What is a University Statement?

A university statement is a simple, descriptive and informative piece of academic writing which comprises the major ideas or critical points about a certain aspect of a college, university, and/or graduate school which includes academic freedom, ethical value, bank information, board of trustees, student organization, libraries collection development policy, mission and vision, value proposition, non-discrimination, conduct policy, school department rule, confidentiality rule, research work, graduate studies and many others. This is a beneficial document for academic professionals like school instructors, college/university/graduate school professors, as well as college students, undergraduates, and graduates to provide fundamental information about important matters affecting their studies, achievement of their career goals and aspirations, and their respective college, universities or graduate schools. Students also share the value and impact of their research, particularly on how their university will bring about outstanding contributions to a specific field in the future.

According to a recent statistical report, Tufts University has granted acceptances to just 9% of its nearly 35,000 applicants which appears to be the lowest since it began tracking the data. The university officials explained that college applications have skyrocketed by 50% since 2020. Rice University revealed its strong acceptance rate which is just 8.56% from more than 31,000 applications with the inclusion of its most diverse pools. Princeton had the third-lowest acceptance rate in the nation at. 3.98%, trailing only Harvard (3.43%) and Stanford (3.6%). On the other hand, the private university with one of the highest application numbers in the nation in 2021 and this year 2022 is New York University with a 5% increase to 105,000. Thus, it is very important for college students, undergraduate and  graduate students and new college/university professionals to develop various effective university statements.

Different Types of  University Statements

What matters to college or university success? Most people will tell you that having the ability and efficiency in writing properly is at the top of their lists. They often say that writing is integral not only to succeeding in college or university but also to learning sufficiently in college and even making the most of college. Many students in various academic institutions have also come to know and understand that learning to write proficiently across wide-ranging contexts signifies a complex phenomenon and discerning that complexity is fundamental to facilitating the successful consequential transitions of the students. However, what are different types of university statements that you, as well as other students and professionals like faculty, administrators, employers and many others need to develop? Below are different types of university statements that you may consider:

1. University Statement in Academic Freedom

In this type of university statement, you will be focusing on the main purpose of the university which is promoting the exploration of ideas and the discovery and dissemination of knowledge and understanding. Emphasize in your university statement that the university is to be an open forum for ideas and issues to be raised, challenged and tested as the academic freedom is the cornerstone of a university. Describe the statement of principles on academic freedom in your statement. For example, indicate that the teachers are entitled to complete freedom in research and in the publication of results, subject to the sufficient performance of their academic duties and the teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom min discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce their teaching controversial subject matter which has no connection in their subject. Also, include that the college and university teachers are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution. When they are speaking or writing as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, however their special position in the community established special obligations.

2. University Statement of Ethical Values

Do you need to write a university statement of ethical values? Point out in your university statement that the members of your university community are committed to the highest ethical standards in the pursuit of your mission of teaching, research and public service. Explain how your university policies, procedures, and standards offer guidance for application of the ethical values stated in your university statement in everyday life and work as community members. For instance, highlight the ethical values you want to aim in providing to your community such as integrity, accountability, excellence, and respect. For integrity, indicate the university community members will conduct with integrity in their dealings with and on behalf of your university. For accountability, indicate that the members will be accountable as individuals and as members of the community for their ethical conduct and for compliance with applicable laws and university policies and directives.

3. Graduate Admission University Statement 

Do you love conducting research? Do you enjoy designing methodologies that will prove or disprove hypotheses and live with the results either way? Graduate school is a great opportunity to pursue your passions without regard to any immediate industrial or economic benefit and you are truly a candidate for graduate school. Based on the book Graduate Admissions Essays 4th Edition, make sure that you apply to regular graduate programs at the same time because no one should be so confident as to expect they will win one of those elite scholarships. Also, don’t even consider modeling your essay too closely on someone else’s example. Remember that you need to learn and understand how to write the best graduate admission university statement for your own unique background.

