Any advice on personal statements?

[Sorg1123]

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I'm applying for Fall '07 to about 15 schools. My grades and GREs are strong and I have 3 years clinical and 1 year (2 years at time of enrollment) of research exp. So, lots of apps looks like a shotgun approach, but I'm taking the time to make sure I actually do fit (somewhat) with at least one faculty member. I figure a Personal Statement (PS) tailored to each institution (“why I'm a good fit for your program”) is probably the best approach, but am I missing anything? What are the elements that go into a successful PS? What are the common mistakes? Any advice that points me in the right direction is most welcome!

 

[bigmood]

Great work! Sounds like you have what people are looking for, but be careful not to take anything for granted (and it seems like that's exactly what you've realized). The PS was the hardest part for me, but in talking with professors they were quick to warn against being too personal (or mushy or cheesy, of course), and be super super sure your grammar, etc...is perfect (obviously, but it is often overlooked). Other people may disagree, but you should be very specific about the faculty members you fit well with and why (don't regurgitate their research to them, they know what they do, but say why you fit). Also, highlight your strongest points in terms of work and research experience because just listing them on an application is kind of flat. Think of it as your final, comprehensive argument for why you should be admitted.

Good luck to you! Hope I said something new! 🙂

 

[Psyclops]

Confident but not cocky.

 

[Dr.JT]

I think a common mistake is to look up a profs research and talk about how much you like and are interested in it. What students fail to realize is that they are telling these Profs that they are interested in doing research that has already been done. Instead, you want to show the Prof that you will provide new and interesting directions for their research, possibly directions they had not thought of. Try to show that you are familiar with their previous research but in the context of future directions.

Good Luck!

 

[psy86]

Two things:

1. A personal statement should not include any "personal" information.

2. Rather than explaining why you are a good fit with a department, a personal statement is basically an argument for why a particular professor should become responsible for your financial well-being for the next six years-- an argument for why he/she should 'hire' you to work in the lab. Highlight relevant skills and important contributions you will make to their line of work.

 

[Sorg1123]

Two things:

1. A personal statement should not include any "personal" information.

2. Rather than explaining why you are a good fit with a department, a personal statement is basically an argument for why a particular professor should become responsible for your financial well-being for the next six years-- an argument for why he/she should 'hire' you to work in the lab. Highlight relevant skills and important contributions you will make to their line of work.

So, write the PS as if it were the cover letter to a job application?

 

[Psyclops]

So, write the PS as if it were the cover letter to a job application?

Somewhat. You shouldn't think that this isn't very similar to applying for a job. It should be part research manifesto, part cover letter. Acceptance and performance in graduate school in psychology functions in much the same way as any sought after position does in the market place. I think that because so many of us are oblivious to the business side of things it can be hard to see that. But what do you think a professor is going to be looking for in a student to join their lab? They will want a dependable and enthusiastic contributor. Wouldn't you? So it would be good to include eveidence that you have performed well in the past (what is the best predictor of future behavior class?) and that you will be enthusiastic and energetic about future projects. Presumably if you have the numbers to get looked at you will have the intellect required for the position. Now, the only question that will remain for them is are you someone with whom they will want to work personally for half a decade. That I believe gets assessed at the interview phase of the process.

 

[alienarms]

I don't mean to be tedious, but do you all really think there shouldn't be any personal information in the PS? I am fine with writing it as a "research manifesto"-my research interests are pretty well-defined-but I am just wondering if it should have some indication of who I am beyond my research or how I got here.

 

[irish80122]

I am also strongly interested in this question because my area is suicide and prevention and it is pretty common for people to ask me why I am passionate about this topic. I probably won't address this in the PS, thinking that they could ask it in a interview, but is this a proper assumption? Also, if you were in my shoes (or say you wanted to study eating disorders, or something of a similar nature) how would you handle it if asked about it directly.

The reason I ask is I am interested in it as a researcher, that is obvious, but I do have some personal and family ties to the issue which really makes me passionate. I am not sure if it is alright to show these ties, or maybe just the family ties but leave anything personal out...I just don't know.

 

[PsyDGrrrl]

Two things:

1. A personal statement should not include any "personal" information.

I disagree; it's not inappropriate to include personal information. However, one should exercise good judgment around how much and what kind of personal information to share.

 

[alienarms]

That's reasonable advice, PsyDGrrl. I think I will still include some, but perhaps less than I had intended. My first paragraph has a very personal tone at this point but I'm going to tone it down.

Thanks all.

 

[zbombvt]

Hi there,

I've written a large chunk of my personal statement and am starting to tailor parts to individual professors. I just wondered how much of the personal statement should be dedicated towards talking about individual professors? I figured 100-150 words? What are peoples' thoughts?

Thanks,
zbombvt