When you apply to graduate school, along with your resume, transcripts, and recommendation
letters, you’ll probably also have to submit a personal statement.
This video will guide you through some winning strategies to build a strong and well-structured
personal statement.
You can also download the full examples in the links below!
Now let's get started!
Hi, I'm Jessica from Scribbr, here to help you achieve your academic goals.
A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling
story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.
To write a successful personal statement for graduate school, don’t just summarize your
experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice.
Aim to demonstrate three things:
Your personality.
So what are your interests, values, and motivations?
Your talents, what can you bring to the program?
Your goals, what do you hope the program will do for you?
Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of
you.
If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most
important thing is to respond to it directly.
There’s no universal template for a personal statement, but there are strategies you can
use to build a compelling, well-structured story.
Let's start with the introduction.
The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into
the story you want to tell.
Don't start with phrases like "ever since I was a child", or "for as long as I can remember",
they sound so cliche!
I'll introduce 2 strategies for each section that'll give you an idea on how to get started.
But it's nothing set in stone, so feel free to let your creativity roam.
The first strategy is to open with a concrete scene that illustrates something about your
character and interests.
But try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls
the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.
Here are some things you can think about: A personal experience that changed your perspective
A story from your family’s history An unusual or unexpected encounter
The second strategy is to open with your motivations
Start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want
to follow.
This will emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment.
For example:
Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
Next, we're moving onto the main body.
In this section you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.
Here are two strategies you can use to structure the body of your personal statement.
One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences
that have led you to apply for graduate school.
But don't try to include everything you've done - pick out highlights that are relevant
to your application.
Try thinking about: What helped you develop your knowledge and
skills?
Where do you want to go next?
How does this program fit into your future plans?
If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this
into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.
Maybe your cultural or economic background was underrepresented; perhaps your grades
weren’t perfect, but you’ve had other experiences that demonstrate your talents.
Don't focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your resilience, resourcefulness
and perseverance!
We describe 2 more strategies in our knowledge base article, they are here!
Now, your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get
out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions,
or both.
Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best
way to achieve your aims.
Here are two strategies that might give you a direction:
If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of
curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to
learn it.
If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this
is the place to express your enthusiasm.
If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion
can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why
is this program the best choice to help you get there?
One thing that can't be stressed enough, leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish
the text.
Don’t be afraid to rewrite, experiment and move information around to see what works
best!
You have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement.
Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement.
Before you submit your application, consider investing in a professional editing service.
For $30-40 dollars, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically
correct and free of awkward mistakes.
Scribbr’s team of experienced editors have improved hundreds of personal statements.
They know what’s important to admissions committees, and they use that knowledge to
provide you with valuable feedback.
Check it out here!.
Good luck with your personal statement and college admission!
Make sure to drop a like and subscribbr, thanks for watching and I'll see you in the next
video soon.