Writing Personal Statements for Graduate School Applications & Scholarship Applications

• GENERAL STATEMENTS — you write about yourself--the topic is relatively open.
• SPECIFIC ESSAYS — the topic is assigned for you. Examples: describe an ethical dilemma you once faced; what are the strengths and weaknesses of the degree you want to earn; what are alternative careers you have considered; assess your oral and written communication skills; delineate your learning goals; write your own question and answer it--take a risk.

• Not just a writing sample (but make sure you write well)
• Fill in blanks of resume (don't repeat what they already know)
• Give a sense of you as a person
• Show that you understand the field you want to enter
• Show that you can think reflectively and sympathetically
• Show that the degree will build on previous experiences, and not be a discontinuous experience
• Explain any black marks on your record (don't whine, just explain)

• What is unique about my background?  Have I faced any unusual hardships?  Which of these details have influenced my growth?
• When did I become interested in this field?  What specific experiences (including work experiences) have furthered this interest?
• What are my career goals?
• Are there any snags in my record which I should explain?
• Which personal characteristics, skills, etc. will enhance my prospects for success in graduate school and in the professional world?
• What makes me stand out from the pack?  What are the most compelling reasons for this school to be interested in me?

• DO find a "hook," a controlling idea which ties your essay together.  This can be a brief story, or an unusual quality you have.
• DON'T just tell a story.  If you use a story, be sure to analyze it and explain why it is important, what you learned from it, etc.
• DO take your drafts to the University Writing Center.  Ask if the essay hangs together, if your main point is clear, if your ideas flow smoothly from one sentence to the next, if you sound like a real person (preferably an interesting real person), if you have enough--but not too much--detail.  If the consultant is bored by your essay, chances are the committee will be.  After all, the consultant only has to read one essay--the committee reads hundreds.  For an appointment, stop by trailer MOD-608, visit our website at www.uwc.ucf.edu, or call us at 407-823-2197.
• DON'T dwell on something from the distant past.  High school happened too long ago to make an impact--surely you've done something interesting since then.  The exception would be if you have been engaged in a lifelong struggle with a disability or economic disadvantage.
• DO be positive and upbeat in tone.
• DON'T assume that names of places give enough information.  Describe your school; describe your company and how it fits into the marketplace (unless you work for a high profile firm like IBM).
• DO be as selective as possible.  Your application already includes a resume of your experiences.  This is your chance to fill in the blanks of your resume, showing what you are like as a person in a way that your resume never could.  Try to avoid merely listing your activities.  Also avoid giving too much detail (e.g. what concentration of acid you used in that experiment).
• DON'T write what you think they want to hear.  Admissions committees usually can detect b.s. before they open the envelope.
• DO ask your friends and family to help you remember all of the details from which you can select when you write your essay.  It's easier than you would think to forget things you have done in the past.
• DO show that you know something more about the field than you have seen on TV or in movies.
• DON'T use clichés or generalities (Shakespeare's quote about killing all the lawyers is a typical clichéd opening).
• DO take the opportunity to explain your weaknesses (you were sick on the day you took the LSAT, your mother died while you were a sophomore, etc.) You don't need to cringe, or to go on and on about it, but if you can work in a succinct explanation, do so.
• DON'T try to be creative (e.g. writing a poem instead of an essay) or controversial, unless the question specifically requires it. You never know who will read your application.
• DON'T brag.  "I am well-known as a warm and caring person, "I plan to win the Nobel Prize," . . . these statements will not reflect well on you.
• DO fit your essay into the big picture of your application.  If you say you have always wanted to be a product manager, but have no evidence to show that you have ever been exposed to that career, your words will be suspect.
• DON'T make proofreading errors.  While the University Writing Center can't proofread your essay for you, we can show you different strategies for proofreading effectively.  For an appointment, stop by trailer MOD-608, visit our website at www.uwc.ucf.edu, or call us at 407-823-2197.
• DO show your final draft to friends.  Don't ask them, "Isn't this a fabulous essay?" Instead ask them, "Does this sound like me?" If it doesn't sound like the you they know and love, you'll want to revise.