Key Factors to Deliberate Before Crafting Your Personal Statement
• Embrace Your Uniqueness: Reflect on your life story to uncover what sets you apart and makes you
impressive or distinct.
• Personal Life Insights: Share personal details to illuminate your family and individual challenges,
demonstrating how they have molded you and influenced your journey so far. Providing such insights helps
the admission committee comprehend your individuality and distinguishes you from other candidates.
• Passion for the Field: Articulate your interest in the chosen field, tracing the development of your
passion. Reflect on the lessons learned during your experiences in the field.
• Professional Experience: Evaluate any relevant experiences and assess how they have contributed
significantly to your growth within your chosen field of interest.
• Career Aspirations: Deliberate on your career goals and elucidate how the institution or organization
you are applying to aligns with and supports the achievement of these aspirations.
• Addressing Gaps or Discrepancies: Identify and address any discrepancies in your academic or career
record, providing explanations where necessary.
• Convincing Qualities: Reflect on why you stand out as the optimal candidate for the available position.
Highlight unique skills and personal characteristics that differentiate you, and elucidate how you can
effectively showcase these attributes.
Distinct Types of Personal Statements
There are generally two categories of personal statements:
• Comprehensive Personal Statements: These allow applicants the freedom to express themselves fully,
often found in applications for law and medical schools.
• Specific Question Personal Statements: Common in business and graduate schools, these statements
require students to respond to specific questions. Multiple essays may be prompted, each necessitating
distinct responses.
Guidelines for Crafting an Outstanding Personal Statement
• Develop a Compelling Hook: Capture your reader's attention with a succinct opening statement, known as
a hook. A compelling introduction increases your chances of retaining the admissions board's interest,
enhancing your likelihood of securing a spot at an institution. Ensure you swiftly convey the main
points of your personal statement, elucidating your enthusiasm for the subject or course early on.
• Steer Clear of Quotes and Clichés: Admission committees frown upon the use of quotes and clichés in
personal statements. Your statement should reflect your thoughts, not those of others. Avoid clichés;
for example, if you're an engineering student with a knack for mathematics and sciences, delve into how
you've applied these subjects in your specific field rather than stating it plainly. This personalized
approach is more compelling for the admissions committee.
• Avoid Using a One-Size-Fits-All Approach: Resist the temptation to write a single personal statement
for multiple schools. While the instructions may seem similar across institutions, subtle differences in
requirements could be overlooked. Crafting tailored statements for each school ensures you address their
unique criteria. Explore various personal statements and examples online for insights on tailoring your
statement effectively.
• Relevance is Key: Ensure the details in your statement align with your chosen institutions. Express
your interest by connecting with general course themes and subject areas. Dramatic details are
unnecessary; staying relevant is crucial. Provide a comprehensive description of your subject areas,
course themes, and experiences, while it's advisable to avoid relying solely on high school and earlier
experiences.
• Conduct Research When Necessary: Some schools may expect you to articulate why you selected their
institution over others. To address this requirement effectively, research various types of personal
statements and examples. Gain insights into what your chosen school offers and observe how others have
approached similar requirements in the past.