Personal Statements
How can I write a killer personal statement? Do I have to come up with something I've done that no one else has done—what if I'm just a 'normal' kid?
These are just a few of the questions that students are asking this time of year. Let's take them one at a time.
You will write a killer personal statement by being yourself! Unlike all the other types of writing you have done throughout your high school career, this one really IS personal—not academic. For once, using "I" is fine, really. Think of the personal statement as a page or two from your memoirs; somehow, you need, purely through the written word, to let someone know who you are and why they should want you at their college. You want to use vivid language—verbs that pop, maybe a metaphor or two, or other figurative language, even a bit of humor. Some colleges are even posting sample essays from successful students, helping to demystify the essay jitters. Check out Connecticut College and Johns Hopkins, for some examples.
You don't have to come up with something no one else has ever done. It's all about finding an interesting way to express who you are. Sometimes you'll hear people tell you "don't write about travel," or "don't write about sports"; but what if these things are important to you? Sure, there are a lot of essays that get written about travel—but if you have a life-changing experience through travel, you should absolutely write about it. You won't be saying "I had a life-changing experience," of course; rather you'll SHOW how life changing it was through your narrative. One student wrote about overcoming her aversion to trying new foods (and hence new things in life) through an experience while she was an exchange student in France where, in order not to offend her hosts, she ate snails. The essay was fun to read because the reader could feel her squirming as she faced her plate and struggled with the decision; it was a great essay because she tied that interesting and amusing moment to a change in her life toward being more of a risk taker.
One of the most interesting admissions essays I've ever read dealt with the student's job in an ice cream store.
One final pointer for today: make sure that you address each prompt specifically.
These are just a few of the questions that students are asking this time of year. Let's take them one at a time.
You will write a killer personal statement by being yourself! Unlike all the other types of writing you have done throughout your high school career, this one really IS personal—not academic. For once, using "I" is fine, really. Think of the personal statement as a page or two from your memoirs; somehow, you need, purely through the written word, to let someone know who you are and why they should want you at their college. You want to use vivid language—verbs that pop, maybe a metaphor or two, or other figurative language, even a bit of humor. Some colleges are even posting sample essays from successful students, helping to demystify the essay jitters. Check out Connecticut College and Johns Hopkins, for some examples.
You don't have to come up with something no one else has ever done. It's all about finding an interesting way to express who you are. Sometimes you'll hear people tell you "don't write about travel," or "don't write about sports"; but what if these things are important to you? Sure, there are a lot of essays that get written about travel—but if you have a life-changing experience through travel, you should absolutely write about it. You won't be saying "I had a life-changing experience," of course; rather you'll SHOW how life changing it was through your narrative. One student wrote about overcoming her aversion to trying new foods (and hence new things in life) through an experience while she was an exchange student in France where, in order not to offend her hosts, she ate snails. The essay was fun to read because the reader could feel her squirming as she faced her plate and struggled with the decision; it was a great essay because she tied that interesting and amusing moment to a change in her life toward being more of a risk taker.
One of the most interesting admissions essays I've ever read dealt with the student's job in an ice cream store.
One final pointer for today: make sure that you address each prompt specifically.
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