The purpose of a personal statement is to convey information about yourself and your career or academic goals to an academic institution, organization, company, or potential client. The content of each personal statement varies, but it should state your reasons for being a good fit for the program or position. This statement must be supported by experience and achievement information.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Developing Ideas
Step 1. Determine the reason
The basic structure and intent of a personal statement will vary depending on your goals and field. Emphasize expertise and focus on situations that require this personal statement.
- If you are writing a personal statement to apply for college or apply for a scholarship, focus on your interests, school achievements, and involvement in the community.
- If the goal is to transfer your undergraduate course, focus on your current academic and community record at the university and describe your reasons for transferring.
- If the goal is to apply for graduate school, focus on your desired field of study, the reasons for studying again, and the experience from your undergraduate education that has prepared you.
- If you're writing for a specific job, portfolio, or client, focus on work experience, relevant academic achievements in the last 5 years, and positive character attributes.
- If you've been given a writing guide, make sure you understand what information is being asked for and what you need to write about.
Step 2. Find information about the institution you are going to
Begin the personal statement by seeking information about the institution or client who will be reading it. Read the organization's vision and mission, its history, and recent newsletters to find out what they value in a prospective student or employee.
- All institutions and organizations seek information that is relevant to their mission and goals. Don't send a personal statement of the same content to different organizations, make a statement specifically written for each organization.
- For example, if you are enrolling in a university that emphasizes service and community involvement, emphasize your participation and service to the community. Other universities may value academic value, and if so, you should discuss study and grades.
Step 3. Set academic and career goals
Your goal is the focus of the personal statement itself. This goal is an affirmation to readers that by voting for you, they will have a significant impact. You don't need to spell out all the goals in the final statement, but include as many as you can to make them clear and specific. To get started, think about the following:
- What is the direct role of this university/academic program/scholarship/job position/client in my future?
- What projects will I do to complete this college or job opportunity?
- What is the ultimate goal of my career?
- What position do I want in the next 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?
- What steps should I take to reach the final goal?
- What other goals do I hope to achieve in this process?
Step 4. Think about why they chose you
You will have a lot of competition. So, break down what sets you apart from the rest. Before you can convince your readers, you must first convince yourself. Answer the following questions:
- What personal qualities (leadership, organization, self-control, etc.) make you a valuable asset?
- What experiences and beliefs shaped your current character?
- What accomplishment are you most proud of?
- Have you ever experienced a turning point that changed your life in a positive direction?
- Why should you vote for yourself and not another candidate? Why should people choose you?
Step 5. Create a formal list of accomplishments
While you don't need to list all achievements, some of the most significant ones do. By making a list of accomplishments, you will remember each one and determine what to include in the statement. Here's an example of normal performance:
- Academic degrees and certificates
- Scholarships, allowances and grants
- Awards from academic institutions (e.g., summa cum laude, magna cum laude, faculty awards, etc.)
- Promotions, reviews and evaluations
- Speaking at conferences, conventions or workshops
- Published work in your area of expertise
- Official acknowledgment of service or contribution in society
Step 6. Describe how you made it this far
Write a list of experiences and turning points that led you to your current career or academic interest. The questions you need to think about are:
- When did you first develop an interest in this elective area?
- What do you like most about the chosen field?
- Why do you feel the field of choice is important?
- What experience prepared you for the field?
- Have you ever sacrificed other dreams or expectations to pursue this one goal?
Step 7. Describe a challenge you have faced
Challenges and difficulties can provoke readers to know your story and make you more interesting. Candidates who seem to have little chance are preferred, and many are willing to help if they see that you've worked hard to get to the position. The challenges you can share are:
- Financial Problem
- Prejudice
- Social rights deprivation
- Learning disability
- Physical disability
- Family problem
- Medical problems
- Unexpected tragedy
Part 2 of 3: Making a Personal Statement
Step 1. Read the specific questions asked
Sometimes, your institution or organization will provide you with a list of specific questions or topics that you need to cover. If so, reread it carefully so that you can assemble an answer that directly addresses the problem.
- Usually, this question will be written directly on the form, or on a job vacancy or university web page.
- If you are unsure whether to answer a specific question, contact the program coordinator or contact person.
Step 2. Outline the basic structure of the statement
Generally, you should only have 1-2 pages to include all the information in the statement. With an outline, you will be able to cover all the important points in a limited space. Try to choose 2–4 critical points.
