What should I include in my personal statement?

Personal statements are your chance to show your dream university why you have chosen them, and their course. You need to prove your commitment to studying such a course. But most importantly, you need to convince the university why you would be an asset to them. Explain what you can bring to them and why they should desire that! It's easy to overthink and consequently overcomplicate your personal statement, but it all comes down to being reflective and being honest. First of all, everything you include in your personal statement should be true (don't say you're a semi-professional rugby player if you played for a year when you were 10!). Universities would much rather you talk about things that genuinely interest you since this gives them an insight into who you are as a person and why you are committed to their course. Small things like visiting your grandma every week to help her do the shopping, for example, may give you an insight into how important the provision of elderly care is as opposed to saying that you've volunteered at a nursing home for 5 years but not reflected on what you've learnt. It's tempting to use complex language but often the best method is to write something simply, so the meaning is not lost in extravagant language. Avoiding quotes and cliches will ensure it is your own voice that inspires your statement and not someone else's. Finally, depth is more important than breadth: i.e. it is more important to reflect a lot on only a few things than a mention lots of activities you've been involved in, but not how it's enhanced your skills and ability to study the course in question.