Prospects & Providence

Once you have chosen the topic for your personal statement, perhaps you have sat at your computer, opened up a blank document and…nothing? Writer’s block is only natural. Maybe you start thinking about how if you don’t write the Best Personal Statement Ever you won’t get in to your dream school and then you won’t win that Nobel you’ve had your eye on since you were 5 and everything you have worked towards for your entire life will be for nothing and how can you be expected to write at a time like this?

Well, some anxiety is normal, but try to just focus on the task at hand and don’t get carried away – the personal statement is only one of many components of the application. If you are having trouble getting words on the page, try making a list of the main points you want us to learn about you through your topic. What should the reader take away from the story you are telling? If you are clear on what you are trying to accomplish, the writing will become easier.

We mentioned in the first post that while there are no bad topics, there are better and worse ways to write about common experiences. It is important that you make meaning of your experiences and it is often more effective to do the “meaning making” throughout your personal statement instead of merely at the end. Think about the purpose of each paragraph and what point you are trying to make. Challenge yourself to go beyond your most immediate reactions and conclusions and carefully consider how (and why) your experience actually changed your perspective. Also, that rule you learned in 3^rd grade still holds true: showing is better than telling. Rather than simply listing the things you want us to know or understand, illustrate your points with examples or reflections.

Regarding word counts, every school has different policies. 500 words is the most commonly suggested length and it can be a good guideline to follow. That being said, most admission officers will not stop reading at word 501. Try to use your best judgment- if you have already written 20 pages and you aren’t even halfway done you most likely need to be more discriminating with what you are including; however, as long as you are saying something worthwhile, we will want to read what you are writing.

We are not attempting to develop a winning formula for a personal statement (as much as you might like us to) because truthfully no such formula exists. Each of you has your own unique voice and the personal statement is the perfect vehicle for you to showcase it. If there was only one way to write it that would be awfully boring for you (and for us).

Once you have finished writing, give yourself a pat on the back, treat yourself to an ice cream sundae, and take a well-deserved break. Editing is a necessity, but it can be helpful to spend some time away from your essay – after awhile all of those well-articulated thoughts start to run together. When you come back to it, you will have a fresh perspective.

At this technologically-advanced point in time you most likely have spell-check on your computers, but unfortunately it does not correct for those word usage errors. As amusing it is to see that someone is a black belt in “marital” arts, it can also come across as sloppy, so make sure you haven’t fallen prey to this particularly unfortunate brand of error. Printing out a copy of your essay can be especially helpful because it is often easier to notice mistakes on paper than on a computer screen.

Now that you have completed your essay, it is a great time to ask for feedback. Before you hand off your essay, note areas about which you are most unsure. Ask your editors to keep your hesitations in mind as they read. Are you repeating yourself? Do you not go into enough detail? Be prepared for lots of opinions. It’s important to listen to advice and try to incorporate relevant changes, but make sure that at the end of the day the essay still reflects you, not your editors.

While it is most natural to approach people who are close to you for editorial advice, you might consider also asking a slightly more objective source, like a teacher or family friend who doesn’t know you as well.  What is most valuable about the advice of others is that they aren’t as close to the material and they can tell you what you are actually conveying to your audience. Keep in mind that admission officers unfortunately do not have the chance to get to know you on a personal level, so this essay is a chance to tell us who you are in your own words. You want to be honest, but you also want to make sure that you are putting your best foot forward.

Editing can be a tiring task – at some points you will probably feel like ripping up your personal statement (or throwing your computer out the window). In those moments, make sure to take a break and preserve your sanity. Ultimately, you just want to make sure that you feel proud of your final draft. Don’t over-edit or over-think – trust your instincts. Remain authentic and you will naturally rise to the top of the pile at whatever school is the best fit and match for you.