Getting accepted to a top university is becoming more and more competitive and challenging. Since most universities do not interview undergraduate applicants in person, the one way for a student to stand out among her peers is by writing an outstanding college personal statement. Having a plan for writing a college personal statement that includes getting organized, brainstorming and revising drafts is one way to ensure a student will write a successful college essay.
Before Writing the College Personal Statement
The process before writing the college personal statement keeps the writer focused and organized. Make sure to take enough time to write the college personal statement. Begin the process at least six to eight weeks before the college application and college essay is due. Review the instructions on the college application thoroughly before brainstorming ideas. Generally, there are two types of college personal statement essays. One type typically asks for general comprehensive information, and one type asks a specific question or specific questions.
Get ideas for the personal statement from others. Read sample personal statement essays. Talk with trusted friends, relatives and teachers about college personal statement essays. Most people will gladly share their experiences, offer sound advice and make helpful suggestions. Talking about the personal college statement with others will start the college personal statement ideas flowing.
The College Personal Statement Essay Writing Process
Writing the college personal statement is a process. Start the writing process by buying a small notebook for writing down ideas. Be prepared to brainstorm about specific experiences that underscore academic and personal experiences. Topic ideas will typically include things like academic achievements, hobbies, personal obstacles, family background, work experience, volunteer experience and leadership experience. Elaborate on each point with an anecdote. Keep in mind that leadership experience tends to stand out on college personal statements.
From the list of ideas and anecdotes, start an outline of specific points in some type of chronological or unified order. It is best to write a personal statement like a narrative. Writing a college personal statement like a story will grab the reader's attention more effectively than a personal statement that just makes general points. Keep revising the personal statement making sure it is structured and organized well.
Revising the College Personal Statement
Do not worry about grammar and punctuation during the initial revising stage; however, try to avoid some common personal statement errors. Do not write in the second person. In other words, avoid using the word "you" in college personal statements. Writing in the second person generally makes a personal statement sound more like an instruction manual than a college personal statement essay. It is also important to avoid clichés.
Be prepared to revise several drafts of the personal statement essay for clarity and organization. Even the most successful writers rarely write a perfect first draft. It is also important to make sure to address anything that appears as a red flag on any other part of the application. Explain the circumstances briefly, and succinctly explain how the situation was resolved.
Before Submitting the College Personal Statement
Make sure the college personal statement is written for the specific university. Even though most information will apply to several different schools, it is recommended that college applicants avoid writing one general college personal statement for several different universities. A college applicant may want to note at least one or two specific remarks about the university. Mention and elaborate about one of the school's programs or mention an alumnus or an alumna who shares similar interests.
Revise and proofread the college personal statement several times before submitting it. Go back and review the application instructions. Make sure the essay answers the question or the instructions. If the instructions ask for a general essay, make sure the personal statement addresses specific academic, employment, extracurricular, leadership and volunteer experiences. Check grammar and punctuation. Ask other people such as teachers to review it for content, grammar, spelling and punctuation. If possible, have a school advisor or counselor read the essay.
The Successful College Personal Statement
There are many steps involved when writing a successful college personal statement. Make sure to get organized, use specific examples, revise a lot and proofread to check for any errors and discrepancies. To increase the odds of acceptance to a university, a college personal statement needs to stand out among the plethora of other university essay applications.
References:
Purdue OWL, "Writing the Personal Statement" (accessed April 12, 2010).
Education, "Getting Into College: The Personal Statement" (accessed April, 12, 2010).
Cathy Herold - Cathy Herold lives in southern California. She has a BA in English and minor in African American Studies from UCLA and a master's degree ...
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