September is here, and with students heading back to school, it’s time for a whole new cohort to apply to university.

If you’re one of these aspiring candidates, you may feel nervous (or even total panic!) at the prospect of writing your personal statement—but not to worry.

Drafting your personal statement is a task that can be broken down into clear, manageable steps, and this post is to help you take the first step towards writing a complete first draft.

Step 1: Quick Brainstorming Activities

As a first step, take 20 minutes to do these five brainstorming activities with short answers and mind maps.

You can use pen and paper, or jump on a device and start a digital note or file.

Be quick and instinctive with your responses, and write in bullet points for ease.

1. [SHORT ANSWER]
What subject(s) do you want to study at university?

2. [MIND MAP]
What do you LOVE about this/these subject(s)? Map 3-5 aspects for each subject.

3. [QUICK LIST]
List 5 academic and/or extracurricular activities you’ve engaged in that have helped prepare you for university studies and life—don’t say why or how yet.

For activity ideas, consult my Key Experiences lists.

4. [NOTES]
Next to each one of your 5 listed activities, briefly note the insight(s) or skill(s) that activity gave you.

5. [SHORT ANSWER]
In 2-3 sentences, state why you think you would make a good student of this/these subject(s).

What you’ve got

Success! In completing these activities, you now have a set of notes outlining:

1.     Your intention
2.     Your passion
3.     Your experience
4.     Your skills
5.     Your candidacy

If you need help with any of these activities, or would like to work with me to write your personal statement, feel free to DM my Instagram, or drop me an email at katie.musgrave@gmail.com.