Personal Statement Examples | Personal Mission Statement Examples

Writing the Personal Statement

Summary Personal Mission Statement Examples: This handout provides information about
writing personal statements for academic and other positions. ThePersonal Mission Statement
Examples, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of
two categories:
Personal Mission Statement Examples.PDF
1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:
This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often
prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.
2. The response to very specific questions:
Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement
should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications
favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions about Personal
Mission Statement Examples.
Questions to ask yourself before you write:
What’s special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
What might details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have
shaped you or influenced your goals) help the committee better understand you or help set you
apart from other applicants?
When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about
yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well
suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other
experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or
managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
What are your career goals?
Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great
grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA
if it was only average in the beginning)?
Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial,
or physical) in your life?
What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you
possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way
to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school—and more successful and effective
in the profession or field than other applicants?
What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be
interested in you?
General advice
Answer the questions that are asked
If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are
somewhat similar.
Don’t be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each
question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate
statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked for Personal
Mission Statement Examples.
Tell a story
Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things
you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different,
you’ll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will
make yourself memorable.
Be specific
Don’t, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with
specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, or whatever should be logical, the
result of specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge
as the logical conclusion to your story.
Find an angle
If you’re like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting
becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a “hook” is vital.
Concentrate on your opening paragraph
The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the
reader’s attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.
Tell what you know
The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field,
as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Too many people graduate with little or no
knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the profession or field they hope to enter. Be as specific as
you can in relating what you know about the field and use the language professionals use in
conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations
with people in the field, books you’ve read, seminars you’ve attended, or any other source of
specific information about the career you want and why you’re suited to it. Since you will have to
select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your
judgment.
Don’t include some subjects
There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to
experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don’t
mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).
Do some research, if needed
If a school wants to know why you’re applying to it rather than another school, do some research
to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting
would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to
mention.
Write well and correctly
Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that
good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read
these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.
Avoid clichés
A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people
is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.
Examples of Successful personal statement
Statement #1
My interest in science dates back to my years in high school, where I excelled in physics,
chemistry, and math. When I was a senior, I took a first-year calculus course at a local college
(such an advanced-level class was not available in high school) and earned an A. It seemed only
logical that I pursue a career in electrical engineering.
When I began my undergraduate career, I had the opportunity to be exposed to the full range of
engineering courses, all of which tended to reinforce and solidify my intense interest in
engineering. I’ve also had the opportunity to study a number of subjects in the humanities and
they have been both enjoyable and enlightening, providing me with a new and different
perspective on the world in which we live.
In the realm of engineering, I have developed a special interest in the field of laser technology
and have even been taking a graduate course in quantum electronics. Among the 25 or so
students in the course, I am the sole undergraduate. Another particular interest of mine is
electromagnetics, and last summer, when I was a technical assistant at a world-famous local lab,
I learned about its many practical applications, especially in relation to microstrip and antenna
design. Management at this lab was sufficiently impressed with my work to ask that I return when
I graduate. Of course, my plans following completion of my current studies are to move directly
into graduate work toward my master’s in science. After I earn my master’s degree, I intend to
start work on my Ph.D. in electrical engineering. Later I would like to work in the area of research
and development for private industry. It is in R & D that I believe I can make the greatest
contribution, utilizing my theoretical background and creativity as a scientist.
I am highly aware of the superb reputation of your school, and my conversations with several of
your alumni have served to deepen my interest in attending. I know that, in addition to your
excellent faculty, your computer facilities are among the best in the state. I hope you will give me
the privilege of continuing my studies at your fine institution.
Statement #2
Having majored in literary studies (world literature) as an undergraduate, I would now like to
concentrate on English and American literature.
I am especially interested in nineteenth-century literature, women’s literature, Anglo-Saxon
poetry, and folklore and folk literature. My personal literary projects have involved some
combination of these subjects. For the oral section of my comprehensive exams, I specialized in
nineteenth-century novels by and about women. The relationship between “high” and folk
literature became the subject of my honors essay, which examined Toni Morrison’s use of
classical, biblical, African, and Afro-American folk tradition in her novel. I plan to work further on
this essay, treating Morrison’s other novels and perhaps preparing a paper suitable for
publication.
In my studies toward a doctoral degree, I hope to examine more closely the relationship between
high and folk literature. My junior year and private studies of Anglo-Saxon language and literature
have caused me to consider the question of where the divisions between folklore, folk literature,
and high literature lie. Should I attend your school, I would like to resume my studies of Anglo-
Saxon poetry, with special attention to its folk elements.
Writing poetry also figures prominently in my academic and professional goals. I have just begun
submitting to the smaller journals with some success and am gradually building a working
manuscript for a collection. The dominant theme of this collection relies on poems that draw from
classical, biblical, and folk traditions, as well as everyday experience, in order to celebrate the
process of giving and taking life, whether literal or figurative. My poetry draws from and
influences my academic studies. Much of what I read and the study finds a place in my creative
work as the subject. At the same time, I study the art of literature by taking part in the creative
process, experimenting with the tools used by other authors in the past of Personal Mission
Statement Examples.
In terms of a career, I see myself teaching literature, writing criticism, and going into editing or
publishing poetry. Doctoral studies would be valuable to me in several ways. First, your teaching
assistant ship program would provide me with the practical teaching experience I am eager to
acquire. Further, earning a Ph.D. in English and American literature would advance my other two
career goals by adding to my skills, both critical and creative, in working with language.
Ultimately, however, I see the Ph.D. as an end in itself, as well as a professional stepping stone;
I enjoy studying literature for its own sake and would like to continue my studies on the level
demanded by the Ph.D. program.
3 Successful Graduate School Personal Statement Examples
Why Do You Need a Personal Statement?
A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and
passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program. You
need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal
statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere
on your application.
A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of
intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic
or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.
While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have
more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to
include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly
relevant to your field of interest.
Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In
this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience
and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your
academic/research experiences and goals.
However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a
statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes,
especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some
programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your
research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose
but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.
When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung
up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the
admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions
essay.
What Makes a Good Grad School Personal Statement?
A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However,
strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:
A Clear Narrative
Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a
strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a
couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how
you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what
you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).
You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part
of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a
job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this,
make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and
diligence than about providing excuses.
Specific Examples
A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can
include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works
that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about
the relevant literature in your field.
Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during
undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-
bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better
evidence.
A Good Fit
A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the
program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that
appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk
about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are
informed about and genuinely invested in the program.
Strong Writing
Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that
your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating
clearlyand that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to
read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.
Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases
and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way
(i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will
make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.
Appropriate Boundaries
While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s
important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too
personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything
that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment.
The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem
like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.
You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have
to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not
have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as
inoffensive as possible.
Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly
formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.