personal statement for music majors

Personal statement advice: music

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We asked music tutors what they're looking for (and what to avoid) in your personal statement – here's what they told us. For more personal statement advice, see our guide for everything you need to get writing .

What to include in your music personal statement

Where your musical enthusiasm lies: Dr Kirsten Gibson, music admissions tutor and programme leader at Newcastle University (an academic course), is looking for detailed, engaging examples of your musical experiences, interests, and your academic and musical aspirations. These could lie in performance, composition, music history, analysis, ethnomusicology, or elsewhere.
Wider reading around music: for academic courses in particular, do mention additional reading you've done around the subject, including what you've learned from it. You should also be prepared to expand on this during an interview .
Extra-curricular musical activities: rather than reeling off a list of what you've done, try and write reflectively about the insights, skills, and knowledge you've gained from a select few experiences.
Why music: write clearly and engagingly about the subject and your reasons for wanting to study it at university level – this should naturally lead you to demonstrate your current knowledge, skills, passion, and suitability for the course.
Teamwork skills: the University of Bristol is also keen to see examples inside or outside of your studies where you've demonstrated your abilities to work well as part of a team.
Awareness of what different music courses cover: practical or academic, your statement should engage directly with the actual courses you’re applying for. If you're applying to a conservatoire, do refer to the relevant advice on our website .
popular music
composition
performance
songwriting
church music
Make sure your statement highlights some of your skills, knowledge, achievements, or experience that are relevant to that field. Remember to do this in a reflective way, not just with a list of things you've done.

What not to do in your music personal statement

Clichés: avoid the likes of ‘music is my life' or ‘music is a universal language.’
Replication: including information on additional music qualifications and grades you have is important, but put these in one of the qualifications boxes on your application form so you don’t have to waste valuable space on it in your statement.
Ignore the course content: make sure your statement shows you've researched your courses carefully, to ensure that they suit your musical and professional aspirations. If it's a course that focuses on music production or technology, for instance, then your statement needs to talk about your practical and academic interests in these areas.

Essays, Personal Statements, and Résumés for Music Students

Essays, personal statements and résumés for music students can be daunting. While the audition is a key component in the acceptance process, admission reps want you to keep in mind that the paperwork side of the application is also important.

by Caitlin Peterkin

“We have a small interview component to our audition process and we review recommendation letters and a student’s music history (typically via the résumé),” says Megan Grady, music recruitment coordinator and assistant director of Admission at the University of Puget Sound School of Music. “We also like to see what else students do and if we think they’ll fit in well with our liberal arts university, not just the School of Music.”

Applying to music school is a highly-competitive process. Brittany Jimenez, associate director of Undergraduate Admission at USC Thornton School of Music , encourages students to be genuine and to put their best foot forward in all parts of the admission process.

“There are many parts of the application and admission process you cannot control, like who else is applying,” she says, “so carefully managing the parts you can control (like the writing supplements and portfolio submissions) will be very important.”

Catch the attention you want

An essay, often referred to as your personal statement, is required by many music schools. Each school posts its own guidelines for these. If you’re uncertain about what they’re asking for, contact the admissions office.

The Common App streamlines the process of applying to several schools, although not all schools use it. You’ll find out whether colleges and universities that use the Common App require a personal essay once you create your Dashboard on the Common App website. The Common App provides a list of “prompts” or ideas to write about and you are given the option to edit your essay after you submit your first application. Even if schools don’t require a personal essay, you’ll have the option to submit one.

Music schools within universities as well as some colleges require you to apply to the university or college as well as to the music school. A separate school of music essay may also be required. Schools will indicate the word count as well as prompts or a specific theme they want you to write about. This may be referred to as a “supplemental essay.”

You can also choose to apply directly to schools instead of using the Common App. A request for supplemental materials including writing requirements is built in to these applications.

Note that these requirements may be different for transfer students.

So how do you make sure your essay and personal statement stand out from the crowd?

Here are suggestions from recruiters and admission representatives for creating essays they’ll they’ll be eager to read:

1. Do your research.

“It is beneficial to research the school and program and speak to the specific aspects and opportunities you find most relevant to you and your interests,” says Jimenez. “Getting to know the specific programs and faculty is important because every school is going to be unique in the type of experience they offer.”

Patrick Zylka, assistant dean for Admission, Financial Aid and Graduate Services at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music , agrees. “We want to know an applicant has done the research on our institution, not just that it’s a top ten ranking, or that their best friend goes here, but that they’ve really dug a little bit deeper and understand what the institution offers….and whether we’re actually a good fit for them.”

But he adds the caveat to not just regurgitate what’s on a school’s website: “Don’t tell us we’re a beautiful campus next to Lake Michigan—we already know!”

2. Don’t copy and paste.

Faculty and staff recognize that you’re probably applying to multiple institutions. Make sure to write a unique statement for each one, tailoring each essay to the specific program you’re applying to. Schools do not want to see a generic, cookie-cutter answer as to why you’re choosing their particular program.

“Essays that are clearly ‘cut and paste’ versions of an essay you’ve sent to a dozen schools…are not very persuasive,” says Christina Crispin, assistant director of Admissions at Eastman School of Music .

3. Show your personality!

As faculty and admissions reps review hundreds of applications each year, they want to read thoughtful statements from prospective students to get a better sense of each individual’s personality.

According to Zylka, admission reps view the essay as an applicant’s only opportunity to really show who they are as an individual, more than what any transcript or test score can reveal. “Speak from the heart,” he says. “If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re serious, be serious.”

Grady agrees: “We are looking for students to tell us more about themselves. We like to see creative essays that tell us something we may not be able to learn from the rest of their application.”

4. Proofread—multiple times.

Not only are essays a good way to show your personality, but they’re also a chance to demonstrate that you can write in a clear and coherent way.

“The essays that we are least impressed by are those that have typos, grammatical or punctuation errors—anything that screams, ‘I didn’t proofread this,’” says Crispin.

Some other no-nos: run-on sentences and “writing one big paragraph instead of a thought-out essay,” according to Grady.

Your résumé – the right way

Nearly all applications for music schools require a résumé.

“The résumé is the place for applicants to highlight their musical accomplishments and experiences,” says Crispin. “If they want us to know about other extracurricular activities, leadership, volunteer work, etc., the résumé is a good place to capture that information.”

“It’s important to tell us about any honors, awards, summer festivals, private lessons,” adds Zylka. “Things that show us you didn’t just go to high school from a certain time in the morning to the afternoon.”

• Make it clean and organized.

There is no one right way to format a résumé unless specified by the schools you’re applying to. They should be easy to read. Include your contact information plus music-specific information and experience.

“Present your résumé in an organized way so it is easy to review what you have done and when,” says Jimenez. “The résumé is typically 1-2 pages in length and mostly focuses on accomplishments and activities during high school.”

“Clean résumés are best—for musicians, that involves what you’ve performed, competitions you’ve won, ensembles you’ve performed along with chair placement (if applicable),” says Grady.

“Keep your activities limited to your high school achievements,” she adds “unless there’s something particularly outstanding (like a performance at Carnegie Hall) that took place before high school. Show that you play multiple instruments and for how long, who you’ve studied with, ensemble directors, etc.”

• Proofread.

Edit your résumé multiple times, and have a trusted friend, family member, or teacher look it over. “We never want to see typos, misspelled words, or grammatical errors,” says Jimenez.

Final thoughts

Crispin advises all students to start their application early. “We often hear from applicants that they were surprised how much time it took to fill out their applications, and you don’t want to be rushing and risking errors right before the deadline,” she says. This also includes reaching out to teachers for recommendations well before applications are due.

Just like no two music programs are the same, no two application processes are the same. Do the research on what exactly is needed for each program you’re applying to, and make a checklist with deadlines for each one.

Finally, utilize all the resources available online and in admission offices. “Our website should be your best friend throughout the process,” says Jimenez. “Your other best friends will be the people in the office of admission. Applicants are always encouraged to ask questions anytime! We want our applicants to be successful throughout the admission process and are here to help however we can.”

Caitlin Peterkin is a writer/editor and arts enthusiast currently based in Portland, OR. She has worked as program manager for Earshot Jazz (Seattle) and has written for BestNewBands.com , Chronicle of Higher Education , and Paste Magazine . She graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in Music.

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Last updated March 22, 2024

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Blog > Essay Advice , Personal Statement > How to Write a Great College Essay About Music (with examples)

How to Write a Great College Essay About Music (with examples)

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Alex McNeil, MA Admissions Consultant

Key Takeaway

Ask any admissions officer if they’ve read a college essay about music, and they’ll definitely say yes. Between music extracurriculars and academic interests in music, it’s is one of the most common college essay topics.

So does that mean that you shouldn’t write your college essay about music?

Not necessarily. But as with any common college essay topic, some approaches are better than others.

Let’s get into it.

Why you should (and shouldn’t) write your Common App essay about music

As we explained in our Stanford Items exercise , writing your college essay on a common topic isn’t off-limits. In fact, most college essays share common topics and themes. Trying to find a completely unique, never-been-done-before topic is almost impossible. And writing about a quirky topic in hopes of coming across as unique usually backfires.

In other words, it’s likely that you’ll write about the same topic as someone else.

The problem arises, however, when you write about a common topic in a cliche way . Cliches are always a danger in college essays, but in especially college essay topics that tend to surface again and again.

To avoid cliches, your college essay about music needs to be deeply personal, specific, and meaningful. You’ll want to let go of any over-generalizations or truisms and focus on the details of your own story.

Because you’ll need to write meaningfully and vulnerably, you should only write your college essay about music if you have something genuine and significant to say.

