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Your documents are prepared, your CV is finalised, and your application is almost ready to submit – but you’re stuck on how to answer the short admissions questions. How are you supposed to fit your personality, experience, and career goals into a few words?
Thankfully, the short-answer responses are just one aspect of your overall profile. The admissions team is not looking for your life story in 60 words, they are looking for one interesting facet of what makes you you. Remember, you are sharing the other pieces of the puzzle with your degree documents, your CV, your extracurricular activities and your interview. The admissions questions aren’t meant to cover all of that. Instead, think of them as a way to show a glimpse of who you are that isn’t already reflected in your academic or professional experiences.
Now, ready for some writing tips so your answers can shine? Let’s go!
Often, when we reflect on ourselves for writing prompts like these, we come up with a list of academic certificates or professional accomplishments. While those are important credentials, they don’t always show the “real” you. This is where the short answers come in. They are an opportunity to think beyond the paper and see lifelong motivations and passions. What early triumphs or bumps in the road led you to where you are today? How did your pathway twist and turn? Your reader can probably relate and will connect with your message if they can see themselves in your details. Perhaps you joined an extracurricular club that changed your life, or your travels abroad challenged you in unexpected ways. Ask yourself, what’s one thing about me that others often notice, or that I’m proud of, or that shaped how I see the world? That’s your starting point.
Now that you have reflected, pick one trait, experience, or perspective that truly sets you apart. Don’t try to list everything – you don’t have the space for it! – and depth beats breadth in short responses. When you’re given just 60 words to answer a question like “What makes you unique?” the key is to focus. Instead of trying to cram in your entire personality, background, and goals, choose one meaningful detail that reflects something special about you. Maybe it’s a quirky habit, a formative experience, or a personal value that guides your decisions. Think of it as a snapshot, not the whole photo album. This approach guides you into answers that are intentional and memorable, rather than vague and scattered. One well-chosen detail can say infinitely more than a dozen vague ones.
We know you are not applying to a creative writing programme here, but you will stand out if your answers are vibrant and specific. Generic answers are the quickest way to be forgotten. Writing “I’m passionate,” “I work hard,” or “I’m a team player” is fine, but those words don’t tell us how you’re those things or why it matters. Being descriptive is your secret weapon. Instead of saying “I’m creative,” say “I started a student podcast exploring alternative career paths for alumni.” Instead of “I’m resilient,” say “I failed my first coding exam, then built a study group that helped us all pass.” These kinds of details bring your personality to life and help the admissions team see you, not just read about you. In a short response, every word counts, so make them vivid and grounded in real life. You’ll say more by being real and specific than by trying to sound impressive.
Even in a few words, your tone can reflect your personality. Are you witty, warm, reserved, reflective, bold, quirky, or thoughtful? Let that come through. That’s you. This isn’t a professional cover letter or essay, so you can write casually. In fact, the best short responses often feel like a quick conversation with someone interesting. If humor is part of your voice, use it. If you’re more introspective, lean into that. The goal isn’t to impress with big words or formal phrasing, it’s to sound like you. Admissions teams read hundreds of applications, and the ones that feel authentic are the ones that stick. So write the way you speak (with appropriateness, of course), and trust that your voice is enough. You’re not trying to be someone else, you’re trying to be the most authentic version of yourself in a tiny space. That’s what makes a short response powerful.
These tips can help you write authentic and memorable short responses. Don’t make the mistake of rewriting your CV here and lose the opportunity to let your unique personality shine. This is your chance to share a meaningful glimpse of who you are with the admissions team and increase your chances of receiving an invitation to the next stage of the application process: the interview.
You’ve got this! 60 words is more than enough when they come from the heart.
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