When it comes to writing a personal statement, it is largely unrelated to details about your personal life, how much chocolate you like to eat or how bacon suits your taste buds, your origin, and so on. Rather it's a professional summary of your skills and experience as a student.
What you need to know about writing an effective personal statement for further education
By definition, a college personal statement is a form of writing that should present your portfolio most persuasively. Put differently, a personal statement is a required essay you write to apply for further education or scholarship programs.
It's the one chance you get to share fascinating things about yourself, with the director of the course you intend to study.
Just try to imagine for a second that you just landed a sweet Real estate deal, and you had to move into a new place, you'll need to shop for furniture right?
So you browse through a host of brands that claim to sell quality and durable furniture. In your search, the shop you eventually chose to patronize, if you take proper inventory, caught your heart on many levels.
It did not just shove you with a host of luxury-looking items but went ahead to present how this luxury fits into the durability and long-lasting needs you desire. And it does that in a short and concisely written ad. It's why you are convinced it's the right one among many others.
In the same vein, when you want to further your education in any field, it's no news that submitting a personal statement is a mandatory step that guarantees your college admission.
Now your grades can be all 'glittering', it might amount to nothing without the backing of a strong college personal statement.
Similarly, a jobseeker with a highly distinctive CGPA can rarely get invited for an interview without a strong Resume/Cover letter that leaves a potential employer star-struck and willing to invite him for further inquiry.
Although, this is not to underplay the place of having good grades, but rather tells you that great grades without a great personal statement for education limit your chances of being admitted to study the course of your choice.
Having said all that, the next question that's probably popping in your head right now is, ‘what details exactly should be included in my statement', and 'What do I need to include in my college personal statement?' Learn helpful tips on how to write a strong personal statement in subsequent paragraphs.
4 Important questions that your statement should give answers to
Why are you applying for the course?
Give an accurate explanation highlighting your reason for choosing a course. An example is showing what you are passionate about. I participated in summer internship programs that equipped me with the organization skills and dexterity required for my career.
What made the course desirous for you to study?
In answering this, talk about one of the most intriguing information you have discovered about the course and your genuine desire to know more.
Among other options, why this particular course?
This is where you bring to light your experiences in that course of study.
Do you enjoy the course?
In your Statement, you should indicate how you enjoy the course, highlighting a similar course you've studied that you performed exceptionally at.
Highlights of a Great Personal Statement
Attention-grabbing Introduction:
Your Introduction, that is, your opening remark should be eye-catching and engaging. You don't want to bore your provider with heavily strung words. Your Intro should include no backstories; it should be straight to the point, brief, and concise.
Your Academic Achievements and other Skills
This is why you need to do some rubbing in the face with your laurels and dexterity in a given field of study. Passing a grand test or being selected to the football team after intense tryouts, are details that you be covered in this section describing your achievements and skills related to your intended course of study.
You should also include the positions or posts; you held responsible for you were led with and can add impetus to your statement. In other words, showcase and 'flaunt' your laurels in the face of your prospective college.
What do you enjoy doing in your Leisure time?
Enumerate the things you like to be engaged with, social interests, and activities you indulge in.
Ponder on how these free time leisure of yours enlighten your abilities and skills. And link them to the required experience or skills needed for your course of choice.
Work History
When writing a personal statement for college you must include details like your previous summer internships, signings, workshops attended, work experience, voluntary work, or full or part-time jobs. Even if it’s Babysitting, you can include it. Babysitting for instance teaches organizational skills and taking responsibility. These are soft skills you would want to refer to when you're applying for a course with a skill requirement as such.
Career Pursuits
State your desire to build a career in the course or subject you are applying for. Explain how studying the course is an important step to achieving your career goals.
Personal statement's Dos and Don’ts
The dos are the most essential things you should carry out, while the don'ts are mistakes to avoid, so you don't shoot yourself in the leg.
Dos
- Your writing should use the best diction and be properly proofread for spelling and grammar errors.
- Make your writing done in an enthusiastic tone. Showing an enthusiastic interest will help your application.
- Seek a third party's advice on what you've written.
Don'ts (Mistakes to avoid when writing)
- When invited for the next phase of the application process, which most likely is the interview, do not exaggerate your experiences or skills, write and say it as it is.
- Also, allow yourself the time to take in all the details that need to be written in your statement. Don't leave it to the dime minute.
Conclusion
To cap it all, the chances of being successfully admitted into your course of choice largely depend on how persuasive your statement is, leaving a course provider no choice than assenting to your study requests.
And it is okay if writing is not, particularly your forte. The dexterity of a personal statement writer can do the trick. That way you can be sure of having an accurate and straight-to-the-heart personal statement. Additionally, you can invest in templates with proven effectiveness to know the best and read articles about purchasing essays.