Writing a Personal Statement 101
Why is it important?
It’s a chance to…
Tip: Know Your Deadlines
| Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
UW Seattle Transfer | Feb. 15th | | Dec. 15th | |
UW Seattle Freshman | Dec. 15th | | Not available for freshman | |
UW Bothell Transfer | May 1st | | | |
Make your own chart and fill in the rest!
You can get in just on your personal statement?
Many universities use a holistic review process which means that they are evaluating you on a multitude of factors (grades, leadership, personal statement, etc.)
Academics is a significant factor in deciding whether to admit a student but your personal statement (esp. for transfer students) is what is going to distinguish you from other applicants. Especially is your grades are below the average for admitted students, your personal statement is your chance show the admission committee that you should be in the program
What is UW Seattle looking for? [Transfer]
What is UW Seattle looking for? [Transfer]
Strong Academic Achievement = GPA and rigor of classes
Preparation for intended major = fulfilled prerequisites
New maturity / Consistency = increasing grade trends esp. during last 40 credits, focused class selection
Major uniquely available = assessing why you need to come to their school
What is UW Seattle looking for Cont.? [Transfer]
Think about these questions as you write
[For Transfer Students]
Common Misconceptions #1
“I need to show them how much I know about my intended field” → NO
Remember who your audience is → admissions counselors and advisors that might not have that content knowledge
They want to see your academic POTENTIAL, not that you already know it all. If you knew it all then you wouldn’t need to join their program. Not everyone has been coding since they were 12 years old, and that is okay!
Common Misconceptions #2
“I need to have out-of-class experience in my intended field” → Not necessarily
Again, they are not looking to see how much you know about ___ or ___ or how you’ve been able to work with this company or that company. These are definitely valuable experiences to have and talk about however admissions committee recognizes that not all students will get these opportunities. If you do have these opportunities or can get them, GREAT, but make sure you talk about them in a meaningful way in your personal statement.
Admissions committees want to see if you fit into the community. You can demonstrate your potential through activities that are not related to your intended field (transferable skills).
Common Misconceptions #3
“I’ve gone through some stuff (struggles) and I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining” → Admissions committees wants to hear about the experiences that you’ve had that have shaped you and your journey
You might think that admissions committees don’t want to hear about how you’ve struggled or that it might come off as a “sob story” or that you’re complaining, but they do. They want to hear about anything related to your journey that is significant to you.
Common Misconceptions #4
“I should list all of the things that I’ve done in my essay” → NO, talk about the experiences that you’ve had that are most significant to you
Remember it’s about quality not quantity
Not everyone is at a place where they can participate in extracurriculars after class but everyone spends time doing something, so talk about it
Be specific. If you say you participated in ___ Club the person reading it isn’t going to automatically know what skills you’ve gained, what reflections you made just because you named it.
Common Misconceptions #5
“I should tell them why their school is so great” → Not exactly. Focus on how the school/program can benefit you but don’t go on an on about everything they have there
Remember that admissions counselors want to learn about you. You can talk about the opportunities that the school will provide you and how it will further your education/career goals BUT don’t tell them about everything you love about their school. Always focus on the conversation on you, not them.
Motivation
“Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report written on birds that he'd had three months to write, which was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books about birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him put his arm around my brother's shoulder, and said, "Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.”
---Anne Lamott, Author
Don’t forget!
You all have experiences and thoughts that are unique to you. Let that shine in your essay
“The more a statement conveys how a person thinks, what he or she thinks is important, or other such insights, the better. You should think of the statement as an opportunity to round out pieces to the puzzle that makes up your application. Write about issues or problems you think about and how you have dealt with them. The more personal you can be – the more you can bring in your own background or history – the more valuable the statement can be. “
Getting Started on your Statement
Tip: Start Early
Give yourself the time needed to thoroughly work through the brainstorming, writing, and editing processes.
Step #1: Read the questions
Read the questions about think about:
Step #2: Brainstorm Ideas
[Ideas-Everyone’s writing process will look different]
Step #2: Brainstorm Ideas Cont.
Try to answer these questions
Step #3: Organize
Narrow down the ideas you want to use in your personal statement. Look at the list that you’ve generated, look at the questions they are asking you, and see where everything can fit.
UW-Seattle wants students to write about the following:
Step #4: Add the Details
TELL:
I’ve overcome a lot of obstacles in life
SHOW: This is more effective
As the first person in my family to attend college, I had to convince my brothers and sisters that higher education was a worthwhile pursuit. Although my brothers made fun of me for attending community college, I never wavered in my dedication to succeed.
Motivation
“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories.”
Tip: Don’t worry about meeting the word count just yet
Write the rough draft of your essay. Don’t worry about the length or making it perfect right away.
More ideas will flow out of you if you just keep writing. It’s better to have more to work with than not enough.
Tip: You don’t have to start with the intro paragraph
Sometimes it’s helpful to get the body paragraphs written and have a unifying theme in mind before you think about how you want to hook the reader in the intro
Step #5: Piecing the Parts Together
What ties your statement together? What parts go well together?
Step #5: Piecing the Parts Together
Theme = A Unifying Idea
“After reading this essay I want admissions counselors to know that I am a person that ___”
Examples:
Creates coherence and unity
Step #6: Revise
Ask yourself the following:
Step #7: Ask for Feedback
Getting a second opinion is good! Having a different pair of eyes to read your essay can help you see if something doesn’t make sense or anything needs more elaboration
Example of guidance to give to the reader:
“Can you let me know if I’m getting _______ across?”
“This is the prompt for the essay, do you think I’ve answered it well?”
“I’m not confident about my grammar, could you give me suggestions”
Step #7: Ask for Feedback Cont.
Email to send to your reader:
“Dear _____,
I’m in the process of writing my personal statement to (school). I was wondering if you have time to read it and provide feedback? The application is due (date), but I’d like to have a final draft finished by (date).
[Attach link to personal statement, it’s best to share it via Google Docs so that the reader can use the “suggestion” function. Also be sure to include the prompt and the word count limit at the top of the document]
Please let me know if you have the time to read my essay
Best,
(Your Name)
Tip: For Revising
After you have a draft of your personal statement. Highlight everything that an admissions counselor would have learned about you from reading this essay.
If there isn’t highlighting in every paragraph, how can you add to that paragraph?
Things to Avoid
Get feedback from...
Have multiple people read it but don’t forget that it’s your voice that needs to evident
Other Resources
Tips on Writing a Successful Goal Statement: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AEL4hpUsH9J8QXHrbirBfzKYDkoAbZci/view
Kaplan Transfer Guide:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ALny9Z6hjbg6OUQXh-Fk13QisGPH9ieL/view
UW Seattle Writing Resources:
http://depts.washington.edu/owrc/handouts
Motivation
Think of your writing as a gift to the world.
“It’s such a gift for someone to tell you the truth, and it’s such a gift for someone to create art with the mess and the chaos and the despair of life, to have turned it into a song, a poem, a novel. It’s the hugest gift we have to offer one another.”
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References