how to write a personal statement

how to write a personal statement

Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement: A Guide for University Applicants

1. Introduction to Personal Statements

Writing personal statements is often a very overwhelming and difficult task, as it may sometimes seem a little silly to be expected to write about oneself in the third person. In their request for a personal statement, some universities stress the importance of this document by making it the primary application and disregarding grades and test scores altogether. In other institutions, while a personal statement is only one item on a long list of application components, the content remains important as it is the only part that allows an applicant to communicate directly with the admissions committee.

A personal statement is a document that introduces you, your personal history, your intellectual development and any scholarly interests or goals that you may have. All of your various accomplishments and experiences need to be present in a personal statement. A good way to start is to reference the course or specific aspect of the course that attracted you to the program. You need to really sell what attracts you to the program, and this usually means categorizing your accomplishments or qualifications to highlight those that are most relevant to the program. This can be done most effectively by parsing the specific requirements of the program or the program’s aims. Some programs have quite specific requirements and you need to demonstrate that you have those basic or technical skills.

2. Identifying Your Unique Selling Points

A vibrant and outstanding personal statement is distinct from other candidates. It is often vital to have such things as hospitality, friendliness, enthusiasm, and the capacity to empathize. Also, courage, imagination, initiative, hard work, being incredibly resilient, and being willing to keep trying. Do some other abilities come to mind? If yes, highlight them. Creativity is not just about being talented and inspired, but also about the willingness to put in the effort. It is also critical to be proactive and to look for and seek experiences that would be of benefit.

You have a better understanding of what makes you shine as a result of developing this awareness. After discussing the core of these features, it will be obvious why you have covered these qualities over others. Candidates should aim to include about four different features. Finally, after establishing the different functions, the copy would establish a thematic statement. Remember that candid personal statements are more persuasive than the cold, unemotional tone that is often used. A strong dose of vulnerability and excitement increases the reading’s relatability and appeal. Consider narrowing the scope to only one emotion. Infuse your writing with passion and reinforce a strong attitude. Remember that it’s the little variations that count. Providing this stage of detail is particularly advantageous for medicine and dentistry, as they serve to individualize and round the candidates’ analysis in this extremely specialized subject.

3. Structuring Your Personal Statement

Once you have given some thought to what you want to include in your personal statement (you may have gathered some notes together in response to the suggestions listed above), you will need to consider the structure and logical development of your paragraph. The admissions committee wants to read a highly readable, interesting narrative with lots of excellent detail. They are assessing your professionalism, your future potential, your knowledge of your intended field of study, your ability to identify the future orientation’s main values, and your writing ability. Use these criteria as you craft a well-organized and sophisticated text that makes you proud.

A personal statement will usually have four major sections, consisting of paragraphs: 1) an introduction at the beginning that pulls in the reader, 2) an opening which will mark the overall theme, 3) material in the middle which shows evidence that you comprehend the values of the doctoral orientation you have chosen, and 4) a concluding paragraph that encapsulates the theme you have drawn out of the middle section. The introduction needs to be interesting and describing exactly what you want to study. The middle section should show in a narrative manner that you’ve chosen the university associated with a particular vision of what you want to do and become. The conclusion should re-state the introduction, quoting or paraphrasing it word for word, only in the present tense. A conclusion should leave the reading committee convinced that the applicant is a promising student, a proper fit for the chosen professional orientation, and someone they want to meet and get to know.

4. Showcasing Your Achievements and Experiences

4. Showcasing your achievements and experiences

Wherever feasible, try to show when, where, and how you developed a particular achievement, accomplishment, or experience. Examples of what you did and what resulted are a vivid way of demonstrating the range and depth of your character and experience to UC.

Style

Your activities and awards may reflect depth and breadth in your chosen field of study or extracurricular interest. However, a college motivates and shapes your ambition, character, and knowledge most by what you have done or know about in the activities that interest you. In sentence form, articulate and elaborate on your statements and examples. You wish to engage their interest. You want them to continue reading and learn more about you.

