How To Start A Personal Statement: Tips & Examples

During application, we’re regularly asked “How do I start my personal statement” and “What’s the best way to open a personal statement”? It’s a challenging task for anybody, but worry not – we’re here to help guide you through the process of writing an elite personal statement introduction. 

Whether you’re required to write a single essay as your personal statement or you’re writing 3 answers as part of the updates to the UCAS personal statement for 2026 entry, a personal statement’s introduction is the first thing the admissions committee will read. That’s why the first sentence should be a catchy, attention-grabbing hook or story that grabs the reader’s attention and sets up the main point of your answer.

A lacklustre introduction may lose your readers’ interest, preventing them from engaging with the rest of your personal statement!

This article will guide you on how to open your personal statement, provide a few examples of introductory sentences, and teach you how to captivate the admissions tutors from the opening line. Without further ado, let’s get started.

Top Tip: Leave Writing Your Personal Statement Introduction For Last

You know what they say – the hardest thing to do is start. So skip the introductions for now and focus on the main body of your personal statement answers. If you’re not sure what your main content should be, read our general how to write a personal statement guide. Then, go ahead and work on the rest of your personal statement, and come back to the introductions when you’re finished!

After nailing the main points, you’ll have a concrete idea of how your introductions can captivate the reader whilst staying relevant.

Once you know what the bulk of your answer is about, you’ll be much closer to the answer to how to start your personal statement. The rest of our tips will help you figure out exactly which option to choose, but remember, the key thing is continuity. Whether you choose a gripping anecdote, refer to a fascinating book, or generally introduce a unique aspect of your personality or experience – make sure it will lead nicely into the main body of your statement. Is your statement full of points about how keen you are to speak perfect Spanish and live in Spain? Start off with a story about where this passion came from. Is your statement about your passion for engineering? Begin with your opinion on the most awe-inspiring feat of engineering completed in your lifetime.

By the way, the same applies to your conclusion – write it last and link it to the main body. If you’re worried about your conclusion, then check out our advice on personal statement conclusions.

2. Cut To The Chase

You only have 4,000 characters total to sell yourself as an ideal student candidate, and each individual section in UCAS will be even shorter. Make each character and paragraph count! Forget about flowery words and directionless statements, and ensure that you are really answering the question and that every word is playing an important role.

In the opening part of your personal statement, you’ll explain your motivations for choosing your course. As we’ve already said, you might have a key anecdote that encompasses the roots of your passion in one or two sentences.

Although you will discuss this in-depth in the main body of content, capturing your reader’s attention with a quick overview of why you’re enthusiastic about your chosen course is crucial. That’s why capturing the reader’s attention by jumping straight to the point is key to starting a personal statement.

3. Use a Specific Anecdote

Never give vague details when expressing why you want to pursue your course. Sentences like “I always wanted to be an engineer since I was a kid,” or “I want to become a doctor because I enjoy science” aren’t advised. On that note, if you’re applying to medicine, refer to our guide on how to write a medical personal statement.

If you’re using an anecdote to open your personal statement, we suggest you be specific. Here are a few suggestions that may help you:

• You witnessed an inspirational figure in your life solve a massive problem with a specific skill set (doctor, engineer, etc.)
• While you were at a charity event, you learnt more about an issue. By pursuing this course, you’re a part of the solution.
• You’re good at and you enjoy a specific skill set. The course you’re eyeing puts great emphasis on this particular skill.
• There was a moment in your life when you succeeded in solving a problem. You felt significant when doing so, and you want to keep doing that for the rest of your life
• You watched a movie or read a book that ignited your passion for the course. After doing volunteer work or part-time employment related to your course, you’re determined to pursue it!

One simple way to start your personal statement? Craft a sentence or two that encapsulates the core of your “why.” Do this, and your reader will want to read more!

4. Use Your Knowledge In Your Chosen Course

An essential element of starting a personal statement is to express why you’re enthusiastic about taking your chosen course. You need to demonstrate that you’re aware of what you’re getting yourself into and that you’ve already spent time exploring the area. In the new UCAS personal statement for 2026 entry, it might be a good idea to introduce your answers to “How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course?” by answering one of these prompts:

• What do you find interesting about the course?
• How do you believe the course will help you achieve your goals?
• How will you use your chosen course to contribute to society?
• What hurdles do you expect to encounter, and how will you handle them?

Decide which of these questions best fits into the main content of your personal statement. Write your answer in a sentence or two, and then transition seamlessly into the rest of your answer.

5. Ditch The “Since I Was A Child” Line

We’re often asked what not to put in a personal statement and “Since I was a child” is a cliche statement that gets thrown around haphazardly. How many students have said in their personal statements? We’re sure it’s too many!

