You’re about to apply for university study in the UK, and the school’s requirement includes submitting a written personal statement. This personal statement is supposed to show how enrolling for the course will help you achieve your plans. So, you’ve done your research, and you’re about to start writing your statement; but, you’re not aware that some of the words that you’re about to use in your statement have been used too often that they’re now seen as “personal statement buzzwords”.

Understand that, universities in the UK receive thousands of study application from citizens and foreigners yearly. And, since most of the schools require a personal statement, the tendency of sounding like every other applicant is high. That’s why, you need to know some of these personal statement buzzwords and structure your statement to avoid them. Secondly, you could use the assistance of personal statement experts to review your statement and present it with better sentences.

Truthfully, these buzzwords are not bad words or phrases, the challenge is that they’ve lost their power due to constant usage. Hence, overusing them in your statement will make you sound naïve, which is not something you want to do.

University personal statement buzzwords to avoid

In some cases, you may not be able to avoid using these words in your personal statement. The idea is not only for you to not use them; the idea is to bring the buzzwords to your notice, and encourage you to use them in small doses.

More so, there are alternatives that could help give your statement the same meaning without having to use the usual buzzwords.

1. Passion
2. Fascinated
3. Feeling
4. Compassion
5. Helps (helping people)
6. Ignited
7. Fuelled
8. Burning (Burning passion, burning desire)
9. Adverb: Truly, Very, Effectively
10. Committed
11. Firsthand
12. Realized
13. Valuable
14. Fabulous
15. Amazed, Amazing
16. Interested (Interesting)

Personal statement overused phrases to avoid

The phrases/ sentences presented are not bad ideas to use on your statement. As a matter of fact, they usually convey strong messages: the challenge lies in the fact that most school applicants like you express their inspirations with the same phrases and sentences. Hence, due to the continuous usage, the phrases have lost their power which is why you should avoid them and try expressing your ideas differently.

1. I love helping people:

While it is nice to express your love for people, country, community etc. There are better ways to indicate your love for people without having to use the cliché “I love helping people”.

2. I am passionate:

This is similar to the first.; as a guide, always remember to show not to tell.

3. I have always dreamt of (…):

In most cases, you have about 4,000 characters to convince the university that you’re a good fit for their program. So, you want to utilize that space to convey you goals and how the program will help you achieve it, rather than remembering your dreams.

4. When I was younger/growing up:

You’ve passed your childhood; you probably should focus your energy on the present. Hardly will any committee be moved by your childhood desires; they want to know who you are now, and how their program can contribute to you.

5. I have always been fascinated by (…):

Again, utilize the space you have to actually show that you’ve always been fascinated rather than just saying it.

6. Ever since I can remember (…):

Here’s what to remember instead, remember a better way to present your point next time you are tempted to write “ever since I can remember”

7. Hands on/Firsthand experience:

Why is it even called an experience, is it not because it was firsthand?

8. I am a people’s person

9. I realized/I decided/I believe/I think

10. In my opinion/I feel

How to avoid using personal statement buzzwords

• Try not to start most of your sentences with “I”
• Avoid starting consecutive paragraphs with the same word.
• Display your passion, desire, and interests with examples. For instance, you can describe an experience and the growth that happened in your academic or career life through that experience. This will help you showcase the extent of you interest more than just writing “I have a passionate desire to…“
• Explore other transition words that are useful to reinforce the points in your story.
• When you discover that you’re falling into the temptation of using buzzwords, consider restructuring/paraphrasing your sentences.
• Lastly, avoid the temptation to lie, boast, or exaggerate while writing your personal statement.

Other relevant words to use in your personal statement

1. Achieved
2. Addressed
3. Assesses
4. Authored
5. Budgeted
6. Built
7. Changed
8. Communicated
9. Computed
10. Conceptualized
11. Conducted
12. Constructed
13. Created
14. Demonstrated
15. Designed
16. Determined
17. Earned
18. Enhanced
19. Evaluated
20. Found
21. Gathered
22. Handled
23. Identified
24. Implemented
25. Incorporated
26. Influenced
27. Innovated
28. Introduced
29. Joined
30. Learnt
31. Led
32. Monitored
33. Organized
34. Oversaw
35. Participated
36. Performed
37. Placed
38. Posted
39. Proficient
40. Projected
41. Proposed
42. Pursue
43. Reorganized
44. Review
45. Save
46. Shaped
47. Simplified
48. Sorted

Conclusion: personal statement buzzwords to avoid

When writing your statement avoid certain recycled words that appear in almost every other applicant’s statement. The admission committee is already used to reading statements with those words/phrases, which will make yours look like another recycled statement.

Need assistance writing your university personal statement?

If yes, then reach out to us today. Our personal statements are written to cover the relevant questions that the admission committee considers before making their decision.

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