personal essay dos and don'ts

Personal Statement Do’s & Don’ts

Your grades and standardized test scores are set by now, so the personal statement is your last chance to add something new to your college applications.

An effective personal statement is well-written, avoids cliches, tells a story about you that shows the admissions committee who you are, and brags a little—but doesn’t show off.

I’ve compiled a list of personal statement ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ to help you as you work your way through your first few drafts.

For even more help with the college admissions process, including boosting that standardized test score, consider taking an SAT prep course or ACT prep course with Prep Expert.

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Do Tell A Story

To keep admissions officers interested, tell a story about yourself, rather than write a traditional five-paragraph essay.

Admissions officers read thousands of personal statements every year. You want yours to be compelling and memorable. So, be creative—think about an experience or part of your biography that’s special to you, and write about it.

Avoid topics admissions officers are likely to read about over and over again in other personal statements. Plenty of people have volunteered for Habitat for Humanity or been the captain of their high school basketball team, for example.

Remember, you want to stand out—so, if you do write about something like this, put your own unique spin on it.

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Do Brag About Yourself

It’s a personal statement—it’s okay to write about your strengths and accomplishments.

Most people aren’t comfortable bragging about themselves. But that is exactly what to do in your personal statement. Talk about:

  • Sccomplishments
  • Moments where you made yourself proud

Just be sure to do so tastefully.

How do you strike this balance? Show, don’t tell.

Don’t tell the admissions committee you’re a good person—show them you’re a good person by writing about a good deed that you performed.

Don’t tell them you’re the best basketball player in the state—set the scene and describe how you led your teammates to victory in the championship game.

A good rule of thumb here is to try and use verbs, rather than adjectives.

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Do Respect Word Limits

Overworked admissions officers won’t agree that you’re worth more of their time than other applicants—keep your personal statement within the word limit.

Most colleges and universities have a word limit for personal statements. While you might think that you have a particularly compelling story to tell, and need more paragraphs than alotted, don’t give in to this temptation.

Being over by a couple of words isn’t a huge problem—admissions officers aren’t going to count your personal statement word for word—going way over the word limit though will not be a plus for your application.

As mentioned, admissions officers have to read thousands of personal statements every year—so don’t go and give them extra homework.

Besides, you can tell a great story about yourself within the word limit. Being confined to five paragraphs or a couple of pages forces you to write only about the most important and interesting aspects of your story.

If you’re having trouble meeting the word limit, on the other hand, you probably don’t have enough to say about the topic you’ve selected. Go back to the drawing board and try telling a different story.

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Do Obey The Rules Of Grammar

It’s okay to use a more personal style of writing, but admissions officers want to know you can write well—check your spelling, and follow the rules of grammar.

Your personal statement is not the place to use slang or casual language. But do show off your command of vocabulary—you want your personal statement to show you’re ready for college-level writing.

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Do Personalize Your Statement

Be sure to reference the school you’re applying to in your personal statement— but don’t accidentally tell Yale how much you’re hoping to attend Harvard.

Even if you’re using the Common Application, you should tailor your personal statement to each school to which you’re applying. Mention the school in your closing paragraph, for example.

It’s fine to recycle the same personal statement for several applications—almost everyone does this—but don’t simply use the find-and-replace function to change the name of the school and be done with it.

Do a thorough once-over to make sure you haven’t accidentally mentioned how much you want to attend Duke in the personal statement you’re sending to Georgetown. (This might seem like a no-brainer, but admissions officials report goofs like this do happen all the time.)

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Do Get Feedback

Have a few people look over your personal statement for you before you submit it—both to catch typos, and to assess its strengths and weaknesses.

After all the writing you’ll be doing, you’ll need a few other pairs of eyes to help you see what you’ve been missing. So, once you’ve written a draft of your personal statement, it’s a good idea to show it to others—friends, parents, teachers—and ask their opinions.

Do they think you’ve done a good job introducing yourself to the admissions committee? Did you misspell the college’s name or leave a comma out of place? Let someone else’s fresh perspective tighten up what you’ve put together so far and make it as great as possible.

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Don’t Restate Your Resume

Don’t use your personal statement to repeat information admissions officers can find in other parts of your application.

You want your personal statement to stand out in a sea of applicants, and you also want to show a side of you that isn’t shown in the other parts of your application. So, don’t make the most common mistake that many applicants make.

That mistake is simply writing a laundry list of your extracurricular activities and academic accomplishments. Admissions officials can already get this information by looking at your application and high school transcript.

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Don’t Write About Sensitive Topics

Don’t write about anything that might make the reader feel awkward or uncomfortable—your personal statement should be positive and uplifting.

There are certain topics—domestic violence or sexual assault, for example—that might have had a profound impact on your life. You could be tempted to write about these things, to show how you have successfully overcome adversity. Don’t.

Not to downplay these experiences and their personal importance, but these topics, and others like them, are simply too sensitive to write about in a brief personal statement.

It’s not a bad idea to write about how you have overcome adversity, but your personal statement should be positive and leave your reader feeling good, not uncomfortable.

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Don’t Have Someone Else Write Your Personal Statement For You

Admissions officers will be able to tell if someone else wrote your personal statement, so make sure the writing is all yours.

This might seem like another no-brainer, but each year, plenty of applicants have someone else write their personal statements for them. These applicants mistakenly think that asking a stronger writer or a native speaker to pen their essay will leave their application in better shape.

However, admissions committees are alert to this practice, and if your ‘voice’ in your personal statement is significantly different from the one in your SAT or ACT essay, admissions officers are going to know they’re not reading your actual writing.

Submitting someone else’s work as your own—better known as plagiarism—is not a good look for your application, and might result in an automatic ding.

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Don’t Forget To Show Some Self-Awareness

Show admissions officers that you’re self-aware by avoiding topics that make you look spoiled or insensitive.

Be aware of the advantages you’ve grown up with so far in life. Plenty of students want to write about their life-changing trip to Costa Rica, for example.

But, unless you do so in a way that shows true cultural awareness or engagement with global issues, all you’re really doing is bragging about a really cool vacation that you took.

Unfortunately, that’s not something an admissions officer wants to read about while reviewing a giant pile of applications on their desk.

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Nor is this type of personal statement likely to reflect well upon you against other applicants, who are writing about topics like being the first in their family to attend college, overcoming an illness, or being an immigrant, for example. Take a minute to think about how your topic choice will come across before writing.

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Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute To Write It

If you write your personal statement the same day as its due, it’s not going to be good enough to make a difference in your college admissions chances.

Don’t deprive yourself of the opportunity to write something that’ll catch an admissions officer’s eye, and help you stand out among thousands of other applicants, by procrastinating on your personal statement.

An effective, well-written personal statement takes requires some serious time and thought to do. You should try and get started on it in the summer before your senior year, so when school begins all you have left to do is dot those I’s and cross those t’s.

For more test strategy, college admissions, and scholarship application tips sign up for our FREE class happening right now!

Personal Statement Do’s and Don’ts FAQ

What is a personal statement.

The personal statement is an essay that educates admissions officials about who you are and why you deserve to be admitted to their institution.

What are the elements of an effective personal statement?

How early should i work on writing my personal statement.

You should try and get started on it in the summer before your senior year.

What shouldn’t I do when writing my personal statement?

Don’t restate your resume, wait until the last second, be arrogant, write about controversial topics, or have someone else write it for you.

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15 Essay Writing Dos And Don’ts to Help You Write Great Essays

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by  Antony W

September 13, 2022

Essay Writing Dos and Don’ts

There’s nothing worse than scoring low marks for an essay that you’ve worked so hard to complete.  So before you start working on your essay, regardless of the type of essay your instructor has asked you to work on, it’s important to know about essay writing dos and don’ts.

This will help you stay on the right track from the time you start writing to the moment you put the final full stop to paper.

Key Takeaways

  • Use short, simple sentences to make your essay easy to read.  
  • Include a statement of declaration (thesis statement) in the introduction.
  • Stick to the format for writing an essay.
  • Do not share too many ideas in a single paragraph. Each paragraph should address one unique issue.
  • Do not plagiarize your work.
  • Do not address your reader in the essay but focus on the objectives while remaining detached and analytical.
  • Do use this essay writing service if you don’t have enough time to write your essay from scratch.
  • Do not start an essay with the phrase “My essay” or “In this essay”. 

The Dos and Don’ts of Essay Writing: 10 Things to Do and 10 Things to Avoid

Here are the dos and don’ts of essay writing:

1. Do Split Up Your Sentences if They Get Too Long

Make sure your sentences are not blocks of words. A block of words will undoubtedly turn off the readers because they will find the essay boring to read.

So, make sure your sentences are short and to the point.

Apart from easing your readers reading experience, splitting your sentence will even help you discover sentences that can stand alone during essay editing.

2. Do include a thesis statement in the Introduction

You should include a thesis statement in the introduction to summarize what the essay is.

Having a thesis statement in your introduction also helps the reader to understand what you are about to write about.

This statement should appear at the end of the introduction paragraph.

In this section, completely avoid the use of complicated words since it is a point where the reader gets a clue of what you intend to communicate.

3. Do Use Simple Sentence

As you write your essay, ensure the language and sentences you use are easy to digest. Use words so simple that even a high school student can understand.

What is the goal of using heavy words in your essay yet no one will understand what you’re trying to communicate?

Just help the reader to understand you more by using simple sentence constructions.

4. Do Remember to Proofread Your Work

Carelessness, laziness, unprofessionalism is what readers see in you when you submit unrevised essays for reading.

Typing errors, grammatical errors, and small spelling mistakes can make an essay you took time to right look bad.

It is your essay nobody else’s so, make the effort to go through it.

Revisiting your essays helps you identify errors. Once you eliminate each of the errors, your essay will have a good flow of ideas and be very easy to read.

5. Remember to Look for Formatting Requirements

Before you start writing an essay, make sure you have gone through the formatting requirements.

Reading these requirements is important because it shows that you can follow instructions.

The habit of reading through instructions, before anything else and implementing what the instructions command will help you score high marks for the essay.

6. Remember to Use Your Candidate Number, Tutors Name, and Page Numbers

Before submitting any of your essays for marking, ensure that you have included your candidate number as your file name.

Remember you are not the only student submitting his or her assignment, and that means if the assignment doesn’t have a candidate’s number you won’t get your results.

It is also important to include the name of your tutor and indicate the number of pages your work has.

7. Sufficient Spacing

As you write, leave some space for the tutor to leave comments as he or she marks your work. The space should be on both margins of the essay paper.

8. Do Discuss Literature in the Present Tense

Always use present tenses when writing essays.

Adhere to present tense especially when the essay an assignment based on literary works. Present tense on historic narratives makes your essay more engaging.

9. Choose the Correct Language

Your ability to investigate and explore topics is based on the language you choose to use write your essay in.

The language you use will also determine how well and how easy you will explain your points and prove your opinions.

The language you choose to use also determines the level of your language proficiency and grammar knowledge. It is therefore important that you ensure the language you choose favors you.

10. Make Good Use of Your Time

 A semester is usually 75 days or 15 weeks long.

This is enough time to prepare the 20-page assignment. Make good of the period to write an essay worth awarding good grades.

Our time management tips can help you use your time well.

11. Don't Give the Reader too Many Ideas in a Single Sentence 

Having all your essay ideas in a single sentence means the remaining part of the essay is a joint of words with no meaning and is only there to lengthen your essay.

Also, long and too complicated sentences will confuse essay readers.

So sprinkle the ideas you have all over your essay.

12. Do not Plagiarize Your Essay

Never should you ever use someone else’s research as your own. Markers always disqualify plagiarized essays .

Readers also distrust you once they learn a portion of your essay is a duplicate from an outside source. In case you find a piece of information so important, give credit to the author.

13. Do Not Address the Reader

While writing an essay, avoid addressing your readers. Instead, you should focus on your objectives.  Stay detached and analytical.

Avoid appealing to your reader’s personality and emotions because if you do, they will rightly lose the reading morale.

Essays that touch on the reader’s emotions and personality are as tasteless as water.

14. Do Not Open an Essay With “In this essay or My essay”

Of course, we already know it is your essay, so you should never start up your essay with such phrases.

Consider staying formal to the very end. Also, be careful about the kind of expressions you use in essays because some expressions might hurt your reader’s emotions and feelings.

15. Don’t List the Topic of each Body Paragraph  

Although this is a strategy taught to armature students to help them organize their work better, it has a few limitations.

First, it will work well on short essay projects on an essay. Second, listing the topic in each body of your paragraph may not lead to complex points.

Unless you are asked to do so by the instructions, avoid listing the topic of each body paragraph.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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  •       Resources       Writing a Winning Personal Statement for Grad School

Writing a Winning Personal Statement for Grad School Tips and Advice for Standing Out as a Graduate Program Candidate

Applying to graduate school can be a significant step toward reaching academic and career goals, which can make the admissions process even more intimidating. Along with gathering letters of recommendation, taking exams and submitting transcripts, prospective graduate students typically have to write personal statements to include with their applications. The personal statement is an oft-elusive element of the grad school application, but it fulfills a specific and significant need in the eyes of admissions committees. By learning about the personal statement and its role, getting familiar with this essay's key elements and soaking in tons of advice from an admissions expert, graduate school applicants can prepare to write outstanding personal essays that can help them land spots in their ideal graduate programs.

  • What is a Personal Statement?
  • Personal Statement Components
  • How to Write a Winning Statement

Personal Statement Example

Additional resources, what's the personal statement on a grad school app.

