lse international relations personal statement

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• International Relations Masters Personal Statement Sample

Written by Ben Taylor

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

In today’s unstable political climate, a nuanced, multifaceted understanding of international relations seems more important than ever, with the emergence of right-wing populism around the world and the imminent reckoning of the climate crisis (not to mention the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic). Being able to grasp the power dynamics at play between (and within) nations seems crucial to maintaining some semblance of continuity in the international community.

Having studied History and Politics at undergraduate level, one of the aspects of your Masters in International Relations programme that appeals to me the most is its interdisciplinary nature. Sociology, international law and history are all incredibly important when it comes to understanding our current moment and I look forward to studying the myriad ways in which they inform each other.

My undergraduate dissertation focused on the breakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequent Dayton Accords peace agreement, and was informed by my time at an NGO in Sarajevo in 2017. This organisation promoted human rights in the Balkan region and I helped with the development of several campaigns to support judicial and civic reform. I’m eager to expand on this research for my Masters and have already secured another internship working for a Zagreb-based refugee organisation next summer.

While at university I was active in several student societies, including being on the committee for the Amnesty International Society, where I helped organise several keynote speeches and letter-writing campaigns. I was also the social secretary for the History Society and the treasurer for the Alternative Music Society, putting on several financially lucrative gigs around the city.

After graduating in 2018, I started working as an account manager for a marketing agency, drumming up sales and also acting as a liaison between our clients and the in-house team of creatives. I like to think that this experience has boosted my interpersonal communication skills and given me a knack for negotiation and managing expectations.

Despite working full-time, I’ve continued to travel widely wherever possible, returning to the Balkans on several occasions and also making self-guided study trips to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, the UN Headquarters in New York City and the United Nations Office at Geneva.

I hope that your Masters programme will provide the scope to expand on my existing experience and give me opportunities to develop expertise in new and exciting areas. Once my studies have finished, I hope to find work in a more senior role at an NGO in the Balkans and I’m sure that your programme will act as the perfect springboard for this goal.

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October 14th, 2022

Tips for writing your personal statement.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

The personal statement is easily one of the most important parts of your application to study at university in the UK. For that very reason, that virtually everyone who applies to university dreads writing it is not at all surprising. Trying to prove to admissions tutors in only 4,000 characters that you deserve a place on their course is certainly a daunting task — but it is by no means impossible! Here are four tips for writing a personal statement that is sure to impress anyone who is lucky enough to read it.

Explore the subject

Before you even begin writing, it is important to allow yourself some time to simply delve deeper into the subject matter for your chosen course. Spending substantial time and effort looking into relevant topics in more detail will help you to make sure that the course you have in mind is really the right one for you. If you are unsure about your course choice, doing further research into the subject will either confirm your enthusiasm or unveil your indifference towards it, both of which are invaluable to discover. Additionally, by the time you have figured out what you do and don’t enjoy through this process, you will have done enough research to be prepared and excited to write about your passion for your selected course.

Begin the process early 

Like anything else important in life, the personal statement should certainly not be left to the last minute. Moreover, as a task that demands so much of you, it is not something you will want to rush and later regret. As a result, make sure to start very early—even if it’s only for the purpose of brainstorming—so you have plenty of time to continually improve what you’re working with. Beginning early on allows you to experiment with different ideas until you can narrow down and refine them. However, be careful not to fall into the trap of making too many drafts as it can become overwhelming to have to choose between very different versions that are each good in their own ways. Once you have a rough idea of which direction you would like to take your personal statement in, write everything carefully and deliberately, focusing all your energy on making your final version as good as possible.

