Personal Statement

[rockyracoon]

Leading on from my other thread about my daughter doing a Latin course, well she's decided to apply, she's happily answered a couple of relevant questions but got stuck on personal statement. Does anyone know what they are looking for here, I've never completed one before so I'm a bit lost, my idea would be to explain her commitment to school and homework and how she could fit in the course without derailing her compulsary work blah blah, what else should she put?

[rockyracoon]

Sorry, meant to say thanks for any replies :)

[grasscarp]

The reasons that she is applying and how it fits on with her ambitions I would guess.

[rockyracoon]

One of the questions asks what she wants to gain from the course so she's sort of covered that there.

[Connemmara]

sorry rocky I don't know!!! - But I did learn Latin in my day - What exams/questions kids have to go through - never to use them again!!!

[grasscarp]

I too have Latin o level. It came in very useful when I met my Italian husband as it made learning that language fairly easy.

[DJHawkes]

why she has chosen to apply for the course, how she will use it and make it relevent to her future.

[DJHawkes]

http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/whystudyclassics/a/whystudylatin.htm

[Connemmara]

grasscarp - you don't need Latin to understand Italian. LOL

[sherrardk]

I am really rusty on personal statements, but her school should have someone who can help her write a spot-on personal statement. There is a 'formula' to them.

[rockyracoon]

I blood knew it, thanks Sherr. God knows who she'd ask though, it needs to be in on Monday!

Thanks for all your replies :)

[grasscarp]

Knowing Latin did help a lot in mastering the Italian language. Because of the declensions and verb endings it is still helping me now as I am learning Russian. Also 70% of English words have Latin roots. For anyone studying language it is invaluable.

[sherrardk]

What year is she in at school?

[Ric.ror]

Oh how I envy her
Learning Latin is on my bucket list

[Connemmara]

sherrardk - hope your hubby is on the mend. Rocky - sorry for the tangent.

[sherrardk]

Conne, he's in ICU but he has managed to ring and speak to everyone - they seem almost amazed by how well he is doing. Thanks for asking.

[rockyracoon]

Sherr she's in yr 7, course to start sept if she's successful.

[sherrardk]

Hi RR, I associate 'personal statements' with a students applying for uni. She could maybe ask the head of sixth form for some tips but she won't need anything quite so polished as a sixth form student. I have read it, but this might give you some pointers to help her out - http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/undergraduate/filling-your-application/your-personal-statement

Although, I think it is a big ask to want a personal statement from a 11/12 year old.

[pixie373]

She needs to make herself stand out. She will have listed qualifications, etc. This is for her to write about her hobbies, strengths, talents, why she'll be an asset to the college. Also, personal attributes, such as being reliable, friendly etc etc.

[FredPuli43]

I think you have covered most points. But I would add why she wants to study Latin. I did Latin at A Level. The attraction is that it's a language which is so different from other, modern, languages (and yes, I include Italian in that) and presents some interesting challenges which appeal, it has great literature, particularly poetry, which means more when read in the original, though you may not be perfect in doing so, it does come with practice. (She may say "so I have learned or been told" about that).

If anyone thinks that Latin is like modern languages, you have to ask which of the languages has no regard to word order; Latin doesn't care what order the words in a sentence are in, except that adjectives ought to be next to their noun, to avoid confusion between two nouns which they could relate to. And which can you instantly translate by knowing Latin?

[FredPuli43]

I see from others that a personal statement is more than I suggested, but I still think that you can Latin in somewhere!