{"id":1636,"date":"2022-11-02T09:48:40","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T13:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bridgeport.edu\/news\/?p=1636"},"modified":"2023-04-06T11:01:32","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T15:01:32","slug":"how-to-write-a-personal-statement-when-applying-to-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bridgeport.edu\/news\/how-to-write-a-personal-statement-when-applying-to-college\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write an Outstanding Personal Statement When Applying to College"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’re getting ready to put together your college applications, that means it’s time to start thinking about writing your personal statement. Many first-year, transfer, and graduate school applications will ask you to write about who you are and why you want to attend college.<\/p>\n

Writing a personal statement is your chance to show the admissions team<\/a> who you are outside of what they can see from your application materials. It’s an opportunity to speak about you as a person and more than a student \u2014 what your grades and transcripts don’t show.<\/p>\n

Writing something that will wow the reader is a considerable task, especially if you don’t think of yourself a writer. With a bit of preparation and a proofreader or two, you can have a personal statement that will get you noticed.<\/p>\n

To help you feel more confident when it’s time to sit down and write your personal statement, we’ve gathered some tips to help you craft a unique and creative essay. Keep reading to learn how to write a personal statement that showcases the real you.<\/p>\n

How to Write a Compelling Personal Statement<\/h2>\n

Plan Ahead<\/h3>\n

College applications are either due by a specific date or accepted on a rolling basis. UB accepts applications on a rolling basis, but we have an early action date that gives you priority consideration for grants and scholarships<\/a>. When planning your college applications, you should give yourself a deadline or a target date to have your essay finished. The idea is to avoid any last-minute planning or writing sessions.<\/p>\n

Knowing your submission deadline helps you create a plan. Give yourself enough time to outline, write, edit, and rewrite (and edit some more). A month would be a great goal to give yourself enough time to write your essay without rushing.<\/p>\n

The bottom line is to give yourself as much time as possible so you can do your best work because writing about yourself is one of the hardest forms of writing!<\/p>\n

Following the Directions<\/h3>\n

Admissions departments will give you guidelines to follow. Make sure you know the parameters for each of your applications. Check for word count maximums, word count minimums, and questions or themes they want you to address in your essay.<\/p>\n

Check for all the details in your application materials when you sit down to outline your rough draft. Some schools may indicate a font, font size, or margin size for your submission. Showing you have attention to detail and can follow directions is something admissions professionals are looking at when they go through your application.<\/p>\n

Telling Your Story<\/h3>\n

Your college essay is an opportunity to flex your storytelling muscles. It’s easy to cite facts about yourself \u2014 the standard format for many applicants. However, you want to create something that will help you stand out to the admissions team reading your application.<\/p>\n

By placing yourself inside a story, you grab the attention of the person reading your application \u2014 the kind of attention that moves you along in the acceptance process. It’s okay to try something a bit different from your norm.<\/p>\n

We’re not all natural storytellers, but help is out there.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

With a quick Google search, you can find pages of college essay examples. As you read through examples of personal statements, try to find inspiration in the themes and stories you see. Don’t copy what you see but find sample essays that speak to you and can help you figure out how you want to tell your story.<\/p>\n

Pro Tip:<\/strong> Show<\/span> them who you are rather than tell<\/span> them who you are.<\/p>\n

A unique theme, an opening hook, or a bold beginning are just a few ways you can create a unique and creative personal statement that will grab your reader’s attention.<\/p>\n

Here are some common themes that students incorporate into their stories:<\/p>\n