cardiff university personal statement

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How to Write a Winning Masters Application Letter for Journalism Courses

• application
• journalism masters
• masters application
• masters degree
• masters letter
• masters personal statement
• personal statement
• postgraduate

Have you found yourself at the all-important stage of putting in an application for that dream masters, but simply don’t know where to start?

Then you’ve come to the right place.

Nailing the masters application letter is crucial, so you may as well get it right.

Here is how to write a winning letter for journalism-related masters courses at Cardiff University.

Show enthusiasm

The key ingredient for any application, ever. Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the course and journalism in general by perhaps referencing a journalist you look up to, a piece of work that has really grabbed you recently, or what your favourite publication is and why.  

Previous work

Now it’s time to really show-off. What kind of work have you done in the past that relates to the course? Do you have your own blog? Have you done work experience in a newsroom/for a magazine? Did you work for your university’s student media publications? Have you freelanced before? Just get it all down, but make sure it relates to the course. Your experience doesn’t directly have to be journalism-related, any part-time jobs you have had will all have given you invaluable transferable skills, but specify exactly what these are, and how they will aid you on the course.

Can you cope?

What the course director is essentially looking for (as I was told on my interview day) is that you can cope with the workload and demands of the masters. For this reason, you should be able to demonstrate how you have balanced different demands in the past, whether that be your course with a part-time job, volunteering, freelancing, etc. Really emphasise your organisation and time-keeping skills because trust me, you will need this once you get started.

Personality

One thing’s for sure – we are not all robots. Yeah okay, you’ve got all the experience under the sun, organisational skills for days, but what really makes you tick? What is your niche? Make sure you talk about the things you’re passionate about outside of work and academia. Most journalists have a niche and this is what makes them interesting writers. Do you love a particular sport? Movies? Travel? Music? Not everyone will find their niche straightaway, but the best way to find it is simply by looking at the things you love already. The course director will be much more interested in someone who shows passion for something (no matter how weird and wonderful) than someone that doesn’t.

How can the course help?

Perhaps one of the most basic things but make sure you explain why exactly you want to study that course specifically, and how it will benefit you in your future career. What aspect of the course are you most eager to experience? Why Cardiff University? What do you already know about the university and masters? Here’s a good opportunity to show you’ve done your research, and you’re fully invested in studying here. If you have specific goals, for example, you want to be a lifestyle writer, an editor, a researcher – get it down. Its good to have ambitions and shows you are looking into the future.  

In terms of the letter’s format, your personal statement should follow an essay-like structure of an intro, middle, and conclusion. Have an eye-catching and grabbing opening line, then flow into the heart of your letter, and finish with a bang that summarises the crux of what you have just said. Of course, don’t forget the basics like paragraphs, and spelling (spell-check, spell-check, spell-check). You could use sub-headings if you wish – similar to how I have set out this blog. Overall, the letter should be no more than a page (500 words long), and if you make a claim like “I’m a very organised person” – evidence it! What examples can you use that demonstrate this?

Good luck!!

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Tips for writing your personal statement

How to write a personal statement it's difficult to know where to begin. get hints and tips on structure, content and what not to write from a university expert..

• An insider's view
• What admissions tutors look for

Structuring and preparing your personal statement

What to write in a personal statement, examples to avoid, an insider’s view .

Personal statements may seem formulaic, but they can be critical to the decision-making process, and admissions tutors do read them.

If you’re applying for a high-demand course, your personal statement could be the deciding factor on whether or not you get an interview.

The Director of Marketing and Student Recruitment at the University of Gloucestershire , James Seymour, shares some top tips on how to write a personal statement.

What makes a good personal statement?

This is your chance to demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment and show us what value you can add to a university. In the vast majority of cases, universities are finding ways to make you an offer, not reject you – the personal statement is your chance to make this decision easier for them!