Make it all personal

As the name itself makes obvious, the entire point of a personal statement is for it to be about why you personally are interested in your chosen course. Whilst it might seem a near impossible task to condense this into a meagre 4,000 characters, the tight character limit is precisely why it is imperative that you are very specific about what exactly you like about the subject the whole way through your personal statement. The more specific you are, the easier it is to demonstrate authentic interest. No personal statement for any subject has a checklist of things you must include, so only write about what genuinely appeals to you. Rather than viewing the personal statement as a burden to prove your worthiness of an offer, take it as an opportunity to showcase your passion and knowledge about your subject. Whilst this doesn’t promise to take away all the stress and difficulty, it will help you enjoy the process much more, which ultimately will allow your genuine interest to shine through. 

Editing equals perfection

Producing a well-written personal statement is naturally important as an academic piece of writing but, more fundamentally, it aids you in making a good impression and effectively getting across what you want to say. Editing for clarity and precision will take considerable time, especially if you want to make the very most of your character limit. However, it can also be one of the most rewarding parts of writing your personal statement as you start to see it all come together so fluidly at the end. Make sure to also seek out feedback from others, but only from a select few people whose opinion you truly value and trust. Ultimately, you yourself will need to make the most important calls about what to keep and what to get rid of. Spend time proofreading for spelling and grammar mistakes and playing around with the language and structure until you really feel that you can’t make it any better. If you do that to the best of your ability, you are bound to have written a piece of work that you are proud of having created from scratch.

For more information on how to write a competitive personal statement, visit the LSE website .

About the author

Hi! I'm Nazifa and I'm a BSc International Relations student from London.

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Sample International Relations Personal Statement (Columbia, Cornell, Kings)

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

In personal statement samples by field.

The following essay is written by an applicant who got accepted to top graduate programs in international relations and affairs (Masters in IR). Variations of this personal statement got accepted at Columbia’s SIPA school, Cornell’s ILR school and Kings College London. Read this essay to understand what a top personal statement in international relations and affairs should look like.

Sample Personal Statement in International Relations and Affairs

After GCE A-levels, I was so smitten with Economics that I wanted it to stay with me for life. As it happens to be, that did turn out to be true. I received a scholarship to the London School of Economics (LSE) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. While at the LSE, I developed an interest in economic research. I interned at the Center for Economic Research in Washington, DC, every summer for four years. My work in DC was based on Evidence-Based Procurement Reforms. The project aimed to evaluate public sector institutes’ procurement process to increase efficiency in their procurement workflow. The fieldwork required me to work with government officials and help them digitize the procurement process. I realized that even though the officials wanted public sector organizations to work efficiently, such changes were not easy to bring unless better policies were designed.

During my junior year at LSE, I worked as a research assistant at the Center for Research in Economics and Business (CREB). At CREB, I worked with Professor Antony Bert on a preliminary report to evaluate the impact of microcredit on women in developing countries. The study was conducted in collaboration with a nonprofit, and it helped me see the difference my work could make in the lives of women entrepreneurs.

During my senior year at LSE, I was selected for the Global UGRAD program. My time at Utica College helped me decide where I wanted to proceed with economics. The rich discussions in my “international political economy” and “international relations” classes gave me a lot to think about. I especially remember when I led a seminar on how the West could help the East solve its economic problems. The classroom was an amalgamation of different nationalities, so the varying viewpoints were very interesting.

The thought that developing countries may be a burden for the developed world to bear saddened me. I had previously given little thought to my country’s role in the global economy. It became apparent to me that the resources, even in the wealthiest countries, are scarce, and development is a pressing issue. At the same time, interacting with people from different ethnicities opened my mind to what I needed to do for developing countries. Talking about the problems of developing countries with others motivated me to play my part in making them better, and working for their development, seemed the right place to start.

My fascination with economics grew further when I heard Professor Kaushik Basu, the Chief Economist at World Bank, talk about the challenges facing the South Asian region at the 11th South Asian Economics Students’ Meet (SAESM) in Bhutan. He stated that the South Asian region could greatly benefit from regional integration if its countries overcame problems, such as mutual mistrust, by formulating policies to help eradicate such barriers. This increased my proclivity toward development economics and sparked an interest in studying policymaking.

