Craft a Personal Statement
and Supplemental Essay(s)

Overview

In this section, you will explore how to craft a strong personal statement and supplemental essays for your college applications. These essays give you the opportunity to share your story, values, and goals in ways that go beyond grades and test scores. You will be introduced to strategies for brainstorming, organizing, and refining your writing so that your authentic voice comes through clearly. Understanding how to approach these essays will help you feel more confident in presenting yourself to colleges.

By the end of this section, you will understand the role of personal statements and supplemental essays in the admissions process, identify experiences or values that can serve as meaningful topics, and apply techniques to write with authenticity, clarity, and impact. You will also be able to begin drafting and refining your own personal statement and supplemental essay responses.

Learn

In this activity, you are introduced to strategies for brainstorming, organizing, and refining your personal statement and supplemental essays so they highlight your authentic voice, values, and goals. These essays play a critical role in the admissions process because they allow colleges to see who you are beyond grades and test scores. In the What Admissions Officers Really Look for in College Essays | 6:52 min video, admissions professionals explain how essays are evaluated and what makes them stand out. You will also review two sample essays - one strong and one less effective - accompanied by commentary that illustrates what works well and what could be improved.

You will complete the following tasks:

1. 1. Watch the What Admissions Officers Really Look for in College Essays | 6:52 min video linked here and embedded in the site below.

   2. Review the Personal Statement Sample #1 (Strong) |approx. 600 words linked here and embedded below.

   3. Review the Personal Statement Sample #2 (Weak/Less Effective) |approx. 600 words linked here and embedded below.

Apply

(Optional) Use the information you learned to complete the activity outlined below.

After watching the What Admissions Officers Really Look for in College Essays video and reviewing the Personal Statement Sample #1 and Personal Statement Sample #2 above, please complete the following tasks:

1. Identify “Showing vs. Telling”

   • Highlight one sentence from the strong personal statement example that shows personality or growth.

   • Highlight one sentence from the weak/less effective personal statement that tells without showing.

   • Rewrite the weak sentence to make it more vivid and personal.

2. Rewrite the Sample

   • The weak essay begins with “I love music.” Rewrite this opening in 2-3 sentences using a specific moment, image, or detail from your own life.

3. Reflect on Your Own Practice

   • In 4 to 5 sentences, describe a time when you faced a challenge in an activity, hobby, or interest. What did you learn about yourself?

   • Connect this lesson to how you might approach challenges in college.

4. Create a Mini-Draft

   • Write a 150–200 word mini personal statement draft using your new rewrite, one specific detail, and reflection.