First, you need to explain why you want a place on a course. Take a look at James’ tips on what you should include:

• Explain the reason for your choice and how it fits in with your aspirations for the future
• Give examples of any related academic or work experience
• Show you know what the course will involve and mention any special subjects you’re interested in
• Demonstrate who you are by listing any positions you’ve held, memberships of teams or societies, and interests and hobbies
• Show consistency in your five UCAS choices. It may be difficult for an admissions tutor to take you seriously if your other choices, and references to them, are totally different. If your choices are different, you should explain this in your statement. The UCAS form is blind. Admissions tutors don’t know the other universities you’ve applied to, or your priorities, but you should still be consistent
• Keep it clear and concise – UCAS admissions are increasingly paperless – so most admissions tutors/officers will read your statement onscreen

Explain what you can bring to a course and try not to just list experiences, but describe how they have given you skills that will help you at university.

Don’t just say: I am a member of the college chess club. I also play the clarinet in the orchestra.

When you could say: I have developed my problem-solving skills through playing chess for the college; this requires concentration and analytical thought. I am used to working as part of a team as I play clarinet in the college orchestra and cooperate with others to achieve a finished production.

• Applying to university and UCAS deadlines
• Applying and studying in the UK
• University interviews

What will admissions tutors look for in your personal statement?

To decide if you’re the right fit, universities and colleges are interested in how you express your academic record and potential. This should be backed up by your reference.

Those working in admissions look for evidence of:

• Motivation and commitment
• Leadership, teamwork and communication
• Research into your chosen subject
• Any relevant key skills

Admissions tutors aren't seeking Nobel laureates. They’re looking for enthusiasm for the course being applied for, and self-reflection into why you’d be suitable to study it. What value could you add to the course? Where would you like to go once you graduate?

Ben, the Admissions Manager for Law at the University of Birmingham , shared with us what he expects applicants to tell him in their personal statement:

The personal statement is not only an excellent opportunity to showcase applicants individual skills, knowledge, and achievements, but it also provides us with an insight into the type of student they aspire to be and how they could fit into the academic community. Ben Atkins, Law Admissions Manager at University of Birmingham

Real-life example: the good

Real-life example: the not-so-good

• How to make your personal statement stand out

You could have excellent experiences, but if they’re arranged in a poorly-written statement then the impact will be reduced. So, it’s important to plan your statement well.

A well-written personal statement with a clearly planned and refined structure will not only make the information stand out, but it’ll demonstrate you have an aptitude for structuring written pieces of work – a crucial skill needed for many university courses.

You can use it for other things too, such as gap year applications, jobs, internships, apprenticeships and keep it on file for future applications.

There's no one ‘correct’ way to structure your personal statement. But it’s a good idea to include the following:

• A clear introduction, explaining why you want to study the course
• Around 75% can focus on your academic achievements, to prove how you’re qualified to study it
• Around 25% can be about any extracurricular activity, to show what else makes you suitable
• A clear conclusion
• How to start a personal statement

Your personal statement is your chance to really show why you deserve a place on your chosen course. 

Remember to keep these in mind:

• Be clear and concise – the more concentrated the points and facts, the more powerful
• Use positive words such as achieved, developed, learned, discovered, enthusiasm, commitment, energy, fascination…
• Avoid contrived or grandiose language. Instead use short, simple sentences in plain English
• Insert a personal touch if possible, but be careful with humour and chatty approaches
• Use evidence of your learning and growth (wherever possible) to support claims and statements
• Plan the statement as you would an essay or letter of application for a job/scholarship
• Consider dividing the statement into five or six paragraphs, with headings if appropriate
• Spelling and grammar DO matter – draft and redraft as many times as you must and ask others to proofread and provide feedback
• For 2022 – 23 applications, refer to the challenges you've faced during the pandemic in a positive way

Don’t 

• Over-exaggerate
• Come across as pretentious
• Try to include your life history
• Start with: "I’ve always wanted to be a..."
• Use gimmicks or quotations, unless they're very relevant and you deal with them in a way that shows your qualities
• Be tempted to buy or copy a personal statement – plagiarism software is now very sophisticated and if you're caught out you won’t get a place
• Make excuses about not being able to undertake activities/gain experience – focus on what you were able to do positively, e.g. as a result of coronavirus

For further details, read our detailed guide on  what to include in a personal statement  and the best things to avoid.