4. University Department of Social Work Personal Statement

If you want to apply in the department of social work program in your chosen college/university, write your personal statement or admission essay by discussing your current career goal and interest for your professional work. What professional work would you want to be doing in the first five years after your graduation with the degree? What would you prefer to achieve as a professional social worker if you knew failure was impossible? Describe your personal assets you want to show to the role of professional social work student if you are admitted. Tell about your personal strengths, academic strengths, social network strengths and leadership strengths, your methods on using your personal strengths, your limitations as a professional social worker and personal contributions to the department of social work and the social work profession. Narrate your experience with the oppressed population including ethnic, racial, sexual orientation, persons with disabilities and many others and explain how that experience affected you and your decision to pursue a master in social work.

Basic Components of a University Statement 

Ben Atkins, Law Admissions Manager at University of Birmingham, said: “The personal statement is not only an excellent opportunity to showcase applicants individual skills, knowledge, and achievements, but it also provides us with an insight into the type of student they aspire to be and how they could fit into the academic community.” In this section, you will learn how to craft an impeccably-written university statement so that you are able to draw the attention of the readers of your university statement which include the university admission committee, administrators, and many others. However, a university statement contains different kinds of components. Take into account of the following elements for you to create a one-of-a-kind document:

Personal Background and Academic Accomplishments: The most crucial component of a university statement is the personal background and academic accomplishments. It showcases a striking statement of your academic accomplishments, project experiences, internships or research experiences, leadership and extracurricular involvement, and any other significant experiences. Point out any techniques or skill sets that are related to the graduate or university program to which you are applying. Highlight how those accomplishments and experiences have prepared you for graduate school. Personal Career Goals, Interests and Specific Area of Study: Emphasize why you need this specific degree and area of study to advance your career goals and aspirations. Include some of your primary goals, interests and the area of focus. Clarify what you prefer about this particular college or graduate degree and program and why. Explanation of Your College/University Preference: Explain why you want to attend this specific college/university and department and study under specific faculty members. Discus with the university faculty members who inspire your interests before the preparation of your graduate school/university application. Reference those discussions in your university statement. Future Career Goals:It is important that you clearly articulate what you like to do with your college/graduate school degree, and why you need this certain education in order to achieve the opportunities you are interested in. Choose several areas of your selected program that really call to you and point out those aspects. Set a clear direction and well-defined path when developing your university statement. Professionalism: While writing your university statement, you need to uphold the professional tone of the document, and avoid making it sound casual. Keep a friendly tone with a proper balance of formality. Be mindful, responsible, and ethical at all times.

How to Write a University Statement

Several studies concerning writing in students transitioning from high school to college and towards college then to graduate school reveal that successful writing requires transforming or repurposing prior knowledge for a new context to sufficiently meet the expectations of new audiences and achieve new writing purposes. Also, research findings demonstrated that students in the study were exposed to more writing and a broader variety of skills in high school than during their first year of study at a certain university. Are you having a hard time writing your university statement? In this matter, we suggest that you follow the simple steps below while freely using one of our sample university statement templates in this article:

Step 1: Remember the Basics 

What are the basics of writing a university personal statement? Be clear and concise in your usage of words as the more concentrated the points and facts, the more powerful your statement will be. Include positive and wholesome words like achieved, developed, learned, discovered, commitment and enthusiasm. Avoid contrived or grandiose language. Rather use short and simple sentences in plain English. Incorporate proof of your learning and growth wherever possible to solidify your claims and statements. While planning for your university statement, think of what you would write in an essay or letter of job/scholarship application. Divide your statement into five or six paragraphs, with headings if appropriate. 

Step 2: Construct Your Dissertation Paragraph

Next, construct the dissertation paragraph effectively. To accomplish this section, you need to define your major goal and purpose of sending your application to your chosen college/university. This is fundamental during university admission interviews because it acts as the basis for several university admission committees to understand your determination and willingness in applying for a certain degree program in their university. If you are an aspiring researcher who wants to further your academic research studies, develop a clear and concise description about the research project you are working on. Include theoretical frameworks, primary research questions, discovered results of your academic research, and many others.

