Hey, everyone, and welcome.
In this video, I'll share how to write
a strong personal statement in five easy steps.
And stick around to the end, when
I'll share some tips for how to tie your whole essay together.
Let's get started.
The first step in writing a personal statement
is to understand what someone is looking for in your essay.
Personal statements are often requested
by colleges or universities as part of an application process.
You may sometimes see an employer ask
for a personal statement, but typically this request
as best approached by submitting a tailored cover
letter, which you can learn how to write
by watching this video.
Now, it's understandable to think that a personal statement
should simply list your achievements, talents,
interests, and goals.
But universities want to know more.
They want to know who you are as a person, not just
as a student.
And they want to know what you'll bring to the table.
They're looking for someone who's authentic, thoughtful,
and eager for the opportunity.
Personal statements are typically
three to four paragraphs in length.
But each university may have their own requirements.
They may also provide a specific topic to address.
So pay attention to directions around prompt, word,
or character limits.
Now that you understand what colleges and universities are
looking for in a personal statement,
it's time to move on to step two, figuring out your angle.
Now, before you even start writing, you need a topic.
The best topic depends on the prompt provided
by the college or university.
If it's an open prompt, ask yourself
about what you feel is most important to share about you.
Sample topics can include recounting
a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure.
How did it affect you?
And what lesson did you learn from the experience?
Describe a problem you've solved or problem you'd like to solve.
Explain why it's significant to you, what steps you can or did
take to solve it.
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization
that was a catalyst for your personal growth.
Not sure which prompt is best for you?
To narrow it down, I recommend a dual approach.
First, look at each prompt and brainstorm some ideas
that allow you to tell a story.
Remember that a great story contains an arc.
You start in one place and you end in an unexpected or opposed
one.
Second, of those stories, choose one
that allows you to share the things that are key to who
you are as an individual.
You may be interested in discussing one prompt.
But if another allows you to showcase
your unique experiences or values,
I'd always recommend going with that one.
So for example, would you be able to mention
your passions, your background, or your challenges?
Colleges want to know who you are
and what's driven you to be successful in the major
or field of study that you've chosen.
Now, before you start writing the body of the essay,
here are a few best practices to keep in mind.
One, write in your own voice.
Use your own words to describe your qualifications.
Make your statement feel personal and unique to you.
Keep it simple.
Try to avoid cliches or big words
that you wouldn't otherwise use.
Keep a positive tone.
Aim to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the opportunity.
Use an active voice.
Now active voice means using strong verbs that
engage your reader and directly identify your accomplishments.
So for example, the statement, it
taught me, is passive while, I learned, is active.
Plan your arc.
The body of your essay will connect your introduction
and conclusion.
Think about the journey you're going to take the reader on
to show them who you are.
Make sure you're directly answering the prompt.
Do they want you to speak directly
to why you want to attend college?
This is pretty typical for an undergrad application.
Or do they want more of a personal statement?
In both cases, they want to know about what's unique about you,
so be sure that you tell them.
So let's start writing.
Step three is to write the body.
Now, I recommend writing your intro last.
So let's start with the body.
In addition to the story that we discussed,
the body of your personal statement
should include the reason you've applied to the program.
So for example, if you're interested in studying
artificial intelligence, and in your research
you discovered their university was leading the way,
the body of your essay is a great place to mention it.
Here's an important tip.
Don't make your academic accomplishments
the main focus of your essay.
Your application materials are going
to include an academic transcript and a resume.
So the reader can already see your accomplishments.
Instead focus on telling them who you are
and why you care about this opportunity.
One of the biggest pieces of advice that I can give you
is to make your reasons unique to you.
The reader should feel your personal connection
to the degree or program you're applying to
and clearly understand your motivations.
Discuss what makes you different from other candidates
by including specific details and brief examples
of your experiences to help your personal statement stand out.
Use your level of experience as a guide
to decide the number of body paragraphs to include.
A recent high school graduate may just
need one or two paragraphs, while someone
who is applying for an advanced degree
could write two to three paragraphs
when discussing their professional experience
and the skills that they have in their chosen field.
Here's another tip.
Be vulnerable, but don't overshare.
You want to show them who you are as a person,
but avoid including any information that can paint you
in an unflattering light.
