What's the BEST

@oxforduniversity admissions tutor breaks down what makes for a great uni personal statement with worked examples.
00:00 Introduction -- think like a tutor!
00:45 Guiding principle -- make your personal statement PERSONAL!
01:50 Opening sentences
06:54 Telling your story
10:45 You need PROOF!!
14:36 How to stand out
18:08 Catering to different audiences
21:17 Talking about extra curriculars
24:32 Finishing

[@davidc4408]

Friend said in his mathematics personal statement for Oxford, I like mathematics because it's fun and intellectually challenging...that's it 😂 He got in. Helped he had 4A* and an A at a level, plus 1,1 in Step.

[@BB8enjoyer]

It's that time of year again isn't it

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Fraid so!

[@exspt]

Legendary effort! Thank you, Dr. Williams!

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Thank you!

[@lingyiW]

This video is really helpful 😊

[@ScarletWong-kd1uv]

Thank you very much for your sharing, this is helpful!

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Pleasure! Thank you

[@leohall8557]

Hi, Just wanted to say that with your videos on interview prep I got an offer for PPE last January. Thank you for your help!! :)

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Fab -- thank you! And congratulations!

[@BabiHutanO]

Didn’t even apply to Oxford but now I’m a huge fan of him

[@b.8749]

Thank you, the video was very helpful and insightful! I have 3 questions: 1) how do you reflect on the supercurricular activity (e.g. reading a book) you have done if you share the same opinion? Should you just explain why you agree? 2) If you say that something surprised you, should you explain what about that discovery is surprising? 3) What is the shortest (in terms of characters or words) you think an introduction can be whilst still retaining its effectiveness?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Thanks for your questions. 1) it’s fine to agree generally with what an author has said, but there must be something that you would add, or like to ask the author. Try and emphasise why you find the work so persuasive, but do try to present your own views. 2) Yes, if you have space. 3) a sentence is probably as short as an introduction can be.

[@beaniebabysnail]

Hi! I found this video incredibly helpful, thank you. I have a question about determining what types of activities count as super curricular and which do not. For history, as an example would it be counted as super curricular to do further reading on a period of time studied in class? Or would this be counted as curricular because it relates to the study of history in class? My other question is if I wanted to apply for a joint-honours course such as history and modern languages or history and english, is the statement more impactful if I focus on overlapping interests between the two subjects e.g. an element of french history or the development of language in medieval England? Thank you

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Hi Jordan, thanks for your comment. Provided that the reading around your subject was not necessary for your class, then it is going above and beyond (aka super curricular). If you are applying for a joint honours degree, then, yes, talking about the overlapping interests between the subjects can be effective. All sounds good!

[@hh-bb2zw]

Hi! Thank you for the video, it has been really helpful as I attempt to draft my personal statement for law. I just had one question: you mentioned that showing proof of your interests is important. So would it be enough to state the reading you have done and then reflect on or engage with it and state how it addresses any questions you have? Also, is a conclusive research project on an area of interest necessary, or could you state that you have done research but would like to gain more knowledge? Thanks, I hope you receive this comment:)

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Thanks for your comment. Yes it would be enough to reflect on reading you have done, provided that that reading gives us some good evidence that you're ready to be an undergraduate student in law - so relatively complex books on the law, and/or caselaw would be ideal. It's not necessary to have a research project, nor to have concluded any such research. If you are doing some research, that's great, do tell us about it, but it's fine to say that you are looking to gain more knowledge.

[@user-no9yc9fo9b]

I am writing my personal statement and I feel that I am a strong candidate, but some bad grades (and more) on my transcripts from a while back feel like a burden and are difficult to explain away. How do I reconcile this without dwelling on the negative? A big part of this issue is that even being able to explain *why* those things happen takes space in the essay, and with such a short word count, it does not leave a lot of space to explain why I actually AM a good candidate. It's like nothing I do will ever outshine my past failures. Nobody wants to hear a sob story - so omitting the hard parts seems reasonable - but then when you do that it makes it *less* reasonable that you should have failed so miserably the first time. You're supposed to explain yourself, but I've been told by so many counselors that they don't want to read your sad story. Every attempt I make to focus on the positives still begs the question, "what happened in the first place?". I have had many iterations and I'm really feeling hopeless about this. I'd love some advice if you could spare some.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Provided you are on course to obtain the necessary grades for admission, it does not much matter if you have had some lower grades in the past. Almost nobody succeeds at anything without a few bumps in the road. You don't really need to explain these away. If, however, there are some extenuating circumstances that you feel help the tutors understand your academic potential better, your teacher's reference is the place to include these (there will be a box asking your teachers to describe any extenuating circumstances), and you can make a brief mention of them in your personal statement if you wish.

