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Read our guide to writing a personal statement, including how to approach writing it, what you can write about and more.
Almost every university will ask you to write a personal statement to gain a clearer idea of who you are and why you want to study a particular course. This is your chance to demonstrate your interests and skills to show that you should be considered for a place. If you’re an eighteen year old undergraduate, you have likely never attempted something like this before. When writing extensively about all your qualities, there’s also a delicate balance with not sounding repetitive or egotistical.
Writing a personal statement can seem daunting at first, but we’re here to point you in the right direction with this step-by-step guide.
The best way to begin your personal statement is with a plan. Your writing needs to be concise and to the point. Universities receive a lot of personal statements, with many indistinguishable from one another. You should take some time to think about what to include. Here are a few tips to help you start:
For some courses, work experience is obligatory. However, for others it is valued, but not compulsory. For example, if you want to study veterinary science, relevant experience tends to be a must, such as volunteering at an animal shelter or veterinary clinic.
Remember that your personal statement could be the deciding factor when being considered for a place on your desired course. Think about what each paragraph is trying to convey to avoid waffling. You might even want to ask a teacher, family member or friend about your strengths. Sometimes it can be hard to think of your achievements so a gentle nudge from others might be beneficial. In fact, at most colleges and sixth forms, teachers will have a wealth of experience when it comes to personal statements, so make sure you ask for help if you’re a bit stuck.
It may seem basic, but fill out ALL the required information about you on the page. By failing to do so, you can come across as sloppy or inattentive to details. From an administrative perspective, missing details makes the lives of admissions staff tougher, and they are the ones with your destiny in their hands. It simply makes sense to appear as favourably as you can without them having met you. If they have to struggle to process your application because you have left out mandatory information, they may simply pass and move onto the next application in their very large pile.
Most prospective students around the world will be writing personal statements as part of their university applications, but there are a few requirements for international students in particular. See below for the key content you need to include:
Don’t worry if you haven’t got any work experience, you can still sell yourself in other ways. For example, computer skills, interests and hobbies. Do you regularly visit museums and galleries? Are you part of a sports team? All of this helps to paint a picture of who you are and the points to the skills you might have gained.
Fancy a quick break? Watch our video of graduates reading back through their personal statements:
The tone of your personal statement needs to be formal yet enthusiastic. Try to avoid humour as this could be off-putting and may be misunderstood by an admissions tutor. You should also steer clear of long sentences as this can affect readability. Aim for clear and concise writing, as this will help the reader to understand your key points.
To check whether your personal statement makes sense, read it out loud either on your own or to someone else. This will help you notice any grammatical or spelling mistakes which you might miss just reading silently. Making these mistakes could suggest that you didn’t double check your work or that you couldn’t be bothered. So, make sure that you triple check and proofread before submitting.
What you should take away is to distinguish yourself the best you can in your personal statement. You have to get across the individual that you are. While you may be applying for the same course as a hundred other students, you should stick out as unique and be remembered; just ensure it is for the right reasons! Unless requested to do so, do not include an image of yourself, nor anything to make your statement stand out. You will be asked to submit a portfolio of your work if you need to, for particular courses like art .
The tone of the statement should always be formal. Mentioning extra-curricular activities is always encouraged as they help distinguish you as a real person, as long as they reflect in some way the course you are applying to. Charitable endeavours or those activities affiliated with your previous educational community are usually received well. Think carefully about what your activities and personal interests say about you as a potential representative for that institution.
Sometimes keeping things simple is for the best. If you can say something in five words rather than ten, do that. It can be tempting to use a thesaurus or look up synonyms online to appear more intellectual; but if you use too many in the wrong context, a sentence can lose all meaning. This is especially true if English isn’t your first language; if this applies to you, then writing a statement to even a good standard will impress whoever reads your statement (they will be well aware that you are an international student).
Most of all, make sure your statement is easy to read and flows well from one point to another in an order which makes sense. If you use a word incorrectly, it will stand out and be confusing. Written assignments may well be a key part of your assessments, and your statement will indicate if you will be capable of these. The key thing is that the officer enjoys reading your statement, and may one day want to meet you.
Your school/college/sixth form should tell you when to start thinking about university and when to apply. As institutions can set their own application deadlines, particularly for international students, you should check the website of the university you are applying to first. There is such variation that we cannot provide a single deadline date for your personal statement.
The word count varies according to each country and even each institution in some cases. In the UK, there is a 4000-character limit which equates to roughly 500 words. In Australia, you should aim for 700 words (approx. 1400 characters) and in the U.S. the recommended length is about 500-800 words. So, in general, a personal statement can be anywhere between one to two pages long, but we recommend checking with the institution you are applying to.