The Best Ways to Approach Your College Essay about Music

College essays about music aren’t off the table, but you should be thoughtful in how you write about them. The following two approaches will help you avoid cliches and find an authentic, meaningful story that fulfills all the requirements of a personal statement .

Writing about music as an academic interest

If you’re interested in studying music in college, then you can consider writing your college essay about music as an academic interest. A college essay about your academic interest in music can show fantastic intellectual fit with a school.

Let’s say you want to study music theory or composition. You might write about a topic you find compelling, a problem you’ve solved, or even a recounting of your journey becoming interested in the subject.

Or maybe you’re an aspiring performer planning on studying music performance. As an admissions officer, I read outstanding essays about students performing their favorite pieces, creating emotional music projects, and teaching lessons to young children.

No matter your topic, your goal with this approach is to show an intellectual spark, a curiosity and passion that will demonstrate to your admissions officers that you’ll be a great addition to the music community on their campuses.

Writing poignantly about a deeply meaningful extracurricular

The previous approach is great if you want to study music, but what if music is just an extracurricular passion of yours? Don’t worry—you can still write about it.

In that case, the best way is to focus on meaning. Remember: personal statements should be deeply-meaningful reflections on your personal strengths.

To start, reflect on your music extracurricular. Is it playing guitar in a band? Playing trombone in your school’s symphony? Learning piano from your grandma? How your love of poetry turned into a love of songwriting?

Next, think about what strengths you have to showcase. If you play guitar in a band, maybe you want to highlight your collaborative spirit. If you love poetry and songwriting, perhaps you focus on your creativity.

Writing about your love of music in a way that draws upon your strengths will make sure that your Common App essay avoids the following two approaches and gives admissions officers a reason to admit you.

Approaches to Avoid

While the following two approaches aren’t necessarily bad, they are the most cliche ways of approaching a college essay about music. You might want to consider avoiding them.

An inauthentic tale of triumph

Let me tell you a cliche story.

When I was in fourth grade, I decided to join the school orchestra. I found it exceedingly difficult at first. No matter how hard I tried, I never could seem to place my fingers correctly on the fingerboard. Every sound I made mimicked a screeching cat. But I decided not to give up. I practiced every day after school and on the weekends. By the time I was in ninth grade, I had made it into my high school’s top orchestra.

Is that a lovely story? Yes, absolutely. Is it hearty enough for a college essay? No. While it tells a good narrative of growth and progress, it remains on the surface of the writer’s life. It comes across as a convenient way to brag about your strengths instead of exploring them in a genuine way. In this example, the story also focuses on events that happened way too far in the past.

A song that changed your life

This approach is by far the most common cliche in college essays about music. We’ve all been there: a favorite song that transports you to a moment in your life whenever you hear it. It makes sense that you’d want to write about yours.

But there’s a problem with this approach. Too often, it reads as trite or unoriginal, and the end result usually doesn’t say much about the writer. And when it does, the message an admissions officer gets doesn’t typically give them any more reason to admit you. Since you want your college essay to be meaningful, even vulnerable, and strengths-based, you’re better off choosing another topic that better speaks to who you are.

Key Takeaways + Examples

College essays about music aren’t for everyone. But when you get it right, you can strike the perfect chord with admissions officers (you’re welcome for the pun).

As you go, dig deep, find something genuinely personal, and try to avoid the most common and cliche ways of approaching the topic.

Want to see some examples of college essays about music before you get started? Check out our examples, The Time Machine and The Band .

Liked that? Try this next.

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Music Personal Statement Examples

1 Personal Statement Example Links
2 Career Opportunities
3 UK Admission Requirements
4 UK Earnings Potential For Musicians
5 Similar Courses in UK
6 UK Curriculum
7 Alumni Network

Personal Statement Example Links

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Ever been captivated by the universal language of music, its power to evoke emotions, and its profound cultural significance? Intrigued by the prospect of creating, interpreting, or studying music?

If so, a degree in Music could be your perfect journey. This vibrant field offers you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the theory and practice of music, honing your artistic expression and understanding the cultural contexts of various musical traditions.

Music is an incredibly interesting and relevant choice for students because it provides a way to express themselves creatively, to explore different cultures, and to gain an understanding of the world around them. Music can also provide a way to relax and destress, which is especially important in today’s fast-paced world.

Additionally, music can be used as a tool for self-expression and communication, as well as a way to connect with others. Finally, music can be used to explore the history and culture of different societies, providing students with a unique perspective on the world. All of these reasons make music an incredibly interesting and relevant choice for students.

👍 When writing a personal statement : Highlight your passion for the course, demonstrating your understanding of it. Use relevant personal experiences, coursework, or work history to showcase how these have fostered your interest and readiness for the course.

Career Opportunities

Someone with a degree in music can pursue many different career opportunities.

In the music industry, potential career paths include:

Music Producer: A music producer oversees the recording and production of music, from the initial composition to the final mix. They are responsible for selecting the right musicians, sound engineers, and other personnel to create the desired sound.
Music Composer: A music composer creates original music for a variety of purposes, from film scores to background music for video games. They must have a strong understanding of music theory and composition techniques.
Music Teacher: Music teachers are responsible for teaching students of all ages how to read, write, and play music. They may teach in a school, university, or private studio setting.
Music Therapist: Music therapists use music to help people cope with physical, mental, and emotional challenges. They may work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, schools, and private practices.
Music Journalist: Music journalists write about music for a variety of publications, such as magazines, newspapers, and websites. They must have a deep understanding of the music industry and current trends.
Music Business Professional: Music business professionals work in the business side of the music industry, from marketing and promotion to legal and financial matters. They must have a strong understanding of the music industry and the laws and regulations that govern it.
Music Venue Manager: Music venue managers are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a music venue. Their duties may include booking artists, organizing and promoting concerts, managing staff, ensuring the venue complies with health and safety regulations, and dealing with financial tasks like budgeting and accounting.

UK Admission Requirements

In order to be accepted into a university course in music, applicants must meet certain entry criteria. Generally, applicants must have a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English, Maths, and a science. Additionally, applicants must have at least two A Levels at grade C or above in music-related subjects such as Music Theory, Music Technology, Music Performance, or Music Composition.

In comparison to similar courses, the entry criteria for a university course in music is slightly more stringent. For example, a university course in music production may require only three GCSEs at grade 4 or above, and one A Level at grade C or above in a related subject.

UK Earnings Potential For Musicians

The average earnings for someone with a degree in music can vary widely depending on the individual’s job and experience level. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for musicians and singers was $28,000 in May 2020. However, the top 10% of earners in this field made more than $80,000 per year.

In terms of job market trends, the music industry is expected to grow by 3% between 2019 and 2029, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. Additionally, the demand for live performers is expected to remain strong, as the industry continues to diversify and expand. Furthermore, the use of technology and digital media has created new opportunities for musicians to create and distribute their work.

Similar Courses in UK

Other university courses related to Music include Music Technology, Music Production, Music Performance, Music Education, and Musicology.

Music Technology focuses on the use of technology to create, manipulate, and record music. It involves the use of computers, software, and hardware to produce music.

Music Production is the process of taking a musical composition and turning it into a finished product ready for release. It involves recording, mixing, and mastering.

Music Performance focuses on the development of performance skills and techniques. It involves learning to play an instrument, developing vocal skills, and learning how to perform in front of an audience.

Music Education is the study of the history, theory, and practice of music. It involves learning about music theory, composition, and performance.

Musicology is the study of music from a historical and cultural perspective. It involves the study of music from different cultures and eras, as well as the study of music theory and composition.

UK Curriculum

The key topics and modules covered in a university course in music typically include:

Music Theory: This module covers the fundamentals of music theory, including scales, intervals, chords, and harmony.
Music History: This module looks at the history of music from the Baroque period to the present day. It may also include an overview of different musical styles and genres.
Music Composition: This module focuses on the fundamentals of composition, including melody, harmony, and rhythm. Students will learn how to write and arrange music for various instruments and ensembles.
Music Performance: This module focuses on performance techniques and skills, such as sight-reading, improvisation, and vocal technique. Students will learn how to perform music in a variety of styles and genres.
Music Technology: This module introduces students to the use of technology in music production, such as recording, mixing, and mastering.

Hands-on experience and practical work are an important part of any music course. Students will typically have the opportunity to perform in ensembles, compose and arrange music, and record and mix music using technology.

Alumni Network

One notable alumni from the University course in Music is John Williams, who is a five-time Academy Award-winning composer, conductor, and pianist. He is best known for his film scores, including the iconic Star Wars, Jaws, and Indiana Jones franchises.

Williams has also composed music for numerous other films, television shows, and concert pieces. He has contributed greatly to the field of music, and his influence can be heard in many of today’s popular film scores.

The University of Music offers several alumni events and networking opportunities for alumni. These include the annual Alumni Reunion, which is held each summer, and the Alumni Networking Series, which is held throughout the year.

Alumni can also connect with one another through the University’s online alumni network. Additionally, the University offers an alumni mentoring program, which provides students with the opportunity to connect with alumni who have experience in their chosen field.

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Personal Statements
Music Personal Statement

Music Personal Statements Example

Sample statement.

I love music but I also enjoy a challenge. That is why I have decided to focus on music as my future career rather than just a way to relax. I have had an instinctive feel for playing music, singing and moving to music since I was a small child and I have enjoyed training to improve my skills and to make my playing and singing a pleasure for others. That has not always been easy. It’s a lot of hard work at times but the rewards for sticking with it are very worthwhile.

