Remember, your personal statement is your opportunity to impress both the Admissions Adviser and the course leader. Before you start, you should have a good idea of what course you would like to study and your future career aspirations. Here at University of Essex Online, we ask for a piece of text that is written in English and is around 300-500 words long. This strict limit means that you need to plan your content carefully. You can only submit one personal statement so give yourself plenty of time to plan, write, redraft and proofread. Your personal statement will really enhance your application if you convey your passion and enthusiasm for the subject as well as demonstrate your suitability for the course. Before you start, remember this is a personal statement, i.e. its about YOU. What to focus on Before you start writing, ask yourself these questions: Why have you chosen this course? Why would you like to study online? How do you plan to use this qualification in the future? What relevant experience and skills do you have?