a personal statement writing help

a personal statement writing help

The Art of Crafting Persuasive Personal Statements: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Introduction to Personal Statements

A personal statement is a brief essay encapsulating the individual’s skill set and stage of professional and personal development. It is their opportunity to introduce themselves and articulate why they are deemed suitable for a particular role or role type. They often form the foundation around which an individual’s unique story is framed and have the potential to provide insight into the successes and critical junctures coalescing as motivation for a chosen career path. Generally, personal statements are incorporated into college and university applications or drafted ahead of an interview. They may also be submitted to accompany scholarship or fellowship applications.

A compelling personal statement provides an opportunity to make a strong impression on the individual(s) reading it. It is “your chance to represent your qualifications and motivation for a specific programme or career”. Not only should it resonate, but it must persuade its audience; thus, a writer must put their passion and drive on full display. Given they are inherently personal, as the title connotes, they are both invaluable and challenging to write well. Experts highlight the benefits: writing it will solidify thoughts and help reflect positively on and articulate one’s goals. The point of a personal statement, indeed, is to show why you identify with the selected school of study, and subsequently how your degree will be utilized professionally. Today, masterful personal statements are crucial—essentially because there are so many other highly qualified professionals competing for the same thing you want.

2. Understanding the Purpose and Audience

Personal statements can be intimidating and distressing to write, and for a good reason: the personal statement is often the only space outside of the admission interview room where you get to create a compelling, meaningful, and comprehensive picture of yourself. Thus, it is absolutely crucial that your personal statement be something you and only you can write. In order to effectively meet the criteria of what a successful personal statement looks like, however, you must understand the function of the personal statement in the college admission or job application process and understand who is reading it.

No single “personal statement” list can offer all of the types of personal statements, but a review of multiple lists certainly can – since no two lists even agree about how many types of personal statements there are. Personal statements have many names: application essays, essays, cover letters, statements of purpose, fellowship statements, etc. In some ways, the personal statement is like a cover letter in that it is what admissions committee and/or employer will read and assess first. They will use what they read in your personal statement to help them decide whether or not to meet you in person. That’s the most important purpose of the personal statement; the other purposes are more situation-specific, depending on what you need a “personal statement” for. Thus, if you were hoping for one personal statement that would work for all your applications, or for a personal statement template to recycle, those do not exist. To do the “personal” part of “personal statement,” it must focus on aspects of your life, education, or work experience that are the most important for your next step. So the most important first step in drafting a personal statement is to figure out WHO YOUR AUDIENCE IS and what more they hope to know about you. You can start making tentative choices of the more specific, purpose-specific elements that you need to draft based on your research.

3. Key Elements of a Winning Personal Statement

What makes a great personal statement? In very simple terms, an excellent personal statement will clearly and concisely weave together the following three ideas: (1) experiences you have had (in school, work, internships, study abroad, volunteer work, student organizations, etc.) that have been significant and that have taught you a lot; (2) skills and know-how that you have developed as a result of those experiences (on the job, in classes and labs, through your involvement in professional organizations, through your service work, etc.); and (3) aspirations for your future. That, in essence, is the core of any personal statement – to paint for your reader a picture of who you are that won’t easily be forgotten. If your reader isn’t likely to be smitten with your story after reading it, you need to consider a different approach to communicating your experience.

Many excellent entries into professional programs are heartfelt and personal, and as you might guess, these are the ones that reviewers often enjoy the most. When you are sincere in your story, it can sometimes stand out more than any accolades or accomplishments. Authenticity is the key to quality. In a personal statement, you take something you have used outside the classroom, and bring it back there. Perhaps it is art or design; perhaps it is a skill – such as an aptitude for order and clear explanations, or an ability to work quickly without losing precision. If so, beef up your resume by mentioning the most important experience(s) in that field. And remember, your skills don’t necessarily have to have been used in a job position – like music performance. Your achievements could be in sport, a musical instrument, or a hobby; not so much Associate Level, but even more so a Level of Mastery.

4. Crafting a Compelling Narrative

Many admissions officers emphasize the necessity of using storytelling techniques to craft compelling personal statements. Your goal is to engage your reader and convince them of your worth using the art of persuasion. To start, you should introduce a rough draft of your story. Try to summarize your experience in one complete sentence. This should only be one sentence, and you do not have to include every detail. An introduction sentence such as “Today marks a milestone in my life” or “This was a defining moment in my career” can help guide structure and engagement. Statement introductions can also be questions that expand on one main experience or central moment in their MLIS career. Dedicate the majority of the opening paragraph to relating a strong experience or passion that will draw your reader in. Like any well-told story, a powerful personal statement is best if your reader is left wanting more.

When weaving a compelling tale, simplicity is best. Plastics and dense text are huge turn-offs. Only you can write your narrative, so don’t attempt to emulate anyone else. It is difficult to deliver a good storyline if you do not live and fully believe in it! State the hypothesis in the first paragraph or two of your personal statement, then back it up with supporting evidence. Each paragraph should begin and end with compelling information that carries your reader to the next point. The conclusion of your personal statement should tie all the threads together. It’s an opportunity to select and promote the most significant information. Write in such a way that your reader’s interest will flow naturally from one point to the next. Prevent disruptive transitions or distractions by constructing a narrative that progresses coherently and lands on the main point. The reader’s attention should move in a natural, logical arc. Studies have shown that a person’s mind wanders 20% of the time during a speech! Writing can make your narrative extremely engaging.

5. Polishing and Perfecting Your Personal Statement

One important part of the proofreading process is to set your personal statement aside for a little while – perhaps a few days, or even a week. Time away can help you identify issues that you might not see when working intensively with a document. After you have carefully proofread your personal statement for clarity and accuracy, provide your readers with copies for their review. Your goal is to obtain feedback on the content and organization of your personal statement; the readers should emphasize what they have learned from your personal statement. Although anyone who has given you academic advice can help with your personal statement, the primary readers usually are faculty members in the academic goals that you are pursuing. If you’re not applying to an academic program, your readers might be supervisors, PIs, mentors, or guest lecturers at career-related workshops.

Once you are ready for additional comments, give your readers a copy of your personal statement matrix as well. This document enables them to check for content and flow more easily since they should be familiar with your academic and/or career goals as well as your academic/work history. When should I start getting feedback on my personal statement? The earlier, the better. Once you have written a complete draft of your personal statement, you may need to restrict the amount of time you work on it before receiving feedback. This will help prevent the faculty reviewers from providing feedback on the grammar and basic structure that you can check and revise yourself. As with any major project, it is always a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to create and revise. Keep in mind, too, that there is nothing wrong with turning in a personal statement that has been edited to your satisfaction as early as the first or second draft. It is a tool for revision just like any other.