English with Mrs. Cotton



Tips for Writing a Great Personal StatementYour personal statement is a very important part of your college application. You want to be more than a set of numbers and scores in the eyes of your potential schools, so show them who you are! They want to hear about your interests – the books you love, the travel you’ve done, the people you’ve learned from, and the work you’ve done.Stand out. Explain what you will contribute to the school of your dreams, but do so creatively. Rather than simple statements like, “I’m a hard worker and will contribute significantly to the growth and success…blah blah blah…,” try to tell a story that highlights your unique, positive qualities. Then explain how you will apply those qualities during your college career.Character building stories are golden. Think about your favorite novel. Chances are part of the reason you like that book so much is because of the challenges the protagonist faces and the way he/she grows as an individual by getting through them. You have stories just like that, and this is your chance to share them. Avoid topics that get covered far too often in personal statements – addiction, abuse, divorce, family tragedies, pet stories, your most important mentor, etc. – but share a little about how you got to where you are.Be specific about the school to which you are sending your personal statement. Every university is different. If you tailor your statement to fit each school individually, admissions personnel will notice. If you send the same generic personal statement to everyone, admissions personnel will notice. Put in the extra effort to show them that this is where you belong.Follow directions! This should go without saying, but I’m saying it anyway. You’re a good student. Show them.Proofread carefully! In addition to looking for spelling/grammar mistakes, also make sure that you are being as original as possible. Avoid opening with a famous quotation, restating all of the wonderful things listed on your resume, sharing irrelevant stories without a “so what?” factor, using the thesaurus until you don’t sound like yourself, and lies/exaggerations. All of these things are overdone, and the last one is simply unethical. In the end, be original, be authentic, and be yourself. If this school is the right fit, they will love you! ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download