Now that you know more about writing a personal statement, why not start planning yours today!
All international students who want to study in an English-speaking country must show they have the required level of English. There are a few English language exams that are accepted by universities all over the world. We’re going to focus on two of these: IELTS and TOEFL. Before we continue, let’s look at what these names mean. IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language.
What is the IELTS exam? The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an English language exam which is recognised worldwide by more than 11,000 universities, employers and immigration government bodies. The IELTS test explained What are the benefits of the IELTS test? As mentioned above, the IELTS exam is recognised all over the world and is used for university education and immigration purposes. It’s
You’ll learn as an international student, that nothing can be done unless you can successfully prove who you are. In countries where immigration policy and security are of utmost importance, this can be easier said than done, with long procedures involving lots of paperwork and waiting. Originals vs. Copies However, you can make things a lot easier for yourself if you keep to hand a file containing the following important documentation. This
As a prospective international student, you’ll know the importance of demonstrating your English language proficiency as part of the university application process. You’ll also know that several English language tests can be included as part of the entry requirements. With all of these options available, you may wonder what sets them apart, and what makes IELTS so popular. We're here to answer these questions and more, explaining the benefits of an IELTS test.
Van thompson, 29 sep 2017.
The number of students studying abroad is at an all-time high, with the United Kingdom and Italy rated as the most popular destinations, according to the Institute of International Education. This increased popularity of studying abroad means that your application must stand out if you want to be accepted to a good program. A strong personal statement can highlight why you're the best candidate for a study-abroad program.
Don't use the same personal statement for every program to which you apply. Instead, your statement should be directly related to the country and program in which you are interested. For example, you might highlight your Italian classes if you're planning to travel to Italy. If you want to go to France, you might emphasize your interest in your family's French heritage. No matter what you choose to focus on, though, your statement needs a succinct thesis. Your thesis serves as a topic sentence that can help keep the rest of your essay on track.
Your personal statement needs to highlight skills that are relevant to studying abroad, not just general academic achievements. The latter will be listed elsewhere in your application packet. Find ways to make your course work relevant to studying abroad. If, for example, you're an honors student, you might highlight the fact that you achieved these honors even after a stressful semester. This shows that you can cope with the challenges of living abroad.
Particularly if you'll be living with a host family, it's important to convey a warm, pleasant personality. Don't be cynical or complain about the challenges you've faced. Instead, focus on your excitement and explain why you're a good fit. If you have previous experience traveling abroad or working with different cultures, mention this. If you volunteer or work with people who are different from you, this can be a strong selling point.
The application committee knows that you're a student who still has much to learn. Acknowledge this fact and focus on what you hope to get out of the program. For example, if you're pursuing a degree in education, you might highlight how learning in a different culture could help you work more effectively with immigrant students. If you have a special skill you can bring to the program, note this as well. An engineering student who wants to teach computer skills to impoverished students during a study-abroad program should highlight how her experience with technology makes her uniquely qualified for this role.
Van Thompson is an attorney and writer. A former martial arts instructor, he holds bachelor's degrees in music and computer science from Westchester University, and a juris doctor from Georgia State University. He is the recipient of numerous writing awards, including a 2009 CALI Legal Writing Award.
Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. Whether you’re studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers.
© 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. See disclaimer .
How to write a personal statement for a uk university, by kathryn abell, 19 october 2015 - 05:11.
Kathryn Abell of Edukonexion shares some tips.
When applying to a UK university, the discovery that school grades alone are not enough to gain entry onto the programme of your choice can come as an unwelcome surprise. This is especially true for international students, many of whom see the words 'personal statement' for the first time when starting their university application.
But far from being a barrier, the personal statement is, in fact, one of the stepping stones to achieving your goal of studying at a UK university.
A personal statement can help you stand out
If you have selected your study programme well – that is to say, you have chosen something that you are truly excited about that matches your academic profile – then the personal statement is simply a way to communicate to admissions tutors why you are interested in the programme and what you can bring to it. And given the fact that many universities receive multiple applications for each available place, and that most do not offer an interview, your written statement is often the only way you can express your personality and say 'choose me!'.
The 'personal' in 'personal statement' suggests that you should be allowed to express yourself however you want, right? Well, to a certain extent that is true: admissions tutors want to get a picture of you, not your parents, your teachers or your best friend, so it has to be your work. However, the purpose of the statement is to persuade academic staff that they should offer you one of their highly sought-after university places; although there is no strict template for this, there are specific things you should include and certain things you should most certainly leave out.