Graduate school applications often have prospective students include personal statements. These help admissions committees get to know the person behind each application. A personal statement is a short essay that introduces a grad school candidate and his or her personal reasons for applying to a particular program. While metrics such as GPA and test scores can give an admissions committee an idea of a student's qualifications, they are impersonal and don't indicate whether a candidate would be a good fit for a given program. "Metrics only show one small part of the entire picture," says career coach and former university admissions representative Meg Radunich. "Graduate programs care about the person behind the standardized test score and grade point average. A personal statement is the only part of the application where a candidate gets to make their own case for what they can add to the cohort of incoming first year students."

personal essay dos and don'ts

Students may get applications that ask for statements of purpose, or statements of intent, as well as personal statements. With such similar names, it's no surprise that many students wonder whether there is a difference. Depending on the program and writing prompt, a personal statement and a statement of purpose may fill the same need in the eyes of the admissions committee. In cases where both are required, however, things can get a little tricky. In general, the statement of purpose focuses more on a student's reasons for applying to that particular graduate program and may address topics such as career and research goals, how his or her academic track record demonstrates qualification for that particular school or program of study and how a given program will impact the student's future.

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By contrast, personal statements usually lend more freedom when it comes to content and form and are intended to give the admissions committee a glimpse into a candidate's personality. This narrative essay combines specific, self-reflective anecdotes with details about past experiences (internships, volunteer experiences, etc.) and a clear delineation of a student's goals and interest in the prospective graduate program to provide a fuller picture of the applicant. This combination, often unaccompanied by an explicit writing prompt or set of instructions, can make even the most practiced essay writers freeze up. Familiarizing themselves with the ins and outs of writing strong personal statements for graduate school can alleviate stress and ease the process of sending out those applications.

Components of a Successful Personal Statement

Because personal statements are individual to the applicant, there is no one-size-fits-all way to write them. However, there are a few key elements of strong personal statements that prospective graduate students should keep in mind as they write.

  • Broad Understanding
  • Vulnerability and Sincerity
  • Awareness of Audience
  • Individuality

When writing personal statements, students may feel pressured to tell admissions committees everything about themselves. People are multifaceted, and it seems extra important to hit all your personality highlights and accomplishments. However, the personal essay isn't meant to be an autobiography or a long-form reiteration of the applicant's resume. "One major mistake I see all the time is students who try to tell too much in the personal statement," says Radunich. "Tell one or two specific stories or scenarios really well instead of having a broad focus and attempting to tell your life story. The goal of the essay is to get an interview, one-on-one face time that will you allow you to divulge more. Use that personal statement to tease them just enough so they feel like they need to get you in for an interview to learn the rest of your story."

  • An MFA program applicant could build his statement around a sculpture class reluctantly taken during sophomore year of undergraduate study that encouraged him to experiment and ultimately changed his art style and approach. This is more telling and interesting than meandering through a lifelong love of art that began at childhood.
  • Students should try to keep the scope of their personal statements within the past few years, as admissions committees are generally most interested in applicants' undergraduate experiences.

The best personal statements have clear purposes and easily draw readers in. Students should be cautious about turning their personal statements into risky or edgy creative writing projects and instead maintain a strong narrative structure using anecdotes for support when necessary. "Everyone loves a coming-of-age story," Radunich says. "Remember that the faculty have a vested interest in admitting students who will be fun for them to work with and watch grow." Applicants should determine which key points about themselves are most important to make and then choose situations or experiences that demonstrate those points. This serves as the main content of the personal statement. It's important that students remember to keep anecdotes relevant to the specific programs to which they are applying and to make it clear how the experiences led them to those programs.

  • A prospective engineering student who volunteered abroad might set the scene by writing about how working with members of the local community who had their own innovations based on supplies that were readily available in their area, like flip phone batteries and dismantled mopeds, challenged her exclusively Western understanding of infrastructure and exposed holes in her knowledge.
  • She could follow up with brief but concrete examples that showcase both hard and soft skills relevant to her program of study, like how experience as a resident assistant affirmed her desire to help people, and her senior thesis project pushed her to reach out to others and collaborate for the sake of better research.

Along with a focused narrative, grad school applicants should demonstrate for the admissions committee why they want to attend this program and how doing so relates to their place academically, locally and globally. Radunich notes that strong personal statements show that candidates understand the "big picture" of the profession and the true meaning and impact they will have in their communities.

Applicants often feel as if they have to show how highly accomplished and impressive they are in their personal statements, but Radunich stresses the significance of being honest and vulnerable. "It helps the reader connect. Admissions deans read enough essays from 23-year-old applicants who brag about their accomplishments and think they have life figured out." Acknowledging faults or weaknesses shows the committee that an applicant is self-aware, teachable and eager to grow.

  • "One medical school candidate I worked with wanted to become a psychiatrist due to her own personal experience with anxiety in high school," recalls Radunich. "Instead of hiding this experience, she owned it. Her personal statement was phenomenal as a result."
  • Vulnerability should be presented as something that leads to growth rather than an excuse for doing poorly in certain academic areas.

Strong personal statements demonstrate awareness of audience and how content may be received. Radunich advises applicants to think about their essays from admissions deans' perspectives: What would and wouldn't you want to read it if you were in their shoes? As they write, students should remember that admissions personnel must read many personal statements and sort through thousands of applications. Being conscious of how words or stories may be perceived by those with experiences different from their own can be invaluable to students.

  • Radunich cites a time when she worked with a student who wrote about her experience providing medical care in a developing country as part of her medical school application: "The student had good intentions, but in writing she sounded patronizing and even condescending when describing her interactions with patients. She had no idea. Remember that people who see the world differently from you will be reading this essay."

One of the biggest keys to writing a successful personal statement is in the name itself. This essay is meant to be personal and completely unique to the writer. "You have full control over this part of your application," Radunich says, urging students to avoid coming across as desperate in their essays. "Fight the urge to ‘shape shift' into whom you think that program wants you to be. You're not going to be a perfect fit for every single graduate program. Be you, and if a graduate program doesn't get it, you most likely aren't going to be happy in that program for the next three or more years." Many applicants may have similar metrics, but each student has different experiences to write about in a personal statement. Students should commit to their experiences and own them rather than err too far on the side of safety, something Radunich says is a common pitfall.

  • "Students also make a mistake when they play it safe and write personal statements that have been played out. For example, medical students tend to cite experiencing illnesses, watching family members struggle with their health or wanting to help people as the reason why they want to become a doctor. Admissions deans have to read thousands of these. Make it personal and offbeat. Give them something new to read."

Applicants must take time to ensure their personal statements are tight and free of errors. Radunich stresses the importance of proofreading. "Do not even bother sending in an application with a personal statement that has spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. This personal statement is a reflection of the quality of work you will submit for the program."

One of the hardest parts of writing a personal statement is getting started. These steps and strategies can help prospective graduate students push through the initial hesitation and get on their way to writing winning personal statements.

  • Read the instructions. Some applications provide little in the way of guidance, asking prospective students to expand on why they want to apply to the program or supply information on their backgrounds and interests. Others, however, give specific guidelines on content, format, word count and submission method. It's crucial that applicants read and understand what is expected of their personal statements. It won't matter how beautifully crafted the statement is if it doesn't address the prompt or disregards stated length requirements.
  • Self-reflect. Before sitting down to write, students should spend a good amount of time thinking about their strengths and what they want to convey to admissions committees. Radunich says it's essential for students to really dwell on what makes them special. "Take time to reflect on your personal brand. What qualities do you bring to a cohort of graduate students that this program doesn't know they need?" When students are confident in their positive qualities, it can make it easier to convince admissions officers the value they bring to any given graduate program.
  • Talk to friends and family. Sometimes figuring out how to write about oneself or what elements to highlight can be tough. Radunich says that this is where friends and family can be extremely helpful. She recommends talking those who know you best. "Ask the people who have been with you throughout your journey to provide feedback on who you are and what they've observed. Use them to provide feedback on what you have to offer a graduate program. How would they describe you in five words? This is your ‘essence self' — what makes you stand apart from others."
  • Be authentic. "We hear this all the time, but it's the best advice," says Radunich. "Admissions personnel can smell a phony. They know when you're using words outside of your vocabulary or when you're exaggerating what an experience meant to you. They read thousands of personal statements per year and also see which applicants show up as the people they said they were once they're admitted. Don't sell yourself to an admissions panel; present a polished yet real account of who you are and what you care about. This way, the right school will recognize what you bring to the table."
  • Keep it relevant. The focus should remain on why the student is qualified and wants to apply to that particular program. Admissions personnel want to get familiar with their applicants, but they mostly want to make sure they choose students who value the program and have specific reasons for applying. For instance, a student may be drawn to a program because one or two faculty members conduct research that aligns with that student's interests. That is something worth mentioning in a statement. Anecdotes and stories bring a personal element, but it's also important to include practical, academic- and career-focused details, too.
  • Get feedback from outside sources. It's helpful for students to ask other people to read their personal statements. As Radunich points out, this can help students see how their statements may be perceived by others, and another set of eyes can help a student determine whether or not the essay is engaging and well-organized. Friends, family members, teachers and writing center staff can all be great resources.
  • Use specific examples. Grad school applicants should do their best to avoid using general statements or listing their experiences and qualifications. "Use specific examples and strong storytelling to pull the reader into your life and care about you by the end," suggests Radunich. "For example, if you're applying to medical school, give us one specific, personal story about something that happened while volunteering at the hospital that changed your worldview, challenged you and confirmed your goal of being a doctor."
  • Address potential shortcomings. The personal statement is an excellent opportunity for a candidate whose metrics aren't top notch to stand out and plead his or her case. "If the student earned less-than-stellar grades during their undergraduate education," notes Radunich, "(the student) can provide some context in the personal statement." Students may not feel this is necessary or be comfortable with this, but it is an option. Applicants should be cautious about how they address any weak points; explanations should not sound like excuses but should be framed in a way that demonstrates perseverance, improvement or the learning that followed those challenges.
  • Use space efficiently. Personal statements are generally pretty short, often ranging between 500 and 1,000 words. This means that filler words and phrases, such as "the truth is," or "it's my personal belief that," take up valuable space that could be used to compel admissions into requesting an interview. It's important to convey a clear image in a few paragraphs, so be both concise and precise. In statements allowing longer word counts, keep in mind that more isn't always better. Admissions committees read thousands of personal essays each year, and longer ones may be at greater risk of being skimmed through rather than thoroughly read.
  • Draft, edit, repeat. Depending on the program, a student's personal statement can carry considerable weight. It shouldn't be thrown together at the last minute. Allowing for adequate time to write multiple drafts, edit and thoroughly proofread is a must. Have other people proofread and check for grammar before sending in the application; they may catch errors that were glossed over in earlier drafts.

Writing a personal statement can be intimidating, which may make it difficult for applicants to get started. Having enough time to ruminate and write is also valuable and can give students the opportunity to choose a strong point of view rather than feel pushed to write about the first thing that comes to mind. Radunich emphasizes that students who aren't sure what to write about or how to approach writing about themselves should do some considerable brainstorming and get input from those who know them well. Students are often self-critical, especially in high-stakes situations, and they may not realize the positive qualities they may have that stand out to others.

Radunich also offers tips for getting in the mindset of admissions personnel: "They're reading the personal statement and gauging the candidate's fitness for the program. Can this person deal with stress and persevere? Does he/she have grit? Has this person overcome adversity, and does that give us confidence that they can handle the three demanding years of law school? Can this person handle receiving feedback, or will he/she drop out after the slightest bit of challenge or criticism? Can this student tolerate differing viewpoints and be open to growth?" Considering these questions can help guide students through the writing process.

It may also help students to look at example personal statements and see how these key considerations play out in an actual essay. Take a look at this example personal statement from a prospective grad student.

As I approached the convention hall, I wondered if I had gotten the room number wrong. I couldn't hear any signs of life, and I was losing my nerve to open the door and risk embarrassing myself. As I imagined a security guard striding up and chiding me for being somewhere I shouldn't be, a hand reached past me and pushed the door open, jolting me back to the real world. I peeked in. More hands. Hundreds of them. Hands were flying, waving, articulating, dancing . I was at once taken by awe and fear.

You can do this.

I had never planned on taking American Sign Language, and I certainly hadn't planned on it taking my heart. In my first term of college, I signed up for German, a language I had loved the sound of since I was a child. A week before classes began, however, the course section was cut. In my frustration, I decided I would take the first available language class in the course register. In hindsight, that probably wasn't the smartest approach, but it was a decision that completely altered my supposedly set-in-stone plan of becoming a linguist. The complexities of nonverbal language floored me, and I found myself thinking about hand signs while writing essays on Saussure's linguistic signs. I rearranged my schedule so I could take improv classes to help with my facial and body expressions. Theater! That was completely out of character, but I suddenly found myself compelled toward anything that would help immerse me in ASL and deaf culture.

Except actually getting involved in the community.

I knew going to my first deaf convention would be intimidating. My hands shake when I'm anxious, and nothing brings on nerves quite like throwing yourself into a situation where you are a total outsider. Between my limited vocabulary, quaking fingers and fear-frozen face, would anyone be able to understand me? What was I doing here? I had been studying American Sign Language for nearly three years and had somehow managed to avoid spontaneous conversation with the deaf community, and I was terrified. Workbook exercises and casual conversations with classmates — who had roughly the same ASL vocabulary and relied on the same linguistic crutches as I did — had become increasingly comfortable, but immersing myself in deaf culture and community was something entirely different. I was afraid. However, American Sign Language and deaf studies had captured my heart, and I knew this fear was a huge barrier I needed to get past in order to continue working toward my goal of becoming an advocate and deaf studies educator.

