personal statements

Get writing.

1. Get personal 2.Speak like you 3.Think about your audience 4.Order- Story, How it helped, Connection to major 5.Length 6.Edit 7.Friend edit 8.Submit

What should I write about?

1.Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2.The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (Psst - If you choose this topic, you can sign up for Going Merry and apply for a scholarship bundle: one essay, multiple scholarships!) 3.Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4.Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. 5.Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6.Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? 7.Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What Is a Personal Statement

For colleges: -It should paint a picture for colleges to understand who we are and what we bring to the table. This is why it's often better to tell a story, or give examples, rather than just list accomplishments. -It should complement the other parts of your application. Consider your college application as a whole. Your personal statement, application short answers, and supporting documentation should together tell a story about who you are. This also means not being super repetitive with your personal statement and your short essays. (For instance, if you have to answer 3 questions AND submit a personal statement, maybe they shouldn't ALL focus on music.) For scholarship applications: -It should indicate why you're deserving of the scholarship. This often means making sure your essay relates to the scholarship provider's goals. (Get more help on writing a killer scholarship essay here, and then make sure you're applying as efficiently as possible.) For both: -It should showcase your strengths. This doesn't mean it can't acknowledge any weaknesses, but it surely shouldn't only focus on negative aspects!

How do I decide what to focus on, in my college essay?

STEP 1. Brainstorm about your life (A) What were defining moments in your life? (B) What have you chosen to spend time on? (C) Whom or what are you inspired by? (D) What are you proud of? STEP 2. Shortlist your ideas Identify your strongest ideas out of the bunch. This should probably be very few (2-4). STEP 3. Freewrite about your possible essay topics.