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Top tips for a successful personal statement

There is no doubt that writing a personal statement is a challenging and daunting task. With no specific formula to follow, and no 'correct answer', its difficult to know how to begin. All because this written piece is solely dedicated to you, and it may seem an impossible task to cram all the complexities and nuances that make you your own person into one single sheet of paper.

There is a straightforward response to these challenges. Rather than construct a personal statement which tries to do too much, keep your direction and focus simple.

There are two focal areas upon which you might build the body of a successful personal statement:

1. What are your motivations?

Your motivation for choosing the particular course is key. Think about why you picked this course, and where you want to get to. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• What are your aspirations?
• Why are you passionate about your chosen subject?
• What is it that drives you? What are your interests?
• Are you looking for a change in career?
• Would this course help you to achieve your goals?

Remember, the more personal to you, the better.

2. What is your relevant previous experience?

Your previous experience is relevant, whether it is in your chosen field or not. Consider what it is that equips you to be a suitable candidate. What are your current skills, and how can your they be adapted and extended to suit the demands of an online masters in your chosen field? Make sure you include your prior experiences of higher education. It is valuable to ground your personal statement with more information about your qualifications – what was your experience in gaining these? Rather than simply repeating the information from your CV think about how this makes you an ideal candidate.

The bottom-line is – as long as you demonstrate the reasons for your passion in this course (your motivation), alongside the factors which make you a good candidate (your experience), you are well placed to write a successful personal statement.

Here are our top tips to consider

International students, think about your use of english language.

It is important to include evidence of your day-to-day use of English language if English is not your first language. Perhaps you could situate this evidence alongside details of your current role, or other jobs and previous experience which may have required or involved the use of English. This way, you tick two things off the list, and prove that you are a suitable candidate to study your course of choice.

Why online?

Remember to state your reasons for your motivation to specifically study online. Will this course support your ongoing career? Do you wish to continue with personal projects or commitments whilst completing your degree? Perhaps your learnings from the course can be immediately put into action through your current role or situation. Or maybe studying on-campus at the University of Bath is not viable due to location. Whatever your grounds for deciding to study online, this information helps to establish why you would be a credit to the University of Bath’s online alumni community.

Why the University of Bath?

Another crucial aspect of your personal statement are your reasons for choosing the University of Bath. What is it that first attracted you to Bath? Amongst other factors, the quality of teaching and the leading research are all incentives to study at an institution with a world-class reputation. The global recognition that Bath receives from employers in a range of different sectors may have played a role. Even though these seem like obvious points, it is important to include the reasons behind your choice.

Think about the curriculum

Take this opportunity to explain your interest in specific units from the course and why you would be suited to study them. Some of the most successful personal statements go into depth about a niche subject which is of interest (and which relates to the chosen course). The more particular to you, the better. This is a chance to share an idea of what form your research may take, what pathway particularly excites you, and what you are passionate about.

Just remember, the personal statement is part of an overall effort to display your motivation for studying a course, and your experience which substantiates your interest, and identifies you as a successful candidate.

To conclude, here are three questions which you can use to construct your personal statement if you are struggling to make a start:

• What drives you, and will ensure your engagement throughout the length of the course?
• What experience informs your knowledge of the field and/or equips you with solid foundations upon which to develop research or skills during the masters?
• What do you hope to achieve from the masters – i.e. what goals will this course enable you to fulfil?

Simply summarise your passion for learning, express your reasons for choosing the University of Bath’s online course, and display your suitability. In turn, you will be set to succeed.

If you would like to discuss your personal statement further, a member of our admissions team would be happy to discuss this. Contact the team by completing the form below.

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Independent Educational Consultants Association

Passion and purpose in the architecture personal statement.

By Evan Forster, MFA, IECA (NY)

No matter what name it goes by—statement of purpose, statement of interest, or plain old personal statement—architecture school statements are challenging. They often want you to cover a whole lot of information in only 500 words. For instance, Columbia University’s prompt last year was: In a statement of approximately 500 words, describe your background, your past work in your intended field of study, and your plans for graduate study and a professional career . All of that in only 500 words or less? No wonder my candidate Kara, an aspiring architect, had called me in a panic.