It must have been pretty obvious that I was both hearing and petrified, because I was immediately greeted by someone who, very formally and slowly, asked if I was a student and offered to accompany me. This small gesture is representative of how I became so fond of deaf culture in such a short period of time. The hearing community tends toward posturing, indirect communication and a sometimes isolating emphasis on individualism, and my limited experiences within the deaf community have been the opposite. The straightforward communication that exists in a beautifully nuanced and perspicacious language and the welcoming enthusiasm to grow the community is something I intend to be part of. I am an outsider, and I have much to learn, but I want to do everything I can to encourage understanding and exchange between the deaf and hearing communities and make hearing spaces more inclusive, especially for those who have more experience as outsiders than I do.

My devotion to language and learning about culture through communication hasn't changed, but the path by which I want to pursue that passion has. My foray into deaf studies and American Sign Language may have started as an accident, but no matter how nervous I still get when my fingers fumble or I have to spell something out, I am humbled and grateful that this accident led me to a calling that could have remained unheard my whole life.

Brainstorming is an important step in writing a convincing personal essay, and Coggle may be just the tool to help. Coggle is a mind-mapping app that helps users organize their thoughts in visual, nonlinear ways. Users can easily share with collaborators, such as writing coaches, advisers or friends.

Inspiration may strike at any time. Students can make sure they're prepared to jot down any personal statement ideas, gather inspiration and organize their thoughts with Evernote , a popular note-taking app.

Writing personal statements requires distraction-free writing time. However, most students do their writing on their most distracting devices. FocusWriter is a simple tool that helps mitigate the distraction problem by hiding computer interfaces and substituting a clean, clear digital writing environment.

This web browser add-on makes checking grammar quick and easy. Grammarly scans users' text and provides context-specific suggestions and corrections. Detailed explanations of each suggestion help users improve their writing over time.

This subject-specific book is a guide to writing personal statements for graduate school. It includes tons of tips and examples to help students write their application essays.

Microsoft's OneNote app is one of the most popular among those who like to use outlines to gather and organize their thoughts, but its many features make it a great prewriting tool for writers of all organizational preferences.

Mindomo can help grad school candidates brainstorm and pinpoint key elements to include in their personal statements. The app's mind maps, concept maps and outlines help users easily visualize and organize their ideas.

Students who are looking for an advanced editing tool to help them power through their grad school applications might want to look into ProWritingAid , a comprehensive application that helps with basic and advanced editing and addresses issues in style, word choice and structure.

The academic writing standby, Purdue OWL , weighs in on the 10 essential dos and don'ts of personal statement writing.

The UNR Writing Center offers this extensive, alphabetized list of tips on writing, from academic voice to writing introductions, to help with the writing process. Students should also consider consulting their own undergraduate schools' campus writing centers for help as well.

UNC provides specific guidance for students writing personal statements and other significant academic essays. The guidance on this page is not exclusive to UNC, so students from many different schools may find these tips helpful.

Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences provides this online manual to help students understand and successfully write personal statements and other graduate admissions and scholarship essays. The easy-to-navigate chapters provide many examples and tips to meet a range of criteria.

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personal essay dos and don'ts

8 Do’s and Don’ts For Crafting Your College Essay

←5 Awesome College Essay Topics + Sample Essays

6 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises →

personal essay dos and don'ts

Contrary to what you might think, you essay is not a place to prove your worthiness to attend college. Instead, it’s a place to convey your personality, demonstrate who you are, and explore what you can bring to campus.

Not sure what to say? Here are 8 dos and don’ts for writing your college essay.

Don’t: Regurgitate your resume.

Do: find a hook..

Colleges have your transcript, SAT/ACT scores, recs, and extracurriculars to understand the academic side of you. Your essay is a place to show them what you’re really like—your personality, passions, and what you’ll bring to campus. It’s a place to demonstrate that you have a fit —meaning you would fit in with the student body and contribute to the campus—with the school.

Use a hook—a compelling anecdote, an example, a question—at the beginning of your essay to draw your reader in. (Read How to Get the Perfect Hook for Your College Essay to help you come up with an idea.) This is a chance to demonstrate what your personality is like and give them an idea of your voice.

Don’t: Turn use overused metaphors.

Do: use rhetorical devices..

A personalized metaphor can be a great way to capture your experiences and views through the lens of a single experience. For instance, you might discuss a time you volunteered at a hospital in a third-world country to capture how you believe in helping others. For tips on developing your own metaphor, check out How to Develop a Personalized Metaphor for Your Applications .

However, be wary of using common or cliche experiences as metaphors for something more global. Topics like sports injury and pet death are so common that adcoms’ eyes will glaze over the second they see them. Plus, these topics don’t really capture bigger-picture trials and may make you seem unworldly. While there may be a place to talk about them—for instance, if you had to quit an activity because of a sports injury, you may want to explain in the additional information section—, it’s better to develop a more original topic for your essay.

However, how you say it is more important than what you say. That’s why you should use rhetorical devices —symbols, imagery, metaphors, anecdotes, and other compelling language—to describe your experience and make it seem real to adcoms.

Don’t: Assume you have nothing to say.

Do: brainstorm..

You don’t have to have started your own business to tell a compelling story . Remember: how you say it is more important than what you say.

To get started, try some brainstorming exercises . For instance, you might make lists of beliefs, character flaws, personal anecdotes or whatever else pops into your head.

My brother wrote his essay about failing his driving test. Somehow, he managed to turn what could have been a mundane, if disappointing, experience into a hilarious and even poignant story. (He ended up going to Cornell, so it worked.) All of this to say, you can turn even the most common, everyday experience into a reflection on something larger.

Don’t: Shy away from challenges or difficulties you’ve faced.

Do: choose the most appropriate forum to discuss them..

If you’ve taken time off or personal issues have impacted your grades and schoolwork, you should explain it in your application. However, take care to do it in the right section and in a way that portrays you in the most positive light possible. Overcoming obstacles can certainly be positive, but you don’t want colleges to regard you as a liability, such as if you’ve had significant psychological issues they won’t be able to address.

Essays are a good forum for discussing obstacles you’ve faced and how you’ve overcome them, but if you choose this kind of topic, make sure it helps colleges understand your personality better. You don’t want to be defensive in your essay; don’t gripe about a conflict with a teacher, for instance. Some issues may be better left to the additional information section.

The Takeaway

The purpose of your essay is to paint a picture of who you are. Adcoms will get an idea of your academic and extracurricular achievements from other sections of your application. The essay is where you demonstrate your character, what you will bring to campus, and new insights and perspectives you can offer. To write a compelling essay, convey your ideas through powerful language, and use a topic about which you can write passionately.

For more tips on writing your college essay, read:

How to Write an Impressive College Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Write a Personal Statement That Wows Colleges

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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Graduate Admissions Essay Dos and Don'ts

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Nearly all applicants to graduate school are required to submit one or several admissions essays, sometimes referred to as personal statements. This component of the graduate admissions application permits the admissions committee to see "beyond the statistics " -- to see you as a person apart from your GPA and GRE scores . This is your chance to stand out so make sure that your admissions essay truly reflects you. An essay that is truthful, appealing, and motivating can increase your chances of acceptance but a poor admissions essay can eliminate opportunities. How do you write the most appealing and effective admissions essay possible?

Admissions Essay Dos

  • Prepare an outline and create a draft.
  • Answer all the questions asked .
  • Make sure your essay has a theme or a thesis.
  • Provide evidence to support your claims.
  • Make your introduction unique.
  • Write clearly and make sure it is easy to read.
  • Be honest, confident, and be yourself.
  • Be interesting and positive.
  • Make sure your essay is organized, coherent, and concise.
  • Write about yourself and use examples from your own life experiences.
  • Use a mixture of long and short sentences.
  • Discuss your future goals.
  • Mention any hobbies, past jobs, community service, or research experience .
  • Speak in the first person (I…).
  • Mention weaknesses without making excuses.
  • Discuss why you're interested in the school and/or program.
  • Show, don’t tell (Use examples to demonstrate your abilities).
  • Ask for help.
  • Proofread and revise your statement at least 3 times.
  • Have others proofread your essay.

Admissions Essay Don’ts:

  • Have any grammar or spelling errors. (Proofread!)
  • Be wordy or use jargon (don’t try to impress the readers by using big words).
  • Swear or use slang.
  • Digress or be repetitive.
  • Be boring (ask someone to read your essay).
  • Generalize.
  • Include cliches or gimmicks.
  • Be comical (a little humor is okay but remember it can be misconstrued).
  • Be defensive or arrogant.
  • Focus on other individuals.
  • Discuss politics or religion.
  • Make lists of accomplishments, awards, skills, or personal qualities (Show, don’t tell).
  • Write a term paper or an autobiography.
  • Summarize your resume.
  • Include information already cited on the application.
  • Forget to proofread.
  • Self Assessment and Writing a Graduate Admissions Essay
  • FAQs About Writing Your Graduate Admissions Essay
  • How to Write the Graduate Admissions Essay
  • How to Write Your Graduate School Admissions Essay
  • Private School Application Essay Tips
  • Tips for an Admissions Essay on an Influential Person
  • Common Topics for Graduate School Admissions Essays
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  • Bad Essay Topics for College Admissions
  • 5 Tips for a College Admissions Essay on an Important Issue
  • Tips for an Application Essay on a Significant Experience
  • Tips for Writing a Winning College Transfer Essay
  • Addressing Diversity in a College Application Essay
  • Timeline for Applying to Graduate School
  • How to Ace Your University of Wisconsin Personal Statements
  • Applying to Graduate School: What You Need to Know

Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay

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How to Write an Effective Essay

Writing an essay for college admission gives you a chance to use your authentic voice and show your personality. It's an excellent opportunity to personalize your application beyond your academic credentials, and a well-written essay can have a positive influence come decision time.

Want to know how to draft an essay for your college application ? Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing.

Tips for Essay Writing

A typical college application essay, also known as a personal statement, is 400-600 words. Although that may seem short, writing about yourself can be challenging. It's not something you want to rush or put off at the last moment. Think of it as a critical piece of the application process. Follow these tips to write an impactful essay that can work in your favor.

1. Start Early.

Few people write well under pressure. Try to complete your first draft a few weeks before you have to turn it in. Many advisers recommend starting as early as the summer before your senior year in high school. That way, you have ample time to think about the prompt and craft the best personal statement possible.

You don't have to work on your essay every day, but you'll want to give yourself time to revise and edit. You may discover that you want to change your topic or think of a better way to frame it. Either way, the sooner you start, the better.

2. Understand the Prompt and Instructions.

Before you begin the writing process, take time to understand what the college wants from you. The worst thing you can do is skim through the instructions and submit a piece that doesn't even fit the bare minimum requirements or address the essay topic. Look at the prompt, consider the required word count, and note any unique details each school wants.

3. Create a Strong Opener.

Students seeking help for their application essays often have trouble getting things started. It's a challenging writing process. Finding the right words to start can be the hardest part.

Spending more time working on your opener is always a good idea. The opening sentence sets the stage for the rest of your piece. The introductory paragraph is what piques the interest of the reader, and it can immediately set your essay apart from the others.

4. Stay on Topic.

One of the most important things to remember is to keep to the essay topic. If you're applying to 10 or more colleges, it's easy to veer off course with so many application essays.

A common mistake many students make is trying to fit previously written essays into the mold of another college's requirements. This seems like a time-saving way to avoid writing new pieces entirely, but it often backfires. The result is usually a final piece that's generic, unfocused, or confusing. Always write a new essay for every application, no matter how long it takes.

5. Think About Your Response.

Don't try to guess what the admissions officials want to read. Your essay will be easier to write─and more exciting to read─if you’re genuinely enthusiastic about your subject. Here’s an example: If all your friends are writing application essays about covid-19, it may be a good idea to avoid that topic, unless during the pandemic you had a vivid, life-changing experience you're burning to share. Whatever topic you choose, avoid canned responses. Be creative.

6. Focus on You.

Essay prompts typically give you plenty of latitude, but panel members expect you to focus on a subject that is personal (although not overly intimate) and particular to you. Admissions counselors say the best essays help them learn something about the candidate that they would never know from reading the rest of the application.

7. Stay True to Your Voice.

Use your usual vocabulary. Avoid fancy language you wouldn't use in real life. Imagine yourself reading this essay aloud to a classroom full of people who have never met you. Keep a confident tone. Be wary of words and phrases that undercut that tone.

8. Be Specific and Factual.

Capitalize on real-life experiences. Your essay may give you the time and space to explain why a particular achievement meant so much to you. But resist the urge to exaggerate and embellish. Admissions counselors read thousands of essays each year. They can easily spot a fake.

9. Edit and Proofread.

When you finish the final draft, run it through the spell checker on your computer. Then don’t read your essay for a few days. You'll be more apt to spot typos and awkward grammar when you reread it. After that, ask a teacher, parent, or college student (preferably an English or communications major) to give it a quick read. While you're at it, double-check your word count.

Writing essays for college admission can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. A well-crafted essay could be the deciding factor─in your favor. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll have no problem creating memorable pieces for every application.

What is the format of a college application essay?

Generally, essays for college admission follow a simple format that includes an opening paragraph, a lengthier body section, and a closing paragraph. You don't need to include a title, which will only take up extra space. Keep in mind that the exact format can vary from one college application to the next. Read the instructions and prompt for more guidance.

Most online applications will include a text box for your essay. If you're attaching it as a document, however, be sure to use a standard, 12-point font and use 1.5-spaced or double-spaced lines, unless the application specifies different font and spacing.

How do you start an essay?

The goal here is to use an attention grabber. Think of it as a way to reel the reader in and interest an admissions officer in what you have to say. There's no trick on how to start a college application essay. The best way you can approach this task is to flex your creative muscles and think outside the box.

You can start with openers such as relevant quotes, exciting anecdotes, or questions. Either way, the first sentence should be unique and intrigue the reader.

What should an essay include?

