SWC 9: Writing Personal Statements for College Admissions
What is a personal statement?
A personal statement is a way to introduce yourself to a college admissions committee.
It helps the admissions personnel get a better idea of an individual’s qualifications,
goals, values, and fit for the program.
Is there more than one type of personal statement? Yes.
Open-ended prompts:
- These allow applicants to decide the direction(s) they want to take.
- Prompts may include broad questions like:
- Why do you want to attend this university?
- What are your goals?
- What is something you value and why?
- Prompts may also remain general while providing slightly more structure:
- “Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”[1]
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“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”[2]
Specific prompts:
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These allow applicants to respond to a specific topic, issue, or question such as:
- What is a book you love? How has it impacted you? In what way(s) do you identify with the text/characters?
- What extracurricular activity has had a significant impact on your life?
- Is there a particular moment in your life that has made you who you are today? What was the moment, and how/why did it impact you?
What is the process for writing a personal statement?
- Brainstorming:
- Take your time and evaluate multiple writing options/paths
- Remember the purpose: to portray yourself accurately, to highlight your strengths, and to explain why you are an ideal candidate
- Keep the personal statement parameters in mind including word count (You want to choose a topic that you can fully cover.)
- Keep the audience in mind and consider how you will build ethos (your credibility)
- Consult our brainstorming handout: COM 4: Brainstorming
- Outlining:
- After selecting a primary topic, form a preliminary thesis statement to guide your personal statement
- Next, decide your subtopics that support the thesis
- Organize these sub