How to Write a Personal Statement

When you're applying to college—either to an undergraduate or graduate program—you may be asked to submit a personal statement. It's an essay that gives you the chance to share more about who you are and why you'd like to attend the university you're applying to.  

The information you provide in your personal statement can help build on your other application materials, like your transcripts and letters of recommendation, and create a more cohesive picture to help the admissions committee understand your goals.

Learn more about personal statements, including why they're important, what to include in one, and tips for strengthening yours.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement—sometimes known as a college essay—is a brief written essay you submit with other materials when applying to college or university. Personal statements tend to be common for undergraduate applications, and they're a great opportunity for an admissions committee to hear your voice directly.

Many colleges and universities in the US, especially those using Common App, provide college essay prompts for you to use. For example, "Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea" or "Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time" [1]. If the school you're interested in attending doesn't require prompts, you will likely want to craft a response that touches on your story, your values, and your goals if possible.

How to write a personal statement for graduate school

In graduate school, personal statements are sometimes known as letters of intent, and they go into more detail about your academic and professional background while expressing interest in attending the particular program you're applying to.

Why is a personal statement important?

Personal statements are important for a number of reasons. Whereas other materials you submit in an application can address your academic abilities (like your transcripts) or how you perform as a student (like your letters of recommendation), a personal statement is a chance to do exactly that: get more personal.

Personal statements typically:

• Permit you to share things that don't fit on your resume, such as personal stories, motivations, and values

• Offer schools a chance to see why you're interested in a particular field of study and what you hope to accomplish after you graduate 

• Provide an opportunity for you to talk about past employment, volunteer experiences, or skills you have that complement your studies 

• Allow colleges to evaluate your writing skills 

• Bring life to a college application package otherwise filled with facts and figures 

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How to write a personal statement

As mentioned, you may have to respond to a prompt when drafting your personal statement—or a college or university may invite you to respond however you'd like. In either case, use the steps below to begin building your response.

Create a solid hook.

To capture the attention of an admissions committee member, start your personal statement with a hook that relates to the topic of your essay. A hook refers to a colorful sentence or two at the beginning that compels the reader to continue reading.

To create a captivating hook, try one of these methods:

• Pose a rhetorical question. 

• Provide an interesting statistic. 

• Insert a quote from a well-known person.

• Challenge the reader with a common misconception. 

• Use an anecdote, which is a short story that can be true or imaginary. 

How to start a personal statement: Use reliable sources

Credibility is crucial when writing a personal statement as part of your college application process. If you choose to hook the reader with a statistic, quote, or misconception, make sure it comes from a reliable source.

Follow a narrative.

The best personal statements typically read like a story. They have a common theme as well as a beginning, middle, and end. This type of format also helps keep your thoughts organized and improves the flow of your essay.

Common themes to consider for your personal statement include:

• Special role models from your past

• Life-altering events you've experienced

• Unusual challenges you've faced

• Accomplishments you're especially proud of

• Service to others and why you enjoy it

• What you've learned from traveling to a particular place

• Unique ways you stand out from other candidates

Be specific.

Admissions committees read thousands of personal statements every year, which is why being specific on yours is important. Back up your statements with examples or anecdotes.

For instance, instead of vague assertions like, "I'm interested in your school counseling program because I care about children,” point out specific experiences you've had with children that emphasize how much you care. You might mention your summer job as a day camp counselor or your volunteer experience mentoring younger children.

Don't forget to include detail and vibrancy to keep your statement interesting. The use of detail shows how your unique voice and experiences can add value to the college or university you're applying to.

Stay on topic.

It's natural to want to impress the members of the admissions committee who will read your personal statement. The best way to do this is to lead your readers through a cohesive, informative, and descriptive essay.

If you feel you might be going astray, ensure each paragraph in your essay's body supports your introduction. Try out a few more strategies that can help keep you on track:

• Know what you want to say and do research if needed. 

• Create an outline listing the key points you want to share.

• Read your outline aloud to confirm it makes logical sense before proceeding. 

• Read your essay aloud while you're writing to confirm you're staying on topic.

• Ask a trusted friend or family member to read your essay and make suggestions.

Be true to your own voice.

Because of the importance of your personal statement, you could be tempted to be very formal with structure and language. However, using a more relaxed tone is better than one you might use for a classroom writing assignment. 

Remember: Admissions committees really want to hear from you. Writing in your own voice will help accomplish this. To ensure your tone isn't too relaxed, write your statement as if you were speaking to an older relative or trusted teacher. This way, you'll come across as respectful, confident, and honest.

Tips for drafting an effective personal statement

Now that you've learned a little about personal statements and how to craft them, use the following tips to strengthen your essay:

1. Customize your statement.

You don't have to completely rewrite your personal statement every time you apply to a new college, but you want to make sure you tailor it as much as possible. For instance, if you talk about wanting to take a certain class or study a certain subject, make sure you adjust any specifics for each application.

2. Go beyond cliches.

Admissions committees ultimately look for students who will fit the school, and who the school can help guide toward their larger goals. In that case, cliches can get in the way of a reviewer understanding what it is you want from a college education. Watch out for cliches like "making a difference," "broadening my horizons," or "the best thing that ever happened to me."

3. Stay focused.

Stay focused by writing a first draft and then re-reading what you've written. Does every paragraph flow from one point to the next? Are the ideas you're presenting cohesive? Does anything seem off track from the rest of the writing? 

4. Stick to topics that aren't controversial.

It's best not to discuss political beliefs or inappropriate topics in your essay, as these can be controversial. Ideally, you want to share something goals- or values-driven with an admissions committee.

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Supplementing your college application with a well-crafted personal statement can help give an admissions officer or committee a clearer picture of your value as a prospective student.

A stellar personal statement starts with stellar writing skills. Enhance your writing ability from a top university, like the Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization from the University of Michigan. With this program learn the mechanics and strategy of effective communication. Get started for free to level up your writing.