Every application essay you write should include details about yourself and past experiences. It's another opportunity to make yourself look like a fantastic applicant. Leverage your experiences. Tell a riveting story that fulfills the prompt.

What shouldn’t be included in an essay?

When writing a college application essay, it's usually best to avoid overly personal details and controversial topics. Although these topics might make for an intriguing essay, they can be tricky to express well. If you’re unsure if a topic is appropriate for your essay, check with your school counselor. An essay for college admission shouldn't include a list of achievements or academic accolades either. Your essay isn’t meant to be a rehashing of information the admissions panel can find elsewhere in your application.

How can you make your essay personal and interesting?

The best way to make your essay interesting is to write about something genuinely important to you. That could be an experience that changed your life or a valuable lesson that had an enormous impact on you. Whatever the case, speak from the heart, and be honest.

Is it OK to discuss mental health in an essay?

Mental health struggles can create challenges you must overcome during your education and could be an opportunity for you to show how you’ve handled challenges and overcome obstacles. If you’re considering writing your essay for college admission on this topic, consider talking to your school counselor or with an English teacher on how to frame the essay.

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Do’s and don’ts of writing your personal statement

Need some inspiration when writing your personal statement? We've got some top tips to help you get your UCAS application done in time.

personal essay dos and don'ts

Do play to your strengths! Remember that you want to stand out from the crowd so ensure you play on your key strengths and achievements.

Do write an original personal statement - the Admissions Tutors and or/academics want an insight into the person who has written the statement.

Do write clearly and succinctly and try not to get caught up in “big” words – be clear and direct whilst creating unique points, ideas, and examples.

Do make yourself stand out! Show personality and enthusiasm alongside examples of your passions and interests outside of school/college such as volunteering.

Do use concrete examples from your life experience to support your accomplishments and distinguish yourself from other applicants – this makes your essay more memorable.

Do ensure that your grammar is correct and that your spelling is accurate. Don't just rely on spell-check – get your friends, family and teachers to help!

Don't make unsupported claims. 'I am the best student you will see all year' doesn't go down too well, even if you think you can prove it!

Don't copy someone else's UCAS personal statement or use something you have found on the internet. UCAS use software to check every personal statement for plagiarism.

Don't make it up! You may be asked to provide evidence of your stated achievements, or if you are interviewed you may be asked detailed questions about things you've mentioned. Honesty really is the best policy!

Don’t use irrelevant personal facts. Before you write about playing netball or a school trip you went on in year seven, apply the 'so what?' rule. Does it make a useful contribution and help explain why you should be given a place on the course? If not, scrap it.

Don’t think of it as a list – ‘I am experienced. I am studious. I am intelligent. I just choose to write every sentence like this…’ Don’t feel confined to list everything you have ever done, similarly, don’t feel restricted to start every sentence with  ‘I’.

What should you do next?

Download your free personal statement guide.

Get even more advice on starting, writing and checking your personal statement. Plus, be inspired by real personal statement examples from our students!

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BRITTANY MASCHAL CONSULTING

College & Graduate School Admissions Advising

10 Do’s and Don’ts for Writing the Personal Statement (aka The Common App Essay)

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Our essay experts know best. Check out these 10 tips from Emma that will help you write the most effective personal statement. Summer is the best time to tackle this important essay, so start now! Interested in working with Emma? Contact us .   

  • Don’t worry about the prompts. It’s helpful to read through the prompts to see if doing so sparks any ideas; however, there is no need to stress about writing an essay that exactly “answers” a prompt. Your goal is to write the best essay you can about whatever you decide is best to write about. Working with students 1:1, we totally disregard the prompts and usually find that their essay still easily fits under one of the questions. And, if not, there is often an open-ended prompt such as: “Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.”
  • Do open with a scene. A strong opening scene draws the reader into your essay. Admissions officers and their first-round readers have hundreds of applications to get through—make yours stand out from the first sentence. Intrigue them or scare them or make them laugh. Make them want to keep reading.
  • Do focus on a single story . You only have 650 words. Perhaps that sounds like a lot to you: it’s not. There is no reason you should worry about filling it up. Through our process, you will find out how to generate enough detail to write an essay about any story. Nor should you worry about cramming as much as possible into the personal statement. Remember that colleges have all of your application data and that trying to do too much in the essay will only end up making your essay feel rushed and scattered.
  • Do make sure that your story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. You can tell your story out of order—for instance, opening with a scene from a stressful moment in order to build suspense before jumping back into chronology—but you always want to make sure your story has each of these elements. Skipping any single one will confuse your reader and make your story feel incomplete (because it is!).
  • And yet don’t get bogged down in detail. We usually find students have trouble generating enough detail. But sometimes we get a student who is unable to summarize effectively, too. Having too much detail can make your story confusing and also mean that your reader will have trouble understanding what the most significant elements are. It usually also means you don’t have room for reflection—the most important element in the essay!
  • Do present yourself in a positive light. We actively encourage you to tell a story that showcases your vulnerabilities, failures, weaknesses, and mistakes. However, either your narrative or your reflection (or some combination of the two), needs to ultimately redeem you so that your essay, in the end, shows you to be someone who is actively working to improve—to rectify mistakes, move past failures, or strengthen weakness. Your essay should be honest, but its main purpose is to make you seem like someone admissions officers want to see at their colleges! Make sure you come off well.
  • Don’t use huge thesaurus words. Again: you aren’t trying to impress the admissions officers! You are trying to show them who you are—and you are trying to make them like you. Using big words can mean using words you don’t quite know how to use, and that will show. Even if you do know how to use them, unless your essay is about how much you love long words or languages, using the big, 25-cent words can make you sound pretentious and overly formal. The language should sound like you and be relatively casual—not curse-word, talking-with-friends casual, but maybe talking-with-your-grandmother casual.
  • Do use vivid, interesting words and varied sentence structure. Being casual doesn’t mean the writing shouldn’t be good or interesting! Do push yourself to use words you might not use in your everyday speech, and do mix up the sentence structure to keep the writing varied and exciting. Do feel free to include words from your personal vocabulary—words from the language you speak at home or from a regional dialect or words you’ve made up. That can add a lot of texture and personality to an essay. Just make sure you define the words for your reader if the meaning isn’t clear from context.
  • But don’t use emotional language : I was happy; I was sad. Instead, let an action depict the emotional state. That is, instead of saying “I was happy,” you might write, “I couldn’t help skipping a few steps down the street after hearing the news.” And, instead of saying “She was sad,” you might write, “Her shoulders slumped, and she cradled her head in her hands.” You can’t see an emotion, and you always want to give the reader something to see.
  • I need to be true to myself.
  • Time heals all wounds.
  • Every cloud has a silver lining.
  • Good things come to those who wait.
  • I learned more from them than they did from me.
  • Every rose has its thorn.
  • You win some, you lose some.
  • Little did I know.

Of course, your essay might have one of these messages at its heart. Maybe you did learn more from the kid you tutored than they learned from you. Maybe you did find the “silver lining” in a terrible situation. Both of these could make for great essays. But you want to verbalize that realization in your own unique and surprising way.

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Personal Statement Do’s and Don’ts

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  • Personal Statement Do’s and Don’ts

These simple do’s and don’ts for writing a personal statement or statement of purpose are small but effective ways to improve your writing.

Over the years of working with applicants who need to be concise, specific, and yet interesting in their writing, I’ve given the same advice time and time again. All of these tips and tricks work well to streamline your writing. These tips work for other types of writing, too, including cover letters, blog posts, press releases, or any document where you need to get a point across in a clear and compact way.

Writing Do’s (Or Is it Dos?)

Do follow the rules of basic grammar! Even if you’re not applying to the type of program where writing is important, good grammar is your best first impression. If you’re not sure about your writing skills, consult an editor or writing coach!

Do follow the essay prompts! Just yesterday a client discovered that last year’s prompts were not quite the same as this year’s, so read closely.

Do proofread your work , at least after you’re close to a final draft. One of the best ways to proofread—after you’ve read your own work so many times you can’t stand it anymore—is to read it out loud, or ask the computer to read it out loud. Sometimes hearing something can point out a writing error in ways your eyes might miss.

Do check to make sure that names of schools, companies, or people are correct for the recipients of the document!

Do use the active voice! “Working as a [job tittle] interests me for several reasons” is much more direct than “I have been interested in a career as a [job title] for many years.” Active voice makes your writing stronger and even better, often uses fewer words!

Along those lines, do tell a story . Especially if you’re writing a personal statement instead of a statement of purpose. The active voice works well for this because it’s all about who’s doing something. Telling a story or a vignette about why you’re interested in a topic can be more memorable than simply reciting facts about your interest.

Do avoid repeating the same words too often in your essay. Often writers get trapped in a term or phrase. “I’m fascinated by” .. your school, your program, this topic… a word can easily start to dominate a paragraph or the essay. Look for synonyms and similar words to get your ideas across in more than one way. (And no, it’s not cheating if you use a thesaurus or right-click on a word in your document.) In the second paragraph above, I have the phrase “clear and compact” in the last line. Well, in my first draft of this post I wrote “clear and concise” … and then I went back and took my own advice about not repeating words.

Do write as if you’re already at the school. Be positive! Try to avoid things like, “If accepted into your program, I will… ” and instead, write as if you’re already there. “When I am a student at your program, I will…” sounds a lot more confident to an admissions reader than something more hesitant.

A hand flips the dice to shift from reading "do's" to "don'ts"

Writing Don’ts

Many of these “don’ts” are actually just as important as the “do’s,” and they can really help you streamline your writing if you’re working with a tight word count.

Don’t go over the word or character limits , and double check to make sure you know what those limits are. Contact the school if there’s any unclarity.

Don’t start sentences with “I think that… this program is the perfect fit,” because they add extra words that you don’t need. Your writing presents your thoughts, so starting sentences with “This program is the perfect fit because…” will get the same point across.

On that note, you can feel free to avoid words like “perhaps” and “maybe,” along with other indicators of apprehension. Even if you’re not 100% sure of something, you want to come across as positive and confident.

Don’t repeat your resume. You can (and should!) reference your background, but you don’t need to go into the same detail in your statement as you do in your resume. There are a lot of good ways to mention your background without having to go into extensive detail.

The don’ts are as important as the do’s! I particularly like how this blog reminds readers “ no whining ,” and this one points out the problems of lying, exaggeration, and being too negative—none of which are a good idea in any circumstance!

Keep these basic rules and suggestions of civility and sense in mind, though, and you’re well on your way to writing a great personal statement!

Are there other personal statement do’s and don’ts that you rely on? Share them in a comment!

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Writing a successful application essay: dos and don’ts, carla johnson.

  • June 14, 2023
  • Essay Topics and Ideas , How to Guides

An application essay, which is also called a college essay or a personal statement, is a piece of writing that helps college admissions officers learn more about an applicant than just their grades. It gives the applicant a chance to show who they are, what they stand for, and what makes them different from other candidates.

Your chances of getting into the college of your choice can depend on how well you write your application essay. In this guide, we’ll give you tips on how to write a good application essay , talk about common application essay prompts, and tell you how to make your essay stand out.

What You'll Learn

Tips for Writing a Successful Application Essay

– Start early and give yourself enough time to brainstorm, write, and revise your essay

– Understand the prompt and answer the question directly

– Show, don’t tell by using specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points

– Be authentic and honest in your writing

– Proofread and edit your essay multiple times to ensure it is error-free

– Get feedback from others, such as a teacher or counselor, on your essay

Common Application Essay Prompts

The Common Application, used by over 900 colleges and universities, provides five essay prompts for applicants to choose from. These prompts are:

– Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

– The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

– Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

– Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve . It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

– Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

How to Stand Out in Your Application Essay

– Tell a unique and memorable story that showcases your personality and values

– Use descriptive language to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind

– Be confident in your writing and avoid using cliches or generic statements

– Show your passion and enthusiasm for your interests and hobbies

– Connect your experiences and accomplishments to your future goals and aspirations

– Be creative and take risks in your writing, while still staying within the guidelines of the prompt

It can be hard to write a good application essay, but if you follow these tips and rules, you can make an essay that shows off your best qualities and makes you stand out from other applicants . Don’t forget to start writing early, understand the prompt, be yourself, and take risks. With these tools, you can write an essay that stands out, makes an impact, and helps you reach your college and career goals in the end.

Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Successful Application Essay

Writing a successful application essay requires careful consideration and attention to detail. Here are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind as you craft your essay:

– Do give yourself enough time to brainstorm, write, and revise your essay.

– Do read and understand the prompt before you start writing.

– Do showcase your personality, values, and unique experiences.

– Do use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points.

– Do be authentic and honest in your writing.

– Do proofread and edit your essay multiple times to ensure it is error-free.

– Do get feedback from others, such as a teacher or counselor, on your essay.

Don’ts:

– Don’t try to impress the reader with big words or overly complicated sentences.

– Don’t write what you think the admissions officer wants to hear. Be true to yourself.

– Don’t use cliches or generic statements.

– Don’t include irrelevant information or go off-topic.

– Don’t rely too heavily on spell-check or grammar-check. These tools are not foolproof.

– Don’t wait until the last minute to start writing.

Examples of Successful Application Essays:

– One student wrote about their experience growing up in a multicultural household and how it shaped their worldview and values.

– Another student wrote about their passion for environmental advocacy and how they started a community garden in their neighborhood.

– A third student wrote about their struggle with a learning disability and how they overcame it to become a successful student and advocate for disability rights.

– All of these essays were successful because they were unique, authentic, and showcased the student’s personality and values.

