Free personal statement example: computer science (download in Word)

Reading time: 3 minutes
Price: Free download
Published: 2nd July 2019
Word count: 665 words
File format: Text

I am an independent, hardworking, responsible, trustworthy and ambitious student that really enjoys computer science. I am always ready to share my experience and learn from others. I have a passion to work as a software developer to improve my programming skills.

Everyday many people use computers, and most of them users use the computers with the help of graphical user interface, first time I used a computer I also found it really easy to use, but while I was using it, it made me think how they work, I wanted to know more about what computers can do and how they complete the different tasks given by the user.

Studying computer science, IT and Electronics in Year 13 has helped me gain more knowledge about computers and also increased my passion to learn about computers. I also studied computing in GCSE, I found computing really useful and interesting, and I found it very interesting learning about networking, and computer processors. Studying computing in GCSE also helped me learn new programming skills, I learn to program in python, my Year 11 coursework was to create a program using python, which I have completed and achieved an A* in the coursework. In GCSE I have also learnt to program microbit.

I spend most of my spare time designing programs because I enjoy solving problems. Studying computer science in Sixth Form College has increased my programming skills as I was able to learn new programming language and also was able to use visual studio to solve problems. I used Visual Studio to make many programs which would solve some problems given by the user. I have designed many programs using visual studio which can store and calculate to solve problems, one of the program I made was for a teacher which would help the teacher to find the best student in his class using the exam scores, my program would also tell the teacher which student needs to be awarded with the prizes. I think studying IT in college increased my knowledge more about computers, in IT I have learnt about many different utilities, different operating systems, and computer security.

I believe my work experience placement in ANS Synergy House has given me a good insight about how computer business works. During this work placement I was working alongside the IT team members to assist customers with the problems and solve them. I am also familiar with MySQL and python. I have also had part time jobs in a restaurant, which helped me a lot on gaining the important qualities of communication, teamwork and also working under pressure.

Studying electronics in Sixth Form allowed me to learn more about how technology work. Electronics helped me learn how circuit board chips are programmed, and it also made it possible for me to program chips to do certain tasks. In Electronics I have programmed a security system, which would detect movements after turned on, if any movements are detected it would switch an alarm on, this alarm would only switch off when a reset switch is pressed. I am currently working on making a system for pelican crossing light, which would turn on lights when dark and will also have sound enabled which would make it easier for people to know when it is safe to cross the road.

I enjoy reading about technological development on newspapers and on the internet. I find the new scientific magazines particularly interesting and I learnt a lot by reading these magazines. Also by reading these new magazines about computing and other technological developments I can stay up to date with the new discoveries. I also enjoy playing football and cricket, currently me and my friend play football every weekend, these activity allows me to escape academic pressure and also helps me to stay fit. I believe I possess all the qualities required to study Computer Science and I am excited by the possibilities to study computer science at your university.

Txxxx Uxxxx

25th October 2018

Why this example works — strengths and ways to improve

Your statement contains genuinely useful evidence, especially the teacher-scoring program and the electronics alarm and crossing projects, but these are buried beneath generic self-description and lists of topics. Reflection on what you learned, what went wrong, or what you want to study next is thin. Tightening the language and developing two or three projects in depth would make your motivation far more convincing.

Subject motivation

it made me think how they work

Your curiosity about what happens behind the graphical interface is a sincere starting point, but it stays general. You never say which aspect of computing now excites you most or what you hope to explore at degree level, so the motivation reads as broad interest rather than a developed direction.

Academic preparation

I found it very interesting learning about networking, and computer processors

You show relevant study across computing, IT and electronics, plus Python and Visual Studio. However, you name topics without showing understanding. Explaining one concept about processors or networking that changed how you think would demonstrate preparation more convincingly than listing subjects and grades.

Evidence and reflection

help the teacher to find the best student in his class

This is concrete and promising: a real user with a real need. What is missing is reflection. How did you store and rank the data, what problem did you hit, and what did building for someone else teach you? Without that, the example shows activity but not learning.

Relevant experience

working alongside the IT team members to assist customers

The ANS placement is relevant, but you only assert that it gave insight. Describe one customer problem and what it showed you about how systems fail or are supported. The restaurant job is valid evidence, yet communication and teamwork are claimed rather than illustrated with a specific moment.

Credibility and voice

I believe I possess all the qualities required

The opening string of adjectives and this closing claim make assertions the reader cannot test. Your voice is strongest when you describe what you built. Phrases like "most of them users" and "how technology work" also suggest the draft needs careful proofreading.

Structure and format

Electronics helped me learn how circuit board chips are programmed

Paragraphs are organised loosely by subject, so Sixth Form computing and electronics are split by the work-experience paragraph. Some ideas repeat, such as interest and increased passion, and some sentences run on. Grouping projects together and cutting repetition would free space for analysis.

What you’ve done well

Your security alarm and pelican crossing projects show you applying programming to physical systems with a clear purpose, including accessibility through sound.
The teacher scoring program shows that you can identify a user's need and build a working solution for it.

How this draft could improve

Replace the opening list of personal qualities with a specific moment or problem that sparked your interest, then let your projects show those qualities.
Choose two projects and explain your design decisions, the difficulties you faced and what you would improve. Cut the topic lists to make room.
Name a specific article or development you read about and explain why it matters to you, instead of mentioning magazines in general.

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