“So by ‘background’ do they mean my entire life story plus all of my work, school, and internship experiences?” Kara, wired on venti Americanos, asked. “It says ‘personal’—does that mean I should tell them about my parents’ divorce?”

Here’s the thing: It is important that after the admissions committee has read your statement of purpose, they feel that they know who you are. They need to know what you want to do (your goal)—Kara’s was opening her own “green” architecture firm one day—why this is important to you, what you have done thus far in regards to pursuing that goal or taking an interest in the subject matter, and what you still have left to learn and explore. And right there is the outline for your entire 500-word statement of purpose.

The break down:

Paragraph 1: This is where you get personal. No, this doesn’t mean empty the contents of your diary. This means write about the moment you realized you wanted to pursue your goal. In Kara’s case it was when her family moved from a sprawling home in Greenwich, Connecticut, to a 1,200-square-foot apartment in Manhattan. She found herself wishing she could move the walls around and reconfigure the space to be more open. There! She had her “ah-hah!” moment—the moment she realized that architecture would be a part of her life. This is the type of specific moment that all candidates should search for and write about.

Why? Graduate programs want students who are passionate about what they want to do, not students who are just looking to avoid the real world for another few years. This is your opportunity to show the school why you want this.

Paragraph 2: What have you done thus far to pursue your interest in architecture? Did you explore classes in college? Did you take art or art history classes? When you studied abroad, did you take an active interest in the city’s architecture? This is an opportunity to discuss specific classes you have taken as well as experiences—talk about a particular professor you’ve learned from or clubs you started or joined. Discuss internships or observation hours. But, as I told Kara, do not simply list them; you don’t want to regurgitate your resume (remember, they have it!). Tell the school what’s not on your resume. Dig down deep and discuss specific moments within that internship where you’ve learned something significant and how you plan to apply what you learned.

Why? Graduate schools want students who have already been seeking knowledge.

Paragraph 3: Why do you want to go to grad school? What do you still have left to learn? Discuss skills that still need development or improvement. Kara was looking to strengthen her foundation and design skills with a master’s in architecture. She was also interested in expanding her knowledge of technology and how she could use it in the design process in order to achieve greater innovation. So look at your goals, and then ask, “What do I need to get better at in order to improve my chances of achieving my goal?”

Now here’s the part where Kara asks, “But, don’t I want to appear confident? Won’t it make me look weak to admit that I still have stuff to learn?”

No. Schools want students who are self-aware, who know their strongest and weakest areas. Kara needed to show the school that she knows what she needs to work on and what experiences she needs to gather in order to accomplish her goal. This also demonstrates that she actually will benefit from graduate school—and proves to the school even more that she is a serious candidate.

Paragraph 4: The school-specific portion of your essay addresses why Columbia, specifically. Here it is important to be extremely specific to show enthusiasm for a particular school. Do your research on classes, professors, and clubs, and discuss how they will help you accomplish your goal.

Why? The candidate must prove their desire to go to the school. Being specific about the school demonstrates Kara’s ability to research and gain knowledge—good traits for a prospective student. Additionally, when she got that interview—she had lots to discuss.

Final paragraph: Finish with a few short sentences about how Columbia is going to help you achieve your goal—and how you will contribute to Columbia—to change the planet (by using your master’s in architecture).

Kara, who is now at Columbia, called me the other day. She was still drinking a venti Americano, but this time she was excited—not panicked. She had just interviewed for an internship at a prestigious New York “green” architecture firm and wanted to tell me she had nailed it. And she had applied the work we had done together almost a year ago. She researched the firm, was specific about what she could contribute to its office environment, and communicated clearly to the interviewers how gaining experience at their firm was in line with her long term goals.

