How To Write A Personal Statement
The personal statement is usually the part of the college application letter that gives students the biggest troubles. Young people, for the most part, barely know themselves and they now have to act like they do. Not just that, they have to show off their best sides if they’re going to convince school officials to consider them for acceptance.
There are four main challenges to expect when writing the personal statement:
- You need to convey a healthy amount information, while working with a limited space.
- You need to engage the reader without sounding tacky or inappropriate.
- You need to write about your positive qualities and achievement without sounding arrogant.
- You need to go beyond mere distribution of facts, conveying personality and self-awareness.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you write it:
Outline your ideas. Spend a few days just thinking about what you want to say and jotting down notes. Once you have a good idea of the material you will include, arrange it in a logical structure before writing the actual draft.
Review and revise. Don’t write your final personal statement in one sitting. Instead, give yourself room to draft and perform multiple revisions. That way, you can give your material several considerations before putting the final stamp on it.
Show passion. If you care about what you’re saying, it will shine through in your letter. Regardless of the content, it will sound impressive and readers will appreciate it.