A university course in music is the next natural step for me and I realise that it won’t be easy. It will be an opportunity to grow as a musician and I look forward to being able to immerse myself in music and to develop my skills both on a personal and academic level. Music for me is relaxing but it is that all-encompassing relaxation that comes with the self-discipline required to practice and improve. Learning to play a musical instrument can be torture, but getting through the difficult stages and learning to make the instrument sound good is so satisfying.

Music needs determination, commitment and skill to be able to make it sound good, but being able to apply your musical achievements to build a career also needs a thorough grounding in the music industry. I want to focus on expanding my musical skills and knowledge but also on where it can take me in the future. Studying at university level seems a very natural next step.

I have looked for music courses that allow flexibility and that will give me the widest experience and appreciation for different types of music and different ways of making it. I want to learn the technical knowledge too, building on my experience with music software I have already been using.

College has been a positive experience for me and I am lucky to have been within an environment that was encouraging and challenging at the same time. My music teachers provided the push we needed to achieve our best but were also realistic in the deadlines that they set. This has made me able to cope well with time pressure and I work consistently and well to finish set tasks, which has given me added confidence. I have a high natural ability, with a good ear, timing and good rhythmic skills but I have learned to become a polished performer and to work well within a group.

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Writing College Essays for Music School

by Steven Lipman

Before You Write…

Since the dawn of time, humans have expressed thoughts in writing. Whether documented on cave walls, ancient papyrus scrolls, hand-scribed Medieval codices, printed books beginning with Gutenberg, or computer devices in our day, the importance of communicating through written means has been a constant.

Those of you engaged in writing college essays about music , grad-school term papers, or applications for careers in the music industry are gaining awareness of the importance of developing solid writing skills. When communicating in writing with a party you have not yet met, your words will shape their first impression of you. Create your prose with care and precision.

Who Am I Talking to?

As a music journalist and editor, I offer some general observations that may prove helpful for those seeking to make a career in music. First, understand your audience. Are you writing a music personal statement or musical resume for a college admissions officer or someone who you hope will become your future boss? Make sure to adopt the proper tone. As you begin to network in the music industry, determine whether your missive should be business-like, warm and personable, or a combination of both. Know when to be formal and when it’s ok to be informal and conversational.

Writing a novel where you rely colorful imagery to portray a scene and have hundreds of pages to do it, is different from something of more limited scope. Be aware of when to express your thoughts as concisely as possible. Weed out extraneous words that don’t add meaning and clutter your ideas. I’m not advocating for dry, facts-only writing unless that is what’s needed (as in a résumé). In a personal essay, strike a balance by using colorful language and injecting some personality, but refrain from going down a bunny trail off topic. If your project or music college essay has a prescribed word count, make every word count!

Writing concisely takes discipline and effort. French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal is quoted as writing: “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.” It takes time and effort to make sure your document is tightly written and says what you need it to.

Noteworthy Basics

As with a great piece of music, make sure you have a catchy opening. Readers will form an opinion instantly about whether they are in for an interesting read or not. Make sure the areas you want to cover are balanced. Be mindful of how much space you want give to each topic you plan to address and give each its due. Alluding to music again, you need a strong finish, a thought-provoking ending.

There are countless common grammatical and punctuation mistakes, here are a few that crop up often. Be on the look out for disagreements between the subject and verb in a sentence. Make sure singular nouns are matched with singular verbs and vice versa. Avoid overly long sentences spliced together with numerous commas. If your sentence has too many ideas, break it into shorter ones so that your reader hasn’t forgotten your main point by the time he or she gets to the final period.

Be sure that you fully understand the definitions of any unusual words you choose. If there is any doubt, look it up. A misused word speaks volumes to your reader. As an editor, I encountered writers who had fallen in love with a pet word and were reluctant to give it up it even after learning it didn’t mean what they thought. Be as willing to change a misused word as you would to correct a wrong note.

Thinking of pet word choices, watch out for echoes. By that I mean the overuse of distinctive words—especially in a single or consecutive sentences. Use the find option in your word processing program to check the number of times a word appears.

Never Forget

Always take the time to proofread carefully. Often while writing, we get to the point where we no longer see typos or other issues. Have a parent, teacher, or a friend proof your document. If that’s not possible, take a break. Leave your draft over night if time permits and come back to it with fresh eyes another day. It never feels good to discover typos in your document after you’ve sent it out.

Most likely we are not writing things for the ages like Beowolf or the Dead Sea Scrolls, but your story is important here and now. The goal is to hold someone’s interest and convey information. Care as much about expressing yourself in writing as you do in music. Make it your best effort.

Help Writing College Essays for Music School Admissions

Inside Music Schools helps to prepare students for applying to music school. Contact us today to learn more about our services & how we can help.

Steve Lipman

Founder & President at Inside Music Schools | Insidemusicschools.com

Head of admissions and faculty member at Berklee College of Music for 40 years, Steve Lipman and our team at Inside Music Schools speak music as their primary language. We approach each client contact with open eyes, ears, and minds. As the country’s premier music school consultant, he has advised students from the United States, Canada, the U.K., India, Singapore, Dubai, China, Australia, Turkey, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Israel, Italy, Russia and elsewhere.

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Writing a Personal Statement for Music courses

This article is intended to provide advice and suggestions for students who are applying for Music courses in the U.K. and who are about to start, or have already started, writing their personal statements. It should be noted that this advice is aimed at those applying for straight Music courses at either a university or conservatoire, where the course content is primarily or solely classical. Students who are applying for Joint Honours courses, or derivatives of a Music course (e.g. Music Tech or Popular Music courses) are welcome to use the advice given here but should change bits as necessary. Writing a personal statement for Music isn't an easy task. Many potential Music students may find that their schools have little or no experience of helping Music applicants (particularly in the case of conservatoires) and are subsequently less able or less willing to advise such students. Often, Music applicants may find that advice given to their class is negligible for them, or that it conflicts with the very nature of the subject (e.g. "We don't want to read about your extra-curricular activities"). Sometimes, Music applicants can find it difficult to communicate why they wish to study the course to a higher level.

Writing a Music Personal statement for UCAS/CUKAS

Many people have different ideas about how to write and structure a personal statement. Some of this advice, as has been noted above, doesn't really work in a Music personal statement! Things that should go into a Music personal statement include:

- instruments and standard on these instruments. You may have already put this in the "Other Qualifications" for your practical exam grades but don't assume that all admissions tutors will read this section properly! In particular, applicants should make sure that somewhere in their personal statement, their level of keyboard playing is clearly mentioned, since many universities have a compulsory "Keyboard Skills" course.

- How you came to be interested in music/how you came to play your principal study/how you came to compose or to conduct.

- Your musical interests. Are you a performer, composer, conductor or budding academic? What styles interest you?

- Extra-curricular activities and achievements. Many Music applicants will have lots and for this reason, it is essential to only list the most important things. The most important things will be competition wins and big ensembles, or things which you have organised or had a leading role in.

- Non-musical things. Whilst obviously it's important to show what a good musician you are and why you'd be a good uni student, it's great if you can show that you have multiple interests and/or talents!

Things not to mention or do in a Music personal statement:

- Avoid the word "always". You didn't emerge from your mother's womb loving Mahler or wanting to compose! Also avoid words such as "love", "passion", etc.

- Don't give your life story. Anything mentioned, whether it's practical exam grades or competition wins, should be within the last few years. Certainly don't stretch before Year 10.

- Don't exaggerate your performing capabilities, particular regarding the piano. You may come to regret it later on!

- Try to avoid talking about things in a list form. It's better to talk about a few things and have a sentence or two about why this interested you, how you developed from this competition win, etc.

- Don't put module marks, exam result marks, etc. in your personal statement. You're wasting space by doing so! Ask your teacher to put it in his/her reference.

Whilst you can use the same statement for both UCAS and CUKAS, it is sometimes better to write two slightly different statements. Conservatoires will want more detail about performing activities and

competition wins, whilst universities will want to get a sense of a rounded character (so non-musical interests, other A Level subjects etc.)

Based on the advice above, a template structure Music applicants may wish to use would be the following:

- Introduction. (How your interest in Music arose)

- Musical performance (instruments, ensembles, summer schools, etc.)

- Academic music interests (specific areas of interests, academic books, work experience etc.)

- Non-musical interests (sports, charity work, etc.) and other A Level subjects

- Conclusion (reminding them why they should pick you, but in a subtle way. Future career plans if already known)

This is by no means an absolutely rigid structure. "Musical performance" and "Academic music interests" are interchangeable within the structure and the length of these will depend on the nature of the course one is applying for. If you lack work experience, non-musical ECs, etc. do not panic! It's not the end of the world and is unlikely to create a negative impact.

Writing a Music PS for Oxford or Cambridge

Writing a Music PS for either institution is not significantly different from writing one for another university. There are two things applicants must bear in mind though:

- These two courses are academic Music courses. Whilst there is little point mentioning books or specific authors read if you haven't got a particular academic musical interest in a certain topic, if one mentions a book it's important to have subsequent comments to make about it! There is little point saying "I read X by Y" and leaving it at that: tutors will want to see that you can think critically about academic music literature if you've already read some.

- Both unis interview and may well ask you about things you have written in your PS. If you mention a book, make sure you read it before the interview! If possible, try and re-read it too! Don't write anything you cannot expand upon, explain or defend in an interview. You must be prepared to discuss anything that you've written.

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How to Write an Amazing Personal Statement (Includes Examples!)

Lisa Freedland is a Scholarships360 writer with personal experience in psychological research and content writing. She has written content for an online fact-checking organization and has conducted research at the University of Southern California as well as the University of California, Irvine. Lisa graduated from the University of Southern California in Fall 2021 with a degree in Psychology.

