How to Write a Personal College Statement

What is a personal statement?

Personal statements are used by colleges in the admission of both undergraduate and graduate students. For undergraduate admissions, the statements are essays that students must write while submitting their main applications. Personal statements for college admissions are not specific to any school. They are instead sent to many schools that a student applies to. They are generally essays written to convince a college admissions committee of an applicant and why they deserve admission to their school.

How to write a college personal statement

Topic selection

Mostly, an applicant is given a variety of topics to choose from. Common personal statement topics given include;

·                     A vital detail of your identity (background, interest, talent, activity)

·                     Overcoming a challenge

·                     An experience that changed your trust

·                     An idea or subject that interests you

·                     A problem you intend to solve

The most significant problem that college applicants face while writing their personal statements is topic selection. For some applicants, a topic for a personal statement triggers an instantaneous and strong idea. However, many of them have a degree of uncertainty. As a student, you should think more of personal attributes that should be highlighted and less about the exact topic. This tip is specifically helpful if you are given a topic of your choice. However, a student with a defining background or an interesting story can serve as the best catalyst to design their approach. Similarly, for a student with a different perspective or unique voice, uniquely writing simple topics can be insightful and engaging.

A student should also consider their application process while selecting their topics for personal statements. An applicant can be a continuing student who might have failed a single class. Similarly, they might have participated substantially in an item they're passionate about but not included in their application. A student can attempt to address one of the topics in a personal statement. Furthermore, the admissions committee are interested in knowing and understanding who the students are. Writing about your academic progress or items that you're passionate about gives the admissions committee a deeper understanding of who you are.

Writing tips

Approach it as a creative writing assignment

Personal statements can be challenging for students because they have never done them. High school students have been used to writing analytical papers and academic reports only. Creative writing refers to presenting a meaningful story and writing with fun. A student should choose a topic that inspires them, and they will enjoy writing it. The topic does not have to be impressive or intellectual at all. Test scores and transcripts prove the student's academic skills, so the personal statement should give learners the freedom to showcase their personalities. The freedom in writing will create a reading experience and a more engaging essay for the admissions committee.

While you're writing, you must not stick to the traditional writing formats with a precise thesis. Though your story should have an all-embracing message, you don't need to state it explicitly. You should only make it shine through the story. Additionally, your writing should feel as natural as possible. While more than a usual conversation is recommended, it should not feel contrived but genuine and natural. Though the balance may be challenging to achieve, try to strike a natural tone when communicating with a mentor or an admired teacher.

Demonstrate, don't just tell

Most students mention what happened rather than connecting the reader with the action's moment and telling the story. Writing what happened is boring. The writer should demonstrate with illustrations what transpired in their story. A student should connect feeling with the circumstance that caused it. If you have problems effectively writing your essay, try to envision the situation you're writing about. What you felt physically and emotionally, and why the moment was meaningful.

Make use of dialogue

The inclusion of dialogue in writing is a great way to keep it engaging. Rather than reporting what happened, share the moments and conversations of the events. It is more appealing and powerful to read a conversation rather than read a reported occurrence. A dialogue provides finer details of an event, the people involved, the circumstances and the emotions developed. Similarly, a dialogue shortens paragraphs and brings immediacy and action to the story. However, it would be best if you do not overdo it. Try to balance between occasional use of dialogue as a writing tool and relying too much on it. Your essay should not look like a movie script unless it is intentional.

Be honest

Given that the main point of a personal statement is to inform the admissions officers who you are, be honest enough to let them understand your personality. A good college personal statement requires the student to be sincere regarding experiences and feelings even though they may not be entirely positive. Acknowledging when an activity was challenging for you informs the college of your strengths and weaknesses.

Eloquent writing

The main aim of a personal statement is to inform a college that an applicant can write effectively to get through college classes. The applicant should be able to concisely and clearly express their ideas. Eloquent writing is the ability to employ particular skills while avoiding generalizations and clichés appropriately. The skills will help the student not only in college but also in life.

However, the admission committee understands that students have varying strengths. They won't look for a poetic master writer from a candidate who wants to study analytical engineering. The point is, they don't expect a masterpiece from any student, but something professional and standard. Ensure that your ideas, personality, and thoughts are fully expressed. You can use complex rhetorical metaphors or fancy vocabularies. Most importantly, ensure that your work has zero spelling or grammar errors.  

Select a topic that excites you

Most students write what they believe to be relevant to the admissions committee. However, when it comes to personal college statements, there is no right answer. Topics are not limited to any particular category. On the contrary, the right topic is one that matters to the writer. A significant topic should not only be an item that makes you excited. It should be something with a practical and describable impact on your life. Pick a topic that honestly affected you, and describe what and how it taught you. For instance, if you chose to write on a television program, explain why and how watching the program affected your life. When you select a topic that doesn't interest you, you would likely come out with an uninteresting and clichéd essay.

Mistakes to avoid in writing personal statements

Giving a report or recap of all events

Understand that your statement or essay isn't a step by step description of everything that transpired in a particular time frame. Events that should be included are only relevant details that enhance the story. Don't make the essay a personal report of events. Remember that the objective of the statement is to describe who you are, share your ideas, and explain what is important according to you.

Including too many experiences or events in the writing

Making your statement a summary of your experiences and accomplishments is a common mistake. There is a platform where you should list your achievements and not your college statement. Focus on a particular experience and describe it in detail.

Use of cliché language

While writing, avoid overused phrases and quotes from influential people like Martha Teresa or Martin Luther King Jr. Similarly, avoid phrases and quotes made by other people. The phrases and quotes are ineffective in making your statement unique. They take up space that could have been used to share important information. As a student, try to keep away from the use of lavish claims or general language. Cliché language obscures your message, making it hard for the admission officials to get your message.