| By Tara Shekouri |
Writing a standout personal statement—a piece that combines your achievements with your personal story—shows the admissions team how well you fit the program you’re applying to. The process of writing one may feel daunting, but remember, it’s an opportunity to express who you are and why you’re excited about the program; take it step by step, and you’ll find that it can be a surprisingly fulfilling task. In this blog, we will discuss a few tips for writing an exceptional personal statement.
Begin the Writing Process Early
Allow yourself a few months before the deadline in order to write a well-rounded personal statement to ensure you have enough time for reviewing, editing, and writing multiple drafts. Although personal statements are not very lengthy, it can take a bit to find out what exactly you would like to emphasize and how to communicate that in the most effective, meticulous, and concise way.
2. Make Sure You Are the Focus
Although speaking about academic achievements and extracurriculars are fundamental aspects of any personal statement, it is extremely important that these experiences are tied to your character, perspective, motivation, and so on.
3. Concentrate on Your Beginning Paragraph
The opening paragraph is your opportunity to grab your reader’s attention. It lays the foundation for the remainder of the statement. Begin with a short sentence that expresses your interest in the field of study for which you are applying. Don't rant or state you want to study something simply because it sounds intriguing. Avoid brief reasons that can be associated with other courses, and ensure you are pinpointing what you find uniquely intriguing about your chosen one. This also applies to the rest of the statement.
4. Tell a Story
One goal when writing a personal statement is to stand out. Therefore, it is critical to demonstrate your concrete experience in a lively, fresh, and outstanding way. Some ways to achieve this are to use imagery, showing and not telling, being original, emphasizing the turning point, and so on. Furthermore, ensure you are writing in an active rather than passive voice to create a more engaging and personal narrative.
5. Do Some Research
It is important to have a sense of direction with your personal statement. When a school asks why you selected it over others, delve deep to discover the distinguishing characteristics that set it apart.
Although there is no particular way to structure your personal statement, as a general guide, ensure you have the following included:
A clear and descriptive introduction.
A body consisting of roughly 75% academic achievements, which showcases your commitment and dedication towards the field, and 25% extracurriculars, highlighting your well-roundedness and unique qualities.
A straightforward conclusion.
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