Understanding Common Application Essay Prompts

The Common Application essay prompts are used by over 900 colleges and universities to help students showcase their personality, values, and unique experiences. Here is an overview of the five prompts:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

How to choose the best prompt for your essay:

When choosing which prompt to answer, consider your personal experiences and what you want to convey to the admissions officer. Ask yourself: What story do I want to tell? What values or qualities do I want to showcase? Which prompt best allows me to do so?

Tips for answering the prompts effectively:

– Read and understand the prompt before you start writing.

– Be specific and use examples to illustrate your points.

– Show, don’t tell. Use descriptive language to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind.

– Be authentic and honest in your writing.

– Connect your experiences and accomplishments to your future goals and aspirations.

– Be creative and take risks in your writing, while still staying within the guidelines of the prompt.

– Proofread and edit your essay multiple times to ensure it is error-free.

– Get feedback from others, such as a teacher or counselor, on your essay.

By following these tips and choosing the best prompt for your essay , you can effectively showcase your personality, values, and unique experiences to the admissions officer and increase your chances of getting accepted into your dream college.

With so many students applying to college each year, it’s important to make your application essay stand out from the competition. Here are some tips for making your essay memorable and impactful:

1. Tell a unique and memorable story that showcases your personality and values. Avoid writing a generic essay that could be written by anyone.

2. Use descriptive language to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. This will help your essay to be more engaging and memorable.

3. Be confident in your writing and avoid using cliches or generic statements. Use your own voice and style to make your essay stand out.

4. Show your passion and enthusiasm for your interests and hobbies. This will help the admissions officer get to know you as a person, beyond your academic record.

5. Connect your experiences and accomplishments to your future goals and aspirations. This will show the admissions officer that you are focused and driven.

Examples of successful strategies for standing out:

1. One student wrote about their experience growing up in a circus family and how it influenced their love of performance and dedication to hard work.

2. Another student wrote about their experience volunteering at a homeless shelter and how it taught them the importance of empathy and compassion.

3. A third student wrote about their experience overcoming a language barrier and how it taught them the value of perseverance and determination.

All of these essays stood out because they were unique, authentic, and showcased the student’s personality and values.

Importance of being authentic in your essay:

In your essay, it’s important to be real and honest. Don’t try to write what you think the person in charge of admissions wants to hear. Instead, write about your real life and what you believe in. Most of the time, admissions officers can tell when an essay isn’t real, which can hurt your chances of getting in. Being honest about who you are and what you’ve been through will make your essay stand out and help the admissions officer learn more about you as a person.

What to Include in Your Application Essay

When it comes to writing your application essay, it’s important to choose the right topic and include essential elements that showcase your strengths and achievements. Here are some tips for what to include in your application essay:

1. Choose the right topic: Choose a topic that allows you to showcase your personality, values, and unique experiences. Consider what story you want to tell and what you want to convey to the admissions officer.

2. Essential elements to include: Your essay should have a clear structure and include the following elements:

– Introduction: Start with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention and introduces the topic of your essay .

– Body: Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points. Show, don’t tell, and use descriptive language to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind.

– Conclusion: End with a strong conclusion that ties everything together and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

3. Showcase your strengths and achievements: Your essay should highlight your accomplishments and strengths. Use examples that demonstrate your abilities and showcase your unique qualities.

4. Be authentic and honest: It’s important to be honest about who you are and what you’ve been through. Don’t try to write what you think the person in charge of admissions wants to hear. Instead, write about things that are important to you and things you are really interested in. Overall, your application essay should be well-written, interesting, and show off your strengths and accomplishments. By using these tips and including important details, you can write an essay that makes you stand out from the crowd and helps you get into the college of your dreams .

How Long Should Your Application Essay Be?

One common question that students have when writing their application essay is how long it should be. Here is an overview of the typical word or character count for application essays and some tips for staying within the limit:

1. Word or character count: Most colleges and universities have specific guidelines for the length of the application essay. The Common Application essay, for example, has a word limit of 650 words, while the Coalition Application essay has a character limit of 4,000 characters.

2. Tips for staying within the limit: Here are some tips for staying within the word or character limit:

– Plan your essay carefully: Before you start writing, make an outline of the key points you want to cover in your essay. This will help you stay focused and avoid going off-topic.

– Edit ruthlessly: Once you’ve written your essay, go back and edit it carefully. Look for ways to cut unnecessary words or phrases and tighten up your sentences.

– Use active voice: Using active voice can help you be more concise and clear in your writing.

– Get feedback: Ask a teacher or counselor to review your essay and give you feedback on how to make it more concise and effective.

3. Importance of being concise and clear: No matter how many words or characters your essay has, it should be short and easy to understand. Admissions officers have to read a lot of essays , so one that is clear and to the point can stand out. Focus on the main points you want to make and back them up with specific examples and stories.

Overall, it’s important to stick to the rules about the number of words or characters and to be clear and concise in your writing. You can make a good application essay that shows off your personality, values, and unique experiences by planning carefully , editing harshly, and using active voice.

College Application Essay Topics

Choosing the right topic for your college application essay can be a daunting task. Here are some examples of popular college application essay topics and tips for choosing the best topic for your essay:

1. Personal growth: Write about a challenge or experience that helped you grow as a person.

2. Community service: Write about a community service project that you were involved in and how it impacted you.

3. Identity: Write about your identity and how it shapes your worldview.

4. Lessons learned: Write about a time when you learned a valuable lesson and how it has impacted you.

5. Unique experiences: Write about a unique experience or interest that sets you apart from other applicants.

When choosing a topic, consider what story you want to tell and what you want to convey to the admissions officer. It’s important to choose a topic that allows you to showcase your personality, values, and unique experiences.

Additionally, it’s important to make your essay relevant to the college or university you are applying to. Research the college’s mission statement and values, and consider how your experiences and goals align with those of the college.

Graduate School Application Essay

Writing a successful graduate school application essay requires a different approach than writing a college application essay. Here are some specific tips for writing a successful graduate school application essay:

1. Showcase your academic and professional experience: Graduate schools want to see that you have the necessary academic and professional experience to succeed in their program. Highlight your relevant coursework, research experience, and professional experience in your essay.

2. Show your motivation: Graduate schools want to see that you are motivated and passionate about your field of study. Explain why you are interested in the program and how it fits into your career goals.

3. Research the program: Research the graduate program and its faculty to show that you have a strong understanding of the program and how you fit into it. This can also help you tailor your essay to the specific program .

4. Use specific examples: Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points and show your experience and qualifications.

Examples of successful graduate school application essays:

– One student wrote about their experience working in a research lab and how it influenced their decision to pursue a PhD in chemistry.

– Another student wrote about their experience as a teacher and how it motivated them to pursue a master’s degree in education.

– A third student wrote about their experience volunteering in a healthcare setting and how it inspired them to pursue a master’s degree in nursing.

All of these essays were successful because they showcased the student’s academic and professional experience, motivation, and specific examples of their qualifications.

Medical School Application Essay

Writing a successful medical school application essay requires a unique approach. Here are some specific tips for writing a successful medical school application essay:

1. Showcase your passion for medicine and healthcare: Medical schools want to see that you have a genuine passion for medicine and healthcare. Use specific examples and anecdotes to show your passion and how it has influenced your decision to pursue a career in medicine.

2. Highlight your experience: Medical schools want to see that you have relevant experience in healthcare. Highlight your clinical experience , research experience, and volunteer work in your essay.

3. Show your motivation: Medical schools want to see that you are motivated and committed to pursuing a career in medicine. Explain why you are passionate about medicine and how you will use your education to make a difference in healthcare.

4. Be concise and clear: Medical school application essays typically have a word or character limit. Focus on the key points you want to convey and use clear and concise language to make your essay effective .

Examples of successful medical school application essays:

– One student wrote about their experience volunteering in a free clinic and how it motivated them to pursue a career in medicine to help underserved communities.

– Another student wrote about their experience conducting research on a rare disease and how it inspired them to pursue a career in academic medicine to find a cure.

– A third student wrote about their experience as a patient and how it motivated them to pursue a career in medicine to improve patient care and advocacy.

All of these essays were successful because they showcased the student’s passion for medicine and healthcare, relevant experience, motivation, and specific examples of their qualifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what is an application essay.

An application essay is a written statement that is part of the college or graduate school application process. It provides the admissions officers with an opportunity to get to know the applicant beyond their academic record and test scores .

2. What should I include in my application essay?

Your application essay should showcase your personality, values, and unique experiences. It should highlight your accomplishments and strengths, and use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points. It should also be well-written, clear, and concise.

3. How long should an application essay be?

The length of an application essay varies depending on the college or graduate school and the specific guidelines provided. For example, the Common Application essay has a word limit of 650 words, while the Coalition Application essay has a character limit of 4,000 characters. It’s important to follow the guidelines provided and be concise and clear in your writing.

In this guide, we talked about the most important parts of a good application essay. We talked about things like how to understand the prompts, pick the right topic, and show off your strengths and accomplishments. We also talked about specific ways to write good essays for college, graduate school, and medical school applications.

To sum up, it’s important to choose a topic for your application essay that lets you show off your personality, values, and unique experiences. Use specific examples and stories to back up your points, and make sure your writing is clear and to the point. It’s also important to make sure your essay is relevant to the college or university you’re applying to and to get feedback and edits from other people.

Final tips for writing a successful application essay:

– Tailor your essay to the specific college or graduate program

– Edit and revise your essay multiple times to ensure it is error-free and effective

Remember, your application essay is an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and experiences to the admissions officers. By following these tips and seeking feedback and revision, you can create a compelling and effective essay that helps you stand out from the competition and get accepted into your dream college or graduate program.

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DOs and DON’Ts When Writing a Personal Statement

(1) Pay Attention to Each School’s Prompt Hopefully, for most applicants, this is a no-brainer. The prompt for each school is first available in August/September when law schools release that year’s application. The prompts typically don’t change much year to year, so you can get a head start by looking at the previous year’s application. For many/most applicants, the prompts are similar enough that the same personal statement template can be used with minor adjustments for each school (see Tip #2 on personalization). For some applicants, however, the prompts are different enough that you should write multiple personal statements. Be sure that the personal statement you use for a school does in fact respond to the prompt for that school. The ability to follow directions is a necessity for law school applicants.

(2) Personalize Your Statement Most law schools want to see that you have put time and effort into researching why that school is a good fit for you. One of the ways you can demonstrate your due diligence is to include a paragraph (typically at the close of your personal statement) outlining several specific factors that have drawn you to that law school. Be specific. Important considerations to note: (a) Vague statements asserting that a law school is a good fit for you without any supporting evidence or information are useless, so do your research and work on articulating the reasons for your interest in each school. (b) You can review a school’s website to determine what you like about that school, but don’t just regurgitate information from the website. They want to know why that information is relevant to your interests and/or goals. (c) Top-ranked schools (typically, top 5 or so) pretty much know why you would like to attend, so personalization is less important unless there is something that truly differentiates that school from others to you. (d) Some schools have a separate “optional” essay allowing you to discuss why you want to attend that school. If that is the case for one of your schools, write the separate essay, and omit the personalized paragraph from your personal statement. (e) Be sure to submit the correct versions to each school. Save the school’s name in the title to help minimize any potential for error.

(3) Be Personable As you now know, one of your goals as an applicant is to let admissions committees get to know you. It is just as important that they like you. Admissions committees are in no rush to admit applicants who are arrogant, pretentious, elitist, or rude. So the tone you use in your personal statement is important. Don’t assume that you need to use a formal tone just because you think lawyers write very formally. By using a formal tone, you are actually building a wall between yourself and the admissions committee—the opposite of what you should be doing. Aim for a more conversational (but not casual) tone so that the statement flows easily for the reader. Further, forget the big words that you think make you sound smart. They actually risk making you sound arrogant, pretentious, or even unintelligent (if used improperly). Strong writing conveys intelligence without the need for big words.

(4) Tell a Story Another easy way to be both personal and personable in your personal statement is to start off with an anecdote about yourself that sets up the framework for the rest of the statement. For example, if you are highlighting certain characteristics in your statement, tell an anecdote that demonstrates those characteristics. If you are discussing a defining moment in your life, describe a scene from that experience. A well-told anecdote can immediately capture readers’ attention and draw them into your world. Even if you don’t include an anecdote in the statement, the topic that you choose should, in a sense, “tell a story” about you in a way that captures and keeps the reader’s attention.

(5) Be Concise Some schools set no limit for personal statements, but most suggest either 2–3 or 2–4 pages. Aim for two pages, double-spaced. Do not make the error of thinking that more is better. Law schools value the ability to persuasively convey information in a relatively short space. Also, keep in mind that admissions committees are reviewing thousands of applications. Don’t waste their time.

10 DON’Ts 1. DON’T just restate your résumé in narrative form. That shows no critical thinking ability. If you are going to talk about more than one achievement or experience mentioned on your résumé, then connect the dots. Find a common theme that ties those items together. 2. DON’T address your weaknesses in the personal statement. Use an addendum.The personal statement should highlight the positives about you. 3. DON’T focus on your high school activities or accomplishments. Focusing on achievements in high school can draw attention to a lack of similar achievements in college. 4. DON’T be overly dramatic. Understatement is better. 5. DON’T spend too much time talking about someone or something else. Always bring the focus back to you. 6. DON’T start your statement with a famous quotation, no matter how well you think it might fit with the theme of your personal statement. Admissions committees want to hear your words, not those of someone else. 7. DON’T use legalese or Latin phrases. 8. DON’T be careless. Be sure not to accidentally mention the wrong school in your statement. 9. DON’T use big words in an effort to impress the admissions committees. It sets the wrong tone for the statement. 10. DON’T write a position paper or opinion piece. Even written well, those types of writings are not particularly useful to admissions committees because they miss the point of the personal statement.

