UCAS Personal Statement "don'ts"

UCAS has published a list of Top 10 overused and cliched phrases students use in their Personal Statements.

• From a young age I have (always) been ...
• For as long as I can remember I have ...
• I am applying for this course because ...
• I have always been interested in ...
• Throughout my life, I have always enjoyed ...
• Reflecting on my educational experience ...
• XX is a very challenging and demanding (career/profession/course) ...
• Academically, I have always been ...
• I have always wanted to pursue a career in ...
• I have always been passionate about ...

UCAS said it had released the information to encourage applicants to "convey a connection with the subject" in language that made them stand out. Their chief executive, Mary Curnock Cook, said: "The Personal Statement is supposed to be personal. Learning to write about yourself in a compelling way is a vital skill when applying for jobs; using hackneyed phrases is not the best way to stand out.