1. Personal
Statements
Introduction:
Personal
Statements
are
required
for
most
applications
to
schools
and
programs.
Their
purpose
is
to
show
the
admissions
person
a
little
bit
more
about
who
you
are
by
telling
your
unique
life
stories,
your
qualifications
and
most
importantly,
your
personality.
There
are
thousands
of
Personal
Statements
submitted
so
the
general
idea
is
to
stand
out
and
make
yourself
sound
like
the
best
candidate
through
your
writing.
This
is
often
very
difficult
because
it’s
easy
to
sound
generic
but
you
are
exactly
the
opposite!
What
follows
are
some
ideas
to
get
started,
examples
and
writing
tips
to
help
you
write
a
unique
and
well-­‐rounded
Personal
Statement.
Getting
Started:
The
main
idea
is
to
tell
a
really
good
story.
Start
by
writing
down
anything
you
want.
It
doesn’t
have
to
sound
pretty,
be
technical
or
even
in
order.
Get
your
ideas
on
paper
first
and
then
you
can
edit
later.
If
you
can’t
decide
what
to
write
about
ask
your
family
and
friends
to
recall
stories
of
you
during
your
most
challenging
or
admirable
moments.
Think
about
your
story
visually.
If
it
helps,
draw
your
story
like
a
comic
(artistic
skills
not
required
for
this
part)
and
then
try
writing
while
using
your
drawings
as
a
guide.
The
point
of
this
is
to
make
your
story
more
vivid
for
the
reader.
Think
of
analogies.
Connect
and
compare
your
interest
in
your
field
to
stories,
experiences,
specific
words,
or
anything
really.
This
is
a
great
way
to
keep
your
reader’s
attention
throughout
your
paper.
Questions
to
Get
Ideas
Flowing:
•
•
•
•
•
Where
were
you
when
you
first
fell
in
love
with
your
field
of
interest/area
of
study?
Describe
that
place
to
get
the
story
going.
Who
in
your
life
has
encouraged
you
to
pursue
your
dream
in
your
chosen
field?
Show
the
reader
how
that
person
has
influenced
or
motivated
you.
What
are
three
characteristics
that
make
you
compatible
with
your
field?
The
reader
wants
to
know
you
have
chemistry
with
your
field
and
that
you
are
passionate
about
pursuing
it.
How
would
your
area
of
study
compliment
your
life?
In
other
words,
describe
how
it
would
enhance
your
life.
When
did
you
know
that
you
wanted
to
be
in
this
field
that
you
are
chasing
after?
Take
the
reader
back
to
that
time.
Dos
and
Don’ts:
•
o
•
o
•
o
•
Do
talk
yourself
up
a
little
bit,
or
in
other
words
give
yourself
credit
for
your
good
qualities.
Don’t
just
tell
the
reader
your
good
qualities.
Show
them
to
me
through
your
story.
Do
describe
your
trials
and
tribulations.
If
you
choose
this
route,
it’s
key
to
include
how
you
overcame
your
challenges.
Don’t
write
a
gloomy
story.
You
want
the
reader
to
feel
uplifted
by
the
end
of
your
story.
Do
tell
me
why
you
want
to
apply
to
X
school
or
program.
Think
about
your
overarching
goal
or
objective
here.
Don’t
just
tell
that
you’re
interested
in
or
dedicated
to
the
field
you’re
pursuing.
That
is
obvious
because
you
are
applying
to
get
into
that
field.
Again,
show
this
through
your
story.
Do
tell
me
about
your
relevant
activities
or
volunteer
experiences.

2. o
•
o
•
o
•
o
•
o
Don’t
mention
any
political
or
religious
affiliation.
This
is
not
to
suppress
anyone’s
beliefs
but
it
could
jeopardize
your
chances
of
being
accepted
if
you
include
these
things.
Do
have
fun
with
it.
You’re
allowed
to
bend
the
rules
a
little
bit
with
Personal
Statements
so
try
to
be
creative
and
casual,
yet
classy.
Don’t
use
clichés.
Write
a
fresh
Personal
Statement,
something
you
think
the
readers
have
never
heard
of
before.
Do
use
specific
writing
techniques
for
acronyms,
citations,
quotes,
etc.
Don’t
use
contractions
–
or
avoid
them
as
much
as
possible.
It
makes
your
Personal
Statement
sound
much
more
professional
when
you
do.
Do
be
consistent
when
it
comes
to
capitalizing
names,
spelling
out
numbers
and
so
on.
Don’t
use
a
bunch
of
different
verb
tenses
or
voices.
Do
revise!
This
is
the
most
important
part
of
writing
a
Personal
Statement
so
give
yourself
enough
time
to
get
to
this
step
in
the
writing
process.
Don’t
give
up.
Be
patient
with
yourself,
your
story
can
only
improve
as
you
keep
writing.
Examples:
Good:
Ever
since
I
can
remember
I
have
always
loved
animals.
I
knew
that
I
wanted
to
work
with
them
because
I
am
very
compassionate
and
dedicated
to
helping
others.
Through
volunteering
and
working
at
the
Furry
Friends
Society,
I
have
gained
the
skills
and
qualities
to
work
with
animals
on
a
more
professional
level.
When
I
found
out
about
the
College
of
Veterinary
Medicine
at
Cornell
University,
I
knew
I
had
to
pursue
an
education
there.
Earning
a
degree
at
Cornell
would
help
me
reach
my
goal
of
becoming
a
professional
Veterinarian.
Better:
All
my
life,
I
have
had
many
pets
from
chameleons,
hamsters
and
puppies.
In
hindsight,
I
always
showed
compassion
and
interest
towards
them
and
when
they
passed,
they
received
a
proper
burial
in
the
back
yard.
I
still
have
that
same
love
for
animals
and
through
working
with
them
at
the
Humane
Society,
my
dream
of
becoming
a
Veterinarian
grew
more
and
more
every
day.
I
started
to
research
schools
to
reach
my
goal
and
the
Veterinarian
Medicine
program
at
Colorado
State
University
appealed
to
me
the
most
because
of
the
top
quality
education
I
would
receive.
Best:
There
I
was,
in
the
middle
of
a
busy
street
helping
an
ownerless
dog
with
a
broken
leg
over
to
the
sidewalk.
He
let
out
an
ear-­‐piercing
yelp
as
I
scooped
him
up
but
I
looked
into
his
eyes
and
said,
“don’t
worry,
buddy
you’ll
be
okay.”
To
our
convenience,
the
Avenues
Animal
Hospital
was
a
block
away
and
without
a
second
thought
we
were
on
our
way
there.
He
weighed
about
50
pounds
but
I
carefully
cradled
him
in
my
arms
and
hustled
up
the
street.
He
squirmed
and
cried
but
I
kept
talking
and
calmed
him
with
my
voice.
When
we
arrived
at
our
destination,
a
surge
of
adrenaline
pulsed
through
my
veins
but
I
composedly
told
the
technicians
what
happened.
All
of
the
sudden,
a
strange
feeling
washed
over
me
and
I
felt
at
home.
That
day
revealed
my
calling
in
life:
to
become
a
professional
Veterinarian.