Crafting a Compelling College Essay: Dos and Don’ts

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Crafting a Compelling College Essay: Dos and Don’ts

Way to essay excellence!

Applying to college is a very stressful process, and nothing skyrockets students’ stress levels like the college essay. The college essay is very stressful because, unlike grades and test scores, it’s open-ended. There are a million different ways to write a college essay, and a million possible topics. Students often have a hard time knowing what to write their college essay about. They often don’t even know where to begin! Let’s take a look at some college application essay Dos and Don’ts to help get you on the right track with your college essay.

Dos for your college application essay

Writing a college essay may be daunting, but follow these tips, and you’ll be typing away in no time.

1. Do think about what you want colleges to know about you

Remember: The college essay is your chance to show colleges who you are in your own words. What do you want colleges to know about you? Who do you want to show to them? Take some time to consider what persona you would like to present to colleges. Then, think about what stories or events from your life allow you to showcase best the traits you’re trying to convey.

2. Do use your college essay to tell a story

College admissions officers have to read essay after essay after essay, all day, for months. Telling a story is a good way to help grab their attention. It will also give you the chance to demonstrate your point in a way that is specific, relatable, and memorable. Think carefully about which story will help you articulate your point, and then tell that story in your college essay. Just make sure to be succinct and engaging.

3. Do reflect on the story you tell

It’s not enough to just tell a story from your life. Part of the point of the college essay is to show that you are a mature, capable, reflective thinker. So, after you’ve told the story in your college essay, you have to reflect on it. Why was this story so important to you? How did you change as a result of this story? Why have you chosen to tell it now? Reflection is an important part of your college application essay, and it lets admissions officers see that you have the ability to sit down and grapple with complex ideas.

4. Do leave yourself plenty of time to write your college application essay

Good writing takes time – way longer than you think – and several drafts. Start at least three months before the deadline to give yourself time to improve your writing , think and get feedback, and write and rewrite it. It may be a long process, but your essay will come out much more polished if you give yourself enough time to go through several drafts and get useful feedback.

Don’ts for your college application essay

Try to avoid these common pitfalls when drafting your college essay. 

1. Don’t write about a very common college application essay topic

There are a few college essay topics that admissions readers see over and over…and over and over. These include the following:

  • The time your team worked very hard and won the big game…or didn’t win but learned a lot
  • An important lesson your grandma taught you
  • The time you traveled to a different country and learned just how good your own life is

Of course, even though these topics are widely overdone, it is still possible to write about them in a unique and engaging way. But unless you’re very confident that your particular college essay is a fresh take, it’s best to steer clear of these topics.

2. Don’t submit the very first thing you write

It is important to take your time with your college essay. You don’t necessarily want to tell the first story that comes to mind, and you don’t want to submit your very first draft. Give yourself time to edit! Your essay has to fall within the right word limit , so it’s important to take your time so that you can craft the story you want to tell within the proper constraints.

3. Don’t start with the prompts

This is a very common trap that students fall into! Students often read the essay prompts and then try to squeeze themselves into the prompt offered. This is understandable, but it makes you think much more narrowly than you otherwise would. The prompts are quite broad. Pretty much any essay you write could fit into one of them. So, instead of limiting yourself, think first about who you want to come off as and which story about yourself you want to tell . Then, write the essay, then decide which prompt fits. It will definitely fit one. After all, the last prompt in the Common App is a wildcard prompt. You’re allowed to submit any essay or piece of writing you want!

College application essay examples

Let's look at some impactful college application essay starters and topics.

College essay first sentences

One of the hardest things to do is start! Here are some examples of successful college essay first sentences:

  • I heard a loud bang. I thought a bird had hit the roof of my car, but when I got out, I saw the front bumper dangling off the right side.
  • I swing my pickaxe into the crevice of a rock a few feet above me, praying that it holds when I hoist myself to the next foothold. If it doesn’t, and I lose my pickaxe… I try not to think about it. 
  • I thought the town would have changed in the six years since I had left, but as we drove past the old snowcone shop that my mom went to as a kid, I began to think that maybe I was the one who had changed.
  • Nine-year-old Isabelle and I stood under the bars, chalk flying around us. 

College application essay topics

Here are a few of the successful college application topics we’ve seen over the years.

  • The student who loved working on cars and refurbished an old VW. He illustrated how the lessons he learned from working on his car applied to different parts of his life. 
  • The student who reflected on a video she watched in stats class. The video helped her grapple with the balance of effort and privilege she has faced in her own life up to this point.
  • The student who reflected on her decision to quit dance used this as an opportunity to explore her personal philosophy and the concept of quitting more generally.

Want more ideas? Here are several more college essay examples.

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We trust these dos and don'ts for crafting a compelling college essay prove valuable in your writing journey. Follow guidelines, revise diligently, and seek feedback. Your essay is a powerful tool; wield it thoughtfully to leave an indelible impression on admission committees.

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personal essay dos and don'ts

Med School Insiders

How to Approach Your Personal Statement: Dos and Don’ts

  • By Sammi Scarola
  • May 6, 2021
  • Medical Student , Pre-med
  • Medical School Application , Personal Statement

Like many premed students, you are diligently working hard on applications, getting transcripts, asking for letters of recommendation , and choosing how to approach your personal statement. Writing your personal statement is a daunting and, in some cases, painful experience, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be motivating to recall the events and influences that have led you to this point in your life—applying to medical school.

Learn from the many, many premeds who have been down this road before. Our list of personal statement Dos and Don’ts will help you make the most of the experience and ensure you don’t make any of the usual mistakes.

Read our free Step-by-Step Guide: How to Write a Medical School Personal Statement for tips on getting started, what to include, and common mistakes to avoid.

The Purpose of a Personal Statement

Medical school admissions committees want to see what inspired you and prepared you to go to medical school. They want to know if you truly have a passion for medicine and are ready for the rigor of medical education.

Medical school is challenging, stressful, expensive, and only the beginning of a much longer journey. Medical schools want to ensure they are accepting students that are equipped for the journey and have a genuine desire to practice medicine. This saves both the school and the student time and money.

|| 6 Common Medical School Application Mistakes – Pre-Meds Be Warned ||

The Personal Statement is an Opportunity

Instead of looking at the personal statement as yet another hurdle to jump through when applying to medical school, view it as an opportunity. All of the other aspects of your application are pretty standard. They see your MCAT score , your college GPA and course performance, your volunteer hours, and your listed clinical experiences. What they don’t see is who you are underneath your accomplishments.

This is what the personal statement allows you to demonstrate. Admissions committees already have your CV and transcripts, so the personal statement should show a more multifaceted view of who you are.

This is your chance to convey your personality, character traits, and personal narrative. Your personal statement is what helps you to stand out among thousands of similar applicants. Be sure to share meaningful information and help the readers feel a personal connection with you. Tell your story.

Getting Started

Many students find getting started is the hardest part of writing a personal statement. Writing your personal statement requires ample time for reflection. To get started, brainstorm some of your best qualities and character traits and list them on paper. Ask yourself: “ What character traits do I want admissions committees to focus on? ”

Then, brainstorm some of the events and experiences in your past that best portray these qualities. For example, avoid telling the admissions committee that you are “ motivated, empathetic, and compassionate .” Instead, SHOW them that you’re motivated, empathetic, and compassionate by telling a story that exemplifies these characteristics. It is important that your personal statement is a narrative rather than a list of your accolades and qualifications.

For more on how to begin your process, read: How to Start the Medical School Personal Statement .

Writing your Personal Statement

Once you’ve identified the personal traits and experiences you want to convey to the admissions committee, writing your personal statement will come much more easily. Remember to share moments of your life that mattered. The experiences you choose to share must have played an active role in shaping who you are as a person and influenced your desire to pursue medicine.

When writing about your experiences, ensure they showcase your passion for medicine and be sure to include your own reflections and lessons learned. These experiences are not required to be medical in nature but should portray why your journey through medical school will be successful.

With so many career paths relating to science and the medical field, it is imperative that you portray why being a physician is the only path for you and why it’s a good fit for who you are as a person. Show them why you would be a good physician and what unique gifts you will bring to the field to help your patients. Remember to share information that makes you memorable and unique so that you stand out among many similar applicants.

Don’t forget that during your interviews , the admissions committee will certainly ask you about the experiences or traits expressed in your personal statement, so share information you want to be asked about and can elaborate on in person.

Learn more in The Anatomy of a Medical School Personal Statement .

How to Approach Your Personal Statement: Dos and Don’ts

  • DO organize your personal statement . It should have a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion that flow into each other.
  • DO start writing as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the perfect idea magically pops into your head. Do some brainstorming and get writing as soon as possible. Your first draft won’t be anywhere near perfect so the sooner you begin, the more time you will have to edit, refine, or start over again with a better idea.
  • DO have a theme. Ensure that the theme is present throughout the entire personal statement.
  • DO use transition sentences. Transition sentences highlight the logical relationship between paragraphs and sections of a text. They provide greater cohesion and make explicitly clear how ideas are related to one another. Think of a transition sentence as a bridge between one idea and the next.
  • DO follow the requirements: 5300 character limit for MD applications. Remember that if you are applying to DO schools your personal statement must address why you want to become an osteopath specifically, and if you are applying through TMDSAS, there’s a 5000 character limit. ( AMCAS vs. AACOMAS vs. TMDSAS Application Differences )
  • DO put significant effort into editing your essay. Read your essay over and over again for proper grammar and sneaky typos. Use editing apps such as Grammarly and Hemingway Editor , but don’t rely on bots alone.
  • DO consult experts : You don’t have to go it alone. Seek out help and personal statement editing from professionals who have years of experience reviewing personal statements and serving on admissions committees. Ask mentors, or anyone else you know, with intimate experience in the medical school admissions process. If you don’t have anyone in your own network, Med School Insiders has top advisors who have admissions committee experience as well as extensive experience editing thousands of successful Personal Statements.
  • DON’T use clichés. It’s great that you like science, but I can assure you that all applicants like science. It is important that you want to help people, but so do all of the other applicants. Avoid stating the obvious. Instead, try to be unique.
  • DON’T make careless grammatical errors. This can be the difference between an interview offer and a rejection . Grammatical errors suggest that you are either careless or don’t really care about entering medical school. Attention to detail is important in medicine, so exhibit that skill while writing your personal statement.
  • DON’T lie or fabricate stories or information . Just don’t do it. You do not want to get caught in a lie in the middle of an interview, and it is simply unprofessional. Remember that your personal statement is your only chance to demonstrate who you are , so tell your story truthfully.
  • DON’T make excuses for poor grades or MCAT scores. This is definitely not the place for that. Focus on sharing your story and expressing the personal qualities you’re most proud of. If there was an event that played a large role in your journey, feel free to write about it, but do not simply make excuses for weak parts of your application.
  • DON’T speak negatively about a physician or healthcare professional. You may have had negative interactions with a physician and feel compelled to discuss how those negative encounters shaped your desire to become a physician, but leave this out of your statement. These experiences may have strongly impacted you, but admissions committees may be deterred by your cynicism towards the healthcare profession.
  • DON’T overuse the word I. Doing so makes you more likely to state your accomplishments instead of telling a story.
  • DON’T use flowery language or words you found in a thesaurus. Be respectful and thoughtful with your language, but focus on using words that come naturally to you.
  • DON’T list your accomplishments or rehash your CV and extracurriculars. They already have access to those aspects of your application. Use the personal statement as an opportunity to provide a deeper insight into who you are as a person and prospective physician.
  • DON’T beg for an interview or acceptance. This is unprofessional and not at all the purpose of your personal statement.
  • DON’T explain to a physician what medicine is all about. Talk about yourself and your experiences; the admissions committee already understands medicine.
  • DON’T procrastinate. Get started on your personal statement as soon as you can. Set time aside every day to reflect on the moments in your life that have shaped your desire to become a physician.
  • DON’T edit your personal statement by yourself. You should get outside opinions and have others edit your essay to ensure there’s nothing you missed. Having strong writers edit your essay is helpful, but it’s best to have physicians and those who have served on admissions committees as editors. They can edit beyond spelling or grammar to provide an insider’s perspective on what will impress medical schools. Med School Insiders offers a range of personal statement editing packages , from general editing to unlimited, in-depth editing with a physician.

Learn more about our Comprehensive Medical School Admissions Packages and follow our blog for the latest premed advice, study strategies, and more.

|| Guide to Understanding the Medical School Application Process ||

Sammi Scarola

Sammi Scarola

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Do’s, Don’ts, and Tips For Acing The Personal Essay

by admin | Jan 9, 2023 | Blog | 0 comments

During the renowned travel season, students who are already in their final year of school fill out college application forms. Typically, around this time, classes are in full gear and people are starting part-time employment and internships. To make the college application function like a charm and create resumes that are valued, they participate in as many college fairs and competitions as they can.

In addition to this, there is another component of the college application called the personal essay. The following is taken from a Grammarly.com page that discusses personal essays: “Starting in the late 2000s, a certain form of personal essay witnessed a popularity explosion. These essays were incredibly intimate and confessional in style, frequently in a TMI sense. For the sake of shock alone, their headlines were clickable and shareable. ” Students are aware of how to write a personal essay and where the focus should be, and anyone with even a little background knowledge may understand the basics, according to the quotation where the word’s fundamentals are visible

If you search online “how to write my essay ”, you will get a plenty of results. However, this article has picked the best suggestions for writing personal essay- do read the below paragraphs.

A personal essay is what?

Simply told, it is the essay that you must submit with your college application.

In other words, a personal essay is a piece of writing that serves to convey a significant life lesson that the author has learned. Are you unsure of how to begin a personal essay? Since it will focus on their experiences, students can write personal essays in the first person. Non-English speaking students often require writer help to write a personal essay.

