What it Takes to Compose a Personal Statement

A personal statement is a paper that provides a summary of one’s educational achievements, skills, and experience. When written correctly, it communicates one’s personality, thus impressing the admissions board enough to aid them in choosing the candidate to fill the vacant position. An excellent paper should summarize the achievements mentioned above while communicating a specific skill set. The skillset should tie into the course you plan to take in college, giving the reader a clear idea of the applicant’s goals and aspirations.

Before you start creating your statement, it is highly recommended that you conduct some research about the college. Find out what the requirements, expectations, and regulations are for the task. Also, conduct some research about yourself to better understand who you are and what inspires you. Once you have all these things in hand, you can now start creating your personal statement.

What Makes a Personal Statement Stand Out?

Essentially, personal statements should comprise of three parts. These parts include:

• The introduction
• The body
• The conclusion

The introduction should be conclusive and communicate your intentions for the essay. This part should outline your goals, achievements, and personalities. It should describe who you are within the context of a 500-word limit. In this section, you should be as specific as possible while communicating your goals. You can mention goals that you have achieved and others that you would like to achieve in the future.

The body should comprise of paragraphs that highlight your personality. Each paragraph should discuss a specific point. You should be specific in your descriptions and refer to facts in support of the claims you make. Your paragraphs should also be straight to the point. If possible, start with the most important points and finish with the weakest. Your paragraphs should build on each other and provide evidence to support your objectives.

The conclusion is the last and most important part of your personal statement. In this section, you summarize by highlighting your objectives, goals, and aspirations. You should also include any lessons you have learned from the experience. You should create a conclusion that satisfies your goals and those of the college. You should also include the evidence that supports your objectives and those of the college.

Mistakes to Avoid when Writing a Personal Statement

When writing a personal statement, it is inevitable to make mistakes. Keep in mind that such errors reduce your points and hurt your chances of being selected by the board. Some of the mistakes to avoid include:

1. Forgetting to answer the question or answer it incorrectly – making any mistakes in your answer will reduce your credibility. You should carefully read through your statement to ascertain that you have answered the question as required.
2. Misrepresenting or lying about any experience or achievement – if you lie in any personal statement, your credibility will be damaged forever. The admissions board will not take you seriously if you cannot relate to their challenges and goals.
3. Being overconfident – believing that you are good at something means a lot about your personality. As such, it is easy to enter a bubble of inflated self-esteem. Unfortunately, this will lead you to exaggerate or lie in the personal statement.
4. Omitting relevant information – sometimes, the information you include in your personal statement might be irrelevant. The board will not take you seriously if you cannot explain why you are missing some vital information.

It is also important to proofread your work once you are done creating it. You should not submit your statement to the board until you have thoroughly edited and revised it. Proofreading ensures that your personal statement is free from errors and showcases your maturity and quality as a person.