1. Writing Personal Statements:
Strategies for Success
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Career Services Center
336 – 334 – 5454

2. What is a Personal Statement?
• Narrative that describes your past experiences and
future goals
• Gives the Admissions Committee a way to get to know
you, your experiences, and your ambitions
• Provides you with an avenue to explain why you want
to be a doctor, veterinarian, lawyer, dentist, etc. You can
also use this to describe “how” and “if”
• A way for you to speak on your own behalf

3. The Admissions Committee:
Use the Personal Statement to…
– Gain better insight concerning your past,
achievements, and career ambitions
– Weed out candidates (especially if there is a large
number of applicants)
– Gives them something to think about, before you
come to campus for your admissions interview and
when you leave campus after your admissions
interview
– Serves as a talking point, during the interview

4. No Candidate is Perfect…
• Most candidates have at
least one weak spot (GPA,
test scores, experiential
learning, etc.)
• A strong essay can provide
you with an extra boost,
during the admissions
process

5. What do they want?
• Some institutions provide
you with specific questions
to answer
• Some institutions provide
you with a general, open
prompt
• Some institutions do not
provide you with any
prompt at all…except
“Write!”

6. Example Prompts
University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
“Please state your purpose in applying for
graduate study, your particular areas of
specialization within the major (field of interest),
your plans for future occupation or profession,
and any additional information that may aid the
selection committee in evaluating your
preparation and aptitude for graduate study at
UCLA”

7. Example Prompts
Carnegie Mellon University – School of Engineering
“Type or print a two-page concise statement that
includes the following information:
– A brief statement of your educational research interests
– An outline of your research experience and a list of any
publications
– A description of your background in engineering or allied
field that is particularly relevant to your objective –
include any relevant industrial or work experience and
any academic honors”

8. Example Prompts:
“Tell us anything
that we need to know about you”

9. Personal
History
Academic
History
Persuasive
Why am I
Unique?
Relevant
Work
Experience
Why this
Program?
Future
Ambitions
Blemishes/
Deficiencies
How do I Organize my Essay?

10. Your Goal
• The Admissions Committee should read your essay and
have this reaction…

11. Things to Consider:
Are you Persuasive?
– Avoid writing a biography or an expository resume
– Focus on relevant experiences and clearly articulate events
What makes you Unique?
– Tailor your response
– Avoid generic answers (evading questions)

12. Things to Consider:
Make it Personal:
– Be honest and distinctive
– Avoid being dull
– Don’t try to evade real/suggested issues
Personal History:
– Interesting stories
– “Moment of Clarity/Truth”
– Any circumstances/obstacles that you overcame, in order to
reach your personal and professional goals

13. Things to Consider:
Academic History:
– Specific areas of research
– Special projects
– Study abroad
– Special presentations/conferences
Knowledge of the Field:
– Use industry-specific jargon
– Let the reader know that you understand the “ins and outs” of
the particular field or area of interest

14. Things to Consider:
(Relevant) Work Life:
– Internships
– Fellowships
– Special Volunteer Opportunities
– Part-Time Full-Time Jobs
Short and Long-Term Career Goals:
– Expectation vs. Reality
– How can that program help you reach your goals

15. Things to Consider
Why that Particular School?
– Specific courses
– Faculty research interests
– Particular clinics, internship opportunities, fellowships, research
opportunities from that program
– What is special about that particular school?
– What is special about its location?

16. Things to Remember
• Show, don’t tell!
• Stress unique materials/experiences
• Concentrate (don’t ramble)
• Be cautious of just listing lots of extracurricular activities,
work experiences, and classes. Prioritize.
• Ask yourself – Is this information relevant?

17. Explaining Deficiencies
• Low test scores or GPA
• Criminal record
• Disciplinary action
• Gaps in work/education
• Why you are applying
again
Turn the negative into a
positive by focusing on a
“moment of change or
truth,” a learning
experience, or a recent
class project/assignment
Attach an addendum, if you
have several blemishes or
deficiencies to address

18. Time to Write….
• Before you write, decide on the layout/flow of the essay
• Unite the essay – Stay on track
• Use concrete examples to articulate your (relevant)
experiences
• Avoid simply listing tons of experiences
• Avoid cliché openings/closings
• Don’t try to impress the reader with “fancy” vocabulary
• Be positive, when it comes to your word choices/diction
• Don’t tell them (the reader) what they already know
• Make it memorable (“Wow” factor)
• Don’t be overly funny or emotional

19. Organizing Your Personal
Statement
• Introduction (Story)
• Academic History
• Relevant Experience Outside of the Classroom
• Uniqueness
• Institution
• Short/Long-Term Goals

20. Writing Tips
• Have someone else read
and critique the statement
(a Career Counselor, the
Writing Center, a Professor,
etc.)
• Don’t wait until the last
minute
• Write it, sleep on it, and
then come back to it in a
couple of days

21. Common Mistakes
• Sloppiness
• Generic Essay
• Boring Content/Clichés
• Being Shy/Arrogant
• Writing on Expectations
from Others

22. Common Mistakes
• Dwelling on a Crisis
• Failing to Proofread
• Mentioning Unrealistic
Career Ambitions
• Unanswered Questions

23. Top “Do’s”:
Peterson’s Guide
• Strive for depth than breadth
• Tell the reader something other’s won’t
• Provide them with insight into what drives
you/makes you tick
• Be creative with opening remarks
• Address the institution’s unique features/programs

24. Top “Do’s”:
Peterson’s Guide
• Focus the majority of the essay on your positive
attributes; Attach an addendum if necessary
• Evaluate your experiences instead of simply
recounting them
• Enlist others to proofread your document
• Use appropriate font, spacing and margins

25. Top “Don’ts”:
Peterson’s Guide
• Don’t submit an expository resume
• Complain about “the system” or whine about past
• Get on a soapbox to preach about an issue
• Mention money as the guiding factor concerning
graduate/medical school
• Remind the school of its rankings

26. Top “Don’ts”:
Peterson’s Guide
• Waste your time by writing a formal introduction and
conclusion
• Use gimmicky style or formatting
• Submit supplemental materials unless the school
requests them (or they are ok with them)
• Get the name of the institution wrong

27. Need Help?
Visit us at:
#1 Elliott University Center
334-5454
Drop-in Hours:
Monday-Friday, 10 am -5 pm
• 15-minute session for brief questions
Find us online at :
Website: www.uncg.edu/csc
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