Note that if you decide to reapply for university the following year, it's a good idea to consider making some changes to your personal statement. Mention why you took a year off and talk about what skills you've learnt. If you're applying for a completely different subject, you'll need to make more changes.

James gives us real-life examples of things to avoid:

I enjoy the theatre and used to go a couple of times a year. (Drama)

I am a keen reader and am committed to the study of human behaviour through TV soaps!

I have led a full life over the last 18 years and it is a tradition I intend to continue.

I describe myself in the following two words: 'TO ODIN!' the ancient Viking war cry. (Law)

My favourite hobby is bee-keeping and I want to be an engineer.

My interest in Medicine stems from my enjoyment of Casualty and other related TV series.

I have always had a passion to study Medicine, failing that, Pharmacy. (A student putting Pharmacy as her fifth choice after four medical school choices – Pharmacy can be just as popular and high status as Medicine.)

Some final advice

Above all, remember that a personal statement is your opportunity to convince a university why it should offer you a place. So, make it compelling and there’s a much higher chance they will.

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The Aspiring Medics

Cardiff medicine personal statement (emilia).

In this series, medical students and medicine offer holders share and explain their personal statement so that you can learn from our experiences and reflections. Emilia is an undergraduate medical student studying at Cardiff University

Disclaimer: Please do NOT be tempted to use our personal statements as a model/foundation/plan. UCAS is very strict about plagiarism, more information can be found here .

Please remember that there is no such thing as a model personal statement. By definition, it is supposed to be unique and there is no "golden formula".

When it was finally time to begin writing my personal statement, I had no idea about where to start or how to structure it. All I knew is that I wanted to include all the activities I’d taken part in in order to show I was prepared for a life in medical school as well as show the personal qualities I had gained from doing them.

Therefore, I began by writing a list of everything I had done over the years. Then, I found a list of qualities that a doctor should have on the Medical Schools Council website which I have pasted below:

· Motivation to study medicine and genuine interest in the medical profession

· Insight into your own strengths and weaknesses

· Personal organisation

· Academic ability

· Problem solving

· Dealing with uncertainty

· Managing risk and deal effectively with problems

· Conscientiousness

· Ability to treat people with respect

· Resilience and the ability to deal with difficult situations

· Empathy and the ability to care for others

Then I simply began pairing up some of the skills on the list with the activities I had taken part in – this was the foundation of my personal statement.

Many times have I heard the phrase ‘you don’t realise how lucky you are to be healthy’. Once I began volunteering at a disabled children’s play scheme (CHIPS), I saw the reality of this statement. These children will never be able to have the life experiences that many of us take for granted. Over a year, I understood each child’s unique healthcare needs, improving my ability to care for them. I developed communication skills with a different group of people with whom I was able to empathize and having this insight triggered a personal interest to seek a career in medicine.

As you can see in the introduction to my personal statement, I paired my volunteering for a disabled children’s play scheme with empathy. Please note that simply writing the word ‘empathy’ will not be enough. You need to show that you know what it means. So, looking back at my personal statement, I have written, ‘These children will never be able to have the life experiences that many of us take for granted’. This shows that I can understand what it means to have a disability and how it can affect the lives of these children.

Moving on to how to write an introductory paragraph, the main thing to consider is making it unique. You want your personal statement to stand out from other candidates. The most important thing to consider is the opening sentence. You don’t want it to sound too cliché – for example, in 2015, the most common opening for a medical personal statement was ‘From a young age, I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…’ which was used by 1779 people! It will probably be the most difficult part of your personal statement, but please spend some time on how you can open your personal statement to make it sound different to others.

