So, you're going to enter a European university. Congrats! The application process is lengthy and complex, but it's worth it, as you join your dream college and take a significant step closer to a happy adult life and a successful career.
Personal statement writing is among the core pitfalls waiting for you on the way to university.
There's no wonder many applicants find the idea of writing their statement intimidating. Some doubt their writing skills so much that they even turn to
paper writing online services to help them with this task. Indeed, it's not that simple to organize a compelling text telling about who you've become over the years in school.
However, impossible is nothing.
In this article, you'll find practical information and actionable tips on how to write a personal statement to demonstrate to the admissions committee that you're the right one for their program.
What Is a Personal Statement?
A personal statement is a narrative essay that you submit as part of your college (university) application. It's a text that tells about your experiences, strengths, and reasons you want to join a particular course.
In plain English, it's your chance to demonstrate your qualities and persuade a committee that you are a fit for their institution (program).
What you should cover in a personal statement:
- Strengths (What are your skills, talents, and achievements that make you a fit for that particular European university and their program?)
- Motivations (Why do you want to join that specific course or field? What do you hope to gain from it?)
- Suitability (Given your strengths and motivations, convince the committee that you're the right candidate for them.)
This document is also about a pinch of personal touch. Think of it as a story to connect with your reader (admissions committee members) on a more personal level. Make them resonate with your story so they remember it among dozens of other candidates.
3 Characteristics of a Great Statement
What makes a personal statement different from a traditional essay you wrote in school?
First of all, it's a purpose. While standard essays are about making arguments and supporting them with evidence, personal statements are about you and your academic and individual motivations.
Second, it's structure and tone. There's no explicit thesis in the first paragraph of a personal statement, and its tone is more casual than analytical.
Finally, it's a vulnerability. Unlike with traditional academic essays, it's okay to make "I" statements here and open up about your feelings, fears, and worries, for the reader to understand how you think, work, and live.
As a whole, a great personal statement combines three core characteristics:
- It highlights your values. (The reader should be able to get an idea of what excites, motivates, and fulfills you. Humor, community, autonomy, etc. — make it easy to detect your three to five values "between the lines" when reading your statement.)
- It demonstrates your growth. (Your statement should include a couple of "so what" moments. Think about insights and reflections from your experiences so the reader sees your mind in action. What lessons have you learned from the described experiences? How did they influence your choices and motivations?)
- It shows your writing craft. (Articulate your story for better structure and readability. Consider storytelling techniques for the reader to get engaged with your text and see that you are strong in written communication.)
How to Write a Personal Statement
And now, to writing:
Below are your steps to crafting a stellar, convincing personal statement for European university applications of your choice.
Know the parameters
Get to the university's website and find out what you actually need to do. Check the instructions:
What about the technical details like font size, spacing, and margins? How long should your statement be (word or page limit)? Can you write a general statement, or do they give you a specific prompt (question) you need to answer in your paper?
In case of a specific question, make sure you organize your statement around it.
Brainstorm and plan what you want to cover
They don't want to know what you are (they saw your grades and other academic or extracurricular achievements in your application); they want to know who you are. The committee wants to see the personality behind your writing.
- Think outside the box: be specific but find a catchy angle to tell your story. Wake the committee up with your statement.
Go online and read several stellar personal statement samples to get an idea of what to do.
Plan your overall approach to the personal statement:
- Find your central idea (theme, arc) for your story. You need a plot for the story about who you are.
- Make a list of questions that will help you find that central theme. Why do you want to come to this university? Why do you want to study that particular subject? When did you know you wanted to study this, etc.? Dig deep into yourself and don't be afraid of asking yourself questions that can help you find that little piece of your history to build a story around.
Tip: Do your best to come up with non-typical (and very specific!) answers to typical questions.
Focus on your introductory paragraph
Don't structure your statement like a university has something to give you. It's always about you helping the university. They need to want you to come there, so focus on your strengths that make you competent to join them.
Start with a hook to capture readers' attention and introduce your theme. This initial paragraph is the framework for the rest of your statement.
Research
The university needs to know that you know why you're applying to them. How do you make them understand this? Do research:
- Read everything about them and the program on their website
- Examine their rankings; read reviews; check news
What words do they most often use when talking about their university or programs? What are they proud of? You're going to use some of those keywords in your statement. Make them see that you know what you're talking about. That's how they know you've done the research.
Remember that it's a personal statement and it's your story. It's about how you're connecting yourself to the university. Your story makes you a good fit for this university.
Write, rewrite, and edit
Once you have all this, go back to your introduction. Rewrite it accordingly to set up the rest of the information that's going to come in the body:
Establish the hook, establish the story, make it impressive, and then get into the details. Create a storyline where you can connect each paragraph to the other.
Your first draft is ready. Now, it's editing time!
Check it several times, rewrite if necessary, give it to a friend you trust or to a professional who can provide you with constructive feedback. Don't hurry up to submit your statement to the committee; ensure that you've polished it.
In a Word
A personal statement is a narrative about your experiences and future goals that demonstrates your qualities and why you're the right fit for the university. Be genuine and let your personality shine through your writing. Highlight your strengths for the admissions committee to see that you have something to offer to their institution.
☰