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Zach Skillings is the Scholarships360 Newsletter Editor. He specializes in college admissions and strives to answer important questions about higher education. When he’s not contributing to Scholarships360, Zach writes about travel, music, film, and culture. His work has been published in Our State Magazine, Ladygunn Magazine, The Nocturnal Times, and The Lexington Dispatch. Zach graduated from Elon University with a degree in Cinema and Television Arts.

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How to Write an Amazing Personal Statement (Includes Examples!)

The personal statement. It’s one of the most important parts of the entire college application process. This essay is the perfect opportunity to show admissions officers who you are and what makes you stand out from the crowd. But writing a good personal statement isn’t exactly easy. That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate guide on how to nail your personal statement, complete with example essays . Each essay was reviewed and commented upon by admissions expert Bill Jack. Let’s dive in!

Related: How to write an essay about yourself

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a special type of essay that’s required when you’re applying to colleges and scholarship programs. In this essay, you’re expected to share something about who you are and what you bring to the table. Think of it as a chance to reveal a side of yourself not found in the rest of your application. Personal statements are typically around 400 – 600 words in length.

What can I write about?

Pretty much anything, as long as it’s about you . While this is liberating in the sense that your writing options are nearly unlimited, it’s also overwhelming for the same reason. The good news is that you’ll probably be responding to a specific prompt. Chances are you’re applying to a school that uses the Common App , which means you’ll have seven prompts to choose from . Reviewing these prompts can help generate some ideas, but so can asking yourself meaningful questions.

Below you’ll find a list of questions to ask yourself during the brainstorming process. For each of the following questions, spend a few minutes jotting down whatever comes to mind.

What experiences have shaped who you are?
What’s special or unique about you or your life story?
Who or what has inspired you the most?
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
What are your goals for the future? How have you arrived at those goals?
If your life was a movie, what would be the most interesting scene?
What have been some of the biggest challenges in your life? How did you respond and what did you learn?

The purpose of these questions is to prompt you to think about your life at a deeper level. Hopefully by reflecting on them, you’ll find an essay topic that is impactful and meaningful. In the next section, we’ll offer some advice on actually writing your essay.

Also see: How to write a 500 word essay

How do I write my personal statement?

Once you’ve found a topic, it’s time to start writing! Every personal statement is different, so there’s not really one formula that works for every student. That being said, the following tips should get you started in the right direction:

1. Freewrite, then rewrite

The blank page tends to get more intimidating the longer you stare at it, so it’s best to go ahead and jump right in! Don’t worry about making the first draft absolutely perfect. Instead, just get your ideas on the page and don’t spend too much time thinking about the finer details. Think of this initial writing session as a “brain dump”. Take 15-30 minutes to quickly empty all your thoughts onto the page without worrying about things like grammar, spelling, or sentence structure. You can even use bullet points if that helps. Once you have your ideas on the page, then you can go back and shape them exactly how you want.

2. Establish your theme

Now that you’ve got some basic ideas down on the page, it’s time to lock in on a theme. Your theme is a specific angle that reflects the central message of your essay. It can be summarized in a sentence or even a word. For example, let’s say you’re writing about how you had to establish a whole new group of friends when you moved to a new city. The theme for this type of essay would probably be something like “adaptation”. Having a theme will help you stay focused throughout your essay. Since you only have a limited number of words, you can’t afford to go off on tangents that don’t relate to your theme.

3. Tell a story

A lot of great essays rely on a specific scene or story. Find the personal anecdote relevant to your theme and transfer it to the page. The best way to do this is by using descriptive language. Consult the five senses as you’re setting the scene. What did you see, hear, taste, touch, or smell? How were you feeling emotionally? Using descriptive language can really help your essay come to life. According to UPchieve , a nonprofit that supports low income students, focusing on a particular moment as a “ revised version of a memoir ” is one way to keep readers engaged.

Related: College essay primer: show, don’t tell

4. Focus on your opening paragraph

Your opening paragraph should grab your reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of your essay. In most cases, this is the best place to include your anecdote (if you have one). By leading with your personal story, you can hook your audience from the get-go. After telling your story, you can explain why it’s important to who you are.

Related: How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)

5. Use an authentic voice

Your personal statement reflects who you are, so you should use a tone that represents you. That means you shouldn’t try to sound like someone else, and you shouldn’t use fancy words just to show off. This isn’t an academic paper, so you don’t have to adopt a super formal tone. Instead, write in a way that allows room for your personality to breathe.

6. Edit, edit, edit…

Once you’re done writing, give yourself some time away from the essay. Try to allow a few days to pass before looking at the essay again with fresh eyes. This way, you’re more likely to pick up on spelling and grammatical errors. You may even get some new ideas and rethink the way you wrote some things. Once you’re satisfied, let someone else edit your essay. We recommend asking a teacher, parent, or sibling for their thoughts before submitting.

Examples of personal statements

Sometimes viewing someone else’s work is the best way to generate inspiration and get the creative juices flowing. The following essays are written in response to four different Common App prompts:

Prompt 1: “Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

When I was eight years old, I wanted a GameCube very badly. For weeks I hounded my dad to buy me one and finally he agreed. But there was a catch. He’d only get me a GameCube if I promised to start reading. Every day I played video games, I would have to pick up a book and read for at least one hour. At that point in my life, reading was just something I had to suffer through for school assignments. To read for pleasure seemed ludicrous. Needless to say, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about this proposed agreement. But I figured anything was worth it to get my hands on that shiny new video game console, so I bit the bullet and shook my dad’s hand. Little did I know that I had just made a life-changing deal.

At first, the required hour of reading was a chore — something I had to do so I could play Mario Kart. But it quickly turned into something more than that. To my complete and utter surprise, I discovered that I actually enjoyed reading. One hour turned into two, two turned into three, and after a while I was spending more time reading than I was playing video games. I found myself captivated by the written word, and I read everything I could get my hands on. Lord of the Rings , Percy Jackson , Goosebumps — you name it. I was falling in love with literature, while my GameCube was accumulating dust in the TV stand.

Soon enough, reading led to writing. I was beginning to come up with my own stories, so I put pen to paper and let my imagination run wild. It started out small. My first effort was a rudimentary picture book about a friendly raccoon who went to the moon. But things progressed. My stories became more intricate, my characters more complex. I wrote a series of science fiction novellas. I tried my hand at poetry. I was amazed at the worlds I could create with the tip of my pen. I had dreams of becoming an author.

Then somewhere along the way my family got a subscription to Netflix, and that completely changed the way I thought about storytelling. My nose had been buried in books up until then, so I hadn’t really seen a lot of movies. That quickly changed. It seemed like every other day a pair of new DVDs would arrive in the mail (this was the early days of Netflix). Dark Knight, The Truman Show, Inception, Memento — all these great films were coming in and out of the house. And I couldn’t get enough of them. Movies brought stories to life in a way that books could not. I was head over heels for visual storytelling.

Suddenly I wasn’t writing novels and short stories anymore. I was writing scripts for movies. Now I wanted to transfer my ideas to the big screen, rather than the pages of a book. But I was still doing the same thing I had always done. I was writing, just in a different format. To help with this process, I read the screenplays of my favorite films and paid attention to the way they were crafted. I kept watching more and more movies. And I hadn’t forgotten about my first love, either. I still cherished books and looked to them for inspiration. By the end of my junior year of high school, I had completed two scripts for short films.

So why am I telling you all this? Because I want to turn my love of storytelling into a career. I’m not totally sure how to do that yet, but I know I have options. Whether it’s film production, creative writing, or even journalism, I want to find a major that suits my ambitions. Writing has taken me a long way, and I know it can take me even further. As I step into this next chapter of my life, I couldn’t be more excited to see how my craft develops. In the meantime, I should probably get rid of that dusty old GameCube.

Feedback from admissions professional Bill Jack

Essays don’t always have to reveal details about the student’s intended career path, but one thing I like about this essay is that it gives the reader a sense of the why. Why do they want to pursue storytelling. It also shows the reader that they are open to how they pursue their interest. Being open to exploration is such a vital part of college, so it’s also showing the reader that they likely will be open to new things in college. And, it’s always fun to learn a little bit more about the student’s family, especially if the reader can learn about how the students interacts with their family.

Prompt 2: “The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

I remember my first impression of Irvine: weird. It was foggy, stock-full of greenery and eucalyptus trees, and reminded me of my 5th grade trip to a “science camp” which was located in the San Bernardino mountains. Besides Irvine, that was one of the few places in Southern California where you’d find so many non-palm trees.

Of course, perhaps my initial impression of Irvine was biased, motivated by a desire to stay in my hometown and a fear of the unknown. While that was true to an extent, Irvine was certainly still a little peculiar. The city itself was based on a “master plan” of sorts, with the location of each of its schools, parks, shops, and arguably its trees having been logically “picked” before the foundation was poured. Even the homes all looked roughly the same, with their beige, stucco walls almost serving as a hallmark of the city itself.

Thus, this perfectly structured, perfectly safe city seemed like a paradise of sorts to many outsiders, my parents included. I was a little more hesitant to welcome this. As I saw it, this was a phony city – believing that its uniformity stood for a lack of personality. My hometown, although not as flawlessly safe nor clean as Irvine, was where most of my dearest memories had occurred. From the many sleepovers at Cindie’s house, to trying to avoid my school’s own version of the “infamous” cheese touch, to the many laughs shared with friends and family, I shed a tear at the prospect of leaving my home.