The importance of the opening paragraph
The online Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) undergraduate application form allows a total of 4,000 characters (around 700 words), meaning that you need to craft the statement carefully. The most important part is unquestionably the opening paragraph, as it acts as an invitation to continue reading. If you are not able to catch the attention of the admissions tutor, who has hundreds of statements to assess, then it is highly unlikely they will read through to the end.
The best advice here is to avoid much-used opening lines and clichés such as 'I have wanted to be an engineer since I was a child'. This kind of thing is not the invitation readers are looking for. Instead, try using an anecdote, experience or inspirational moment: 'Although tinkering with engines had always been a childhood hobby, it was the vision of the fastest car on earth, the Bloodhound, at an exhibition in London, that roused my desire to learn everything I could about automotive engineering'. Really? Tell me more!
Of course, your opening paragraph could start in a variety of ways, but the fundamental purpose is to grab the reader’s interest.
Provide evidence of your commitment and skills
Following on from that, you have to provide evidence of your passion and commitment to your chosen programme, and highlight the specific and transferable skills you possess to study it successfully. You can do this by following the ABC rule.
Action: Include examples of what you have done, experienced or even read that have helped you in your choice of degree and boosted your knowledge of the subject area.
Benefit : By doing these things, explain what you learned or gained; in the case of a book or article, put forward an opinion.
Course : The most successful applicants ensure that the information they include is relevant to their course in order to highlight their suitability. Flower-arranging may allow you to realise your creative potential, but will it help you study astrophysics?
It is perfectly acceptable to base this ABC rule on school-based activities, as not all students have opportunities outside the classroom. However, if you can link extra-curricular pursuits to your desired programme of study, you are further highlighting your commitment. As a general rule of thumb, the information you include here should be around 80 per cent academic and 20 per cent non-academic. So, for example, as a member of the school science club – a non-curricular, academic activity – you may have developed the ability to analyse data and tackle problems logically. Taking part in a work placement falls into the same category and could have helped you develop your communication, time-management and computer skills. You get the idea.
Non-academic accomplishments may involve music, sport, travel or clubs and can lead to a variety of competencies such as team-working, leadership, language or presentation skills. A word of warning here: it is vital that you sell yourself, but arrogance or lies will result in your personal statement landing in the 'rejected' pile. Keep it honest and down-to-earth.
Provide a memorable conclusion
Once you have emphasised your keen interest and relevant qualities, you should round off the statement with a conclusion that will be remembered. There is little point putting all your effort to generate interest in the opening paragraph only for your statement to gradually fade away at the end. A good conclusion will create lasting impact and may express how studying your chosen course will allow you to pursue a particular career or achieve any other plans. It can also underline your motivation and determination.
Use a formal tone, stay relevant and be positive
As you have to pack all this information into a relatively short statement, it is essential to avoid the superfluous or, as I like to call it, the 'fluff'. If a sentence sounds pretty but doesn’t give the reader information, remove it. In addition, the tone should be formal and you should not use contractions, slang or jokes; remember, the statement will be read by academics – often leaders in their field.
Referring to books is fine but don’t resort to using famous quotes as they are overused and do not reflect your own ideas. Also, while it's good to avoid repetition, don't overdo it with the thesaurus.
Negativity has no place in a personal statement, so if you need to mention a difficult situation you have overcome, ensure you present it as a learning experience rather than giving the reader an opportunity to notice any shortcomings. Also, bear in mind that your personal statement will probably go to several universities as part of a single application, so specifically naming one university is not going to win you any favours with the others.
Get some help but never copy someone else's work
Checking grammar, spelling and flow is essential and it is perfectly OK to ask someone to do this for you. A fresh pair of eyes and a different perspective always help, and, as long as the third party does not write the content for you, their input could be of vital importance. And while you may get away with not sticking to all of the above advice, there is one thing that you absolutely must not do: copy someone else’s work. Most applications are made through UCAS, which uses sophisticated software to detect plagiarism. If you are found to have copied content from the internet, or a previous statement, your application will be cancelled immediately. Remember, it is a personal statement.
Get your ideas down in a mind-map first
Finally, I will leave you with my top tip. If you understand all the theory behind the personal statement and have an abundance of ideas floating in your head, but are staring blankly at your computer screen, take a pen and paper and make a simple mind map. Jot down all your experiences, activities, skills, attributes and perhaps even include books you have read or even current items that interest you in the news. Then look for how these link to your course and highlight the most significant elements using arrows, colours and even doodles. Capturing thoughts on paper and making logical deductions from an image can give structure to your ideas.
Get more advice on your application from our Study UK site .
