Writing a Personal Statement for UK Universities - Postgraduate

Three universities - courses in th UK

Dear All, Dear Mary (Holt),

I hope everything is going well with you.

I'm planning to get unconditional offers, for postgraduates, from 3 UK Universities and have made many searches and still have questions that I hope you'll help me with ..

So, my first (1) question is: Since I want to study (Education), is it acceptable to start my personal statement talking about my professional experience in the field, my qualifications/skills, and linking it with the harsh conditions the Palestinian teachers and students live, which encouraged me to choose the course?

Is starting with this and emphasizing on some records to show the need for such course will be considered a "development of my interest in the course"? For example:

"I have been working in the educational and cultural field for five years, during this time, I could ....... . According to the Unicef, the number of students ....., etc

is that okay?

My second (2) question is: If I've chosen the same course in the 3 universities, can I use the same essay taking into consideration universities' modules & facilities singularity? Is it going to appear on the plagiarism tool used by the admissions of the 3 universities?

My third (3) and last question is: When writing my postgraduate personal statement for the universities, Is it okay to use some parts of the same essay I've sent to the scholarship (Chevening)? Like to use the introduction and some parts related to my professional experience and qualifications?

Thanks a lot for your genuine help ..

It sounds to me like you are thinking of applying for the Chevening scholarship. In which case, you should not make any assumptions regarding any information you wish to present because the essays related to the scholarship application all have specific discussion requirements that you have to deliver. Don't present any information that is not being required in the essay. If you can somehow relate your personal experiences to the prompt discussions then that is what you should do. You should always consider the required discussion information for the essay. Do not assume that you know what information to present to the reviewer. Many an applicant have been rejected because of it.

Never use the same essay for all 3 universities. Yes, there will be plagiarism checking. Speak of each university individually based upon the strengths of the core curriculum and your academic pursuits that should align with the program offerings of the university. The 3 universities will have difference sin their program presentations so you have to highlight those differences in every individual essay that you write. Make the essay seem like the university is always your first and sole university choice. Not that it is just one of 3 possible choices.

Like I said, there is the plagiarism problem so it is always best to use an original essay for each university PS and application. Rehashed information could get flagged. The method of vetting essays and applications have changed these days. The essays are now investigated for originality and authorship. In the case of a US application, it gets even stricter because of the "Operation Varsity Blues" college scam that has affected both under and post graduate application processes.

Thanks Mary, but what about the information that relate to (the harsh conditions of students and teachers) which is one of the most important motives to apply for the course, I need to repeat it with the same records, is that alright? will they consider it a plagiarism taking in account I'm the 1 who wrote it already?

Thanks again ..