The Secret to an Exceptional Personal Statement: Wider Reading
If there were only one thing that we’d advise our students to do in preparation for a university application, it would be to read widely. Of course, a typical personal statement should make reference to your interests, qualifications, experience, supercurricular and extracurricular activities - but for a multitude of degree subjects, the backbone of the statement should be your wider reading.
What is Wider Reading?
Wider Reading is the act of reading materials - books, news articles, long-form journalism, publications, research papers - related to your chosen degree. These materials should not be those you’ve encountered in class - the idea is that you go beyond the school curriculum to explore and examine your degree in depth.
The best wider reading usually takes the form of well-regarded or award-winning materials from established writers, experts or institutions. Start with the well-known books that every future student should have read before they start their degree, and then progress to more specific and advanced materials related to the parts of your degree you’re most interested in.
Podcasts and video series can also fall under this ‘wider reading’ umbrella - but with some caution, as explained later.
Why Should I Read?
There are four reasons why you should read around your subject.
- Wider reading can help determine whether you’ve chosen the right degree. If you find yourself interested and eager to learn more, that’s a good sign you’re on the right path. But if you’re struggling to engage with the material, even the core or ‘pop’ books that align with your subject, then this might be an indication that you’re not as suited to your degree as you might have imagined.
- Strengthen your knowledge base. When applying for your degree, it’s generally expected that you will have a reasonable understanding of what it is that you’re applying for, that you’ll demonstrate through your personal statement. Of course, if this is a subject you have studied already, then you will have this - but to make an application stand out from the rest, it’s good to have knowledge that extends beyond school-level. And if your chosen subject is not offered by school - Archaeology, Anthropology or Architecture, for example - then wider reading is how you’ll attain the knowledge you’ll need to write a great personal statement.
- Writing your personal statement. Not sure where to begin? The personal statement is an opportunity to showcase your commitment to your chosen degree, and wider reading is a fantastic way to demonstrate this. Some personal statements make reference to as many as ten different resources!
- Interview preparation. Universities are increasingly using interviews to determine whether students are a good fit for their degrees, and are no longer limited to just Oxford and Cambridge. Being able to articulate your ideas means using your wider reading to support and counter them, and the more widely read you are, the easier you’ll find the interview.
What about Social Media?
Certain authoritative, educational podcasts and Youtube channels, such as PBS, Ted-Ed, CrashCourse and Vox can be excellent resources, but be mindful that a great deal of content on Youtube, Tiktok, Instagram, Reddit and Snapchat is not verified and therefore cannot be trusted to be well-researched.
When it comes to using these materials, a Vsauce video entitled ‘What Color is a Mirror?’ might not be usable as a resource for a Physics personal statement, but the links it contains to the Institute of Theoretical Physics’ Prof. Dr. Dietrich Zawischa’s research on Colour Physics most certainly could be.
What Should I Read?
This is where William Clarence can help. As the UK’s leading educational consultancy, our admissions experts are well-versed in what books are well-received by university admissions and how to incorporate them seamlessly into your personal statement and interview. Our UCAS advisors have access to an archive of materials that will make your personal statement stand out, and know which news outlets, media organisations and educational institutions to trust.
Wider reading can take time, so it’s best to start early. Get in touch with us today to begin your journey with expert help at every stage.