The Personal Statement That Got Me Into EVERY IVY LEAGUE

Summary

This video offers a comprehensive guide to crafting a compelling personal statement for college applications. The speaker shares their own successful essay, which led to no IV Le rejections, and provides a step-by-step outline. Key themes include avoiding controversial topics, focusing on personal growth, and integrating core values. The video also discusses the importance of a strong introduction, using metaphors effectively, and crafting a conclusion that reflects personal growth and optimism. A free full-length course on getting into dream schools is offered for further guidance.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The video aims to help students craft compelling personal statements for college applications.
• 📝 The presenter shares their own successful personal statement as an example and offers a step-by-step guide to creating an impactful essay.
• 🚫 The video advises against including controversial views, generic accomplishments, complaints, clichés, and arrogance in personal statements.
• 🤔 It emphasizes the importance of self-reflection to identify key themes, pivotal moments, and core values that define the applicant.
• 📈 The presenter discusses two main approaches to structuring a personal statement: a chronological approach for multiple experiences and an anecdotal approach for a single key event.
• 🌟 The use of a metaphor is introduced as a literary technique to symbolize personal growth and change throughout the essay.
• 📖 The video provides tips for writing an engaging introduction, including using unconventional reality, vivid imagery, or dialogue as hooks.
• 🔍 Body paragraphs should be streamlined and focused on early experiences, turning points, challenges, and lessons learned, with each paragraph building upon the last.
• 🔚 The conclusion should reflect the applicant's growth, maintain a reflective tone, and end on a hopeful note, reinforcing the central message and showcasing confidence.
• 💌 The video concludes by encouraging students to apply these strategies to their personal statements and offers a free resource for further guidance.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to guide students on how to craft a compelling personal statement for their college applications, revealing the presenter's own successful personal statement and providing a step-by-step outline.

Why is it important to avoid controversial or polarizing views in a personal statement?

It's important to avoid controversial or polarizing views unless you can demonstrate open-mindedness and the ability to engage in positive discourse, as admission officers look for students who can contribute positively to the campus community.

What should a personal statement not include?

A personal statement should not include generic accomplishments, complaints or venting, overused or cliche topics, boasting or arrogance, and controversial views without a clear demonstration of personal growth or open-mindedness.

What are the seven things to avoid in a personal statement according to the video?

The seven things to avoid are controversial or polarizing views without demonstrating open-mindedness, generic accomplishments, complaining or venting, overused or cliche topics, boasting or arrogance, and focusing solely on listing out one's achievements.

What is the significance of identifying a key theme in a personal statement?

Identifying a key theme helps to reflect on life experiences, values, and interests, providing a framework for the personal statement that showcases an aspect of the student's background, identity, life story, or challenge.

What are the two key approaches to structuring a personal statement?

The two key approaches are discussing many parts of one's life in a chronological order or focusing on one key event and using an anecdotal approach to highlight a significant impact on the student's life.

Why is it important to integrate the chosen value throughout the personal statement?

Integrating the chosen value throughout the personal statement helps to create a cohesive narrative that clearly communicates who the student is as a person and what they stand for to the admission officers.

What role does the metaphor play in the presenter's personal statement?

The metaphor of 'paper scraps' is used by the presenter to symbolize the turning point and growth throughout their story, tying the entire essay together and showcasing their love for learning and curiosity.

How should the introduction of a personal statement be structured if a metaphor is used?

If a metaphor is used, the introduction should introduce the metaphorical object and its significance in the student's childhood, often using vivid imagery to engage the reader.

What are the three common approaches to writing a hook in a personal statement?

The three common approaches are unconventional reality, vivid imagery, and dialogue. Each approach serves to draw the reader in and set the tone for the rest of the essay.

What should the conclusion of a personal statement achieve?

The conclusion should establish the 'new you' by summarizing the growth journey, reflecting on the experiences, and showcasing how the student plans to move forward with the lessons learned, all while leaving a positive and optimistic impression on the admission committee.