How to write about 'academic excellence' (!) - personal statements etc

pug_in_a_bed

Am just trying to write up a statement for a scholarship application form for nxet semester. The criteria is based on academic excellence, but I don't have a clue what to write!

I got a really good result in my M.A, and a 2:1 at u/g level. Planning on beginning Phd study in october. That research will be a further development of what i studied at MA level.

Can anyone help me with what to write, it's so hard!

Eoin_McLove

I don't know if the following might help. It's my AHRC (or 'AHRB' as it was called when I applied last year) application for my MA. Obviously it's for an MA, not PhD, but maybe it'll inspire you and give you some ideas of what to write. :beer: I had a limit of 500 words, so it's extremely condensed.


I am taking the Holocaust Studies MA primarily because it is a crucial springboard for the PhD study that I am immensely and relentlessly determined to pursue. Following the MA, I intend to undertake doctoral research on the reaction of the far right in Britain to the Nazi genocide, focussing particularly on how and why groups like the BUF, the National Front, and more recently, the BNP, have interpreted the Holocaust and adapted their ideologies to it. I will demonstrate how far-right analyses of the Holocaust have evolved since 1945, showing that antisemitism has not disappeared from the modern neo-Nazi agenda, and that genocide and eugenics still feature prominently in the ideology of the far right, despite efforts to dress up manifestos in a veneer of respectability. Professor Dan Stone, who has written extensively on the historiography of the Holocaust, has agreed that he would supervise both my MA and PhD theses.

The MA provides perfect preparation for my PhD research; in the core course, 'The Historiography of the Holocaust', I will acquire broad knowledge of the academic debate. This will aid my 12,000-word dissertation, for which I will concentrate specifically on Holocaust 'revisionism', or rather Holocaust denial, in Britain. This will be an excellent precursor to my PhD proposal, since I will be researching the original literature of David Irving, Richard Harwood, and Anthony Hancock's 'Historical Review Press', which have heavily influenced the far-right interpretations of the Holocaust that I wish to investigate.

Studying at Royal Holloway's Research Centre for the Holocaust, I will be taught by Professor Peter Longerich, who was an expert witness in the David Irving trial. My proximity to the Wiener Library, where he will lecture, will be invaluable, since it holds one of Europe’s leading collections on Holocaust materials. I will therefore have access to a wealth of knowledge and resources. Having considered many primary sources for my BA History dissertation on Thomas R. Malthus and poverty, I will be able to utilise and develop my research skills for the MA.

Additionally to the core course and dissertation, I will take a module entitled 'Post-Holocaust Philosophy', which will satisfy my great passion for theology and philosophy, and another, 'Documents of the Holocaust', which will help enormously with my dissertation, and my PhD, by introducing me to those primary sources which Holocaust deniers regard as inadequate in proving that genocide even occurred.

Further to studying the Holocaust in 'A' Level History (for which I achieved a grade 'A'), I have written essays at university on the historiography of the Holocaust and on the far right's quest for legitimacy in Europe. In two essays marked as first-class, I investigated Zygmunt Bauman's thesis that modernity, more than antisemitism, caused the Holocaust, and I considered how neo-Nazis have achieved success in Europe, observing that antisemitic propaganda has evolved into anti-Zionist since the 1970s. Furthermore, last year I won the £500 ‘Mary MacPherson Essay Prize’ at Royal Holloway, University of London, for a paper entitled ‘From Jackboots to Designer Suits: The BNP’, in which I commented on antisemitism within the party.

By taking the MA, I shall be extending vastly my knowledge in this deeply fascinating area, and ultimately be directing my long-held interest towards doctoral research, which I consider very important, relevant and necessary, given the growth of the BNP in recent years.


I hope that helps. I've decided against doing a PhD for the time-being. Had enough of studying the Holocaust and the British Far Right for the moment! :rolleyes:

pug_in_a_bed

Hey that's great - big help, as I can see how you've referred to your past education experiences - thanks for that!

Funnily enough I am waiting to hear the results of my AHRC application for Phd funding, I'm still undecided avout whether to g othrough with it but am going through the motions of applying for all the scholarships and cash I can.

Eoin_McLove

Glad to have helped.

Yeah, it's worth applying for funding even if you're not completely decided on wanting to do the PhD. The University of Winchester was offering a fully-funded PhD scholarship to research contemporary responses to the Holocaust (i.e. pretty much what I wanted to do), but I decided against applying because (i) I'd never heard of the university and (ii) I was probably more qualified than the designated supervisor. Shame really, but I decided that if I'm going to devote three years of my life to research, I want it to be with a well-respected university and supervisor.

Good luck with the AHRC! :beer:

Snow_Angel

This is probably a fairly obvious answer....but occasionally people can't see the wood from the trees! Is there an advert or description of the scholarship or scholarship requirements in print? If so, read it carefully, highlight (literally!) what they're looking for and draw your past experiences based on their requirements into the application. It can be done in a really systematic way and indeed is a great way to approach any application (college, job, scholarship etc..). Hope this helps.

aurora_borealis_2

I was lucky enough to secure a three year studentship from the ESRC.

Your supervisor should be helping you with this! They know exactly what is required.

Eoin_McLove

aurora_borealis wrote:

Your supervisor should be helping you with this! They know exactly what is required.

True. My MA supervisor and (back then) potential PhD supervisor checked about five drafts of my AHRC application, which helped enormously. Get your supervisor or personal tutor to check your statement once you've drafted something.

pug_in_a_bed

Unfortunately my supervisor is off on her holidays so I can't ask her for help at the moment. This is an internal univeristy funded) scholarship, so the info is limited to 'Awards will be made on the basis of academic excellence'. That's fine as I have some of this under my belt , I'm just having trouble putting that into words!

It really only has to be about 250 words, it's just so hard to sell yourself in that way - having a blank day I guess. The last time I did something similar was probably at school in sixth form (many moons ago lol)[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

Eoin_McLove

Just out of curiosity, what was your MA in, what are you planning to do for your PhD, and what uni are you at?

250 words is very tight, but seeing as it's internally-funded, you're only competing with a small number of applicants. Providing you can show lots of examples of 'academic excellence', you should have a very good chance. If you got mainly firsts and high 2:1s for your BA/BSc essays, say so. If you got the highest mark in your class for an essay or exam, say so. If you got an 'A' for your subject at 'A' Level or an 'A*' at GCSE, tell them. You've just got to show off; if you don't have much to brag about, consider the 250-word-limit a blessing.