Personal statements are an integral part of the university admissions process in the UK. However, there is strong evidence suggesting this process advantages some types of applicant over others. The persistent ‘Access Gap’ in UK Higher Education, in which applicants from state schools with the same grades as their privately educated peers are said to be one third less likely to gain an offer from a leading university, may be related to personal statements. An applicant’s school type is a key predictor of the quality of their personal statement; those from more advantaged educational backgrounds are more likely to receive better support and guidance.
Steven; id_orcid 0000-0002-4529-9996 Jones (Fri,) studied this question.