1. Personal Goal Statement
Carolyn S. Henry
Oklahoma State University

2. Purpose
Provide information that helps the graduate faculty of the program determine if you are a good fit for graduate study in the field, the program, and with specific faculty.

3. A statement is NOT for . . . Excessive personal disclosure
problems, ambivalence, therapy, or feelings
a success story of overcoming obstacles

4. A statement is NOT for . . .
Sharing your personal characteristics and motives
excessive altruism

5. A statement is NOT for . . . Professionally questionable sharing
Ten pages on your personal journey
Inappropriate humor
Criticism of your undergraduate program
Religious beliefs unrelated to the program
“God has given me the gift to be a therapist”

6. A personal statement is . . .
Focused why you are an outstanding applicant for the specific program.
Professional development
Academic background and objectives
Research and field experiences
Career goals and plans in how they interface with the program
Show you understand the program focus and your fit with it
Provide specific evidence

7. Common Components of Personal Statement (Plunkett, 2011)
How you decided on your bachelor's degree and future educational/career goals?
What experiences you have had that validated this educational decision (internships, volunteer work, research, specific class, etc.)?
What program are you interested in and how does that fit with your career goal?
Why did you select this particular program at this particular school (e.g., specific faculty member's research, specific focus of the program such as FLE?)
What skills and personal qualifications do you have to offer to the program and/or faculty advisor?
The goal is to give the committee information about you that will help them decide if you are a good fit to the program (and for ph.d. programs) to the individual faculty member
The personal statement is a professional representation of yourself, not a therapy session or sob story ... if you have experienced some traumatic event that led you to the field or that shows you can overcome challenges, then don't get into the nitty gritty details. If you are spending more than 1-2 sentences on it, then you are probably going into too much detail. For example, if you are an immigrant and overcame acculturative stress, learning english, and having parents with no education, this can all be stated in 1-2 sentences to show your tenacity.
This is not prose, but it should be well-written with no errors.
I am less interested (actually not interested at all) in quotes from famous people and more interested in why we should let you into the program.
The personal statement should include the following components: (1) how you decided on your bachelor's degree and future educational/career goals, (2) what experiences you have had that validated this educational decision (internships, volunteer work, research, specific class, etc.), (3) what program are you interested in and how does that fit with your career goal, (4) why did you select this particular program at this particular school (e.g., specific faculty member's research, specific focus of the program such as FLE), and (5) what skills and personal qualifications do you have to offer to the program and/or faculty advisor.
Make sure your career and/or research interests match with the program goals and potential faculty advisor. Thus, each personal statement needs to be revised for each program you are applying to.
Answer the questions that are asked. For example, if they request that you address a limitation/weakness, then do so. 
Minimize your liabilities. If you have a low GPA due to first 1-2 years or a low GRE, then explain why and take responsibility (no more than 2-3 sentences).
A few formatting issues ... (1) always follow the exact guidelines stated by the graduate program, (2) if no formatting guidelines are offered, then go with 1 inch margin, point times new roman font, (3) use the same heading as your resume/vita.
Proofread for content and grammar (including using built in grammar check in most word processors), and then have a faculty mentor read it over.

8. Values inherent in statements (Brown, 2004)
Empiricism over intuition
Basic research over application
Communitariaism over egocentrism
Empiricism over intuition – “Frequently, folk wisdom circulates as maxims, but almost any given “truism”
about human nature has its antipode. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but out of sight, out of mind.”
Basic research over application – tend to learn principles rather than steps to fix a problem.
Communitariaism over egocentrism – our fields can attract people seeking insights into their own, family or friends problems/issues
Self-actualization is a red flag for many grad admission committees; instead look for collective insights from research and becoming part of the community contributing to knowledge in the field

9. Examples of What Faculty Look for in Statements
Match of interests, and goals
How clear are your goals?
How does this program help you meet the goals?
What to you bring to the program?
Are you interested in working in my research area?
Motivation, strengths, red-flags

10. Preparing to Write http://www. dartmouth
Key question
"What do I want the admissions committee to know about me that is not already in my application?"
Reflect on your life and goals and intended profession
“What is important to me?”
“What am I interested in?”
“What am I proud of?”
“What significant experiences have I had?”
“What kinds of qualities are necessary for the profession I wish to pursue?”
“Why do I think I posses these qualities? “
“What are the skills and values of people in that particular profession?
How do they match with yours?
How can you highlight those values and skills in your personal statement?”

11. Practical Steps
Allow time for researching programs, reflecting, writing, gaining feedback, and revising.

12. Write clearly and effectively, using your college/university writing lab or career development center as a resource.
Purdue Univ., OWL, Personal goal statement
Univ. of California, Berkeley Career Center, Graduate school statement

13. Make sure your career and/or research interests match with the program goals and potential faculty advisor.
Each personal statement needs to be revised for each program you are applying to.

14. Answer the questions that are asked
Answer the questions that are asked. For example, if they request that you address a limitation/weakness, then do so. 
Minimize your liabilities.

15. Format is Important
Follow the exact guidelines stated by the graduate program
If no format guidelines are offered, use a one-inch margin, point Times New Roman font, and the same headings a your resume/vita.

16. Finalizing the Statement
Proofread for content and grammar (including using built in grammar check in most word processors).
Ask a member of the writing center or career center review it, then edit accordingly.
Ask your faculty mentor to give feedback, then edit accordingly.

17. Statement Checklist http://rpi
“Start early enough to allow for several rewritings.
Carefully review the instructions and prepare an outline of what you are to include.
Write concisely. Demonstrate your ability to think and express ideas clearly.
Articulate your motivation and capacity to succeed, and why you and this program are a good match.
Use first person (“I”) and active voice. This essay is about you.
Be unique and creative while still writing in a scholarly fashion.
Keep the length to one or two pages.”

18. References
Appleby, D. C., & Appleby, K. M. (2006). Kisses of death in the graduate school application process. Teaching of Psychology, 33(1), doi: /s top3301_5
Brown, R. M. (2004). Self-composed: Rhetoric in psychology personal statements. Written Communication, 21(3), doi: /
Plunkett, S. W. (Nov. 3, 2011), communication.