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Professional School/Scholarship Personal Statements
Definition of genre
The personal statement allows you to give an admissions or scholarship committee a more
complete view of your qualifications than an application form, resume, or transcript can provide,
by telling a narrative about your experiences, interests, qualifications, and/or expectations for the
future. It also allows the committee to evaluate your writing skills. Prompts range from general
(e.g. “provide a one-page statement of purpose”) to specific (e.g. “describe one project or
assignment that contributed significantly to your educational experience”).
Questions to ask
• “The two whys”: Every personal statement is asking for answers to the two whys—Why
are you applying for this particular program and why should the committee choose you?
You want to show that you and the program you are applying to are a good fit.
Everything in your statement should address these essential questions.
• What is “missing” from your application file? Think from the committee’s perspective.
What information do they already have about you? If they have a transcript, there is no
reason to waste words telling them about your high grades. If they have a list of your
awards and activities, there is no need to simply list them here. You want everything in
the personal statement to ADD information to your file.
• What experiences have you had that are essential to pursuing this career/field?
• What experiences have you had that make you unique?
• Have you overcome any obstacles in your educational career? Or, have you hit any
speedbumps (failed courses, problems with the law, etc.) that you need to explain?
Actions to take
• Read the prompt. Different programs and fields have different expectations for personal
statements. Read each prompt carefully, answer its questions specifically, and follow its
guidelines accurately. If you apply for several programs, don’t just re-use your statement:
tailor each essay to the individual prompt, and do research on the program if necessary.
Once you have written your statement, consult with an authority in your field to make
sure you are meeting style expectations.
• Consider your audience. Are your readers generalists or experts in your field? What are
they looking for in an applicant? Will they understand the technical terminology of your
particular field?