This is the third narrative in this series—each one imagined from real student replies to 4 simple questions. This narrative is a bit more creative and stylized than the others, to show how even a surreal or poetic angle can carry emotional weight and meaning. It's all about what feels most natural to you. What I pulled from answers: - Childhood habit: Talking to objects about philosophical questions - Personality: Quiet, intelligent - Dream: Professor, Researcher, Lecturer - Future direction I imagined: English & Philosophy major/minor ❗Disclaimer: Everything beyond these details is imagined. And as always, this is just a first draft—specificity, emotional layering, and a stronger take-away will be needed for a final essay. __________________________________ ✏️ Hook At nine, I stood on my bed and explained mortality to the ceiling fan. 🔍 Intro - I’d just learned that stars die. That even the biggest, brightest things end. I stared up and said, “When you stop spinning, will the dust remember you?” - I liked talking to objects that didn’t interrupt. It made space for questions I didn’t know how to say to people. - I wasn’t lonely. Just overflowing—and quiet about it. 💥 Heart / Conflict - At a sleepover, I asked someone, “Do you ever feel like your body’s just your body—but your real self is floating somewhere nearby, watching?” - They froze. Then laughed. That Monday, someone passed me in the hallway and whispered “ghost girl.” - I smiled. Pretended I didn’t care. But that night, I didn’t say anything to the fan. For the first time, it spun without me speaking. - I started shrinking the parts of myself that made people tilt their heads. When someone asked how my weekend was, I said “good.” When I wanted to talk about how rain feels like static, I said “kinda wet.” 🌱 Growth / Resolution - I didn’t stop thinking strangely. I just stopped saying it out loud. - I wrote instead. Voice notes I never sent. A folder called “Conversations That Didn’t Happen.” And eventually, I shared fragments online—in quiet forums, in late-night threads, in posts that disappeared after a few hours. - And people responded. “That made me feel less weird.” “I’ve never heard anyone say it like that.” I realized I wasn’t alone. Just on a different frequency—and maybe part of my job is tuning others into it. I used to think I had to translate myself to fit in. Now I want to build spaces where depth isn’t confusing—it’s invited. - Whether I’m writing, teaching, or building quiet spaces for reflection, I don’t want to flatten weirdness. I want to make it legible—to the right people. - The fan still spins above me sometimes. I still talk to it. But more and more, I talk to people too. And not just when I’ve practiced—but when I need to be heard.

1️⃣ Step 1: Explore - Filled out Worksheet: DONE ✅ Top 3 priorities I realized: - Academic focused - Research opportunities - Independent learning environment 2️⃣ Step 2: Narrow Down 1. Imperial College London -- Fame and reputation in research. 2. University College London -- The exploration vibe it gives off and the interdisciplinarity. 3. University of Oxford - This has been my aim all along. The reputation in research and Campus visuals. 3️⃣ Step 3: Research - Used Tracker: DONE ✅ School 1: Imperial College London - GPA: 3.60 - SAT: 1200 - Course: Mathematics and Computer Science - EC: Join a society like Taekwondo or Pilates - Take-away: I do appreciate Imperial's academic rigor and research-focused environment. However Imperial feels like 'here's the grind, survive it', but I'm looking for a feel that says 'here's the path, let's explore it together'! School 2: University College London - GPA: 3.5 - SAT: 1490 - Course: Computer Science - EC: Researching on psychology taking advantage of UCL's electives - Take-away: UCL is an amazing Uni with a flexible system that lets you take electives outside your major, which I love; the only thing I notice is that 57% of students are foreigners—hope that won’t be an issue, but I’m definitely curious to learn more about the Uni! School 3: University of Oxford - GPA: 3.7 (UK equivalent(more specific): First class or Upper Second class) - SAT: 1470 - Course: Computer Science - EC: Doing projects and researching with Ellison Institute of Technology - Take-away: This Uni is PERFECT for me. Well reputed. Academic focused. Research opportunities. Independent learning environment. Top faculties. I love their tutoring system. THE TUTORIALS!! 4️⃣ Step 4: Failed. No luck... I had fun!! Thank You!!

