Personal Statement

Drama basics:

• Genuine enthusiasm for drama, along with evidence that you've studied or read beyond the curriculum.
• Good analytical and critical skills – with examples of how you've used and developed these skills in practice.
• Skills gained from your critical and creative experiences, both within and outside your studies, or how you feel you’ve benefited from them.
• How any positions of authority, charity work, employment, hobbies or other relevant activities have benefited your development, or their relationship to drama.
• Your interest in the professional expression of the subject, such as theatre-going or the work of particular directors, actors, designers, film makers or theatre companies.
   

More about what drives you:

• Ensure your personality comes across in your personal statement –in particular your creativity, enthusiasm, energy or dedication to drama.
• If you can, articulate your career aspirations and how your degree will help you gain the experience, knowledge and skills to help you prepare for it.
• Professor Anna Furse, head of theatre and performance at Goldsmiths, University of London advises applicants to be clear about whether they are looking for a course with a practice-theory ethos at an interdisciplinary university like hers, or a more practical course at a conservatoire or drama school. 'It’s fine to apply to both,' she says, 'but simply be aware and don’t write too generically'.
• For her kind of course she is interested in applicants who are looking for a broader education in the range of creative, technical and intellectual skills that will prepare them for a wide range of careers in the performing arts.
   

Language and structure of your personal statement:

• Your personal statement should flow logically and be as engaging as possible, making the reader want to read on and show you can articulate your ideas in a succinct but interesting way.
• Get the right balance between subject-specific material and outside interests, which Nick Strong suggests should ideally should be 75% / 25%.
• Check punctuation, grammar, spelling and syntax very carefully, as it may make the critical difference between two otherwise identical applicants.
   

What to avoid in your drama personal statement

• Overblown quotes: avoid starting your personal statement with a highbrow or pretentious quotation - tutors want to hear what you have to say, in your own words.
• Not expanding on your experience: don't just say 'I am captain of the football team'. Try ‘through being captain of the football team I have gained the following experience…’.
• Humour: a touch of dry wit can sometimes be effective and memorable; but equally, experimenting with jokes in your personal statement can be risky and backfire badly, so judge this with care.
• Giving the impression you haven't researched the course content: that's why Professor Furse at Goldsmiths would advise applicants for her particular course to avoid saying things like  'I simply love to perform and want to be a musical star'. 'It's fine to have a passion to perform', she says, 'but think also about why you want a university degree and tell us about this'.
• Irrelevant experience: as Nick Strong told us, starting with something like ‘I have wanted to be an actor ever since I was third shepherd from the left in a Nativity play when I was three’ is a definite no-no. Focus on your most recent and relevant creative experiences.