If you’re writing a personal statement for undergraduate schools or scholarships focus on how your interests developed, your high school achievements, and your community involvement. If you’re writing for an undergraduate transfer, focus on your academic and community record with your current school and describe your reasons for wanting to switch universities. If you’re writing for graduate school, focus on the specific course you want your graduate project or studies to take, your reason for pursuing graduate school, and the undergraduate experiences that have prepared you. If you’re writing for a job, portfolio, or to gain a particular client, focus on your past work experiences, your relevant academic accomplishments within the past 5 years, and your positive character traits. If you’ve been given a prompt for your personal statement, make sure you have a clear understanding of what it’s asking for and what you should write.
Every institution and organization will look for content specific to their mission and goals in a personal statement. Don’t send the same personal statement to different organizations, but instead personalize each statement you write. For example, if you’re applying to a university that emphasizes community service and involvement, you’ll want to emphasize your service work in that statement. Another school may value academics first though. For that school, talk about your coursework and grades.
How will this university/academic program/scholarship/job position/client directly impact my future? What project do I plan to undertake to complete this degree or job opportunity? What is my ultimate career goal? Where do I see myself in 1 year? 5 years? 10 years? What are the steps I need to take in order to reach my ultimate goal? What are other goals I hope to accomplish along the way?
What personal qualities (leadership skills, organizational skills, self-control, etc. ) do you possess which make you a valuable asset? What experiences and beliefs have shaped your present character? What accomplishments make you the proudest? Have you had any turning points that redirected your life in a positive way? Why would you choose yourself over other candidates? Why should anyone else?
Academic degrees and certificates Scholarships, fellowships, and grants Awards or honors from academic institutions (e. g. summa cum laude, manga cum laude, departmental honors, Dean’s List, etc. ) Workplace promotions, reviews, and evaluations Speaking at a conference, convention, or workshop Published works in your field of expertise Official recognition for community service or contributions
When did you originally develop an interest in your field of choice? What do you love most about your field of choice? Why do you think your field of choice is important? What experiences have you had that have provided you with experience in the field? Have you given up any other dreams or expectations in order to chase after this one?
Financial difficulties Prejudice Social disenfranchisement Learning disabilities Physical disabilities Family problems Medical problems Unexpected tragedies
Often, these questions will be listed directly on the application, or otherwise on the job posting or program web page. If you’re not sure if your application needs to address specific questions, reach out to the program coordinator or the contact person listed on the posting.
Prioritize the purpose of your statement in your outline. For example, if you’re applying to a graduate program, your graduate project should be your main focus. Write about what interests you. You will be able to write more convincingly and more passionately if you write about events, goals, experiences, or ideas that you already feel passionate about. Address issues specifically brought up by the institution or organization. If there are any topics that the reader demands to see, then make sure that those are included in your personal statement.
Avoid starting with common or cliché phrases like, “The most important moment in my life was when. . . ” A better way to introduce that “important moment” would be to simply start describing it. Explain that, “When I first started working at XYZ Company, I didn’t know the first thing about widget manufacturing. ” Directly break into the narrative instead of alerting the reader that you intend to do so. Provide as much detail in the first paragraph as possible. Introduce the main idea of your personal statement and describe how it connects to your narrative. Save any elaborate details or related notes and experiences for the body of your essay, though.
For example, for a graduate program statement, your second paragraph could focus on your undergraduate career. Frame your undergrad research, your relevant coursework, and your achievement as tools that helped prepare you for your graduate project. Do not be vague or general. Do tell the reader about experiences, goals, and ideas unique to you.
Avoid uncertain or weak phrasing like, “I’m not sure but I think I would probably be a good fit for your program. ” Even when discussing challenges or difficulties you faced, focus on your triumphs over those problems.
When expanding your personal statement, look for ways to elaborate on the information you already have. Include more specific detail to create a fuller picture. Alternatively, you could introduce another point that contributes to your overall statement purpose. While it’s not advisable to submit a statement that’s too short, you also shouldn’t add information just for the sake of having it. If your statement is a paragraph short of a full page but covers all your relevant information, you don’t need to expand it. Avoid telling the reader why something is important to you. Instead, explain what you’ve done to show and develop the skill.
You may also consider reducing your number of main points if one point does not seem especially significant. Unlike a short statement, a long statement can’t be left long. Many application programs won’t allow you to press the submit button until your statement is the correct length. That means that if your statement is too long, it needs to be cut down.
While listening to your statement, ask yourself if it sounds like your natural voice. If you were describing these things in person, would the way you speak sound like what you wrote?
Accept constructive criticism graciously and try not to take anything personally. When asking for constructive criticism, first go to professional sources like a high school teacher, a university professor, an internship supervisor, an academic adviser, or a trustworthy colleague. After your professional sources have been exhausted, ask friends and family for their thoughts. They may offer great insight regarding the “every-man” opinion, since not all your readers may be familiar with your program or industry. It’s common to receive conflicting feedback. Think about each of their perspectives to see what may have influenced what they told you. If their experiences don’t match your goals, consider if their advice is worth taking.
Once you fix these problems, your personal statement is ready to submit.