Step 3: Explain Your Choice and Interest

Discuss where you plan to venture your college/university or graduate degree studies or your research work. Explain carefully your ideas that may be linked to your academic studies and research projects while not overstating your degree or research agenda. Your degree or graduate studies and research work should be manageable within a specific period of time. Tell what you would want to work on for the next five years and what you can realistically accomplish in that amount of time. Include any external recognition of your academic accomplishments or research work such as publications, grants, funding, or awards.

Step 4: Showcase Accuracy and Coherence

Showcasing accuracy in your university statement writing allows you to demonstrate how accurately the measured value or findings in your academic accomplishments or research work reflect the original values. Your university statement must be solidified by evidence rather than storytelling. State facts about what you completed and why it matters for your discipline. On the other hand, coherence is a fundamental factor in preserving the smooth flow of the sentences together. 

Step 5: Highlight Your Skills and Future Contribution 

What are the advantages and contributions of your skills and future contribution in the university you want to apply? Point out the unique value and contribution of your skills and research work. Tell your readers the significance of your skills as you identify how you greatly contribute to your chosen university and department. 

Step 6: Prepare the Final Draft

Expect that your document will have to undergo multiple revisions. Draft and redraft as many times as you must. Ask for some help from your mentors and other professionals in the department you have been applying to provide their honest feedback in your document for effective proofreading and revision of your statement. In this way, you can submit your university statement correctly. After that, prepare the final draft of your university statement.

FAQs

What will university admission tutors and committee members look for in your university personal statement?

University admission tutors and committee members are interested in how you express your academic record and potential. So you need to highlight your motivation and commitment, leadership, teamwork and communication, research into your selected subject and any fundamental notable skills. 

What are the fundamental elements of a university statement?

When preparing your university statement, you need to consider these fundamental elements such as a brief introduction of your dissertation, your main purpose, goals and objectives in your college/university application, significance of your skills and future contributions, benefits, etc.

What are some examples of a university statement?

Some examples of a university statement are university statement in academic freedom, university statement of faith, university statement of ethical values, university board of trustees statement, university statement of financial responsibility, university diversity statement, university personal statement, university libraries collection development policy statement, university petition instructor statement, university mission statement and community ideals, university and student organizations statement, university value proposition statement, university non-discrimination statement, and university statement of confidentiality.

How to make a statement of purpose?

When making a statement of purpose (SOP), it is essential that you discuss your long-term goal and connect it with your idea of pursuing the course you are applying to and present  your understanding of the chosen field and write how you want to contribute to that field in the first paragraph. Explain your background and you may include an anecdote which helped you in your professional interest in the selected field. Describe your academic background and professional experience. Explain why you want to join the course.  Elaborate your short and long-term goals. Convince them why you selected their university. Lastly, make a conclusion on your desire and determination towards joining the course.

What is a purpose statement in qualitative research?

The purpose statement in qualitative research is the overall objective or intent of the research study. In some academic research projects it is called the study aim or study goal. It is the most crucial statement in your qualitative research. It is a statement that communicates your research to your readers.

In order to be successful in writing a clear and comprehensive university statement, students need to have the proper skills and proficiencies in writing a wide range of genres, purpose, and audience. They also need to be able to complete short and longer written pieces of academic writing and be aware of the register and structure of their writing.  Give your best effort in accomplishing some sorts of academic writing forms and assignments so that you can practice your writing skills and apply them in writing a compelling university statement. Thus, we recommend that you carefully follow the aforementioned tips and steps in this article so that you are able to craft a compelling and unique university statement. Plus, download our sample university statements here today including  university personal statement examples, university libraries collection development policy statement templates, university mission statement and community ideals examples, university and student organizations statement templates, university value proposition statement examples, and many others