| A personal statement is a crucial part of your | | | | her. |
| graduate school application, but writing it can also be | | | | Post-graduation plans - In order to choose the |
| one of the most stressful things on your to-do list. | | | | graduate program that is right for you, you should |
| Many students do not consider writing to be their | | | | have a general idea of what you will do with your |
| strong suit, and matters are only made worse due to | | | | degree. Be sure to convey your career goals in your |
| the intense importance of this particular essay. | | | | personal statement, as this proves that you have |
| It may help many students to remember what the | | | | given some serious thought to your future, and |
| purpose of the personal statement is. The grad | | | | therefore are more likely to finish the program. |
| school admissions board uses it to determine two | | | | How Do I Make My Personal Statement Stand Out |
| things: | | | | from All the Rest? |
| Whether you will be an asset to the graduate | | | | Once you have outlined how you are going to |
| program | | | | answer the question or cover the five points listed |
| Whether you will be an asset to the school itself | | | | above, you need to figure out how you will make |
| Graduate schools are typically judged by the | | | | your personal statement memorable. Remember, |
| performance of their students. As a result, no school | | | | there are most likely hundreds of other applicants, all |
| wants to admit a student who will be a black mark | | | | of whom will say more or less the same thing. Here |
| on its record. Your personal statement's purpose, | | | | are a few ways to make sure your stand out from |
| therefore, is to convince the admissions board that: | | | | the crowd. |
| You are deeply motivated to learn about (and | | | | Make it personal. A successful personal |
| excel in) your chosen area of study | | | | statement should not read like a description of your |
| You are a capable student who will perform well | | | | resume. Instead, use stories and examples from your |
| in your studies | | | | life to illustrate why you became interested in your |
| In order to accomplish these tasks, there are several | | | | chosen area of study, and your experiences as you |
| points that almost every personal statement must | | | | have pursued it thus far. |
| cover (unless, of course, asked to do differently by | | | | Make it organized. A personal statement is not a |
| the admissions board itself). You also have the | | | | term paper, but it should still be well organized. Make |
| challenge of trying to make your personal statement | | | | sure your sentences flow well from one paragraph to |
| stand out from the hundreds of other applicants, | | | | the next. |
| who will all be saying basically the same thing. | | | | Make it between one and three pages. Like a |
| For more information on how to write a winning | | | | resume, it is hard to say how long a personal |
| personal statement, follow the guidelines below. | | | | statement should be. Some admissions boards may |
| What Should a Personal Statement Include? | | | | only ask one question to be answered, allowing your |
| Not every personal statement should look the same. | | | | personal statement to be as short as 250 words. On |
| Different graduate schools have different | | | | the other hand, more complex answers may require |
| expectations of what you should include in your | | | | as many 750 words. |
| personal statement. First and foremost, your | | | | Have a theme or thesis. Like any other personal |
| responsibility is to make sure your essay answers the | | | | essay, your personal statement should have a |
| questions asked. | | | | unifying theme. The anecdotes you use to illustrate |
| In general, though, most personal statements should | | | | the above five topics or answer the admission |
| include five things: | | | | board's question should also support your theme. |
| Area of study - This should be a given, but you | | | | Maintain a professional tone. As a graduate, you |
| would be amazed by how many students focus so | | | | are no longer just a student - you are also a |
| much on answering other questions that they forget | | | | professional in your field. Your personal statement |
| to state which program they are interested in. Don't | | | | should reflect your professionalism and dedication to |
| leave your reader to figure it out by deduction - | | | | your studies. |
| make sure your chosen area of study is clearly | | | | Gear it toward the specific school. While you |
| stated in your personal statement. | | | | may be able to reuse certain sections of your |
| Your interest in the subject - By discussing the | | | | personal statement for other schools, sending out |
| basis for your interest in the subject, your personal | | | | the same essay to every school is a major faux pas. |
| statement will prove you have a genuine interest in | | | | For one thing, many schools differ in their |
| your chosen area of study. However, don't simply | | | | requirements: They may impose a different maximum |
| say, "I have always wanted to be a ______." | | | | or minimum length, or ask that different questions be |
| Instead, use a personal experience to show - rather | | | | answered. Make sure that your personal statement is |
| than tell - what drives your interest. | | | | written for the specific requirements of the school |
| Related experience - Graduate schools also look | | | | you are applying to. |
| at your experience in the field in order to determine | | | | Proofread your work. Nothing will turn an |
| your interest level. For example, if you are pursuing a | | | | admissions board off faster than sloppy writing. If |
| graduate degree in psychology, the admissions | | | | you are going to convince them that your graduate |
| committee will expect you to see some combination | | | | degree is one of your top priorities, then your |
| of related courses, research work, internships, | | | | personal statement should reflect your level of |
| volunteer work, membership in related organizations, | | | | dedication. Take the time to perfect your work, |
| and/or other extracurricular activities. | | | | eliminating typos and grammatical errors as well as |
| Your interest in the school - Many people choose | | | | fine-tuning the overall message. |
| a graduate school because it has a program that | | | | Writing a Winning Personal Statement |
| interests them. This should go into your personal | | | | While it's true that there is a lot riding on your |
| statement. However, make sure you go beyond | | | | personal statement, this does not mean that it needs |
| general flattery - the committee will want to see | | | | to be difficult to write. By understanding the purpose |
| that you have actually researched the program. For | | | | of the exercise, making sure that it concisely yet |
| instance, if you admire the work of a professor who | | | | thoroughly covers the necessary information, and |
| teaches in the program, mention this and discuss why | | | | minding details such as organization and grammar, |
| you would like the opportunity to study under him or | | | | anyone can write a winning personal statement. |