Recalling your childhood passions is a weak reason for pursuing your course. Why? Because the admissions committee is looking for relevant and up-to-date facts about you.

When you were little, you had no knowledge about your field, so your passions at the time will be less interesting to an admissions officer. You had no idea what skillsets you needed or what other options were available to you.

But we’re not completely discounting the anecdotal approach to “how do I start this personal statement?!”. If you were to cite a recent event in your life that supports your determination to pursue your course, that screams “educated choice”. And that is what the admission committee is looking to find in the midst of hundreds, if not thousands of introductions.

6. Brainstorm Several Ways to Open Your Personal Statement

The desire to get it right the first time often paralyses students trying to write their introductory sentences. So permit yourself to write freely. Write as many versions of your opening lines as possible.

Don’t worry about the grammar, spelling, or character count just yet. Type everything that you come up with. When you’re done, take a look at your list.

Cross out the ones you dislike, and encircle the ones you think have potential. Then start piecing the puzzle pieces together. Remember to keep in mind your plan for the rest of your personal statement, and make sure the line you choose will fit with the rest. 

If you’ve found three potential opening lines, try reading them aloud together with the next few lines in your personal statement. Do they flow seamlessly into one another? Make the necessary adjustments. Play around with it until you feel you’ve hit the spot.

7. Make Your Opening Statement Error Free

Your opening statement is your hook line. Spelling or grammatical errors at the start will immediately create the impression that you’re not that bothered. If you have errors at the beginning, you’ll most likely have them in your main content, so the admissions officer won’t be going in with the best frame of mind.

So make sure your English is simple, flawless, and straightforward. Run your personal statement through a tool like Grammarly to weed out most of the errors.

The Hemingway app is also a helpful tool for checking for passive voice and other writing problems. Take advantage of writing assistant tools, especially if you’re a non-native English speaker.

8. Read Examples Of Personal Statements

Read as many personal statement examples as you can. Any that captivated you, write about them in your notes. Figure out why these statements stood out to you compared to the others. What elements can you place in your personal statement? How can you apply these insights to start your personal statement in an unforgettable way?

When reading personal statements that put you off, find out why. What characteristics do they have that elicit a negative reaction from you? List them down, and make sure you avoid them.

After this exercise, you should have a few more ideas about your personal statement introduction.

9. Ask For Feedback

Never underestimate the power of feedback. Ask your family, friends, and acquaintances about your statement’s opening. Does your personality shine through? Is it straight to the point? Does it flow smoothly with the main content of your personal statement?

Listen to what they have to say. Jot down important points. This second opinion on whether it works for you or not is an invaluable preview of what an admissions officer might think.

10. Give Yourself Time

Your chosen career depends on your college education. And a first crucial step is to convince the admission committee you’re worth accepting into your university. The stakes are high, so you have to give your personal statement your best shot. Give yourself enough time to brainstorm and think everything over.

You can’t finish a complete, well-written personal statement in a week. Much less overnight!

So make sure you set aside enough time to put your best foot forward. After finishing a complete draft of your personal statement, put it down. Forget about it for a few days. Then come back and reread it.

With a fresh set of eyes, you’ll notice errors you may not have seen before! Revise as much as you need.

FAQs

Do I Need To Write An Introduction For A Personal Statement?

Yes, we recommend writing an introductory line for your personal statement as it provides context to the rest of your writing. The introduction is an opportunity to make a good first impression and capture the university admissions officer’s attention.

In the new UCAS personal statements for 2026 entry, you will write three shorter responses rather than one long essay. However, it’s still a good idea to ensure the first line or two of these responses is a powerful, relevant introduction to the main point you’re making in that section.

What Is a Good Sentence to Open a Personal Statement With?

Here are some examples of a good opening sentence for a captivating introduction. Note how these tie into the university degree in question almost straight away:

1. “As a first-generation college student, I am determined to break barriers and pave the way for future generations through a career in law.”
2. “My passion for sustainable design was ignited by a volunteer trip to a developing country, where I witnessed the devastating effects of environmental degradation firsthand.”
3. “A chance encounter with a blind person and their guide dog inspired me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, with the goal of improving the lives of animals and their human companions.”

Can You Open Your Personal Statement With A Quote?

It is a risky move to open your personal statement with a quote and can come across as clichéd or insincere to the university admission officers. However, there are rare occasions when it can work. Just make sure the quote relates to your degree and experience you’re writing about, and ensure you have something unique to say about the quote.

Conclusion: Get Ready To Open Your Personal Statement

How does one start a captivating personal statement? Take the time to think about what makes an effective introduction.

Read examples of personal statements from other students to glean ideas for how yours might stand out. Once you have read through some good ones, look closely at what elements made them so successful. 

Then try applying those same principles on how to start a personal statement! Don’t forget to bookmark this post for future reference.