how to start a personal statement

how to start a personal statement

Crafting an Effective Personal Statement

1. Introduction to Personal Statements

An effective personal statement is typically a major component of applications for whatever you might be applying for, be it a college, job, internship, or scholarship. A good personal statement is your opportunity to communicate your personal brand, illuminate and differentiate your accomplishments against many others. This personal statement is also likely to be your interviewer’s first impression of you, so it is important that you make it a good one. A personal statement that is written well can emphasize: an individual’s accomplishments and experiences, inspirational events, an individual’s background that led them to an area of interest or the campus, an individual’s career journey, challenges and successes, aspirations, and future goals. A well-written personal statement can be particularly persuasive if it addresses a weak point or a gap that may affect a candidate’s approval.

A strong personal statement can set you apart from other applicants and contribute to your success. The traits that should be demonstrated in your personal statement are intelligence, interest, success, curiosity, focus, maturity, individual character, hygiene, desire to learn and high motivation; intellectual, and a comprehensive understanding of your subject. Some personal statements may require you to address very specific questions or topics, while others may want a general outline of your experience. In the case of interviewing for a scholarship, for example, you may be asked to present an essay on the following topic: “Give us examples of some of your recent experiences and have those done to change made you who you are?”. In the latter example, you would be wise to write about your understanding of the changes that have made you who you are and then give at least three examples.

2. Identifying Your Unique Qualities and Experiences

To make use of this writing space, you will first need to brainstorm and reflect on what makes you unique and impressive in your field of study. This section will give you some guidance for that task.

A personal statement in which you reflect on what makes you “you” could be a daunting task. Most people are not used to identifying and showcasing their unique attributes and experiences. An altogether unpleasant exercise, in fact! “Self-promotion” is often seen as off-putting, and there is something vulnerable about identifying what makes us “good” people. The selection of the criteria for “goodness” – the “qualities” that are “best” – is itself a risky enterprise. Many students are more motivated when they are asked about an objective circumstance, a set of facts about which they can be articulate. Here are some ways to think about who you are and what you have done. Remember that honesty is paramount, because you need to both distinguish yourself and be genuine – this way you save yourself time from applying to programs that do not mesh with the person you have genuinely come to understand yourself to be. You can avoid wasting your own time by highlighting these qualities.

In their most basic form, a personal statement is really an essay in which you attempt to find a place in your writing for all the “notable” and “exceptional” items listed in an inventory like the one below. Before preparing for this task, create such a list of academically and professionally relevant events and attainments. In a word document, simply make a list: brainstorming will not be hindered by a discursive approach to this list. Highlight the items on your list that you feel make you stand out. If you do not see anything which is unique or that would catch the attention of an admissions committee at a university or potential funder, ask your peers and mentors to make contributions to your list. They see things differently, and they will have a different opinion of how “unique” your experiences are. You could be surprised!

3. Structuring Your Personal Statement

Structure is crucial in any piece of writing, but it is particularly important in personal statement writing, as this essay often covers a wide range of topics. Many people like to use the typical paragraph approach of introducing the topic, providing supporting details, and concluding the statement. Some people also like to end their personal statement with a “vision paragraph” discussing how they will contribute to the UW community. While paragraphs are necessary and the personal statement should have a cohesive feel, the actual organization of the personal statement is up to the writer.

Some people write a personal statement that progresses in time. This sort of statement might have an introduction discussing an early event that sparked excitement about medicine, followed by a discussion of key experiences in college, and a section on lessons learned through these pre-med experiences. It could then conclude by discussing the specific field of medicine the applicant is interested in pursuing and explaining why it aligns with their philosophy on medicine. Others decide to break their personal statement up into themes and discuss vivid anecdotes and experiences under specific themes. Regardless of the personal statement’s organization, it is important to remember the need for the statement to flow in a coherent manner. It should have a strong introduction that draws the reader in and is engaging to read, as well as a powerful conclusion. Finally, the organization of the personal statement should adhere to the organization within the Medical Schools Application Process, as different sections and topics are weighed more heavily.

4. Writing and Revising Techniques

Getting started writing

Approach the writing of your entire personal statement as a proposal. Essentially, if you were writing a letter to the health professions admissions committee, “Dear Admissions Committee, I would like to propose a few ways that you can get to know me, the unique individual that I am, beyond my GPA, MCAT score, and experiences sections. These three tangible illustrations will show you how I am a good fit for your school.” They might ask you to come to the interview after seeing these proposals, if they sound good.

Writing style

Once you start writing, try to keep the statement as concise as possible. Remove unnecessary words and sentences. Use powerful verbs instead of the verb to be. Strategically fascinate your audience from the start, and compel them to want to learn more. There are countless guides to effective writing, which often suggest examining a paragraph’s topic sentence, and evaluating the relevance of a given sentence to the main idea. For instance, look at the Penn State Writing Center’s website for an overview of effective paragraphs. The same applies to expressing a theme or concept in a personal statement – if a paragraph is off-topic or somewhat irrelevant, it should be revised or omitted. All of these guides are helpful for revising a personal statement.

Leave it for a day just to have a fresh eye to re-read it and find typos. It’s unnecessary to beat yourself up – just fix it and move on. Sometimes the best getting better means letting go enough and taking a deep breath before sitting down to work on polishing it again. Once the statement feels coherent and reflective, it is time to move into revising for content and clarity. Don’t be shy about asking someone else to read a Personal Statement you are writing. Reader feedback from multiple eyes will often help to illuminate gaps in thinking, choice of examples, the flow of topics, or your overall presentation. You should also use your own revision strategies and consider revising one paragraph at a time, rather than tackling the entire piece at once. Ensure that the ending, while potentially referencing your beginning, says something new or reemphasizes the point and offers traction into a conclusion. A strong conclusion doesn’t necessarily summarize; it should take the body and offer projection into the future or emphasize the thesis/goals one already has. Keep writing and revising. Revise your personal statement several times. Again, make it yours. Data in the personal statement may need to be gone over with a fine-toothed comb by looking back at experience lists or talking to family members. Consider the following questions to guide your revision: What point do I really want to get across? What is most important for the admissions committee to know? What is the main point of the paragraph? What further facets of my experience do I want to touch on?

5. Conclusion and Final Tips

Stating the unique experiences and qualifications you possess, including the aspect of creativity you bring to your work, can add value to your personality and make a good case that you are an excellent candidate for your desired program. Mentioned in this guide are some of the structural and strategic tips to follow and avoid getting into the body of your personal statement, as well as a brand-new advice section that can offer you some guidance on the final result and length of your personal statement.

When discussing your personal qualifications in your personal statement, be yourself. Writing from the perspective of your experiences reveals the character and thought processes of the admissions committee. Always be good. Don’t omit the reasoning behind your choices. Make announcements about what you want, not what you don’t want. Share your enthusiasm or your passion for a current topic. Use a complete blank canvas, or a page from a journal. Discuss the excitement and commitment you have regarding your chosen grad program. Don’t discuss them generally. Request feedback from others and consider their ideas, but write, as always, from your own voice. Write from your writing and editing aids. Take “carving” critiques, but make it your own. Have your finishes proofread. Are you seeking advice about your career prospects? Determine if you ask the school whether the report is for scholarship purposes or for a particular question. Know how difficult gaining a strategic grant can be. Have patience Is the same important piece of information. Keep the readers. Collect the relevant details. Regardless, remember to be yourself as you put together your personal statement, and focus on the positive.