16 Aug
2022
Personal Statement - Engineering
<p><strong>Typical Layout</strong><br> </p><p>This is how a personal statement for an Engineering course can be written. The order of the paragraphs can be changed, according to the flow of the personal statement. </p><p> </p><p>Note that the text in italics are all quotations from actual personal statements. Variations of these quotations are acceptable, but to avoid being flagged by the university’s anti-plagiarism software please do not adopt them wholesale.</p><p> </p><p><i>1) Introduction</i></p><p> </p><p>As with any personal statement, the opening sentence must be meaningful and bold. This paragraph should include your own perspective of Engineering, quotes that inspired you, people who inspire you, as well as why Engineering is a subject that is worth studying at University. It is also good to highlight the engineering disciplines which interest you. </p><p> </p><p>If you have done some research on the college you are applying to, it is helpful to mention something about their research area. But avoid write something down in the personal statement that you do not know much about because you may be questioned by the tutor during your interview. </p><p> </p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><p><i>"Engineering is an industry that holds great potential for exciting products such as non-toxic bio tape for internal organs. This invention was inspired by the feet of geckoes’ feet and has helped to improve the quality of life and ease of healthcare"</i></p><p><br> </p><p><i>"Among the various fields in Engineering, I am particularly interested in Chemical Engineering, Thermodynamics and Materials."</i></p></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p> </p><p><i>2) Academic Interest Part I</i></p><p> </p><p>This section includes books that you have read which help to demonstrate enthusiasm and interest for your subject. 2 or 3 books is an ideal number. It is also vital that you include what you learnt from the book or explain what the result of reading the book was: did it affirm your interest in Engineering? Did this lead to greater aptitude in other subjects in school? </p><p> </p><p>Try to relate the information from the books to your everyday life. This shows that you have not just read, but have also understood and thought about these concepts.</p><p> </p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><i>"Although the book mainly talks about factors of safety in the context of bridges, it is fascinating to see how relevant it is to almost every aspect of our lives."</i></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p> </p><p>You must also actually read the books. Although tutors typically do not ask you questions about your personal statement, it does happen. Some students revealed that they were asked to talk about their favourite nature inspired invention in the book "The Gecko's Foot" by Peter Forbes. It is also quite likely that your interviewer has written books, articles, or held lectures. Talking about them could be to your advantage especially if they fit within the disciplines that you are interested in.</p><p> </p><p>There is an underlying stereotype that students from private schools are spoon-fed and have less exposure to independent research and learning. Therefore, regardless of your school, it is important to demonstrate that you are a self-motivated and independent candidate. <br> </p><p>Extended essays, project qualifications or essay competitions are perfect examples of research and independent learning. </p><p> </p><p>Recommended reading lists can be found on Cambridge’s engineering webpage: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.admissions.eng.cam.ac.uk/information/reading">www.admissions.eng.cam.ac.uk/information/reading</a>. The following are some additional suggestions:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea, Charles Seife</li><li>To Engineer is Human, Henry Petroski</li><li>Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down, JE Gordon</li><li>How Do Wings Work, Holger Babinsky</li><li>Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air, David J.C. MacKay</li><li>Engineering: A Beginner's Guide, Natasha McCarthy</li><li>Cats' Paws and Catapults: Mechanical Worlds of Nature and People, Steven Vogel</li></ul><p> </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://oxbridge-blogs-1.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/8nBSVzyY30FoghXxyOTz.png"></figure><p> </p><p><i>3) Academic Interest Part II</i></p><p> </p><p>It is crucial to show interest in the fundamental topics within Engineering: Maths, Physics and maybe Chemistry. Also, it is a good idea to pinpoint which is your most preferred topic within a subject and elaborate further.</p><p> </p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><i>“Calculus, in my opinion, is a skill that is most applicable to real-life situations and fundamental theories in Physics. I am especially keen on classical mechanics, as they explain our everyday kinematics"</i></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p> </p><p>It may not be worth mentioning the UKMT Maths Challenge in your personal statement unless you have advanced to the next level of the challenge or attained a Gold Award, simply because many applicants include this. Talk about another experience instead.