Moving into the foreign city, remnants of the hostility I held towards Irvine remained. Still dwelling in my memories of the past, I was initially unable to see Irvine as a “home.” So, as I walked into my first-ever Irvine class, being greeted by many kind, yet unfamiliar faces around me, I was unable to recognize that some of those new faces would later become some of my dearest friends. Such negative feelings about the city were further reinforced by newer, harder classes, and more complicated homework. Sitting in the discomfort of this unfamiliar environment, it started to seem that “change” was something not only inevitable, but insurmountable.

As the years went on, however, this idea seemed to fade. I got used to my classes and bike racing through Irvine neighborhoods with my friends, watching the trees that once seemed just a “weird” green blob soon transform into one of my favorite parts of the city. While I kept my old, beloved memories stored, I made space for new ones. From carefully making our way over the narrow creek path next to our school, to the laughs we shared during chemistry class, my new memories made with friends seemed to transform a city I once disliked into one I would miss.

Through this transformation, I have come to recognize that change, although sometimes intimidating at first, can open the door to great times and meaningful connections. Although Irvine may have once seemed like a strange, “phony” place that I couldn’t wait to be rid of, the memories and laughs I had grown to share there were very real. As I move onto this next part of my life, I hope I can use this knowledge that I have gained from my time in Irvine to make the most of what’s to come. Even if the change may be frightening at first, I have learned to embrace what’s on the other side, whether green or not.

One huge plus to writing an essay that focuses on a place is that you might have it read by someone who has been there. Yet, what’s really helpful about this essay is that even if someone hasn’t been there, a picture is painted about what the place is like. Admission officers have the hard task of really understanding what the student sees, so the use of adjectives and imagery can really help. It’s also really clever to see that the green that’s mentioned at the beginning is mentioned at the end. It’s a nice way to bookend the essay and tie it all together.

Prompt 6: “Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?”

I like getting lost. Not literally, of course, but figuratively. Whether it be in the story of a love song by Taylor Swift, or in the memories brought back by listening to my favorite childhood video game’s background music, I’ve always appreciated music’s ability to transport me to another place, another time, another feeling.

Alas, I cannot sing, nor have I practiced an instrument since my middle school piano class days. So, perhaps Kurt Vonnegut was right. As he puts it, “Virtually every writer I know would rather be a musician.” While I cannot speak for others, I have certainly not debunked his theory. Writing allows many, including myself, to attempt to mimic the transformative power of music – even if our singing voices aren’t exactly “pleasant.” Just as you can get lost in music, you can do so in a story. Whether it is in George Orwell’s totalitarian Oceania, or Little Women’s Orchard House, the stories outlined in novels can provide an amazing look into the lives and worlds of others, and an escape from the worries and problems of those in your own.

While I am certainly not claiming to have the storytelling abilities of the Orwells or Alcotts before me, I’ve had fun trying to recreate such transformative feelings for others. When I was nine, I attempted to write a story about a little girl who had gotten lost in the woods, only managing to get a couple pages through. As I got older, whenever I was assigned a creative writing assignment in school, I wrote about the same pig, Phil. He was always angry: in my 8th grade science class, Phil was mad at some humans who had harbored his friend captive, and in my 9th grade English class, at a couple who robbed him.

Thus, when I heard about a writing club being opened at my school in 11th grade, I knew I had to join. I wanted to discern whether writing was just a hobby I picked up now and then, or a true passion. If it was a passion, I wanted to learn as much as possible about how I could improve. Although my high school’s writing club certainly wasn’t going to transform me into Shakespeare, I knew I could learn a lot from it – and I did. The club challenged me to do many things, from writing on the spot, to writing poetry, to even writing about myself, something that’s hopefully coming in handy right now.

From then on, I started to expand into different types of writing, storing short ideas, skits, and more in appropriately-labeled Google Drive folders. At around the same time, I became interested in classic literature, which largely stemmed from a project in English class. We had been required to choose and read a classic on our own, then present it to the class in an interesting way. While my book was certainly interesting and unique in its own right, nearly everyone else’s novels seemed more captivating to me. So, I took it upon myself to read as many classics as I could the following summer.

One of the books I read during the summer, funnily enough, was Animal Farm, which starred angry pigs, reminiscent of Phil. I had also started going over different ideas in my head, thinking about how I could translate them into words using the new skills I learned. While the writing club helped reaffirm my interest in writing and allowed me to develop new skills, my newfound affinity for classics gave me inspiration to write. Now, I am actually considering writing as part of my future. In this endeavor, I hope that Phil, and the music I inevitably listen to as I write, will accompany me every step of the way.

Admission officers might read 70 (or more!) essays in one day. It’s not uncommon for them to start to blend together and sound similar. This essay might not make you laugh out loud. But, it might make the reader chuckle while reading it thanks to the subtle humor and levity. Being able to incorporate a little humor into your essay (if it is natural for you to do… do not force it), can really be a great way to shed additional light into who you are. Remember, the essay isn’t merely about proving that you can write, but it should also reveal a little bit about your personality.

Prompt 5: “Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.”

I learned a lot of things during the summer I worked at Tropical Smoothie. I discovered the value of hard work. I figured out how to save money. I even mastered the art of the Mango Magic smoothie (the secret is lots of sugar). But most importantly, I learned the power of perspective. And I have Deja to thank for that.

Deja was my shift supervisor, and one of Tropical Smoothie’s best employees. She was punctual, friendly, and always willing to lend a helping hand. She knew the store from top to bottom, and could handle pretty much any situation thrown her way. She made everyone around her better. On top of all that, she was four months pregnant! I was always impressed by Deja’s work ethic, but I gained an entirely new level of respect for her one day.

It was a Friday night, and Deja and I were working the closing shift together. It was very busy, and Deja and I were the only ones on shift. We managed to get by, but we were exhausted by the end of the evening. After wiping down the counters and mopping the floors, we closed up shop and went our separate ways. I was eager to get home.

I walked a couple blocks to where I had parked my car. Well, it wasn’t my car actually. It was my dad’s ‘98 Chevy pickup truck, and it was in rough shape. It had no heat or A/C, the leather seats were cracked beyond repair, and the driver’s side door was jammed shut. I sighed as I got in through the passenger side and scooted over to the driver’s seat. The whole reason I was working at Tropical Smoothie was to save up enough money to buy my own car. I was hoping to have something more respectable to drive during my senior year of high school.

I cranked the old thing up and started on my way home. But soon enough, I spotted Deja walking on the side of the road. There was no sidewalk here, the light was low, and she was dangerously close to the passing cars. I pulled over and offered her a ride. She got in and explained that she was on her way home. Apparently she didn’t have a car and had been walking to work every day. I couldn’t believe it. Here I was complaining about my set of wheels, while Deja didn’t have any to begin with.

We got to talking, and she confessed that she had been having a tough time. You would never know from the way she was so cheerful at work, but Deja had a lot on her plate. She was taking care of her mother, her boyfriend had just lost his job, and she was worried about making ends meet. And of course, she was expecting a baby in five months. On top of all that, she had been walking nearly a mile to and from work every day. The whole thing was a real eye opener, and made me reconsider some things in my own life.

For one, I didn’t mind driving my dad’s truck anymore. It was banged up, sure, but it was a lot better than nothing. My mindset had changed. I appreciated the truck now. I began to think about other things differently, too. I started making mental notes of all the things in my life I was thankful for — my family, my friends, my health. I became grateful for what I had, instead of obsessing over the things I didn’t.

I also gained more awareness of the world outside my own little bubble. My encounter with Deja had shown me first-hand that everyone is dealing with their own problems, some worse than others. So I started paying more attention to my friends, family members, and coworkers. I started listening more and asking how I could help. I also gave Deja a ride home for the rest of the summer.

These are all small things, of course, but I think they make a difference. I realized I’m at my best when I’m not fixated on my own life, but when I’m considerate of the lives around me. I want to keep this in mind as I continue to grow and develop as a person. I want to continue to search for ways to support the people around me. And most importantly, I want to keep things in perspective.

Too often we can be focused on our own problems that we fail to realize that everyone has their own things going on in their lives, too. This essay showcases how it’s important to put things in perspective, a skill that certainly will prove invaluable in college… and not just in the classroom. Another reason I like this essay is because it provides deeper insight into the student’s life. Sure, you might have mentioned in your activities list that you have a job. But as this essay does, you can show why you have the job in the first place, what your responsibilities are, and more.

A few last tips

We hope these essay examples gave you a bit of inspiration of what to include in your own. However, before you go, we’d like to send you off with a few (personal statement) writing tips to help you make your essays as lovely as the memories and anecdotes they’re based off of. Without further ado, here are some of our best tips for writing your personal statements:

1. Open strong

College admissions officers read many, many essays (think 50+) a day, which can sometimes cause them to start blending together and sounding alike. One way to avoid your essay from simply fading into the background is to start strong. This means opening your essay with something memorable, whether an interesting personal anecdote, a descriptive setting, or anything else that you think would catch a reader’s attention (so long as it’s not inappropriate). Not only might this help college admissions officers better remember your essay, but it will also make them curious about what the rest of your essay will entail.

2. Be authentic

Perhaps most important when it comes to writing personal statement essays is to maintain your authenticity. Ultimately, your essays should reflect your unique stories and quirks that make you who you are, and should help college admissions officers determine whether you’d truly be a good fit for their school or not. So, don’t stress trying to figure out what colleges are looking for. Be yourself, and let the colleges come to you!

