| Whether you are applying to enter undergraduate | | | | volunteered in a battered women's shelter and this |
| school, graduate school, or applying for a job, you | | | | has sparked your interest in becoming a social |
| may be asked to include a personal statement with | | | | worker. You feel that studying social work will |
| your application. A personal statement is a | | | | prepare you for a career in social work, which will |
| supplement to your application that allows you to | | | | allow you to help try and change or better certain |
| elaborate on your skills, experience, etc. Some | | | | aspects of society. |
| personal statements ask you to respond to a very | | | | 5. Describe your career goals. Be as specific as |
| specific question, while other personal statements | | | | possible. For example, don't just say that you want |
| may ask a general question, which gives you a little | | | | to be a doctor, when what you really want to be is |
| more leeway on what should be included. | | | | a pediatric researcher. Explain the rationale behind you |
| Writing your personal statement is your opportunity | | | | choosing to set these career goals for yourself. |
| to shine. It is your opportunity to describe yourself, | | | | Maybe what sparked your goal was that your baby |
| list the reasons you are interested in becoming part | | | | cousin died of a rare disease and you want to be |
| of the institution you are applying for, and the goals | | | | able to conduct medical research, specifically for |
| that you have set for yourself to achieve. The | | | | children, to try and find new and innovative cures for |
| personal statement is also your platform for | | | | certain diseases that affect kids. |
| elaborating on the abilities that you possess that are | | | | 6. List the skills and achievements that you have |
| not reflected in the standard form questions that you | | | | accomplished. Provide supporting evidence as to how |
| complete on an application. Finally, by completing your | | | | you accomplished the achievements or why you |
| personal statement, you are showing the review | | | | received the awards that you have listed. |
| board that you have the ability to organize your | | | | 7. Describe your most prominent characteristics and |
| thoughts and that you can write clearly and | | | | attributes. Again, provide supporting evidence to |
| effectively. | | | | show how these attributes are beneficial to your |
| 10 Things you should include in a personal statement: | | | | growth and to their organization. |
| 1. List and thoroughly explain your personal | | | | 8. Fully describe some responsibilities that have you |
| experiences and qualifications. Be as specific as | | | | taken on and what you learned from them. |
| possible. Your experiences may be related to school, | | | | 9. Describe some difficulties in life that you managed |
| extracurricular activities, community service, or work | | | | to overcome. Describe how you were able to |
| experience. | | | | overcome these difficulties and what you learned |
| 2. Explain what makes you special, unique or | | | | from these difficult times or incidents. |
| impressive. Set yourself apart from your competition. | | | | 10. Make sure that you have written a complete |
| Explain why you should be chosen over the other | | | | personal statement that includes a strong and |
| applicants that are volleying for your position in the | | | | attention grabbing opening paragraph. This should be |
| institution. | | | | followed by the main section of your personal |
| 3. List and fully explain the specific reasons that you | | | | statement, spelling out all of the details that are listed |
| are interested in attending this institution. It may be | | | | above. Finally, you should have a strong conclusion |
| that they offer a course of study that no other | | | | which ties the entire essay together. Also be sure to |
| institution does. It may be that they have the top | | | | reiterate your interest on becoming part of their |
| medical school in the country and you want to me | | | | institution. |
| the top brain surgeon in the country. Also include | | | | Remember that having to write a personal statement |
| how you came to know of the institution and/or field | | | | is your opportunity to shine like the sun. Be sure to |
| of study that you are interested in pursuing. | | | | include these 10 items to ensure that you submit a |
| 4. Explain and describe any work experience that you | | | | complete personal statement. And most importantly, |
| may have as it applies to your interest in your course | | | | be sure to put a positive spin on everything that is |
| of study. Relevant work experience may be what | | | | on your list to include. You are painting a picture of |
| sparked your interest in pursuing this line of study or | | | | yourself with words and you need them to impress |
| the line of work that you would eventually like to | | | | the reader enough to see you in the positive light |
| take on as a career. For example, maybe you | | | | that you are standing in! |