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Writing a Personal Statement

Writing a Personal Statement. Applied Psychology Lab. What is a Personal Statement?. Your opportunity to sell yourself to the admissions committee. Include: What makes you unique Statement of personal goals Statement of professional goals Why you want to attend this institution.

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Writing a Personal Statement

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  1. Writing a Personal Statement Applied Psychology Lab

  2. What is a Personal Statement? • Your opportunity to sell yourself to the admissions committee. • Include: • What makes you unique • Statement of personal goals • Statement of professional goals • Why you want to attend this institution

  3. Why is it important? • In absence of an interview, this is how committee will distinguish between you and other applicants. • Many people will be applying, make yourself stand out. • More than a sample of your writing.

  4. What to Include • What makes you different • Why you want to pursue this field of study • Academic achievements • Personal accomplishments • Relevant experience • What are your interests

  5. What NOT to Include • All your application information • Don’t go back too far • Don’t include too much personal information • Whining excuses for deficits • Your entire life history • Embellishments to make yourself look better

  6. Who Are You • Explain weaknesses in your credentials (without whining) • Emphasize your strengths • Why this field • What have you done in the last four years • Work experience • Research experience

  7. What can you add? • Research experience • What have you done? • Presentations • Work experience • Both in field and not • Strengths • Are you a people person, work well without supervision, etc • Applicable knowledge • Computer skills, writing skills, etc.

  8. Why this? • Relevance of first degree to this program • What do you want to do with it • Why do you want to do it • Why do you think you would excel

  9. Why here? • Do your research • Tailor to your audience • Do not write one blanket statement for all programs • What are their research interests • What draws you about this program

  10. Ten Do’s • Have a thesis or theme • Think before you write • Use examples from your life • What interests and excites you • Grab their attention • Have a conclusion • Revise • Get input • PROOFREAD • Write clearly

  11. Ten Don’ts • Don’t include random information • Don’t start with “I was born in…” etc. • Don’t write an autobiography • Don’t try to be a clown • Don’t be afraid to start over • Don’t try to impress with your vocabulary • Don’t rely on computer to spell check • Don’t provide a collection of generic statements • Don’t give weak excuses for GPA or test scores • Don’t make things up

  12. What Now? • Start writing • Bring it back to the next general meeting (2 weeks) • Be ready to constructively critique each other’s statements

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