If you’re returning to education as a mature student, then you may be worried about writing your personal statement. Luckily, your work and life experiences will give you lots to write about.
Your application will be a little different to those applying straight from college or sixth form, so we’ve put together some dos and don’ts for your personal statement.
Personal statement dos and don'ts as a mature student
Do focus on your experiences
As a mature student, you have a wealth of experiences that you can write about in your personal statement. Write about the experiences that have made you interested in the course you’re applying for.
Some examples from mature applicants include:
- Experience caring for a family member motivated the applicant to become an adult nurse.
- Working as a receptionist in the construction industry sparked an interest in the Quantity Surveying course.
- Progressing to manager of a retail store taught the applicant about the fashion industry, motivating them to apply to the Fashion Business and Promotion course.
Don’t worry if you don't have as much academic experience, or have been out of education for a while
If you’re completing an Access course, write about what you’ve found interesting so far and what you are looking forward to learning during the rest of the course and at university.
If you’ve been out of education for a while, think about whether you’ve done any research in your own time or if you have any hobbies that have furthered your knowledge on the subject and write about why this interests you and will benefit your future career.
Do explain why you’re applying to university now
Returning to education after a break is a big decision to make, so explain why you’ve decided to do it now. As a mature student, you probably have something that has motivated you to apply now. Admission tutors love to see motivation and drive, so explain why now is the best time for you to succeed on your course.
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Be inspired by real personal statement examples from our students.
Don’t underestimate yourself or the time commitment needed for university
Being a mature student means you have probably developed skills a lot of younger students may not have yet. Don’t underestimate the resilience and commitment it takes to return to education when you may have other commitments such as work, children and bills to pay.
Show that you understand the time commitments of university and the self-motivation that will be required from you.
Do focus on the skills needed for your course
Each course will require different skills and as a mature student, you’ve had more time to develop these transferable skills. Perhaps an experience at work taught you the teamwork or problem-solving skills required for your course. Maybe you balance a job alongside studying or re-taking a course at college, which has taught you good time management skills. Whatever it is, focus on the skills you’ve gained in your time away from education and how they will help you in your studies and future career.