Transcript Writing Your Personal Statement

November 8, 2010
Lynn Willits, Director of Career Education
Why is the personal statement so important?
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It is the only part of your application that is not based
on test scores or other people’s perceptions of you.
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It is the one part of your application that you have
complete control of and allows you to make a personal
case for yourself.
1. The general, comprehensive personal
statement:
 Allows you maximum freedom in terms of
what you write and is the type of statement
often prepared for standard medical or law
school applications.
2. The response to very specific questions:
 Business, graduate school and other
professional school applications often ask
specific questions, and your statement
should respond specifically to the questions
being asked.
 Some applications favor multiple essays,
typically asking for responses to three or
more questions.
Tell a story
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Provide concrete examples that pertain to your life,
goals and experiences. This will distinguish your
story and make yourself more memorable.
Be thoughtful, honest and reflective.
Be specific in relating your achievements, obstacles,
goals and values.
Concentrate on Your Opening Paragraph
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The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most
important. It is here your grab the reader’s attention
or lose it.
Use a quote, story, an anecdote or an engaging
description of a scene.
Unite your essay and give it direction with a theme
or thesis.
Choose what you want to discuss and the order in
which you want to discuss it.
Tell what you know
 Write
about what interests or excites you in your
particular field.
 Be as specific as you can in relating what you know.
 Use the language that professionals use.
 Refer to experiences, research, classes, books you’ve
read, seminars you’ve attended.
 Explain why you’re suited to this field.
Do some research
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Find out what sets your choice apart from other
universities or programs.
If the school setting would provide an important
geographical or cultural change for you, this might be
a factor to mention.
Answer the questions that are asked
 Don’t
be tempted to use the same statement for all
applications.
 If slightly different answers are needed, write
separate statements.
 If you are asked to describe your greatest
accomplishment or challenges, use vivid language.
 Allow your reader to visualize your accomplishment
and your sense of success.
Write well, clearly and correctly
 Be
meticulous.
 Adhere to required word limits.
 Read it out loud.
 Proofread!
 Proofread!
 Proofread!
Be specific, be concise
 Strive
 If
for depth, not breadth.
you say you would make an excellent doctor
(lawyer, teacher, engineer, etc.), back it up with
specifics.
Avoid Clichés
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“I want to help people”
“I love working with children”
“I am good at science”
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Express your original thought
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Use Your Resources
The Writing Center
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Your faculty advisor or program director
Alumni, family or friends who have attended the
medical or law school you are interested in
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Internet examples
 Don’t...
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Include information that doesn’t support thesis
Start essay with “I was born in…”
Write an autobiography, itinerary or resume in
prose
Try to be a clown (gentle humor is OK)
Try to impress reader with your vocabulary
 Don’t…
1.
2.
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4.
5.
Rely exclusively on your computer for spell check
Provide a collection of generic statements
Give weak excuses for your GPA or test scores
Be afraid to start over if the essay just isn’t
working or doesn’t answer the essay question
Make things up!
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Underestimating the time and difficulty involved in
developing the personal statement.
You cannot start working on the essay one week
before it’s due. Start early.
Lack of “flow”. Have different people review and
give feedback.
Spelling and grammar mistakes. These will kill you.
Failing to let yourself come through.
Including topics that you can’t support in an
interview.
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What’s special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
What details of your life (personal/family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you
or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set
you apart from other applicants?
When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it
(and yourself) that has reinforced your desire that you are well suited to this field?
What are your career goals? What are your expected goals in this field?
Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should
explain (great grades, but mediocre MCAT, LSAT, or GRE scores)?
What personal characteristics (integrity, compassion, persistence, honesty) do you
possess that would improve your prospects for success in this profession? How
can you document that you have these characteristics?
What skills (leadership, analytical, technical, communicative, language) do you possess?
Why might you be a stronger candidate than other applicants?
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http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groupssections/minority-affairs-consortium/transitioning-residency/writing-yourpersonal-statement.shtml
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http://lawschool.about.com/od/applicationprocess/tp/personalstatement.htm
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http://www.princetonreview.com/medical/personal-statement.aspx
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http://www.accepted.com/grad/personalstatement.aspx
Contact:
Career Education, 314.529.9375
or the Writing Center, 314.529.9228
for more information.