What is a personal statement?
Personal statements are often required when applying for fellowships
or graduate schools. They provide an opportunity to differentiate yourself
from other applicants, even more than reference letters.
How do I write a personal statement?
Perfectly. No sentence fragments (like the ones here). Your personal
statement should be grammatically flawless. It's the kind of thing that's
worth talking to a Career Center staff member about, showing your roommate
or friend, and any spare English professors you might know.
So, besides that, what are the basics?
| Length--There is no established length for personal statements,
so if you feel you have not been given sufficient space on the
application form, attach an extra page. Use whatever you need
to convey your message. |
| Intellectually Grounded--In general you want to focus
on your academic background with extracurricular activities as
highlights to it. |
| Applicable Knowledge--Your essay should also show that
you have an understanding of the central concerns of a field of
study or profession to which you are applying. Also demonstate
any knowledge you have of the faculty at the school you are applying
for, such as names, publications, recent research, etc. |
| Goals--You should mention why you want to go to graduate
school in a particular area, and what you focus on while there.
An explanation of why you've become interested in these issues
would be good, too. |
| Personable And Original--These are the two "summing-up"
words that you might want to think of while writing. Make your
statement reflect you and show yourself off. |
Be sure to take drafts of your statement into a Career Center staff
member for comments. The more eyes that view your statement, the better
(especially if they've been doing this for years).