[@user-oq3sx6ms4v]

I’m trying to write my personal statement at the moment and I’m applying for history and politics. I’ve jumped straight in to super-curricular (I mentioned two books I read) but I used it to justify why I wanted to study the two subjects together. Also, I have a very long second sentence which I could make into two shorter sentences but I have to be weary about the character limit. Just wanted to get your thoughts.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Shorter sentences are almost always better than longer sentences! Starting the PS with super curriculars sounds fine to me. All best!

[@jimmyandfriends]

Thank you tor the video. Very useful. Do you think mentioning a video game is suitable in a pereonal statement? If you are applying to study Physics and a certain video game (Kerbal dpace program) sparked your interest in Physics.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

No reason why not. If that's the truth, I see no harm in raising it. Just be sure to explain clearly how that game inspired an interest in physics, and that you explored your interests with things other than video games (like online lectures, books, articles etc).

[@unnamedchannelowouwu]

Could you make a similar video but for graduate program?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Yes, will do.

[@moriuntur7]

Hey mate, cheers for the video. Was just wondering whether we should avoid claims about a subject in the personal statement such as "At its core, Law can be a means both for peaceful solutions and oppression" or "at the heart of medicine is the Hippocratic oath "do no harm". I've been struggling with this as I'm not sure if it comes across as too assertive or subjective

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Hi there, you can make those sorts of statements, but it’s best if you make clear that they are opinions rather than facts. EG “I would argue that Law is x”

[@moriuntur7]

Ok thanks

[@alicejones6030]

For a PPE personal statement, is it better to discuss the three subjects separately or think more about how they interact with each other?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

You need to be careful if you ae not applying to PPE everywhere. Unis that don't offer PPE will not want to read a personal statement that is obviously geared to a degree at another uni. Better, therefore, to talk about intersecting interests. Topics like climate change, for example, have fairly obvious connections to philosophy, politics and economics. Indeed the connections don't even really need to be spelt out. But, it's also fine to have a particular interest that is not intersecting. If, for example, you were very interested in stoic philosophy, it would not much matter that this does not have such obvious relevance to contemporary politics or economics.

[@mannanhanda5564]

Hello, My name is Mannan, and I am currently in Year 10. I am extremely passionate about pursuing a degree in Computer Science. As I begin my university research journey, I would be incredibly grateful for your invaluable insights and recommendations. I greatly admire the valuable information shared in your videos. They have been a source of inspiration for me. In my pursuit of a Computer Science degree, I aspire to stand out. In addition, I kindly request any tips or advice you may have on how to differentiate myself during the application process.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

HI Mannan, thanks for your comment! In Year 10, it is best to explore your passions in CS. Maybe get into some coding practice, maybe read around on subjects of interest to you (AI, cryptography, quantum computing etc), you can watch KZbin lectures on CS. You could start looking at the British Informatics Olympiad, although I think that is geared more to Y12 students. Basically, try and have fun, but gently stretch yourself by introducing new skills and knowledge.

[@mannanhanda5564]

Thank you

[@The-Student-Perspective]

Hi, Thank you so much for the helpful videos. I want to get into Oxford University with the hope to pursue either mathematics or mathematics and computer science, preferably the second; however, some of my grades in the past are not top grades, with one of the factors being that the IB school I went to had lack of resources and was managed terribly. I have participated in competitions and summer programs catered to the program. My question will be whether explaining why I got the bad scores in my statement will be okay or if I should omit it. To prove that I am academically capable of the course, I am pursuing an A-level programme and plan on writing an SAT. Furthermore, the path I am applying for requires me to write an MAT exam, which will also act to show academic capability. Any advice you can give me, I will be grateful for.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Hi there, it’s not necessary to have perfect grades to be competitive. As you say, the MAT test is a particularly important predictor of admissions success. A few grades that don’t represent your ability are not to be worried about and common amongst applicants.

