Writing a Personal Statement - The Career Center

Writing a Personal StatementMarissa BrattoleObjective• y Write an engaging and effective personalstatement capturing your strengths and careergoals.• y This is your opportunity to give admissions amore personal look into who you are.Purpose of a personal statementA personal statement, also known as a statement ofpurpose, demonstrates your unique qualificationsto an admissions committee. It also illustratesyour writing ability, creativity, and career goals.Admissions committee members look for interesting,insightful, and non-generic personal statements thatprovide concrete evidence of your competence andmotivation.Get startedBefore filling out the application, reflect on and makenotes about your:Personal History• y Prior life experiences, events, and achievementsrelevant to your career choice or application tograduate school• y Life events are experiences that are distinct orunusual which relate to your professional goals• y People who have influenced your decision topursue this field or who have had a significantimpact on your values as they relate to this choiceAcademic Life• y Research interests and prior experience• y Academic accomplishments/recognitions• y Influential professorsWork Experience• y Previous jobs, volunteer experience, and/orextracurricular activities that have influencedyour career choice or career goalsAnswer these questions1. What is special, distinctive, unique, or impressiveabout you or your life story?2. How did you learn about the field? Whatstimulated your interest in this field?3. What characteristics and skills do you possessthat enhance your prospects for success?What’s insideCommon mistakes..........................................2Evaluating suggestions..................................2Personal statement critiques.........................2Personal statement evaluation chart............3Sources of additional information................44. Have you overcome any unusual obstacles orhardships?5. Are there any gaps in your academic record thatyou want to explain?6. What are the most compelling reasons for theadmissions committee to be interested in you?7. What are your short and long-term goals?8. What is the most important thing for anadmissions committee to know about you?9. Why do you want to apply to this program?10. What are the special features/values of thisprogram that attracted you to it and how do theymatch your own values, skills, and goals?Formatting tips1. Read the application carefully, follow thedirections, and adhere to word or page limits!Most personal statements are 2-3 pages.2. Be sure to answer the question/topic(s) posed inthe application.3. Choose a font style and size that can be easilyread by your audience.4. Write in first person.5. Proofread for typos and grammatical errors.

Common mistakes1. SloppinessAvoid spelling, punctuation, formatting, andgrammatical errors. Be sure to leave yourselfadequate time to edit and revise your essay.You do not want to send your first draft to theadmissions committee.2. Writing one statement for all schoolsLearn about each school’s program, includingresearch interests and publications of faculty.Clearly state reasons for pursuing a degreefrom that school. Be sure to mention facultymembers with whom you would like study whennecessary.3. Boring contentHave a positive tone, vary length and structure ofsentences, and avoid clichés. Use active speech.4. Sounding like everyone elseIdentify your strengths and clearly articulatewhat sets you apart from other applicants. Do notsimply state that this is your passion.5. Dwelling on crisisIf you discuss a personal crisis, it should relateto the purpose of your essay. Mention how itaffected your personal goals, perspective, oracademic performance.Evaluating suggestionsEvaluating your personal statement is an importantpart of the writing process. Carefully read over yourpersonal statement and use the Personal StatementEvaluation Chart on page 3 to critique your statement.Then ask at least one person whose opinion youvalue, (e.g., friend, teacher, family member) toreview and evaluate your personal statement usingthe Personal Statement Evaluation Chart criteria.Personal statement critiquesYou may bring your personal statement to theCareer Center to be critiqued by a career advisor.No appointment is necessary. Career advisors areavailable 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday throughFriday. Bring an electronic and paper copy of yourstatement. You can use the Career Center’s computerlab to make changes as needed.Do’s & Don’tsDo:• y Aim for depth, not breadth.• y Write why an event is significant to you and whatyou learned from it.• y Use readable fonts, conventional spacing, andmargins.• y Focus on one or two specific themes and discussrelated experiences.• y Concentrate on capturing the reader’s interest inthe opening paragraph.• y Have specific reasons for applying to eachprogram.• y Mention specific faculty with whom you areinterested in working.• y Strive to make the essay unique by using concreteexamples from your life experience. This allowsyou to stand out from other applicants.• y Select people whom you trust to read and providefeedback on your personal statement, especially ifEnglish is not your primary language.• y Create a conclusion that refers back to yourintroduction and ties your points together.• y Connect life experiences to your professional goalsand career motivation.• y Articulate short- and long-term career goalsclearly.• y Be selective when choosing supplementalmaterials to submit (only submit materialsrequested by school).• y Comment (briefly) on irregular grade trends,discrepancies on transcripts, or circumstances thataffected test scores.• y Mention specific reasons why you are interested inthis school and program.Don’t:• y Submit the exact same essay to multiple schools.• y Write a clichéd introduction or conclusion (e.g.,my passion).• y Preach to the reader.• y Repeat information elsewhere in your applicationto the point of redudancy.• y Discuss money as a motivating factor.• y Cram too much information into the essay.• y Exceed word and/or page limits.• y Exaggerate your qualifications or experience.• y Discuss potentially controversial topics (e.g.,politics or religion).• y Include extraneous materials (e.g., addendumsto applications, videotapes, or audiotapes) unlessspecifically asked.y • Remind the school of its ranking or tell them “howgood they are.”2Personal Statements

Personal Statement Evaluation ChartQuestions to Ask Comments N/A1. Did my opening paragraphcapture the reader’s attention?2. Is the statement as a wholeinteresting?3. Is it well written? (e.g., grammar,tone, verb agreement)4. Is the statement positive andupbeat?5. Does it reflect well on me and myqualifications?6. Is it an honest and forthrightpresentation of me?7. Does it answer key questionsposed in the application?8. Was relevant material omitted?9. Is there inappropriate orirrelevant material in thestatement?10. Does the reader gain insight fromreading the statement?11. Is it free of typos or other errors?12. Does it explain my careeraspirations?13. Are there any gaps ordiscrepancies in my academicrecord that need to be addressed?Personal Statements 3

Sources of additional informationThis guide was adapted from these resources, some of which are located in the Career Center Library.Sample Personal Statements........................................................................................................................................IIIC2 P3Real Essays For College & Grad School...................................................................................................................IIIC2 M35Get into Graduate School..........................................................................................................................................IIIC2 K31Essays That Worked for Business Schools.................................................................................................................IIIC2 C81Essays That Worked for Law Schools........................................................................................................................IIIC2 C82Law School Essays that Made a Difference..................................................................................................................IIIC2 B7Business Essays that Made a Difference...................................................................................................................IIIC2 G51Medical School Essays that Make a Difference...........................................................................................................IIIC2 K4Graduate Admissions Essays......................................................................................................................................IIIC2 A5850.644.6431 • career.fsu.eduAlternative Format Available.Revised 9/13.