personal statement for sports psychology

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Psychology Personal Statement Guide

Writing a personal statement is not simple, as it demands a lot from you. It requires you to be introspective and analytical about your opinions, interests, and motivations. It wants you to show yourself to your best advantage without coming across as arrogant and boastful . It asks you to convince people you’ve never met to offer a place on their course to someone they have little knowledge of. All of this in 4000 characters or fewer? Not so easy.

This guide is designed to help you navigate this challenging, but hopefully ultimately rewarding, task by taking you through what makes a good and a not-so-good psychology personal statement. It will give you a very good idea of what a personal statement is and isn’t, as well as what admissions tutors are looking for, and how to present yourself in the best light. The guide will lead you through the following points:

• Why are Personal Statements Important?
• What Should I Include in a Psychology Personal Statement?  
• What Should I Avoid in a Psychology Personal Statement?  

Advice on How to Start a Psychology Personal Statement  

Advice on how to finish a psychology personal statement  .

What Should I Avoid in a Psychology Personal Statement ?  

While personal statements should be personal to you, yours should not be about your own psychological or mental health history . Even if some or all of your motivation for studying the subject stems from this, it would be inappropriate to state as much since you should retain a scientifically objective interest in the formal academic subject beyond how it might be relevant to you personally.

You should also avoid talking about how the degree might help you to understand your own mentality or psychological health as this isn’t a guaranteed outcome of the course, and could suggest you’ve misunderstood what it involves.

Remember to maintain a formal, professional, and academic detachment and tone throughout.

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The start of your personal statement should set out why you’re interested in the subject and why you’d like to study it at university.

You should always avoid using quotations or clichés as these come across as hackneyed; instead, use simple and straightforward language that is appealing and memorable . You want to create a good impression through your own words, not someone else’s.

If you’re struggling with the first line, it might help to draft some reasons for your interest and motivation separately and incorporate these later. Once you have begun, make sure your statement follows a sensible order and that its structure is clear from reading it.

Like with the initial impression from the statement’s introduction, the final impression made on the reader should be a positive one that excites them and leaves them with a genuine sense of who you are and why you’re applying.

Without repeating what you’ve already said, you should try to emphasise the extent of your interest and why you’d like to study psychology. Plans for how you'd like to expand your academic performance at university can come into this section, as can any ambitions the degree could assist you with further down the line.

The important point to remember is that you want to leave the reader thinking it would be the best course of action to invite you to an interview or make you an offer

• What are some Tips for Writing a Strong Psychology Personal Statement?
• How Long Should my Psychology Personal Statement Be?
• What Kind of Extracurricular Activities Should I Include in my Psychology Personal Statement?
• How Can I Tailor my Psychology Personal Statement to the Oxford/Cambridge Course?

Refine your interests by looking into the broad areas of psychology that most universities will offer, e.g. developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, etc. Do some research into what appeals most to you through books and articles, and take notes so you can highlight your own personal informed interests where appropriate throughout the statement. This will give a much better impression than repeating what you know from your school syllabus.

Try to mention in the statement the academic skills you already possess and how these might equip you for success during the degree, e.g. your mathematical competency for dealing with statistics, or your experimental experience in the sciences. If you’ve won any academic prizes or awards, then by all means mention them but only if they’re made relevant to your ultimate study of psychology.

Your statement will be restricted to 4000 characters (including spaces) or to 47 lines of the UCAS form, whichever you reach first. Needless to say, such a limit makes every word count even more than usual, so it’s best to try to use all 4000 characters to express everything you need to. Create a list of points you want to include and tick them off to ensure you don’t omit anything.

So many activities you do outside the classroom will be underpinned by psychology, e.g. playing or coaching sports, gaming, and interacting with animals to name a few. Anything you do mention should go towards establishing your profile as a capable and skilled potential student of psychology, but these activities don’t necessarily need to relate directly – they could teach you different skills that would come in useful during the degree, such as research skills or empathy. Any mention of non-academic pursuits should be kept to a minimum and always related back to the subject you intend to study.