I continued practising the skills I had learnt at CHIPS by becoming a personal assistant for a disabled girl. My work with Susannah encourages me to use my initiative to seek what she needs and I have also learnt about the challenging life of families with disabled children.

Looking at the middle bulk of my personal statement, I wrote all about my major experiences and what I learnt from them. However, remember that you only have 47 lines of text – everything must straight to the point. Resist the urge to use lots of adjectives! This is difficult – you may have spent ages carrying out a certain activity and only be allowed to write a few sentences about it, but if you explain the skills you learnt concisely, this will be appreciated more by admissions tutors than waffle. Take a look at my second paragraph – I had a job looking after a 21-year-old woman with Down’s syndrome and autism for 2 years, but I wrote about it in 2 sentences to allow space for my other experiences. This was especially frustrating because looking after Susannah was an amazing experience and I wanted to write all about what looking after her required (for example, the difficulties I faced when I had to sit through a tantrum or when she wet herself, which was regular), however I just portrayed that looking after her showed I had initiative (or, ‘problem solving skills’). I certainly had to use my initiative when I had to figure out how to stop her tantrums!

For a week at a GP Surgery, I explored patient life. Having been given the task to write the patient newsletter, I had to make the information relevant by critically analysing sources of information and write in a style that could be understood by all patients - a skill I was already developing by tutoring younger students. Furthermore, I joined the Patient Forum Group; issues within the surgery as well as in the NHS were discussed, helping me to learn more about the career ahead of me.

Being in a hospital for a week enabled me to learn about the spectrum of healthcare specialists and I witnessed the value of good team work in MDT meetings. Producing YouTube videos on diverse and enjoyable medical topics such as telomeres with a fellow student allowed me to develop this skill and further my learning. I also witnessed the need for problem solving skills to identify concealed mental illnesses in patients, as I observed a doctor using the Geriatric Depression Scale. With mental illnesses becoming more common, it is important for doctors to have ways to recognise and diagnose them, and mentoring younger students has enabled me to develop this ability.

Another skill I used in my personal statement was identifying the skills portrayed by doctors I shadowed and showing that I was already practising those skills. It also showed that I knew these particular skills were important as I’d already seen healthcare professionals using them. Take a look at the above paragraph where there are 2 examples of this – the first is where I witnessed good team work in the MDT meetings. For those who don’t know, MDT meetings are special meetings where doctors, nurses, physiotherapists etc discuss each patient in a ward, and make a group decision on the next step. I then immediately wrote about how I was using team working skills to create medical themed YouTube videos. Furthermore, I wrote about how I witnessed a junior doctor using problem solving skills on a geriatric patient, followed by how I used problem solving skills on my mentee. Very different situations and settings, but again, the same skills were used.

Work experience for a week at GSK increased my intellectual curiosity as I learnt about the life cycle of drugs, allowing me to appreciate what happens before medicine can be prescribed. Shadowing a pathologist allowed me to explore disease microscopically and I was taught a range of lab skills.

By volunteering at an elderly care home, I advanced my non-verbal communication skills while residents told sensitive stories of the past. It revealed the importance of having a compassionate nature, as it helped me to bond with the residents. I observed that the workers need to be patient and collected, especially with the residents with dementia, as they take longer to comprehend information.

Selflessness is a key trait to have in healthcare as the patient always comes first. To raise money to fight cancer, I cut 11 inches of my hair and took part in a Race for Life; knowing it would benefit many people helped me to persevere in my training. I also help lead an Amnesty International youth group, enabling me to practise my organisational skills. I’ve increased my ethical awareness by spreading the word of human rights with my team. Additionally, dedication to ballet and drama from a young age has encouraged time management as I have balanced my work life with my hobbies. A key skill that I have matured from my hobbies is resilience; failing to accomplish a particular step or being nervous is frustrating but it’s vital to stay motivated and complete the task to the best of your abilities.