A personal essay is an example of creative non-fiction writing.

A personal essay is conversational, which helps you establish a bond with your audience. Depending on the experience individuals feel comfortable discussing in a college application, the tone might be motivating, uplifting, inspiring, or confessional. Moreover, many schools and colleges ask students to write essay assignments . Students who are not very introspective find it difficult to write such things.  Our expert assignment help provide assignment help to students of all subjects and all courses.

The Subject

What makes a good topic for a personal essay paper ? The topic for a personal Essay writing might be chosen from a wide range of options. Personal essays are produced by individuals based on their own experiences. Consequently, a wide range of themes are possible.

Students may discuss their first day of school, educational experiences, pivotal decisions in their lives, any extracurricular activities they have taken part in, awards they have received, personal losses, and experiences with war and natural disasters.

Headlines were shared and clickable for their shock factor alone. So, come up with styles for personal quality essay topics that the readers would identify with. The readers seek out an essay topic that is emotionally relatable and begins with a difficult narrative. Everybody’s life includes experiences like facing a fear, falling in love, overcoming a challenge, learning something new, making a challenging decision, and dealing with emotions. Therefore, use an attention-grabbing headline to discuss the global truth.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.

The Structure

An effective personal academic essay structure should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, just like any other academic essay. You will end up creating a well-balanced essay that adheres to the normal structural rule while revealing the writer’s own associations if you stick to the five-paragraph essay pattern.

How should I format a personal essay? The three parts of the article are explained in more detail here-

Introduction

The personal introduction essay, which is typically two paragraphs and a few sentences lengthy, needs to contain a hook to draw the reader in. Students are required to submit a personal statement that they intend to develop throughout the body of the essay.

Additionally, they should refrain from using cliches like starting with a well-known quote. Instead, get into your stories right away to establish a special connection with the audience.

The “meat of the students’ tale” is referred to as the body of the personal essay. This section of the paper, which is typically three paragraphs long, will centre on presenting the key arguments and individual examples that support the essay’s title and objective statement.

The student-writers should thoughtfully consider their experiences and discuss how they formed their perspective and knowledge while composing the body paragraphs of a personal essay.

The conclusion of a personal essay is a stand-alone paragraph that restates the reasons why the essay’s thesis contains the lesson from the student’s experience. It contains the reveal of a deeper truth as well as the author’s realization.

Students can explain why their own experiences are significant to them and what readers can learn from the work.

The Tips To Nail It

Understanding the format is not necessary only for writing a personal essay suitable for college applications. Students must be aware of practical advice that will ensure a smooth transition from high school to college for that. Here are some pointers from sample personal essays at your disposal.

Keep It Specific

Descriptive essays are personal compositions. The reader’s attention won’t be captured if the descriptions don’t provoke contemplation. Only include pertinent information regarding feelings and experiences from your real life.

Make Your Essay “Personal”

The length or precise organisation of the personal essay for the college application are not important. Although there is no harm in adhering to the specific instructions for writing the essay, the teachers are interested in how the events and people have influenced you and your actions in life. Don’t go into great detail about what happened. Instead, concentrate on how it has altered your perspective.

Allow your imagination to run wild

Be creative, sad, or humorous. The likelihood that the college admissions committee will enjoy your essay will increase with an unpolished tale. Show your humour or creative writing skills in the article if you have them. Let quickness and ingenuity take centre stage. Determine your personal assets, then play to them while writing.

What Is A Personal Essay That Isn’t?

It is not a poorly written article. Although each person’s experiences are different, the accepted organising and formatting guidelines should be followed. It does not require multiple citations and references. It is a piece of writing that strengthens interpersonal relationships and mental health. A personal essay is more than just a recounting of life’s experiences.

20+ Ideas for Personal Essays

  • Your most fortunate day.
  • How did you develop your driving skills?
  • Write about a surprising lesson you recently learned from a close friend.
  • What did you find most difficult about the 2020 Pandemic and quarantine?
  • Write about an instance when you were certain you were right but were proven to be mistaken.
  • Write about a dish that reminds you of a different time.
  • Did you experience any natural disasters? Describe how you felt.
  • What was your favourite past time before you started using social media?
  • What recent stressful scenario had you on the defensive?
  • Your greatest loss in life.
  • Hope was sparked by the words of an unknown individual.
  • After a difficult time in your life, express your emotions invention.
  • Your life’s most memorable movie moment.
  • Your hidden skill.
  • An almost fatal encounter.
  • The most difficult news you had to share.
  • What is the one essential item you simply cannot live without?
  • Share a memorable vacation memory with the group.
  • Any past event that you wish you hadn’t done?
  • Do you have anything you’d like to alter about yourself? Why?
  • A catastrophe that altered everything
  • A destination you’d want to go to once a year.
  • Uneasy lesson
  • What is your favourite memory from childhood?
  • You’re studying equality and feminism.

Please feel free to use any of the subjects to develop own personal essay papers. Use the advice to raise the essay’s quality. Make a good impression on the college evaluation committee with your personal essay to advance. If you need assignment help , get the best assignment service from the professional writers of Academia Assist.

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Writing a Personal Statement

Wellesley Career Education logo

Preparing to Write

Brainstorming, don't forget, sample prompts.

A personal statement is a narrative essay that connects your background, experiences, and goals to the mission, requirements, and desired outcomes of the specific opportunity you are seeking. It is a critical component in the selection process, whether the essay is for a competitive internship, a graduate fellowship, or admittance to a graduate school program. It gives the selection committee the best opportunity to get to know you, how you think and make decisions, ways in which past experiences have been significant or formative, and how you envision your future. Personal statements can be varied in form; some are given a specific prompt, while others are less structured. However, in general a personal statement should answer the following questions:

  • Who are you?
  • What are your goals?
  • How does this specific program/opportunity help you achieve your goals?
  • What is in the future?

A personal statement is not:

  • A variation of your college admissions essay
  • An academic/research paper
  • A narrative version of your resume
  • A creative writing piece (it can be creative, though)
  • An essay about somebody else

Keep in mind that your statement is only a portion of the application and should be written with this in mind. Your entire application package will include some, possibly all, of the materials listed below. You will want to consider what these pieces of the application communicate about you. Your personal statement should aim to tie everything together and fill in or address any gaps. There will likely be some overlap but be sure not to be too repetitive.

  • Personal Statement(s)
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendations
  • Sample of written work
  • Research proposal

Preparing to Write A large portion of your work towards completing a personal statement begins well before your first draft or even an outline. It is incredibly important to be sure you understand all of the rules and regulations around the statement. Things to consider before you begin writing:

  • How many prompts? And what are they? It is important to know the basics so you can get your ideas in order. Some programs will require a general statement of interest and a focused supplementary or secondary statement closely aligned with the institution's goals.
  • Are there formatting guidelines? Single or double spaced, margins, fonts, text sizes, etc. Our general guideline is to keep it simple.
  • How do I submit my statement(s)? If uploading a document we highly suggest using a PDF as it will minimize the chances of accidental changes to formatting. Some programs may event ask you to copy and paste into a text box.
  • When do I have to submit my statement(s)? Most are due at the time of application but some programs, especially medical schools, will ask for secondary statements a few months after you apply. In these instances be sure to complete them within two weeks, any longer is an indication that you aren't that interested in the institution.

Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on your experiences and motivations as they relate to the programs to which you are applying. This will offer you a chance to organize your thoughts which will make the writing process much easier. Below are a list of questions to help you get started:

  • What individuals, experiences or events have shaped your interest in this particular field?
  • What has influenced your decision to apply to graduate school?
  • How does this field align with your interests, strengths, and values?
  • What distinguishes you from other applicants?
  • What would you bring to this program/profession?
  • What has prepared you for graduate study in this field? Consider your classes at Wellesley, research and work experience, including internships, summer jobs and volunteer work.
  • Why are you interested in this particular institution or degree program?
  • How is this program distinct from others?
  • What do you hope to gain?
  • What is motivating you to seek an advanced degree now?
  • Where do you see yourself headed and how will this degree program help you get there?

For those applying to Medical School, if you need a committee letter for your application and are using the Medical Professions Advisory Committee you have already done a lot of heavy lifting through the 2017-2018 Applicant Information Form . Even if you aren't using MPAC the applicant information form is a great place to start.

Another great place to start is through talking out your ideas. You have a number of options both on and off campus, such as: Career Education advisors and mentors ( you can set up an appointment here ), major advisor, family, friends. If you are applying to a graduate program it is especially important to talk with a faculty member in the field. Remember to take good notes so you can refer to them later.

When you begin writing keep in mind that your essay is one of many in the application pool. This is not to say you should exaggerate your experiences to “stand out” but that you should focus on clear, concise writing. Also keep in mind that the readers are considering you not just as a potential student but a future colleague. Be sure to show them examples and experiences which demonstrate you are ready to begin their program.

It is important to remember that your personal statement will take time and energy to complete, so plan accordingly. Every application and statement should be seen as different from one another, even if they are all the same type of program. Each institution may teach you the same material but their delivery or focus will be slightly different.

In addition, remember:

  • Be yourself: You aren’t good at being someone else
  • Tragedy is not a requirement, reflection and depth are
  • Research the institution or organization
  • Proofread, proofread, proofread
  • How to have your personal statement reviewed

The prompts below are from actual applications to a several types of programs. As you will notice many of them are VERY general in nature. This is why it is so important to do your research and reflect on your motivations. Although the prompts are similar in nature the resulting statements would be very different depending on the discipline and type of program, as well as your particular background and reasons for wanting to pursue this graduate degree.

  • This statement should illustrate your academic background and experiences and explain why you would excel in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (UMass Amherst - M.S. in Civil Engineering).
  • Describe your academic and career objectives and how the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies can help you achieve them. Include other considerations that explain why you seek admissions to the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and your interests in the environmental field (Yale - Master of Environmental Management).  
  • Please discuss your academic interests and goals. Include your current professional and research interests, as well as your long-range professional objectives. Please be as specific as possible about how your objectives can be met at Clark and do not exceed 800 words (Clark University - M.A. in International Development and Social Change).
  • Write a 500- to 700-word statement that describes your work or research. Discuss how you came to focus on the medium, body of work, or academic area you wish to pursue at the graduate level. Also discuss future directions or goals for your work, and describe how the Master of Fine Arts in Studio (Printmedia) is particularly suited to your professional goals (School of the Art Institute of Chicago - MFA in Studio, Printmaking).
  • Your statement should explain why you want to study economics at the graduate level. The statement is particularly important if there is something unusual about your background and preparation that you would like us to know about you (University of Texas at Austin - Ph.D in Economics).
  • Your personal goal statement is an important part of the review process for our faculty members as they consider your application. They want to know about your background, work experience, plans for graduate study and professional career, qualifications that make you a strong candidate for the program, and any other relevant information (Indiana University Bloomington - M.S.Ed. in Secondary Education).
  • Your autobiographical essay/personal statement is a narrative that outlines significant experiences in your life, including childhood experiences, study and work, your strengths and aspirations in the field of architecture, and why you want to come to the University of Oregon (University of Oregon - Master of Architecture).
  • Personal history and diversity statement, in which you describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may refer to any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education (U.C. Davis - M.A. in Linguistics).
  • A Personal Statement specifying your past experiences, reasons for applying, and your areas of interest. It should explain your intellectual and personal goals, why you are interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary degree rather than a more traditional disciplinary one, and how this degree fits into your intellectual and personal future (Rutgers University - Ph.D in Women’s and Gender Studies).
  • Your application requires a written statement to uploaded into your application and is a critical component of your application for admission. This is your opportunity to tell us what excites you about the field of library and information science, and what problems you want to help solve in this field. Please also tell us how your prior experiences have prepared you for this next step toward your career goals and how this program will help you achieve them (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - Master of Science in Library Science).
  • After watching the video, please describe what strengths and preferences as a learner you have that will facilitate your success in this innovative curriculum. What challenges in our curriculum do you anticipate and what strategies might you use to address these challenges? (MGH Institute of Health Professions PT - They recently redesigned their curriculum)
  • Your personal goal statement should briefly describe how you view the future of the field, what your goals are to be part of that future, and what brought you to pursue an advanced education degree in your chosen field. You may include any other information that you feel might be useful. (Northeastern PT)
  • Personal Statement: In 500 words or less, describe a meaningful educational experience that affected your professional goals and growth and explain how it impacted you. The educational experience does not need to be related to this degree. Focus on the educational experience and not why you think you would be a good professional in this field. (Simmons PT)
  • Personal Statement (500 word minimum): State your reasons for seeking admission to this program at this institution. Include your professional goals, why you want to pursue a career in this field and how admission to this program will assist you in accomplishing those goals. (Regis College Nursing)
  • “Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to this type of program.” (AMCAS)
  • Address the following three questions(Though there is no set limit, most statements are 1–2 pages, single-spaced.): What are your reasons for pursuing this degree? Why do you wish to pursue your degree at this institution? How do you intend to leverage your degree in a career of this field? (Boston University MPH)
  • Please submit a personal statement/statement of purpose of no more than 500 words for the department/degree of choice. Professional degree essays require a clear understanding of the _______ field and how you hope to work within the field. Be sure to proofread your personal statement carefully for spelling and grammar. In your statement, be sure to address the following: what interests you in the field of _____ what interests you in a specific degree program and department at this institution and what interests you in a particular certificate (if applicable). Please also describe how you hope to use your ________ training to help you achieve your career goals. (Columbia PhD in Public Health - Epidemiology)
  • Because each Home Program requires significant original research activities in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree, we are interested in obtaining as much information as possible about your previous research experiences. Those who already have such experience are in a better position to know whether they are truly interested in performing ______ research as part of a graduate program. Please include specific information about your research experience in your Statement of Purpose. You may also use the Statement to amplify your comments about your choice of Home Program(s), and how your past experiences and current interests are related to your choice. Personal Statements should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). Make sure to set your computer to Western European or other English-language setting. We cannot guarantee the ability to access your statement if it is submitted in other fonts. (Stanford Biosciences PhD)
  • Your statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the Department of ____ at ___ University. It would be helpful to include what you have done to prepare for this degree program. Please describe your research interests, past research experience, future career plans and other details of your background and interests that will allow us to evaluate your ability to thrive in our program. If you have interests that align with a specific faculty member, you may state this in your application. Your statement of purpose should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). (Stanford Bioengineering PhD)
  • Statement of purpose (Up to one page or 1,000 words): Rather than a research proposal, you should provide a statement of purpose. Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at this institution and your relevant experience and education. Please provide an indication of the area of your proposed research and supervisor(s) in your statement. This will be assessed for the coherence of the statement; evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study; the ability to present a reasoned case in English; and commitment to the subject. (Oxford Inorganic Chemistry - DPhil)

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  • Academic writing

What Is Academic Writing? | Dos and Don’ts for Students

Academic writing is a formal style of writing used in universities and scholarly publications. You’ll encounter it in journal articles and books on academic topics, and you’ll be expected to write your essays , research papers , and dissertation in academic style.