Whilst you cannot make your statement too specific to any one university, there are certain things you can do to ensure Oxbridge tutors know you are thinking of them.

Oxford and Cambridge value intellectual curiosity, an appreciation of interdisciplinary interest, and flexible thinking that allows you to test ideas. It’s therefore advisable to consider what evidence you have of these attributes which you can incorporate into your statement. Good examples of this would be challenging current ways of thinking, going beyond the confines of your school syllabus, or conducting an experiment with surprising results. In addition, given the system of small group teaching at the two universities and the onus they place on independent study, showing some evidence of academic autonomy would help to prove your suitability for their courses.

Book your Psychology Personal Statement Package

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Sports science degree courses: read the small print

Sport degrees come with many different titles and flavours, ranging from those that are very science-based, to those approaching sport from a cultural, development, or management angle. Such as, it’s important to give lots of thought to the kind of course that most closely meets your personal needs and expectations. Choose carefully, and focus your personal statement accordingly.

Don’t judge a course just by its title either, because there are often distinct differences between courses with the same name. Even courses with the word ‘science’ in the title will vary considerably in the level of scientific knowledge they expect.

Sports science personal statement pointers

Durham University's website has a really helpful checklist for students applying for its sport, exercise, and physical activity degree, and suggests focusing your statement around questions such as:

• Why do you want to study it?
• What specifically interests or excites you about the subject?
• What have you read, seen, or heard about recently that intrigues you about the subject?
• What current issues do you want to learn more about?
• Is there a specific part of the course that interests you?
• What are your own achievements and ambitions?
• What relevant experience, skills, or qualities can you offer?

The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences says that the qualities graduates find most helpful in their subsequent careers are time management, communication, organisation, negotiation, and presentation skills – so, if you can demonstrate any of those, all the better.

But don't waste space quoting famous sports stars who have inspired you. As Bournemouth University’s admissions tutor said: 'I’m really fed up of Muhammad Ali quotes.'

Show your personality in your sports science statement

Admissions tutors Tom Webb and Jo Corbett at the University of Portsmouth really want to hear your voice and personality come through in your statement. Think about some of these questions:

• What makes you different?
• What part does sport play in your life, and why is it important to you?
• Do you know where you want to be in five years’ time? If so, don’t be afraid to say.
• What experience of sport do you have?
• Is your personality running through your personal statement? Studying and working in sport is often about interacting with people and being a 'people person.'

Remember – don't overlook that this is also a science course. You'll need to demonstrate your awareness of this, particularly if you’re applying for a sport degree that involves rigorous scientific study

All sport and no science won’t impress

We also had some great advice from the Sport and Exercise Science degree at University of Bath, which they themselves stressed is very much ‘a science course in which sport is just the context in which you study science.’ Their advice once again is that your statement needs to focus around the specific courses you’re applying for, and to answer the question: ‘Why do I want to study this subject further at degree level?’

So while you might be very tempted to write several paragraphs about all your sporting achievements, you’ve got to ask yourself if it’s relevant. As far as this particular course at Bath is concerned, all sport and no science won’t impress.

Some of your sporting successes could also be covered in your reference, saving precious space in your personal statement to talk more about science. Another approach might be to write about scientific issues that relate to your own performance.

Bath also gave us a tip for applicants who might want to apply for two or more different types of sport course within your five choices. Their advice is ‘can you write a personal statement that covers them all? It’s perfectly possible to do this. The secret is not to write 50% on one course and 50% on the other, but to blend your content in a way that makes 100% of your statement highly relevant to both courses.’

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How to Create your Personal Statement for Psychology

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Odds are, if you are at the stage of writing a personal statement, then you are more than likely preparing applications for graduate schools in psychology. Below find out what it is, why you need one, and get some pointers on crafting a personal statement that will put your best foot forward with the admissions committees.

What is a Personal Statement?

