I have to write a personal statement for a university application...
i was wondering if there are any university lecturers or teachers that could give me some pointers/constructive criticisms.
also if there are any students that have recently written one and wish to share it with me i would be grateful.
thanks Aidan (B.A.D) :D

Wrote mine a couple of years ago but the best thing I was told to do was to mention the subjects I was taking/places I worked/hobbies I took part in etc etc then briefly explain what each taught me and then relate those 'lessons' to my intended course at university.. Basically I was saying why what I'm doing now makes me a good candidate for said course..

What do you intend to study?

cut and paste this:

"me name iz aidan innit i lik playin gta4 an fotbal (man u!!) my bruvver got dun 4 nives an my mum say I gotta aply for sum batty college so i aint gonna end up liek sum muppet innit"

hahaha

cheers wibble. thanks for the advise.
i'm going to be so careful to avoid cheesy, cliche statements,i know theres not a lecturer out there that whats to read that shit. ...its probably going to take me years. :D

i'm applying for a foundation in animation at LCC.

Arsenal!

Yeah, best thing to do is try to be inventive.. Good luck!

being an art based course i'm sure creativity is what they're after...
i might just animated the personal statement :D

Do it..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuTHdzSJz4c

Write something from the heart, goes allot further than any generic trite wank any of us could tell you to do, just ask RPM to check your grammar, innit.

ha! i love jerry Jackson...
"this is my chocolate friend" :D

umm...the last thing i want to do is write something "generic".i'm just looking for a bit of guidance.

You should say (creative or not): What you've done, what you want to do, what they school can offer you, what you like about the school (that's not directly related to what you'd gain personally form it).

There's probably more you should say too, but I think you need at least that stuff.

+1 to the above, but also include the WHY of what you want to do, i found that art schools tend to like an interesting or thoroughly heartfelt impetus or drive as much as they like interesting work.

thanks guys.

PM'd you.

PM'd you back! :)

yeah wot he said.
try to put accross your desire/want etc to go to the college and your enthusiasm for the subject.
when i went for my interview to do my btec in design (instead of a foundation) the tutor basically said in the interview that i wasn't really up to standard and needed to work on a few things before re-applying (i was applying a year early). he asked me what i was going to do as i hadn't got on the course. straight away my reply was "i'll be here next year".
he then said that i could go on the reserve list and i finally got a place.

Hi Aiden,

Sounds like a great opportunity ahead, LCC has got a good reputation. I set up a professional practice unit at an ok art college (after I was SU Vice-President for a year, nearly killed me), setting up seminars on themes like this. I could look over your statement if you'd like, or dig out some presentation notes or pdf's we used to use.

It's normally a case of window dressing and highlighting the bleedin' obvious!

you should add that you're a great team player.

hey. send a draft to me and i'll have a look. let me know what course and where, and i'll go over it. i teach at CSM.

just staple a couple of £20 notes to it ;)

that will work as well!

they have to read so many of the bloody things.. you need something that will stand out. and i would say that just being truthful is your best bet.

show that you are keen and motivated, and have some relevent experience. Also that you have hobbies outside of the field (not drinking/shopping though)..

good luck!

thanks for the comments...
chopsicle & Hovis: thank you so much for the offer...i'm going to have the best personal statement ever!
Pete: thats what worries me,i don't want to be a name on a list...i want them to want me :D
Gary: thanks for the comment...i'll be sure to express my confidence in a 'non-arrogant' way.if i get a chance to speak to someone i'm sure i'll be able to work my magic if not a score should do it.
Gabes: thanks :)

you're welcome.

Up the Arz, innit? Wikkid man.

aidan: i'll be off to portugal on sunday, so i probably won't have internet access there. i'll be happy to look at the draft (and i just realised you already posted where and what you'll be studying), if you can pm it to me before sunday.

on the UCAS clearing page it said there were spaces on the FDA Animation course but on LCC's site it said nothing.yesterday i thought i would just call them and see what was going on,i spoke to this guy who said he wasn't sure but he would take my details and pass them on to the head of the course.
while riding home from work today i got a message from the head of the course requesting i phone him back...i tried but couldn't get through.

good news though...must mean he's interested.i must say i'm quite happy. :D

nice one fella

well done aidan

Lasse Gjertsen's application to animation school:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ncOAJpr3n0

top stuff aidan

remember though (I know you will!) that for art/design courses your personal statement is just a hook. If they've got spaces to fill right now for this year, they're likely to see you - and then it's all about what you can show them, so make sure your portfolio/showreel is ready to go. It doesn't have to be slick, but it does have to be interesting and make them want you. It's miles more important than the personal statement, and then you get to tell them in person how much you want to be there. good luck!

thanks guys...
tomasito: thats a wicked animation.i was thinking (while in the bath) about knocking up an animation to explain myself...i was thinking more about cycling.i'm looking forward to creating the cycling motion :D
estelle: thanks for the advice.all i need is a foot in the door...theres no getting rid of me after that.except if the police turn up.