I used my second to last paragraph to portray activities I was taking part in in my spare time and how these also showed that I was suited to medicine. It’s very important that you include your hobbies in your personal statement – they want to see that you’re not totally academic because everyone needs a good work life balance! For example, I took part in the Amnesty International youth group because I enjoyed doing it, but even though it is completely unrelated to medicine, I still used it to show that I was organised. Also, writing about my favourite hobbies ballet and drama showed I had resilience. This is an important skill as a doctor as there will be tough times – a lack of perseverance could be life threatening to the patients.

This resembles the challenge of being a doctor; I understand that, likewise, there are many tough times for which I will need to be prepared. Undoubtedly, however, my commitment to medicine has been confirmed through the many experiences I have had, allowing me to further my understanding of the medical world and develop the required skills. I am equipped and motivated to continue my journey into a medical degree.

Finally, the final paragraph. This must be a summary of your whole personal statement and what it shows about you as a person – don’t include anything new here! As I described with the introductory paragraph, don’t make it cringey or cliché. Be confident and show that you are ready for medical school.

• 📝Personal Statement

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Writing your Personal Statement

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How Universities Use Your Medicine Personal Statement

Check our table to see how every Medical School uses your Personal Statement - and find out which ones place a strong emphasis on this part of your application.

Med Schools And Personal Statements

• Find out how Med Schools use Personal Statements
• Learn why it’s important to understand this
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You need to understand how universities use your Medicine Personal Statement because you’ll need to know whether it can make – or break – your UCAS application .

How Do Med Schools Use Personal Statements?

In general, there are five main ways that your Personal Statement could be used by Medical Schools:

• Not used in any part of the selection process at all
• Read but not assessed
• To shortlist candidates to invite to interview
• To form the basis of questions at interview
• To help decide between two candidates who are otherwise equally tied

For example, Brighton and Sussex say they will not use your Personal Statement in the selection process – whereas others, like King’s College London , will look at it when considering applicants to shortlist for interview.

Make Sure You Stand Out

Get The Best Personal Statement Advice

Why Do I Need to Know This?

It’s important that you know how your target Medical Schools will use your Personal Statement, so you can decide how much effort to put into it.

For example, if you’re applying to universities that won’t use the Personal Statement for shortlisting candidates at all, you may be wiser to dedicate more time to preparing for the UCAT or BMAT . Likewise, if you’re applying to universities that place a greater emphasis on your Personal Statement for Medicine, you’ll need to really scrutinise how you structure and how you write your Personal Statement to boost your chances.

How Every Med School Uses Personal Statements

This table sums up what Medical Schools are currently saying about how they will use your Personal Statement. For more detail, and for the most up-to-date information, make sure you check their websites directly.

Once you understand how your Personal Statement for Medicine will be used, it’s time to start planning it to ensure your application is as strong as possible.

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How To Structure Your Medicine Personal Statement

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Personal Statement

All students applying to university in the United Kingdom have to write a 4,000-character personal statement which is used by the university admissions team and subject lecturers to decide whether or not to give offers.

The Careers and HE Departments and Heads of House are experts in helping students craft their personal statement, advising on what to include and what to avoid in order to make the best possible impression.

With so many of our students getting places at top universities, the College has amassed a whole library of top quality personal statements for students to study and learn from.  Every August we invite our AS students to come back two weeks early to join us for a dedicated UCAS course where we help students finalise their personal statement and give them advice from our alumni, Dukes Applications and our careers and House Team so that the personal statement is written before term begins.  For more information on the UCAS course please click here .

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Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – Cardiff (Eera)

Home » Application Guide » Dentistry Personal Statement Examples – Cardiff (Eera)

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Welcome to our collection of Dentistry Personal Statement Examples! We’ve searched far and wide to find personal statements from successful applicants all around the UK and asked them to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of their work for your own inspiration. Today’s subject is from Eera, who studies Dentistry at Cardiff.

Eera applied to study Dentistry back in 2019 at four amazing UK Dental Schools, including Manchester and King’s College London . She received offers from three out of her four choices of which she chose to study at Cardiff.