Commonly referred to as a “statement of purpose”, and by some as an “application essay”, a personal statement is your opportunity to introduce and  sell yourself to a desired graduate program or college . In most cases, the personal statement can serve as the defining factor that allows students to stand out in a pool of applicants with equally high GPAs and test scores. Plus, a stellar statement of purpose could also help the applications of students who have unfavorable scores and grades.

Before You Begin…

Consider the type of personal statement required of you:.

Personal statements can range from  a few paragraphs to several one-page essays  that address different topics. They will vary widely between programs and schools, which means that you might craft quite a few of these application essays if you seek admission into various programs.

The objective of these statements all share a common thread: for the graduate committee to get a clear understanding of your career and academic aspirations as well as a sample of your writing abilities (a skill of utmost importance for comprehensive graduate study).

If Topics Are Chosen By You

The specific expectations of a statement of purpose might vary. Some schools might leave the direction and objective of the essay up to the applicant. In cases, you have the freedom to choose what you write about although, as a rule of thumb,  essays should take on a professional/ academic focus  rather than be personal or autobiographical. Don’t confuse personal statement with a long essay about your life growing up.

Instead, demonstrate your best attributes by outlining your fit, interests, previous experiences, servant leadership, research and courses you have taken that affirmed your dedication to the field of study. If you were not given specific questions, then be sure to touch bases with all of these that are relevant to your background in a logical and consistent manner.

If Topics Are Chosen By the Program

Other schools may provide you with a list of specific questions to answer pertaining to your career objectives and how obtaining an education with the particular program may advance you towards your goals.

Examples of specific topics outlined by graduate schools in psychology include:

Explain any previous work experience or teaching experiences you have in the field of psychology and why those experiences make you a strong candidate for our program.

Explain your long-term career goals.

Why do you think this program is a good fit for you?

How do you think this program can help you further your career objectives?

How has your previous education prepared you to take on study at the graduate or professional level?

What experience do you have conducting research? Rate your interest in conducting research.

What practitioners, researchers, or authors in the field of psychology have influenced your interest in this area of study?

Reflect on these questions or topic areas for a while before starting the writing process. Review your resume for direction about skills, experiences, or even lack of experience that you’ll want to identify and elaborate on in your paper. Write a list of attributes that you think describe you and consider how they are relevant to your interest in pursuing higher education.

During and After Writing…

Express your motivation.

When developing a statement of purpose for graduate schools in psychology, you will want to write at length about your particular interests, motivation, and passion for the field of study. Consider what experiences or traits you have that make you a better candidate than the hundreds of other applicants vying to gain admission.

Back up your expression of motivation with hard facts. The admissions committee wants a well-rounded candidate with a number of professional experiences that have helped clarify their ability to handle graduate study. Simply going on and on about how bad you want to be in the program with no relevant experiences that support that claim may not win you any favor.

Be Honest and Clear

When preparing a document that is virtually serving as a personal advertisement, you will write at length about the skills you possess that strengthen your application: academic curiosity, flexibility, maturity, persistence, and professionalism among others. When elaborating on your strengths, be sure to do so with respect to their relevance and importance. Do not go on about a characteristic that could be considered minor or irrelevant.

Also, be mindful of stating your goals and interests clearly and honestly. If you are not interested in a particular area, then leave out that information. Do not express an interest or ability that you do not have. It’s significant to discuss your weaknesses as well. If you have low test scores or a less-than-spectacular GPA, point that out in advance. Explain, if appropriate, why these aspects of your application are weak and follow up with a plan to rectify those aspects if you are accepted into graduate school.

Summary Points to Remember

• At this point, you can’t change your college or graduate school entrance test scores or your grade point average. You can, however, make a significant impact during the applications process by developing a well-written statement of purpose.
• Avoid writing at length about your personal history. Stick to the qualities and experiences that are relevant to your growth and abilities in the field of psychology.
• Answer all questions from the application and be sure to meet the page or word count requirements.
• Be sure to clearly and honestly relate your experiences and interests, also taking time to point out both strengths and weaknesses. Share how you plan to overcome those weaknesses or use them to your advantage.
• Ask someone else to look over your statement of purpose–an advisor or professor in your department–who can give you straightforward feedback on its content.
• Customize each personal statement to the program or school you are applying. Elaborate on how that particular program can assist you in reaching your goals.
• During revisions, pay attention to the strength and dynamism of your opening paragraph. Your goal is to hook the readers and give them the desire to keep reading.

