Personal Statement -- NEED ADVICE!!

[n2o*]

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Is it okay to be cliche? Should the personal statement be stellar and unique?
What impact would a cliche statement have?

 

[ItsGavinC]

Is it okay to be cliche?

No.

Should the personal statement be stellar and unique?

Yes, especially if your application is a weak one.

What impact would a cliche statement have?

A negative impact or a neutral one, depending on the rest of your application. If your application isn't stellar, then you can't afford to turn in a cliche statement.

 

[odontastic]

I agree that considering your whole profile and application package that you can't afford a cliche personal statement if you don't have other stellar attributes. However, I think that it's OK to have a cliche essay, because while details differ, there are only so many themes that the readers will already be so familiar with. So, even if it's cliche, it absolutely has to be well-written and well-thought. Many people have similar numbers; the statement is a way to personalize and humanize your application. It's an opportunity to make yourself stand out from the rest of the field and get the reader to think "I'd like to meet and talk with this person."