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Personal Statement Guide

The document provides a guide for crafting a personal statement for graduate school applications. It recommends beginning with an engaging introductory story and connecting it to your goals. The body should highlight experiences that show sustained ambition in your field and qualifications for the program. It should explain why the specific program interests you. Conclude by relating how the program will help you achieve short-term and long-term professional goals, bringing the story back in. The guide also provides general tips such as starting early, avoiding cliches, and including a clear thesis statement.

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30 views

Personal Statement Guide

The document provides a guide for crafting a personal statement for graduate school applications. It recommends beginning with an engaging introductory story and connecting it to your goals. The body should highlight experiences that show sustained ambition in your field and qualifications for the program. It should explain why the specific program interests you. Conclude by relating how the program will help you achieve short-term and long-term professional goals, bringing the story back in. The guide also provides general tips such as starting early, avoiding cliches, and including a clear thesis statement.

Uploaded by

Siang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MALONE CENTER FOR CAREER ENGAGEMENT

PERSONAL STATEMENT GUIDE

Below is a guide and template for crafting your personal statement for graduate school applications. We hope this will
help get you started in the process, however, please note that there is no prescriptive way to write a personal statement.
Each student may decide to take a different route in their writing, and faculty may be looking to learn specific things
about an applicant as they read the statement depending on the program. For more ideas or clarification on the process,
consult with your professors and/or a Career Advisor.

The personal state-


ment component of
your application is In the introduction of your personal statement, tell a story. Start in
very important. This the middle of the action with your first sentence. Place your reader
is where you get to in a setting and make them feel the emotions you felt. Use the story
show the admissions to show your passion for the topic you hope to study. Conclude your
committee who you story with a sentence that connects your story to your current goal of
really are and why you pursuing graduate school.
would be a perfect fit
for their program. The body of your personal statement is where you communicate at
length why you are qualified for the graduate program you are ap-
plying to. Communicating your qualifications well means that your
statement could be 2-4 pages in length. What experiences have sus-
tained your ambition over time? Choose 2-3 experiences to highlight
Each program is in your essay. What knowledge have you learned in your courses that
unique. Some have makes you want to pursue further education in this subject matter?
different require- What abilities do you have that will make you successful for graduate
ments or prompts school and make you stand out from other candidates? Why does this
for the personal particular program interest you? Be specific in what reasons you have
statement. If you are for choosing this institution above others. The body of your personal
applying to several statement should clarify your reasons for applying to a program for
programs, be sure the admissions committee. After reading, they should understand
to write a tailored more of who you are as a person, apart from your grades and test
statement for each scores.
program.
Conclude with your goals. How will this program in particular help
you reach your professional goals? Consider both your short and long
term professional goals and how they connect back to your expe-
riences. As you connect where you want to go with where you have
been, you give the admissions committee an invitation to partner
**Good writing with you in the journey you are on.
doesn’t happen in
a vacuum! Have a
career advisor, a
mentor, or a professor
help you edit your
personal statement.
Having several people
edit will ensure you
are submitting your
best writing.
MALONE CENTER FOR CAREER ENGAGEMENT
PERSONAL STATEMENT GUIDE

GETTING STARTED. . .
1. IDENTIFY YOUR PROMPT
While some programs may specify the
topic or prompt(s) to which you must
respond, others may leave the content
up to you. In general, the following
topics are of interest to graduate and
professional programs:

• Your reasons for pursuing a graduate


degree
• Areas of study in which you plan to
specialize
• Career goals and plans for the future
• Reasons for interest in the specific in-
stitution, program, or faculty members
• Preparation for study in the field -
which may include academics, involve-
ment, research, and work or internship
experience

2. OUTLINE YOUR INTRODUCTION


Remember: Tell Your Story!
• Start in the middle of the action
• Place the reader in the setting and
make them feel the emotion
• Show your passion!

Sample Introductory Sentence: “Ev-


erything was new. As I rode along the
gravel road, looking out the window, I
was amazed at the culture and beauty of
Guatemala. . .”

Include a sentence connecting your


story to your current goals.

Example Connector Sentence: “I can


confidently say that my experience
abroad in Central America was the initial
spark that ignited my passion for human
service and global relations.”
MALONE CENTER FOR CAREER ENGAGEMENT
PERSONAL STATEMENT GUIDE

3. OUTLINE YOUR BODY


What experiences have sustained your
ambition in this topic over time? Think
about:
• Research experience
• Volunteer experience
• Courses taken
• Internship
• Study away experience

Example Sentence About Sustained


Ambition: “My internship with a local
advocacy group sustained my interest in
human service and counseling”

Why are you qualified for this graduate


program? Include things like:
• The knowledge you gained from courses
• The skills you developed through expe-
riences
• Abilities that make you stand out

Examples of Knowledge, Skills


& Abilities:
• Observe specific behaviors
• Understand trauma-informed care
• Verbal and written communication
• Critical thinking
• Balance and time management

Why does this particular program inter-


est you? Think about:
• Research opportunities & Faculty
• Culture & Cohort size
• Location
• Specialties offered

Examples of Program Interest:


• Offers a Masters and PhD program with
multiple concentrations
• Small cohort (tight knit)
• Close to home
MALONE CENTER FOR CAREER ENGAGEMENT
PERSONAL STATEMENT GUIDE

4. COME TO A CONCLUSION
Conclude with your goals and your story
outcome. Think about:
• How will this program help you reach
your goals?
• What are your short and long term per-
sonal and professional goals?
• Bring your story back in - reiterate how
this experience shaped your interest.

Example Sentence About Goals:


“Through this program, I hope to gain
practical and theoretical knowledge in
the field by participating in internships
and gaining additional work experience.
My long term goal is to work as a mental
health counselor.”

Example Sentence of Bringing Story


Back In: “Through my experience in
Guatemala, I gained an appreciation for
human service across cultures. My ex-
periences so far have helped prepare me
for this work and I am excited to become
a dedicated member of the counseling
community.”

GENERAL TIPS:
• Start early! Personal statements should be revised a few times. Give yourself plenty of time to have it reviewed and make
changes with the Furman Writing Center, the Malone Center, and faculty.

• Avoid using cliché statements such as “I have always been interested in . . .” or over-used descriptors such as “interest-
ing” or “amazing.”

• If you are concerned about an aspect of your application, such as your GPA, use your statement as an opportunity to
address it and explain.

• Include a clear thesis statement.

• Develop a consistent theme throughout your statement that ties your experiences together.

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