Top 6 Easy Steps To Write a Great Personal Statement

Writing a personal statement can be tricky. There are some personal statement layouts to write; however, since it is a “personal” statement, you need to write it in your own style. In many universities or programs, personal statement is the deciding factor for your admission. It truly depicts your desire to learn, skillset, and thought pattern. In other words, you talk about all the qualities that make you the strongest candidate among other applicants.

In this piece, you will find some insightful ways and processes to write the best personal statement that wins your university admission.

Before moving on to that, let us explore what is even meant by a personal statement.

What is a Personal Statement?

The personal statement is a document that is submitted with the application for a job or admission to a university or college. It typically tells about the personality of the applicant and shows their motivation and dedication to the program. It describes the skillset that the applicant has and why he wants to join the organization.

A well-crafted personal statement can really propel the career in the right direction. It helps the recruiter to judge whether you are the right choice for them or not. So, the candidate needs to polish it with a professional writing style.

Top 6 Steps to Write a Winning Personal Statement

You can use various personal statement generators or hire professionals like law students habit to adopt, but it is always better to learn the skill yourself. So, here are some of the most effective ways you can make your personal statement better than other applicants.

1. Self-reflection and taking time to think

The personal statement is not a general document or a high-school assignment that can be done in an eleventh hour. You must start working on it as early as possible. If it is taking a few weeks to finalize the personal statement, then spend a week or two. And that can only be possible if you start brainstorming early.

2. Write about your future plans

Writing about your future plans in the personal statement gives a lot of weight and depicts how much you take your career path or job seriously. When you have well-sorted plans, you have more focus and determination than a person without goals.

Another tip that many experts give is to combine your plans with your core skillset or strength. For example, if you have an analytical mindset, you can highlight it while describing your future plans. It makes you a well-aware person as well.

3. Write about your wins

Many people feel uncomfortable when they boast about their wins and achievements. But it is necessary to include it in a personal statement otherwise, it can go unnoticed. You should always showcase your projects, awards, and assistance you have provided to someone (professor, instructor, etc.), successfully organize some event or conduct any notable research. These achievements and previous work enhance your standing and ranking among all the other applicants. Professional work or even apprenticeships from a notable organization always counts.

4. Keep the writing tone simple and interesting

The way you formulate the sentences greatly affects the quality of your personal statement. Complex phrases or controversial statements can lead to a lowering of your ranking. By employing a simple writing tone, you demonstrate your ability to convey complex ideas in a clear and accessible manner.

Moreover, admission officers and recruiters have limited time to go through each and every application. So, always ensure that your writing style is simple and easy to read. Otherwise, it can repel the reader. In this regard, the personal statement conclusion holds significant importance because it closes your case smoothly.

5.  Interesting introduction and conclusions

Since the introduction is the first thing the recruiter will read, so must make it strong and compelling. It should depict who you are as a person and why you are applying for the job or university programs. You can talk about your past experience in the field or your previous educational achievements in the course.

Another option to enhance the impact of the personal statement is to talk about your future goals and dreams. Write about how getting into the course program will enable you to accomplish your goals and how it is aligned with your plans. For example, if you want to study law courses abroad, you must showcase how much it is important to you. Also, you can hire a professional law essay help for that.

6. Keep word limit in consideration

Although there are many ways to go about it, the most effective one is to “not consider” the word count in the first draft. The first draft is meant to be an explorative version of the personal statement where you just sort and arrange the information.

In the later drafts, you can edit the content extensively. It will allow you to take the word count into consideration. So you can manage the content much better. The more you polish the sentences, the more enhanced they will be.

Learning how to end a personal statement for a job gracefully is important because otherwise, you can exceed the word limit. It might affect your standing as a candidate.

What Qualities Make a Personal Statement Outstanding? Some Additional Tips

Following are some additional tips that you can utilize in your personal statement. You have the freedom to alter them as needed.

1. Give proof of your subject knowledge

If you are writing a personal statement for admission to the university, you must demonstrate your passion for the subject and previous work. It shows that you have invested time and effort in polishing your understanding of the subject.

You can also talk about what motivates you to pursue this specific career path. It helps the admission officer or selector to judge your personality. Learning about how to conclude a personal statement will enable you to form these paragraphs better.

2. Perfect formatting

Formatting is the most significant aspect of any personal statement because it shapes the document. When you do not focus on making the formatting better, your document seems amateur. Plus, it makes your personal image weaker in front of the officer.

Formatting includes the capitalization of the headings, paragraph breaks, section headings, management of citations, and the appropriate title of the file.

Remember that formatting is not just about aesthetics; it also contributes to the professional look and impact of your personal statement.

3. Do extensive editing and proofreading

No matter what you write, editing and proofreading are something you need to polish your writing every time. The first draft can not be the final draft because it always has some loopholes and mistakes that students remove later.

The best practice is to double-check for any formatting errors, typos, or inconsistencies before submitting your personal statement. Attention to detail reflects your commitment to presenting a high-quality application.

4. Address the gaps gracefully & Write to be Authentic

Nothing can beat authenticity. Therefore, to make yourself appear more genuine and true, mention weakness gracefully. There is no harm in owning yourself and talking about what challenges you generally face.

If there is a break in your education or career, take full responsibility and tell them the reasons for that. It makes your persona strong and genuine. Plus, demonstrating resilience and the ability to overcome obstacles can strengthen your personal statement.

5. Do not copy others

Since it is a personal statement, you can not copy anyone. Otherwise, it will lose all the authenticity and truth. However, you can take inspiration and ideas to craft better phrases or paragraphs, but avoid copying the content.

Every document goes through extensive checking for plagiarism and fact-correction. Therefore, it is better to check your document from the UCAS plagiarism checker before submitting it. Also, learn how to finish a personal statement perfectly because it is the chance for you to make a lasting impression.

In short, authenticity is key. Be honest about your journey. It adds credibility to your narrative and shows your ability to learn and grow from various experiences.

6. Avoid repetition

Readers do not like to read the same things in the entire document. Repetitive content can make your statement less engaging and may give the impression that you have a limited range of experiences or ideas.

Following are some quick tips to minimize the repetition in your personal statement.

  • Add different examples and scenarios to make the document engaging.
  • Include new and complementary details in each section to tell more about yourself.
  • Use alternative expressions and phrases to explain the ideas. It adds diversity and richness to the content.
  • Ensure that the structure of your personal statement allows a smooth flow.

Conclusion

There are several ways to complete your personal statement and make it effective. However, the most important one is to learn and practice how to end a personal statement. Another most effective tip is to keep content simple and personalized. Generic statements and unmotivated style really damages the quality of personal statement.