Evan Forster can be reached at [email protected]

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My Guide on Personal Statements: A Last-Minute Flash of Flair

Posted in: Personal Statements , School of Management

A ceaseless civil war. That was my state of mind during November 2020. Being pulled between thousands of potential universities and courses was an increasingly difficult decision as the deadlines for final applications marched ever closer. Yet, the facts remained – I had to have written a dazzling personal statement illustrating my greatest strengths and achievements within a week. A herculean task. Luckily, my best work has always been produced under pressure.

When starting a personal statement, considering your target degree is essential. All life experiences and ongoing ambitions have led you towards this University course and it is crucial the link between each is established. A motif of your passion consistently enforced throughout the text always paints you in a favourable light for said selected course. I found this no different for the School of Management and my personal interest for Business. A multitude of my weaker entries had been discarded to the recycle bin prior to this realisation, indicating a degree of planning was a prerequisite for this statement. Initially, I brainstormed a variety of positive aspects of the business world I admire (for example its international utility) followed up with personal traits or aspirations which go hand in hand – sowing the ideal seeds of a budding business major. Utilising a variety of grammatical techniques to devise a beguiling opening paragraph, I had established a list of my connections with the business world accompanied by a descriptive façade.

Moving onto the main body, distinguishing yourself from the competition is critical. Delve into your past and vomit all your education, extracurricular activities, and work experience onto the page – conveying your uniqueness and individuality. Lying at this stage will drive you into a minefield later hence I advise staying truthful and maintaining a passion for the subject when describing your history, making links wherever possible. I consistently sliced between my sentences; adding business terminology or how I was motivated to make my decisions to reach the end goal of a position within the Bath School of Management. My intentions had aligned with this goal therefore it was necessary for history to be properly represented as this was truly my one and only shot at getting into Bath.

I structured my personal statement core into 3 sectors: education, activities/interests, and volunteering/work. Initially with education, I wrote backwards chronologically, explaining my A-levels individually and other experiences at the time of sixth form. I then followed up with a summarised view of my 5 years in secondary school – selecting any relevant events which could be associated with business. Following this, I laid a strong foundation of extracurricular activities and varied interests to give a broader insight into my character and personality. It is important to note universities judge from a human aspect as well as numbers from an exam. Then to cap off the bulk of my statement, I flourished my extended time in areas of volunteering and part-time jobs which ensured Bath were aware of my independence and capabilities prior to joining university. This is where I felt I conveyed the majority of my identity therefore making it the most important piece

Many would argue a concluding paragraph is essential for a personal statement. I found mine was sufficient with a simple sentence. An optimistic statement leaving the ball in the recipient’s court, embracing that your future is in their hands. At this point you should have included all you can, and if you as a candidate haven’t caught their eye, there is little a conclusion can do to change that. Upon proofreading should you feel doubtful on the charismatic nature of your piece, I would advise scrutinizing your CV and siphoning all the experience you can that solidify you as a stronger candidate. Additionally, my passion for business as well as my descriptive and captivating writing style didn’t falter throughout the statement – adhering back to the adage “consistency is key”.

Satisfied with the final copy, I distributed my statement to universities across the country as the final sands of the hourglass drained out – most notably the Bath School of Management. Days, weeks, and months passed as I fretted over the unknown path that lay ahead of me. Finally, results day came to pass in the form of judge, jury and executioner casting a monstrous shadow over me and the following 4 years. I was met with an unfortunate array of grades, narrowly missing the steep entry requirements of Bath. Disillusioned, I scanned my UCAS page before a miraculous line of text caught my eye. “Accepted into the University of Bath for Business with Professional Placements”. An ecstatic moment where against the odds I had achieved my goal. Consequently, since Results Day, I have maintained the hypothesis that a compelling personal statement holds as much weight as a bundle of admirable grades as I believe mine saved me from my insurance choice.

Henceforth, I hope anyone reading may find some of my tips useful, as they certainly helped me.