3. Strong writing

This one may seem a little obvious, but strong writing will certainly appeal to colleges. Not only will it make your essay more compelling, but it may show colleges that you’re ready for college-level essay writing (that you’ll likely have to do a lot of). Just remember that good writing is not limited to grammar. Using captivating detail and descriptions are a huge part of making your essay seem more like a story than a lecture.

4. Proofread

Last but not least, remember to proofread! Make sure your essay contains no errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. When you’re done proofreading your essay yourself, we would also recommend that you ask a teacher, parent, or other grammatically savvy person to proofread your essay as well.

Final thoughts

With those in hand, we hope you now have a better sense of how to write your personal statement. While your grades and test scores are important when it comes to college admissions, it’s really your essays that can “make” or “break” your application.

Although this may make it seem like a daunting task, writing an amazing personal statement essay is all about effort. Thus, so long as you start early, follow the advice listed above, and dedicate your time and effort to it, it’s entirely possible to write an essay that perfectly encapsulates you. Good luck, and happy writing!

Also see: Scholarships360’s free scholarships search tool

Key Takeaways

It may take some people longer than others to know what they want to write about, but remember that everyone, including you, has something unique to write about!
Personal statements should be personal, which means you should avoid being too general and really strive to show off what makes you “you”
Time and effort are two of the most important things you can put into your personal statement to ensure that it is the best representation of yourself
Don’t forget to ask people who know you to read your work before you submit; they should be able to tell you better than anyone if you are truly shining through!

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Frequently asked questions about writing personal statements

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, how does the college application process differ for music majors compared to other majors.

Hi everyone, my sibling is currently applying to universities as a music major, and I was wondering if the application process is different for them compared to other majors, like STEM for example. Are there any unique requirements or challenges music majors face during the application process? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Hello! The college application process for music majors does have some unique aspects compared to other majors like STEM. Here are a few key differences and additional requirements music majors may encounter during the application process:

1. Auditions: Music programs usually require applicants to perform an audition, either in person or via a recorded submission. The audition is a crucial component of the application process, as it demonstrates the applicant's musical skills, technique, and potential for growth. Each school may have different audition requirements, such as specific pieces to perform or scales to demonstrate.

2. Portfolio or prescreening recordings: Some music programs require applicants to submit a portfolio or prescreening recordings before being invited to audition. This may include recordings of solo performances, ensemble performances, or compositions, depending on the program and the applicant's focus.

3. Music resume and repertoire list: In addition to a standard resume, music applicants may need to submit a music-specific resume that highlights their performance experience, awards, achievements, and training. They may also need to provide a list of their repertoire, which showcases the breadth and depth of their musical experience.

4. Letters of recommendation: Music applicants may need to provide letters of recommendation from music teachers or mentors who can speak to their abilities and potential as a musician.

5. Music theory or musicianship assessments: Some music programs require applicants to take assessments in music theory or musicianship as part of the application process. This helps the school evaluate the applicant's foundational knowledge and aptitude for the program.

6. Additional essays or personal statements: Music programs may require additional essays or personal statements that specifically address the applicant's musical background, goals, and passion for music.

7. Dual applications: If the music program is within a larger university, students may need to submit applications to both the university for general admission and the music program for program-specific admission.

The college application process for music majors can be more time-consuming and complex than for other majors, as it involves additional components like auditions, portfolios, and music-specific documentation. Encourage your sibling to be well-prepared for these unique requirements and to start the application process early to ensure they can meet all the deadlines and requirements. Good luck to your sibling on their applications!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

How to Write Your Music School Essay

Music students preparing for college know that the essay portion of the application is crucial. If you’ve been reading the news lately, you know that one high school senior, Kwasi Enin, was recently accepted to every school he applied, including eight Ivy League schools . Granted, he scored 2250 on his SAT and was in the top 2% of his class, but his essay (which you can read here ) is being touted as a major influence. In fact, many admissions board members say that your application essay has the power to solidify your approval or scuttle your chances.

So, knowing what to write and how to write your student essay is very important. These tips can get you started by providing some clear guidelines about what and what not to do when you’re writing your application essay.

Content—What (and What Not) to Write

The topic of your essay should be original. Generic writing with unsupported generalizations are tedious and unexciting to read. Your student essay is the one shot you have for giving the approval committee a glimpse of your character, the kind of person you are today, and what you want to bring to the academic community at that school. You can do that by:

Brainstorming —Jot down ideas about your strengths, personality traits, ambitions, and topics that will answer the essay question or prompt ideas.
Writing without restraint —during your first draft, let your writing flow. Don’t stop to worry about grammar or structure, you can edit later.
Be Honest —Don’t fabricate or exaggerate your experiences. Don’t develop your essay around what you think the approval board will want to hear. Write your essay using personal stories that come from the heart.
Be Creative —Your opening line, like all good writing, should be intriguing. The acceptance board is most likely wading through hundreds of essays and you want yours to stand out. A snappy opening line should grab their attention and whet their appetite for more.
Choosing the right topic —Avoid political, sensitive, or controversial subjects. Experts suggest leaving out things like your opinion of the last election or how you overcame a mental illness or other health problems. Also, shy away from the same old hackneyed ideas. Your student essay isn’t a way to glorify your goodness or make yourself a victim, it’s an opportunity for the school of your choice to understand who you are.

Your school application essay should convey a sense of perspective (yours) and self-awareness that’s compelling to others. It should be authentic and show your quality of thinking. Be humble, but not modest. You’re writing about the best of your abilities and passions, so don’t short change yourself.

Form—How to Write

Yes, form is a very important part of your essay. Although you don’t want to create a “cookie cutter” essay that bores the board, it should still follow the basic structure of introduction paragraph, body (3-4 paragraphs), and conclusion paragraph. Plus, your paragraphs should follow the rules of composition, topic sentences should introduce the content, statements should be backed up by details and examples, and you should employ an appropriate amount of transitions.

In fact, all of the rules of good writing apply, including:

Proofread/Corrections —Make sure that there are no grammatical errors by reading your essay out loud and having other people read it, looking for errors. Reading out loud is an old writer’s trick because it illuminates mistakes that are ignored when you read silently.
Follow the Instructions —Each school will have different aspects they want to examine, so make sure that you cover the points requested in the essay .
Remember, it’s not a resume —Your school application essay isn’t another form of your activity resume, so don’t approach it like one.
Know your audience —Although it’s tempting to use the thesaurus to sound smarter, don’t do it. The school wants to know about you. You should avoid slang, but definitely use your own voice. Be concise and use active voice.
Let character attributes shine through —Whatever experiences you decide to express, make sure that the examples reflect the attributes you want to showcase.
Get feedback —Ask teachers, parents, and friends to read and critique your essay. The people who know you best may be able to offer great insights into your character, so don’t be afraid to ask them.

Writing a great application essay doesn’t have to be a struggle. Remember to start early so you won’t feel rushed. If you’re unsure about the grammar, the Purdue Online writing Lab (OWL) is an excellent source of information for style guides, grammar, and mechanics. Music students who take their time developing their music school essay improve their chances of being accepted by the school of their choice and eventually landing their chosen music careers.

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music personal statement

D is just about done with her university applications, and all those essays. One is different though: UCLA has a music supplement which has a personal statement. This is on top of 2 University of California personal statements (where D discussed music, of course), 2 other questions on the supplement which ask about career plans and extra-curricular activities, and the resume. When we inquired at UCLA as to what they would like the applicants to address in the music personal statement, they said basically to write whatever you want. Any suggestions or ideas?

DD wrote about a particular song that was performed in her groups that wove it’s way through several major events in her life and how it impacted her. They want to see something about her and her music and what it means to her. This was one of DD’s major essays that she used in all admissions requiring such a statement. … For the other UCLA ones DD did a different theme. She had several that she could use when extras were needed…

Last year when my son applied to UCLA, we were informed that the Music department would only review the music supplement (in his case resume, musical background questions and statement of purpose). Therefore some redundancy to the main app’s personal statements was not a problem.

And as I’m sure you probably know, the way UCLA works with any fine or performing arts major, if the student is selected on the basis of their portfolio or audition, they need only meet UC minimums for GPA/test scores (GPA around 3.0 for in state) to gain acceptance. So if the department wants them, UC admissions basically checks to make sure the student meets those minimums and course requirements.

Applying for Music at Oxbridge: The Course, and How To Craft A Standout Music Personal Statement

Find out more about the Oxbridge music courses and what to read/ listen to for your music personal statement with U2 tutor, Kai (1st Class Cambridge Music graduate and current Oxford PhD student, researching the existential implications of AI-composed music).

What does a Music course involve at Oxford or Cambridge?

Studying Music at university is an inspiring and thrilling experience—yet, until you have first-hand experience, it can be difficult to tell what an academic Music course actually entails. Specifically, how does studying Music at a university like Oxford or Cambridge differ from doing a performance or composition degree at a conservatoire? Is there a difference?

The short answer is yes—there is a huge difference. For although you can choose to make performance or composition play a role in your university studies, they will never become the main focus; at both Oxford and Cambridge, both performance and composition are each limited to around a fifth or sixth of your studies in a given year. So what do you do with the rest of your time? Here are some of the key components that make up most Music degrees:

Music history

o This is usually focused on the development of Western music (all the way from plainchant to the present!); the emphasis is on the continuities and discontinuities between styles through history. For example, how did Schoenberg’s atonal music emerge from Wagner’s late Romanticism? At the same time, music history explores how music has both shaped and been shaped by the extra-musical features of its historical context, such as literature, visual art, philosophy, theology, and politics. For example, what impact did Stalin’s censorship have on Shostakovich’s musical style?

