The Complete Guide to the Queen’s University Personal Statement of Experience (PSE)

In cases where applicants have similar academic profiles, the Queen's Supplementary Application PSE becomes the differentiator, especially for Commerce, Consecutive Education, Health Science programs. It gives you the chance to share your personal voice and values—highlighting the activities, experiences, and reflections that show why you belong at Queen’s.

A strong PSE can increase your chances of receiving an offer and make you eligible for major entrance awards.

Which Queen’s University Programs Require a Supplementary Application?

While all applicants to Queen’s University are evaluated based on their academic performance, several competitive programs require a supplementary application, such as the Personal Statement of Experience (PSE) or other supporting documents. These components are designed to assess your leadership, initiative, and personal alignment with the values of the program beyond your grades.

Here’s a breakdown of which programs require or recommend a supplementary application:

🔹 Required:

1. Bachelor of Commerce (Smith School of Business)

• Requires the PSE and a Supplementary Essay component
• Admissions decisions weigh the supplementary application heavily alongside academic achievement

2. Concurrent Education (Faculty of Education)

• Requires a Faculty-specific PSE, which includes detailed experience listings and written reflection on your teaching-related skills and mindset

3. Health Sciences (BHSc)

• Requires the PSE as part of its holistic review of applicants
• Assesses interest in health care, self-awareness, and communication

🔹 Strongly Recommended:

4. Arts and Science Programs

• The PSE is optional but strongly encouraged, especially if your average is near the program’s cutoff or you’re applying for scholarships

🔹 Not Required:

5. Engineering and Applied Science

• The PSE is not required for admission to Engineering
• However, applicants may still submit the PSE for scholarship consideration

What Does the Queen’s PSE Include?

The general Queen's PSE is broken into two sections:

Section A: Activity List

In this section, you’ll list up to five of your most significant activities or jobs under categories like:

• Extracurricular involvement
• Leadership roles
• Volunteer or community service
• Work experience
• Awards or achievements

For each activity, you’re asked to briefly describe what you did and what you learned. Each response has a word limit, so clarity and focus are key.

Example of Queen's Faulty of Education Consecutive PSE Sample Chart

Section B: Short Written Response (300-500 words)

This is your opportunity to reflect on your experiences more deeply. While the prompt may change slightly from year to year, it typically invites you to explain how your experiences have shaped you, what you’ve learned about yourself, or how you hope to contribute at Queen’s.

This section gives you the most space to show your thinking, personality, and growth.

What Queen’s Is Looking For in the PSE

Queen’s uses the PSE to assess more than your accomplishments—they want to see your initiative, impact, maturity, and fit for the university.

A strong PSE demonstrates:

• Meaningful involvement and leadership (not just membership)
• Consistent effort or initiative over time
• Personal reflection and self-awareness
• A clear connection between your past experiences and future goals
• A genuine interest in being part of the Queen’s community

This is your chance to say, “Here’s who I am—and here’s how I’ll contribute.”

How to Write a Strong Activity List (Section A)

Be Specific and Focused

Instead of just listing roles, describe what you actually did and what impact you had.

Weak:

"Volunteered at food bank."

Stronger:

"Organized weekly donation inventory and created a new volunteer onboarding process, improving efficiency and training."

Prioritize Depth Over Breadth

Choose 3–5 activities where your role was meaningful, even if they weren’t the most high-profile. Admissions teams prefer authenticity and growth over long, shallow lists.

Highlight Skills and Learning

Frame each experience with a lens on what you gained or developed. Think in terms of leadership, collaboration, initiative, empathy, or resilience.

How to Write a Strong Short Response (Section B)

Choose a Central Story or Theme

Instead of trying to cover everything, focus on a single story or a few closely connected experiences. Reflect on how it shaped your values, goals, or direction.

Example:

"Volunteering at a seniors' home helped me discover my interest in public health, and taught me to listen across generations with empathy and curiosity."

Use a Clear Structure

Even with only 300-500 words, use paragraphs and transitions to give your story shape:

1. A brief hook or setup
2. What you did and what challenge you faced
3. What you learned and how it influenced you
4. How this connects to Queen’s or your future plans

Avoid Overused Phrases

Everyone says they’re “passionate,” “hard-working,” or “a team player.” Instead, show these traits through actions and reflections.

Sound Like Yourself

Admissions teams want to hear a confident, reflective student—not a generic template. Use your natural voice while keeping your tone clear and professional.

Common PSE Mistakes to Avoid

• Listing every activity without context
• Repeating the same idea in both sections
• Writing vague or overly general statements
• Forgetting to link experiences to your growth or future goals
• Using a resume-style tone instead of storytelling

A strong PSE feels personal, structured, and forward-looking.

How Myls Interview Helps You Write a Standout PSE

At Myls Interview, we help students craft PSE submissions that feel personal, polished, and perfectly aligned with Queen’s expectations. Our mock interview platform and mentorship program combine strategic coaching, smart editing tools, and deep reflection support to help you write with confidence.

We start by helping you identify which experiences tell your story best. Whether you're building your activity list or deciding what story to tell in the 300-500word response, our mentors guide you through personalized brainstorming sessions so you can focus your message and avoid sounding repetitive.

Once your draft is ready, our experienced mentors provide detailed, line-by-line feedback. We’ll help you strengthen your structure, make your tone more authentic, and ensure your story flows with clarity and impact. If you're struggling to stay under the word limit, we’ll help you trim excess without losing meaning.

Our built-in AI writing tools make it easier to revise efficiently. You’ll get real-time feedback on sentence structure, clarity, tone, and phrasing—so you can polish your draft without second-guessing every sentence.

We also help you align your PSE with your resume and broader Queen’s application. That way, each part of your submission reinforces your strengths without being redundant.

If you're also preparing for a Queen’s interview or scholarship round, we offer mock interviews with AI and human coaching on how to speak about the same stories you've written about. The result? A consistent, confident supplementary application from page to panel.

With Myls Interview, you're never left guessing. From choosing the right experience to crafting a thoughtful, memorable reflection, we guide you through every step of the PSE—and help you present your best self to Queen’s.

Final Thoughts: The PSE Is Your Personal Introduction—Make It Count

The Personal Statement of Experience may be short, but it carries weight. It’s where Queen’s gets to hear your voice, see your values, and imagine your place in their community.

When you write with clarity, choose stories that matter, and reflect deeply on your growth, your PSE becomes more than just a form—it becomes your first impression.

Need help crafting your Queen’s PSE?

Sign up for free at Myls Interview and get expert mentorship, AI-powered editing, and support that turns your experience into your advantage.