The final stage of the writing process will transform your initial draft into a polished personal statement. Warning: This stage can be time-consuming. Start early and plan to iterate. You will review, revise, and repeat… repeat… repeat.
After you have made initial edits to your personal statement and cut down the length, read your statement aloud, noting where you stumble. Make revisions as necessary. Once it reads smoothly, set it down and walk away for at least 24 hours. Then re-read it. Is it you? Is it authentic? Do your unique qualities come alive on the page? You want the reader to see the real person behind the applicant number. While we caution against “oversharing,” being appropriately vulnerable will create connection with the reader.
After you have made initial edits to your personal statement and cut down the length, read your statement aloud, noting where you stumble. Make revisions as necessary. Once it reads smoothly, set it down and walk away for at least 24 hours. Then re-read it. Is it you? Is it authentic? Do your unique qualities come alive on the page? You want the reader to see the real person behind the applicant number. While we caution against “oversharing,” being appropriately vulnerable will create connection with the reader.
