Crafting Your University Personal Statement To Get Results - Solihull College - 10 June 2013

@MyBCU www.facebook.com/birminghamcityuniversity 1

Crafting Your University Personal Statement To Get Results

Computing And IT HE Progression Day

Dr. Thomas Lancaster & Rehan BhanaSolihull College

Monday, 10 June 2013


A Bit Of Background


The Purpose Of The Session…

We want to help you to get a university placeOn a course that you will enjoyAnd on a course that will offer you career prospects

But you have to do the work!


Who Are We?

Dr. Thomas Lancaster

Senior Lecturer in ComputingProgram Leader BSc Computer ScienceAcademic Background

Rehan Bhana

Senior Lecturer in ComputingProgram Leader BSc Information and Communications TechnologyIndustrial Background


The UCAS Rules For Personal Statements


You Can Submit

One single Personal StatementThe Personal Statement is seen by up to 5 courses(usually courses at different universities)

The Personal Statement has to impress the reviewers for all 5 courses


Personal Statement Length

Maximum 47 lines (including blank lines)Maximum 94 characters per lineMaximum 4000 characters total

No formatting (underlines, bolds etc), just plain text


How Long?

You need to write around 600 words, including space for blank lines(In English, there are an average of 4.5 characters per

word)


How Short?

600 words does not give you a lot of scope(10 minutes typing at 60 words per minute)

Use every word wiselyYou should spend more time editing and improving your Personal Statement then you did originally writing it


Thinking About Yourself


What Are You Studying?

IT (Business) BTEC Extended DiplomaIT (Networking and Computing) BTEC Extended DiplomaIT (Software Development with Games) BTEC Extended DiplomaIT (Software Development) BTEC Extended Diploma


What’s The Content?

IT (Software Development) BTEC Extended DiplomaComputer Programming and AnimationEvent Driven Programming (Introduction to Android App Development)Advanced Use of Databases and SpreadsheetsWebsite Customisation and DevelopmentComputer SystemsComputer NetworkingIT System Analysis and DesignEmployability Skills


What Skills Have You Developed?

Can you list the units?Can you talk about what was included in the units?How did you improve your abilities as a result of studying those units?Which units and areas of IT have you enjoyed?


What Else Have You Studied?

GCSE Maths and English?Other key GCSE results?Any additional training courses?Any language courses?Any further IT qualifications?


What Courses Are Available For You To

Study?FdSc Information Communication TechnologyBSc (Hons) Information Communication TechnologyBSc (Hons) Business Information TechnologyBSc (Hons) Computer Science

BSc (Hons) Computer Games TechnologyBSc (Hons) Forensic ComputingBSc (Hons) Computer NetworksBSc (Hons) Computer Networks and Security


Do Your Abilities Match The Content?

BSc (Hons) Computer Science


What Else Have You Accomplished?

Work experience?Positions of responsibility?Extra curricular activities?Leadership skills?Communication skills?Teamwork skills?

Can you demonstrate and evidence all of these?


Demonstrating

Can you demonstrate why the courses you’ve chosen are for you?In writing, on your Personal Statement?Verbally, at a university interview?

You have to make the university lecturers want to have you on their course


For IT Courses…

The further you can relate your interests to Computing, the better position you are in with an application

We look for people whose interest in Computing and Technology doesn’t stop when college ends for the day


Good Examples?

“I always carry the latest phone. In the evening, I reply to every Facebook Chat message within 30 seconds.”

“During the weekend I taught myself to jailbreak my iPhone”


Writing The Personal Statement


Standard Approach

1. Why you’ve chosen to apply for Computing2. Your overall academic experience and

interests within the Computing field3. Details of your work experience4. Your wider interests, focusing on

responsibilities and achievements5. Memorable close relating to your career and

studying Computing at university


EVIDENCE!

Successful Personal Statements depend on you being able to give evidence

“I have good team working skills.”“Within the Web Development unit I improved my skills

of working in a team. We worked together to produce a website now used by a local independent opticians. The website obtained a mark of 81%, the highest in the class.”


