Personal Statement

Location: On the Internet.

Prerequisites: The willingness to learn.

Required Text: None

Objectives:

Learn how to write a solid personal statement.
Learn how harmful plagiarism is for your personal statement.
Learn tips for writing and editing your personal statement.
Learn tips for writing personal statements for law school, medical school, and graduate school.

Your undergraduate education is coming to a close and you have made that all-important decision to pursue graduate, law or medical school. Congratulations! You have worked hard, but now it is application time and facing the prospect of writing a personal statement instead of the more familiar admissions essay can be daunting.

It's okay. Personal statements are not as intimidating as they first appear. Just realize that this is an opportunity for the admissions committee to meet you. So make it count. When they are done reading your essay, you want them to know who you are, why you are applying to their institution, and what makes you so special that they should choose you.

Some personal statements will come with specific instructions that ask you what the committee wants to know:

Please give your reasons for pursuing a graduate history degree at this university. Include relevant past experience in the field, your plans for study here, and your professional goals.

But some will not ask a detailed question. Instead they will ask an open-ended question:

Please give information supporting your application.

Always follow directions. Adhere to word/page limits and answer the question(s) you've been asked. It is always true that if you have been given detailed instructions then you should follow them. Not answering the question(s) is a common mistake people make. Don't do it. So answer their questions, but also look through our checklist about what to include in a personal statement and make sure you include those points too.

The minimum standard for your essay is competence. Competent writing includes following the rules for written English, correct grammar, perfect spelling, and clarity. The essay should be structured logically and coherently so that the reader does not get lost or confused while reading it. The final copy must be proofread very carefully to correct any last minute spelling or grammar errors.

But you don't want your essay to meet minimum requirements; you want it to stand out among the hundreds of others on the admissions committee's desk. So engage the committee and persuade them to admit you with a great essay.

An essay good enough to win over the admissions officers does more than transmit the requested information about who you are and why you are qualified for admission. It reveals your personality, passions and plans. Glimpsing your vision and your goals is what can convince the committee to want you as a student a future colleague.

The reality is that top programs for graduate, law and medical degrees will always have more people seeking admission than they will be able to admit. Their decisions must be made by looking at each applicant's scholastic record, recommendations and personal statements impartially. Your personal statement is the best shot you have to influence the committee members in your favor, to pair scores and grades with a human face; your face. It is your opportunity to give them the necessary context to know who you are and who you can become through their program. Use it to your advantage.

For tips on writing strong personal statements click on the links below:

Plagiarism

Writer's Block

Editing Tips

Graduate School Personal Statements

Law School Personal Statements

Medical School Personal Statements