Recently, I got the opportunity to intern at the Planning and Development Department of India. It was a window for me to peek into the world of policymaking, which did not turn out to be as I had hoped. Millions of dollars were allocated to different projects, yet with no significant improvement in the common man’s life. I became certain that much more is needed to be done to make public policies more effective. For example, there was no proper cost-benefit analysis of projects, and there were instances where funds were tied up in projects due to bureaucratic delays.

I was thrilled to start working as a Research Assistant for a Tax project. As I had become enamored with public policy by now, I was excited to work for evidence-based policy reform. The project intends to strengthen the social relationship between the government and the taxpayers by highlighting the link between property tax revenues and public services. I have been coordinating and working closely with the Excise and Taxation Department and have also been involved in collecting and cleaning taxpayer data. While I am learning a lot here at The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), it has helped me identify the gaps in my knowledge. For example, I lack the econometric skills to analyze public programs and policies.

I hope that graduate studies will help me obtain these skills and tools. I want to pursue a Master’s in International Relations specializing in international development policy, as I want to evaluate third-world countries’ policies in an international setting. My experiences provide a great opportunity to get a graduate degree and experience the cultural exchange experience again, where I can share more experiences from my work with the new people I meet. I hope to return to India better prepared to work on policy analysis by working for developmental organizations and agencies.

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BSc Politics and International Relations

Introduction, preliminary readings.

On this programme, you’ll learn about the theory and practice of politics in the contemporary world – comparing political ideologies and systems in different cultures and countries. You’ll also look at the role of politics and power in international relations and examine how the international community works in terms of rules, interests, institutions and customs.

Your time will be divided equally between politics and international relations and you can tailor your studies to your interests and career aspirations. You’ll study alongside students from many countries – providing rich and diverse insights from different perspectives.

Our graduates embark on careers in the financial sector, central and local government, policy work, teaching, research and IT and digital technology.

If you wish to gain further insight into politics we suggest that you look at one or more of the following books:

The general character of politics

• J Colomer The Science of Politics: an introduction (Oxford University Press, 2011)
• R Goodin The Oxford Handbook of Political Science (Oxford University Press, 2009)
• I Katznelson and H Milner (eds.) Political Science: state of the discipline (New York: Wiley, 2002)

Political thought

Many classic texts of political thought are readily available in a variety of editions:

• Machiavelli The Prince
• J S Mill Considerations on Representative Government
• M Wollstonecraft A Vindication of the Rights of Women

Political analysis and political institutions

• W R Clark, M Golder and S Nadenichek Golder Principles of Comparative Politics (CQ Press, 2009)
• P Dunleavy and J Dryzek Theories of the Democratic State (Palgrave Macmillan, 2009)
• R Morton Analyzing Elections (Norton, 2006)
• E Ostrom, Governing the Commons: the evolution of institutions for collective action (Cambridge University Press, 1990/2015)

International relations

• C Alden and A Aron Foreign Policy Analysis: new approaches (Routledge, 2011)
• J Baylis, S Smith and P Owens (eds) The Globalization of World Politics: an introduction to international relations (6th edition, Oxford University Press, 2013)
• C Brown, with K Ainley Understanding International Relations (Macmillan, 2009)
• B Buzan and R Little International Systems in World History: remaking the study of international relations (Oxford University Press, 2000)
• R Jackson and G Sorensen An Introduction to International Relations: theories and approaches (5th edition, Oxford University Press, 2012)
• R Shilliam International Relations and Non-Western Thought: imperialism, colonialism and investigations of global modernity (Routledge, 2010)
• J Steans Gender & International Relations (Polity Press, 2013)
• T G Weiss and R Wilkinson (eds) International Organization and Global Governance (Routledge, 2014)
• J Young and J Kent International Relations since 1945: a global history (2nd ed, Oxford University Press, 2013)

Entry requirements

Here, you can check our entry requirements for GCSEs, A-levels (please read them alongside our information about subject combinations) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. We also consider applications from students with a range of other UK qualifications and from overseas. Please select the overseas button below and choose your country from the dropdown list to find the equivalency to A-levels of your qualification.

