influential as I was able to travel around the world. I gained valuable life lessons that have helped shape who I am today. After leaving active duty, I returned to college and obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Now, I hope to use my education and experiences from both my civilian and military life to help lead successful businesses in the future.

A personal history statement is a great way to provide meaningful insight into an individual’s background, motivations, and successes . By following the tips outlined in this blog, you are on your way to writing an effective example of a personal history statement. This will demonstrate your capabilities and achievements. Good luck!

Tips for Drafting a Free Example of Personal History Statement

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

A personal experience that changed your perspective
A story from your family’s history
A memorable teacher or learning experience
An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
How does it fit into the rest of your life?
What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

What first sparked your interest in the field?
Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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Introducing Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that puts powerful generative models at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac

MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro show new Apple Intelligence features.

New Capabilities for Understanding and Creating Language

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A user creates a Genmoji of a person named Vee, designed to look like a race car driver.

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An iPhone 15 Pro user enters a prompt for Siri that reads, “I have fresh salmon, lemons, tomatoes. Help me plan a 5-course meal with a dish for each taste bud.”

Text of this article

June 10, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

Setting a new standard for privacy in AI, Apple Intelligence understands personal context to deliver intelligence that is helpful and relevant

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today introduced Apple Intelligence , the personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver intelligence that’s incredibly useful and relevant. Apple Intelligence is deeply integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It harnesses the power of Apple silicon to understand and create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks. With Private Cloud Compute, Apple sets a new standard for privacy in AI, with the ability to flex and scale computational capacity between on-device processing and larger, server-based models that run on dedicated Apple silicon servers.

“We’re thrilled to introduce a new chapter in Apple innovation. Apple Intelligence will transform what users can do with our products — and what our products can do for our users,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Our unique approach combines generative AI with a user’s personal context to deliver truly helpful intelligence. And it can access that information in a completely private and secure way to help users do the things that matter most to them. This is AI as only Apple can deliver it, and we can’t wait for users to experience what it can do.”

Apple Intelligence unlocks new ways for users to enhance their writing and communicate more effectively. With brand-new systemwide Writing Tools built into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.

Whether tidying up class notes, ensuring a blog post reads just right, or making sure an email is perfectly crafted, Writing Tools help users feel more confident in their writing. With Rewrite, Apple Intelligence allows users to choose from different versions of what they have written, adjusting the tone to suit the audience and task at hand. From finessing a cover letter, to adding humor and creativity to a party invitation, Rewrite helps deliver the right words to meet the occasion. Proofread checks grammar, word choice, and sentence structure while also suggesting edits — along with explanations of the edits — that users can review or quickly accept. With Summarize, users can select text and have it recapped in the form of a digestible paragraph, bulleted key points, a table, or a list.

In Mail, staying on top of emails has never been easier. With Priority Messages, a new section at the top of the inbox shows the most urgent emails, like a same-day dinner invitation or boarding pass. Across a user’s inbox, instead of previewing the first few lines of each email, they can see summaries without needing to open a message. For long threads, users can view pertinent details with just a tap. Smart Reply provides suggestions for a quick response, and will identify questions in an email to ensure everything is answered.

Deep understanding of language also extends to Notifications. Priority Notifications appear at the top of the stack to surface what’s most important, and summaries help users scan long or stacked notifications to show key details right on the Lock Screen, such as when a group chat is particularly active. And to help users stay present in what they’re doing, Reduce Interruptions is a new Focus that surfaces only the notifications that might need immediate attention, like a text about an early pickup from daycare.

In the Notes and Phone apps, users can now record, transcribe, and summarize audio. When a recording is initiated while on a call, participants are automatically notified, and once the call ends, Apple Intelligence generates a summary to help recall key points.

Apple Intelligence powers exciting image creation capabilities to help users communicate and express themselves in new ways. With Image Playground, users can create fun images in seconds, choosing from three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Image Playground is easy to use and built right into apps including Messages. It’s also available in a dedicated app, perfect for experimenting with different concepts and styles. All images are created on device, giving users the freedom to experiment with as many images as they want.

With Image Playground, users can choose from a range of concepts from categories like themes, costumes, accessories, and places; type a description to define an image; choose someone from their personal photo library to include in their image; and pick their favorite style.

With the Image Playground experience in Messages, users can quickly create fun images for their friends, and even see personalized suggested concepts related to their conversations. For example, if a user is messaging a group about going hiking, they’ll see suggested concepts related to their friends, their destination, and their activity, making image creation even faster and more relevant.

