What is a personal statement?
A personal statement is an important component when applying for fellowships, graduate programs and other competitive programs. The purpose is to provide an interpretive summary of your background, academic interests, and future goals as justification for your admission to a program.
How do I write a personal statement?
When starting out, round up your transcript(s), CV/résumé and the application form itself so you can refer to these materials as you consider:
- how your statement can enhance a particular element of your CV/résumé and
- how might you present a compelling story about how and why you’re drawn to your particular field of study, program, or career path
See the Writing Center’s tips on Writing the Personal Statement.
So, besides that, what are the basics?
- Tailor Your Statement – While you’ll probably only need to craft one general personal statement, it’s critical that you take the time to tailor it since there are usually subtle differences in what each program asks for in a personal statement.
- Length – Some programs specify this so adhere to their word or character limits when stated. If there’s no mention of length, limit your statement to 500-800 words. Be concise and precise in your writing.
- Intellectually Grounded – In general, focus on your academic background and relevant experiences in an effort to provide concrete evidence of your promise as a member of the academic community.
- Applicable Knowledge – Your statement should demonstrate your understanding of the central concerns of a field of study or profession to which you are applying. If/When applying for a doctoral program, cite specific program faculty members and their research areas/publications, emphasizing how it relates to your interests and research goals. Selection committees look for candidates with well-defined research interests that arise from experience.
- Goals – Address your specific plans and how the graduate program and its faculty will help you meet these goals. Your statement should show that you know what you’re interested in (essentially, that I know that I want to pursue this as my career; and the most logical way for me to achieve career success is by earning this degree.)
- Personable And Original – Strive to make your personal statement distinctive to provide the selection committee with a three-dimensional perspective to distinguish yourself from the other applicants. One way to do this is to share an example that is specific to your own experience. For example, perhaps a memory that influenced your academic and/or career trajectory.
- Start Early – While it’s tempting to procrastinate, writing a personal statement is stressful. The earlier you start, the more time you’ll have for revisions to ensure that you submit a coherent statement that’s logically and grammatically accurate. Seek feedback from professors, friends, parents, the Career Center, and the Writing Center.