Personal statements are stressful. How are you supposed to make yourself look good? How do you kiss up to a grad school in such a manner that they love you enough to accept you into their program? There are a lot of tips floating around, a lot of advice. But how does one actually apply these pieces of information? Below, I’ve compiled some tips on how to write a statement that is sure to increase your chances of getting you into your desired graduate school.
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First of all: what is a personal statement?
A personal statement should serve to help the admissions board gain a deeper understanding of who you are, apart from just your education and work experience. It should explain why you’re a great fit for the program you’re applying to–why you are worth any time.
Ask yourself some questions.
This is always a good starting point. Some important ones may be:
- What are the key points I want to communicate about myself?
- What are my specific career goals, and how does graduate school play a role in these goals?
- Are there any causes for concern that should be addressed? (Ex. is there a career and schooling gap, or a low GPA at one point? How will I explain that?)
- What sets me apart and makes me unique from other graduate school applicants?
These are tough questions. If you’re not sure how to even begin answering them, I suggest asking a close friend or family member what they believe your strengths are. Pay attention to your study habits and the classes you enjoy, and see how these things might fit into your personal statement. Try to think of previous experiences that have shaped a significant portion of you. (I recommend thinking about these questions in the shower, or before you go to bed so that they can haunt your dreams until you discover some answers.)
Once you have a response to these types of questions, you can form a general idea of how you want to shape your personal statement. You’ll be able to figure out where your strengths lie and in what ways you can make yourself more attractive and unique to the admissions board.
Do your research.
To write a great personal statement, you should know what kind of individuals your grad school of choice is looking for. Do your research and, if possible, find out which professors or administrators are on the admissions committee. Learn what the school is known for, what its atmosphere seems to be. That way, you’ll be able to 1) see if the school is a good fit for you in the first place and 2) tailor your personal statement as best you can to what the school is looking for. Of course, remain authentic about it. Don’t invent hobbies that you never had or extracurriculars that you never participated in, just to look good for an Ad Com. (It didn’t work for Noah Centineo in “The Perfect Date,” and it definitely won’t work for you.)
Make your first draft without worrying too much.
People are often daunted by that stubborn cursor at the top corner of a blank Word document, blinking away in loneliness. Don’t be one of those people. Instead, just start writing. You don’t need a detailed outline when you’re just beginning. That will come as you write. In my experience, the best ideas often appear when you’re typing up a mindless rough draft. Once you get into the flow of things, allowing your mind to think freely, you will begin to see something emerge that you can continue to shape in future drafts.
Be specific.
A personal statement is about communicating what distinguishes you from other applicants. To accomplish this, it’s a good idea to share specific anecdotes that highlight your statements. Nobody wants to know about that one time you did a generic something with a generic somebody and how it suddenly made you feel like you wanted to help people. (You know who I’m talking to here.) Instead, people want to hear about your unique, personal experiences. If you’re a strong leader, write about a time that trait helped you succeed in a specific situation. If you’re artistically inclined, tell of a particular situation in which your creativity greatly aided you. Write about your personal reasons for wanting to get into the program. Specific, personal stories will provide a deeper understanding of who you are and where your intentions lie.
Strike the right tone.
Speaking of personal stories, it’s also important to give readers a glimpse of your personality and character–but you also have to ensure that you don’t overshare. Grad schools want to get to know you, but they don’t need to hear about that time you laughed so hard Sprite came out of your nose.
My opinion is that a personal statement can be conversational while still remaining professional. It should demonstrate your genuine interest and enthusiasm, and highlight your various strengths. It should also avoid the common cliches. For example, avoid beginnings like: “From a young age…” or “I am applying to this place because…” Avoid telling stories that you know the board has heard a million times, and don’t exaggerate or exploit your experiences. Instead, tell your story with clarity, sincerity, and integrity. Remember that good writing is simple writing.
Be honest.
This is probably the most important thing to remember when writing a personal statement–and something I have touched on throughout this article. Still, I will reiterate it: be honest. Be yourself. It’s important to try and bring out your best qualities, but don’t make yourself into somebody you’re not.
Proofread. Every single time.
As you start to reach the end of your personal statement journey, realize that you’re not actually at the end. One or two drafts will rarely do it. As with any good piece of writing, your personal statement will require multiple rewrites and/or revisions. After you write a draft, let it sit for a while. Come back to it after a few days (or even weeks, if you have time), then rework it again. Proofread for grammar and spelling mistakes. Get multiple trustworthy sets of eyes on your drafts.
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A personal statement is not an academic paper. It is not an essay or a resume that elucidates all the accomplishments of your undergraduate years. It is not a plea or justification for admission. Instead, a personal statement should serve as an authentic picture of who you are; an invitation for the reader to get to know you. It is a story that only you can write. Best of luck to all.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.