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FSU | College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences

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College of education, health, and human sciences, sport psychology.

In Florida State University’s Sport Psychology graduate programs, you will receive a solid understanding of theory and research as it relates to sport psychology. 

Specifically, you will gain an understanding of the science of the psychology of athlete performance and welfare. You will also have opportunities to join research teams, build research skills, and, in our Sport Psychology Laboratory, learn to use technologies that support research projects in the field of sport psychology. Learn more about our Sport Psychology Laboratory here . 

The rigorous training provided in the science of sport psychology enables our graduates to confidently enter employment in higher education and the sport and performance industries. Our former students work in universities all over the world and help support mental performance in a wide range of settings including college and professional sports and the military. 

While the focus of our graduate programs is on the science of sport psychology, we also offer optional opportunities to apply this understanding by working with athletes to help them learn to use mental skills that enhance their performance and welfare. We have established links allowing hands-on experiences with clubs and teams operating at the recreational, youth, high school, college, and semi-professional levels in the local area. Mentorship is provided to students who are involved in applied work and seeking Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) status through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). 

Master’s students typically obtain 40-100 hours of direct contact hours with athletes over two years; 200 are required for CMPC certification. Students will also receive 25 hours of mentorship countable towards CMPC; 50 are required for CMPC certification. PhD students can expect to obtain more hours. Note that CMPC is a certification, not a license, meaning students are not able to use the title “sport psychologist” upon graduation. 

Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate study is a two-fold evaluation process. The Office of Admissions determines eligibility for admission to the University, and the academic department, program, or college determines admissibility to the degree program. University graduate admissions requirements are found at  https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions . Academic programs have additional requirements. 

Florida State University requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for all applicants that have degrees from a non-U.S. institution. International and domestic applicants with degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through a NACES approved evaluator for transcripts from a non-U.S. institution. SpanTran has created a custom application for Florida State University that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. See the “Transcript Requirement” section on The Graduate School website,  https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions , for detailed information on University transcript requirements for graduate admission.

In order to meet minimum program admission requirements, an applicant must have:

• For application to the master’s degree program:  A bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA  – An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree.  
• For application to the doctoral degree program:  A graduate degree with at least a 3.5 GPA – Applicants for the PhD program must have an earned graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA). Students admitted to the doctoral program are expected to have completed a master’s thesis prior to enrollment or will be required to complete a research project during their first year in the doctoral program if they do not have a master’s thesis.  
• Target scores: Verbal – 50th percentile, Quantitative – 50th percentile, Analytical – 3.5
• *NOTE: The GRE requirements for master’s programs have been waived through Fall 2026.  
• Language proficiency   test (international students only)  – FSU accepts scores from TOEFL (minimum 80), IELTS (minimum 6.5), MELAB (minimum 77), Cambridge C1 Advanced Level (minimum 180), Michigan Language Assessment (minimum 55), and Duolingo (minimum 120)  

Florida State University Office of Graduate Admissions 314 Westcott Building P.O. Box 3061410 Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410

• Letters of recommendation  (3 required) – Letters of recommendation should be written by persons who are in a position to comment on the likelihood of your success within the department. You are encouraged to submit at least 2 letters written by faculty.  
• Personal Statement  (1 required) – The personal statement should describe your purpose for pursuing a sport psychology degree at Florida State University, qualifications, and long-term career goals and should be no more than 3 pages in length.  
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae  (1 required)

Application Deadlines

Application Deadline for Ph.D.:    December 1 st  (Fall admission only).  You have until midnight on the day of the deadline to submit your application and application fee.  All required materials must be received by the deadline date.