Let’s read the personal statement that got her a place at Cardiff, or skip straight to her feedback to learn what made her personal statement a success!

Please be aware that these examples are meant purely for the sake of inspiration, and should absolutely NOT be used as a model around which to base your own personal statement. UCAS have a rather strict system that detects plagiarism .

Cardiff Dentistry Personal Statement Example

Whole personal statement.

Teeth! When I think of dentistry, not just teeth come to mind but rather the blend of science, art and nurture, to improve overall oral health. Aged ten, my interest was ignited from seeing my dad’s relief from severe pain after his root canal treatment. Seeing the difference amazed me as to how dentistry could help and initiated my curiosity to know more. 

By spending time in NHS and private clinics, hospitals and a summer school run by King’s College dental students, I gained a clearer perspective of dentistry. My favourite seminar was on tooth carving and filling, illustrating the creative side of dentistry. Over five weeks, I saw fillings at a practice in Brighton, orthodontics, salivary gland surgery and more. My most inspirational memory was at Guy’s Hospital – a patient had sadly lost all his teeth from oropharyngeal cancer. Part of his definitive treatment plan was placing implants in his upper and lower palate requiring specialist intricacy from the surgeon. Post-surgery, I observed the patient’s relief and overwhelming happiness. With a now intact dentition, the patient was able to smile, improve his speech and ease in eating. This showed me that a well prepared and executed treatment plan can tackle multiple difficulties that may arise during dental treatment to improve quality of life.

As both a Chemistry Prefect and President of the Dental Society at my School, I have developed leadership, planning and commitment to engage other students. Seeing queues of students buying sugary drinks daily at my school, inspired me to write an article for my school newsletter, regarding their impact on caries and to raise awareness across the student body. As lead of DentSoc, I regularly give talks on various dental topics. My natural curiosity led to my participation in the Biology Olympiad and Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, which allowed me to apply my understanding to unfamiliar ideas. I completed my EPQ on the management of dental anxiety – (something I witnessed frequently during work experience) it saliently showed the importance of patient trust. Observing patient apprehension and how dentists dealt with this fascinated me.

Volunteering at the Links Centre for those with Downs Syndrome for two years has taught me empathy and mindfulness of the vast requirements of different children. I learnt that patience and a calm tone best engages those with anxiety or complex learning needs. I enjoy helping the wider community though my involvement with several charities, including CRUK and feeding the homeless with SWAT, where I learnt the value of human compassion. Completing my Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition enriched my collaboration, preparing me for dentistry where teamwork is paramount when working alongside nurses and technicians. It has heightened my determination to discover innovative solutions, but the major lesson learnt was to never give up! My experiences as a tutor at Explore Learning, mentor at school and piano teacher enhance my ability to communicate, which is key in dentistry. I am adaptable and can tailor techniques to suit each pupil’s needs, encouraging them to achieve the best outcomes. I have great enthusiasm for music – playing piano at Diploma level. Performing in front of audiences requires confidence and handling pressure whilst maintaining control of hand movements – valuable skills for dentistry. I enjoy Bhangra dancing and performing at cultural events. On vacation I like to scuba dive.

I believe dentistry is the ideal career combining theoretical skills and scientific study, alongside my interpersonal skills from extra-curricular activities. This places me in a strong position to study dentistry. I love how a dentist can cherish the relationship they build with a patient over a long period of time, often with the reward of seeing the impact of their work immediately. I believe it will be a very fulfilling career and I am excited to play a key part in the future development of the profession.

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Cardiff Dentistry Personal Statement Example Analysis

Now, let’s go section by section and see what Malikha has to say about what she wrote:  

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

I tried to be unique with my introduction. I think it is all about giving the reader something that they have not seen before. I though slipping in a personal experience with Dentistry would show that I have taken a keen interest since a young age having had my curiosity piqued. 

It possibly could have been a bit more personal than what I was with my introduction. I could have gone into further detail as to what I did to develop this curiosity. As well, although I tried to be unique in my introduction looking back I possibly just played into cliché and countless of other applicants probably started their personal statements in the same way. 