For GCSEs, you’ll need a strong pre-16 academic profile such as several GCSE grades of A (or 7) and A* (or 8-9).

We also ask for a good set of GCSE grades or equivalent across a broad range of subjects, with a minimum of grade B (or 6) in GCSE English and Mathematics.

We also consider your AS grades, if available.

Contextual admissions A-level grades

Read our undergraduate admissions information to learn more about contextual admissions.

A-level subject combinations

• We consider your combination of subjects as well as your grades.
• A broad mix of traditional academic subjects provides the best preparation for studying at LSE. We expect applicants to have at least two full A-levels (or equivalent) in these subjects.
• We’re looking for academic students with a genuine interest in and enthusiasm for the social and political sciences.
• There is no set subject combination, but typical subject choices include Government and Politics, History, English, Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, languages and Mathematics.
• If you’ve taken Mathematics, Further Mathematics and one other subject at A-level, this may be considered a less competitive combination than a broader mix of quantitative and qualitative subjects.

Find out more about A-level subject combinations .

38 points overall, including 766 at higher level 

Contextual admissions IB grades

37 points overall, including 765 at higher level

We welcome students from all walks of life at LSE. We want to recruit students with the very best academic merit, potential and motivation. So, whatever your background, please do apply. Get all the details on our general  entry requirements .

Competition for places at LSE is high. We cannot guarantee you an offer of a place even if you’re predicted or achieve our standard entry requirements.

Our standard offer requirements are intended only as a guide and, in some cases, you’ll be asked for different grades.

Programme content

Why study with us.

Discover more about our students and department.

Meet the department

The Department of Government is an internationally renowned centre for teaching and research on politics and government.

Within our department, we have 850 undergraduates, postgraduates and research students and more than 40 faculty staff – who come from 80 countries.

Our research focuses on six main areas:

• comparative politics
• conflict studies
• political behaviour and political psychology
• political economy and institutional analysis
• political theory
• public policy and public administration.

The department’s work covers national, sub-national and global politics – with a strong emphasis on public-facing research.

Teaching within the department draws on these strengths and our central role in a prestigious social science institution. As a student, you’ll learn from internationally renowned academics and study in the heart of London, close to the UK’s political heartland in Westminster and the Houses of Parliament.

Our students gain the knowledge and skills to become sharp-minded critical thinkers who apply diverse analytical perspectives to political issues and conflicts around the globe. We encourage students to reflect on what it means to be responsible for addressing urgent public problems and engage in these issues in practical ways to prepare for their future careers. Our graduates find fulfilling roles in government, financial and professional services, teaching and research.

Learn more about our programmes , research , public events  and  people .

Department of Government

2nd In Europe

5th In the world

1st We're ranked top university in London for the 12th year running

Carbon neutral in 2021 lse became the first carbon neutral verified university in the uk, your application, who attends.

We consider each application carefully, taking into account all the details you’ve included on your UCAS form, such as:

• academic achievement , including predicted and achieved grades (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
• subjects and subject combinations  (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
• your personal statement
• your teacher’s reference
• educational circumstances

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although this is not needed at the application stage.  See our English language requirements page .

We’re looking for students who demonstrate:

• an awareness of and genuine interest in current political issues
• a willingness to read extensively
• an ability to analyse data
• an ability to evaluate and challenge conventional views
• good communication skills
• excellent time management
• intellectual curiosity
• self-motivation and a willingness to work hard
• an equal interest in both politics and international relations.

Fees and funding

The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.

You're charged a fee for each year of your programme. Your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It doesn't cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Your tuition fees, and eligibility for any financial support, depend on whether you’re classified as a home or an overseas student – known as your fee status. We assess your fee status based on guidelines from the UK Government’s Department for Education.

Learn more about fee status classification .

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We recognise that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country. LSE provides generous financial support, in the form of bursaries and scholarships, to UK, EU and overseas students.

