| Getting into college is no easy feat, but with proper | | | | writing your admission essay is lying or providing |
| preparation and an exceptional application package, | | | | erroneous information. First of all, you have to keep |
| you can make it into the college or university of your | | | | in mind that admissions committees read thousands |
| choice. One of the most important parts of your | | | | of application essays every year, so they know how |
| application package is your personal statement. | | | | to spot a liar, a fake, or a phony. Second, admission |
| Without your personal statement, your application | | | | committees can easily cross-check information by |
| package will just be filled with information about your | | | | getting in touch with other schools or getting in direct |
| grades and your accomplishments. The role of the | | | | contact with you or your family members. Third, it's |
| personal statement is to introduce your character | | | | just plain wrong to lie on your application essay. |
| and your personality to the admissions committee | | | | Whatever you decide to write about in your personal |
| and to persuade them. In short, your personal | | | | statement, make sure that you are telling the truth, |
| statement can make or break your chances of | | | | that the information you use is true and verifiable, |
| getting into college. Here are three of the biggest | | | | and that you don't exaggerate your claims. Be honest |
| mistakes that you can make on your personal | | | | and truthful in your essay, because doing so will |
| statement (make sure to avoid them if you plan on | | | | reflect a lot about your good character. |
| getting into your chosen school): | | | | 3. Misunderstanding or not answering the question |
| 1. Errors of any sort | | | | Finally, another common mistake that is made on |
| Typographical errors, grammatical errors, and syntax | | | | personal statements is that the applicant |
| errors are among the most common mistakes that | | | | misunderstands or doesn't answer the question being |
| you can make on your personal statement. Errors like | | | | asked. Before you start writing your essay, make |
| these should have been left back in elementary and | | | | sure that you read the instructions in full and that |
| high school, which is why admissions committees | | | | you fully understand what is being requested of you. |
| expect to read personal statements that are | | | | Avoid getting carried away or going off-topic while |
| error-free and exceptionally written. To avoid errors | | | | writing your essay. It may help to make an outline |
| of these sorts, make sure to run spell-checker and | | | | that will guide you along to make sure that you |
| grammar-checker on your word processing program. | | | | answer all questions and that you have a well written |
| Aside from relying on these checkers, be sure to | | | | essay. You may also want to discuss the questions |
| have your essay looked over by a relative, friend, | | | | with your school counselor, favorite teacher, or your |
| teacher, or advisor who can help you edit your essay | | | | parents to make sure that you know exactly what is |
| to perfection. | | | | being asked and how to go about answering it in |
| 2. Erroneous information and exaggerated claims | | | | your essay. |
| Another huge mistake that you have to avoid when | | | | |