Jonathan Tinnacher 8/26/24 Jonathan Tinnacher 8/26/24

Wait… has the UCAS Personal Statement just been scrapped?

Earlier in the summer, just after the schools broke up in England, UCAS made an important announcement about the UCAS Personal Statement.

If you just looked at the headlines, you’d think that the Personal Statement had been banished forever. But in truth the Personal Statement is not being scrapped at all; it’s being reformed and restructured.

And it’s not happening immediately either.

So, what is the truth behind all those misleading headlines?

Jonathan Tinnacher 11/6/23 Jonathan Tinnacher 11/6/23

How to get feedback on your UCAS Personal Statement

So, you’ve had a go at writing your UCAS Personal Statement. The school deadline is looming, and you have no idea whether what you have written is any good.

This is where you need to start looking for some specific help and support. The great news is that there are almost certainly people around to help you.

However, getting feedback is not simple. Knowing who to ask (and when) is not simple. And knowing who’s input to take on board is not simple.

But never fear, I have a few ideas about how to maximise and make the very most of the feedback you can receive, by getting the feedback in a planned manner.

Jonathan Tinnacher 7/10/23 Jonathan Tinnacher 7/10/23

Personal Statements: Not ‘I have to…’ but I ‘get to…’

Every so often I come across an idea so simple and so brilliant, that it changes the way I look at almost everything. For me, this is one of those ideas. And for you, I hope it helps you take your first brave steps in writing your UCAS Personal Statement.

Jonathan Tinnacher 7/3/23 Jonathan Tinnacher 7/3/23

Writing your UCAS Personal Statement using ChatGPT

I’m writing this during a week when hundreds, if not thousands, of schools world-wide will be holding university application weeks for their year 12 students. Right at the centre of these events will be kick-off sessions for writing your UCAS Personal Statements. I wonder how many of these sessions will focus around how to make best use of ChatGPT, and how many will just conveniently ignore it?

Jonathan Tinnacher 6/26/23 Jonathan Tinnacher 6/26/23

What exactly are super-curricular activities, and why should I be bothered?

You’ve all heard of extra-curricular activities; things like sport, games, clubs and community activities that you do outside of your studies. But what about super-curricular activities? Perhaps you’ve heard about these from teachers or advisers, but aren’t really sure what they are all about. If so, read on…