Writing Your Personal Statement

This article is part one of a two-part series. In this first article we’re going to talk about one of the most important parts of preparing for senior year—essays!

We’re not talking about just any essays. We’re talking about your personal statements, the essays you write about yourself. By starting to learn the tips and tricks we go over now, we hope you’ll be able to complete a full draft or two by the end of the summer.

It’s common for most colleges to ask you to write an essay about your life: who you are, your hobbies, your passions, etc. While this may sound easy, for some students it can be very challenging. It’s easy to underestimate yourself and the things you’ve done, but remember: a past experience you may see as uneventful or boring can be seen as extraordinary by the colleges you’re applying to.

If you can tie that experience to the reasons you want to attend the school you’re applying to, you can create a strong story that shows a school what you’re bringing to their campus. That’s why doing your research now—on majors, dealbreakers, and other reasons a school’s on your list—is so important to do now. This is your chance to recommend yourself the “write” way, in your own words, as a student who belongs on their campus.

An interesting essay about your life doesn’t always have to mean it’s about the good stuff, though. Life is full of twists and turns, and sometimes there are moments that affect us in the worst ways imaginable. If you went through an event like this, you can talk about it, especially if it might’ve hurt your performance in school.

A school doesn’t need all the details, but just seeing that you persevered during a troubling time and came out on the other side is enough to show them you’re committed, honest, and strong.

If you need some inspiration, maybe take a look back at your brag sheet for the things you’ve highlighted about yourself. If your recommender’s done with their letter, you might also look at that, if they’ve given you a copy. Either one of these will highlight some important points about your character, and the things you’ve been involved in, exactly the kind of stuff that colleges eat up. At the very least, this might help you brainstorm what talents, skills, experiences, or qualities you want to talk about in your essay.