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How To Write Your Personal Statement for UAL / LCF

Hello people 🫶

Writing my personal statement has been a struggle; as someone who studied in a different country, I really didn’t know what I was doing.

But I did it ✨ and I’ve been accepted by my dream uni and without an interview!

Before starting: if you have any questions about the Personal Statement or the application process, comment below 🫶

Now, let’s dive into some tips:

• Research:

As general advice, check what your university wants from you. You can find many info on your course webpage! For example, Oxbridge wants to read mainly about your academic career, while UAL would like to know more about your personality.

• Ask for Help:

I reached out to many friends to write my PS. I reached out to a lovely girl who posted about my course on TikTok asking for advice; I reached out to an old friend who studied in the UK to understand the concept of Personal Statement better; and finally, I reached out to several friends to read my final work and listen to their thoughts.

• What YouTube & Read Examples:

You can find different creators on YouTube by typing “UAL personal statement” to gather information and advice. Also, you can research on Google “name of your course + personal statement” to be inspired.

• Check your grammar and your level of writing:

I found different tools to help me write better.

The first one is Grammarly, as you can choose the “academic” option, and click on different filters to reach your goal. The second tool is PaperRates; an amazing tool for checking the quality of your writing.

Read my PS to be inspired and try to analyze its structure:

My devotion to the creative industry stems from my experience as a content creator. I consistently had a strong enthusiasm for fashion, online communication, and innovative ways of conveying messages to the world. My purpose of motivating people and building self-confidence through my words and style pushes me to choose this path.

Throughout high school, I matured an interest in the executive and expressive aspects of businesses, prompting me to switch my course of study from Foreign Languages and take a final high school Diploma in Financial and Marketing Administration. My education in a foreign language module trained me to talk and transmit messages in different languages, particularly English. Additionally, my diploma gave me the necessary business and marketing ability to comprehend various industries. Subsequently, I took a break to understand myself better; during this time, I took different online courses to extend my credentials and familiarity with online marketing, including the " Fundamentals of Digital Marketing " certification through a Google course.

I partook in extracurricular activities, such as being a part of a students ' council, tutoring children in History and Italian, and taking photography classes, which allowed me to set up verbal and non-verbal communication skills with various personalities and age groups. Besides, I joined art and journalism projects in middle schools, like restoring and renovating old objects and creating a school journal. I amplified my teamwork, problem-solving, and time-management skills through these activities.

Later in life, I pursued my interest in fashion and became a fashion content creator. I created and grew a few social media accounts with up to 80000 followers and acquired invaluable learning that can be applied to the marketing and fashion industry. My social media background equipped me to create content that resonates with a target audience, use analytics to track performances, establish relationships with influencers, and create campaigns that attract attention.

I aim to create a more positive presence in online fashion spaces by furthering my studies. As digital marketing has become a key part of the fashion industry, it has caused mental health and self-esteem issues. My struggles with anxiety and social media use have also made me aware of online space ' s effect on individuals. I am eager to take a degree in the online area to bring about meaningful change in the industry and to use my understanding and mastery to create a more positive presence for fashion.

My career history has benefited me in imparting my knowledge about fashion and self-expression from multiple standpoints. For instance, as a hairdresser, I knew how to sell different hairstyles to clients and craft compelling messages to attract customers. As a waitress, I witnessed customer biases and realised how diverse types of attire can be used to make a statement and how to promote the establishment ' s products. Finally, as a retail associate in a museum, I gained insight into how fashion can recount a story and be used to stir emotions and how to market the museum ' s inventory.

The activities, the areas of study I learned, and my work experiences formed me into the person I am today. I currently work part-time in the hospitality industry, honing my oratory and networking skills. I have also launched a Social Media Marketing agency, leveraging my self-studied knowledge of fashion and digital marketing and the affinities I made via my Instagram account. Moreover, my past of moving to other cities during my lifetime can assist my current purpose of a marketing and communication industry career, as I can directly use the wisdom I hold for my future University studies.

