What is a Personal Statement?
A personal statement is a required document in graduate school applications. Documents are typically 1-2 pages in length. Many schools will give maximum length or word count. For your specific personal statement, follow the instructions from the specific school and program you are interested in applying to. Personal statements are your ability to articulate your interest in the field of interest and the specific program.
General Recommendations
- Tell your story: catch the reader’s attention with a hook or theme that will carry through your statement.
- Be specific: give concrete examples that show or demonstrate your abilities.
- Keep information relevant to the ‘why’ you are writing.
- Avoid clichés such as “I’ve always known that I wanted to be X” or “Since I was a child, I knew that X”.
- Remember the audience and find balance between vulnerability with professionalism.
Interest in the field
- Where did your interest in the field originate?
- What type of exposure to the field have you had that solidified your interest (classes, volunteer, work,
other experiences)? - Reflect on your experiences and the diverse perspectives of individuals within the field you are
pursuing—how will that be helpful
Qualifications
- Write about your educational background as it pertains to the program you are applying for.
- What experiences have you pursued to prepare you for the program and field? How have you learned
from others whose experiences may differ from you? What unique perspectives do you bring?
Alignment with institutional values
- Discuss what drew you to the program: curriculum, faculty, practical experience, other factors?
- How does the program align with your personal values and desired goals?
Career Aspirations
- What are your career goals and how will going through this program help you meet your goals? This is a
place to tailor your information and reasoning for applying to the specific program.
Review and feedback on Personal Statement
It is ideal to have multiple people review and give feedback on your personal statement. This can help catch grammatical mistakes as well as give an outside perspective on the story you are telling. Questions for you or the person reviewing your personal statement to consider.
- Did the opening paragraph catch my attention?
- Does the statement reflect the individual’s story and their qualifications?
- Did you address any outstanding circumstances relevant to your academic or career path?
- Do you get a clear understanding why the writer is applying for the program or field?
- Were the prompt questions (if any) clearly addressed throughout the personal statement?
- Does the personal statement flow well? Does it keep my attention? Is the content relevant?
- Is the statement free of grammatical errors?