Personal Statements A guide by College Possible What

Personal Statements A guide by College Possible

What is a personal statement? ● An essay, written by you, that tells colleges about who you are as a person Outside of your grades, test scores, and resume!

Why do you need one? Colleges want to know… ● What kind of person are you? How will you add to the community on campus? What makes you special? What motivates you? ● Are you a good writer? Do you have the skills to succeed in college classes? ● Did you have any serious struggles in high school that affected your ability to do your best? (Ex- family emergencies, illnesses)

How do you write a personal statement?

Step one: Get personal No one knows your story like you! We each have had individual challenges, stories, and moments of growth that have made us who we are today! So talk about that. Just start writing and see where it takes you. The earlier you start, the more time you will have to edit.

Step two: write like you It’s tempting to copy other styles of writing, but it’s important to write the way you do. If you don’t know what a word means, don’t use it. Write like you’re telling a story to your College Possible coach or another mentor. One way to test this is to read it out loud - does it sound like you, or does it sound like someone else? Colleges want to hear YOUR voice!

Step three: What to include One good formula for a college essay: Share a story or lesson from your life. Explain why that anecdote or story is important to who you are. Connect that information to why you are applying to this specific college or scholarship. Important: for the Common App essay, you won’t do the last step, since it will be sent to every college you apply to!

It's okay to talk about hard or sad things you have experienced, especially if they give context to your high school career, but remember this isn't a sob story. Tell us how you grew from that experience or what you learned about yourself! tip!

Step four: hit the length The Common App essay asks for 250 -650 words. 500 words is also a popular word limit. When working on your personal statement, always write more! You can cut it down in the editing process, so just get it all out there. For the final draft, make sure you keep within the required length. Always double check the word count!

Step five: edit, edit your work! Once you’ve written your personal statement, step away from it for a while and reflect. Save on Google Docs. Never EVER work on a personal statement in the application site! DO NOT submit your personal statement without checking your spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc. ! Your personal statement reflects who you are, from the topic you choose to the style you write it in.

Step six: ask for feedback Ask someone else to help you edit and give suggestions! You can ask your College Possible Coach, a teacher, or even a friend. Consider their feedback, but also remember this essay is YOURS, and it should still sound like you at the end. Make sure you get help from at least one person who is experienced with spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Common App Prompts 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? 7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Time for Questions!