This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. This handout provides information about writing personal statements for academic and other positions.
These can be milestones, hobbies, qualities, or quirks that are what make you, you. Topics to consider might be:. This is just a way to get ideas flowing! Start by writing a few sentences or paragraphs about any of your shortlisted topics, and let the words flow. Write for about 15 minutes, on each shortlisted topic. We all have a story to tell, and we all have a different journey that led us to where we are today. Write your personal statement in a genuine tone that reflects who you are.
This means, in particular, not using big words just to show off. Or, even worse, you accidentally use the word incorrectly! Who will you be writing your personal statement for? What message do you want to convey? Make sure you keep within the required length. Some college or scholarship applications will allow you to write up to or words. There was a time when we used to rely on pencil and paper to write down all of our ideas and information including first-draft college essays.
Now, we mainly rely on screens, so our eyes grow tired, causing us to miss typos and grammar mistakes. So save that document in an easy-to-find folder on your computer. Then stepping away from your computer and taking a break helps relax your mind and body and then refocus when you come back to edit the document. All the grammar things! Your personal statement reflects who you are, from the topic you choose to the style you write it in, so impress colleges or scholarship providers with excellent structure and great grammar!
We recommend asking a friend, counselor, or parent to read your personal statement before you submit the document. One more set of eyes will really help you get a second opinion on the tone, writing quality, and overall representation of who you are in your personal statement. Get double-use out of your personal statement. Going Merry is your home for all things scholarships—fill out a profile, get matched to eligible scholarships, and apply.
You can even save essays so that you can easily upload the same one for multiple scholarship applications. We were inspired by the Common App to make applying for scholarships easier. Register for an account here , get the full lowdown on how it works , or just sign up for the newsletter below to get 20 scholarship opportunities delivered to our inbox each each week! Oh yes we do. First, here are some excerpts of personal statements from members of our very own Going Merry team!
He made me laugh and taught me all the things that made me into a young tomboy: what an RBI is, how to correctly hook a fish when I feel it biting, what to bring on a camping trip.
He is a man of jokes and words, not of comforting motions. But as I grew older and I too became infatuated with words—albeit in written form—our topics of conversation became more diverse and often more profound. During these talks, my father would insert stories about his youth.
It came back to me, scrawled in red, on the first big history test of the year. The one the teacher had assured us was a third of our grade. What happened? I had two options here. I could accept that I was in fact a D student despite what I had thought. Or I could study hard for the next test and try to bring my grade up by the force of the average.
It means I was lucky, or blessed, or anything else you want to call it. I have talent. When included in job applications and resumes, these statements are generally a single paragraph.
Employers and universities may have their own requirements, so make sure to heed any word or character limits. Breaking the task of writing a personal statement down into small, manageable steps can help you write a strong statement for a job or university placement.
While your introduction, body and conclusion sections should be in that order, you can write them in any order that best helps you effectively write your statement. For example, writing your body first and then returning to write the introduction can help you craft a stronger opening because you already know what the rest of your statement discusses.
The following approach ensures you include all essential components and make each sentence as effective as it can be:. Write an introduction that reflects you and your personality.
It should say why you are interested in the job or degree and, if appropriate, your recent experience with the job type or course topics.
Starting a personal statement with sentences that show who you are can help encourage the recipient to read further. Use a single, strong sentence to mention the most relevant aspects of your personality and interests in the role or company. For a university application, discuss what parts of the program or school align with your passions.
Your university introduction should be a full paragraph. The body of your personal statement lets you share more about your relevant skills, interests and experiences. Write about personal details that relate to the job or course for which you are applying. You could write about the following elements, where relevant, in the body of your personal statement:.
Two sentences should be sufficient for the body of your job personal statement. You may choose two or three of the previously listed elements to discuss in those sentences to keep it comprehensive while also being brief.
If your university personal statement is a general prompt asking about your interest and goals, the body of your college personal statement should be one or two paragraphs. A recent high school graduate may need just one paragraph, while someone applying for an advanced degree should write two paragraphs when discussing the professional experience and skills they have in their chosen field.
Craft a conclusion that leaves a strong, lasting impression on the prospective employer or university admissions officer. It should be a clear restatement of why you applied and what you hope to achieve with the experience. It should also persuade the reader to take action on you as a candidate, either reading through the rest of your resume or reviewing your other academic credentials. In this final section of your statement, you can include:.
The conclusion of your personal statement for a job should be a single sentence, so consider selecting only one of the above strategies. Write a full paragraph for the conclusion of your personal statement for a university and consider using a blend of two or three of these strategies for a comprehensive and engaging conclusion.
Once you have written your personal statement, take the time to proofread and edit it. Read your personal statement aloud to hear how your writing sounds and find areas of improvement, such as:.
Review your personal statement to find these areas yourself, and consider having a friend or colleague read it for you, too. This person can give you feedback on improving it in those areas. The best personal statements have a personal yet professional tone and relevant, direct information.
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