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Just about every graduate program requires a personal statement as part of the application. A personal statement can be daunting. Unless you keep a daily journal or diary log (hey, this does not include social media updates), writing a full essay about your life is unexpectedly challenging. Applicants are tasked with using words to paint the picture of themselves, detailing how their academic history (and any mishaps), extracurriculars, and unique personality traits all blend together harmoniously to make them a qualified candidate.
Writing a personal statement can be a cathartic exercise. It really digs deep into human psychology. Why are you the way you are, what is your existential purpose, and why would an applications committee consider you as a competitive candidate? Here are some helpful steps to take in order to make this process a little less difficult:
Writing a personal statement can be a cathartic exercise. It really digs deep into human psychology. Why are you the way you are, what is your existential purpose, and why would an applications committee consider you as a competitive candidate? Here are some helpful steps to take in order to make this process a little less difficult:
- Just start writing!
Write as much about yourself as possible. This could be 5 pages long. The more, the merrier. While this may be just a rambling train of thought, this is such a useful exercise. In the process, you will discover what parts of your experience and personality are most influential. You'll also come up with unique sentences and ideas that can be integrated into your essay. - Review your Personal Catharsis Document
Once you have completed your round of Personal Catharsis Writing, use it. Review the document multiple times. Highlight any particular experiences, sentences, or ideas that you would like to keep for your Personal Statement. - Create a bullet list
Now that you have gone through the document and identified points or ideas that you would like to discuss in your personal statement, create a concise bullet list. Visualizing these ideas in a bullet list will help you begin to formulate the essay in your head.
- Create an outline
Using the bullet list you have created, develop a structure for your essay. This should have a clear beginning and end. Craft a story behind your ideas. How can you make everything flow and work together for your personal statement?