Common Mistakes That Weaken Your Statement

Every year, admissions tutors read thousands of personal statements. After a while, the same mistakes appear so frequently that they become instantly recognisable — and instantly damaging. This lesson catalogues the most common errors so you can avoid them.

The three-question format has eliminated some old problems (like poor structure) but created some new ones (like repeating information across sections). Every mistake in this lesson is one that real applicants make, and every one is avoidable.

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Mistake 1: Clichéd Openings (Yes, Even in the New Format)

The old free-text format was notorious for clichéd opening lines. The structured format reduces this — you are answering a specific question, not writing an essay — but clichés still appear:

Clichés to Avoid in the Motivation Section