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Gre prep online guides and tips, 3 successful graduate school personal statement examples.
Looking for grad school personal statement examples? Look no further! In this total guide to graduate school personal statement examples, we’ll discuss why you need a personal statement for grad school and what makes a good one. Then we’ll provide three graduate school personal statement samples from our grad school experts. After that, we’ll do a deep dive on one of our personal statement for graduate school examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a list of other grad school personal statements you can find online.
A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program. You need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere on your application.
A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.
While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly relevant to your field of interest.
Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your academic/research experiences and goals.
However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes, especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.
When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions essay.
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A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However, strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:
Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).
You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this, make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and diligence than about providing excuses.
A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about the relevant literature in your field.
Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better evidence.
A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are informed about and genuinely invested in the program.
Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating clearly and that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.
Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way (i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.
While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment. The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.
You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as inoffensive as possible.
Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.
Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful.
PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 – Japanese Studies
For this Japanese Studies master’s degree, the applicant had to provide a statement of purpose outlining her academic goals and experience with Japanese and a separate personal statement describing her personal relationship with Japanese Studies and what led her to pursue a master’s degree.
Here’s what’s successful about this personal statement:
Overall, this is a very strong statement both in terms of style and content. It flows well, is memorable, and communicates that the applicant would make the most of the graduate school experience.
PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 2 – Musical Composition
This personal statement for a Music Composition master’s degree discusses the factors that motivate the applicant to pursue graduate study.
Here’s what works well in this statement:
This is a strong, serviceable personal statement. And in truth, given that this for a masters in music composition, other elements of the application (like work samples) are probably the most important. However, here are two small changes I would make to improve it:
PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 – Public Health
This is my successful personal statement for Columbia’s Master’s program in Public Health. We’ll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I’ll highlight a couple of things that work in this statement here:
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Now let’s do a deep dive, paragraph-by-paragraph, on one of these sample graduate school personal statements. We’ll use my personal statement that I used when I applied to Columbia’s public health program.
Paragraph One: For twenty-three years, my grandmother (a Veterinarian and an Epidemiologist) ran the Communicable Disease Department of a mid-sized urban public health department. The stories of Grandma Betty doggedly tracking down the named sexual partners of the infected are part of our family lore. Grandma Betty would persuade people to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, encourage safer sexual practices, document the spread of infection and strive to contain and prevent it. Indeed, due to the large gay population in the city where she worked, Grandma Betty was at the forefront of the AIDS crises, and her analysis contributed greatly towards understanding how the disease was contracted and spread. My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration to me, and the reason why a career in public health was always on my radar.
This is an attention-grabbing opening anecdote that avoids most of the usual cliches about childhood dreams and proclivities. This story also subtly shows that I have a sense of public health history, given the significance of the AIDs crisis for public health as a field.
It’s good that I connect this family history to my own interests. However, if I were to revise this paragraph again, I might cut down on some of the detail because when it comes down to it, this story isn’t really about me. It’s important that even (sparingly used) anecdotes about other people ultimately reveal something about you in a personal statement.
Paragraph Two: Recent years have cemented that interest. In January 2012, my parents adopted my little brother Fred from China. Doctors in America subsequently diagnosed Fred with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). My parents were told that if Fred’s condition had been discovered in China, the (very poor) orphanage in which he spent the first 8+ years of his life would have recognized his DMD as a death sentence and denied him sustenance to hasten his demise.
Here’s another compelling anecdote to help explain my interest in public health. This is an appropriately personal detail for a personal statement—it’s a serious thing about my immediate family, but it doesn’t disclose anything that the admissions committee might find concerning or inappropriate.
If I were to take another pass through this paragraph, the main thing I would change is the last phrase. “Denied him sustenance to hasten his demise” is a little flowery. “Denied him food to hasten his death” is actually more powerful because it’s clearer and more direct.
Paragraph Three: It is not right that some people have access to the best doctors and treatment while others have no medical care. I want to pursue an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia because studying social factors in health, with a particular focus on socio-health inequities, will prepare me to address these inequities. The interdisciplinary approach of the program appeals to me greatly as I believe interdisciplinary approaches are the most effective way to develop meaningful solutions to complex problems.
In this paragraph I make a neat and clear transition from discussing what sparked my interest in public health and health equity to what I am interested in about Columbia specifically: the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and how that focus will prepare me to solve complex health problems. This paragraph also serves as a good pivot point to start discussing my academic and professional background.