Discussion, presentation, award, publication, or other activity in which you took part or took a leadership position. (These are desirable titles and accomplishments, but lack the specifics of your experiences at burying.) Academic awards or recognitions and school activities. Awards for and other honors include service, professionalism, special training, or scholarship. Community service, and extracurricular activities work-related experiences, internships, co-ops, and other professional development opportunities. Outreach, leadership, athletics, and extracurricular activities. Languages spoken, courses relevant to your major or admissions, study abroad options, and volunteer work. Each organization will fall under this category. Volunteering, neighborhood service or help with clubs. In Spanish. Award for Community Excellence. Experience in coaching/working with youth. Skills that are specialized.

5. Polishing and Perfecting Your Personal Statement

To be truly successful, the final piece of your personal statement needs to be perfect. This does not mean only that it looks good, but that there are no errors in it. You need to check the following in your final draft:

– Grammar and spelling. – Vocabulary and punctuation. – Usage in sentences – avoid long, complicated sentences. – General presentation of the personal statement.

Your personal statement will be read out to those reviewing applications. Things that sound good on paper can be confusing when read out, so avoid using the extremes of your vocabulary. If you’ve used a word just because it sounds impressive, leave it out. Read your statement back to yourself or ask someone else – a parent, teacher, or careers advisor – to look over it. Double-check that all your sentences are relevant, clearly written, and mean what you intended. Allow them to advise you on your development of ideas and the strength of your examples. Finally, be willing to reflect upon their suggestions and repeat this process as many times as necessary. It may be useful to give an advisor a copy of a typical course description in the subject you wish to pursue. This will allow them to see what the selectors are looking for. Remember: the personal statement is your opportunity to talk about your suitability for the course in question. Show it to people who know you well, and listen to their comments. Do not be reluctant to remove something that is irrelevant or of marginal importance. Offer a clear opinion of yourself as an individual and as an applicant. Only high-quality statements are acceptable. Be enthusiastic; show genuine interest in and understanding of your chosen course. Ensure your information is clearly based on published fact. Thoroughly check the grammar and spelling. Do not criticize past or present employers or institutions. Include a photo of yourself. Write in vague, general, or mean-minded terms. Use abbreviations. Include irrelevancies. Claim to be without weaknesses or faults. Provide a chronological summary of your academic, professional, and extra-curricular achievements. Most applicants have similar qualifications; relevant experience makes you stand out. Topics for special attention:

– Your reasons for wanting to study your course here in the UK. Compared to home, what advantages are there in coming to the UK? What is special, unique, distinctive, or impressive about the way these subjects are taught at UK universities? What attracts you to them? – Evidence of interest in the chosen subject. How have you pursued your interest out of school/college? Give examples of activities that illustrate the views and abilities you are claiming you have. – The amount of the statement dedicated to work and personal interests will naturally depend on the individual. Those with relevant experience or an enhanced ability in a particular area should highlight that experience in personal presentations. – The best introductory paragraphs are normally one to two sentences in length. While it is important to grab the reader’s attention, this is not the place to state some random or shallow fact, but instead, a heading like a desire, or an interesting, light anecdote about you and your subject’s place in it, can be a great framework within which to introduce your thesis. For example:

“From a young age, I have been fascinated by how people tackle impossible problems because sometimes I feel like I love the kind of task that is impossible! It is the reason that I enjoy every part of studying English literature – from reading theoretical essays on narrative construction to arguing about feminism in Jane Austen. While various influences encourage my desire to root out thinking here and at institutions around the world, this sentiment is crystallized in a note to LSE from my school mentor, who described me as yet being resourceful and tireless in finding answers to complex questions. Not only was I moved that she thought of me in her writing, but I was also struck by the thought that I am not just driven by the unconscious thrill of discovery, but that I am energized by the desire to solve ‘impossible’ problems!”