#Lemon8Student #LCFStudent #UALStudent #PersonalStatement #universitystudent #universitytips #uniapplication #unitips #universityadvice #L8FashionStudent

I hope it helps at least one fo you 🍋 thank you for reading 🫶

So helpful 🥰

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• Fashion Personal Statement Example

If you’re considering applying to university to study Fashion, this Fashion personal statement example can provide helpful inspiration for your UCAS application.

Fashion Personal Statement

I have always been fascinated by the way fashion can serve as a medium of artistic expression and personal identity. From the bold and pioneering designs of Coco Chanel and Diane von Furstenburg to the contemporary creations of today’s leading designers, fashion has the unique ability to reflect and shape the cultural landscape. In addition to its aesthetic value, I also appreciate the practical aspects of the fashion industry, such as the need for efficient management and marketing to bring a designer’s vision to fruition.

My interest in fashion has been nurtured by my experiences and studies. As a summer intern at Xun Image Management in Hangzhou, China, I had the opportunity to work closely with the head of the company and learn about the role of the professional image consultant. I assisted with projects related to fashion styling, the psychology of colour, and client management. In addition, I have completed a number of courses at the London College of Fashion, including the “Essential Guide to Fashion Business” and the “Fashion Marketing Intensive”. These courses have provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the fashion industry, from its history and key players to the practicalities of retailing, buying, and manufacturing. My studies in art history and photography, as well as my interest in reading fashion magazines and books, have also contributed to my creative development and knowledge of the industry.

My ambition is to use my passion for fashion and my understanding of the industry to make a meaningful contribution. I hope to begin my career as a fashion editor, where I can gain valuable experience and insight into current trends and developments. In the long term, I aspire to run my own personal image consultancy in China, offering my clients the best possible service, including full-image makeovers, style consultations, and advice on colour analysis, makeup, and etiquette. I believe that the LCF course, with its focus on IT, communications, and cultural studies within the context of fashion, would provide me with the ideal foundation for achieving my goals. I am academically capable, enthusiastic, and full of creative ideas, and I am confident in my ability to succeed in the fashion industry. I hope you will consider my application.

My goal is to work as a fashion editor to gain experience and knowledge and eventually establish my own personal image consultancy in China. I am confident in my abilities and eager to pursue a career in fashion.

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• How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber

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The best statements tend to be genuine and specific from the very start. You'll be on the right track if you show your enthusiasm for the subject or course, your understanding of it, and what you want to achieve.

Admissions tutors – the people who read and score your personal statement – say don’t get stressed about trying to think of a ‘killer opening’. Discover the advice below and take your time to think about how best to introduce yourself.

Liz Bryan: HE Coordinator and Careers Advisor, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College

Preparing to write your personal statement.

Start by making some notes . The personal statement allows admissions tutors to form a picture of who you are. So, for the opener, think about writing down things, such as:

• why you’re a good candidate
• your motivations
• what brings you to this course

If you’re applying for multiple courses , think about how your skills, academic interests, and the way you think are relevant to all the courses you've chosen.

Top tips on how to write your statement opener

We spoke to admissions tutors at unis and colleges – read on for their tips.

1. Don't begin with the overkill opening

Try not to overthink the opening sentence. You need to engage the reader with your relevant thoughts and ideas, but not go overboard .

Tutors said: ‘The opening is your chance to introduce yourself, to explain your motivation for studying the course and to demonstrate your understanding of it. The best personal statements get to the point quickly. Go straight in. What excites you about the course and why do you want to learn about it more?’

Be succinct and draw the reader in, but not with a gimmick. This isn't the X Factor. Admissions tutor

2. Write about why you want to study that course

Think about why you want to study the course and how you can demonstrate this in your written statement :

’Your interest in the course is the biggest thing. Start with a short sentence that captures the reason why you’re interested in studying the area you’re applying for and that communicates your enthusiasm for it. Don't waffle or say you want to study something just because it's interesting. Explain what you find interesting about it.’

It's much better to engage us with something interesting, relevant, specific and current in your opening line… Start with what's inspiring you now, not what inspired you when you were six. Admissions tutor

3. Avoid cliches

Try to avoid cliches and the most obvious opening sentences so you stand out from the very first line . UCAS publishes a list of common opening lines each year. Here are just some overused phrases to avoid using in your personal statement:

• From a young age…      
• For as long as I can remember…
• I am applying for this course because…
• I have always been interested in…
• Throughout my life I have always enjoyed…

And try not to use quotes . Quotations are top of the list of admissions tutors' pet hates.