Paragraph Four: My undergraduate education has prepared me well for my chosen career. Understanding the underlying structure of a group’s culture is essential to successfully communicating with the group. In studying folklore and mythology, I’ve learned how to parse the unspoken structures of folk groups, and how those structures can be used to build bridges of understanding. For example, in a culture where most illnesses are believed to be caused by witchcraft, as is the case for the Zande people of central Africa, any successful health intervention or education program would of necessity take into account their very real belief in witchcraft.
In this paragraph, I link my undergraduate education and the skills I learned there to public health. The (very brief) analysis of tailoring health interventions to the Zande is a good way to show insight and show off the competencies I would bring to the program.
Paragraph Five: I now work in the healthcare industry for one of the largest providers of health benefits in the world. In addition to reigniting my passion for data and quantitative analytics, working for this company has immersed me in the business side of healthcare, a critical component of public health.
This brief paragraph highlights my relevant work experience in the healthcare industry. It also allows me to mention my work with data and quantitative analytics, which isn’t necessarily obvious from my academic background, which was primarily based in the social sciences.
Paragraph Six: I intend to pursue a PhD in order to become an expert in how social factors affect health, particularly as related to gender and sexuality. I intend to pursue a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Reproduction. Working together with other experts to create effective interventions across cultures and societies, I want to help transform health landscapes both in America and abroad.
This final paragraph is about my future plans and intentions. Unfortunately, it’s a little disjointed, primarily because I discuss goals of pursuing a PhD before I talk about what certificate I want to pursue within the MPH program! Switching those two sentences and discussing my certificate goals within the MPH and then mentioning my PhD plans would make a lot more sense.
I also start two sentences in a row with “I intend,” which is repetitive.
The final sentence is a little bit generic; I might tailor it to specifically discuss a gender and sexual health issue, since that is the primary area of interest I’ve identified.
This was a successful personal statement; I got into (and attended!) the program. It has strong examples, clear organization, and outlines what interests me about the program (its interdisciplinary focus) and what competencies I would bring (a background in cultural analysis and experience with the business side of healthcare). However, a few slight tweaks would elevate this statement to the next level.
So you need more samples for your personal statement for graduate school? Examples are everywhere on the internet, but they aren’t all of equal quality.
Most of examples are posted as part of writing guides published online by educational institutions. We’ve rounded up some of the best ones here if you are looking for more personal statement examples for graduate school.
This selection of ten short personal statements for graduate school and fellowship programs offers an interesting mix of approaches. Some focus more on personal adversity while others focus more closely on professional work within the field.
The writing in some of these statements is a little dry, and most deploy at least a few cliches. However, these are generally strong, serviceable statements that communicate clearly why the student is interested in the field, their skills and competencies, and what about the specific program appeals to them.
These are good examples of personal statements for graduate school where students deploy lots of very vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes of life experiences. There are also helpful comments about what works in each of these essays.
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However, all of these statements are definitely pushing the boundaries of acceptable length, as all are above 1000 and one is almost 1500 words! Many programs limit you to 500 words; if you don’t have a limit, you should try to keep it to two single-spaced pages at most (which is about 1000 words).
These examples of successful essays to the University of Chicago law school cover a wide range of life experiences and topics. The writing in all is very vivid, and all communicate clear messages about the students’ strengths and competencies.
Note, however, that these are all essays that specifically worked for University of Chicago law school. That does not mean that they would work everywhere. In fact, one major thing to note is that many of these responses, while well-written and vivid, barely address the students’ interest in law school at all! This is something that might not work well for most graduate programs.
This successful essay for law school from a Wheaton College undergraduate does a great job tracking the student’s interest in the law in a compelling and personal way. Wheaton offers other graduate school personal statement examples, but this one offers the most persuasive case for the students’ competencies. The student accomplishes this by using clear, well-elaborated examples, showing strong and vivid writing, and highlighting positive qualities like an interest in justice and empathy without seeming grandiose or out of touch.
Based on the background information provided at the bottom of the essay, this essay was apparently successful for this applicant. However, I’ve actually included this essay because it demonstrates an extremely risky approach. While this personal statement is strikingly written and the story is very memorable, it could definitely communicate the wrong message to some admissions committees. The student’s decision not to report the drill sergeant may read incredibly poorly to some admissions committees. They may wonder if the student’s failure to report the sergeant’s violence will ultimately expose more soldiers-in-training to the same kinds of abuses. This incident perhaps reads especially poorly in light of the fact that the military has such a notable problem with violence against women being covered up and otherwise mishandled
It’s actually hard to get a complete picture of the student’s true motivations from this essay, and what we have might raise real questions about the student’s character to some admissions committees. This student took a risk and it paid off, but it could have just as easily backfired spectacularly.
