How to write a strong and unique personal statement?

What is a personal statement?

It is your statement. It is about you. It shows you as a person other than what you look at in your CV and through your scores. It includes your achievements, talents, interests and goals.

To whom is it written?

An applicant writes the personal statement for a program one has applied to for a match.

Why is it important?

A well-crafted personal statement can give you an advantage over other candidates and help secure an interview position. It is an opportunity to tell your story in your own words. So here are some tips to do it in a powerful and impactful way.

A personal statement should include an introduction, body, and conclusion. But you don’t have to necessarily mention them as heading.

●      Personal introduction: Start with words that define you and can catch the reader's attention. Write words that reflect you and your personality. It can tempt the recipient to read further.

●      Body: It is a part of your statement where you share your skills and goals. Start by mentioning what interests you in that program and how your goals align with it. Write about personal details that relate to the program you are applying to. Mention your skills, achievements and experiences from your undergraduate years. Write about how the program you are applying to fits into your dreams for the future.

●      Strong conclusion: Construct a conclusion that will leave a lasting impression on the prospective program. It should be a summary of the main points you mentioned earlier. It should clearly state “why you applied and what you hope to achieve”. It should persuade the program to look into you as a compelling candidate.

●      Proofread and edit: Take your time and find the areas of improvement. Review your statement yourself and consider having a friend or mentor for feedback. Look for spelling, grammar, relevancy, and simple, clear, easy-to-understand language.

●      Personal yet professional: The best personal statement has a personal yet professional tone. It should represent you as a competitive professional, showing parts of your side.

DO NOT FORGET POINTS FOR YOUR STATEMENT

●      Write in your voice- Use your own words for description; sentences copied from the internet can create images of quack.

●      Have a positive tone- Use language that demonstrates your enthusiasm for opportunity.

●      Be unique- Discuss what makes you different from other applicants.

●      Clear description- Describe neatly “why you chose that particular speciality”.

●      Simple language- Keep sentences short and language clear and effective.

●      Must include- Mention your hobbies, pastimes and volunteer activities.

●      Do not rewrite your CV- Mention things you haven’t mentioned in your CV. Keep your statement different from your CV.

●      Address any issue- Focus on creating a positive impact even if you have any issues, such as a gap year in your education or a lack in your CV. Remember not to provide long explanations in your defence.

●      Vary your language- Use different words for addressing the same issue; do not use the same words repeatedly.

●      Be honest- Don’t present yourself as perfect because no one is. It may look like fabricated.

At last, remember not to keep your statement too long or too short. ERAS provides you with one page for a personal statement with 3500 characters, including spaces; make sure to include every detail and complete your statement within this limit.