Developing your personal statement
Crafting a compelling personal statement is crucial for ensuring that your application stands out among the rest during the graduate or professional school admissions process. By following these tips and advice, you can enhance your essay and increase its chances of being noticed.
What is a personal statement?
Its purpose is to provide the admissions board with a deeper understanding of who you are beyond your academic achievements and professional background. It serves as a platform to showcase why you are the ideal candidate for the program and why your application deserves serious consideration. Moreover, it presents an opportunity to emphasize essential aspects of your life that may not be readily evident in other parts of your application.
Differentiating itself from a statement of purpose, which may also be required in some cases, a personal statement delves into more than just your academic and career aspirations and past accomplishments. While it is essential to discuss these factors in your personal statement, its primary focus should be on your life experiences and how they have shaped you and your path to graduate school.
Step one: Guidelines and tips to get started
Here are some guidelines/tips for crafting your personal statement effectively, envisioning it as a concise introduction to captivate your reader:
- Carefully read the personal statement question or prompt to fully understand its requirements and expectations.
- Begin working on your personal statement well in advance, allowing ample time for revisions and seeking feedback from faculty members, colleagues, or preceptors, if possible.
- Highlight your research interests that align with the position you are applying for, demonstrating your enthusiasm and expertise in the field.
- Mention any unique connections you may have to the project or program, showcasing your relevant experiences or perspectives.
- Clearly articulate what drives your passion for this research experience, explaining the motivations behind your interests and aspirations.
- Express what you hope to achieve and learn from this opportunity, emphasizing how it aligns with your academic, career, and research goals.
- Thoroughly proofread your personal statement, paying attention to grammar, spelling, paragraph structure, and correct punctuation to ensure a polished final draft.
Step two: Conquer the blank page and illuminate your path ahead
Consider the following questions to help get you started writing. Getting started writing a personal statement is often half the battle!
- Why did you initially choose a career in [industry]?
- How and where did your journey begin?
- Who played a significant role in influencing your decision?
- What steps are you taking to prepare yourself?
- Who has provided you with guidance and support along the way?
- In what ways have you grown and evolved?
- Looking ahead, what possibilities lie on your horizon?
- Whom do you aspire to help through your career?
- What motivates you to embrace this challenge?
- Ultimately, what rewards do you envision as the payoff for your dedication?
Step three: Format and structure
There isn’t one singular format when writing a personal statement, but you can start with a three-part format: Introduction, Body of the Essay, and Conclusion.
Introduction
Picture your “Before.” Where did you start this journey?
Body of the Essay
Picture your “During.” What have you done to prepare?
Conclusion
Picture your “After.” Wrap it up by bringing it full circle from Intro.
Remember, your personal statement is an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and convince the admissions committee of your suitability for the program or position. Take the time to craft a well-structured and compelling statement that reflects your true self and aspirations.