What is a Personal Statement?
A personal statement is a short written description in which you introduce yourself to the college you are applying to.
You should tell the college who you are, what skills and qualities make you a valuable addition to their campus. And also, why you are interested in attending their college/university.
You should also highlight your academic and professional achievements, goals, and motivations for seeking further education. The personal statement should be well-written, concise, and honest.
This is your chance to show the admissions office who you are and what makes you stand out. Make sure everything shines through about how well-rounded and driven you are.
This is your one chance, so make it count!
Purpose of a Personal Statement
A well-written personal statement is designed to promote you. It should show how unique or special you are. Also, it must tell how you are the best fit for the position or program you are applying for.
Make sure that your college application includes all of the important details about you. It is also important that your application looks good and is easy to read. Remember that your personal statement should be interesting so that the reader will want to keep reading.
For a good personal statement, you should tell a story about yourself that is interesting and shows who you are. This includes avoiding being too repetitive in your personal statement.
If you want to get a scholarship, you should know what the requirements are. You need to show your strengths so they can see that you are a good candidate for a scholarship. Your college personal essay is a chance for you to show who you are and why you deserve it.
All parts of an essay must match up with each other and that they are all about you. Make sure to mention any relevant interests, skills, or experiences you have.
Types of Personal Statement
There are many different types of personal statements. Some common ones include:
- A personal statement for graduate school/college
- A personal statement for university
- A personal statement for resume
- A personal statement for scholarship
All these personal statements have the same content and structure.
Personal Statement Outline
There are some guidelines that you should follow when writing your personal statement.
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Introductory/Opening Paragraph
1st Body Paragraph
2nd Body Paragraph
3rd Body Paragraph
Concluding Paragraph
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Sample Personal Statement Template
Take a look at the given outline template to understand better.
Personal Statement Format
Here are the guidelines for a standard personal statement format. You can follow this format to create your own personal statement.
- Many students ask, “how long should a personal statement be?”. It must be limited to 500 to 650 words which are approximately 1-2 pages.
- Paragraphs must be single-spaced.
It must contain an extra line to separate one paragraph from another. - Font style must be Times New Roman.
- The font size must be 12pt.
- It should add a page number and a header with your name.
How to Write a Personal Statement?
Here are the steps that you should follow to write a personal statement:
1. Writing a Personal Introduction
The first step is to write a strong introduction. This introduction should reflect you and your personality. It should also discuss your interest in the course program or job.
Additionally, share any relevant skills or experience you have related to the course topics. Don't forget to highlight your strengths!
The best way to start writing a personal statement is to give enough information about yourself. You can also find a unique angle or hook to grab the reader’s attention. Similarly, it is better to keep your audience in mind when writing in order to convey your message in a personal tone.
When writing a statement for a college application, discuss how the degree you want to study matches your passion. You can also include general elements about the high school that attract you the most. (For example, location, sports, etc.)
To apply for a job, start by stating what interests you the most about the job role. Then, you write strong sentences that mention the relevant aspects of your personality. Also, mention how your talents would benefit the company.
2. Drafting the Main Body
The main body of your statement should mention your skills, interests, and experiences. They should be related to the job or course program for which you are applying.
For example, if you are applying for a job as a doctor, you might want to talk about your medical experience. And if you are applying to study engineering, you might want to talk about your experience in designing things.
In addition, be specific and use professional language when writing the main body. Avoid mentioning any controversial subjects such as religious or political issues.
The following are the elements you should include in the body paragraphs of your statement:
Mention Your Accomplishments and Experience: Mention your degrees, awards, certificates, and problem solving skills you have related to the course or job role. This will show that you are qualified for the position.
Present Your Relevant Skills: The skills and talents you have learned through your academic path include critical thinking, effective communication, and teamwork.
These are important skills that the college is looking for in the applicants. In addition, show how passionate you are about helping others and have demonstrated this through my volunteer work.
Tell about Your Contributions to the Institution: For example: I want to study this course because I am a perfect fit for it. I am very eager to learn new skills and contribute in any way possible to make this field or institution better.
Provide Your Future Career Goals – Mention how this job or program aligns with your future career goals and ambitions. It will show the employer or admissions committee that you are serious about making this transition.
Additionally, emphasize what you will bring to the table as a result of your experiences, education, and skill. It will make you stand out as an ideal candidate.
In general, your statement should have 1-2 paragraphs. However, 2-3 sentences are enough for the body of a job statement.
Before you write your essay about why you want to go to a certain college, do some research about that college. Find out what makes it different from other colleges. That way, you can make a strong case for why that college is the best choice for you.
A personal statement is similar to writing a college essay. They both follow a similar pattern. However, a college application also asks for some other information.
3. Write a Strong Conclusion
It is important for the college admission officers to be convinced about why you want to attend their college. Your concluding statement should persuasively state your reasons. And it must not leave any room for doubt that this is the right choice of institution for you.
For example, “I want to reiterate why I am interested in your college. I believe it is an excellent institution and I am confident that I would thrive in the academic and social environment. Additionally, I hope that my grades and extracurricular involvement have shown you that I have what it takes to be a successful student on your campus. Please take the time to review my application; I believe you will find that I am an excellent candidate for admission. Thank you for your time and consideration.”
When concluding a personal statement, you should discuss the following elements.
Extension of Your Goals: By enrolling in the course program, you are taking another step closer to achieving your future goals. You can choose what type of major and career path suits you best for yourself. It will lead to an open door with plenty more opportunities available!
Summarize Your Personal Statement: Include a brief summary of your personal statement. The best way to do this is by connecting all the relevant experiences and achievements.
Review and Link Back to your Introduction: To keep your readers engaged, try linking the introduction and conclusion paragraph. If you are interested in any field, then it is important to mention this while discussing your academic objectives.
Finish this section by expressing your excitement about the opportunity. This strategy will persuade the committee to take your candidacy seriously.
Finish this section by expressing your excitement about the opportunity. This strategy will persuade the committee to take your candidacy seriously.
4. Edit and Proofread
Once you are finished writing your personal statement, take some time to edit or proofread it. Read it aloud to identify the following areas of improvement:
- Spelling and grammar
- Simple and easy language
- RelevancyClear phrasing
- Passive voice
- Specificity
You can also ask a friend or colleague to proofread your personal statement. They can give you feedback on the tone, quality, writing conventions, and overall representation of your statement.
Best Personal Statement Examples
Here are some personal statement examples to help you write your own. Look at these for inspiration.
Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Personal Statement
Here are some mistakes you should avoid when writing a personal statement:
- Excessive use of quotations or use of quotations out of context
- Unnecessary backstories
- Creating a personal statement for a topic that isn't a good match
- Informing the reader on something they already know
- Mistakes in spelling and grammar
- Not observing word/character limitations
- Inventing new stuff
- Excessive vocabulary and meaningless clichés
- Mentioning a lot of extracurricular activities
- Being contentious or contrarian
To write the best personal statement, you need to prepare for it and study a lot. This is really important because your entire future depends on it. You have to make sure that you present yourself as the best candidate for admission.
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