How to Make an Impression with a Personal Statement Essay
by Julia H. Jackson
Sometimes the simplest questions provoke the most complicated answers. When applying for college, you will be asked to write an essay that distills your personality into a few short paragraphs. Just how do you define yourself to an admissions advisor without appearing like just another one of the thousands of other applicants out there? In this, our last installment of Write Like You Mean It, we’ll pick apart a few application prompts and show you how to craft a unique personal statement essay.
Personal Statement Prompts for Undergraduate Fall 2010 Admission:
From the Common Application, used by dozens of participating Ivy League institutions:
Applicants have their choice of prompts. The essays must be at least 250 words, and each individual college might have its own length preference. Topics include:
1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
3. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
4. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
5. A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
From the University of California:
Freshmen applicants are expected to both “Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.” and share a “personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you” while relating how this “makes you proud” and “the person you are.”
Both essays must be limited to a combined total of 1000 words. At about 500 words per single-spaced page, that’s four double-paged pages total to describe who you are to an academic institution.
The personal statement prompt is a challenge. Colleges are already asking you your SAT, ACT, and AP test scores, evidence of your extracurricular activities and academic achievements, as well as teacher references and school transcripts. This is your opportunity to establish your own personality, and to show not only how qualified you are, but how unique you are. Where do you start?
Step One: Key Terms.
Just as you are expected to express a lot about yourself in few words, the applications are asking broad questions in minimal terms. These words are carefully placed. Zero in on the most important ideas in each question and reflect on them before writing. Just what is “diversity?” What constitutes an “ethical dilemma?”
Reflect on each term’s various meanings, and how your interpretation might be different from someone else’s. Then, be prepared to brainstorm a creative approach.
Step Two: Brainstorm.
As with any first draft, sitting down to write for the first time might be daunting. Here are several techniques to get the ideas going:
Mind Maps. Circle your main idea (for example, influential figures) and draw lines that extend out. On each line, write in a related idea, such as names of friends, family, clergy, teachers, or even characters in novels. Make notes about your relationships to each of these people, and why they are important to you.
Free Write. Write the main idea at the top of your page, and set a timer for ten minutes. Pay no attention to spelling, grammar, or syntax (that comes later), and write down whatever comes to mind. Try not to edit or stop the flow.
Outline. If you already have a clear idea of your main arguments, organize your ideas into numbered and lettered lists. Label each section “Introduction,” “Body,” and “Conclusion,” and be sure to include a clear, concise thesis statement.
Step Three: Thesis Statement.
That’s right. Just because you aren’t comparing characters in a novel or deconstructing the Civil War, doesn’t mean you won’t need a solid thesis statement. Any well-written article or persuasive essay needs a good thesis. And where else do you need persuasion than when you are applying for college? Here are some tips for formulating a good thesis:
Distill your overall ideas into one main argument. Who is the most influential person in your life? Why? Write that into one sentence, and when you are done with your first draft, go back and fine-tune it to reflect related ideas.
Reflect key terms from the essay prompt. Although it is imperative that you use your own, carefully-chosen words, it is always a good idea to weave in key terms from the prompt. This will show them that you have read and interpreted the question.
Relate each paragraph back to the main idea. This doesn’t mean repeating your thesis in each paragraph; it just means reinforcing your overall point. Transitional terms and phrases help relate ideas between paragraphs while reminding readers of the main idea.
Step Four: Write. Then Rewrite.
Get all your ideas down on paper. Let the paper simmer, then share your first draft with someone to get feedback. This someone could be your parents, a teacher, school counselor, or perhaps a friend who has recently applied to college.
Review the instructions, watch your word count, and edit accordingly. Although your ten-page memoir might be stellar, remember that following the directions is as important as answering the question. Keep in mind that the admission committees that will be reviewing your application will also be reading hundreds, if not thousands, of others, and so they will appreciate your concision.
Allow yourself plenty of time to revise drafts. Many colleges make their applications available fairly early in the season, and so the sooner you begin your personal statements, the more time you will have to revise and rewrite.
Bottom Line: Make Personal Statements Personal.
You might have a perfect SAT score. You might be a varsity athlete, champion debater, or involved community volunteer. These are all desirable characteristics that you can list on your college applications, but they do cannot substitute for a carefully crafted personal statement. Regardless if your major is medicine or literature, once you get to college, it is imperative that you express yourself well. This is your first opportunity to show schools what you already know, and how well you can describe it.
Personal statements don’t stop with freshman admission. If you ever plan to attend graduate school, you will be writing another slew of them before long. Any jobs you apply for will require concise, well-written cover letters. These are all tests of your ability to describe and market yourself.
Already in college? Have tips to share? Let us know!
