UCAS Dentistry Personal Statement Tips You Need To Know
As part of the UCAS application process, you are required to write a personal statement in which the admissions team will assess. Essentially, this is a great way to sell yourself and prove to them why you are the perfect candidate for the course!
You don’t get very many words so make sure you use them wisely. (A maximum of 4,000 characters which is roughly 500 words – just over 1 page). Make sure every word counts and adds value to your application.
What should I mention?
It is crucial to make your personal statement well-structured and flow when reading it. You want to take the reader on a journey and prove to them you know this is the course for you. Follow these steps below for an idea!
Why dentistry?
A great place to start is by noting a few ideas on why you want to study dentistry. Was it an impactful experience you previously had at the dentist? Perhaps you were doing some reading which interested you or someone in your family is a dentist and you managed to shadow them. Whatever the reason is, it is important to make it unique to yourself so that you can stand out from the competition. You want to prove to the admissions team you understand what you are potentially getting yourself into and have basic knowledge about the field.
Work experience
This section is key to show to them that you have actively gone to explore the profession. Whether it be shadowing at your local general dental practice or at a hospital, make sure to mention this in your personal statement. This often separates out candidates because it shows interest and is a great talking point in interviews too.
Think to yourself, what did you learn whilst being at your work experience. A great tip is after each session, take a note of what you observed or learned that day. Read a more detailed article about securing work experience and top tips here!
What skills are useful?
Think about what skills a dentist must have and how you have shown this yourself. Whether it is through extra-curricular activities you do, sports, clubs or part-time jobs, providing examples is key.
For example, being empathetic, having great communication skills, working effectively in a team or even if you are great at working with your hands (i.e. building models, knitting, origami etc), mention this in your personal statement. Show that you have a solid understanding about the demands of the profession and you can even mention your work experience here too.
Extra knowledge
A great way to set yourself apart from the rest is to mention extra reading you may have done. It may have been part of your EPQ essay or something you have come across when looking deeper into dentistry. The admissions team are not expecting you to be an expert (before starting the course!) but it would be nice to show you understand the basics.
Common terms used in dentistry such as ‘caries’, the difference between a ‘manual’ and ‘electric’ toothbrush or even recent advancements in the profession can make you shine. You will impress the admissions team if you have these extra nuggets of information however don’t fall into the trap of overcomplicating things.
Extra-curricular activities
Show that you are an all-rounded candidate which has interests outside of studies. Whilst this should not be the main focus in your personal statement, you want to mention your interests in order to build character to your profile. Sports teams, participating in the Duke Of Edinburgh award, scouts or part-time jobs are worth mentioning.
Check, check and double check!
To perfect your personal statement, you will find yourself making multiple drafts and corrections. Remember, making an excellent personal statement takes time and hard work but you will eventually get there!
It is extremely helpful to get multiple people to read your personal statement and get feedback from them. Teachers, family members and friends are a great place to start and you want to convince them you want to study dentistry. Also, reading it out loud to yourself will help to see if it flows. Often, you can feel a little exhausted when writing so take breaks and come back with a refreshed pair of eyes to avoid mistakes.
To take that extra step further, make sure you don’t miss out on sending your personal statement to our Geniuson dentistry expert! Receiving tailored advice from current dental students studying at King’s College London (the #1 Dental School in the World (QS World University Rankings, 2020) will give you that extra edge. Our experts at Geniuson have been through the admissions process and have successfully coached students to ace their personal statements. Our Dentistry personal statement review service will provide detailed feedback tailored to your academic profile! Find out more information here!
Common mistakes
- Making your personal statement too generic and cliché. You don’t want to use something the admissions team has seen time and time again!
- Over complicating the language you use. Don’t get carried away using big fancy words because this can make your personal statement harder to read.
- Focusing too much on extra-curricular activities rather than your motivations to study dentistry. It is great to show your other skills but don’t get too carried away!