Useful Information about your application

Personal statement

Personal statement

The personal statement is your opportunity to demonstrate to us why you think that you should get a place on your chosen course.

Tell us why you want to study the course. Talk about your hobbies and other special interests, any interests related to your chosen course, your skills, aptitudes and personal qualities, your future career aims, previous employment and relevant experience. Try to link them to the skills and experience required for the course.

If you feel that you have had little formal work experience, try to think of things you have done in your personal life that you could use, for example:

• Have you helped organise any events?
• School Projects you have been involved in?
• Done anything for charity or voluntary work?
• Had a job?

Put these down in your statement and try to think what relevant skills you needed to do these things.  Don’t underestimate the transferable skills that you have – customer care, working with others, communication skills etc.

Make sure that your personal statement is all about you and be prepared to talk about it.  It is your personal statement that could make you stand out from the crowd.

This may be the only written work that the Lecturer sees before making a decision - make sure it is organised and well worded. Get the grammar, spelling and punctuation right. A statement filled with errors will give a negative impression of your skills and the effort you have put in to being accepted.

Your personal statement must be written in English, even if English is not your first language.

The personal statement is important in the selection process and should be carefully considered before submission.

At the interview

Always treat your interviewer with courtesy and manners.  Make eye contact, it shows you’re listening.  If more than one person is interviewing you, make sure you are looking at the person asking that question.

The Interviewer will want you to talk about yourself, your career ideas, your interests and hobbies, what you are doing currently e.g. school subjects, work experience.

Why have you chosen this course? Show your willingness, relate back to your interests, current subjects studying.

Why should you be offered a place on the course? Add onto your previous answers to show you are motivated and want a place over your peers.    

Listen to the interview questions carefully.  If you don’t understand a question, ask for it to be repeated. Try to avoid yes and no answers – give as much information as you can.

Act naturally, don’t exaggerate, answer questions honestly and frankly, but do make sure the interviewer is aware of your strengths and weaknesses.

At the end of the interview thank the interviewer for their time.

The interview serves a dual purpose:

1. It assists the Lecturers to assess that the course is right for you.
2. It gives you the opportunity to find out more about the College and the course, and ensure it is right for you.

After the interview

You will be informed in writing of the outcome of your interview after the Easter break – whether you are being offered a place at College or not.

You must update your guidance teacher or email schools.moray@uhi.ac.uk if you are taking or not taking a place offered to you. Your place may be offered to someone else if we haven’t heard back.

If your offer has conditions you will be required to achieve the conditions.