Securing Internships and REUs Series:
Writing Effective Personal Statements
9/27, 4:00
JSH 250
9/27, 4:00
JSH 250
Dr. Wonderful (Dr. Wonderful Faison, PhD)
Director of the Richard Wright Center for Writing, Rhetoric, and Research
Jackson State University
H.T. Sampson Library
Website: https://www.jsums.edu/wrightcenter/
Please write a draft/outline of a personal statement. Personal statements generally fall under two categories: (1) a general, comprehensive statement; (2) a response to specific questions.
In addition to support from The Writing Center, those of you who submit a personal statement by the deadline will be paired with a mentor from our collaborating partner, The University of California at Irvine.
We encourage you to look for an internship/REU application you are interested in to determine the best way to compose your personal statement. Respond specifically to those writing prompts.
If, however, you have not selected a specific internship/REU to apply to then consider the prompts below to structure your personal statement draft. Choose 2 - 3 as inspiration for your personal statement.
The essay should describe what you hope to gain from the REU experience and how this experience will contribute to the attainment of your future goals.
Describe your prior research experience and/or mathematics project(s)
Describe an important mathematical experience you have had and explain why you enjoyed it and how it impacted you.
you have done.
Describe mathematically or computationally relevant job(s) you have held such as tutoring, etc.
What experience do you have with computational tools?
What is your motivation for learning mathematics?
Describe your long-term professional goals.
As an early college student, it may be that your instructors don't know you well yet. Give information about the depth of your mathematical background and interest and experience beyond your classes.
Provide an ordered list of the three research projects on which you prefer to work (1 indicates your preferred project). For your top two preferences, describe how these projects are appropriate to your mathematical or computational skills and interests.
*We are no longer accepting personal statements online. Please make an appointment with the university's Richard Wright Center for Writing, Rhetoric, and Research at:
https://www.jsums.edu/wrightcenter/
**If you were at the workshop and spoke with Dr. Wonderful about submitting your personal statement later this week please contact me: carmen.m.wright@jsums.edu