[@brickmaster9488]

Great video! How beneficial is a further maths A-level if considering applying for PPE

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Thanks! FM is not required. It may help your numeracy skills, but goes well beyond the sort of maths commonly used in econ (calculus and stats), phil (set theory, logic) and politics (stats). Maths is certainly helpful, but FM probably less so. It is also important to give yourself time for super curricular reading and prep for the TSA admissions test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2rIp5WVlLqVias

[@brickmaster9488]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Response is much appreciated 👍

[@themathlab2043]

At 15 years old, can I read books on the university book list now and then in my personal statement 3-4 years down the line talk about it. Also great video! Wanting to take Mathematics at uni one day

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Yes, you can read those books whenever you like. They will be difficult to read, so don't feel like you have to rush through loads of them. Just trying out a few will be sufficient. Also, reading books is not essential for maths, where entering competitions (like UKMT) and watching online lectures may be more relevant.

[@jadeelizabeth7548]

Hi Dr Williams, thank you for the helpful tips in this video. I will be applying for a graduate level course, so the personal statement has been described as a statement of purpose but seems to cover the same basics as a personal statement. Would you say that the two are the same, just phrased differently? Or is there a difference that I have not picked up on? I'm an international student so for my undergraduate applications, I did not have to submit a personal statement, so this is quite new to me. Again, thank you.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Hi, thanks for your question. The Statement of Purpose is a little different to a Personal Statement. The key is to follow all instructions on the "How to apply" page of your course. For which course are you thinking of applying? Generally speaking, as SoP needs to be even more academic than a PS -- describing which literature/field you are interested in, and how you might like to contribute to it. Also, the SoP is just seen by Oxford (unlike the PS), so should explain why you think Oxford will be best for you.

[@jadeelizabeth7548]

@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Thank you for the clarification! I am intending to apply for the MPhil in Classical Archaeology

[@1212gamer]

Hi, I am Portuguese and I’m applying to Oxford as an undergraduate. My main worry is related to the English exam, as the CAE and CPE are quite challenging. Which one should I take? I know the Proficiency Exam is a bit better, but can an A on the CAE be really competitive?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Hi there, details on English language requirements are here: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/for-international-students/ELR It gives details on what is needed on CAE and CPE. All best wishes, Matt

[@thealtaccount879]

Hello. I am a year 9 (going into 10) student who is interested in studying Law at Oxford (in the future, to clarify) and, firstly, I would like to say thank you so much for all these comprehensive and clear videos. You have made my previously distant and vague ambition seem more attainable and have motivated me and many others to dive deeper into our goals of studying at Oxford. However at my age the number of super curricular activities available are limited, however I am certain that I want to study Law in the future and wish to get started early, so I was wondering if there are any activities you could suggest that would assist me in not only gaining a more impressive statement but also in genuinely learning more about Law, as it's a subject not often taught in schools and so I have limited understanding of what specifically it entails. I have begun some reading about Law and have attended a webinar about Law however if there are any other things you would recommend I would appreciate it greatly.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Hi there, thanks for your comment! I hope you're well. Reading about law and attending a webinar is all very good to start with. Start developing some specific interests. When you're reading about things in the law, dwell on those things that particularly take your interest, for whatever reason. Start reading more about those subjects and become a bit of an expert on a quite specific topic. Could be anything really: criminal law, media law, privacy, privity, international law, human rights et cetera. It is worth going to a court to see justice in action. You can watch proceedings from the highest courts on KZbin, which is a good start. But your local crown court will probably have public galleries and hearings. Just be careful, some of the subject matter covered in say criminal trials could be deeply disturbing and upsetting. Another activity would be to listen to podcasts on a range of matters in law, again beginning to circle in on things that you find particularly fascinating. My number one piece of advice is to have as much fun as possible. People that are having fun do everything better!

[@thealtaccount879]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Thank you for your response. I’ll look into some podcasts and videos and if possible attend some hearings. I appreciate all the work you do in responding to everyone and making such informative videos. Have a lovely day and keep up the good work.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Thank you! All best to you

[@rubiksworld2170]

Wow I have to say that’s impressive for a year 9 student. Good luck with your future studies

[@thealtaccount879]

@@rubiksworld2170 Thank you.

[@jeremysquigl]

Hi there. For someone applying to PPE, is it worth to mention stuff like being a member of the European Youth Parliament or head of the student council? Or would they be classified as extra-curricular?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Provided that you describe what academic lessons you took away from those experiences, then they can certainly be super curricular. EG: "I learnt at first hand the difficulty of vote cycling whilst working on the European Youth Parliament... " Apart from anything, it's not a bad thing to include extracurricular activities on your personal statement. Many universities other than Oxford find them to be important. It's just that Oxford cannot make offers on extracurricular activities.

[@Jason-hi5wh]

Do you have to really understand and make loads of notes about your super curricular activities e.g does it come up in detail in interviews? And how do you successfully come off as passionate in your personal statement?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

No, you don't need to make loads of notes about your super curricular activities. Just be sure to think about what you read/ listen to/ experience. Do you agree with it? If so, why? If not, why not? Passion comes across through honesty. If you are genuinely interested in something, and you tell us what you think about it, that provides evidence that you will look into something on your own volition, without having to be told to do so.

[@thesnackbandit]

Excellent video once again. I do have a question. I’m consider applying to 3 different courses: Finance, Financial Economics and Management, and Accounting & Finance. While they are all closely related enough, and I am able to write about super-curricular activities that overlap reasonably well, I am concerned that it might not be specialised enough for any one of them. Am I making a mistake by applying to 3 different courses? I am genuinely passionate about all of them and have done several activities that are relevant for them all.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Good question. I think there is sufficient overlap between those subjects for it to be totally fine. I don't think it is a mistake to apply to marginally different courses.

[@thesnackbandit]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Thank you for your reply. That is reassuring to hear. While I won't be applying to Oxford as there is no course with a heavy emphasis on finance, your content (not just on personal statements) has been illuminating, and you are a fantastic communicator. I am very thankful, and I'm certain many other prospective applicants are too.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Thank you! That's very kind. I really appreciate it.

[@thesnackbandit]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 7 months on. I ended up applying for Accounting and Finance and got offers from LSE, Warwick, KCL, Bath, and Bristol. I cannot thank you enough. I'm a homeschooled/self-taught student and had little help aside from your videos and those of some others. Incredibly grateful for your help, I'm sure many others are too. Look forward to starting at the LSE this September. I always recommend your videos to anyone who asks.

[@alisonburchett3532]

You mentioned that British grammar is critical in the application. Applying from the US, does that mean it is necessary to alter spelling and terms away from US English to British English?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

No. It will be clear that your application is from the US, so you can use American English spellings.

[@alisonburchett3532]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 thank you

[@caijohn5061]

Hi Dr matt williams I've read books like DNA (James Watson) and The idea of the brain (Matthew Cobb) and I actually bought them when I was attending Oxford university for a trip and they gave us time to explore the town so I went to the Blackwell's bookshop. As there's no large scale bookshops in my area I find it hard to pick a medicine related book off the internet which would interest me, so how would I find books recommended by Universities like Oxford? Secondly my last query is as student wanting to study medicine in university through multiple talks work experienced is constantly reminded as a necessity for a personal statement however, as we've just come out of COVID care homes etc still don't accept many volunteers and although I've managed to work two days in a pharmacy (I'm also going for a life guard certificate) I still think my personal statement would be lacking longer experience. What would you recommend I do if you were in my situation and do you think universities will still use how much and what work experience a person has done when picking the best personal statements as previous years before COVID have done. Thanks and sorry for the long-winded questions.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Hi there, thanks for your questions. 1) there are some recommended resources here: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/suggested-subject-resources but, I think it's great that you have found books of interest to you and devoured those. They sound perfect! 2) you do not need work experience to be competitive. What I suggest is that you talk about the experience you've had in the pharmacy, without mentioning that it was just for two days! Explain what lessons you took away from that experience and relate it to something you've read, or something else that you have done. Don't forget to practice the BMAT test!

[@caijohn5061]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 thanks for the response and the motivation needed to revise for that BMAT!

[@ozziedog18]

Very informative video, Matt! As I do agree that the personal statement that mentioned a disinterest in a subject is less good, I think mentioning your disinterest(s) in a different way could make a personal statement more personal. I think it could show proof and the ability to self-reflect as long as it links to the subject that you do find interesting and are applying for. What are your thoughts?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

It's certainly possible, but it's just a bit risky to describe things you are not interested in. There aren't many cases I can think of where it would be absolutely necessary to talk about things you don't like. Probably best left unsaid!

[@ozziedog18]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Clear, thanks for the insight!

[@vanilla_onyiwe]

Hi matt. I took ot upon myself to learn Spanish and Korean to be able to communicate more with people as I want to study medicine and not let communication be a barrier when interacting with patients. Would this count as supercurricular ?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

If you describe the skills derived from the activity as relevant to your interests in medicine, then it can be super curricular. It will be a bit of a stretch to suggest that Spanish and Korean will be helpful in practising medicine in the United Kingdom, but you could talk about how learning those languages has generally helped your memory, helped your empathy, and other such things that will be of extraordinary advantage to your medical studies.

[@vanilla_onyiwe]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 thank you.

[@1My3My9]

Is it okay if I only mention my supercurriculars and zero extracurriculars? I know you said Oxford don't care about extracurriculars but I just want to be sure. Thanks

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Whilst Oxford do not care about extra curricular activities, other universities do. Although, in all likelihood, if you're applying to academically competitive degrees, it will not matter much if you do not have extra curricular activities to speak about. But, if you do have something, including a job, caring responsibilities, work experience and so on, it may be worth just briefly mentioning it towards the end of your personal statement.

[@miah2612]

hi, do you think that if you did 18 months of reading for a dofe gold at 400 pages a month, that would help with an application for law? i thought it might help with seeming more determined and motivated and also to show off my reading capacity/experience, but not sure if it's specific enough or shows off enough academic prowess. thanks!

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

For law, the tutors will be interested in what you have read, and what you thought about it. It's great that you've done a lot of reading, as that will unquestionably have raised your academic skills. Just isolate some law-relevant reading you've done, in addition to/as part of the DofE reading.

[@miah2612]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 thank you so much! i will mention it but focus on my law reading 😊

[@FetolBolaOlateju-ne8gv]

I am trying to write my personal statement,and i am applying for history, but i started writing about my extracurricular activities in the 2nd paragraph. I am nigerian planning on taking the SAT by December is there a chance I can still submit it to Oxford since it application is closing October 16?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Most applicants to Oxford have predicted grades, rather than attained qualifications. So you may well be able to apply despite not having qualifications yet. Make sure the PS focusses on super curricular rather than extra curricular activities, as these will be more helpful to you.

[@MCart1215]

Hi, I'm just wondering how much the different interests / readings have to flow? My PS is for Law, and I have mentioned my interests in tort law, jurisprudence and human rights law. I've managed to make links between them but I worry that they're weak. Do the interests need to be intrinsically linked? Thanks so much

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Having some connection between your points improves readability. But you don’t need intrinsic links between paragraphs.

[@MCart1215]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Oh right ok, thank you

[@oluwaferanmikolawole3546]

can you make a video for Masters please ?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGnLhIyhqppnkJY

[@MuhammadrahmonAbdurahmon-yz5kz]

Hello Dr Matt Williams I am Mukhammadrakhmon from Uzbekistan. Pls, can I enter to Oxford university with high good Ielts score and GPA or does oxford require SAT from International students?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

HI Mukhammadrakhmon, thanks for your comment. Please see here for information on International qualifications: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/for-international-students/international-qualifications

[@canislupus1727]

Hi, I've heard a bit about personal statements being scrapped and replaced with just a series of questions. Do you know when this will be happening and should these questions be approached in the same way as the personal statement?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

I'm not sure, but think that personal statements will be reformulated in 2024. Yes, I suspect that the approach suggested in this video will still be relevant. But, if there are major changes, I'll be sure to revise my advice. All best, Matt

[@canislupus1727]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 OK thank you! The guidance and help you give is invaluable. Thank you for everything :)

[@sarahmegdiche843]

Hello, I am an international student in the 10th grade of high school and it has always been my dream to study engineering at Oxford uni. However these past few years I have also been heavily interested in philosophy and religion. My question is whether it is possible or not to study two different courses at Oxford as an undergraduate thank you very much ☺️

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Hi there, thanks for your question. It's not possible to study two different degree programmes simultaneously, but there are some joint honours degrees. For example, you may be interested in physics and philosophy: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/physics-and-philosophy

