Personal Statement Examples | College, Grad & Job Applications

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Personal Statements are not just application tests that tell the reader about your achievements. They are an opportunity for you to showcase your qualities and tell your own story in a profound manner that will make the reader automatically see you as the preferred candidate for their organization.

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Fredrick Eghosa

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Personal Statement Examples | College, Grad & Job Applications

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Personal Statement Examples | College, Grad & Job Applications

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However, the issue sometimes does not lie in what story to tell but in how to craft your story and tell it in a compelling and engaging way, evoking all the right emotions in the reader so that they have no choice but to accept your application.

Do not worry; in this guide, you will learn the ropes and exact steps to take when writing a personal statement to stand out from the rest. Without any further ado, let’s get started!

Key Takeaways

Writing a personal statement allows you to tell your story beyond your qualifications or achievements, showcasing your strengths, interests, qualities, and experience to the reader.

Personal Statements help set you apart from the crowd if the application process becomes competitive.

Structuring your personal statement before writing helps you write out your thoughts clearly.

Starting your personal statement with a strong opening sentence or compelling hook engages the reader from the outset.

Writing in your own voice and being authentic showcases your personality and impact on the reader.

Leverage AI writing tools like cowriter.ai for a seamless writing process.

What Is a Personal Statement?

Imagine a festive season, let's say Christmas, and you want to spread love by inviting strangers to spend some days at your home.

However, before letting them into your home, you would want them to write about themselves so you get to know who they are. Well, that's what institutions looking to hire or accept you into their school do with the personal statement.

So, basically, a personal statement is a written essay by an applicant that informs the reader about their goals, values, experience, expertise, and other qualities that make them a good fit for the organization. It helps the reader know the type of individual they are accepting into their institution.

A personal statement is often required as part of the application process for colleges or jobs, and it ranges between 250 and 650 words depending on the institution.

Why Do Personal Statements Matter?

Personal statements are important for so many reasons. Here’s why they matter:

1. Tell Your Story

Everyone has a story to tell. These stories combine our experiences, values, goals, motivations, or aspirations. Writing a personal statement allows you to tell your own story in a compelling and relatable manner that makes you stand out from the other applicants.

Furthermore, if your story is well told, the reader will be able to know about your personality and connect with you.

2. Demonstrate You Are A Suitable Candidate

A personal statement lets you demonstrate to the reader that you are a suitable candidate for their organization. When writing your personal statement, try to align your values or skills to the qualities the organization prioritizes the most so that you can be chosen faster.

3. Humanize Your Application

Before a college or job asks you to write a personal statement, they must have gone through your records to see your grades or achievements.

When they ask you to write a personal statement, they are attempting to connect with you on a personal level, going beyond your grades or achievements, to gauge your writing clarity and intellectual depth.

4. Stand Out in Competition

A well-written personal statement can help you stand out from the crowd in a situation where the decision-makers are having a difficult time choosing who their ideal candidate is.

So, when writing your personal statement, use attention-grabbing sentences that evoke the right emotions and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

How to Structure a Personal Statement

Now that you already know what a personal statement is and why it matters, let us look at how to structure a personal statement. Here's how to go about it:

1. Introduction

The introduction is where you get the opportunity to make the first impression in the reader's mind. And for that reason, it is essential that it is written in a thoughtful, impactful, and compelling manner.

To do this, you need to start with a hook that would instantly grab the reader’s attention and get them to read every word in your personal statement. This hook can be centered around a surprising fact, an intriguing question, or a personal story.

For example, you can use hooks like, “My fascination with computers began as I watched my aunty type on the keyboard with such great speed.”

An opening sentence like that will not only grab the reader’s attention and draw them into reading every word in your personal statement but also set the foundation for how your writing will turn out.

2. Main Body

The main body of your personal statement is where you get to provide the reader with an in-depth detail of your experiences, goals, achievements, motivation, skills, etc. So, basically, what you do in this section is tell the story of your life or academic journey, share a story showcasing your abilities, and then connect your story to align with the qualities that the organization prioritizes.

The main body can be a bit bulky and overloaded with unnecessary information if not properly structured. To avoid all of that, you need to split this section into paragraphs. You can do as many as four paragraphs, but three paragraphs are fine.

