Most students find that starting their personal statement is the hardest part. If your child is struggling to get motivated, encourage them to make a list of all the things they might want to include without worrying whether or not these will be included in the final version. Don’t let them get caught up in trying to think of a catchy opening line - this can be left until much later in the process.
A good way to approach the personal statement is to break it into more manageable chunks. This will make it less daunting and might even help them to structure it. Try using mind-maps, notes, spider diagrams, bullet points (or whatever works best for your child) to help them put pen to paper and get the ideas flowing. We've included an example below.
Don’t panic if your child’s list is looking quite ‘thin’ at the moment – there’s plenty of things they can do during the summer holidays and in the autumn term to help them stand out – check out our blog on ways to help your child stand out.
We always love to hear from you, so do let us know if there are any subjects you’d like us to chat to you about. Stay safe and keep happy, Vanessa and Darius - info@theparentsguideto.co.uk