Avoid including profanity, complaints
about teachers or peers, negative statements,
or personal exploits that aren't relevant to your
academic or professional goals.
Now, before I move on, let me know
if this video is helpful by liking and subscribing for more
career and job search advice.
All right.
The next step in writing a personal statement
is to draft the conclusion.
The conclusion of your personal statement
should leave a strong, lasting impression
on the admissions officer.
It should be a one-paragraph, clear restatement
of why you've applied and what you hope
to achieve with the experience.
Most importantly, it should also persuade the reader
to take action on reviewing your other academic credentials.
Strategies for creating a strong conclusion
to your personal statement include highlighting
future career goals.
Reinforce how the school's mission and coursework
can prepare you for a career.
Consider discussing relevant short and long term goals
that you have, such as what you hope
to achieve all year in school and where you see yourself
in 5 to 10 years.
Summarize your journey.
A brief summary of the main points in your statement
can be an effective strategy for one sentence of a larger
conclusion.
Connect your achievements, experiences, and skills
directly to your future contributions
to the university.
End your personal statement with your enthusiasm
for the opportunity.
This can actually influence the university
to consider your candidacy seriously.
And keep your arc in mind.
Next, you'll be working on your intro.
And this is where you need to connect the story together.
Now, it may seem odd to write the introduction
of your statement last.
But this can actually be an advantageous strategy.
By leaving the intro for last you're
able to focus on the core elements of what you really
wanted to communicate.
In many cases, what you chose to highlight
in the body of your personal statement
can dictate how you form your introduction.
Start with your first sentence, which
should function as a hook.
How can you make your reader want to keep reading?
How can you hint at the core theme of your essay?
One idea is to open with a bang, a strong statement
that you'll qualify or prove throughout the essay.
You can also set the scene.
Ground your reader in the moment in which your story takes place
by describing the setting.
After your hook, let your introduction
give a glimpse into who you are as an individual.
It should reflect your motivations, interests,
and personality.
This can encourage the recipient to read further.
Additionally, it should address why
you're interested in the degree or the program
and how it aligns with your passions.
And when appropriate, mention any recent experience
with the course topics.
A typical length for an introduction
is one full paragraph.
Now, remember, your intro's goal is
to gain an admission officer's attention
and ensure they fully read your essay.
Here's one final strategy to consider.
Link your conclusion back to your introduction.
Revisit your conclusion and see if you've
highlighted what interested you in the school or degree
program.
Connecting the beginning and the ending
can make your personal statement feel cohesive and complete.
For more information on how to get started
with writing a personal statement,
be sure to check out this career guide article.
Now that you've finished writing your personal statement,
I bet you're ready to submit it.
But wait, make sure that you read your personal statement
from beginning to end at least one time before sending it.
This essay can lead to the next step
in your academic and professional career.
So you want to give it the time and attention it deserves.
As you read, look for errors in spelling, grammar, wording
and structure.
Now, technical writing skills are important, but also
pay attention to the story that your essay tells.
Does it represent who you are as an individual
and leave the reader wanting to know more?
Check to make sure that you use action statements and details
that connect your passions and goals to what the college
requires from its students.
Now, you can review your personal statement yourself.
But consider having a family member or a friend
read it for you.
An unbiased reader can help identify any additional points
for improvement.
And revise your writing when you find
the areas that can be improved.
Make sure to keep your statement clear and concise.
A typical length for a personal statement
is between 500 and 700 words.
But be sure to adhere to the word or character limit
that the school you're applying to requires.
For more proofreading tips to help strengthen
the quality of your personal statement,
be sure to check out this career guide article.
So there you have it.
As a recap, the five steps to writing a personal statement
are--
step one, understand that a college
wants to know who you are as an individual,
not just who you are as a student.
Step two, identify a topic with an arc and personal relevance.
Step three, write a body that addresses accomplishments,
experience, academic achievement, and your reasons
for applying to the degree, major, or program.
Step four, write a conclusion that ties your story together.
And step five, write an introduction that connects to
or sets up your conclusion.
And remember, read your essay from the beginning
to end at least one time before you submit it.
For more advice on how to write a personal statement
for a college or university application,
be sure to check out this career guide article.
Now I hope that you found this information to be helpful.
And if you liked this video, please share it with others.
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Thank you so much for watching.
And I'll see you next time.