In this guide, we discussed why you need a personal statement and how it differs from a statement of purpose. (It’s more personal!)
We also discussed what you’ll find in a strong sample personal statement for graduate school:
Then, we provided three strong graduate school personal statement examples for different fields, along with analysis. We did a deep-dive on the third statement.
Finally, we provided a list of other sample grad school personal statements online.
Want more advice on writing a personal statement ? See our guide.
Writing a graduate school statement of purpose? See our statement of purpose samples and a nine-step process for writing the best statement of purpose possible .
If you’re writing a graduate school CV or resume, see our how-to guide to writing a CV , a how-to guide to writing a resume , our list of sample resumes and CVs , resume and CV templates , and a special guide for writing resume objectives .
Need stellar graduate school recommendation letters ? See our guide.
See our 29 tips for successfully applying to graduate school .
Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon
Personal Statement Examples
Guides and example personal statements
Growing up in a family filled with Businessmen and Entrepreneurs made my vision change Immensely. I can recall when I was young, I have always loved the way my father ran his company, it made me more passionate about studying in the business field. I always used to go along with my father to work when I was younger just to see and witness how it feels to be in the action. Most of my vacations I have spent in my father’s company. I felt like studying business is the key to many different opportunities out in this world, that’s why I decided to study Business Management.
I can foresee the future of this world, with the technology evolving around us and how fast everything changes, this made me more interested in studying Business, because what I admire the most about business studies is that it combines many factors of life and how to operate through it, and I feel that this is where I belong and I also feel like I can excel in this specific major due to my past experience with studying business studies in high school and also working in my vacations with my father in his company. I supposed that in order to achieve my goals, I had to expand my vision and move to the UK to join a University there because I was certain that the UK education is capable of developing me to be the best version of myself.
Considering Universities in the UK has made me so much motivated because UK Universities are known for their respected level of education and their highly respected reputation. Studying abroad wasn’t my easiest decision to make because I am very connected to my country Egypt and my family and friends, but I had to overcome everything just for the sake of a better education that would help me to accomplish my dreams and be a source of pride to my family and my country. Studying abroad will also have a positive effect on me as a person, it will make me be more independent and will expand my knowledge, education, and my cultural experience.
In High School, I used to enjoy to participate in many extra-curricular activities, I took part in many charity events hosted by my high school, as well as many athletic activities, I took part in the High School Varsity Football Team which made me a better athletic person and also it helped me to make new friends.
Born and raised in an Arab country could be challenging. Arab countries have their own principles and traditions, which may be different from any other country in the rest of the world, but being taught in Modern English School, Cairo which is the best school in Egypt according to rankings by the Egyptian government, has utterly changed my mindset making me a more understanding and a smarter person. Studying at such a high-level institution has encouraged me more to study abroad in the UK. I know for a fact that I definitely wouldn’t have any trouble communicating in the UK because I have been taught by teachers from the UK and the US ever since I started school which made my English language better, therefore I feel like I am confident and qualified to study abroad.
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International Business Management, Finance, Accounting and Marketing are the subjects I wish to pursue. It is my goal to become a business analyst manager working internationally with Finance. My family business inspired me to do the course as I have had the opportunity to work within many business areas such as, accounting and finance. Though this work experience I have learnt how to deal with balance sheet and profit and loss account. Since I started working in the business, it has become clearer how business world is operating, changing and adapting to create more paths to success is a feature that I can apply. Through this work experience I want to contribute more into businesses and make it more successful.
I would like to study International Business to build up my skills in research and presentation as well as develop my knowledge into the worldwide business environment. When I study International Business I can secure a role in Marketing, Consultancy, Human resource Services or start my own business. International focus is really vital in the business environment nowadays and I have chosen this course because I am able to speak 3 languages fluently English, Bengali, and Hindi and I want to learn Arabic language. The knowledge I have in these languages has made me eager in worldwide business. At university, I would like to study this course as I have to gain more knowledge and information in International business and work in various nations.
My life changed when I was 16 years old and came to the United Kingdom with my family. I enrolled at Barnfield College and was doing functional English Entry Level 3 and then next year I did functional English Level 2. During this time, I have met so many people from different cultures and different languages. This helped me to develop my socializing skills because of such a diverse culture. I learned how to live in new foreign environment where I had to rely on myself and cope with difficulties all alone. I came from school where I was with my same classmate for many years to a new and multi -cultural college.
Currently, I am doing Business Studies Level 3 year extended diploma where my course cover various subjects such as business management, accounting, marketing, human resource management, business, economic environment ,developing teams in business which is giving me different knowledge in many subjects which I can apply in university to get higher grade. I did not attend to high school in the UK but I attended in back home in Bangladesh where I have 9 GCSE's including maths and English. My academic skills are helping me to improve my personal characters such as meet assignment deadline, be on time in class , work group work etc.
