personal statement format

personal statement format

Effective Strategies for Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement

1. Introduction to Personal Statements

Getting into your target university or securing an attractive job usually involves a fair bit of paperwork. Some of this paperwork is quite straightforward: forms to fill out, documents to submit, and so on. However, one part of academic admissions or employment applications tends to be the bane of everyone’s existence—the application essay. Whether you’re applying for an undergraduate program or a Ph.D., an internship or full-time employment, there will come a time when you’ll be expected to pen a personal statement. Though it’s difficult to write a personal statement, potential employers, internship coordinators, and admissions committees request them for good reason—they can’t get a full picture of who you are, what makes you tick, and why you’d be an excellent fit for their program if they don’t ask for your personal perspective.

A personal statement is not a stop on a multiple-choice exam or an essay prompt designed to gauge the extent of your knowledge and the depth of your thought; neither is it some annoying hoop you must jump through in order to score your dream job or gain acceptance to a particular school. Instead, it is an integral part of the application package specifically designed to elicit key information about who you are as a scholar, a scientist, an alumnus, a young professional, or whatever focus your candidacy may take. An effective personal statement illuminates all of the pertinent personal characteristics, such as the following: your academic work (including, but not limited to, research interests, coursework history, and explication of dissatisfactory transcripts, if appropriate); personal background; experience and training; professional goals; self-awareness; readiness for a particular academic or professional path; judgment and maturity; ability to write and think with clarity and focus; fit for a given opportunity within the larger context of the field and institution; and fit for a given opportunity within the broader context of society, the nation, and the world.

2. Key Components of a Personal Statement

When crafting a compelling personal statement, it’s important to outline why the candidate’s personal experiences set them apart from others applying for the same position. But there are also some fundamental aspects of a personal statement that you should consider when writing one:

1. What you hope to discover in the role: It’s important to let the recruiter know that you are considering what it is that you want to get from the role and what resources and personal attributes you can bring to the job in return. 2. Understanding and enthusiasm: You don’t just need to have a good grasp of who you are and what you want from the job – you should also have a good insight into the company you are applying to, and the sector as a whole. 3. Narrative intent: The narrative you employ in your personal statement will give the reader an understanding of who you are, what you bring to the role, and your overall philosophy and outlook. 4. Clarity: Outlandish prose or unnecessarily complex sentence structures won’t help you in the long run. Be clear, concise, and to the point when writing your statement. 5. Focus: With the word count for personal statements often being low, it really is a case of quality over quantity – therefore make sure that your statement provides concrete examples of your skills and experience for the recruiter to relate to.

Given that personal statements are often used to gauge why it is that you’re making your first steps into the job market, or, alternatively, aiming to take your career in a new direction, it’s essential that you are able to make your ambitions, your personality, and your passion for the job explicit. In the vast majority of cases, your personal statement is your prime tool for making the person on the other side of the paper really get to grips with your own unique attributes as a person and an employee. Make sure to focus on your inclusive traits, your tenacity, and your uniqueness. Every single person is different, and it’s about making that difference count. Make yourself memorable!

3. Structuring Your Personal Statement

Your personal statement should catch and hold the reader’s attention from the very start. It should also communicate a clear and straightforward message. To ensure you’re able to do all of this, consider the following strategies:

Start with an open and absorbing opening sentence, a suitable anecdote, or an engaging fact. The following paragraph should clarify any background information. Because motivation evolves from a coherent understanding and investigation on the part of the applicant, it is as essential as the practical skills and teaching one has encountered. To communicate that you already have some background information on what you should be studying and that you have the aptitude to do well, explain why you have chosen to study at university. It is possible to provide examples or mention activities, future job ambitions, career experience, and universal teaching.

The main thesis or theme of the personal statement should be summarized as briefly as possible and narrated to the reader. Your approach to writing about it is what distinguishes you. All of the student’s accomplishments and records should be included in this time, which clearly illustrates that the student’s pursuits deserve to be considered in the context of others. The CV is where all of the factual evidence is documented. A university application essay is either sorted solely based on marks like qualifications, any extracurricular or professional duties or experiences. It is your voice that will evaluate what it is that “sets you apart” from other candidates. In some cases, you may be asked to provide written samples as part of an application package. It’s tempting to look at the statement of purpose as a selling event, in this case, in which the student encourages the admissions committee to agree that the student is worthy of admission.

4. Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Personal Statement

Taking a step back: Culinary practices and ingredients in medieval Rajasthan

Personal statement: The four commandments

– Present an event or pattern in your life that directly points to the inspiration behind your interest in your field. Keep in mind the paradox that intrigue is always more inspiring than any end or sob story. – Show, don’t tell. Discuss personal relationships, theories, events, historical epochs – just make sure they come full circle in linking back to the main point. Use examples from your life, your inspirations, your background. – You need the reader to want to read through your essay. Then the trick is to pull them through a complicated topic with your keen intellect and engaging verbiage. Your job is to sell yourself and distinguish yourself from a crowd of equally qualified and interesting candidates. Admissions officers want to hear your voice, too. – Specific personal victories are also more inspiring than generalized assertions about one’s worth. Describing how the connections in our brain often make us more driven and single-minded when we have engaged in a subject, independent research, and what I will be researching shows some of this “spark of brilliance”.

Psyching yourself out (the “don’ts” of writing a personal statement) – Don’t spend 5/10/15 drafts trying to write one paragraph. Just write out what you’d say if you were describing why you decided to do what you’ll be doing with your life to someone mature, close to you, and who didn’t know you already. Keep it short and to the point. Stiltedness and avoidance of contractions is also discouraged. Write in a conversational tone – be honest and spontaneous. – A lot of people make the mistake of discussing generally why they’re interested in their field without getting specific. While that can still work in some cases, it’s usually better if you can choose a personal story/interest to convey right up front. For example, “The Maya culture of Guatemala has always fascinated me, and I hope to study with the renowned expert in Y at the site of Q.”

5. Editing and Refining Your Personal Statement

Editing and refining your personal statement is a separate process from your original writing. Once you have written your personal statement and have set it aside to clear your head, you are ready to begin modifying and refining so that it says exactly what you want it to communicate. Here are some tips to help you review and revise your personal statement so that it will truly make an impact on those who are reading it.

Read your personal statement out loud or ask a trusted friend to review it. A friend or family member might be able to tell you what they think the author is trying to say or point out sections of the personal statement that don’t make sense. Listen to criticisms of your draft and be willing to modify your choices. Look for any inconsistencies or contradictions in your personal statement. Our staff helps with the editing and piece any inconsistencies. Watch for messiness in your personal statement. If you say that you are “always willing to lend an ear to a friend,” but elsewhere mention that you “value my time spent talking with each patient,” these terms are conflicting because one suggests you do portray symptoms and the other does not. Hash out the differences for a more consistent message.

Take your time making the first draft of your personal statement. The most compelling personal statement expresses who you are, what you want to study, and how the admission committee would benefit from your addition to the school. Using the most active and descriptive linking variable will help eliminate overuse of “to be” verbs. Edit the linking verb into a stronger action verb to improve the description and tone. “My friend Bobby often tells [me, says to me, grimaces at me], ‘Your social intelligence can be measured only in comparison to the stupidity of the person on whom you most drag your charm.’ In celebration of this robust mental examination, I endeavor to one day acquire the social skills of the village idiot. I’m a fledgling in an old blue planet.” Once you have polished your personal statement, make sure to get appreciated editorial feedback on your personal statement to ensure a healthy, prominent personal statement.