PERSONAL STATEMENT DO'S AND DONT'S FOR BEGINNERS

Hello, pod,

It is right about time for grad school applications. Whether you want to go to law school, medical school, business school, or any other graduate school program. We hope this helps in your process. We are going to be a bit harsh for this blog, but fire polishes a diamond so...

A personal statement highlights your achievements, goals, qualifications, and, most importantly, YOU. The admissions committee is reading thousands of personal statements from students just as qualified as you with similar GPAs and Standardized test scores, so you are not special, but you can show them who you are. I KNOW YOU ARE MADE FOR THIS, SO SHOW THEM

1. Set your self apart 

When writing a personal statement, you need to set yourself apart. You can do this by choosing a topic. Please reach out to us if you are having difficulty with this. A great way to set yourself apart is in your introduction; this is the most important part of personal statement (in my opinion) this little introduction will make or break your statement.

DO NOT: my name is Jane doe ... I want to be a lawyer because ...
DO: Start with a catchy first few lines: you could discuss something unrelated. 

2. Talk about yourself

Your personal statement is a great place to highlight who you are and what you will be adding to the community of the specific school you are applying to. Discuss what you enjoy doing in your free time. 

3. Your personal statement is NOT a resume

Please please I am begging you, do not list out your resume, admissions committees do not want to know all the minute details of your work history. The ONLY exception to this rule is if, for example, while working at Walmart, a specific experience ignited your desire to pursue a particular field. I am not mean, but please DO NOT DO THIS. It is boring, and you have to submit a resume anyways why take up the little space you have to tell them you worked at Dairy Queen... LOL

4. BRAG BRAG BRAG

did you compete in a science competition, were you on the dean's list, did you graduate sum cum laude? Brag sis bragggg. Usually, I would never tell anyone to boast. But for your personal statement. Please DO talk about your accomplishments, respectfully, of course. Did you do something that was insanely difficult to achieve, please discuss it here? A critical thing to note while bragging is your HOW and TONE, do not tell, show.

5. SHOW NOT TELL 

this is very important for any application of any sort. Admissions committees do not care that you think or say you are a caring person. The keyword here is you saying; you need to show them how. For instance, what life experience, or how you dealt with a specific issue in your life shows this "trait" By showing, you not only let them see you, but it keeps the personal statement interesting.

6. PROOFREAD

Okay, funny story; imagine submitting a personal statement with grammatical errors. This is the easiest way to ruin your chances of admission. Get multiple people to read your personal statements. If you do not have anyone, please reach out to us via #ppeasinapod@gmail.com

#click here for more on personal statements.

Until Next Time,

Millennials Guiding Millennials.  

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