In Notes, users can access Image Playground through the new Image Wand in the Apple Pencil tool palette, making notes more visually engaging. Rough sketches can be turned into delightful images, and users can even select empty space to create an image using context from the surrounding area. Image Playground is also available in apps like Keynote, Freeform, and Pages, as well as in third-party apps that adopt the new Image Playground API.

Taking emoji to an entirely new level, users can create an original Genmoji to express themselves. By simply typing a description, their Genmoji appears, along with additional options. Users can even create Genmoji of friends and family based on their photos. Just like emoji, Genmoji can be added inline to messages, or shared as a sticker or reaction in a Tapback.

Searching for photos and videos becomes even more convenient with Apple Intelligence. Natural language can be used to search for specific photos, such as “Maya skateboarding in a tie-dye shirt,” or “Katie with stickers on her face.” Search in videos also becomes more powerful with the ability to find specific moments in clips so users can go right to the relevant segment. Additionally, the new Clean Up tool can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo — without accidentally altering the subject.

With Memories, users can create the story they want to see by simply typing a description. Using language and image understanding, Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc. Users will even get song suggestions to match their memory from Apple Music. As with all Apple Intelligence features, user photos and videos are kept private on device and are not shared with Apple or anyone else.

Powered by Apple Intelligence, Siri becomes more deeply integrated into the system experience. With richer language-understanding capabilities, Siri is more natural, more contextually relevant, and more personal, with the ability to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks. It can follow along if users stumble over words and maintain context from one request to the next. Additionally, users can type to Siri, and switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri in whatever way feels right for the moment. Siri also has a brand-new design with an elegant glowing light that wraps around the edge of the screen when Siri is active.

Siri can now give users device support everywhere they go, and answer thousands of questions about how to do something on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Users can learn everything from how to schedule an email in the Mail app, to how to switch from Light to Dark Mode.

With onscreen awareness, Siri will be able to understand and take action with users’ content in more apps over time. For example, if a friend texts a user their new address in Messages, the receiver can say, “Add this address to his contact card.”

With Apple Intelligence, Siri will be able to take hundreds of new actions in and across Apple and third-party apps. For example, a user could say, “Bring up that article about cicadas from my Reading List,” or “Send the photos from the barbecue on Saturday to Malia,” and Siri will take care of it.

Siri will be able to deliver intelligence that’s tailored to the user and their on-device information. For example, a user can say, “Play that podcast that Jamie recommended,” and Siri will locate and play the episode, without the user having to remember whether it was mentioned in a text or an email. Or they could ask, “When is Mom’s flight landing?” and Siri will find the flight details and cross-reference them with real-time flight tracking to give an arrival time.

To be truly helpful, Apple Intelligence relies on understanding deep personal context while also protecting user privacy. A cornerstone of Apple Intelligence is on-device processing, and many of the models that power it run entirely on device. To run more complex requests that require more processing power, Private Cloud Compute extends the privacy and security of Apple devices into the cloud to unlock even more intelligence.

With Private Cloud Compute, Apple Intelligence can flex and scale its computational capacity and draw on larger, server-based models for more complex requests. These models run on servers powered by Apple silicon, providing a foundation that allows Apple to ensure that data is never retained or exposed.

Independent experts can inspect the code that runs on Apple silicon servers to verify privacy, and Private Cloud Compute cryptographically ensures that iPhone, iPad, and Mac do not talk to a server unless its software has been publicly logged for inspection. Apple Intelligence with Private Cloud Compute sets a new standard for privacy in AI, unlocking intelligence users can trust.

Apple is integrating ChatGPT access into experiences within iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, allowing users to access its expertise — as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities — without needing to jump between tools.

Siri can tap into ChatGPT’s expertise when helpful. Users are asked before any questions are sent to ChatGPT, along with any documents or photos, and Siri then presents the answer directly.

Additionally, ChatGPT will be available in Apple’s systemwide Writing Tools, which help users generate content for anything they are writing about. With Compose, users can also access ChatGPT image tools to generate images in a wide variety of styles to complement what they are writing.

Privacy protections are built in for users who access ChatGPT — their IP addresses are obscured, and OpenAI won’t store requests. ChatGPT’s data-use policies apply for users who choose to connect their account.

ChatGPT will come to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia later this year, powered by GPT-4o. Users can access it for free without creating an account, and ChatGPT subscribers can connect their accounts and access paid features right from these experiences.

