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Summary
When writing personal statements, students can get inspiration from their personal experiences, guidance from their mentors or alumni, sample essay references, and common essay prompts. If you’re a high school student currently preparing for college applications, this guide is perfect for you to kickstart your writing journey.
What is a Personal Statement?
A personal statement is a short essay or paragraph that introduces your story to admissions committees and scholarship panels. For students applying through platforms such as the Common App, it is an opportunity to show colleges who you are beyond your grades and test scores. It allows them to gauge your values, your extracurriculars, your interests, your skills, your passions, and ultimately, why they should consider your application.
Writing your personal statement is very crucial when applying for college admissions: it either makes or breaks your application. You need to make sure it stands out among thousands of other applications and is insightful when answering the questions asked. This article will help you find the inspiration you need to write your personal statement and stand out to college admissions.
How To Write Your Personal Statement
- Introduction: Introduce yourself to the college admissions office and express your interest in applying to a particular university.
- Body: Write relevant achievements and experiences to show them that you are a good fit.
- Conclusion: Narrate how enrolling in this university will help you achieve your future goals and contribute to the school.
1. Reflecting on Your Personal Experiences
Maybe you had a summer internship. Or maybe you volunteered for an animal shelter. Maybe you’re the president of the chess club or the captain of the basketball team. No matter what you’ve experienced in the past, each story is worth telling because it uniquely belongs to you.
When you reflect on your previous experiences, you’ll get to learn more about who you are, how much you’ve grown as a person, and how that experience shaped you. Your experiences constitute a meaningful story: your classes, your clubs, your sports, your volunteer or internship experiences, or even the moments you’ve shared with your family and friends. These can help you tell your story, create an overall impact on your readers, and strengthen your college application.
Here are some journaling questions for you to get started:
- What clubs have you joined?
- Have you led any projects before?
- What sports have you tried out?
- What awards or achievements have you garnered?
- How did any of these experiences shape you into a better person?
- What challenge/s did you face, and how did you learn from them?
2. Getting Advice from Your Mentors
Another way to find inspiration for writing your personal statements is to seek advice from your mentors. It can be anyone, from family members to professors, and older alumni who have more experience than you. They have already gone through the process of writing their own personal statements. They might even know you better than you know yourself: your strengths and weaknesses, and how you approach a particular problem.
For example, your parents might have seen how you struggled reviewing for your Biology exam, but they also saw how you conquered it with good grades. At the same time, your school’s alumni may give advice on how they wrote their personal essays. Your teachers can also help you write and proofread your essays, since they’ve already experienced checking hundreds of papers from different students.
Here are some questions you can ask to get their feedback:
- (For all) What was your biggest challenge in writing your personal statement? How did you overcome it?
- (For family) What is a quality or trait that I have that stands out to you?
- (For alumni) If there is something you would like to advise your past self when you were working on your college applications, what would it be?
- (For teachers) What are the strengths and weaknesses of my personal statement? How can I improve it?
3. Read Some Sample Essays or Literary Pieces
Of course, to write your personal statement, you also need to be a good reader. You can find inspiration in libraries or online, and they can help you know what specific categories a certain college is looking for. They can help you find the right prompts to start with. However, it is a given to never copy the original essay and only use it as a reference.
4. Common Essay Prompts for Personal Statements
Now that you’re all set for writing your personal statements, here are some common essay prompts that can help you kickstart your writing journey:
- Share a story about your personal experiences.
- What challenges or setbacks have you experienced, and what did you learn from them?
- What is something you are grateful for?
- Is there a belief or idea that you find interesting or would like to challenge?
Contact Ivy Talent Education
At Ivy Talent Education, we believe that your college application journey is not just about getting into a college; it’s about finding the right path for long-term growth and success.
In our College Admission Consulting Program, we value our students, inclusive support, personalized education, finding the right fit, and authentic expression. Ivy Talent’s students have been accepted to top universities, such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and more.
If you’re looking for inspiration on writing a personal statement, schedule a free consultation with us; our experienced educational consultants are here to help you.
