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PERSONAL STATEMENT WORKSHOP. Tips for Writing a Strong Personal Statement to Advance Your Chances of being Accepted Sue Granger-Dickson, Transfer Center Director. The Personal Statement is: An opportunity for you to showcase your uniqueness.
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PERSONAL STATEMENT WORKSHOP Tips for Writing a Strong Personal Statement to Advance Your Chances of being Accepted Sue Granger-Dickson, Transfer Center Director
The Personal Statement is: • An opportunity for you to showcase your uniqueness. • Adds clarity, richness and meaning to your application. • Provides distinctions between applicants whose academic records are similar. • A chance for you to explain obstacles or opportunities that you have taken advantage of outside of college. You are unique!
Include a discussion of: • Your academic record, accomplishments and activities. • Any unusual circumstances, hardships, or challenges you have faced and ways in which you have overcome or responded to them. • Your initiative, motivation, leadership, persistence, service to others, special potential, and/or substantial experience with other cultures. • Your achievements in light of the opportunities available to you. The Best Statements:
If you are an older or reentry student be sure to mention your life experiences as they relate to your educational plans. • Military veterans should describe how their military service has been instrumental in developing their educational plans. The UC is also interested in a family member’s military service as well. Special Populations
Start early. • Be clear, focused and organized. • Be careful with humor or clichés. • Do not manufacture hardship. • Follow instructions. • Keep to the word count. • Use correct grammar and spelling. • Use specific examples. • Give yourself plenty of time for revisions. Tips for Success
What is your intended major? Brainstorm Topics
Do you have any volunteer, work experience, internships, participation in student organizations or activities related to your major?
Make a list of 4 things that describe you. • When you get home ask a family member or friend to do the same thing. • In comparing the responses do you see any areas that overlap? Homework
What opportunities have been available to you in your community or here at BC? • Do any of these opportunities relate to your major? • Have any of these opportunities brought out your potential or leadership qualities? Also consider:
Is there a major issue confronting your family, school or community and what has been your role in addressing it? Have you overcome obstacles?
How have you changed as a result of addressing this major issue, and what impact has that change had on your choice of a major, career or dreams and aspirations? Remember, relate specifics back to your choice of major!
What classes do I get the best grades in? • Why am I interested in my major? • How can I use my interest in my major to make a contribution? • Use specific, concrete examples from your life. • Get right to the point as these are short essays. • There is an additional comment box on the application where you can, if you choose, write an additional 550 words (personal statement #3) Other things to ask yourself:
Choose the best information about you from your pre-writing process. • Write a first draft. • Use “I” statements. • Get feedback. • Revise. • Proofread. Before you paste your statement into your application: