7 Things to Delete from Your Masters Personal Statement

The personal statement is arguably the most important aspect of a postgraduate application. It’s your opportunity to explain why you want to study your chosen Masters degree – and demonstrate that you’re up to the job!

With Masters application season fast approaching, we thought it would be a good time to warn against some common mistakes. So, keep your finger hovering over the backspace key and settle in for seven things to delete from your Masters personal statement…

#1 The bit that you copied from your undergraduate personal statement

If you’re stuck for personal statement inspiration, it can be tempting to reach for the last time you were confronted with the same task – that is (probably) when you applied for your Bachelors degree.

But there’s a big leap between a Bachelors and a Masters, and the purpose of a personal statement is to show that you’re ready for the latter. You should be able to provide evidence of how you’ve grown academically and personally during undergraduate study.

So, if you’ve noticed that your postgraduate personal statement is looking eerily similar to your previous one (or worse, you’ve copied and pasted entire sentences from one to the other), it’s probably time for some redrafting.

#2 Inspirational quotes

Academic study can be challenging, and sometimes we all need a reminder that “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. But as motivating as these words of wisdom might be written on your favourite mug or pinned to your noticeboard, they probably won’t make quite the same impression on your admissions tutor.

It’s also best to avoid quotes from prominent figures in your field. The person reading your application has probably already heard what your favourite author has to say about the power of reading, or the musings of your favourite astrophysicist on the marvels of the universe. They want to hear about your passion for the subject, not someone else’s.

#3 Origin stories

Your personal statement should explain the motivations behind applying for a Masters, but you probably don’t need to paint the picture as far back as the first time you opened a book or held a calculator.

Openers such as “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…” are notoriously overused in personal statements. Giving concrete evidence of your academic credentials and achievements will be much more persuasive than trying to prove that your devotion to your subject predates your first word.

#4 A lengthy list of accolades

While it is important to back up your personal statement with examples, you don’t need to list all your academic qualifications, all the extra-curricular activities you’ve ever participated in or every job you’ve ever had (you should do this in your CV, if your application requires one).

It’s important to be selective with the achievements you showcase – and to explain how they demonstrate your suitability for the course.

#6 Funding requests

We know that funding your Masters is no walk in the park. Universities themselves are a very common source of postgraduate scholarships and bursaries. They will usually list their funding opportunities on their website, and there’s no harm in dropping them an email to discuss your options.

That said, your personal statement is not the place to drop a casual request for funding. It’s no secret that funding is an important issue for prospective postgrad students, but you really don’t want to make it look like your university’s scholarship selection is the main reason you chose to apply.

#7 Lies or exaggerations

It can be tempting to inflate your achievements to make your application stand out, but you may well come to regret it. This doesn’t need to be as grievous as inventing an internship or bumping up your dissertation grade. Even pretending you’ve read the work of a particular academic could come back to haunt you – especially if you end up being invited for an interview.

Not only is making grandiose claims in your personal statement risky, but it’s also unnecessary. All you need to prove is that you’re passionate about your subject and that you’re capable to studying it at postgraduate level – not that you’re already an expert!

This post has covered what not to include in your personal statement. For an overview of what you should include, check out our full personal statement guide.

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