I used to work in a restaurant as a manager responsible for making sure the business run effectively and smoothly. My duties were involved helping customers either as a cashier or helping customers at the customer service desk with their various problems and complaints which is helping me to improve my communication skills and problem solving skills. This formal position helped me vital life skills such as leadership, communication, organisation, planning and working with others.
My hobbies and interests are to spending my spare time with my family and friends. I like to spend my free time reading books and newspapers gaining knowledge and interested in learning new things. I also like working for social on my free time such as a charity, voluntary.
After I have completed my international business from university with first grade, I will look for a job as Head of International Finance in Retail businesses. I am very focused and determined about my course. I am confident that I will be studying the course successfully and hope my application will be approved.
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The use of artificial intelligence in the EU will be regulated by the AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive AI law. Find out how it will protect you.
As part of its digital strategy , the EU wants to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure better conditions for the development and use of this innovative technology. AI can create many benefits , such as better healthcare; safer and cleaner transport; more efficient manufacturing; and cheaper and more sustainable energy.
In April 2021, the European Commission proposed the first EU regulatory framework for AI. It says that AI systems that can be used in different applications are analysed and classified according to the risk they pose to users. The different risk levels will mean more or less regulation. Once approved, these will be the world’s first rules on AI.
Learn more about what artificial intelligence is and how it is used
Parliament’s priority is to make sure that AI systems used in the EU are safe, transparent, traceable, non-discriminatory and environmentally friendly. AI systems should be overseen by people, rather than by automation, to prevent harmful outcomes.
Parliament also wants to establish a technology-neutral, uniform definition for AI that could be applied to future AI systems.
Learn more about Parliament’s work on AI and its vision for AI’s future
The new rules establish obligations for providers and users depending on the level of risk from artificial intelligence. While many AI systems pose minimal risk, they need to be assessed.
Unacceptable risk AI systems are systems considered a threat to people and will be banned. They include:
Some exceptions may be allowed for law enforcement purposes. “Real-time” remote biometric identification systems will be allowed in a limited number of serious cases, while “post” remote biometric identification systems, where identification occurs after a significant delay, will be allowed to prosecute serious crimes and only after court approval.
AI systems that negatively affect safety or fundamental rights will be considered high risk and will be divided into two categories:
1) AI systems that are used in products falling under the EU’s product safety legislation . This includes toys, aviation, cars, medical devices and lifts.
2) AI systems falling into specific areas that will have to be registered in an EU database:
All high-risk AI systems will be assessed before being put on the market and also throughout their lifecycle.
Generative AI, like ChatGPT, would have to comply with transparency requirements:
High-impact general-purpose AI models that might pose systemic risk, such as the more advanced AI model GPT-4, would have to undergo thorough evaluations and any serious incidents would have to be reported to the European Commission.
Limited risk AI systems should comply with minimal transparency requirements that would allow users to make informed decisions. After interacting with the applications, the user can then decide whether they want to continue using it. Users should be made aware when they are interacting with AI. This includes AI systems that generate or manipulate image, audio or video content, for example deepfakes.
On December 9 2023, Parliament reached a provisional agreement with the Council on the AI act . The agreed text will now have to be formally adopted by both Parliament and Council to become EU law. Before all MEPs have their say on the agreement, Parliament’s internal market and civil liberties committees will vote on it.
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Below is a personal statement for studying abroad example. You can use this basic structure to help you write your statement: a. Introduction Begin your personal statement by stating your interest in studying abroad and also how you plan to profit from it. b. Body
Relevant work experience: Mentioning any placements or internships you've completed in the same field as your studies will help you stand out from the crowd. Voluntary work: Include any volunteering projects you're involved in, as well as the useful skills and life lessons you've picked up.
Step #1: Identify Your "Why" The best way to start a study abroad personal statement is by identifying what you're truly passionate about. This should be an easy start - if you've always been enthusiastic about history, explain why. If you love Japanese manga, explain how you got into it.
A strong introduction A summary of your achievements Details of your skills and abilities An explanation of why you would be a good fit for the degree or scholarship A conclusion that rounds out your statement nicely and brings it all together Introduction Your introduction needs to grab the reader's attention.