Theory and stylistic composition

o This is the study of the fundamental methods and conventions that define a musical language. Although there will likely be an initial focus on the Western tonal and modal tradition—for example, Classical and Romantic harmony, Baroque fugue, and Renaissance counterpoint—there is also scope for things like jazz transcriptions, film music composition, and orchestration.

o At first, analysis is not hugely differentiated from theory, as both involve understanding how music is constructed; at its most basic level, then, analysis involves things like identifying chords and structural markers in specific compositions. However, where analysis becomes really exciting is when you can build on these foundations to make your own judgments and interpretations. For example, there might be a Chopin nocturne you love, and that always makes you feel nostalgic; you could then try to get the bottom of how exactly Chopin’s compositional decisions—his choice of specific chords etc.—may serve to evoke such feelings.

Composition

o Here you have ‘free reign’, as it were. Although you will be encouraged to find your own compositional voice, you will be exposed to lots of different musical styles, especially those of living composers, in order to inspire you.

Performance

o This is predominantly assessed through solo recitals. However, given that you are studying at an academic university rather than a conservatoire, there is also an emphasis on understanding key issues in performance, rather than simply practising your instrument. For example, to what extent are a performer’s facial expressions part of their performance?

Ethnomusicology and sociology of music

o These related areas constitute the study of music in specific cultural contexts, with a particular emphasis on how musical practices interact with social structures. Ethnomusicology differs subtly from sociology of music in its focus on musics that do not belong to the broad tradition of Western art music—for example, the gamelan music of Bali. The sociology of music tends to be more focused on issues like gender, sexuality, and power structures, as they manifest in the music of contemporary society.

Psychology of music (music and science)

o This investigates how we perceive and are uniquely affected by music, using psychological methods such as listening experiments, surveys, and brain scans.

What should I read (and listen to!) in preparation for my music personal statement and interviews?

I would suggest, as a general rule, that there are two types of book you should read. Firstly, general overviews and introductions are extremely useful for providing a basic grounding in key areas, as well as for drawing your attention to specific topics that might strike you as especially fascinating. This brings me to the second type of book: more narrowly focused works on a specific topic, such as a composer, a period of history, or a key concept (such as cultural appropriation in music). Remember, though, that you are NOT expected to have read and to know everything! So even though I will provide quite a few suggestions, I would suggest that you stick to reading a couple of introductory books and a couple of books that align with your specific interests. What’s most important is that you read carefully and critically —make sure to note down your ideas as you read. This will be useful for your personal statement as admissions tutors are looking for applicants who can critique and present their opinions, rather than list an abundance of books they have read. Some introductory books include:

An Introduction to Music Studies , edited by JPE Harper-Scott and Jim Samson

o This book consists of a series of chapters by renowned specialists on the key areas and themes in the study of music—in effect, a much expanded (and much better!) version of the summary I gave above.

Oxford’s Very Short Introductions

o There are several of these for music, including: Music (in general); Film Music; Folk Music; Ethnomusicology; Psychology of Music; Early Music; World Music; Country Music; and The Blues. Because they are so short and readable, they are the perfect way to sample various areas.

A Guide to Musical Analysis , by Nicholas Cook

o This is a readable overview of key concepts and techniques in musical analysis; it’s especially useful for those who are daunted by the topic.

Musicology: The Key Concepts , by David Beard and Kenneth Gloag

o This book consists of a huge number of short entries on themes in musicology, including things like ethics, gender, globalization, interpretation, modernism, and the sublime.

In terms of the second type of book, there are two main ways to find them. You can look for what the above introductions reference when they are focusing on a particular theme. In addition, you can simply search on a website that sells books—such as Amazon, Waterstones, or Blackwell’s—for the topic you are interested in, such as Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring . In general, books published by university presses, such as Oxford and Cambridge, will be more detailed and will be written by specialist academics; for this reason, I would encourage you to give some a go, but also not to be discouraged if you don’t understand everything at this stage. The key point is to read what grabs your attention —for this reason, there is no extensive general reading list I can give. That said, here are some personal suggestions for particularly good books on specific areas:

The Rest is Noise , by Alex Ross

o This is an extremely popular book, and rightly so. Ross takes you on a journey through twentieth-century music, from late Romanticism, through Stockhausen, to Rock music.

The Classical Style and The Romantic Generation , by Charles Rosen

o Both these books are classics, and focus on the Classical and Romantic eras respectively. Their main strength is Rosen’s ability to present deep insights from the music itself—they are ‘serious’ musicology—in a beautifully readable manner.

Cambridge Music Handbooks

o This is a series of short books, written by specialists, each of which focuses on a specific piece, from Bach’s Mass in B Minor to The Beatles’s Sergeant Pepper . They are both accessible and rigorous.

Sound and Symbol , by Viktor Zuckerkandl.

o This is a beautiful and quite poetic book that explores the experience of listening to music. Although there is some analysis, it is engaging throughout and never dry.

Finally, it is crucial never to stop listening to music! Never just read a book on musical history without looking up some of the music mentioned and listening to it yourself—otherwise, what’s the point of studying music? Listen to what you love, read about what you love to listen to, and listen to what you are reading about. At the same time, listen to pieces outside your comfort zone , and make sure you are familiar with some of the seminal pieces in the history of music —not just because they are important in the study of music due to their influence, but also because they are generally amazing!

Some good music pieces to listen to for Oxbridge applications

Try listening to a few pieces a week, along with the score (there are many YouTube videos with the audio synced up with the score). Here are some suggestions, in chronological order—this list is by no means exhaustive, and is focused on the kind of music that you will encounter whilst studying music history (that is, music from the Western art music tradition):

· Dies Irae anonymous plainchant

· O Ignis Spiritus Paracliti , by Hildegard of Bingen (12th century)

· Viderunt Omnes , by Perotin (c.1200)

· Ave Maria Virgo Serena , by Josquin (c.1475)

· Missa Papae Marcelli , by Palestrina (c.1562)

· Vespers , by Monteverdi (1610)

· St Matthew Passion , by Bach (1741)

· Piano Concerto no.21 , by Mozart (1785)

· Symphony no.9 , by Beethoven (1824)

· Dichterliebe , by Schumann (1840)

· Tristan and Isolde (especially the Prelude and Liebestod ), by Wagner (1865)

· Symphony no.4 , by Brahms (1885)

· Symphony no.9 (‘From the New World’) , by Dvorak (1893)

· Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun , by Debussy (1894)

· Symphony no.5 , by Mahler (1902)

· Violin Concerto , by Sibelius (1905)

· Gaspard de la nuit , by Ravel (1908)

· Three Piano Pieces op. 11 , by Schoenberg (1909)

· Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis , by Vaughan Williams (1910)

· The Rite of Spring , by Stravinsky (1913)

· Cello Concerto , by Elgar (1919)

· Symphony , by Webern (1928)

· Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta , by Bartok (1937)

· Symphony no.5 , by Shostakovich (1937)

· Appalachian Spring , by Copland (1944)

· Peter Grimes , by Britten (1945)

· Four Last Songs , by Richard Strauss (1948)

· Le marteau sans maître , by Pierre Boulez (1955)

· Atmosphères , by Gyorgy Ligeti (1961)

· Sinfonia , by Luciano Berio (1969)

· Black Angels , by George Crumb (1970)

· Rothko Chapel , by Morton Feldman (1971)

· Music for 18 Musicians , by Steve Reich (1976)

· Symphony of Sorrowful Songs , by Henryk Gorecki (1976)

· Asyla , by Thomas Adès (1997)

· Orion , by Kaija Saariaho (2002)

· Partita for 8 Voices, by Caroline Shaw (2012)

· Become Ocean , by John Luther Adams (2013)

Remember, the point of a personal statement is to be personal. Professors are looking for applicants who can demonstrate certain abilities, but how you gain those abilities and how you exhibit them in your personal statement and at interview is completely up to you and should be determined by your interests. Studying music at Cambridge or Oxford is an incredible experience.

Good luck, and happy reading and listening!

Looking for a Cambridge or Oxford Music Personal Statement Writing Tutor or Support For Your Wider Oxbridge Music Application?

Music Degree Personal Statement Support

U2’s Oxbridge-educated mentors have a close insight into what admissions tutors like to see in a Music personal statement, and can help students to convey their skills, motivations, and long term goals, in order to stand out from other applicants. The statement should be the candidates own work, but our mentors will provide direction and guide you through the process of content building and writing. We offer offline drafting as well as tuition sessions.

Oxbridge Music Mentoring

U2 offers wider Oxbridge Mentoring programmes (book a free consultation to discuss options). We have a large team of Oxford and Cambridge Music tutors including 1st Class, Master’s and PhD level graduates.

The Process:

1) We suggest a Cambridge or Oxford Music graduate as a mentor and send their full CV for review. Our mentors are deeply familiar with the admissions process to study Music at Oxford and Cambridge University, and are well-placed to guide you through personal statement curation and preparation for the interview process. We may suggest a range of application tutors to choose from with slightly differing rates depending on qualifications and level of experience.

2) We typically suggest beginning with a 1.5 hour informal assessment/ taster session , where the mentor will informally assess the student’s current performance level for application, including test and interview. Following this, we issue a report with feedback, and structure a plan to best prepare.

3) U2’s approach for regular Oxbridge Music application sessions: The main focus of tutorial sessions will be to explore material that can be discussed in the personal statement and at interview - this may sometimes stretch to First Year Undergraduate. Mentors ensure each student refines their interests, and is exposed to a range of new concepts, guiding students in their reading and wider subject exploration. Together, we build a case for the student, solidifying the stance and direction they will take during interview and honing critical discussion and analytical skills for interview.