Additionally, the UK Government provides loans to UK and some EU students. Some overseas governments also offer funding.

Further information on tuition fees, living costs, loans and scholarships .

Learning and assessment

How you learn, how you're assessed.

Format and contact hours: you’ll have regular lectures and classes. Classes usually focus on a more detailed discussion of lecture topics and you’ll also learn how to present and critique arguments. Classes are held in small groups (with a maximum of 15 students).

Lectures are given by full-time members of staff while classes are led by teaching fellows who may either be doctoral degree recipients or PhD students. Learn more about the teacher responsible for each course in the relevant course guide .

Below is a general outline of the time you’ll need to commit:

Lectures and classes

You’ll attend:

• four one-hour lectures per week during the Autumn and Winter Terms
• four hours of classes each week.

Hours vary according to the course. Get a broad idea of the study time involved in the Calendar within the Teaching section of each course guide .

Independent study

You’ll need to dedicate around:

• four hours of study (reading preparation and writing) for every hour of contact time
• this is roughly 30 hours of independent study per week.

Academic support

Academic mentor: you’ll meet with your academic mentor regularly to discuss your work. Your mentor can provide advice and guidance on academic issues and, where appropriate, personal concerns.

Other academic support: at LSE, we offer lots of opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom.

LSE LIFE is a great place to get advice and practise the skills you’ll need during your studies and beyond.

Through LSE LIFE, you can:

• attend workshops on developing leadership skills, finding the right study/work/life balance and preparing for the world of work
• develop your reading, academic writing and critical-thinking skills
• gain experience of working in study groups and develop your cross-cultural communication and teamwork skills.

Disability and Mental Health Service: we want all LSE students to achieve their full potential. Students can access free, confidential advice through our Disability and Mental Health Service . This is the first point of contact for students.

Your timetable

• The standard teaching day runs from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Undergraduate teaching is not normally scheduled for Wednesdays after 12 noon to allow for sports, volunteering and other extra-curricular activities.
• The lecture and seminar timetable is published in mid-August and the full academic timetable (with information on classes) is published by mid-September via the LSE timetables web pages .
• All personal undergraduate timetables are published in LSE for You (LFY) . For personal timetables to appear, you must be registered at LSE, be signed up for courses in LFY and ensured that there are no unauthorised clashes in your course selections. We try our best to minimise changes once personal timetables have been published. However, you’ll be notified about any changes by email.

Formative coursework

All taught courses include formative coursework, which is not assessed. This helps prepare you for summative assessment. We use a wide range of formative assessment methods, such as essays, case studies, reports, quizzes and mock exams. Feedback on coursework is an essential part of the learning experience. Class teachers mark formative coursework and feedback is normally given within two weeks – provided the work is submitted on time.

Summative assessment

This assessment counts towards your final course mark and degree award.

Summative assessment varies from course to course but it may involve a written examination, assessed essays, a dissertation and in-class assessment.

Please note that assessment on individual courses can change from year to year. You’ll receive feedback on any summative coursework as part of the assessment for individual courses (except for final submitted dissertations). Feedback will normally be provided before the examination period.

See details of the current formative coursework and summative assessment for each course in the relevant course guide .

Find out more about LSE’s teaching and assessment methods .

Graduate destinations

Career support.

Politics graduates have a range of skills and can fit into a variety of positions in modern life. Our former students have followed careers in business and banking, in law, in central and local government, in teaching and research, in public and university administration, and in journalism and television.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Median salary of our undergraduate students 15 months after graduating:

Top 4 sectors our students work in:.

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.

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Lse - Politics and International Relations

Politics and international relations – 2015 ( lse, warwick, york ).

In The Soldier and the State Samuel P. Huntington writes that “collective will supplants individual whim”, and it is this notion of the collaborative power of humanity which is key ...

Please note UCAS will detect any form of plagiarism. PSE and its contributors do not take any responsibility for the way in which personal statements are used.

