8 Steps to write an outstanding Personal Statement

A personal statement is also called a motivational statement or statement of purpose. It is a  crucial component of your college or university application. It is a statement that showcases your outstanding qualities. Thus, it reflects your abilities, expertise, interests, aspirations, and successes in a somewhat autobiographical manner. A great personal statement could give you a better chance of getting into an academic program at the expense of others. Usually, numerous things come to mind when trying to write a personal statement. It might even be challenging to determine what to write and how to write it, especially when there is no explicit instruction from the institution on what to include in it. There is no hard and fast rule on writing a personal statement. Nevertheless, certain aspects are critical. Thus, this article presents 8 crucial steps you can follow to write a great personal statement.

Step 1: Study all the institution's requirements

Usually, some universities' programs give instructions on how the personal statement should be written; ensure you read them. For example, a university might mandate you to state your career objectives and how the program you are interested in will help you achieve them. Some Universities may even require you to express a notable event or achievement in your life. Others might have word count requirements; whatever it is, ensure you read them all.

Step 2: Provide a brief introduction about your area of interest

Here, you have to demonstrate that you understand the field you are applying for to an extent. You could also point out intriguing or notable aspects in that field. The following are examples for this section:

• In today's world, cyber attacks have become prevalent for numerous reasons; human errors cause 85% of website attacks…. (Cyber Security)
• Digital marketing is an essential requirement for any online business to thrive. Content marketing, SEO, blogs, and a strong social media presence are essential skills required for businesses to thrive…. (Digital Marketing)

Step 3: Explain how you found the institution

Here, you can discuss how you found the program. For example:

• In pursuing my goal to deepen my knowledge in business administration, I searched the internet for schools that offer a master's in business administration in the UK and found an MBA program in your reputable organisation…… (Business Administration)
• I found your institution's advertisement about a master's degree program in Human Rights on  XYZ platform, and it caught my interest….. (Human Rights)
• I am now searching to enrol in an academic institution that would provide me with a solid foundation in the essential disciplines. In pursuing my goals, I was presented with numerous possibilities for courses and universities to attend. I'd want to be a part of a flexible program to accommodate changing economic and commercial conditions. Consequently, I stumbled upon XYZ University…..

Step 4: Sell yourself to the reader

Here, It's imperative to sell yourself, grab the reader's attention and make a strong case for why you should be admitted into the program. An excellent way to do this is to describe relevant skills, work experience and accomplishments (especially those you are most proud of) that are useful to the program. For example:

• Chemistry and biology constitute part of the subjects I did during my Accord University foundation year. I did very well in those subjects, as well as other subjects. I am strongly convinced that this achievement positions me appropriately to achieve excellence while studying psychology… (Psychology)
• I have excellent knowledge of organisations' internal and external relations and administration. I'm currently working as a human resource manager, and my resourceful nature has earned me a series of awards; I was recently awarded the most innovative staff because I introduced the use of Excel VBA to automate many repetitive tasks that usually take 2 days to only a couple of minutes… (Human Resource)
• I can say with certainty that my job experience as a negotiator in a Tax Firm sharpened my people management, communication, and negotiating abilities, which I aim to use in my professional path while I pursue a master's degree in business administration… (Business Administration)
• I have seen firsthand knowledge of how a minuscule disease can strain the healthcare system, even the most sophisticated healthcare system in the world, thanks to my training and current career as a medical doctor…. (Public Health)
• Working with a wide range of organisations involved in data management and predictive analysis after my undergraduate degree has helped me gain substantial knowledge and experience in the fundamentals of data science and what is required to be successful in the domain…. (Data Science)

Also, do not forget to include your passions, hobbies, or extracurricular activities. Doing this demonstrates that you are a well-rounded person who does more than study. For example:

• I participated in various activities while at Royal College. For instance, I was the project coordinator for the Career guidance workshop in the Royal College Chemistry Club. I was also a member of the Royal College Science Association. I received an award for Science Grade 6 at the 164th Prize Giving…. (Electrical and Electronic Engineering).
• I did many projects, the most notable was the book donation project. This is because book reading serves as a source of brain development, entertainment, education, self-improvement, and many more, which, in one way or the other, contribute immensely to developing healthy psychological behaviour…. (Psychology).