[@sarahmegdiche843]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 thank you very much for your response ! Regarding the joint honors degrees, Do you study both subjects independently ? What i mean is : do you study philosophy alone without going back to physics? or do you study philosophy only when it is relevant to further your understanding of physics ? Also another question Do the qualifications ( requirement ) required to qualify for any given course, apply to international students, or do you need it's equivalent to be considered for a position? I am very sorry for the disturbance, i just couldn't find any answers to my questions online. Thanks alot

[@alisultan1451]

Hi Mr Mathew. I am applying for PPE through the Astrophoria program. I am also applying for Philosophy and economics for other universities, to what extent should I include politics?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Hi there. If you're not applying for politics at other unis, you don't need to mention it on your personal statement. You could talk about ideas that combine econ/phil with politics -- eg macroeconomics or political philosophy.

[@alisultan1451]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Thank you very very much i really appreciate it! I hope i get into Jesus College and meet you

[@yoqutxonshexova1305]

Hi Dr Watt Williams you helped me to understand deeply to write Personal statement. Please may you share your ideas about CV? It will help us to edit our proper CV to get into Oxford

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Thank you! There's some helpful advice here on CVs, including examples: www.careers.ox.ac.uk/cvs#collapse1542151

[@yoqutxonshexova1305]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 thanks for sharing I have another queation for you. My total GPA is 4,6/5. I want to study at Oxford as a graduate student. Is my GPA low o get into? In the requirement section, from 3,6 to 4, GPA will be accepted. But i think every students of Oxford is a genuine and they have the highest GPA(4/4). Is it true? Is 4,6/5 of GPA affordable to get into and win a scholarship?

[@AKellia-os1hd]

Does it matter if u start your personal statement with your names?? eg: I'm Micheal Gates....

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

It's a bit of a waste of characters. Your UCAS form will have your name on it anyway.

[@avyayakheria638]

What are my chances of getting an interview with Oxford and if so,my chances of admission? Also, on average, what’s the acceptance rate for Indian students for undergrad E&M and any students you know of at Oxford undergrad currently from Kolkata, India?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Hi there, provided you are on course to obtain the required entry grades (see here: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/for-international-students/international-qualifications) then the chance of obtaining an interview for E&M and the chance of admission are both listed on this website: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/economics-and-management Interviewed = 18%, successful = 5%. E&M is one of our most competitive degrees.

[@ottomanlad1918]

Where can I get my personal statement checked and critiqued? I don't have resources in my own country to do so.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

You should not need to have the personal statement checked. Check the spellings and grammar with something like MS Word. And, include content such as suggested in this video.

[@ottomanlad1918]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 It is my first time writing one, wouldn't I need someone to check what to include, perhaps, and what not to? If so, can you suggest me something? Actually, I'm nervous how it'd be received. ): I need validation.

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

I can take a quick look, if you email it to me: www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/access-outreach/our-team/

[@ottomanlad1918]

@@JesusCollegeOxford1571 Sent you the statement. Looking forward to your feedback. (: Thank you so much.

[@jimmyandfriends]

Do you think mentioning you have been home educated up to the age of 13 is relevant for a personal statement?

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

If you think that fact explains something important, then it is fine to raise it.

[@Times343]

Using AI properly without complete reliance on it is indeed helpful.

[@pugalaenthimurugan8127]

Hi Dr. Matt, I’m interested in robotics, but I’m applying to mechanical engineering. Is it ok for the personal statement to be concentrated about robotics even though it’s just a part of the mechanical engineering discipline? Will Oxford not consider my personal statement to be good if I didn’t relate the robotics to mechanical engineering? I’m asking because I don’t want my personal statement to go out of context to the course. And finally, what suggestions will you give me to help me stand out in my field? Thank you very much!!! Hope to hear from you soon :)

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I think it's fine to describe your interests in robotics on the UCAS personal statement, provided that you also make it clear that you are generally looking forward to studying engineering. So, a statement such as the following could work: "I am really excited to start studying engineering. I love the applied mathematics used in the subject, and I have a particular passion for robotics. In pursuit of this passion I have done…"

[@manassehhussaini]

Very informative, however I observed that this video is targeted at undergraduate student, I am curious if there any video similar to this where the targeted audience are graduate and post graduate students

[@JesusCollegeOxford1571]

Yes, indeed. I'm working on a grad student version.