How to Make Your Personal Statement Outstanding in 5 Simple Steps

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How to Make Your Personal Statement Outstanding in 5 Simple Steps

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then how do colleges really expect you to paint a whole picture of yourself with only 650 words?Trying to write an outstanding Common Application essay frustrates a lot of talented students. For many, the task is so daunting that it takes significantly longer than it should.But it doesn't have to be this way! You can write a personal statement that moves the needle in a positive direction for your application. Though it will take effort, you don’t need to be the reincarnation of Shakespeare to get the job done.Follow these simple steps, and you will be well on your way to writing a great personal essay.

1. Ditch the Intro

Your English teacher might not approve, but when you only have a few minutes of someone's time, it's important that you get right to the point. Introductions that set up what you're going to talk about are not helpful in this case. Just get to the good stuff.Remember, writing an outstanding college essay is different from writing an “A+” English paper. You want to maximize the impact of every word.Use your opening lines to capture the admissions officer’s attention and get her invested in your story. Don’t save the most interesting parts for the end. Lead with captivating content that drives your personal statement forward.

2. Show Don't Tell

Many students get so caught up in describing what they did that they miss the opportunity to reflect on why it mattered.Instead of telling an admissions officer that a certain activity is your favorite and listing the awards you’ve won while pursuing it, show them how participating in that activity has changed your perspective and deepened your curiosity.Give concrete, descriptive examples of how you’ve developed an interest. This will show the admissions office that you are truly connected to your subject matter.It will also help to differentiate you from your peers. Many students share similar passions and extracurricular activities as yours, but none of them can have your exact experience and perspective.The more you focus on conveying that, the better your personal statement will be.

3. Keep it Simple

You will not be able to tell your entire life story in such a small space, so don't try.Instead, focus your essay on one event, personal trait, or idea that is important to who you are. Adding too much information or covering too much ground only makes the essay confusing, and each point that you are making becomes less impactful.  You have your entire application to tell your full story. Use your essay as one part of that equation.Remember, the sharper the focus of your story, the easier it will be to dive deeply into why it matters. For admissions officers, this is the true value of your personal statement—getting to know who you are and how you think.

4. Let Your Voice Shine Through

In personal essays, the thesaurus is not necessarily your best friend. While you want to put your best foot forward, it's also very important that your essay sounds like you. Lofty sentences that don’t reflect your normal way of writing or speaking will not help admissions officers get a true sense of who you are.Likewise, don’t feel like you need to write about something grand and life-changing. If you have had a once-in-a-lifetime experience, then feel free to explain its impact on you. But there’s also plenty of room to share what you’ve learned from “normal” experiences and how they have shaped your growth.Don’t feel like you need to have published research, rescued animals from a burning building, or had a near-death experience to write a memorable essay. Nor do you need to have discovered the meaning of life or the nature of suffering as a result of one of your activities.Just be reflective, honest, and thorough, and you’re well on your way to a great essay.

5. Play to Your Strengths

Your personal statement is not the time to explore new writing methods. Stick to the things that you do well.If you are a funny, creative person, then write a funny, creative essay. If you write more analytically, then use that approach.The reader wants to get a sense of who you really are; so, show them. Whatever your style, you can write a strong essay that conveys your personality to readers.Admissions officers evaluate so many aspects of your application that are beyond your control. Don’t add an unnecessary degree of difficulty to the parts that you can control. Your essay is a chance to use your own voice to share about your personality, interests, hobbies, and choices. At the same time, make sure you are advocating for yourself in the clearest, most effective voice possible. Play to your strengths, and the admissions office will be sure to focus on them.

You Have the Power to Write an Outstanding Essay

By now, you can see that writing a great personal statement doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right approach and the right support, you can give yourself the best chance to gain admission to your top-choice colleges. The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.

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