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10 Tips on Personal Statements (for Architect Students)

Gone are the days when prospective students applying to architecture schools get away with merely submitting an application form and a high school transcript.

Whether you are applying for entry into a pre-professional Bachelor of Science or Art (B.Sc. or B.A.) majoring in architecture, or the professional Bachelor of Architecture or Master of Architecture, chances are submitting a personal statement is necessary alongside your design portfolio.

But you could be apprehensive about the task of writing a personal statement as the requirement does not come with clear guidelines, unfortunately.

It is usually just one piece of A4-size word document, but a mighty powerful one at that – second only to your design portfolio – as it represents your voice in the eyes of the admissions evaluator.

It is essential to impress the school and show off your skills and suitability all in one place.

Here are some useful tips to get you started:

1. Give Yourself Enough Time

Probably one of the most valuable tips that you can get when it comes to personal statements is to start early.

Give yourself enough time to write your statement.

Research examples of architecture personal statements. Use one which you think is suitable as a reference but never copy.

Ask your current teachers or people in your life for feedback. If you are the only person reviewing your statement, you risk not knowing what it is missing.

2. Understand What the Statement is Asking For

There is no shame in asking for someone to read the question for you, which could help you understand it better. It could be as simple as “Tell us why you want to study architecture,” or “What would you gain from your experience at our school?”

Either way, a personal statement from a prospective architecture student is to convince the admissions evaluator that you deserve a place in their program.

Competition for entry is fierce, and you want to stand out by being yourself – no two persons are alike. So again, don’t merely copy one you found online for free; tweak and add your voice to it.

3. Introduce Yourself

No. Don’t start by saying, “I am (name), and I come from (birthplace). These are standard information already stated in your application form.

Give the school an insight into your personality and how you would add value to their community of young, budding architects.

Are you ambitious? Have any hobbies? Artistic? Work well in a team?

It does not matter what it is, as long as it helps you stand out from others. Writing a personal statement is not the time to be shy about the qualities you bring to the table – write to impress!

4. Craft Skills You Learned

You can write about the extra classes you took outside your school syllabus and how they relate to architecture.

Perhaps you’d enrolled in an oil painting or a woodworking class. Great, add it in!

But don’t just state those skills you picked up matter-of-factly. Go into the details of the intricate crafts you learned in making a piece of art or a unique solution you achieve by applying a tweak to a standard method.

Better still, point the evaluator to the piece you have included in your portfolio. Such cross-referencing can help reinforce the engagement between the evaluator and your application.

5. A Memorable Vacation

You have been to places and experienced different cultures.

Pick one that is rich architecturally, and elaborate on how your experience of walking through an ancient city or a modern architectural wonder made you want to be an architect.

6. Any Work Experience You’ve Got Under Your Belt

If you’ve got quite a bit of work experience, it is crucial to only talk about the relevant experiences that will help set you apart from the other applicants.

Write about something that shows no added value, and the evaluator would lose interest quickly. An architectural technician work experience role would be perfect for showing the school you know exactly what you are doing.

7. Talk about the future

Who exactly do you want to be when you leave architecture school?

Touch on why you want to study at a particular school and how the degree will help you with your future career. Let them know that you’ve got a whole plan set out, and you are determined to achieve it.

8. Don’t sound too academic

Remember, while you want your writing to sound professional, you don’t want it to sound like you have swallowed a thesaurus.

Too many students make this mistake while writing their personal statement, and it is very obvious to the person reading.

Authenticity over everything!

9. Check for Grammatical Errors

This tip is oft-repeated for any writing exercise, but it does not hurt to remind yourself how important this is.

Especially if you are an international student and English is not your first language, have a second pair of eyes proofread your statement.

A grammatical error-filled personal statement can be a real turn-off for the admissions evaluator.

10. Be Yourself

It may sound cliché but writing an excellent personal statement for an architecture school application is really about you.

In your absence, the personal statement represents you, and you want to make sure that it is precisely that.