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Department of International Relations

  Welcome to the world-leading Department of International Relations at LSE. We are now in our 96th year - one of the oldest as well as largest IR departments in the world, with a truly international reputation. We are ranked 2nd in the UK and 5th in the world in the QS World University Ranking by Subject 2024 tables for Politics and International Studies. Introduction About us

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What Really Went Wrong: The West and the failure of democracy in the Middle East by Fawaz A Gerges

This book offers a fresh and incisive assessment of American foreign policy’s impact on the history and politics of the modern Middle East.

Cosmopolitan Elites: Indian diplomats and the social hierarchies of global order by Kira Huju

Featuring interviews with Indian diplomats this book explores how caste underpins social relations among Indian diplomats and influences how India engages in multilateral diplomacy.

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Rohan Mukherjee's book, "Ascending Order: Rising Powers and the Politics of Status in International Institutions" has won the 2024 Book in Global International Relations award from the Global IR section of the International Studies Association (ISA).

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International relations and politics personal statement example 1.

Since childhood, I have been fascinated by the constantly changing world that we live in, wanting to understand and explore the causes and effects of current and future human interactions. During my teenage years I started listening to the BBC World Service and reading internationally recognized journals and magazines.

I have become convinced that a third level education relevant to world affairs would help me gain knowledge that would allow me to pursue a wide range of possibilities. My current career ambition is to find a suitable role within an international organisation, such as the UN, ideally with specific focus on assisting people who have been displaced due to civil unrest, war, famine or other natural disaster.

I was born in Australia to a family of political refugees who had escaped communist Czechoslovakia. After my country’s Velvet Revolution, my family returned to Prague, the capital of a then newly formed democracy. This radical change helped to widen my perspective and see the world from a different point of view. Today I am a bi-national avid traveler, having visited more than 40 countries. I have attended six exchange programmes with partner schools: one in Sweden, one in Germany and four in France.

I have also been on two volunteer programmes with Earthwatch, firstly being in Spain, where we helped gather information to design marine protected areas and then in Tanzania, helping to determine the impact of forest fragmentation through monitoring rainforest bird populations.

The Tanzanian expedition in particular was an eye opener, not only because of the local cultural differences and the poverty, but also because of the amount of teamwork and hardship we had to face living in a remote area like the Usambara Mountains. The experience also made me aware of how foreign countries and NGOs are helping to alleviate the poverty in Tanzania.

At school, my position as the only girl in my class has ensured that I have maintained a somewhat independent approach to my studies. I have chosen a broad range of subjects for my Final Exams, not only because I like challenges, but also because I believe I will obtain a lot of all-around knowledge and skills from them: Mathematics and Physics have helped me understand the physical and abstract world around me, while Czech and English have shown the beauty of literature, which has become a great passion for me, Herman Hesse being my favourite author. I currently represent my school in the Prague Model of the United Nations, where I am I delegate for Germany in the Third Committee.

Aside from academia, I have a passion for a number of hobbies. Ever since I first visited Egypt, as a 12 years old, I have enjoyed egyptology, with all the facts and mysteries surrounding it. I enjoy the arts in many aspects opera has a special place for me, as my mother was, in her youth one of Czechoslovakia’s most promising opera singers. I also enjoy Photography, particularly black and white. I held a small exhibition of my work in Prague last year. As a child I enjoyed ballet, and even competed in local events.

Now, sports have become more important to me: while being in the Czech Quiksilver Snowboarding team, I have achieved commendable results in freestyling contests on a national level. I am looking forward to improve my technique and hope to participate in international competitions.

Every summer I spend at least one month in France perfecting my French. Apart from speaking fluent French, English, Czech and Slovak, I have been studying German at school and have also been trying to self-study Hebrew. I am a active member of Mensa, Net-Aid.org, Greenpeace and the Czech–Japanese association.

I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that studying in the UK will present. I value very greatly the chance to be a part of such a reknowned institution as your college is, and I believe that in some small way I may add to its whole, through my personality, work effort and experiences to date.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by Rikku.

