A personal statement is your chance to speak in your own voice and show your colors.
The personal statement is an important part of most college applications. It’s your opportunity to show the admissions committee that you have personality, opinions and experiences to share. It also demonstrates that you can write at the college level.
Here are some tips on writing a great personal statement.
- Be yourself.
Don’t tell people what you think they want to hear. If you’re serious, write a serious essay. If you’re funny, try to express your sense of humor while getting a serious message across. Be honest and true to yourself. Colleges want to know what makes you unique.
- Start off on the right foot.
Take time to write a great opening paragraph. This makes the reader want to keep reading. Some people even write the opening paragraph last, when they know what they want to say. Just don’t get too carried away. Your essay should be brief.
- Talk about issues or problems.
Your essay could be a discussion of some issue or problem that interests you. Just make sure you choose an issue people relate to or find interesting. This is also your chance to explain any challenges you faced in school or at home.
- Write, revise and revise again.
Don’t try to write your personal statement at the last minute. You could end up with careless typos or spelling errors. Get someone you trust like a teacher, counselor, parent or friend to read your essay and provide feedback. Then put your essay aside for a while and come back to it later with a fresh perspective.