How To Write An Engineering Personal Statement _ UCAS Strategy

Presenter Information: Ai Perez, studied Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol, UK.
Objective of the Video: To guide students through writing a standout personal statement for engineering courses in the UK.
Experience: Over 5 years coaching students applying to top universities (UCL, Imperial College, Cambridge, Durham).
Personal Experience Highlight: Will share the first paragraph of his successful personal statement that garnered five offers.
Audience Understanding: Admissions officers sift through numerous mediocre personal statements; thus, the aim is to stand out by demonstrating key skills like numeracy, logical thinking, and problem-solving.
Writing Style: Encourage writing a personal statement as a narrative (STEM story) that captivates emotions related to STEM.

Importance of Personal Statement: Must convey personal motivations and qualifications in a compelling way.
Key Questions to Address:
- Why do I want to study this topic?
- What have I done that makes me qualified for this course?
- What can I contribute to the course and university?
Structure Recommendation: Tackle each question in sequence to effectively structure the personal statement.
Introduction Goal: Hook the reader and avoid the no-offer pile.

Personal Example: Started with a quote, "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand," which articulates his desire to pursue engineering as an active learning process.
Reflection on Improvement: If redone, would remove quotes due to cliches but appreciates that it answers the core question effectively.
Essence of Engineering: It transforms abstract thoughts into tangible structures, emphasizing a hands-on understanding.
Writing Style: An effective personal statement is narrative, not a list; it flows in prose over 4,000 characters, maintaining coherence.

Next Steps in the Statement: Discuss qualifications and potential contributions to the course and university.
MAC Framework:
- Maturity: Demonstrating emotional intelligence and real-world experience.
- Ability: Academic and technical competencies.
- Commitment: Long-term goals clearly defined.
- Knowledge: Understanding of the field and its future.
Personal Example: Mentioned being the youngest in Spain to obtain a boat captain license at 16, connecting nautical and aerospace disciplines.
Contribution to the Course: This section should reflect personal interests beyond academics, aiming for about 1,000 characters (25% of the statement).
Ideal Candidate: Should show passion for problem-solving and participating in university life, not just isolated academic work.

Societal Engagement: Discuss desired societies or clubs at university to demonstrate well-roundedness and proactive engagement.
Compelling Writing: Aim for clarity and engagement to convey ambition and vision effectively, prompting the admissions tutor to support the application.
Overcoming Procrastination: Encourages viewing a separate video on dealing with procrastination for additional support.
Questions for Reflection: To aid in developing ideas:
1. What has been the hardest thing in your life?
2. What has been difficult for you to accomplish?
3. What moments summarize your life?
4. What has held you back from your ambitions?
5. What experience pushed you out of your comfort zone?
6. What thrilling discoveries have you made?

Writing Strategy: After answering reflective questions, encourage free writing to uncover valuable content.
Call to Action: Request likes and subscriptions for further content, and offer assistance with personal statements in the comments without obligations.