Rikku's university choices King's College London School of Oriental and African Studies School of Oriental and African Studies School of Oriental and African Studies London School of Economics

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

Related Personal Statements

Seriously i know you are.

Thu, 18/11/2004 - 00:00

Seriously!! I know you are meant to big yourself up but come on surely this persons lying - what about personal statements for us normal people!!

Sounds good

Sun, 18/12/2005 - 00:00

I definately think this person wasn't lying. My personal statement will probably look a lot like this one. It is possible! I like the simple structure, it makes it easy to follow. Just a little too much focus on activities instead of what really defines you.

She managed to do 6 exchange

Tue, 10/01/2006 - 00:00

She managed to do 6 exchange schemes?

Fri, 31/03/2006 - 00:00

Excellent!!! she’s proablly telling the truth but the admissions tutors reading it will prbally say “cobblers” NEXT!! ..

I can't believe she got

Mon, 11/09/2006 - 00:00

I can't believe she got rejected by LSE! The PS obviously prove that she is a very interesting & committed student.

Impressive indeed...

Tue, 12/09/2006 - 00:00

Impressive indeed... My main criticism would be of the last sentence; "such a reknowned institution as your college is" sounds insincere and sycophantic.

Omg! This is exactly like my

Tue, 10/10/2006 - 15:36

Omg! This is exactly like my personal statement i am currently writing atm. I am really interested in Third World Politics and have talked about how my visit to Tanzania last year has fully inspired me to study the subject.lol!

this personal statement is

Sun, 05/11/2006 - 18:46

this personal statement is really good - however, i think it probably exhibits how much money the student has more than anything - i think very few people have visited 40 countries or gone on 6 exchange programmes!

Something missing

Sat, 11/11/2006 - 16:58

While I think your statement is impressive in fact very impressive, I feel you lack a humility. I know that personal statements are about "bigging yourself up" but I think you need to acknowledge the fact that money and opporuntunities have come easily to you. Maybe use the word opporuntity or say that you were lucky or honoured to be picked for thses exchanges- i think its important that an addmissions tutor likes you i dont mean as a person per se but sees in you a willingness to learn not that jsut sees the univiesty as a step to your career in the UN

May I ask for which courses

Sat, 12/05/2007 - 14:16

May I ask for which courses you applied at SOAS? Thank you.

Very very impressive. 6

Mon, 09/07/2007 - 22:16

Very very impressive. 6 exchange schemes is incredible

Wed, 08/08/2007 - 03:10

I just finished my personal statement........and now i'm throwing it in the trash. Thanx.

I think this girl does not

Fri, 21/09/2007 - 17:26

I think this girl does not understand that lying will not help her to get a place... or maybe I am just jealous!

I would reccomend every one to apply somewhere in Wales, so I can increase my chances!

well she's in....

Mon, 22/10/2007 - 08:35

there is not enough time in

Thu, 25/10/2007 - 21:55

there is not enough time in the day for half of these things to go on. when does she chill out?

That's impressive but she

Mon, 19/11/2007 - 04:21

That's impressive but she really places too much emphasis on what she has done and where she has been, rather than what she will do or what she really finds interesting-there is little insight and although she is clearly incredibly committed and courageous I don't think that somebody should necessarily be given extra credit just because theyve been to 40 countries and listen to opera-she needed to relate these more closely to her interests in politics and international relations with a bit more insght, otherwise she just seems really rich, and priveliged-i know I haven't had access to the things that she has, so why should i be punished for it? Similarly, why should she be rewarded? They say a lot for her charachter, but academically a little more insight and focus would have really rounded off the statement.

this is an excellent

Tue, 01/07/2008 - 20:15

this is an excellent statement, well structured......... what do i do now

it is interesting that the

Sun, 20/07/2008 - 07:43

it is interesting that the writer comes from a former communism nation and escapes with her family because of the non-freedom.however,can this special experience serve as proof that the writer should be accepted?