4. Maybe don't begin at the start?

’Concentrate on the main content of your statement and write the introduction last. I think the opening line is the hardest one to write, so I often say leave it until the end and just try and get something down on paper.’

It may be easier to get on with writing the main content of your statement and coming back to the introduction afterwards –that way you will also know what you’re introducing.

I often advise applicants to start with paragraph two, where you get into why you want to study the course. That's what we're really interested in. Admissions tutor

The personal statement tool image

Don’t be tempted to copy or share your statement.

UCAS scans all personal statements through a similarity detection system to compare them with previous statements.

Any similarity greater than 30% will be flagged and we'll inform the universities and colleges to which you have applied. 

Find out more

Joseph bolton: year 2 history& politics student, university of liverpool.

• Do talk about you and your enthusiasm for the subject from the very start.
• Do be specific. Explain what you want to study and why in the first two sentences.
• Do come back to the opening sentences if you can’t think what to write straightaway.
• Don’t waste time trying to think of a catchy opening.
• Don't waffle – simply explain what you find interesting about the subject and show that you know what you are applying for.
• Don't rely on someone else's words. It's your statement after all – they want to know what you think.

One final thought

Think about making a link between your opening sentence and closing paragraph – a technique sometimes called the 'necklace approach’.

You can reinforce what you said at the start or add an extra dimension. For example, if you started with an interesting line about what’s currently motivating you to study your chosen degree course, you could link back to it at the end, perhaps with something about why you’d love to study this further at uni.

Need more advice?

• Struggling with the conclusion to your personal statement? Read our guide on how to finish your statement the right way .
• Read more dos and don’ts when writing your personal statement . 
• Discover what to include in your personal statement .
• Start your opening sentences with our personal statement builder now.

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• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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How to Write a Personal Statement

A personal statement can be a key part of your college application, and you can really make yours shine by following a few tips.

When you're applying to college—either to an undergraduate or graduate program—you may be asked to submit a personal statement. It's an essay that gives you the chance to share more about who you are and why you'd like to attend the university you're applying to.  

The information you provide in your personal statement can help build on your other application materials, like your transcripts and letters of recommendation, and build a more cohesive picture to help the admissions committee understand your goals.

In this article, we'll go over more about personal statements, including why they're important, what to include in one, and tips for strengthening yours.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement—sometimes known as a college essay —is a brief written essay you submit with other materials when applying to college or university. Personal statements tend to be most common for undergraduate applications, and they're a great opportunity for an admissions committee to hear your voice directly.

Many colleges and universities in the US, especially those using Common App , provide prompts for you to use. For example, "Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea" or "Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time" [ 1 ]. If the school you're interested in attending doesn't require prompts, you will likely want to craft a response that touches on your story, your values, and your goals if possible.

In grad school, personal statements are sometimes known as letters of intent , and go into more detail about your academic and professional background, while expressing interest in attending the particular program you're applying to.

Why is a personal statement important?

Personal statements are important for a number of reasons. Whereas other materials you submit in an application can address your academic abilities (like your transcripts) or how you perform as a student (like your letters of recommendation), a personal statement is a chance to do exactly that: get more personal.

Personal statements typically:

Permit you to share things that don't fit on your resume, such as personal stories, motivations, and values

Offer schools a chance to see why you're interested in a particular field of study and what you hope to accomplish after you graduate 

Provide an opportunity for you to talk about past employment, volunteer experiences, or skills you have that complement your studies 

Allow colleges to evaluate your writing skills 

Bring life to a college application package otherwise filled with facts and figures 

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How to write a personal statement.

As we mentioned earlier, you may have to respond to a prompt when drafting your personal statement—or a college or university may invite you to respond however you'd like. In either case, use the steps below to begin building your response.

Create a solid hook .

To capture the attention of an admissions committee member, start your personal statement with a hook that relates to the topic of your essay. A hook tends to be a colorful sentence or two at the very beginning that compels the reader to continue reading.