Application Deadline for Master’s:    January 15 th  (Fall admission only). You have until midnight on the day of the deadline to submit your application and application fee.  All required materials must be received by the deadline date.

How to Apply

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Degree Requirements

• Scholarly Engagement Requirement
• Student Handbook

Tuition & Aid

Information about tuition and fees at Florida State is available  here . You can learn more about the scholarship and aid opportunities for College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences students  here .

Career Opportunities

Sport psychology professionals may find themselves working with athletes at different levels such as youth, interscholastic, intercollegiate, amateur, and professional to enhance their performance and resolve sport-related problems. Graduates of our program have secured jobs in academia, university athletic departments, professional sport organizations, private practice, sport academies, and the military.

Click here to learn more about our Sport Psychology faculty!

Admissions Contact

Program contact:  Dr. Brian Foster Admissions contact: Aubrey Linn

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here  to find answers to frequently asked questions about our Sport Psychology program.

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By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 21 September 2023 | 10 min read

Writing a psychology personal statement: expert advice from universities 

 Get tips from the top to help you nail your psychology personal statement 

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Research the course and make it clear that you understand what it’s all about

• Read more:  how to write an excellent personal statement in ten steps

Keep it focused on you 

… but make sure you understand what the course is all about and keep it academic.

• Read more:  how to write your university application

Answer the question of why you want to study psychology 

• Read more:  teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

Show the range of your interest

• Read more:  personal statement FAQs

Highlight any relevant work experience

• Read more:  the ten biggest mistakes to avoid when writing your personal statement

And work experience outside the healthcare sector could still be relevant, too

• Read more:  universities reveal all about personal statements

Reflect on your relevant experience

• Read more:  universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang

Avoid cliches

• Read more:  how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say

Let it all flow out in your first draft

• Read more:  how long does it take for universities to reply to your application? 

Don’t worry if you don’t know exactly where you want your career to take you yet

And a few final tips from universities…, you may want to look at these..., how to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps.

Help and advice on putting your application together

Personal statement FAQs

We've gone through some of the most commonly asked personal statement questions and put all the answers in one place

Personal statement secrets – universities reveal all

Want to know how to craft an amazing personal statement? Take some advice from the experts...

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Sports Science Personal Statements to Inspire You

Table of Contents

Aspiring sports scientists can learn a lot from reading through the personal statements of successful applicants to graduate programs in sports science. This article collects some of the best samples and offers advice on how to write your own statement. So, if you need an example of a good  personal statement about sports , this is the article for you.

How to Craft a Good Personal Statement About Sports

The personal statement might be the most important document you submit as an applicant to a graduate program in sports science. This document is your opportunity to introduce yourself, explain why you want to study sports science , and share your experiences and qualifications. A strong personal statement can make the difference between being accepted into a program or not.

Understand What the Admissions Committee Wants

The first step in writing a good personal statement is understanding what the admission committee is looking for. Most committees are interested in learning about your academic background, research experience, and professional goals. In addition, they want to know how studying sports science will help you achieve these goals. It’s also helpful to discuss any relevant volunteer or work experience you have with sports-related organizations. 

Explain Your Passion for Sports Science

When drafting your statement, be sure to focus on explaining why you are passionate about studying sports science. You should be able to convince them that you are passionate about sports science. If you’ve done something related to sports before, indicate it.

Highlight Your Skills

Highlight any unique sports-related skills or experiences that make you stand out from other applicants. Be specific when describing how your previous academic training and/or work has prepared you for pursuing a career in this field. Finally, it’s imperative that you conclude your personal statement by demonstrating your commitment to completing the program. Discuss what you plan to research when you enroll.

Examples of Personal Statements About Sports

Read through the examples here to find a great personal statement about sports you can use.

As a university student, I am in the middle of my life’s journey. Each year is packed with new opportunities and challenges. This year, I have decided to explore the field of sports science. 

