<p>I just wanted to ask what is the difference between the personal statement for the US common app and that for the UCAS application? Can I just do one personal statement and apply it to both applications? Thank you very much</p>
<p>Have you read the prompts for both?</p>
<p>When I look at what is stated under the UCAS What to Include and look at their Mind Map:</p>
<p>[Personal</a> Statement | UCAS | Personal Statements Tips & Advice](<a href=“http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/undergraduate/filling-your-application/your-personal-statement]Personal”>http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/undergraduate/filling-your-application/your-personal-statement)</p>
<p>It is completely different from the CA which specifically states:</p>
<p>[New</a> 2013-2014 Common Application Essay Prompts |](<a href=“http://getmetocollege.org/hs/new-2013-2014-common-application-essay-prompts]New”>http://getmetocollege.org/hs/new-2013-2014-common-application-essay-prompts)</p>
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<p>And has prompts that are much more personal and not strictly directed at what you plan to study, why, and how you are prepared to succeed.</p>
<p>Remember that your personal statement will not be read by human eyes. With so many applications to review, do you honestly think a committee of like 10-20 people will be personally reading everything? No, they put thee applications through a scanner to look for keywords and other specific details.</p>
<p>So just include good keywords and you’re fine. Of course the challenge is actually deducing what those are.</p>
<p>^Scanner? That’s the first I’m hearing about this, and I feel very skeptical about it. An essay has to be read by people. I know that, at least for a couple US colleges, an adcom dedicates at least 10-15 minutes to review each application. Maybe they’re even skimming essays, but human beings have to be reading them. A computer can’t tell them what they need to know.</p>
<p>OP, a US common app essay is more personal and about you, what kind of a person you are, how you’ve grown, etc. The John Hopkins website has some good examples. A UCAS personal statement is more about why you want to study your subject, what makes you a good candidate for that particular subject and also for the university in general. A good website for that: [Personal</a> statements](<a href=“http://www.studential.com/personalstatements/]Personal”>2000+ Free UCAS Personal Statement Examples | Studential.com)
The Student Room also has a good online reviewing process for personal statements. You can submit yours to get it critiqued.</p>