</p><p> </p><p>For instance, evidence of your interest in Engineering can be demonstrated by paying attention to following news sources: TED talks, free lectures by IMechE, IChemE, ICE, IET, Magazines such as NewScientist, E&T by the IET, Physics Review, and other magazines from engineering institutions. </p><p> </p><p><i>4) Academic Extra Curricular / Competitions / Work Experience</i><br> </p><p>Engineering is a very practical subject and it is very easy to obtain related work experience in the UK. Engineering as practised in the industry is also very different from Engineering as a degree, so it is very important to attend as many work experience placements as possible.<br> </p><p>If you are currently in your GCSE or Lower Sixth year, try to apply for the following:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Headstart</li><li>CREST award schemes</li><li>Arkwright scholarships</li><li>Taster days</li></ul><p> </p><p>Mentioning summer science exhibitions and other engineering related events is also a good way of demonstrating interest in your subject.</p><p> </p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><p><i>"I attended the Summer Science Exhibition at the Royal Society, where I was fascinated by energy storage through photosynthesis. I subsequently saw pioneering Solar Energy research at the Korean Institute of Science and Technology take shape in the form of artificial dye-sensitive solar cells, where trees harvest solar energy with solar cells that imitate real leaves. I particularly enjoyed this because it was a remarkable combination of design aesthetics and cutting-edge technology."</i></p><p><br> </p><p><i>"I was also at the Process Safety Sector of BP, where I was a project leader of a team of students. I designed my own oil rig and gave a presentation to others about the Piper Alpha disaster and the oil industry."</i></p><p><br> </p><p><i>"During my work experience at Network Rail, I observed how it was necessary for engineers from a number of disciplines to cooperate to complete an engineering project; this illustrated the benefit of an education in multiple fields of engineering."</i></p></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><br> </p><p><i>5) Extra Curricular (short)</i></p><p> </p><p>This is where you must demonstrate your qualities as an Engineer: </p><p> </p><ul><li>Teamwork (team sports, D of E, orchestras, choirs or ensembles) </li><li>Time management (juggling many activities or responsibilities)</li><li>Leadership and initiative (include positions of responsibility, e.g being a prefect or head of house)</li><li>Diligence (this can be something that took time and effort, like a musical achievement)</li><li>Commitment</li><li>Communication skills and any other qualities<br> </li></ul><p>If these skills can be demonstrated through the academic activities that you mention in the earlier sections, you should do so since that will help to keep your word count below the limit. <br> </p><p>Some students omit the extracurricular section but it can actually be quite beneficial. Even a short section would help to paint an image of you as a well rounded student.</p><p> </p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><i>"I have a passion for art and my creative flair, demonstrated by my Major Art Scholarship, helps me appreciate the elegance and the aesthetic touches in engineered products, such as Santiago Calatrava’s architecture and the innovative works by Thomas Heatherwick."</i></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p> </p><p><i>6) Conclusion</i></p><p> </p><p>The most important point about the concluding paragraph is that it must tie in with the starting paragraph. If you mentioned that Engineering improves the lives of people, the conclusion should reinforce this idea. It is also helpful to end off with a goal, career aspiration or something that really motivates you, like working in Formula 1, programming and gaming, aerospace engineering, or achieving Chartered Engineer status.</p><p> </p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><p><i>"The potential for revolutionary discoveries and their relevance to our world makes Engineering exciting, both academically and as a career."</i></p><p><br> </p><p><i>"By pursuing a degree in Engineering, I hope to play a role in designing and developing cutting-edge technology that keeps our world running smoothly and safely."</i></p></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><br> </p><p><strong>Additional Tips</strong></p><p> </p><p>Prizes and grades which demonstrate academic excellence can be included in your teacher's reference letter instead. This helps to free up space in your personal statement. The same applies to competitions and events which you took part in but are not substantial or significant enough to include in your personal statement (for instance, an Engineering competition for which you did not manage to win any prizes). These can still be included by your teacher in the reference letter since they are relevant in terms of demonstrating your interest in the subject.</p>