How to write a UCAS personal statement for Russell Group unis | must-watch for year 12s

Tips and advice for writing a UCAS personal statement year 12 or 13 UK university (esp for Russell Group or Oxbridge)
❤️ please note I filmed this before the tragic, unjust murder of George Floyd. In my next video I will talk about it, trying to use this small platform I am so privileged to have to raise some awareness. Keep sharing, educating, donating and signing those petitions: blacklivesmatt...
thanks for watching!!
previous video:
Answering assumptions challenge (honest and uncut)
• Video
Links mentioned:
Remember to consult the UCAS website first!
General personal statement tips:
www.oxford-roy...
EPQs look good on a personal statement and count as super curricular, get advice on writing one here:
• EPQ tips & advice | is...
Super curricular ideas (by subject)
www.oxford-roy...
More tips about writing it
www.studentjob...
Suggestion for structuring a statement & the ABC method to critically engage when explaining something you’ve done
documents.manch...
Steps on how to write it with real examples (great resource!)
bridge-u.com/b...
Personal statement examples by subject
universitycomp...
insta & twitter:
megxmahoney
faq:
age? 18
a levels? eng lit, history, geography
location? south east England
remember to like n sub n all that jazz x
keep healthy n safe guys!!
music used:

[@kxterameddins3285]

I’m so glad I’ve finally found someone who’s doing geography at uni! I’m applying to oxford geography this year and it’s really helpful to have found someone who has a more subject specific view❤️

[@MeganMahoney1]

Yeah surprisingly (or not!) not many people seem to apply for it. Ah good luck, thanks for watching. If you have any questions about it or want to know more geography specific things I included on my personal statement then just DM me @megxmahoney on Instagram and I’ll be happy to help. Best wishes ❤️x

[@kxterameddins3285]

Megan Mahoney thank youuuu that means a lot !❤️

[@nikola206]

Kxtera Meddins if you need any advice I’d love to help! I start at Oxford this autumn and I know just how hard it’s been for next years applicants to get the help they need from their schools, or even just getting decent feedback. If you need advice or feedback my email is [e-mail]. Best of luck with your application!

[@natxshap]

samee

[@-ZED-]

Did you get in ?

[@VK-il9kv]

these vids are so helpful!! the EPQ helped me a lot...please make more if u cannn (:

[@MeganMahoney1]

Glad you like them!! If you’ve got any video ideas let me know xx

[@laurasalminen3443]

I wish I had seen this video when I was writing mine, this was so informative and great to watch! x

[@MeganMahoney1]

ah thank you!! have a lovely day xx

[@ManreetaSidhu]

« Or tofu if you’re vegan »😂😂😂

[@MeganMahoney1]

hehehehe :)

[@mollygabrielle4171]

really needed this, was trying to write some today 😔wasn’t going well so this will rlly help x tyyy 🥰💕

[@MeganMahoney1]

Aw keep going with it! First draft is always the hardest. Thanks for watching, have a lovely day ❤️x

[@mollygabrielle4171]

Megan Mahoney same to u!! x

[@savannahlouise6974]

Can anyone tell me how many words your personal statement needs?💞

[@rebeccahardy5216]

Its 4, 000 characters and 47 lines i would recommend using a word counter so you dont go over! Good luck😁😁

[@Ellie-pj9ln]

Thank you this was really helpful!

[@MeganMahoney1]

Aw thanks! Have a nice day 🥰x

[@MollyHopkins]

This was so helpful!!!

[@MeganMahoney1]

Thank you! Have a lovely day ❤️

[@jacobp9497]

How many different super curricular activities did you do and what detail did you go into for them? :)

[@MeganMahoney1]

I did a debate in school, watched documentaries, went to a climate change march (relevant to a geography course), did a free online course, read books, went on a summer school, completed an EPQ and engaged with the news. Did two or three lines about each and linked them all together. I appreciate it is a bit harder to do super curricular things due to lock down restrictions but the admissions team will know that and you can utilise online resources so try not to worry! good luck :)

[@nikola206]

Jacob P if you need any advice I’d love to help! I start at Oxford this autumn and I know just how hard it’s been for next years applicants to get the help they need from their schools, or even just getting decent feedback. If you need advice or feedback my email is [e-mail]. Best of luck with your application Jacob!

[@Caitlinje_]

I’m applying for psychology and my head of year is also my psychology teacher 😂

[@MeganMahoney1]

oh gosh you better be on your best behaviour during lessons then!! at least you can get lots of help with your personal statement then aha

[@HelloHi-ni1mx]

Hii, I repeated year 12 because I failed chemistry in the first year which made me realise medicine is not the career path for me . I’m currently going into year 13 with psychology, philosophy and french . In my personal statement should I mention that I repeated year 12 with different subjects ? Because I don’t think a lot of unis would be happy to hear it and they would be reluctant to give me a position in unis like UCL OR QUEEN MARY OR KINGS . What is your advice ? Because on the contrary it could show how I learn from my failures and I come back . But again I wouldn’t get any unconditional offers by saying I failed . Can you help me pls

[@MeganMahoney1]

Ooh that is such a good question. Well done on you for having the guts to switch courses and repeating a year, and not continue doing something that isn't quite right for you. That is definitely one to ask your head of sixth form, tutor or careers adviser as I genuinely have no idea. If they are unsure, contact any of the unis you are looking at, their undergraduate admissions team, as they will be the ones reading your personal statement so they will tell you exactly what they're looking for :)

[@itachi6336]

This kinda sucks since exams were cancelled. I'm pretty convinced that I would get at least 3 As in my AS levels but because of my gcse results my predicted grades might be lower which is annoying because I'm planning to apply for engineering in cambridge and I feel like my predicted grades will be lower then the entry requirements (a*a*a). wow and this is out of my control now because now I can't even do these exams and show that I have improved a lot since my gcses.

[@MeganMahoney1]

try not to worry too much, teachers are usually extra generous when giving you predicted grades to put on ucas because they want you to have the very best opportunity, I could imagine they will be even nicer this year! or unis more lenient :)

[@sxlvi4]

@@MeganMahoney1 not the case for people of color 🤧

[@MeganMahoney1]

@@sxlvi4 I recognise my privilege as a white person in the education system. I think it is disgusting that there is racial bias in this country. Sorry I only have my experience to talk about, and did not consider how different applying to uni is for people of colour.

[@DANTVVLOGOFFICIAL]

Keep safe my friend

[@MeganMahoney1]

thank you!!

[@magic2201]

couldn't come at a better time 👍

[@MeganMahoney1]

thanks for watching!!

[@theunderdog690]

Good tips. And you have a great chin.

[@MeganMahoney1]

i know it’s cute innit 🥺🥺

[@theunderdog690]

@@MeganMahoney1 yep no kidding😅

[@lilykirwan4867]

Damn im first lol

[@MeganMahoney1]

Yay! x