- Prioritize the purpose of your statement. For example, if you're applying to graduate school, focus on your undergraduate project.
- Write down what interests you. Statements are more convincing and lively if you write about an event, goal, experience, or idea that interests you.
- Discuss issues specifically raised by the institution or organization. If there's a topic that readers want to see, make sure it's covered in your personal statement.
Step 3. Create a strong introduction
The first paragraph should be able to attract the reader's attention. A strong introductory paragraph can clearly introduce your thesis or personal statement theme, while creating a narrative feel like you're telling a story. Use personal anecdotes to captivate readers.
- Avoid prefixes with clichéd phrases like, “The most important moment in my life was…”
- A better way to convey “important moments” is with a description. Explain that “When I started working at ABC Company, I knew nothing about manufacturing tools.” Get into the narrative right away, no need to warn the reader that you want to tell a story.
- Include as much detail as possible in the first paragraph. Introduce the main idea of your personal statement and describe how it relates to the story. However, leave more detailed information or related notes and experiences for the main sections.
Step 4. Write down the points that support the statement
The main paragraph that follows the introduction should be able to support the statement. Focus each statement on a single point, and make sure you link each point back to the statement or goal.
- For example, for a statement in a graduate course application file, the second paragraph should focus on the undergraduate course. Turn your research, related fields of study, and achievements into tools that help prepare you for a graduate project.
- Do not use cryptic or general language.
- Write down unique experiences, goals, and ideas.
Step 5. Use positive language
Write in an optimistic and confident tone even if you are discussing a difficult topic. The statement should indicate how you will tackle the problem and create a solution, and the tone of your writing should reflect that.
- Avoid uncertain or weak words, such as, "I'm not sure, but I think I'm a good candidate for your program."
- When discussing challenges or difficulties, focus on how you managed to overcome them.
Part 3 of 3: Revising the Statement
Step 1. Develop an if statement too short
Make your first draft as long or as short as you want, but institutions and organizations usually have a word or page limit. If your statement is not long enough, add other supporting information.
- Look for ways to build on the information already listed. Include other details to create a more complete picture. Or, you can include new information that contributes to the overall purpose of the statement.
- While it is not advisable to submit statements that are too short, do not add information just to make it longer. If your statement is less than a paragraph away from filling a page, but has covered all the relevant information, there's no need to expand it further.
- Don't mention that something is important to you. Instead, describe what you've done to prove and develop your skills.
Step 2. Trim the statement if it is too long
When trimming the content of a personal statement, look for parts that don't directly support the point. Also eliminate points that only serve as background information.
- Also, consider omitting any of the main points that are not very significant.
- Unlike short statements, long statements cannot be left alone. Many application programs do not activate the submit button if the statement length does not match. This means that if it is too long, you will have to trim it.
Step 3. Read the finished personal statement aloud
That way, you know how it sounds. While reading, listen for errors or odd words. Also pay attention to sentences that seem inappropriate or awkward.
Think about whether it sounds natural. If the content of the statement is conveyed directly, is your language when you speak the same as it is written?
Step 4. Ask for constructive criticism
Ask at least three people you trust, such as lecturers, business partners, or people who are successful in the same field, to read your statement and make suggestions for improvement. Others can provide a more objective analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your statement.
- Accept constructive criticism openly and try not to be offended.
- When asking for constructive criticism, first seek professional sources such as high school teachers, professors, intern supervisors, academic advisors, or trusted colleagues.
- After a professional source, ask friends and family for opinions. They can provide “layman” opinion because not all readers are familiar with your study or industry.
- It's natural for there to be opposing feedback. Think about each perspective and look for what influences their opinion. If they don't meet your goals, consider whether their suggestions are worth taking.
Step 5. Read again and correct at least twice before submitting
When you're satisfied with the content, reread it for spelling and grammatical errors. Then, set it aside for 3-4 days, and read it again with a fresh mind. You may find some errors that were not visible in the first correction.
Once all issues are fixed, your personal statement is ready to be submitted
Tips
- Set aside plenty of time to write a personal statement. If possible, start the process at least three months before the deadline for submitting a proposal or application.
- Arrange the contents of each personal statement according to the organization or institution that is intended. You can use many of the same points, but they should still be written for a specific purpose.
- Avoid controversial topics such as religion or political opinion, unless your course or job is directly involved in those fields.
- Don't be compelled to guess what the reader wants. You must answer specific statements and concerns raised by the organization. However, don't write a statement just to impress the reader.
