Transcript PersonalStatement.ppt

Personal Statement
What is it?
• Supplement to the factual, statistical
portion of your application
• First, learn why applicant is interested in
the field (passion)
• Second, how well do the interests of the
applicant match the current
faculty/program
• Third, assess your writing ability
• Fourth, used to differentiate those
students in the middle range
What’s in it?
•
•
•
•
Answer specific questions (if asked)
Address all aspects of the question
Be thorough, but not verbose
Organized
If vague, personal statement
• organized
• well-written
• integrate your academic, research,
practical, and life experiences that
demonstrates your commitment to
pursue your goals
• Test your hypothesis: I want to pursue a
career in X
10 Do’s
• Unite your essay with a theme or thesis
• Before you start, order what you want to
say
• Use concrete examples from life
experience to support your thesis
• Write about what interests and excites
you
• Start your essay with something that
grabs: anecdote, quote, question, or
description of an engaging scene
• End your essay with a statement that
refers back to your lead and to restate
your thesis
• Revise at least 3 times
• After you finish editing, ask some one
else to critique it
• Proof read it by reading it out loud or
taping it and listening to the tape
• Write clearly and succinctly
10 Don’ts
• Don’t include information that doesn’t
support your thesis
• Don’t start out “I was born….” or “my
parents are from…”
• Don’t write an autobiography, itinerary,
resume in prose
• Don’t try to be too funny (a little humor
can be appropriate)
• Don’t be afraid to throw out what you’ve
done and start over
• Don’t try to impress your reader with
your vocabulary (thesaurus)
• Don’t rely on your computer for spell
check
• Don’t write generic statements and
platitudes
• Don’t give weak excuses for your GPA
• Don’t make things up
– Adapted from Accepted.com
Cover/Application Letters
• Who needs one?
• What makes a good one?
Who needs one?
• Anyone who sends a resume or
application
• Tailor to company or program
• Another chance to emphasize why you
are the right person for the job,
program, etc.
What makes a good one?
• No spelling or typos
• Address is to the person to hire you or
make the admissions decisions
• Write it in your own words
• Demonstrate knowledge of
company/program
• Use terms meaningful to
employer/program
Format
• Introduction
• Summarize qualifications
• End with action
Introduction
• Respond to advertisement
• Company/program that is a good fit
based on your research
• Read about company/program in a
recent publication
• Referred by Jane Smith at XYZ
company/school
Summarize
• Relate your strengths/skills to the
company/program
• Amplify or augment your resume/CV
• Make sure put in keywords (especially if
automated tracking system and/or
online submission)
Action
• Follow up in a few days/weeks
• Looking forward to the opportunity to
talk with person about company
position/program