Paragraph 1

Work experience is a major factor when applying for Dentistry, so I knew including that I had done some was essential to my personal statement. I tried to write it so that tone came across a story being narrated rather than just listing and stating things in a more boring manner. 

On reflection, I have mainly spoken about what I saw and memories I have when I should have mentioned the skills that I developed. It comes across like I am bragging about the experience and I have disregarded the value of doing work experience. 

Paragraph 2

This was my opportunity to show off to the universities of all the things I have done that would showcase me as a strong Dental applicant. By showing that I was the Chemistry Prefect – with Chemistry being a required A-Level subject by all Dental Schools – and President of the Dental Society shows that I have been taking an active interest in Dentistry and have been nurturing it during my schooling. 

Generally, I’m fairly happy with this paragraph as it gets the points that I’m wanting to make across effectively. If anything, I would say I could have changed some of the wording and grammar so that some of the sentences flowed better. 

Paragraph 3

I drew upon the volunteering and charity work I did to show my empathy skills – a skill essential to being a dentist! I also explained how it links to Dentistry to show that I understand this. I mentioned that I play the piano as manual dexterity skills are a must for being a dentist, and by playing piano, I have excellent hand control.  

I really should have made this paragraph shorter, or split into two with one discussing my charity and voluntary work and the other on my personal interests. I do feel it comes across as a bit clunky bit I struggled to cut it down. If I had spent more time on my personal statement I probably would have been able to achieve this. 

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The summary of my skills is positive here. As well, I have mentioned CPD (continuous professional development) which is one of the incredible opportunities you have as a dentist just reinforces my passion and interest in the profession. 

My conclusion really comes across as informal. Perhaps making it more heartfelt would have been better, I could have done this by allowing my personality to show. I could have linked it back to my introduction and the story about my father would have been a better way to close it out. 

Final Thoughts

Being able to talk about the work experience I have done and linking it to how it benefits a career in Dentistry is something I’m very proud of. I feel I can be quite proud of my personal statement overall, given that it helped me receive offers from King’s College London, the University of Birmingham and Cardiff (who I of course ultimately decided to study at) which is no easy feat given how competitive Dentistry is. 

I’m not really the biggest fan of my conclusion, as it just doesn’t feel personal enough. I reassure myself with the fact that despite getting three out of four offers, you will likely never be completely happy with your personal statement and feel that there was something you could’ve done differently. 

So there you have it! This personal statement helped Eera get 3/4 offers in her application.

Everyone has different experiences and abilities, so you may not be able to relate to everything that was said in this personal statement. However, the information and advice provided by Eera is universal and will help any applicant write a better personal statement!  

Be sure to check out more Medicine Personal Statement Analyses to see advice from all different kinds of applicants, including Ali Abdaal himself! Or if you want to get started on your own statement, check out 6med’s Personal Statement Bundle for all the support and resources you’ll ever need! If you want full support on every part of your application and a guaranteed place at med school, the Complete Bundle will be perfect for you.  

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University of Wales Institute, Cardiff Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to University of Wales Institute, Cardiff. You can click on one of the links below to view the entire statement and find out if the applicant was offered a place.

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Cardiff Metropolitan is a progressive university. We work with purpose, impact and compassion and always in partnership. We make economies more prosperous, societies fairer, cultures richer, environments greener and communities healthier. In partnership with our students, staff and stakeholders we transform individual lives, Wales and the wider world through high-quality, high impact education informed by our cutting-edge research and innovation .

Developed following the award of the title of Times Higher Education ‘UK and Ireland University of the Year 2021’ , Strategy 2030 outlines how we will continue to grow, diversify and improve, aiming to secure our place in the top 50 UK universities by 2030 and enter and climb the QS world ranking which is the key to sustainable high-quality international recruitment. Our reputational enhancement will make Cardiff Met a university of first choice for students studying and academics researching in the fields of:

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