Step 5: Explain why you are interested in the program

Discuss your interest in the program and how it can help you achieve your professional goals. Ensure you show that you have read the course description and what the course entails. For example:

• The program's curriculum includes essential management topics, such as leadership, communication, people management, and many more, which will allow me to be more prepared to face and respond to the challenges that actual firms face. The institution collaborates with over 1,500 enterprises and governments in more than 45 countries and offers a professional network of over 65,000 graduates. Allowing me to learn from excellent business experts and leading business thinkers will help me get a comprehensive grasp of business topics… (Media and Communications)
• My career growth benefited greatly from the multicultural and multinational atmosphere. Additionally, the work-based project, strategic management simulation, and management game modules allowed me to connect with the business world and understand real-world business issues and solutions... (Business Administration)
• I chose Liverpool since I cherished the program's central focus. This Politics and Mass Media course was focused and precisely what I was searching for in a Master's degree, unlike other programs in the US or elsewhere in the UK… (Media and Politics)

Also, you can indicate that you have read previous testimonials from other students that have studied the same course.

• I read some other past student testimonials and learned that the course provides a series case studies of real-world business situations, which helps students develop critical thinking skills
• Reading through students' testimonials regarding the course, I discovered that the course provides the opportunity to learn from outstanding business professionals and top business minds, which will furnish me with hands-on study to prepare me for the real world.

Here, you can also highlight various noteworthy achievements of the University or even narrow it down to that specific course. This could include the university ranking, connection to industry or its excellent research. For example:

• The University ranks 5th in the Times Guide for Engineering, indicating that I will learn from one of the best institutions in the UK.
• Your institution provides a professional network of over 65,000 alumni and works with more than 1,500 businesses and governments based in more than 55 countries.
• it has had an enviable reputation for research and teaching excellence in 60 years.

Step 6: Explain why you are interested in studying in that country

Here you will explain things about the country in a general or specific iconic landmark where the University is located. Describe the aspects of the institution's location that you find fascinating. For example:

• The clean air and coastlines at hundreds of miles in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador are also treasuries I would like to discover.
• I was thrilled to discover that Kingston upon Thames is a vibrant, student-friendly riverside community home to the historic Hampton Court Palace and two royal gardens.
• I am also very fascinated with the University's location. The campus is in downtown Middlesbrough, in the North East of England. It has beautiful ocean and countryside, as well as ancient cities, which are only minutes distant by public transportation.

Step 7: Write a compelling conclusion

Develop a conclusion that the potential university admissions officer will remember for a long time. It should be a concise overview of your application's rationale and restate your goals if given the opportunity. Additionally, it should urge the reader to do something to learn more about you as an applicant. Emphasise how eager you are to join the institution. For example:

• XYZ School of Management will allow me to make a smooth shift from microbiology to the private and business sectors, utilising the career mentorship program and career coaching to assist me in assimilating critical business ideas. As a result, I am excited to make the next move in my career as a business administrator and study under the leadership of the institution's dedicated professors.
• Undertaking an MBA program with XYZ will help me exploit my intellectual potential because it will allow me to learn from outstanding business professionals and top business minds, as I desire to be a notable business expert. If given an opportunity to study at XYZ University, I am convinced I would excel and make my career dream a reality.

Step 8: Read through before submitting

Read your statement over and over again. When doing this, don't just check for spelling and grammar errors. Read through to ensure that the statement covers the following:

• It demonstrates your passion and does not simply literally outline it.
• Ensure that it does not contain broad and generic remarks.
• Ensure that complex and lengthy terms are not included.
• Avoid repetition, which might make it seem like you have nothing to say.
• Ensure that your statement is relevant to the course you are applying for.
• Remember that this is your statement; concentrate on yourself and your capabilities.

 

That’s it, you could check below for some real samples

Sample 1

Sample 2

 

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