So, the first paragraph is where you start the discussion using descriptive language; the second paragraph is where you dive deep into the story, telling the reader the lessons learnt from the story you are sharing, while the third paragraph is where you relate the story to the organization you are writing to, letting them know why you think you are a good fit.

The main body is also where you use transitions so that each paragraph can lead to another, ensuring a magical flow that keeps the reader engaged.

3. Conclusion

The conclusion is the endpoint of your personal statement and the section where you leave a lasting impression on your reader. So, make it compelling, highlight the key points in your writing, and leave a thought-provoking sentence for your reader to think about.

If you structure your personal statement this way, you will certainly be chosen.

Tips for Writing A Personal Statement

1. Be authentic

Nothing beats being real. When writing a personal statement, be sure to write in your own voice, avoid trying to sound like someone else or using slang, and avoid using a tone of voice that does not reflect your personality. That way, you will be able to connect with the reader and express your thoughts and ideas clearly.

2. Tailor Your Qualities to the Specific Application

Every organization prioritizes certain qualities. When writing your personal statement, let the reader know that you also prioritize these qualities so that they can connect with you better.

3. Show, don’t tell

If you are good at a skill or quality, don't just tell your reader how good you are; instead, show them how good you are with that skill or quality by citing scenarios when you applied that skill or quality in your writing.

For example, if you are good with problem-solving, instead of just telling the reader that you are a good problem solver, write a detailed story of when you encountered a challenge and how you used your problem-solving ability to overcome that challenge.

4. Write Clearly and Concisely

When writing a personal statement, avoid using jargon and unnecessary words, even if you are trying to be humorous. Instead, use an active voice when writing and let it be clear and concise so the reader can enjoy reading.

Also, use transitions like “Meanwhile”, “Finally” etc., in your write up, so that it can flow.

5. Use storytelling

A personal statement that stands out is one that is well narrated using storytelling. Therefore, use storytelling to give a vivid description of words and events to keep the reader engaged.

6. Ask for feedback

Two heads are better than one; therefore, before submitting your personal statement, it is essential that you reach out to genuine friends, teachers, or mentors to review your personal statement.

Doing so may help clarify some things you didn't know and give you a better perspective on how to write your personal statement.

7. Edit and Proofread

When you are done writing your personal statement, it is very important that you take the time to go through the entire essay and edit where necessary.

Do the editing over and over, if required, using grammar-checking tools like Grammarly so that the reader does not have a hard time trying to comprehend some of the words in your personal statement.

How To Write A Personal Statement Using Cowriter.ai

1. Visit the Cowriter.ai website and log in to your account.

2. Click on “New Document” to get started.

3. Input your prompt, ensuring that the prompt strength is strong, and click on the “Open Editor” button below.

4. Sit back and watch as Cowriter.ai generates a personal statement for you. You can modify the output to suit your style.

Wrapping Up

If you have read to this point, a hearty congratulations; we are certain that you have learnt a lot in this guide. From what a personal statement means to how to structure it properly, it will engage your reader.

We encourage you to always use our Cowriter.ai tool to simplify your personal statement writing process and always write clearly with the institution’s word count limit.

Till next time, bye for now!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a personal statement be?

Ideally, the length of a personal statement is anywhere between 250 and 1000 words. Before applying, check the institution's word count and length requirements and write within them.

Can a personal statement be used for multiple applications?

Sure, you can. However, the best thing is to customize your personal statement to suit each organization, as organizations differ and may have varying expectations based on their priorities.

How personal should a personal statement be?

When sharing your story, balance your personal and professional experience. Be authentic, maintain a professional tone, and avoid sharing too much.

What should be avoided in my personal statement?

Avoid some common mistakes like being too generic rather than specific, overusing phrases, ignoring prompts, focusing on the negatives, or not writing clearly.

Can humor be included in a personal statement?

Yes, it can. However, do not overdo it, as this may not sit well with the reader. Instead, keep it light and professional.

Should I get feedback on my personal statement?

Yes, you should. Seek the counsel of loved ones, friends, teachers, or a mentor to review your personal statement and give you honest feedback before submitting it.