2. 1 Apply Yourself! Week Six The Personal Statement

3. 2 We Will Learn…  what a personal statement is.  why it is necessary.  tips for writing a great essay.  where to find resources.  what a personal statement looks like by reading some sample essays.

4. 3 What Is a Personal Statement?  An essay (usually a narrative) that allows the potential school to know you personally  Usually between 250-500 words  Applications usually use a generic prompt or topic.  Some applications give several prompts and allow you to choose.

5. 4 Why Is It Necessary?  It allows you to stand out.  It allows you to show your creativity.  It proves you can write.  It gives the school a first impression.

6. 5 Tips For Writing a Great Essay  Don’t procrastinate! Essays take time!  Keep it personal. Your essay should not be so general you can put another name on it and have it make sense.  Keep it narrow. Have ONE main point and follow through.  Skip generalizations and cliches.  Make sure they can get a picture of who you are from the essay.

7. 6 Tips For Writing a Great Essay  Don’t write what you think they want to read. Be yourself!  Don’t just list your accomplishments. Write about the bigger lessons.  Stay under or close to the word count.  Proofread! Read it several times and have others read it too.  Keep the reader interested.

8. 7 Where Can I Find Resources?  Libraries: There are many books just about writing personal statements.  Internet: You can find sample essays online to give you some ideas (Remember your integrity. Admissions staff can Google just as easily as you can.)  Teachers: All teachers have been through the process and can offer advice.  College Students: Current students can offer advice and ideas.  Your Peers: Ask your peers for advice.

9. 8 Sample Essays  Let’s read the sample essay handout.  What does this writer do well?  What could this writer do better?  Does this person paint a good picture of himself?

10. 9 References  www.collegeboard.org

11. 10 Questions??