To create a captivating hook, try one of these methods:

Pose a rhetorical question. 

Provide an interesting statistic. 

Insert a quote from a well-known person.

Challenge the reader with a common misconception. 

Use an anecdote, which is a short story that can be true or imaginary. 

Credibility is crucial when writing a personal statement as part of your college application process. If you choose a statistic, quote, or misconception for your hook, make sure it comes from a reliable source.

Follow a narrative.

The best personal statements typically read like a story: they have a common theme, as well as a beginning, middle, and end. This type of format also helps keep your thoughts organized and improves the flow of your essay.

Common themes to consider for your personal statement include:

Special role models from your past

Life-altering events you've experienced

Unusual challenges you've faced

Accomplishments you're especially proud of

Service to others and why you enjoy it

What you've learned from traveling to a particular place

Unique ways you stand out from other candidates

Be specific.

Admissions committees read thousands of personal statements every year, which is why being specific on yours is important. Back up your statements with examples or anecdotes.

For instance, avoid vague assertions like, "I'm interested in your school counseling program because I care about children." Instead, point out experiences you've had with children that emphasize how much you care. For instance, you might mention your summer job as a day camp counselor or your volunteer experience mentoring younger children.

Don't forget to include detail and vibrancy to keep your statement interesting. The use of detail shows how your unique voice and experiences can add value to the college or university you're applying to.

Stay on topic.

It's natural to want to impress the members of the admissions committee who will read your personal statement. The best way to do this is to lead your readers through a cohesive, informative, and descriptive essay.

If you feel you might be going astray, ensure each paragraph in your essay's body supports your introduction. Here are a few more strategies that can help keep you on track:

Know what you want to say and do research if needed. 

Create an outline listing the key points you want to share.

Read your outline aloud to confirm it makes logical sense before proceeding. 

Read your essay aloud while you're writing to confirm you're staying on topic.

Ask a trusted friend or family member to read your essay and make suggestions.

Be true to your own voice.

Because of the importance of your personal statement, you could be tempted to be very formal with structure and language. However, using a more relaxed tone is better than you would for a classroom writing assignment. 

Remember: admissions committees really want to hear from you . Writing in your own voice will help accomplish this. To ensure your tone isn't too relaxed, write your statement as if you were speaking to an older relative or trusted teacher. This way, you'll come across as respectful, confident, and honest.

Tips for drafting an effective personal statement.

Now that you've learned a little about personal statements and how to craft them, here are a few more tips you can follow to strengthen your essay:

1. Customize your statement.

You don't have to completely rewrite your personal statement every time you apply to a new college, but you want to make sure you tailor it as much as possible. For instance, if you talk about wanting to take a certain class or study a certain subject, make sure you adjust any specifics for each application.

2. Avoid cliches.

Admissions committees are ultimately looking for students who will fit the school, and who the school can help guide toward their larger goals. In that case, cliches can get in the way of a reviewer understanding what it is you want from a college education. Watch out for cliches like "making a difference," "broadening my horizons," or "the best thing that ever happened to me."

3. Stay focused.

Try to avoid getting off-track or including tangents in your personal statement. Stay focused by writing a first draft and then re-reading what you've written. Does every paragraph flow from one point to the next? Are the ideas you're presenting cohesive?

4. Stick to topics that aren't controversial.

It's best not to discuss political beliefs or inappropriate topics in your essay. These can be controversial; ideally, you want to share something goals- or values-driven with an admissions committee.

Polish your writing skills on Coursera.

A stellar personal statement starts with stellar writing skills. Enhance your writing ability with a writing course from a top university, like Good with Words: Writing and Editing from the University of Michigan or Writing a Personal Essay from Wesleyan University. Get started for free to level up your writing.

Article sources

1. Common App. " 2022-2023 Common App Essay Prompts , https://www.commonapp.org/blog/2022-2023-common-app-essay-prompts." Accessed January 9, 2024.

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Welcome to London College of Fashion, UAL where we have been nurturing creative talent for over a century.

Welcome to London College of Fashion, UAL, where we have been nurturing creative talent for over a century. We offer courses in all things fashion, from business to design and fashion curation. With over 60 undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and 165 short courses, our students are collaborators, and together we have the ability to reinvent the fashion industry for the next 100 years.