There is no right or wrong in a personal statement; it is about the things that are uniquely you.

After writing the personal statement, you can start to apply to your school of choice using the complete set of architecture school application documents .

Tips: Undergraduate Personal Statements

Things to remember when writing your ucas personal statement.

We hear from our Admissions staff about their top tips for writing a UCAS personal statement:

Undergraduate Personal Statement Tips from University of Bath on Vimeo .

Our Admissions staff give their top tips for writing a UCAS personal statement

Undergraduate Personal Statement Tips:

Why do you want to study here? Get your passion across!

Have you researched your subject? E.g. additional reading, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), Welsh Bacc or work experience.

Keep it relevant - at least 80% of the content should academic. Any hobbies or interests can go in the final 10–20% of the personal statement, but these should still be relevant to the subject.

Write reflectively. What have you learnt from your reading or experiences you’ve had? How does this apply to the course?

Write it, check it, write it again! Be prepared to have many drafts and an objective pair of eyes, such as a teacher or parent, to check it for you.

What should I not do? Do not list universities by name, use jokes or clichés or list information already stated in other parts of your application, such as A level subjects.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

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If you have any questions or would like more information please contact us.

Outreach Team

Sample Architecture Personal Statement (admitted to Cambridge, Cornell, Yale)

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In personal statement samples by field.

The following personal statement is written by an applicant who got accepted to top graduate programs in architecture. Variations of this personal statement got accepted at Cambridge, Cornell, and Yale. Read this essay to understand what a top personal statement in architecture should look like.

Here is the personal statement of the Architecure Student.

I am not particularly fond of tea. However, while working in the Northern regions of XYZ, I realized that sharing a cup of tea was considered a symbol of gratitude by its hospitable populace. This simple gesture transcended the commonplace and made our work for the community all the more personal.

For several weeks I shared many cups of the sugary beverage while volunteering with the Heritage Foundation constructing homes for the people of the XYZ. Their entire dwellings had been destroyed by the floods, and it came to us, a group of young architecture students, to revive this once-thriving community.

The process from etching the lines of chalk for the Women’s Community Centre to seeing it constructed into a beautiful bamboo building to be used for gainful employment is one that affected me deeply. The structures we built stand supported throughout the seasons, representing the enduring strength of the people of the XYZ. By helping to re-establish an entire community affected by an unprecedented natural calamity, I became aware of the power of architectural design to incite social change. Also, the focus on sustainable structures made me realize how designers need to focus on the available resources and capacities of the community they are involved in.

This experience was pivotal in realizing the path I wanted to take as an architect. My fascination with creating and manipulating space, seen from an early age by my experimentation with a Wendy Tent, went to the root of my desire to become an architect. Furthermore, the stories I had heard growing up about my ancestral home in XYZ, a city known for its scorching heat; as well as my childhood divided between XYZ, a country oblivious to any form of energy deficiency, and XYZ, a country struggling with shortages in resources have all served to underscore how design needs to adapt and address the social issues of its environment. This instilled within me a desire to work towards making my homeland self-sustaining.

To channel my proclivity, I applied to the country’s top architecture school, and my joy, I was accepted. During my five years at the XYZ, I studied the fundamental nature of the architectural design. I found its intricacies to be a maze that beckoned alluringly to me. Elected as the Vice President of the Architecture Students’ Association, I was in a position to influence how students would perceive architecture. I led the team representing XYZ and XYZ at the National Architectural Student Convention held in XYZ.

My team was honored with the prestigious Citation Prize for the Rubens Trophy. This victory awarded our design from amongst those submitted from more than a hundred universities. It proved to be a tremendous boost to my belief in achieving the career goals that I had set for myself. It also allowed me to develop a global understanding of architectural design. The following year, I volunteered to go to XYZ, an experience that left an indelible mark on my mind.

I returned with vigor to realize architecture’s power in shaping my community and channeled my motivation into my thesis project. I managed to study the overwhelmingly bustling historic urban center of XYZ and analyzed its context, which resulted in providing macro-level sustainable design solutions. A culmination of my efforts and passion, this project was awarded an ‘honors’ in my thesis.

