17th December 2012 9:00
By Blue Tutors
A new report by Educational Charity the Sutton Trust shows that personal statements for university applications reveal sharp inequalities between state and private school applicants. Students from independent schools are more likely to stand out in personal statements, as their applications are generally better written, and list more prestigious activities.
The research conducted by the trust compared the statements of 300 pupils with identical grades applying to the same department at a prestigious university. They found that whilst the students had the same grades, students from independent schools listed more prestigious activities such as internships at law firms and international agencies, and had fewer grammatical errors.
The report recommended that universities put more weight on aspects of the statement which focussed on what the applicants would bring to their studies and university life. Universities should take into account the fact that state school students were less likely to receive a lot of help with their statements, and less likely to have had the chance to complete prestigious internships