Availability

Apple Intelligence is free for users, and will be available in beta as part of iOS 18 , iPadOS 18 , and macOS Sequoia this fall in U.S. English. Some features, software platforms, and additional languages will come over the course of the next year. Apple Intelligence will be available on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with Siri and device language set to U.S. English. For more information, visit apple.com/apple-intelligence .

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History and International Relations Personal Statement Example 1. 'If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.'. - Pearl Buck. This quote illustrates my enthusiasm and interest in history; you can be enlightened of the events of the past, while furthering your understanding of the present...
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History personal statements: how to impress. It's all about selecting examples and experiences that really help to demonstrate your love of the subject. Also show how - and why - you're interested in a particular historical topic, trend or period. 'Don't simply write things such as "I think history is vital to understanding the world ...
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You'll write the best personal statement if you simply take a bit of time to reflect on why you'd be a great history student. "There is no one correct way to write a personal statement," says Dr Colin Veach, history admissions tutor at the University of Hull. "So my first piece of advice would be: relax. If you are applying to do a ...
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History Personal Statement Example. History, which has fascinated and engaged me from early on in my education journey, has become my deep passion and formed my intellectual journey. Teaching History at AS-Level proved transformative despite initial scepticism from others: through my independent study of the Crusades and Norman Conquest of ...
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Good Points Of The Personal Statement. The student speaks intelligently and successfully links their interests - both within history and outside of history - to the study of history on a wider scale. The statement is well organised and reads well. Paragraph three, in particular, has many strong points with a greater focus on what really ...
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Y our personal statement is the first, and sometimes only, chance you get to impress admissions tutors as part of your history university application. This makes it a crucial element in a successful application.. Y ou should use your personal statement to demonstrate your dedication to studying history at university level, show tutors that you would be a good student to teach, and prove that ...
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Include information that describes more about you than the details in your transcript. 5. Identify your plans for the future. Part of your personal statement can include future goals and ambitions. Explain what can happen if you gain acceptance to the university of your choice or you receive the job you want.
History Personal Statement Example (Oxford University)
Armed with a passion for History, I happily anticipate spending the next few years of my life immersed in as many aspects of History as possible. Thereby furthering my own understanding of the past and how it has crafted the world we live in today. This personal statement was written by Matthew103542 for application in 2014.
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In a great personal statement, we should be able to get a sense of what fulfills, motivates, or excites the author. These can be things like humor, beauty, community, and autonomy, just to name a few. So when you read back through your essay, you should be able to detect at least 4-5 different values throughout.
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writing a personal Statement (Statement of purpose) Your personal statement (also called a statement of purpose) is an essential component of your application to the graduate program in history at UGA. This short document serves multiple purposes. In it, you: Introduce yourself; Explain what "sparked" your interest to pursue graduate study in ...
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4. Develop a schedule. If you have a solid deadline for completing your writing, it is important that you plan for meeting that deadline. The best way to do that is to create a schedule and stick to it. Set aside a certain amount of time each day for writing. This will help you meet your deadline and stay motivated.
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Your department may have special prompts and directions for the Personal History Statement; be sure to check the requirements. (Note that the Personal History Statement is not the Statement of Purpose; it is a separate statement that is required in addition to the Statement of Purpose. See e.g. these application instructions. )
Personal History Statement
The Personal History Statement helps reviewers learn more about you as a whole person and as a potential graduate student. This may include relevant details on community service, leadership roles, participation in diverse teams, and significant barriers that you overcame to attend graduate school. The Purdue University Graduate School ...
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3. Write down key points - Make sure these are easy to find when drafting your statement. 4. Write an outline - This will help you organize the flow of your essay and stay on track. 5. Write the main body of the personal history statement. Begin with a strong introduction that outlines who you are, followed by a few paragraphs describing ...
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Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene. An effective way to catch the reader's attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you're stuck, try thinking about: A personal experience that changed your perspective. A story from your family's history.
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Welcome to the Purdue Online Writing Lab
The Online Writing Lab (the Purdue OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects.
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To write a strong resume objective, first research the company and think about how your personal background (experience, skills, education, and interests) makes you the best fit for the role. Once you determine what details will be most compelling to the employer, summarize it in three sentences, like this:
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Introducing Apple Intelligence for iPhone, iPad, and Mac
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today introduced Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver intelligence that's incredibly useful and relevant.Apple Intelligence is deeply integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It harnesses the power of Apple silicon to understand and ...

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