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| Here and
Now: Writing a Compelling Personal Statement |
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Some personal statements have vague or general prompts;
others are quite specific. If the prompt is specific, be
sure you address it. Even when the prompt is more general,
however, it’s important to remember that the goal of the
personal statement is to convince a specialized audience
that you and your intellectual or academic interests fit
perfectly with their program, school, or department.
In this sense, personal statements simultaneously tell
stories and make arguments. The story is about you – your
intellectual history and academic endeavors, your future
plans, and so forth; the argument is about how not only is
this program perfect for your needs at this time, but also
about what particular insights or experience you bring that
no one else could.
Three Good Things to Remember...
1. Find (and articulate) a unifying thread.
Personal statements should not read like narrative resumes,
nor should they simply recount transformational or
inspirational moments. They should weave selected
experiences into a focused narrative that presents you in a
particular light.
2. Be specific.
Avoid clichés. Tell your story or stories as vividly as you
can. While you’ll never have much (or perhaps enough space),
you need to give your readers enough information that they
can see the connections between your experiences and the
insights you extrapolate from them clearly.
3. Do your homework.
Be sure that you’re answering the question or questions
asked. Be sure that you’re being specific not only about
your experiences but why you want to study at a particular
school or a particular program. Do the research about strong
departments, programs, or faculty that you’ll want to work
with.
And . . . be prepared to write and revise your personal
statement many, many times. Show it to people to see how
different audiences read it. Ask people’s advice. Take it to
the Writing Center.
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