Frequency of sessions can be decided between student and mentor. Students can take either ad hoc sessions, or we structure a full programme for preparation, which may include further co-curricular opportunities such as our Oxbridge mock interview days. Honing the skills necessary to succeed for Oxbridge ideally requires long-term preparation and mentoring presents a wonderful opportunity to learn from some of the very best Oxbridge has produced.

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Music in Personal Statement

Thread starter Leraine
Start date Jan 22, 2011

Applying to Med School? Get In Or Your Money Back

Jan 22, 2011

Full Member

Leraine said: I'm faced with a prompt: "Identify four of your major interests and describe how these have shaped your character and will contribute to your success as a physician" One of the interests I have chosen is music, as it is a very large part of my life, but I cannot think of how music could possibly contribute to my success as a physician. I know that music has been used as therapy in some cases, but honestly I do not intend to involve music in my future practice of medicine, but it is still a major part of my life. I am just completely confused as to how to approach this. Could anyone spare some insight? Thanks in advance! Click to expand...

Charles_Carmichael

Think about the discipline and self-motivation that it takes to become proficient at playing an instrument. It takes a lot of hard work and determination. Can you see how having a strong sense of discipline, self-motivation, etc, can be useful for a physician and physician-in-training? The question isn't asking about how these interests are going to be incorporated into medical therapy...you're reading it wrong. It's asking about the traits you gained from these interests and how they'll help you become a successful physician.

A Gimlet Eye

Kaushik said: Think about the discipline and self-motivation that it takes to become proficient at playing an instrument. It takes a lot of hard work and determination. Can you see how having a strong sense of discipline, self-motivation, etc, can be useful for a physician and physician-in-training? Click to expand...

hownowmauvecow

Mauve is the new brown.

I talked about music extensively in my PS and surprisingly it was the topic that most interviewers wanted to talk the most about. If you truly believe that music was a large part of your journey to deciding you wanted to be a doctor (for me it was the things that being a musician taught me) then by all means include it. It also might make you seem more rounded.

Unofficial Froopyland Forum Mod.

The discipline+self motivation idea did not occur to me at all before, possibly because I never felt like I had to consciously motivate myself to do something I loved so much. Thank you for your ideas everyone!

Oracle of the Sheet

WingedOx said: when I read the title of this, I kept thinking of a personal statement that plays embedded MIDI music in the background when you download it. Click to expand...

Jan 23, 2011

I talked about music in my PS: how music has always been a part of my life from playing the piano at 6 to the choirs that I currently sing in. It has been a creative outlet where I can collaborate with others, share beauty with an audience, and retreat from day-to-day stresses. Both of my interviewers specifically asked about it. And I would strongly disagree with ilton's assessment that unless it's THE reason you are going to medical school, don't include it. My recommendation is don't get hung up on the part of the prompt that asks how music will make you a successful doctor and instead think of how music makes you a good/interesting/successful person . The school wants to know that you have a personality and interests outside of science/medicine, and talking about your passion for music is a great way to let them know you're interesting.

Jan 24, 2011

ORMD said: I talked about music in my PS: how music has always been a part of my life from playing the piano at 6 to the choirs that I currently sing in. It has been a creative outlet where I can collaborate with others, share beauty with an audience, and retreat from day-to-day stresses. Both of my interviewers specifically asked about it. And I would strongly disagree with ilton's assessment that unless it's THE reason you are going to medical school, don't include it. My recommendation is don't get hung up on the part of the prompt that asks how music will make you a successful doctor and instead think of how music makes you a good/interesting/successful person . The school wants to know that you have a personality and interests outside of science/medicine, and talking about your passion for music is a great way to let them know you're interesting. Click to expand...

normtheniner

Feb 17, 2011

My personal statement's intro was about my musical interests and how it enhanced my creativity and passion for life-long learning. Like medicine, there are no boundaries in music and we as musicians or physicians must explore the unknown.

the evil queen of numbers

Endolas said: I was imagining sending in a demo tape with your app, but I guess putting it that was makes me sound old. Click to expand...

Kaushik said: Think about the discipline and self-motivation that it takes to become proficient at playing an instrument. It takes a lot of hard work and determination. Can you see how having a strong sense of discipline, self-motivation, etc, can be useful for a physician and physician-in-training? The question isn't asking about how these interests are going to be incorporated into medical therapy...you're reading it wrong. It's asking about the traits you gained from these interests and how they'll help you become a successful physician. Click to expand...

Depending on how you approached your study of music (i.e. creatively, not just mechanically playing what you're supposed to), I think the study of any art can be applicable. Medicine is after all an art: the application of scientific principles in attempting to heal another human being (I'm guessing it takes both creativity and logic). As others have said, creativity is an important aspect to show. Do admission committees really want to read another personal statement about how you shadowed a physician then liked what you saw or how much you love science? Obviously be honest, but let those aspects that make you more interesting come through.

runawayclock

I'd echo the above people who said talking about music is a good thing (as long as you can show that medicine is the #1 thing, not music). I included my painting and photography portfolio in a lot of the secondary applications and I ended up talking about that a lot at my interviews. I brought some stuff I was working on the one of my interviews (and ended up getting accepted a week later!). Who knows if it was a deciding factor at all, but anything to set you apart from every other pre-med is generally a good thing. Also, I'm guessing it's SUNY upstate from the prompt? I talked about my art stuff a lot with my student interviewer there (not so much the faculty interviewer) so i can't imagine that it would hurt you!

Apr 16, 2014

Bump! Could anyone else comment about how to effectively incorporate ones passion for playing a musical instrument into the personal statement? Also in reference to what Lizzy M said, I myself make youtube covers and song tutorials with my instrument. Is it really a good idea to include the link in my application?

HealthHare said: 1) Could anyone else comment about how to effectively incorporate ones passion for playing a musical instrument into the personal statement? 2) Also in reference to what Lizzy M said, I myself make youtube covers and song tutorials with my instrument. Is it really a good idea to include the link in my application? Click to expand...

Student of Mad Doctoring

Apr 17, 2014

music2doc said: One word: YES! Like women, medical schools like musicians. -------------------------------- ^love Click to expand...

Messier83 said: Somewhat agree. Women will will probably like the guy nonchalantly strumming his guitar or the suave gentleman dropping a mozart sonata on a piano, but a guy maxing out on a tuba... Not so much Click to expand...

WillburCobb

I am the pull out king.

music2doc said: Nobody likes the tuba , but the sax player maxin' it out... Click to expand...

Apr 18, 2014

music2doc said: Nobody likes the tuba, but the sax player maxin' it out... Click to expand...

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From a young age I have been very interested in popular music and It's culture. My interest started at my family gatherings. My older cousins used to bring their instruments with them and play pop songs everyone knew and most times it ended up with everyone jamming and singing along. It was thrilling to be a part of and I was very intrigued by the way people can play instruments together by ear. I feel very grateful to have a musical family, It's given me a real appreciation for many different styles of music and cultures.

I play the bass guitar. I took it up after being fascinated by the deep sound and liked working together with the drummer as the solid foundation of an ensemble. I also play various hand drums which has taught me about some aspects of drumming and helps me play tighter. In school I learnt mainly by jamming with my friends. This quickly turned into a band and opened up the opportunity for us play regularly in school assemblies and start playing gigs in our local area. I started to learn about what is was to be a musician and I knew I wanted to take it further. I went to Walsall college to study a BTEC in popular music. It was very hands on and opened up my eyes to the greater world of music with lessons covering live sound, theory, producing and many more areas. It taught me a lot about how life can be in the music industry and about the jobs that are part of it. Overall college taught me many skills that help me get employed as a musician, like being able to think on my feet with improvisation.

I have played bass for a range of bands including function, church, metal, rock and acoustic. It's shown me the importance of being able to play many different styles and this gives me the ability to take more musical opportunities when the arise. Although playing an instrument is something I like to take seriously, I really enjoy it. I've learnt that when playing a show, just small things like being early and having a band dress code can really make an impact on how the band is received by the audience and venue staff. I consider the bass guitar to be my main instrument but I like to explore other areas of music too, as I find it essential to being a musician. I have an acoustic act with my brother. It has taught me about song writing, the use of vocal harmonies and computer software like Ableton Live to make audio samples and loops for the act.

I have had experience within other areas of music too. In my gap year in New Zealand I worked as a promoter for a pub, on top of my day job. I found it was mainly about convincing people that my venue and acts are worth seeing with a great deal of social networking, flyering and posters in key areas. Having done well as a promoter I got the position of choosing some of the bands, becoming a part of the events managing team. I found this to be a big responsibility and very rewarding. It helped me develop a closer relationship with the rest of the staff and the bands, giving me more opportunities for work.

In my non-musical interests I like to build and repair computers. This has given me an appreciation for quality with my builds and to be thorough in checking for faults with connections and systems. It's a skill which links with my live sound abilities. I also like to go to new places and experience new cultures. I have learned a lot from my time in New Zealand about myself and the music business and want to travel more in the future. It's also given me an appreciation and a much bigger interest in world music.

From my experiences over the past few years I am set on choosing music. I have a great desire to learn and with my experience in promotion and currently working on two different musical projects and working towards grade 6 theory, I really want to take myself to the next level of education. I feel that University is the way to get to that next step, with new learning and life opportunities.

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This personal statement was written by Biggs for application in 2013.

Biggs's Comments

Sent this off in December. It's getting me interviews! Hope it helps if your stuck.

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How to Write an Amazing Personal Statement (Includes Examples!)

What is a personal statement?

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How do I write my personal statement?

1. Freewrite, then rewrite

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Prompt 1: “Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

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