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Presents the 80/20 approach: 80% course-fit evidence and skills, 20% engagement, motivation, achievements, and reflection, plus practical starting steps and formatting rules.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/","Letters",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/how-to-write-an-awesome-personal-statement-rainbows-or-evidence/350633/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/how-to-write-an-awesome-personal-statement-rainbows-or-evidence/350633.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Fans","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-15","2026-09-22",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",6,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What does the UK admissions process expect in a personal statement?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Write one personal statement that will be seen by all five UK universities, without mentioning universities by name. It should explain why you want to study the course and show enthusiasm, commitment, and evidence from your experience and skills.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How should a personal statement be balanced using the 80/20 approach?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Use 80% to explain why you chose the course, why you are well-suited, what interests you about the subject, what you understand about course requirements, and what skills or experiences will help you succeed. Use 20% to show what else you bring, including evidence of engagement, motivation, capacity, achievements, and reflection rather than simple listing.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What formatting rules are recommended for a US-style personal statement/essay?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Use 47 lines of text (including blank lines) or 4,000 characters, format into paragraphs, and avoid bold, italics, or underlining. Prepare in a Google Doc for editing and drafting, use single spacing, and choose a polished professional font such as Arial or Times New Roman (12 point).","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},350633,1791364153,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,114,118,123],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":115,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},18,30,"letters",{"id":119,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":124,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":126},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":128},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":129,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":22,"category_id":115,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":116,"language":136,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":140,"read_time":85},5909892330395,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","How to Write an AWESOME Personal Statement/Essay  \nRainbows or Evidence?   \n\n| What is the US looking for? |  | What is the UK looking for? |  |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| ●●\u003Cbr>●\u003Cbr>●\u003Cbr>●●\u003Cbr>●●\u003Cbr>●●\u003Cbr>● | Grades\u003Cbr>Test Scores\u003Cbr>Multiple Essays (some schools have additional supplementary essays & prompts)\u003Cbr>Teacher Recommendations (1 or 2)\u003Cbr>Extracurricular Activities Leadership\u003Cbr>Character, Citizenship\u003Cbr>Ability to pay\u003Cbr>Legacy\u003Cbr>Gender\u003Cbr>Athletic ability/special talent | ●●\u003Cbr>●● | Predicted Grades\u003Cbr>School Reference Letter (written by your advisor)\u003Cbr>Personal Statement\u003Cbr>Testing (IELTS) |\n\nUK Personal Statement   \n● A student’s opportunity to:  \n○ Tell you universities WHY you should be SELECTED  \n○ Answer the question: ‘why do you want to study this course?’  \n○ Demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment  \n○ Show how your experience and skills prepare you for the course-evidence!  \nGoal is to sell yourself to the school  \nUK Personal Statement Need to Know  \n● Must write ONE personal statement that will be seen by all 5 UK universities  \n○ Therefore, you must avoid applying to a diverse range of courses  \n○ Do NOT mention any university by name  \n○ Joint degrees-address both aspects of the course  \nWhat does a Personal Statement Include? The 80/20 Approach  \n80%  \nWhy are you applying to the course you’ve chosen and why you are well-suited to it?  \n+ Why does the subject interest you  \n+ Show you understand what is required for the course  \n+ Explain the skills/ experience that will make you  \nsuccessful in the course + So…  \n+ Make links to academic subjects (content)+ Talk about your EE/outside reading + Super-curricular Activities (ECA, trips, lectures  \nrelevant to course, work experience, job shadowing)  \n+ Research into the course/career  \nWhat does a Personal Statement Include? The 80/20 Approach  \n20%  \nWhat else will you bring to the university?  \n+ Give evidence of your engagement, motivation,  \nand spare capacity + Sport, music, drama, art + Achievements and awards  \n+ Service, volunteering, community contribution,+ Reflect, don’t list!  \nWhat does a Personal Statement   \nInclude? The 80/20 Approach + Example for Business & Management:  \nWorking on case studies in my Business and Marketing class had led me to analyze the business cycle and how major corporations such as Coca Cola, Pepsi, and Nike sustain major profitability.  \n+ Example for Biochemistry:  \nI developed a keen interest in an organism’s ability to survive. I am specifically intrigued by how organisms evolve and develop capabilities that adapt to their surroundings, in order to stay alive.  \nthis applying  \n(survival make  \nYou would relate content to the program you are to,  \nprojects/research you have conducted to specifically address your interests of organisms/profitability), skills/qualities that you have that would  \nyou successful in the program.  \n+  \n+  \nAH! Where do I start?  \nCreate a mindmap of all of your  \nideas  \nLook at the university websites and entry profiles for your chosen courses  \n+ They will often tell you what they are look for (qualities and criteria of what they want their students to demonstrate)  \n+ Use the Personal Statement  \ntemplate to help you start brainstorming  \n+  \n+  \n+  \n+  \n+  \n+  \nFormat, Size, & Presentation  \n47 lines of text (including blank lines)+ OR 4,000 characters  \n+ Usually whatever comes first  \nBreak your statement into paragraphs Do not use bold, italics, or underlining Prepare in a Google Doc (so we can edit, andre-draft)  \nSingle Spaced  \nyou can  \nNo  \n+  \n+  \nfancy fonts  \nMake sure it looks Suggestions: Arial,  \npolished and professional, it’s for your future Times New Roman (12 point).  \nDIFFERENT  \nTYPES OF U.S. STYLE ESSAYS","cbCaibQ8CNBICq9y","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibQ8CNBICq9y","pdf",567394,"English","# How to Write an AWESOME Personal Statement/Essay\n## Rainbows or Evidence?\n## What the US and UK are looking for\n## UK Personal Statement: key requirements\n## What a Personal Statement includes: the 80/20 approach\n## Formatting, Size, & Presentation\n## Different Types of U.S. Style Essays","[{\"question\":\"What does the UK admissions process expect in a personal statement?\",\"answer\":\"Write one personal statement that will be seen by all five UK universities, without mentioning universities by name. It should explain why you want to study the course and show enthusiasm, commitment, and evidence from your experience and skills.\"},{\"question\":\"How should a personal statement be balanced using the 80/20 approach?\",\"answer\":\"Use 80% to explain why you chose the course, why you are well-suited, what interests you about the subject, what you understand about course requirements, and what skills or experiences will help you succeed. Use 20% to show what else you bring, including evidence of engagement, motivation, capacity, achievements, and reflection rather than simple listing.\"},{\"question\":\"What formatting rules are recommended for a US-style personal statement/essay?\",\"answer\":\"Use 47 lines of text (including blank lines) or 4,000 characters, format into paragraphs, and avoid bold, italics, or underlining. Prepare in a Google Doc for editing and drafting, use single spacing, and choose a polished professional font such as Arial or Times New Roman (12 point).\"}]","How to Write an AWESOME Personal Statement - Rainbows or Evidence? | PDF",1790090061]