One of the essential parts of the university application process is writing a personal statement. A good personal statement is a chance to show your uniqueness and convince a chosen university that you are the best applicant and deserve their offer.
Not only are ‘hard factors’ such as your grades and test scores important to enter the university, but also some ‘soft factors’ like recommendations, extracurricular activities, and essays.
According to NACAC’s most recent State of College Admissions report, a personal statement is the key soft factor colleges consider. As it is your only chance to make the first impression on admission officers, your statement must be truly outstanding.
Your personal statement is a source of information on your personality, way of communicating with others, level of motivation, and ability to follow directions.
An impressive personal statement can positively impact your application, while a poorly written essay can diminish your chances of getting admission.
That’s why you shouldn’t take your personal statement lightly and must make a lot of effort to create an amazing cover letter.
Table of contents
How do you write a strong personal statement?
The following methodology ensures that you still have all the necessary aspects in writing a personal statement and also make each sentence as accurate as possible;
- Write a personal introduction to it.
- Expand on relevant skills, interests, and experience.
- Write a very strong conclusion.
- Proofreading and editing.
- Personal statement of employment.
What is a good personal statement?
For example, describe how a family member or a personal moment influenced your career or graduation decisions. Keep It Brief: the essays are usually limited to 250–500 words or one typed page. Statements should be concise, clear, and in-depth. Focus on a single idea in each paragraph.
How should you end your personal statement?
How to end your personal statement: what to write
- Tie it back to what you’ve written earlier.
- Talk about the future.
- Your university experience.
- Take a break and come back to it.
- Read back what you’ve written.
- Don’t waffle.
- Make notes as you write.
- What do your UCAS choices have in common?
What should a 500-word personal statement include?
For example, describe how a family member or personal moment influenced your career or degree decisions. Keep It Brief: Essays are typically limited to 250–500 words or one typed page. Statements should be concise, clear, and detailed. Focus each paragraph on a single idea.
What should you not say in a personal statement?
Big mistakes students are supposed to avoid;
- Write a personal statement for a subject that is not the right fit.
- Spelling & Grammar Errors.
- Avoid lush vocabulary and pointless cliches.
- Listing extracurricular activities endlessly.
- Excessive use of quotes or generally misquoting.
Steps to Writing a Powerful Personal Statement
If writing essays is not your strong point, you could use professional help. Just go to ca.edubirdie and order it there. This service can provide a great personal statement that will enhance your chances of enrolling in college. Using Ca.edubirdie is a perfect opportunity to devote yourself to exam preparation and get high scores.
But still, if you are going to write a good personal statement by yourself, break this challenging task into smaller and more manageable steps. Don’t forget to include all the essential components of your essay and complete them step-by-step as described below.
#1. Powerful Introduction
Your introduction must perfectly reflect your personality. It should clearly explain why you are interested in a certain degree and, if appropriate, your relevant experience with course topics. To encourage a recipient of your personal statement to read further, start with words that show who you are and describe the most relevant aspects of your personality and interests. The introduction should be a full paragraph.
#2. Skills and Interests Description
The body of your personal statement must contain detailed information on your relevant knowledge, skills, and interests. Mention as many details as possible that relate to the course you are applying for, such as your awards, certificates, or work experience if you have it. Describe your talents and values that are relevant to the program. Write about your academic achievements and explain how a chosen course can help you reach your life goals.
#3. Make a Strong Conclusion
Create a conclusion that will leave a strong positive impression on the admissions officer. Reinforce how the course can help you in your future career and make a summary of the main points of the statement body. Don’t forget to describe the connection between your skills or achievements and your future college contributions. The conclusion must restate why you applied and what you want to reach. Show all your enthusiasm for studying at a chosen university so you will take your candidacy seriously.
#4. Proofreading
Once you finish writing your personal statement, proofread it properly. Read it aloud to hear how it sounds and make edits if needed. There are the following areas of improvement: clear phrasing, easy-to-understand language, relevancy, and specificity. Please pay close attention to these aspects while reviewing your essay, as they are the most important ones. Besides, you can ask your friend or a professor to read your personal statement and give feedback. This way, you will have an objective understanding of what should be changed in a better way.
Stick to the following tips to make the most of your personal statement.
What You Must Know
Top universities always ask applicants for a personal statement detailing their degree program suitability. Submitting a compelling personal statement is a great opportunity to highlight your talents to a university. A strong personal statement gives you a great advantage over competitors and enhances your chances of enrolling, especially if you seek scholarship opportunities.
To make the writing process easier, create a draft, and include all the necessary ideas to mention. It will help you make your personal statement perfectly structured. Don’t rush and take your time to complete the final version, as sometimes it’s worth taking a break to create an excellent piece. Try making your essay sound professional and elegant using fancy words and expressions. And, of course, focus on your strengths!
The most important thing in writing a personal statement is to be yourself and honestly describe your personality. Use this essay to show who you are and why the university may be interested in you. Although tackling a personal statement can be the most confusing part of a college application, it’s a great opportunity to persuade an admissions officer that you are worth studying at their institution.
