"It's university entrance season, and so begin the trials of the personal statement, which now takes the form of three questions: Why do you want to study this course or subject?; How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?; What else have you done to prepare outside education, and why are these experiences useful?"
"I can't help my own kids with this because they're Stemmy (as in science and maths-oriented). their scope of interests is expressed in formulae, and if I ever have the audacity to ask them to translate it back into words, they shake their heads and go, You're never going to understand electron configuration, in the exact tone of voice you'd use to tell a dog sitting in a suitcase that it isn't allowed to come on holiday."
University applicants must answer three UCAS questions within 4,000 characters about course motivation, preparation from qualifications, and non-educational experiences. Teenagers struggle to convey uniqueness while responding to generic prompts. STEM students often express interests through formulas and resist translating technical concepts into accessible language. Work-experience students in humanities face intense pressure to present exceptional extracurriculars rather than ordinary activities. Applicants compare themselves to imagined elites with extraordinary internships or activism, and feel that typical pastimes no longer stand out. The competitive expectations create anxiety about uniqueness and the need for conspicuously impressive experiences.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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