Story Highlights Types of content that should be included in your motivation letter How to format a personal statement for university 5 Tips to make your personal statement more interesting Mistakes to avoid when writing your personal statement Samples of university personal statements
Consider your audience—a scholarship committee comprised of faculty and advisors. Always follow the guidelines for the scholarship you are applying for, but generally, your 'Statement of Purpose' should be written in essay format, one page, standard margins and font, typed, single-spaced or double-spaced. Example: Explain why you chose ...
1. Start Early and Plan Ahead: Begin the process well in advance. Allow time for brainstorming, drafting, revising, and proofreading. Rushed personal statements often lack the depth and clarity needed to make a strong impression. 2. Highlight Your Motivation and Goals: Start by explaining why you're passionate about studying abroad.
Personal Statements and Application Letters: a discussion of how to prepare, draft, format, and revise your work, featuring a sample statement. University Writing Center. Student Success Center. 738 South Mason Street. Room 1st Floor. Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807.
Be genuine: let your unique voice come through rather than trying to fit a mould. Stay focused: keep your statement concise and avoid unnecessary details that don't add value to your narrative. Proofread: always read your statement multiple times, checking for grammar and spelling errors.
For complete information of Study Abroad Programs Contact Edwise International- Overseas Education Consultants, on 1-800-200-3678 (Toll Free) / 08600911333. 80% of the university will ask you to write a personal statement to gain an idea of who you are and why you want to study abroad. Read our guide to writing a personal statement.
Aim for clear and concise writing, as this will help the reader to understand your key points. To check whether your personal statement makes sense, read it out loud either on your own or to someone else. This will help you notice any grammatical or spelling mistakes which you might miss just reading silently.
Law Personal Statement Example (International Student) 1 I decided to read law in England because the country has one of the most historic and well developed educational systems in Europe. I chose courses at Universities with a great tradition, a tradition which can only be offered by English Universities...
The personal statement is a brief essay in which the applicant explains why he/she is applying to the study abroad program and what qualifies the applicant to receive a study abroad scholarship. This resource provides general guidelines for writing a study abroad personal statement. However, specific programs will have different requirements ...
The Study Abroad Application personal statement should be approximately one page long. Occasionally, specific programs will add additional prompts/topics to consider - please always refer to your program's information sheet to see if there are additional instructions. Sometimes, the application may have more specific requirements - ex ...
Politics and International Studies Personal Statement Example 2. According to Aristotle "If liberty and equality, are chiefly thought to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in government to the utmost". Reflection on the disparity between the philosopher's idealised maxim of democracy and my own ...
In this video, learn how to write a powerful Personal Statement. A Personal Statement can be different from an SOP in terms of content that you include. So i...
2 Offer Specific Skills. Your personal statement needs to highlight skills that are relevant to studying abroad, not just general academic achievements. The latter will be listed elsewhere in your application packet. Find ways to make your course work relevant to studying abroad. If, for example, you're an honors student, you might highlight ...
Study Abroad: Personal Statement Cite This Essay Download "In a lifetime, you must meet a good teacher who changes your life" is a quote from a Hong Kong movie "Little Big Master", and I met my geography teacher Athena Chan who change my mind; build my dream; change my life in high school.
Use a formal tone, stay relevant and be positive. As you have to pack all this information into a relatively short statement, it is essential to avoid the superfluous or, as I like to call it, the 'fluff'. If a sentence sounds pretty but doesn't give the reader information, remove it. In addition, the tone should be formal and you should not ...
Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3. PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 - Public Health. This is my successful personal statement for Columbia's Master's program in Public Health. We'll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I'll highlight a couple of things that ...
Studying abroad wasn't my easiest decision to make because I am very connected to my country Egypt and my family and friends, but I had to overcome everything just for the sake of a better education that would help me to accomplish my dreams and be a source of pride to my family and my country.
International Hospitality and Tourism Management Personal Statement Example. My interest in the inner workings of the tourism industry began when my father introduced me to the process of organizing our family holiday at a very young age. As a result of this, I completed an internship at a local musical agency where I got the first glance at ...
Here are Seven Compelling Reasons : 1. You boost your independence and confidence. Moving to a foreign country, being away from family and friends, and adapting to a new culture can be challenging, but it can also be a life-changing experience. When studying abroad, you must rely on yourself to navigate your new environment, which can help you ...
International Business Personal Statement Example 3. International Business Management, Finance, Accounting and Marketing are the subjects I wish to pursue. It is my goal to become a business analyst manager working internationally with Finance. My family business inspired me to do the course as I have had the opportunity to work within many ...
In April 2021, the European Commission proposed the first EU regulatory framework for AI. It says that AI systems that can be used in different applications are analysed and classified according to the risk they pose to users. The different risk levels will mean more or less regulation. Once approved, these will be the world's first rules on ...