Prospective universities and employers often require personal statements from candidates. A credible personal statement is the perfect opportunity to highlight your ambitions and assets. Writing it well means that you get a competitive edge over other applicants. It makes all the difference between getting accepted or rejected at an employment or academic position.
Being such a crucial part of securing your future, personal statements should be handled with care. They basically contain your interests, achievements, goals, and talents which set you apart. Conveying the best impression of yourself to potential instructors or employers hold top priority.
This is why our expert assignment writers at AssignmentMaker bring you this complete guide to writing a personal statement. These easy-to-understand tips will help you along the journey of self-discovery and rewarding outcomes.
1. Write a draft without character limitations
Personal statements usually have a character count which you have to adhere to as a writer. However, including so many elements and creating a compelling account within those limitations can be confusing.
Therefore, craft the first draft without heeding the word count. Just write down all the relevant thoughts and ideas that are coming to your minds. Once it is complete, trim and edit the content to fit the required number.
2. Do not be hasty
It takes time to write a personal statement which is truly impressive. Expecting yourself to come up with something in a couple of hours or days is unrealistic. And even if you manage to do it, the quality of the content will not be up to par.
Give yourself ample time to create and edit the document. You can even finish it in parts. Take a few days break and then get back to the task again. It will give you a fresh perspective and even lead to new inspiration.
3. The perfect expressions and words are important
A slight change in words can transform a good personal statement to an excellent one. For instance, using the word “accomplish” instead of “do” or “perceive” instead of “see” automatically makes it more professional. It cannot always be expected that a candidate will be fluent in English. But there are programs to help you find the perfect synonyms that you need. Make sure though that you know the meaning of every word used so the message does not get lost. The applied synonyms should not create gaps or introduce irrelevancy between information.
4. Focus on your strengths
Everything your write down in a personal statement is to convince the board of your eligibility for the position. You need to bring out positive attributes and experiences which demonstrate your achievements.
Include any ambitious plans you have for the future. Elaborate those interests which help you gain more knowledge or hone your skills. Take care to phrase all the information in a way which is conversational and interesting, yet formal. The previous tip comes into play here.
5. Opening sentences are key
Beginning with a captivating line is vital. Chances are that if you fail to capture the reader’s attention from the first sentence, they are unlikely to continue. It is akin to leaving a great first impression on someone new you meet.
Opening sentences can be unusual, shocking, and humorous. But they are best written when you are actually feeling inspired. Forcing yourself to make something funny or unique can end up disastrous.
So, it is not necessary to wait around thinking about it. Start on the rest of the content and an idea is bound to strike you midway.
6. Be modest and sincere
This might sound ironic for a piece that is required to sell your best attributes. However, there is nothing more appealing and unique than honesty. It is immature and unethical to include false information about yourself. So, in describing yourself the best way possible only convey those assets you truly possess.
7. Get help in proofreading
This type of document is best assessed by other people. Ask a parent, friend, or colleague to proofread your finished personal statement. Getting an opinion about outside of yourself is essential. Others can point out the strengths or weaknesses which might not be evident to you. Along with any gaps left between the information you have related.
8. Read it aloud
Even if it feels a bit absurd, reading your statement out loud to others can help immensely. What might make sense during writing can change form when others are reading it. You can gain their perception as well when you read it aloud yourself. Anything vague or disconnected will instantly appear in front when you do that. Along with spelling or grammatical errors.