Personal statements are sometimes called an “application essay” or “statement of goals.” Admission committees use these to help further assess your qualifications and your “fit” with the program. Some schools may provide guidelines for the statement or ask you to answer a specific question while others leave the content up to your discretion. However, it is not intended to be a review of your resume. Personal statements are very “personal,” so yours should be different from other candidates’ since you have your own story to tell. Here are some of the elements you may consider including on a personal statement:
- Interest and motivation in the occupation, program, field, and institution.
- Discuss how you became interested in the field and your career goals
- Why you want to attend that particular school/program
- Reasons why you believe you will be successful in this particular academic program or the field
- Include personal characteristics (i.e. integrity, perseverance), special skills, or related experiences
- Any unique qualifications that may differentiate you from other applicants
Make sure your personal statement leaves an impression that is consistent with your qualifications. For example, in your law school essay, if you state that you are committed to advocacy and social welfare, there had better be some evidence of that in your resume, perhaps as part of your service learning.
In terms of writing style, there is no one “correct” way. However, here are some style suggestions:
- Write naturally, but concisely, without using large, overly-pretentious words.
- Avoid using gimmicky or “meaningful” quotations unless they perfectly fit the tone and content of your statement. Otherwise they come across as cliché or unimaginative.
- Be specific and focused. Students often try to cover too much material. You are better off providing full, detailed descriptions that enable you to personalize your essay better.
- Use the active voice, not the passive voice. (Active: “The student jumped over the box.” Passive: “The box was jumped over by the student.”)
Focus on highlighting why you would be a good candidate for the program; not on trying to explain why you may have had a poor GPA your freshman year or other issues in your qualifications. Some programs allow you to submit an “addendum” to your application where you can address them.
Be sure to seek feedback from others before submitting the document. It must be perfect in terms of grammar and spelling. This document is also a demonstration of your ability to write clearly and effectively, which is critical for most graduate programs.