I followed through with my academic goals by seeking employment at a firm that avidly incorporates sustainability in its design practices. After working at SR Design Works, I was reassured of the practical applications of the theoretical knowledge I attained as part of my undergraduate degree. Furthermore, with a conscious desire to be part of responsible design practices, I became associated with upcoming advocates of green building design. However, at the same time, I also grew aware that to achieve my aims, I would need further education.

While working on individual projects which incorporated the principles of sustainable design, I was exposed to the prospective benefits as well as the limitations of those principles. In light of this nexus, it was apparent that I needed further education to explore all its potential advantages.

Another hurdle I had to overcome in a predominantly patriarchal society like XYZ was to hold my own and work on an equal footing with various people, from clients to retailers; colleagues to contractors. This aspect of my character can be attributed to my mother, who raised my brother and me while working full-time as a real estate agent. She taught me to be independent and not to treat my gender as a disability. I have taken her wisdom to heart and have dared to dream of rising to the zenith in my field.

I realize that many architectural designs in XYZ fail to communicate with their environmental and social context, thus creating more hindrances for its inhabitants rather than presenting solutions. My experience in architecture has made me realize the necessity of greater responsibility and sensibility in building structures in XYZ. I greatly believe in XYZ potential and aim for this country to be a forefront practitioner of sustainable architecture.

I aim to practice sustainable architectural design in its true essence and promote green practices that can help build communities, hopefully sharing many more cups of tea in the process.

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Personal statement example architecture personal statement.

Submitted by Thomas

Study Architecture at Staffordshire

Challenge existing assumptions about Architecture and learn about how the cities of the future will look!

Architecture Personal Statement

From a young age, I knew that I would pursue a career in design. Whether it was creating and designing my flawless dream car or producing my own handcrafted mechanical paper guns; scissors, a roll of cello-tape, and a set of colouring pencils were the main tools that never left my hands. However, it was only until recently that I decided to guide my career path in the direction of Architecture .

Having completed a work experience placement at McCready Architects, one of Northern Ireland's leading architectural practices, I acquired vital knowledge and experience of what its really like to work as a professional Architect . In the office, I was given the opportunity to use ArchiCAD, a specialist CAD package used to produce 3-dimensional sketches of structures and buildings. This was the highlight of my work experience as I was able to apply the CAD skills I gained from my A-Level Technology and Design course, and put them into practice. I learnt that there is a lot more to being an Architect than just design. Overall, this was a great opportunity as it highlighted to me the practical side, as well as the technical side of the profession, and gave me an insight into the life of an Architect.

My interest in Architecture became focused last year when I went on a weekend trip to London. Here, I was given to chance to observe and appreciate the outstanding, beautiful structures and buildings that the city had to offer. Canary Wharf, was the most thrilling part of the trip for me. Its modern, futuristic style opened my eyes to the skill and craftsmanship behind the jaw-dropping structures and buildings the area had to offer.

The modern side of Architecture especially appeals to me, however, this trip also gave me a chance to admire many of the historical monuments and landmarks such as Big Ben and St Paul's Cathedral. Seeing the difference between the styles in the various parts of the city sparked something within me, a desire to pursue a career in Architecture. As well as studying for my A-levels, it is important to me to have a good balance between working hard in school and other extra-curricular activities. One of my favourite things to do in my spare time would definitely be playing the drums.

As well as playing along to my favourite bands, I am presently working towards gaining my grade 8 qualification. I have had the opportunity to play at many recitals for the Lisburn School of Music, and an Open Day for my school. Playing in a band with other members is quite a challenge but helps me display my coordination skills and work effectively with other band members to put on a top performance. I would also consider myself quite an active person as I play hockey for my school's 1st XI. Playing hockey not only keeps me fit, but has also helped me gain and improve my communication and team-working skills which are important attributes needed on and off the pitch. Being in the sixth form and realising that it is important to set a good example, I put myself forward and was elected as a school Prefect. This gives me the responsibility to look out for the younger pupils so they can see me as a figure they can look up to. These are key qualities that would serve me well for this course.

