seriously, don't do these to your personal statement

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses common mistakes people make when writing personal statements, statements of purpose, or admission essays. Key mistakes include being vague with points, dropping names or references without analysis, writing long, complicated sentences, using a negative tone, treating the essay like a laundry list of achievements, and telling rather than showing passion and capability. The speaker emphasizes the importance of specificity, clarity, and framing experiences positively to create a unique and engaging personal narrative. These insights aim to help applicants craft standout essays that truly reflect their qualifications and ambitions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Be specific when writing your personal statement—avoid vague statements like 'I'm passionate about this field.' Instead, explain *why* you are passionate and provide concrete examples.
• 😀 Don't drop names of books, authors, or professors without elaborating on how they influenced your journey. Always back up your references with a meaningful connection to your goals.
• 😀 Break down long, complex sentences into shorter, more digestible chunks to improve readability. Avoid overwhelming the reader with overly complicated language.
• 😀 Avoid negative tones in your personal statement. Instead of focusing on challenges as complaints, frame them as opportunities for growth and learning.
• 😀 Your personal statement is not a laundry list of achievements. Only include experiences that are directly relevant to your story and show how they support your application.
• 😀 Use a 'show, don't tell' approach. Instead of just saying you're passionate about a subject, demonstrate it through specific actions and experiences you've had.
• 😀 Be mindful of repetition. If you find yourself making the same point over and over, try to add variety and depth to your argument.
• 😀 Don’t just mention your interests—explain how they’ve shaped your academic and career choices. Provide specific examples to make your passion clear.
• 😀 Avoid sounding overly academic or pretentious. Admissions officers want to hear from a real person, not a walking thesaurus. Be clear and concise.
• 😀 Tailor your personal statement to each application. Generic essays that aren’t specific to the program or school may fail to stand out from the crowd.

Q & A

What is a common mistake students make when writing their personal statement?

A common mistake is being too vague with points or words, such as saying 'I am passionate about this degree' without explaining why or providing specific examples.

How can students avoid being vague in their personal statements?

Students should challenge their statements by asking if there’s another layer of detail to add, such as specifying why they are passionate or detailing how a particular experience influenced their decision.

Why is simply dropping names of professors or books a mistake?

Dropping names without further explanation makes the essay sound superficial. It’s important to explain why a specific book or professor inspired you, offering deeper analysis and showing real engagement with the field.

What should students do instead of listing books and authors in their essays?

Students should focus on explaining how specific works or authors influenced their interest in the field, detailing the key takeaways or perspectives they gained.

How can long sentences negatively affect a personal statement?

Long sentences can make the essay harder to read and comprehend. It’s recommended to break long sentences into shorter, clearer ones to enhance readability.

What is the impact of using overly complicated language in personal statements?

Using overly complicated language can confuse admission officers and make the essay more difficult to read. The goal should be clarity, so simple and direct language is often more effective.

How should students approach mentioning negative experiences in their personal statements?

Students should avoid a negative tone. If discussing a challenging experience, frame it positively by focusing on how they overcame it or what they learned, rather than just complaining about the situation.

Can you give an example of how to reframe a negative experience in a personal statement?

For example, instead of saying a professor made students cry, you could reframe it by saying you thrived in a challenging environment and learned valuable lessons, showing your resilience and growth.

Why shouldn’t personal statements be a laundry list of achievements?

A personal statement should tell a cohesive story, not just list accomplishments. Achievements should be used to support the main narrative, not as the focus of the essay itself.

How can students apply the 'show, don’t tell' principle in their personal statements?

Instead of simply stating traits like passion or leadership, students should demonstrate these qualities by describing relevant experiences or achievements that showcase these attributes in action.