Writing a Personal Statement Applied Psychology Lab

What is a Personal Statement? Your opportunity to sell yourself to the admissions committee. Your opportunity to sell yourself to the admissions committee. Include: Include: What makes you unique What makes you unique Statement of personal goals Statement of personal goals Statement of professional goals Statement of professional goals Why you want to attend this institution Why you want to attend this institution

Why is it important? In absence of an interview, this is how committee will distinguish between you and other applicants. In absence of an interview, this is how committee will distinguish between you and other applicants. Many people will be applying, make yourself stand out. Many people will be applying, make yourself stand out. More than a sample of your writing. More than a sample of your writing.

What to Include What makes you different What makes you different Why you want to pursue this field of study Why you want to pursue this field of study Academic achievements Academic achievements Personal accomplishments Personal accomplishments Relevant experience Relevant experience What are your interests What are your interests

What NOT to Include All your application information All your application information Don’t go back too far Don’t go back too far Don’t include too much personal information Don’t include too much personal information Whining excuses for deficits Whining excuses for deficits Your entire life history Your entire life history Embellishments to make yourself look better Embellishments to make yourself look better

Who Are You Explain weaknesses in your credentials (without whining) Explain weaknesses in your credentials (without whining) Emphasize your strengths Emphasize your strengths Why this field Why this field What have you done in the last four years What have you done in the last four years Work experience Work experience Research experience Research experience

What can you add? Research experience Research experience What have you done? What have you done? Presentations Presentations Work experience Work experience Both in field and not Both in field and not Strengths Strengths Are you a people person, work well without supervision, etc Are you a people person, work well without supervision, etc Applicable knowledge Applicable knowledge Computer skills, writing skills, etc. Computer skills, writing skills, etc.

Why this? Relevance of first degree to this program Relevance of first degree to this program What do you want to do with it What do you want to do with it Why do you want to do it Why do you want to do it Why do you think you would excel Why do you think you would excel

Why here? Do your research Do your research Tailor to your audience Tailor to your audience Do not write one blanket statement for all programs Do not write one blanket statement for all programs What are their research interests What are their research interests What draws you about this program What draws you about this program

Ten Do’s Have a thesis or theme Have a thesis or theme Think before you write Think before you write Use examples from your life Use examples from your life What interests and excites you What interests and excites you Grab their attention Grab their attention Have a conclusion Have a conclusion Revise Revise Get input Get input PROOFREAD PROOFREAD Write clearly Write clearly

Ten Don’ts Don’t include random information Don’t include random information Don’t start with “I was born in…” etc. Don’t start with “I was born in…” etc. Don’t write an autobiography Don’t write an autobiography Don’t try to be a clown Don’t try to be a clown Don’t be afraid to start over Don’t be afraid to start over Don’t try to impress with your vocabulary Don’t try to impress with your vocabulary Don’t rely on computer to spell check Don’t rely on computer to spell check Don’t provide a collection of generic statements Don’t provide a collection of generic statements Don’t give weak excuses for GPA or test scores Don’t give weak excuses for GPA or test scores Don’t make things up Don’t make things up

What Now? Start writing Start writing Bring it back to the next general meeting (2 weeks) Bring it back to the next general meeting (2 weeks) Be ready to constructively critique each other’s statements Be ready to constructively critique each other’s statements