| An effective and well-written college personal | | | | plans and why you have chosen the career you |
| statement is arguably the most important part of | | | | have. |
| your college or university application. | | | | Showing a Strong Work Ethic |
| Why? | | | | Colleges are not in the business of admitting students |
| Quite simply because it is the only area of your | | | | who are apathetic, lazy or complacent. Therefore, it |
| application that you can change, adapt and generally | | | | is vital that you demonstrate that you are dedicated, |
| make perfect! | | | | hardworking, reliable and responsible in your college |
| Your grades are your grades, your test scores are | | | | personal statement. If you have any work |
| your test scores, there is no changing them now. | | | | experience or have undertaken any charity work, |
| However, the effectiveness and success of your | | | | these can be great ways to show good time |
| college personal statement is the one area you can | | | | management, communication skills, team working |
| really make a difference. | | | | ability. If not, any commitment you have shown to |
| For highly competitive colleges and courses, getting | | | | clubs, teams or fundraising events can be good ways |
| your personal statement right is an absolutely must | | | | to demonstrate a strong work ethic. |
| and it starts with understanding the purpose of | | | | Desire & Ability |
| college personal statements. | | | | To Achieve Your grades and test scores are there |
| The Purpose | | | | to show your ability, your college personal statement |
| Personal statements are used by college admission | | | | is where you highlight your desire to achieve. Colleges |
| departments to determining your suitability for your | | | | want to see that their new cohort of students aim |
| intended course at their college. They are looking for | | | | high and achieve. Contributing To School & |
| you to demonstrate that you have a firm grasp of | | | | College Life Prior participation in student government, |
| the subject, a career plan for your future, a strong | | | | sports teams, bands, clubs and societies is a strong |
| work ethic, the ability to contribute to university life | | | | indicator to the college that you are an individual who |
| and a desire to achieve. | | | | likes to contribute to their school and the wider |
| Demonstrating Knowledge of the Subject | | | | community. Including these in your statement along |
| Your college personal statement should be about | | | | with any language skills or awards you have earned |
| you, your experiences and how they relate to your | | | | are perfect ways to show that you will be a valuable |
| academic and extra-curricular experiences. If your | | | | member of the college community. |
| intended course is English and you write for the | | | | Getting Started |
| school magazine, it needs to be in your statement. If | | | | Before you start to write your college personal |
| your intended course is Biology and you participated | | | | statement, create a list of the experiences you have |
| in Science Olympiad, it needs to be in your | | | | that serve as good evidence of your suitability to |
| statement. | | | | your intended course and college. From this list, write |
| Explaining Your Career Goals | | | | a comprehensive plan of how you will put all the |
| The purpose of going to college and getting a higher | | | | evidence and experience together in a coherent, |
| level of education is to help you accomplish your long | | | | concise and effective way. Taking the time to |
| term career goals. Any college will want to know | | | | perfect your college personal statement will pay |
| how you plan to use the education you are planning | | | | dividends when you reach decision day and you will |
| to undertake and why you have chosen your | | | | be proud that you invested this effort in your |
| intended course. To this end, your college personal | | | | academic future. |
| statement must have a detailed explanation of your | | | | |