kul! .......but

Thu, 21/08/2008 - 22:17

i think its kul but sure we need something real

Another Flavour

Sun, 21/09/2008 - 16:59

this simply goes to show that real life experience, whether got through hard work or the luck of your birth really goes towards what makes an impressive personal statement. i don't doubt for a second all of the claims Rikku, the japanese-czech, refugee, citizen of the modern world makes. she's had more opportunities to indulge her love of the international than anyone i know or have heard of. yet i think equality of opportunities, when it comes down to it, are irrelevant. of two candidates, she is the one with the proven, concrete international credentials and interest. to an admissions tutor this is immediately interesting. in a department that depends on diversity to remain in touch with international affairs, she will add another flavour to the students around her as well as the academics teaching her. her life seems to qualify her for the degree in international relations course; doubtless her grades simply confirm her suitability, rather than create the basis for it.

I'm applying to the same and

Sun, 16/11/2008 - 18:28

I'm applying to the same and very similar courses e.g. Politics and Arabic at SOAS.

What grades did you get?

is there any1 out there with

Sat, 06/12/2008 - 16:41

is there any1 out there with a normal statment?????????

International relations in King's College London?

Mon, 12/01/2009 - 12:23

Hi, I think this is a terrific personal statement but I was just wondering... It says on the side bar that you were offered a place in King's College London, do they even offer a course study for International Relations? I also want to take int. relations, but I didn't find any courses indicating the King's have any int. relations course...

IR? not happening

Sat, 26/09/2009 - 22:06

I feel about this big >>*squishes fingers*

Sun, 27/09/2009 - 00:00

OK, seriously.. this was like... wow! if it is all true (which I believe it is) you are my role-model. The bad thing is that a lot of things you have done I have done too (exchange, volunteering). I am also multilingual and even have connections to Czech Rep. I would definitely cut out that bit about your mother. It is irrelevant cos it is not about you. You probably wanted to suggest that you must be a terribly good singer. And my explanation why you was not offered a place on LSE? They are looking for passion rather than knowledge. They want to teach you, not to listen to your experience. They might have thought that you are kind of over-educated in the area. Well, I would not offer you a place bcs I would probably think that you have done more than our future students will manage to do during their 3 year degree. What I mean is that you do not a degree - you probably already know enough.

Thu, 01/10/2009 - 22:34

Yeas lots of good stuff but theirs very little about the course itself thats what will lead people to think its all made up!

this is a very interesting

Fri, 09/10/2009 - 07:18

this is a very interesting read if its true!

ok, how can anybody have that

Sun, 11/10/2009 - 16:12

ok, how can anybody have that amount of applicable qualities? and achievements? and language? how are normal, underachieving people meant to be inspired by that?

Fri, 23/07/2010 - 17:59

i never read a such a personal statement like this,well done rukki

I really enjoy reading your

Sat, 04/12/2010 - 15:08

I really enjoy reading your motivation and background in international relations.Tunde Fajimbola,Nigeria.

When looking at your offers

Wed, 20/07/2011 - 10:00

When looking at your offers it would be usefel to know what grades you got as well

Thu, 13/10/2011 - 15:06

YOU ARE A LIAR

Amazing achievements! If only

Tue, 01/11/2011 - 22:10

Amazing achievements! If only all of us were wealthy enough to afford 'french-perfecting' jaunts to Europe every summer. What a load of pretentious drivel! Less about you and your cash, more about the course, and maybe LSE would have considered you.

Tue, 30/07/2013 - 14:20

It may be a good statement to please the university, However this is something that can also reduce the chances for other people to be given a place. as not everyone can apply to a UNIVERSITY In first place with this good writing if no one wrote for you. Think about leaving College to Uni

Sun, 15/09/2013 - 13:29

She did four exchanges in France without apparently taking French at her Final Exams ? Weird.

very bad. how can a student

Fri, 20/09/2013 - 20:18

very bad. how can a student like this get a chance in kings!!!!

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