damn personal statements

[awk]

Having spent a few years ploughing through piles of the damn things, the experience and maturity of most orienteers applying for uni knocks socks off what I used to see. Aimless travelling abroad, round the world trips etc., don't impress: travel with a purpose like orienteering, does far more. You also get to know your own country pretty well too! The skills the sport engenders, including lifeskills such as independence and self-sufficiency, can be somewhat underrated, mainly because we're used to it. The first time I went through the statements and interviewed, I couldn't get over how immature most of the 18 year old interviewees were compared to the 15-16 year olds I'd been on tour with the previous summer.

Be even prouder of yourself if you've done things other than compete. They all contribute.

I've emphasised the orienteering bit, 'cos I don't know what else you've done, but one of the the important thing is to demonstrate not just that you've done this, that or something else, but that you've learned and developed from the experience, and have skills and knowledge above and beyond the run of the mill.

Sorry if that sounds obvious, but time after time I was presented with a list of things people had done. So what? What mattered was what they had learned from the experiences, and it became fairly obvious that quite a few hadn't.

Hope that helps.

[chrisecurtis]

As someone who reads at least 150 of them a year... don't forget the obvious. Say what you are good at, what you are like as a student and above all don't forget to say things that show you have actually thought about your choice of course and University or College and have read at least one prospectus.

e.g. "It was a hard choice, as I have enjoyed studying the Norman and Tudor periods for A level, but I am sure that modern political and European History is right for me because..."

or

"All my choices are for Campus universities with excellent orienteering clubs. I want to combine student culture with continuing my sport".