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Guide To Writing A Personal Statement

The document provides guidance on writing an effective personal statement for professional school applications. It outlines that the personal statement should introduce the applicant, discuss their interest in the career and how their experiences have led them to pursue it. The document recommends reflecting on meaningful experiences and how they have shaped the applicant, and to convey goals and fit for the program. It also suggests addressing any weaknesses transparently. Overall, the personal statement aims to distinguish the applicant and convince the committee of their suitability and potential.

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Siang
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76 views

Guide To Writing A Personal Statement

The document provides guidance on writing an effective personal statement for professional school applications. It outlines that the personal statement should introduce the applicant, discuss their interest in the career and how their experiences have led them to pursue it. The document recommends reflecting on meaningful experiences and how they have shaped the applicant, and to convey goals and fit for the program. It also suggests addressing any weaknesses transparently. Overall, the personal statement aims to distinguish the applicant and convince the committee of their suitability and potential.

Uploaded by

Siang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Guide to Writing a Personal Statement

Purpose of the Personal Statement


The personal statement is a required part of an application to professional schools such as medicine, dentistry, other
health programs, law, business, education, social work, public policy, international affairs, counseling and most other
professional degree programs. It is your opportunity to present your qualifications and reasons for choosing a
professional education and career. You should discuss how your interest in the program and career developed and how
you have pursued that interest while in college. Your statement should persuade the admissions committee that you will
be a successful student and that you have the potential to contribute to the profession.

Preparing to Write Your Statement


What do you want the admissions committee to know about you? Imagine the statement as a discussion with an
admissions officer. Before you begin to write, spend time reflecting on what you know about yourself. You should think
about how family members, professional or others have influenced your decision. It may be useful to develop lists or an
outline of what you want to convey. You might list qualities and skills you believe you possess. Is there evidence of
these in your record of experiences? These might include:
• Experiences working with people
• Independent study
• Research experience
• Education abroad
• Significant work experience
• Internships
• Teaching experience
• Courses taken
• Student government or organization leadership
• Community service or volunteer experience
• Special emphasis within your major and/or minor

If you present your experiences in a one-dimensional manner, by merely describing them rather than explaining their
significance to you, your essay will not distinguish you from others or define your individual character. It is critical that
you reflect on the meaning of your values, skills and interest so that you can write an essay that will reveal to the reader
who you are, and not just what you have done. Write about your experiences in a way that conveys how they sharpened
your perceptions, taught you important lessons, or clarified your goals. Developing various themes (of community
involvement, the role of teamwork, the power of persistence, etc.) might provide a framework within which you can
discuss your various experiences and how they reflect concepts you have come to value. Unify these ideas through your
discussion of your decision to pursue a professional education.

TIP: Keep notes on the insights, skills and motivation your experiences and observations have helped you develop.
Save your reflections in a log or journal to draw from later when writing your statement.

Career
Center
Suggested Content
Personal background - What distinguishes you as an individual? What are the most significant experiences, events or
relationships that reveal something about your value system or about the types of challenges you have experienced?
Development of your interest - How did your interest in this type of professional degree program and career develop,
and when did you decide to pursue advanced education? If there were significant role models or other individuals who
have influenced your career goals, describe how. What appeals to you about the program?
Related experiences - What are your future goals, ideals, or objectives with the profession? In what type of setting do
you imagine yourself working? If applicable, which area of concentration within the program or profession would you
like to pursue, and why? How have you prepared for this future? Describe any skills (e.g., artistic, computer, or language
skills) or knowledge that demonstrates the depth of your experience in the field. Explain how these skills or knowledge
apply.
Obstacles and inconsistencies - Be open about any obstacles you may have encountered and overcome to arrive at this
point of your application (illness, family tragedy, unusually large workload, refugee experience, etc). If there are any
inconsistencies in your academic record (markedly low grades one term) or admission test scores, explain those in a
brief, factual, positive, non-apologetic, non-defensive manner.
Conclusion - Summarize by uniting key elements of your statement (e.g., motivation, strengths, and goals).

Style
Set professional tone - Avoid slang and “gimmicky” writing. Focus on informing, not entertaining.
Organize effectively - Feature early in the essay what is most important. End with what you want the reader to
remember most about you. Develop major ideas in an orderly fashion; use examples where appropriate. Brief essays of
this type do not require introductory paragraphs. Launch right into what you want to say. Begin and conclude on a
positive note.
Be concise - Use words economically. Avoid redundancies. Look at each sentence you have written and ask yourself
why it is important. What does it say about you? Choose simple, clear words.
Be clear - Think about the person reading your essay. Will he/she understand your references you make to individuals,
institutions or programs? Avoid using jargon and obscure acronyms. Watch your use of proper names. For example,
saying that you were a tutor for “AAC” won’t be understood by anyone not at TU, yet writing that you worked for the
“Academic Achievement Center at Towson University” takes up a lot of space. Indicating that you were a tutor through
the “campus tutorial center” would suffice.

Keep it simple - Use active, not passive, voice. Put the “doer” (you) in charge. Use “I worked on,” rather than “I was
afforded the opportunity to work on.” Also, use easy-to-read font or typeface.
Be clear - Think about the person reading your essay. Will he/she understand your references you make to individuals,
institutions or programs? Avoid using jargon and obscure acronyms. Watch your use of proper names. For example,
saying that you were a tutor for “AAC” won’t be understood by anyone not at TU, yet writing that you worked for the
“Academic Achievement Center at Towson University” takes up a lot of space. Indicating that you were a tutor through
the “campus tutorial center” would suffice.

Keep it simple - Use active, not passive, voice. Put the “doer” (you) in charge. Use “I worked on,” rather than “I was
afforded the opportunity to work on.” Also, use easy-to-read font or typeface.

Career
Center

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