Writing a Winning Personal Writing a Winning Personal StatementStatement

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What Faculty Look For What Faculty Look For in a in a

StatementStatement A story! A mental picture of who you A story! A mental picture of who you

are as a person as it relates to grad are as a person as it relates to grad school school and your future professionand your future profession

Maturity, self-knowledge, purposeMaturity, self-knowledge, purpose

Evidence you’ve done your homeworkEvidence you’ve done your homework

Writing skills and articulateness Writing skills and articulateness

Kinds of Personal Kinds of Personal StatementsStatements

1) 1) General, Comprehensive StatementsGeneral, Comprehensive Statements Allows you latitude in what you write.Allows you latitude in what you write.

2) 2) Response to a specific questionResponse to a specific question Less latitude, but still important to be Less latitude, but still important to be

thoughtful and persuasive.thoughtful and persuasive.

Sample QuestionsSample Questions““The unexamined life is not worth living.” -Plato.The unexamined life is not worth living.” -Plato.

In light of this quotation, please discuss a decision In light of this quotation, please discuss a decision you have made which has had a profound you have made which has had a profound influence on your present circumstances. In influence on your present circumstances. In hindsight, would you have made a different hindsight, would you have made a different decision? Please explain. decision? Please explain. (Haas School/Berkeley) (Haas School/Berkeley)

How would you characterize the effects of your How would you characterize the effects of your contributions to the groups or organizations in contributions to the groups or organizations in which you have participated? which you have participated? (Yale)(Yale)

Statement Writing TipsStatement Writing Tips

1)1) Discuss the development of your interestDiscuss the development of your interest

2)2) You and your unique strengthsYou and your unique strengths

3)3) Future career goalsFuture career goals

4)4) Fit with schoolFit with school

TipsTips

1.) Discuss the development of your 1.) Discuss the development of your interestinterest

• How & when your interest developed How & when your interest developed

• How you’ve pursued this interest so far?How you’ve pursued this interest so far?

• Significant role models and influencesSignificant role models and influences

TipsTips

Development of your interest (cont.)Development of your interest (cont.)

• Describe SPECIFIC experiences that Describe SPECIFIC experiences that helped you explore and identify your helped you explore and identify your career interestcareer interest

• Special research, academic work, Special research, academic work, employment, volunteer experience, etc.employment, volunteer experience, etc.

• What insight did you gain about yourself What insight did you gain about yourself and the way you relate to the profession?and the way you relate to the profession?

TipsTips

2.) Talk about YOU as a person!2.) Talk about YOU as a person!• Personal background; what distinguishes you as a Personal background; what distinguishes you as a

person?person?• What strengths would you bring?What strengths would you bring?

• What do your experiences and choices say about What do your experiences and choices say about your value system, interests, and motivators?your value system, interests, and motivators?

• Unique skills that demonstrate the depth of your Unique skills that demonstrate the depth of your experience in the field?experience in the field?

TipsTips

3.) Address future career goals3.) Address future career goals

• Future goals within the professionFuture goals within the profession

• Area of specialization? Future work setting?Area of specialization? Future work setting?

• Research the program & explain its appeal.Research the program & explain its appeal.

TipsTips

4.) Discuss fit with school4.) Discuss fit with school

• Refer to specific aspects that match your Refer to specific aspects that match your interests (philosophy, curriculum, faculty interests (philosophy, curriculum, faculty interests, etc.)interests, etc.)

• ““Flirt” with them without being sycophanticFlirt” with them without being sycophantic

TipsTipsSpecial Conditions or CircumstancesSpecial Conditions or Circumstances

• Be open about obstacles encountered & overcome Be open about obstacles encountered & overcome (illness, tragedy, 35 hr/week job, etc.)(illness, tragedy, 35 hr/week job, etc.)

