Making the personal statement personal
Yesterday I was working with a client on her personal statement for her college applications through the Common App. A common issue I see as a college counselor is the student who has great life experiences and ideas, but in their writing defaults to vague platitudes about things like "hard work" and "communication." My client was struggling with this issue.
Then we had a breakthrough. After an extended back and forth about some of her learning experiences, she began to tell me a story about being on her middle school Model United Nations team. Her team ended up being paired to work together with a high school team from another state. The other kids were much older than she was, and she was intimidated. At the same time, it became clear to her that she had valuable knowledge and insight to contribute. Her social instincts told her to keep quiet, but her loyalty to her teammates compelled her to speak up. Her contributions ultimately enabled her team to win that round of the competition. In hindsight, she now realizes that through this experience she learned self advocacy and tact, and how these can work in tandem to help her achieve her goals.
As a college admissions counselor, I live for these moments. I believe that the process of writing an essay, especially the Common App personal statement, can be, and should be, a process of joyful self discovery. I am proud to be a part of my client's college admissions process, and I look forward to reading future drafts of her ever-evolving essay. It's already good, and I know it will continue to get better. I know admissions officers will love reading it and getting to know her as much as I have.
For any student approaching the Common App personal statement, I offer these top 5 suggestions:
1. Tell a story. Vivid details and experiences will make your essay come alive much more than general statements of what you learned, or what you achieved. Good storytelling will enable you to find these specifics.
2. Answer the question. The prompts for the Common App personal statement are open ended, which should allow you to write about almost anything you want. That said, before you submit your essay, go back and reread the question. Make sure you’ve answered the question in a clear and straightforward way.
3. Use the space you have. The Common App personal statement is capped at 650 words. Use them! The essay prompt says to write between 250 and 650 words, but a 250-word essay is going to feel pretty skeletal to most readers.
4. Get feedback. Many applicants are reluctant to let anyone else see their essay. This is a mistake. Find someone you know and trust who can give you specific feedback and offer suggestions for revision.
5. Be yourself. Allow your unique, authentic voice to shine through. After all, you want to attend the college that allows you to be you, not necessarily the one highest in the U.S. News and World Report rankings.