Sports science has always been an area of interest for me because it intersects both my academic and athletic interests. In particular, I find biomechanics fascinating; understanding how our bodies move and how we can improve performance fascinates me. Furthermore, as someone who loves being active, studying sports psychology intrigues me. Learning about what motivates athletes and helping them achieve their goals is definitely something that appeals to me.

As I begin my fourth year of university, I am confident that the time has come for me to declare a major. After much deliberation, I have decided that sports science is the best fit for me. This career path will allow me to merge my two favorite things: sports and science. 

Since I was young, I have been interested in both athletics and understanding how the body works. Sports science encompasses all aspects of athletic performance, from biomechanics to physiology to nutrition. By pursuing this major, I will be able to work with athletes and also help regular people stay healthy and active throughout their lives. 

I believe that universities offer an excellent opportunity for students to explore different majors before deciding on what they want to do. As someone who loves change and new experiences, declaring this major was one of the easiest decisions that I have made thus far.

Personal statements allow you to put yourself out there and explain what you can do . How you write your personal statement is ultimately your decision, just as long as it relates to sports. For example, you may want to cite your baseball skills and show how they relate to science. In another instance, you may choose to highlight your strong leadership skills.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Sport psychology personal statement

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Sport and exercise science personal statement example.

I am currently a student at UWE Bristol studying geography achieving a 2:2 in this first year. However,during the past year it has become clear that sports science is the direction I wish to pursue, whilst I enjoy my current degree my passion lies in the field of Sports and Exercise Science, reflected by achieving a distinction in BTEC Sport Exercise Subsidiary Diploma in Sixth Form.

Experience gained this academic year can be applied to a sports science degree having acquired independent learning skills enabling me to critically evaluate academic journals and hone my academic writing which are all transferable to a Sports Science Degree. By working hard at university level, developing new skills I feel excited about the opportunity to study sports science at degree level.

I have consistently had a passion for sport and exercise throughout my life, having a keen interest in nutrition, physiology, injury prevention with a specific interest in applying the benefits of exercise and correct nutrition to the public. I feel there is great scope for the public to further understand nutrition. Particularly as the UK like many developed countries are struggling with increasing rates of obesity.

For the past two years I have invested much time and effort to applying scientific knowledge and research toward my own resistance training at the gym, also enjoying researching scientific journals in areas such as muscle protein synthesis and optimal training for hypertrophy; incorporating the scientific research into my training programs and devising them for friends. For example, my recent research into Dr Mike Israetel's concept of volume in resistance training has been an important addition to my most recent training program.

During the past eight years I have been a keen rugby player at local, school level and most recently for UWE University, enjoying success in these teams winning the u18's Kent Bowl at my local rugby team Whitstable Rugby Club and winning the Kent Schools Cup at The Archbishop's School. I am looking forward to continuing playing at Gloucestershire University utilising the skills and knowledge I will gain from a Sports Science Degree further enhancing my performance. Rugby has developed my focus, respect, discipline and teamwork which is applied to all aspects of my life and sport. My enthusiasm and passion has passed onto other young rugby players at my local team through running a host of training sessions in the 2016 summer pre-season as I received very positive feedback from the players and coaches following the sessions.

Following on from graduation I plan to continue studying at a post-graduate level, whilst also gaining relevant work experience. There are two courses I will choose from that I am interested in taking at Postgraduate Degree level which are either Physician Associate studies MSc or a Sports Medicine MSc. I find helping, advising and working with people highly rewarding, thus these two potential post-graduate courses are exciting options to work toward to again further my education and enhance my future career direction.

A Sports Science Degree will provide a thorough understanding of physiology and anatomy, equipping me with relevant knowledge and skills for either post-graduate course. In turn this will further enable me to utilise the experiences and life-skills gained from the varied academic and social aspects of the course that will be transferrable when dealing with patients/clients, which are critical to either post-graduate course I chose to pursue.

Profile info

There is no profile associated with this personal statement, as the writer has requested to remain anonymous.

Author's Comments

Applied for Sports science at University of Gloucestershire in clearing and received an unconditional offer.

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