Personal Statement

The Personal Statement!

3T's and an EAR

1. T ell your Story

2. T ell the Truth

3. T ell it Well

S pecifically

E dit

A sk Questions

R evise

The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories:

1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:

This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.

2. The response to very specific questions:

Often, applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions (UW has 4 questions for example).

Questions to ask yourself before you write:

·What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?

·What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?

·If you have worked a lot during your high school, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth? What are your career goals?

·Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre SAT or ACT scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?

·Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?

·What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics? What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?

·What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

Answer the questions that are asked

·If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar.

·Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked.

Tell a story

·Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.

Be specific

·Don't, for example, state that the school has a strong reputation or an idyllic setting (they already know that). Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.

Find an angle

·If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.

Concentrate on your opening paragraph

·The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.

Tell what you know

·The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Be as specific as you can and authentic—folks want honesty.

Don't include some subjects

·There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments earlier than high school are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).

Do some research, if needed

·If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.

Write well and correctly

·Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.

Avoid clichés

·Avoid clichés like the plague and even though your teachers will tell you a thousand times, avoid them!!

University of Washington:

A. Essay (Required)

At the University of Washington, we consider the college essay as our opportunity to see the person behind the transcripts and the numbers. Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. In general, concise, straightforward writing is best, and good essays are often 300 to 400 words in length.

Maximum length: 500 words

The UW will accept any of the five Coalition prompts.

Choose from the options listed below.

1. Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

2. Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.

3. Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?

4. What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give younger siblings or friends (assuming they would listen to you)?

5. Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.

B. Short Response (Required)

Maximum length: 300 words

Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington.

Tip

Keep in mind that the University of Washington strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values, and viewpoints.

C. Additional Information About Yourself or Your Circumstances (Optional)

Maximum length: 200 words

You are not required to write anything in this section, but you may include additional information if something has particular significance to you. For example, you may use this space if:

• You are hoping to be placed in a specific major soon

• A personal or professional goal is particularly important to you

• You have experienced personal hardships in attaining your education

• Your activities have been limited because of work or family obligations

• You have experienced unusual limitations or opportunities unique to the schools you attended

D. Additional Space (Optional)

You may use this space if you need to further explain or clarify answers you have given elsewhere in this application, or if you wish to share information that may assist the Office of Admissions. If appropriate, include the application question number to which your comment(s) refer.

Format for the essays

• Content is important, but spelling, grammar, and punctuation are also considered.

• We recommend composing in advance, then copy and paste into the application. Double-spacing, italics, and other formatting will be lost, but this will not affect the evaluation of your application.

• We've observed that most students write a polished formal essay yet submit a more casual Short Response. Give every part of the writing responses your very best effort, presenting yourself in standard, formal English.

• Proofread, proofread, proofread!

Tip

• Write like it matters, not like you're texting. This is an application for college, not a message to your BFF. Writing i instead of I, cant for cannot, u r for you are: not so kewl.

FINALLY (whew)—remember, private schools OFTEN have “supplemental” sheets and you’ll want to triple check to make sure you complete these as well!