I would love to pursue a career in Architecture because it will allow me to bring together all of my strengths; determination and a growth mindset, enthusiasm and a positive attitude, creativity and a fascination for the field of art. Studying Architecture is a prospect that I am looking forward to and I am very excited for the wide array of career opportunities that this course will offer me. My dream is to be behind a structure or design that people will one day stop to admire.

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Architecture personal statement example 10.

A pencil, ruler and rubber or perhaps a sharpener from time to time; those were the essential tools which followed me around as a child whilst I imagined, designed and drew my perfect, dream house (which was obviously and most tastefully pink throughout!!). So it was inevitable that I would pursue a career in design. However, it was only until recent experiences that I narrowed that choice down to becoming an architect.

Being a fully committed art student I've neither lacked creativity, nor the knowledge or history of previous architectural art forms and buildings, as architecture itself, is based around innovative ideas, aesthetics and ingenuity, it naturally became a subject of interest to me. For instance, whilst in midst of my A2 personal study for Art and Design I decided to compare two artists from different movements those being the Art Deco movement, heavily influenced by Bauhaus buildings and architecture along with the Art Nouveau movement, which commenced with the ornamental floral patterns of William Morris.

Last year, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit Glasgow and hence appreciate Rene Mackintosh’s Art Nouveau souvenirs, gaining inspiration from the influential Glasgow School of Art, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum as well as Princes Square. It was like a dream.

Along with the aesthetical side to architecture, I have also understood the more logical side. This was due to a small work experience placement with Simon Janes, a local self employed architect who had acquired a lot of attention and business over the last few years. Despite the fact that his entry route into the world of architecture was slightly askew in comparison with what I had in mind, he was still successful. I built up an array of knowledge and experience, having heard and witnessed the many challenges of the profession.

For example demanding clients (hopefully those polished people and communication skills I have obtained from working at the post office will support me here), late hours, building codes and law, the logic of engineering and mathematics and even the management of the business at times; were all skills that I picked up whilst working along side Mr Janes.

It was a great experience to witness the progression of so many buildings, including; beautiful houses, apartments and office blocks. Having played a part in the creation of something so beneficial, yet so striking would surely be the best feeling in the world? The feeling that you contributed to someone’s dreams.

Having a father in the field of property development has played a vital role in my career decision. Through his experiences and knowledge of properties, I realised that pragmatics comes hand in hand with aesthetics in architecture.

On a day to day basis i assist him in not only imagining and designing, but managing and estimating all costs, time schedules, construction control, obtaining planning permission, leasing whilst working with architects as well as urban planners, estate agents, builders, surveyors and engineers, so that perfect properties are created for his tenants.

He led me to the conclusion that dreams are the foundations for success, but one can only build success with creativity and logic, especially when art can be so subjective! So, what better way to share my passion for architecture than to help create those dreams for others? After all, “An architect is the drawer of dreams" - Grace McGarvie

Profile info

This personal statement was written by dhillon92 for application in 2010.

dhillon92's Comments

It was a success... I love writing anyway so I found it quite easy to write this... but they loved it said it was well organised/creative/persuasive/clear and they liked my theme of dreams....

Related Personal Statements

Omg your too talented how did.

Thu, 10/02/2011 - 18:53

omg your too talented how did u come up with that... ? its amazing! it should be framed!

Mon, 28/02/2011 - 14:51

yeah thats quite good really.. well done wat uni did u get i nto

How do you spell

Thu, 12/05/2011 - 09:06

the name of Mackintosh? A bit more to see than souvenirs - School of Art, House for an Art Lover, The Tearooms etc etc.

