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Advice on Writing a Strong Personal Statement for Master's Applications

May 14, 2024

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Advice on Writing a Strong Personal Statement for Master's Applications 📝

Introduction

  • Introduction to Tati, currently doing an MSc at King's College.
  • Overview of questions about applying for master’s degrees.

Personal Statement Tips

  • Importance of fitting a lot of information into a short piece of writing (4,000 characters or ~500 words).
  • Tati's reason for choosing to study an MSc in Digital Marketing:
    • Academic interests
    • Career goals
    • Experience from running a brand and small business
  • Structure of a personal statement:
    • Introduction: Clearly state your motivation.
    • Academic Skills: Highlight previous experience, skills gained, and their relevance to the master's course.
    • Work Experience: Link your experience to the course content.
    • Personal Interests: Describe when and how your interest began and evolved.
    • Conclusion: Summarize what you will bring to the university and mention future aspirations.

Importance of Planning

  • Planning: Essential to have a structured plan before writing.
    • Attend university events and help sessions.
    • Create a detailed plan breaking down each section of your personal statement.

Context-Action-Result (CAR) Method

  • Context (C): Where you were and what the circumstances were.
  • Action (A): Why you performed the action and what skills you gained.
  • Result (R): What you achieved and how it will help you in the future.

Research and External Advice

  • Research: Demonstrates genuine interest; know the course content and align your skills with it.
  • Talk to Current Students: Gain insights and feedback.
  • Online Courses and Webinars: Show initiative by pursuing additional learning.

Conclusion and Summary

  • Reinforce your future goals and how the course will help achieve them.
  • Mention any roles you wish to take at the university (e.g., student ambassador).
  • Always be truthful and highlight how your past experience makes you a strong candidate.

General Advice

  • Application Timeline: Start thinking about your application early (e.g., January for September intake).
  • Workload Differences: Master's programs generally have a heavier workload compared to undergraduate degrees but can be more rewarding.
  • Funding: Consider scholarships and postgraduate loans.

Additional Resources

  • Social Media and Podcast: Follow Tati and check out her podcast for more insights.
  • Helpful Tools: Links and resources to aid in your application process.

Typical Day as a Master's Student

  • Wake up early, gym, seminar, reading, lecture content, dinner, more work, and sleep.

Technology

  • iPad vs. Notebooks: Both are fine as long as you put in the work.
  • Productivity: The latest tools won't help if you don't put in the effort.

Funding

  • Scholarships, postgraduate loans, personal savings.

Q&A Highlights

  • Early Application Timing: Apply as early as possible for better chances.
  • Comparison with Undergraduate: Expect more reading, theory-based content, and practical elements depending on the course.
  • Choosing a University: Focus on course content and personal criteria (e.g., diversity, location).
  • Application Process: Typically includes a personal statement, references, certificates, and work samples.

Conclusion

  • Don't hesitate to share your biggest goals and dreams in your application.
  • Demonstrate how you can contribute to the university community.
  • Always back up your claims with evidence and be truthful in your personal statement.

For more information, follow Tati on social media and check out additional resources linked in her video descriptions. Good luck with your applications!

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