• Inconsistencies in grades or test scores? Explain Inconsistencies in grades or test scores? Explain in brief, non-apologetic, non-defensive mannerin brief, non-apologetic, non-defensive manner

ConclusionConclusion• Summarize & unite key statement elements Summarize & unite key statement elements

Personal Statement Do’s Personal Statement Do’s

Give yourself plenty of time to write itGive yourself plenty of time to write it

Give it a theme or thesisGive it a theme or thesis

Use concrete examples of life experiences Use concrete examples of life experiences to distinguish yourselfto distinguish yourself

Write about what excites you!Write about what excites you!

Do’s Do’s

Begin with an attention-grabbing lead and get to Begin with an attention-grabbing lead and get to the point early onthe point early on

Use clear, direct, concise writing that tells about Use clear, direct, concise writing that tells about your experienceyour experience

Form conclusions that explain the value and Form conclusions that explain the value and meaning of your experience, such as what you meaning of your experience, such as what you learned about yourself and your field, your learned about yourself and your field, your future goals, and your future plansfuture goals, and your future plans

Attention-Grabbing Attention-Grabbing LeadsLeads

““Several years ago I was accepted into an MBA program Several years ago I was accepted into an MBA program in my native New Zealand. However, I decided to in my native New Zealand. However, I decided to postpone my graduate education to a later date.”postpone my graduate education to a later date.”

““For the first 20 years of my life, my activities—and For the first 20 years of my life, my activities—and self-confidence—were circumscribed by the fact that I self-confidence—were circumscribed by the fact that I was a chronic, allergic, asthmatic.” (Med school was a chronic, allergic, asthmatic.” (Med school applicant)applicant)

““At first glance, the most remarkable thing about me At first glance, the most remarkable thing about me might seem to be the fact that I have the temerity to might seem to be the fact that I have the temerity to apply to law school in the first place. I have a apply to law school in the first place. I have a blemished academic record that includes withdrawals blemished academic record that includes withdrawals and failing grades, and by the time I receive my degree and failing grades, and by the time I receive my degree in May, I will have spent six years as an undergraduate. in May, I will have spent six years as an undergraduate. Looking beyond these statistics, however, to the Looking beyond these statistics, however, to the circumstances of my life, it becomes clear that what is circumstances of my life, it becomes clear that what is more remarkable is the fact that I have survived at all.”more remarkable is the fact that I have survived at all.”

Do’s Do’s

Try to stay to about 2 pagesTry to stay to about 2 pages

End by referring back to the main themeEnd by referring back to the main theme

Revise at Revise at leastleast 3 times 3 times

Have someone else critique itHave someone else critique it

Proofread by reading statement aloudProofread by reading statement aloud

Things to Avoid Things to Avoid

Generally, references to experiences or Generally, references to experiences or accomplishments before college accomplishments before college

Controversial or highly unconventional topicsControversial or highly unconventional topics

Information from “out of left field” – i.e., Information from “out of left field” – i.e., doesn’t fit into the story you’re tellingdoesn’t fit into the story you’re telling

An autobiography or resume approachAn autobiography or resume approach

Things to Avoid Things to Avoid Vocabulary words you don’t knowVocabulary words you don’t know Generic statements: “Communication Generic statements: “Communication

skills are important in this field.”skills are important in this field.” Made up things!Made up things! Cliches: “I’ve always wanted to be…”Cliches: “I’ve always wanted to be…”

What if I have writer’s What if I have writer’s block?block?

Just start writing down your thoughts – Just start writing down your thoughts – worry about how it sounds laterworry about how it sounds later

Answer the questions on the sheet Answer the questions on the sheet providedprovided

Ask others to help you brainstormAsk others to help you brainstorm Come to Career Connection – bring a Come to Career Connection – bring a

draft (whatever form it is in)draft (whatever form it is in)

Questions?Questions?

Career ConnectionCareer Connection

22ndnd Floor Younkin Success Center Floor Younkin Success Center

www.careerconnection.osu.eduwww.careerconnection.osu.edu

688-3898688-3898