Advice for Writing Personal Statements
Content
What should be in a personal statement?
Address all aspects of a provided prompt
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Be creative
A personal statement should be personal
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Structure and Style
Formulate specific long-term goals
Begin and end with polished & moving sentences
Illustrate that you are an informed applicant
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Include a narrative or anecdote
Establish your intent early on
Create an overarching theme
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Revising
Tailor your statement to the specific school or program to which you are applying
Recognize that a successful personal statement involves a major time investment
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Final details
Find at least three readers to provide feedback
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Resources
George Mason University Support
- Career Services is dedicated to career and graduate school preparation. Their website includes a timetable for the application process and resources for the application process as a whole: https://careers.gmu.edu/students/graduate-school SUB I, room 3400
Recommended Books
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Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way into the Graduate School of Your Choice by Donald Asher
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Writing Personal Statements and Scholarship Application Essays: A Student Handbook by Joe Schall
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How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School by Richard Stelzer
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Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way into the Graduate School of Your Choice by Donald Asher
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The Synonym Finder by J. I. Rodale
“The Paradox of Self-Expression: As you revise personal essays, concentrate on exuding an affirmative, positive tone. Be upbeat but not overbearing. Explain but don’t equivocate. Be realistic but not pessimistic. Speak confidently but don’t brag. Be idealistic but not naïve. Tell the truth about yourself and your background but don’t apologize for either.”
— from Joe Schall’s Writing Personal Statements and Scholarship Application Essays