Key Techniques

The key areas to concentrate on are the start and end of the Personal StatementTry and avoid repeating the same information, or giving too much details which is included elsewhere on your UCAS application

Don’t lie (Computing Lecturers know how to look you up on the Internet)


Be Formulaic

Please don’t try to be funny, creative, entertaining, controversial…Don’t get a physical description of yourselfDon’t include quotationsBe varied and don’t start every sentence with “I”

Universities are looking for reasons to accept you, not to reject youThey just need to know why you are suitable for the course you’re

asking to take


However…

“A guy applied to Oxford, wrote his entire personal statement in binary code and the tutors had to translate it to read it. It was for computer science or similar (not sure what oxford offer) he did it perfectly though and apparently got an offer. Guy at my college.”

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1069622


Write Using MS Word!

Avoid any spelling/grammar mistakes within the Personal StatementMake sure that you use UK EnglishNo txtspk!

Read through this again to make sure that you convey yourself in a positive lightGet someone else to check the Personal Statement and offer advice


Getting Ideas

There are lots of model Personal Statements on the InternetUse these for inspiration and details of the style you should follow

However, note that there are also many unsuitable Personal Statements onlineThey may be tailored for other courses, or they may just not be very good


Examples

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Category:Computer_Science_Personal_Statements

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Category:Computing_Personal_Statements








“Have I Read That Before?”

5 Most Used UCAS Personal Statement Opening Lines

1. I am currently studying a BTEC National Diploma in ... (used 464 times) 2. From a young age I have always been interested in ... (used 309 times) 3. From an early age I have always been interested in ... (used 292 times) 4. Nursing is a very challenging and demanding career ... (used 275 times) 5. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with ... (used 196 times)


Originality

Every Personal Statement submitted through UCAS is automatically checked for plagiarism

Checked against a vast database from previous years

Universities are notified when a student has submitted a Personal Statement that is not originalThis is likely to lead to you being rejected


Submitting The UCAS Application

Edit and check your Personal Statement before submittingCheck your mobile numberCheck your email addressMake sure that the email address is sensible

Keep a copy of your Personal Statement and review it before interviews


Open Days And Interviews


Your Opportunity

Use this as a two-way evaluation processDo you think this university is right for you?Can you convince this university that you are right for

them?


Interviews

University tutors are looking to drill down beyond your UCAS Personal Statement

Some universities will ask specific technical and mathematical questionsOthers will look to establish your interests in IT and why you’re applying for the course


Typical Questions

What was the last book you read?Why have you chosen this university and course?Which unit you’ve studied did you enjoy the most?What do you like to do outside university?


And Finally…

“Is there anything that you’d like to ask us?”


University Should Be Seriously Considered…


Consider Applying To BCU

One of the top 30 universities in the UK for placing students in graduate-level jobs

Sunday Times University Guide 2012

“Close and sustained” partnership between University and students

Quality Assurance Agency report 2011


National Student Survey

Students on our undergraduate Computer Science courses are among the most satisfied in the country.

Figures released by the 2012 National Student Survey (NSS) reveal that Computer Science students put BCU 6th in the national table of over 117 universities and further education colleges in terms of student satisfaction.


Guardian League Table 2014

Computer Sciences and IT1 – Birmingham10 – Warwick51 – Birmingham City53 – Aston62 – Coventry65 – Staffordshire79 – Keele95 - Worcester


Industrial Partnerships

http://www.oracle.com/global/uk/index.html

http://www.sas.com/software/

http://www.sas.com/

http://www.sony.co.uk/section/home

http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/default.htm

http://www.sap.com/index.epx


For More Information


Contacts

BCU Courses:http://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses

Our Contact Details:[email protected]@bcu.ac.uk

Admissions Director for School of Computing, Telecommunications and Networks:[email protected]

Slides Available At:http://www.slideshare.net/ThomasLancaster

http://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses

http://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses

mailto:[email protected]



http://www.slideshare.net/ThomasLancaster

http://www.slideshare.net/ThomasLancaster


Questions ?

Date post:	20-May-2015
Category:	Education
Upload:	thomas-lancaster
View:	465 times
Download:	1 times

Crafting Your University Personal Statement To Get Results - Solihull College - 10 June 2013

Education