How to Write a Personal Statement in 200-300 Words
ANDREA DELLA MONICA
CLASS
Writing about yourself can be challenging. Many colleges and graduate and professional schools ask for a personal statement as part of their application process. You can tackle this assignment and put your best foot forward in no more than 300 words. The key is to write with a goal in mind.
1 Write in a first-person narrative voice
Write in a first-person narrative voice, using the pronoun "I." A personal statement is written exclusively from your perspective.
2 Define you
Define who you are and stick to the script. Maybe you are a aspiring musician seeking to study at a conservatory abroad. Perhaps you are a calculus whiz who wants to apply mathematical theory to solve a unique problem.
3 Include more details than you need
Include more details than you need, and then eliminate any redundancy when you edit. A 200- to 300-word limit translates into one large paragraph or a mini-essay with a beginning, middle and conclusion.
4 Describe a personal hardship
Describe a personal hardship and how you overcame it. It might be to your advantage to pull at the heartstrings of the person reading your personal statement.
5 Embellish your writing with rich vocabulary and anecdotes
Embellish your writing with rich vocabulary and anecdotes to put your personal stamp on your statement. The reader should feel like she is having a conversation with you.
- Avoid including religious or political viewpoints, as they can be controversial.
- Proofread carefully for spelling and grammar.
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