With our philosophy of open and inclusive education, we encourage students to examine the past and question the present. To develop inventive, assertive ideas that challenge social and political agendas. And we give them the skills, opportunities – and above all, the freedom – to put those ideas into practice.

As well as shaping the leaders of tomorrow, we’re transforming the industry from within. Through boundary-pushing research, we unite design, science, engineering and technology, to redefine fashion. Our Student Enterprise programmes, business incubator, and industry collaborations form a dynamic network to help our enterprising graduates launch and grow businesses.

Now that we have moved to a single purpose built site on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, we’re forging partnerships, opening up opportunities, and creating connections with east London’s schools, community and industry. Part of East Bank, a new culture, education and innovation development, our single-site campus will spark collaboration, experimentation, and inspiration – all under one roof.

In doing so, we’ll continue to pioneer how we all consume and practice fashion. Use fashion business, media and design to shape culture, economics, and society.

And through fashion, shape lives.

Fashion Shapes Lives  

Fashion can change lives. Through teaching, specialist research, and collaborative work, we empower our students to think differently, using fashion to examine the past, build a sustainable future, and improve the way we live.

Fashion Means Business  

Through inspirational teaching we nurture the next generation of creative leaders and thinkers who work in responsible, analytical and ingenious ways. Our strategic commercial partnerships support local and global enterprise. Students benefit from our connections with industry and so does industry.

Fashion Tells Stories  

We nurture every student’s distinctive voice, teaching them how to challenge and define the future of fashion through cutting-edge media approaches across all channels: broadcast, print, digital, interactive, experiential – and experimental.

Fashion Makes Style  

In design, we teach a combination of heritage and radical thinking. Craftsmanship and new technology. Engineering – and in-depth design research. We teach innovative ideas first – and then innovative practice to bring them to life.

Fashion Looks Forward  

Through research, collaboration and experimentation, we explore the frontiers of design and technology, merging them to transform how fashion is made, showcased and sold. And with innovation, help forge a global fashion economy that supports our students and the wider industry – now and in the future.

Our Schools

Fashion Business School

LCF's Fashion Business School enjoys a global reputation for its unique specialist fashion business courses that challenge fashion as an economically and globally important sector; reflecting our commitment to the development of responsible leaders and innovative thinkers.

The School delivers a range of world-leading undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the areas of Fashion Media, Communication and design for Performance. Our students, graduates and staff are driven by values of collaboration, engagement, innovation and activism. We shape the future of our industries through a shared understanding of the body as a creative site.

The School delivers a range of world-leading undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the areas of fashion design and innovation. Our students, graduates and staff are driven by values of collaboration, sustainability and activism – shaping the future of the industry.

Our history

LCF’s move to a new site as part of East Bank signals a new era for this loved West London location, steeped in history. For over a century, Lime Grove has been providing creative education and technical skills to young people.

Cordwainers at London College of Fashion, UAL, originated as an independent Trade School. It became Cordwainers Technical College in 1913 and in 2000 it merged with London College of Fashion. LCF provide two BA Cordwainers courses in footwear and bags and accessories as well as a postgraduate course in footwear.

Meet LCF's 2024 Graduation Ceremony student speakers

Yeu An, Sameen, and Cecile chat about their LCF journey, what inspired their speech, and offer advice for students going into their final year. 

LCF students win first runner-up award at the 2024 Hult Prize

MA Fashion Futures and MSc Applied Phycology students tackle textile waste at this year’s competition.

Past, Present, Future

Discover Past, Present, Future, a collection curated by Sharan Dhaliwal and learn about her journey of building Burnt Roti and Middlesex Pride.

Eduarda Gasparini Ribeiro reveals how people experience beauty and awe in her final project

BSc (Hons) Psychology of Fashion student Eduarda Gasparini Ribeiro talks about her project, “Beauty and Awe in Fashion,” exploring what influences our perceptions of beauty and fashion, and staying optimistic as she transitions into life after

See all stories

LCF Showreel 2020

Find out about LCF's 2020 activity under our four brand pillars

London College of Fashion