***Update*** Loved all the replies here! I will not be taking any more requests on this post. The two (soon three) “Mock Personal Statement Narrative” posts I created should serve as great and sufficient examples! The posts are linked in the “One-stop-hub” (the pinned post at the top of this page). 🙏🏼💪🏼 ******* Many students worry they don’t have anything unique to say in their personal statement. “Nothing big or dramatic has happened to me.” “My life isn't interesting enough.” “I’m not sure what colleges want to hear.” But you don’t need a life-changing event to write a powerful essay. You just need a real story—something honest and specific to you. Because no one else has your exact mix of experiences, perspective, and personality, you already have something worth telling. 👉 If you answer the 4 questions below, I’ll write a short personal statement narrative based on your answers—just to show you how much story is already in your life. ❕You won’t be able to use it in your actual application (I’ll be filling in the blanks with my own imagination). My goal is to prove that everyone has the raw material for a powerful essay. 👉 Write your answers in the comments (no overthinking): 1️⃣ What were three things you genuinely loved doing as a kid? Not what you were told to do—what you chose. Think Pokémon, baking experiments, comic books, building things, drawing, anything. 2️⃣ What are three words your friends would use to describe you? Be honest. Not résumé words—actual personality traits. 3️⃣ What are two or three dream jobs or lives—if anything were possible? Not what’s expected. Just what feels exciting, interesting, or fulfilling to you. Examples: 🎨 “I’d design video game worlds and write the stories behind them.” 🌿 “I’d live on a quiet farm, grow my own food, and write a book.” 🔍 “I’d research ancient languages and explore lost civilizations.” 4️⃣ What’s one small thing that felt hard for you? Not dramatic—just something that felt frustrating, awkward, or confusing in the moment. Doesn’t need to be school-related. Write in 1 sentence (max 3 sentences) what happened.

Applying to UK universities is very different from applying to the US. The process is more standardized, and admissions are based almost entirely on academics rather than extracurriculars. Here’s how it works! 📌 1. What Are the Entry Requirements? UK universities recognize different high school qualifications from around the world. The most common are: - A-Levels (UK system): Most students apply with 3 A-Level subjects relevant to their degree. Some competitive programs (like CS at Oxbridge) prefer Further Maths. - IB (International Baccalaureate): You’ll need a minimum total score and specific Higher Level (HL) subjects matching your intended course. - Other National Diplomas (e.g. Indian CBSE, South African NSC): Some universities accept these directly, while others require an extra foundation year before starting the degree. 📌 How do you know if your diploma is accepted? Check the university’s website under "International Entry Requirements" or use the UCAS country guide. 💡 Example: For Computer Science at Russell Group universities, you may need: - A-Levels: AAA (Maths, Further Maths, one other) - IB: 40-42 points with HL Maths 📝 Do You Need an Admissions Test? Some competitive programs require entrance exams: - Maths/CS: MAT (Oxford), STEP (Cambridge, Imperial, Warwick) - Law: LNAT (Oxford, UCL, KCL, etc.) - Medicine: UCAT or BMAT 📌 Not all universities require tests—check each university’s course page for details. 📌 2. How to Apply (UCAS Explained) Unlike in the US, where you apply to each university separately, all UK applications go through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)—the centralized system for university admissions. ✅ You can apply to up to 5 universities. 🚨 You submit the same personal statement for all of them, so your application must focus on one subject area. What’s Included in a UCAS Application? 1️⃣ Predicted Grades: Since UK offers are conditional, universities look at the grades your school predicts you’ll achieve.

I am Najda. I am from India. I have been here for a while. I joined this community in hope of building a strong application for University and it's been very helpful and amazing so far! Thank you.