Think strategically about yourself. Do not worry about format, spelling, or grammar; just write down what
naturally comes to you. Your essay should grab the reader’s interest and give them a sense of your personality.
Try to be specific; vague or abstract generalities are not helpful in telling the reader about you. Sometimes we
take our experiences for granted and think the reader understands the underlying intricacies of these
experiences. Give your essay to someone who knows you and ask him/her if you are giving an accurate
description of yourself. Try to avoid language or prose that is too flashy or clever. Reflect on the true nature
of your strengths, talents and accomplishments, and you will not need to exaggerate on any of the details.
Make sure you are honest and the writing is a true reflection of who you are.
Revising and finalizing your essay:
Give your essay to multiple readers to edit. Because it is impossible to determine who will evaluate
your essay it is important to have a variety of people read it in advance. Get help with copy-editing,
which means working with the stylistic details of your writing, refining sentence structure and deciding what
words best fit. Be sure to proofread meticulously! Simple typographical or grammatical errors can sabotage
your candidacy. Remember to utilize the writing center and other library resources.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Reflect on some specific questions that may lead you to a more general expression of yourself:
§ What errors or regrets have taught you something important about yourself?
§ What ideas, books, theories, or movements have made a profound impact on you?
§ To what extent do your current commitments reflect your most strongly- held values?
§ Under what conditions do you do your best, most creative work?
§ To what extent are you a typical product of your generation and/or culture?
§ How might you deviate from the norm?
§ What are the most important characteristics, values, goals, and ambitions, life experiences and service
activities that define who you are?
§ Why do you want to study at this institution and how will hit help you become a better scholar, person,
leader?
§ What is unique, distinctive, and unusual about you? What would help the committee to understand you
better?
§ Why are you motivated to pursue the path you have chosen?
§ What events, people, or family history have shaped and influenced you?
§ What would help the committee better understand you and sets you apart from other applicants?
§ When did you first become interested in your field of study? What have you learned since then? What
have you learned about yourself?
§ What drives you motivates you – in your field of study, your projected career, and your life?
§ What kind of contribution do you want to make and how?
§ If your interest has changed over time, how has your prior interest contributed to your understanding
of/approach to your current interest?
§ Have you overcome adversity to get where you are?
§ How might you contribute to the academic community you intend to join?
§ In five years where do you see yourself working and what do you envision yourself doing?
§ Discuss an activity or experience that has helped you clarify your long-term academic goals.
§ Discuss a need of society that you will address in your career.
§ Which famous person do you most identify with and why?
§ Describe your hometown and explain its impact on your beliefs or values.
Remember that your personal statement is authentic. Do not make the mistake of trying to guess what the
committee is looking for, and do not write what you think they want to hear. They want to know you. You
want to grab the reader’s interest and make them want to meet you for an interview. Get a sense of the
experiences you wish to share and if you write honestly you will have written a personal statement.