Academic writing follows the same writing process as other types of texts, but it has specific conventions in terms of content, structure and style.

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Table of contents

Types of academic writing, academic writing is…, academic writing is not…, useful tools for academic writing, academic writing checklist.

Academics mostly write texts intended for publication, such as journal articles, reports, books, and chapters in edited collections. For students, the most common types of academic writing assignments are listed below.

Different fields of study have different priorities in terms of the writing they produce. For example, in scientific writing it’s crucial to clearly and accurately report methods and results; in the humanities, the focus is on constructing convincing arguments through the use of textual evidence. However, most academic writing shares certain key principles intended to help convey information as effectively as possible.

Whether your goal is to pass your degree, apply to graduate school , or build an academic career, effective writing is an essential skill.

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Formal and unbiased

Academic writing aims to convey information in an impartial way. The goal is to base arguments on the evidence under consideration, not the author’s preconceptions. All claims should be supported with relevant evidence, not just asserted.

To avoid bias, it’s important to represent the work of other researchers and the results of your own research fairly and accurately. This means clearly outlining your methodology  and being honest about the limitations of your research.

The formal style used in academic writing ensures that research is presented consistently across different texts, so that studies can be objectively assessed and compared with other research.

Because of this, it’s important to strike the right tone with your language choices. Avoid informal language , including slang, contractions , clichés, and conversational phrases:

  • Also , a lot of the findings are a little unreliable.
  • Moreover , many of the findings are somewhat unreliable.

Clear and precise

It’s important to use clear and precise language to ensure that your reader knows exactly what you mean. This means being as specific as possible and avoiding vague language :

  • People have been interested in this thing for a long time .
  • Researchers have been interested in this phenomenon for at least 10 years .

Avoid hedging your claims with words like “perhaps,” as this can give the impression that you lack confidence in your arguments. Reflect on your word choice to ensure it accurately and directly conveys your meaning:

  • This could perhaps suggest that…
  • This suggests that…

Specialist language or jargon is common and often necessary in academic writing, which generally targets an audience of other academics in related fields.

However, jargon should be used to make your writing more concise and accurate, not to make it more complicated. A specialist term should be used when:

  • It conveys information more precisely than a comparable non-specialist term.
  • Your reader is likely to be familiar with the term.
  • The term is commonly used by other researchers in your field.

The best way to familiarize yourself with the kind of jargon used in your field is to read papers by other researchers and pay attention to their language.

Focused and well structured

An academic text is not just a collection of ideas about a topic—it needs to have a clear purpose. Start with a relevant research question or thesis statement , and use it to develop a focused argument. Only include information that is relevant to your overall purpose.

A coherent structure is crucial to organize your ideas. Pay attention to structure at three levels: the structure of the whole text, paragraph structure, and sentence structure.

Well sourced

Academic writing uses sources to support its claims. Sources are other texts (or media objects like photographs or films) that the author analyzes or uses as evidence. Many of your sources will be written by other academics; academic writing is collaborative and builds on previous research.

It’s important to consider which sources are credible and appropriate to use in academic writing. For example, citing Wikipedia is typically discouraged. Don’t rely on websites for information; instead, use academic databases and your university library to find credible sources.

You must always cite your sources in academic writing. This means acknowledging whenever you quote or paraphrase someone else’s work by including a citation in the text and a reference list at the end.

There are many different citation styles with different rules. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago . Make sure to consistently follow whatever style your institution requires. If you don’t cite correctly, you may get in trouble for plagiarism . A good plagiarism checker can help you catch any issues before it’s too late.

You can easily create accurate citations in APA or MLA style using our Citation Generators.

APA Citation Generator MLA Citation Generator

Correct and consistent

As well as following the rules of grammar, punctuation, and citation, it’s important to consistently apply stylistic conventions regarding:

  • How to write numbers
  • Introducing abbreviations
  • Using verb tenses in different sections
  • Capitalization of terms and headings
  • Spelling and punctuation differences between UK and US English

In some cases there are several acceptable approaches that you can choose between—the most important thing is to apply the same rules consistently and to carefully proofread your text before you submit. If you don’t feel confident in your own proofreading abilities, you can get help from Scribbr’s professional proofreading services or Grammar Checker .

Academic writing generally tries to avoid being too personal. Information about the author may come in at some points—for example in the acknowledgements or in a personal reflection—but for the most part the text should focus on the research itself.

Always avoid addressing the reader directly with the second-person pronoun “you.” Use the impersonal pronoun “one” or an alternate phrasing instead for generalizations:

  • As a teacher, you must treat your students fairly.
  • As a teacher, one must treat one’s students fairly.
  • Teachers must treat their students fairly.

The use of the first-person pronoun “I” used to be similarly discouraged in academic writing, but it is increasingly accepted in many fields. If you’re unsure whether to use the first person, pay attention to conventions in your field or ask your instructor.

When you refer to yourself, it should be for good reason. You can position yourself and describe what you did during the research, but avoid arbitrarily inserting your personal thoughts and feelings:

  • In my opinion…
  • I think that…
  • I like/dislike…
  • I conducted interviews with…
  • I argue that…
  • I hope to achieve…

Long-winded

Many students think their writing isn’t academic unless it’s over-complicated and long-winded. This isn’t a good approach—instead, aim to be as concise and direct as possible.

If a term can be cut or replaced with a more straightforward one without affecting your meaning, it should be. Avoid redundant phrasings in your text, and try replacing phrasal verbs with their one-word equivalents where possible:

  • Interest in this phenomenon carried on in the year 2018 .
  • Interest in this phenomenon continued in 2018 .

Repetition is a part of academic writing—for example, summarizing earlier information in the conclusion—but it’s important to avoid unnecessary repetition. Make sure that none of your sentences are repeating a point you’ve already made in different words.

Emotive and grandiose

An academic text is not the same thing as a literary, journalistic, or marketing text. Though you’re still trying to be persuasive, a lot of techniques from these styles are not appropriate in an academic context. Specifically, you should avoid appeals to emotion and inflated claims.

Though you may be writing about a topic that’s sensitive or important to you, the point of academic writing is to clearly communicate ideas, information, and arguments, not to inspire an emotional response. Avoid using emotive or subjective language :

  • This horrible tragedy was obviously one of the worst catastrophes in construction history.
  • The injury and mortality rates of this accident were among the highest in construction history.

Students are sometimes tempted to make the case for their topic with exaggerated , unsupported claims and flowery language. Stick to specific, grounded arguments that you can support with evidence, and don’t overstate your point:

  • Charles Dickens is the greatest writer of the Victorian period, and his influence on all subsequent literature is enormous.
  • Charles Dickens is one of the best-known writers of the Victorian period and has had a significant influence on the development of the English novel.

There are a a lot of writing tools that will make your writing process faster and easier. We’ll highlight three of them below.

Paraphrasing tool

AI writing tools like ChatGPT and a paraphrasing tool can help you rewrite text so that your ideas are clearer, you don’t repeat yourself, and your writing has a consistent tone.

They can also help you write more clearly about sources without having to quote them directly. Be warned, though: it’s still crucial to give credit to all sources in the right way to prevent plagiarism .

Grammar checker

Writing tools that scan your text for punctuation, spelling, and grammar mistakes. When it detects a mistake the grammar checke r will give instant feedback and suggest corrections. Helping you write clearly and avoid common mistakes .

You can use a summarizer if you want to condense text into its most important and useful ideas. With a summarizer tool, you can make it easier to understand complicated sources. You can also use the tool to make your research question clearer and summarize your main argument.

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personal essay dos and don'ts

Use the checklist below to assess whether you have followed the rules of effective academic writing.

  • Checklist: Academic writing

I avoid informal terms and contractions .

I avoid second-person pronouns (“you”).

I avoid emotive or exaggerated language.

I avoid redundant words and phrases.

I avoid unnecessary jargon and define terms where needed.

I present information as precisely and accurately as possible.

I use appropriate transitions to show the connections between my ideas.

My text is logically organized using paragraphs .

Each paragraph is focused on a single idea, expressed in a clear topic sentence .

Every part of the text relates to my central thesis or research question .

I support my claims with evidence.

I use the appropriate verb tenses in each section.

I consistently use either UK or US English .

I format numbers consistently.

I cite my sources using a consistent citation style .

Your text follows the most important rules of academic style. Make sure it's perfect with the help of a Scribbr editor!

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College tour season is about to kick off. Here are 10 tips from college tour guides to have a successful campus visit.

  • As spring starts, colleges nationwide will welcome parents and students to tour their campuses. 
  • College tour guides want people to arrive on time, ask the right questions, and have fun.
  • They also recommend students take the tours on their own, without their parents.

Insider Today

Spring break is right around the corner, and for many high-school students and their parents, that means many will be hitting the road to tour colleges around the country.

To make the most of your visit, Business Insider spoke with college students and tour guides. They know the campuses like the backs of their hands, and they know how to walk backward.

Here are the dos and don'ts of college tours from student guides .

1. Get there with no time to spare, but don't be late.

You won't get points for arriving early, so try to arrive on time. But if you do happen to arrive late , there's no need to worry.

"If something comes up and you are late, ask your guide what you missed once the tour finishes," Skyler Kawecki-Muonio, a senior at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, told BI. "They will happily fill you in."

2. Dress to impress, but don't sacrifice comfort.

It's important to look nice, but you don't have to don a jacket and tie. Tour-goers should put their best foot forward with a sturdy pair of walking shoes , and don't forget to dress for the weather.

"At Fairleigh Dickinson, tours go out rain or shine, so make sure to wear clothes that will keep you warm," Emily Bone, a junior at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, said .

3. Don't forget to sign in, but skip the résumé .

Most schools have a check-in desk where you'll receive a campus map and other literature. But don't bother furnishing schools with your portfolio.

"Students can leave their résumés at home," Henry Millar, a senior at the College of William & Mary in Virginia, said. "Tour guides generally do not have any sway in the admissions process whatsoever, so feel free to save the paper."

4. Pay attention on the tour, but do it solo if possible.

Some schools offer to let parents and kids take separate tours, which has advantages.

"Get excited about your child's potential future in college, but give them some space to see what they think of that school on their own," Nathan Weisbrod, a junior at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, told BI.

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Students can comfortably ask questions without a parent present and compare notes afterward .

5. Ask all your questions, but avoid personal interrogations.

This is the time to inquire about any aspect of campus life , and don't feel shy about speaking up.

"Tour guides love getting questions because it allows us to cater the tour, especially in small groups, toward the needs and interests of the families on that specific tour," Halle Spataro, a senior at Bucknell University, said.

But some topics are off-limits, so don't ask your tour guide about their SAT scores , ACT scores , or what they wrote about in their essay .

6. Speak up, but let the student take the lead.

Parents may be tempted to raise their hands again and again, but this tour is about the student, so there should be space to let them shine.

"Try to take the back seat — or the passenger seat — but refrain from driving all of your child's interactions," Julian Jacklin, a junior at Reed College in Oregon, said. "Students who feel they can own that experience usually ask the most questions and engage with the tour more."

7. Say thanks, but don't leave with questions unanswered.

Maybe your guide didn't hear you, or your kid was reluctant to speak up. You can still get the information you want before leaving.

"There's a lot of information students are getting that day and a lot of excitement with being in a new place, which can make people forget to ask certain questions," Lorenzo Mars, a junior at Pepperdine University in California, said.

Therefore, get your tour guide's email address so that you can follow up .

8. You may know exactly what school is right but keep an open mind.

Don't be surprised if a city-living kid is suddenly intrigued by a small-town setting.

"The college search and college experience are all about getting to know yourself better and growing, so on a tour, students have to trust themselves and their judgment of the 'world' they've just stepped into," Thomas Elias, a senior at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, said .

9. Take in as much as possible, but remember to have fun.

Sure, preparing for the next four years can be scary and stressful. But it's also an exciting milestone, so enjoy the ride.

"These tours serve as great opportunities to learn more about colleges — along with their cities, culture, and people," Connor Gee, a sophomore at the University of Mississippi, said. "Have fun with it!"

10. Weigh the pros and cons of the school, but don't stop there.

Your tour may be over, but you can still learn other ways to immerse yourself in college life .

"See if the school offers additional experiences, like eating in the cafeteria or attending a class," Emily Balda, a senior at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, said. "Consider it 'food for thought.'"

Watch: What new Citadel military college "knobs" go through on day one at the controversial school

personal essay dos and don'ts

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