Brilliant, im currently

Sat, 16/07/2011 - 14:12

Brilliant, im currently writing my personal statement and this has inspired me, i definitely need more experience but i am also an art student with a dream !

this is good stuff!

Fri, 11/11/2011 - 10:51

this is good stuff! which uni's did you apply, and where did u gt offers from?

words fail me...

Mon, 26/12/2011 - 18:38

Tue, 20/03/2012 - 20:56

Appreciate you sharing, great blog post.

I genuinely can't believe

Thu, 05/07/2012 - 08:45

I genuinely can't believe this is real. It's on par with pink unicorns and sugar.

Wed, 26/09/2012 - 15:03

This is SICKKage personal statement man... but you need to work on the start bcus it sounds similar to mine you COPYCAT CUSHTARD!!!

Scottish people often have

Tue, 18/12/2012 - 15:12

Scottish people often have double surnames - the mother's name before the father's I think you are referring to Charles Rennie Mackintosh

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Architecture

Applied in: winter 2013, university offers: bath, oxford brookes.

Architecture combines many disciplines, from physics to art, mathematics to history, it relies on the successful integration of a multitude of skills. I’ve enjoyed art since I was a child. My mother taught me how to draw and this grew naturally into looking for art in the buildings around me. Be it the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Shard in London, I wanted to know more about the entire process of architecture and how such beautiful buildings come to be built.

I find longevity an appealing aspect of architecture. We can build structures that outlast an individual life, and record humanity’s evolving relationship with space. That’s what the Romans gave us, and that’s what we will give to our descendants. For 2,000 years, the Coliseum has stood as a monument to Roman culture, surviving through many centuries of history, which is awe inspiring. Architecture is also a way to explore new materials and to develop strategies that can revolutionize our ways of living. Taking us always further into modernity and the future, it can help to solve global problems such as increasing rates of urbanisation.

This summer, I went to the brand new MuCEM in Marseille, France, created mainly by Rudy Ricciotti and Roland Carta, which was really interesting. It is strategically located in order to evoke a contrast between old and new, being joined by a concrete bridge to the Fort Saint-Jean and standing in front of a fortification of Vauban. Principally, however, the structure of the building embodies this contrast: a new material for the outside “clothing” of the museum, a fishnet of BFUP (high-performance fibre concrete), was developed to protect the exhibitions from the sun. But architecture also has a more human scale, such as the building of houses and other municipal constructions like hospitals and schools. These are buildings that we can call home and that bring us together.

To explore architecture more fully, I visited exhibitions, talks, buildings and museums. Amongst others, I went to a RIBA open house in London, which gave me the opportunity to meet architects and to talk about their career. On top of that, I did an Art and Design course at Central Saint Martins in London and undertook a two week course at London Art Portfolio to improve my creative skills. I have also done work experience at Alice Pool Architects in West London. There I had the chance to work on their computer design software and to go on site to follow the progression from original idea to final construction.

I moved to London from Paris three years ago. This change has given me the chance to see a new culture and country in depth. I am currently at the Lycee Charles de Gaulle in London. I chose the scientific section for my French Baccalaureate, and therefore I am studying many of the subjects that have a bearing on the multidisciplinarity of architecture - I feel the Bac has given me a strong and broad academic foundation from which to explore further.

My experience as babysitter, scout, and even as eldest of four children has helped me to gain a sense of community, and some small retail experience has given me a basic sense of working with a customer’s needs in mind. My hobbies are also a big part of my life. I played basketball last year and I am currently playing volleyball, hoping to make the school team. I also enjoy very much playing tennis and swimming. I have played and studied music since I was 6 years old and was enrolled at the Regional Conservatoire near Paris until the move to London. I have my Grade 8 in piano and am practising many hours a week for the next step, the DispABRSM, which is an advanced music diploma.

I would count it a great achievement if I could continue my studies in the United Kingdom and learn more about such a fascinating topic. I know that Architecture is a demanding course as well as an exciting one and I am willing to rise to it if it means that I will get to do something that I’ll love.

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