How to Write a Personal Statement

Are you applying to college? Medical School? Grad School? Law School? So far the application is a bunch of grades, addresses and other fill-in-the-blanks. The personal statement is your chance to let the admission committee see you are a real person.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Word processor
• Goal
• Audience in mind

1. Keep in mind your audience. Admission committees need to see what sort of person you are and if you are a good fit for that school. Be sure to address those needs.

2. Brainstorm an interesting introduction. It can be a quote, a childhood story, or even something shocking or funny. It does need to grab the reader's attention. A boring introduction will set low expectations for the rest of the personal statment.

3. Use examples from your life to illistrate points about your character. Instead of saying "I love to learn" give some examples of your love of learning. "I read 47 books last summer including Teddy Rex, Freakonomics, and A Brief History of Time."

4. Express excitement for the future. Describe what you hope to gain from this program. For instance if you are applying to medical school "I would hope to be known as a compassionate doctor in my community"

5. 
    

   Walk away for a day. Clear your mind.

6. Ask for feedback from friends, teachers, or professors. They can help you with grammar, flow and overall "you-ness" of your personal statment.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are funny, feel free to add humor.
• Stay within the length limit. Admission committees appreciate normal length statements.
• When getting started, just start throwing things down on paper. You can always edit later.
• Don't lie. Interviewers can ask about anything in your personal statement.

Resources

• Marilyn Brodeur

[sarahpb]

on 7/23/2009 I like step 3, and will keep this in mind for the future 5*

[betterbody]

on 7/14/2009 Very good 5 * tips to have in mind when writing a personal statement.

[barba0727]

on 7/14/2009 Great advice on how to write a personal statement. It can be so frustrating. 5*

[harvard]

on 7/11/2009 Sound advice on writing a personal statement. This sounds like an exciting and fun thing to do. Maybe I'll go back to school so I can write one. Thank you!

[Savvyone]

on 7/11/2009 Very good advice for people interested in an advanced degree. I used some of these techniques when I applied to grad school, it would have been nice to have the other ideas before I finished. 5 stars and a recommend!