Pre-Writing Personal Statements
Purpose, Pitfalls & Themes to Avoid
Purpose
Understanding personal statements & additional essays.
- Personal Statement Purpose
- A personal statement is a personal, but not informal “picture” of you. It is your opportunity to present yourself beyond your GPA and specific professional examination (MCAT, DAT, OAT, etc.).
- Many consider the personal statement the “heart” of your application and an important chance to set yourself apart from other well-qualified applicants.
- Your statement can allow an admissions committee to:
- Genuinely grasp who you are as a person.
- Comprehend your personal motivation towards a lifetime of general public service as a provider within health care or law.
- Recognize your extensive exploration process leading to this public service role.
- Understand your exposure to the realities of the profession and level of commitment to service within the field.
- Appreciate how you are developmentally prepared for this specific profession and the overall rigors of professional school.
- Types of Personal Statements
- Commonly there are two specific types of personal statements:
- General Personal Statement: Does not have a specific prompt or question in the application instructions. This is purposefully broad to take any direction you choose when writing your personal statement.
- Focused Personal Statement: A customized, specific question that your professional school wants you to answer. Example: Please describe what inspires your decision for becoming an optometrist, including your preparation for training in this profession, your aptitude and motivation, the basis for your interest in optometry, and your future career goals.
- Don't overthink this. If you are several years away from officially applying, don't worry about your personal
statement.
- We encourage all OSU Pre-Professional students to begin a personal written, weekly journal along your journey as early as possible to help later when reflecting to begin writing your statement.
- When your official application cycle begins, you may confirm your official personal statement instructions.
- Commonly there are two specific types of personal statements:
- What Are Professional Schools Looking For?
- This question is frequently asked by most professional school applicants. Why is that so? Conceivably, it might be because there isn’t a consensus or true clear-cut answer to this rhetorical question.
- Every person and reader will have a diverse opinions, viewpoints or judgments on what they feel should be included in a personal statement.
- Every admissions committee reviewer may have a different approach when reviewing your personal statement. However, admissions committees across the nation often conduct individual admission team trainings. Often they provide application reviewers key questions and thoughts to keep in mind when reading your personal statement.
- This non-exhaustive list. Reviewers might include key thoughts or questions such as:
- Who are you as a person? (e.g., your background, experiences, education, etc.)
- Why did you choose _________ instead of another career path or life calling?
- Do you presently possess the qualities necessary to be an exceptional health care or law professional?
- How do your current personal and/or professional goals directly relate with attending health care or law professional school?
- In your journey, have you fully explored your options and extensively validated your interest in this particular profession?
- Do you have a realistic viewpoint and understanding of the lifestyle/realities of this particular profession, system and industry?
- Have you demonstrated a genuine commitment to serving the diverse needs of the general public?
- Would the reviewer truly be interested to personally meet you?
- Does the reviewer want to learn more about you?
- Are you a good fit for their specific program (mission, learning environment, philosophy, etc.)?
- What specific qualities would you possibly contribute to the incoming, matriculating class and team?
- Additional Essays: Secondary/Supplemental Applications
- Most professional schools will require additional essay writing during your official professional school application. First, focus on your personal statement then move on to additional questions.
- If requested, additional essay writing will not begin until your official professional school application opens. Often additional essays are requested after your primary application has been submitted, but this varies. These are commonly referred to as the "secondary/supplemental application" in your application instructions.
- Don't waste time pre-writing or researching last year's essay questions. Essay question prompt(s) vary per individual professional school and commonly change each year/application cycle. Review your professional school(s) application instructions when your official application cycle opens to ensure accurate information.
- Additional essay(s) may state in their official instructions that they are "optional." That is not really the case. Every optional and required essay is another opportunity to get to personally know you better, understand your individual viewpoint and present yourself. Please take any/all essay opportunities seriously and build time into your application timeline to write optional/supplemental answers for the questions that are relevant to you.
- Take a similar "5 steps for writing your personal statement approach" to assist you in this process.
Common Pitfalls
Avoid mistakes in the personal statement process.
- Common Rookie Mistakes
- Don’t wait to start writing regularly.
- We encourage all OSU Pre-Professional students to keep a weekly, written personal journal as early as possible in your OSU Pre-Professional Journey.
- This weekly exercise can also help you continually practice the art of self-reflection, processing your thoughts, writing and finding your own voice.
- Don’t begin writing without a thoughtful, strategic approach. Plan early with the “5 Steps for Writing Your Personal Statement” resources provided.
- Personal statements are not bibliographies or executive summaries of your application.
- Don’t assume you must write about medicine or law (or your specific health care profession, i.e., dentistry, optometry, athletic training, etc.) and not about yourself.
- Always confirm your personal statement prompt and instructions when your official application cycle opens.
- Don’t wait to start writing regularly.
- Personal Journal Benefits
- Keeping a weekly, personal journal can help you:
- Keep your thoughts organized.
- Improve your writing.
- Set & achieve your goals.
- Record ideas on-the-go.
- Relieve stress.
- Allow yourself to self-reflect.
- Boost your memory.
- Keeping a weekly, personal journal can help you:
Personal Statement Themes to Avoid
Problematic approaches and what to focus on instead.
- Manifest Destiny
- Statements that claim “... I was born to be a doctor or lawyer” or “… friends always tell me I should be a dentist” or “… at age ten I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian” are often not helpful for admissions committees.
- These common ploys tell your reader little more than the fact that you really want to get into professional school. They know that already.
- Instead spotlight your specific personality, traits, etc. - not a destiny that seems larger than you.
- My Future Contributions to the World
- It sounds naïve to have your whole life already mapped out, especially if it takes on some angelic quality. The “... when I grow up, I want to be a ____________ and save the world” tells a reader nothing significant about you.
- If your demonstrated, adult-age contributions are important to communicate, please be sure to connect their meaning to provide personal insight about you.
- The Interpretive Guide
- Often candidates may feel they have blemishes on their academic record, lacking specific extra-curricular activities or experiences necessary for professional school. Worrying about interpreting every “blemish” you may have should not be your primary focus your personal statement.
- Overall, it is the admissions committee’s job to interpret your holistic development and readiness for professional school. Remember, professional schools will have access to your entire professional school application. That includes your transcripts, exam scores, letters of recommendation and your complete professional application. All items combined with your thoughtful, written communication will collectively provide fuller insight and demonstration into your holistic development, personal growth trends and overall readiness for professional school.
- Don’t devote your statement to excuses or interpretations of grades or what you have not done. That information is virtually worthless.
- If you feel compelled to explain a specific personal circumstance or issue, please state the problem briefly. Next, move onto how this experience has genuinely provided you with valuable personal insight, significant growth or professional development along your journey.
- The Traveling Resume
- A statement that rehashes most of your various activities or experiences may sound like a travel itinerary such as “... I did this for two years and it taught me this....and then I did that...and it showed me that, etc.”
- An executive style, personal statement summary outlining all your experiences is not helpful to a professional admissions committee. The professional school application (and accompanying resume if required) provides you ample opportunities to fully summarize and provide context of all your collective experiences already.
- If you choose to discuss past experiences, don’t over communicate. Focus on a single experience/activity or two that offers sincere meaning and deeper insight into you.
- Name-Dropping
- Don’t craft your personal statement around who you know. Focus on who you are as a candidate for professional school.
- If you have genuinely worked and/or demonstrated your personal or professional development with an important person, consider asking them to write you a strong letter of recommendation (if appropriate.)
- "I'm Special" Approach
- Your personal statement is not the place to charm, entertain or impress readers with claims or a personal approach such as “... you probably don’t get people like me very often...” These types of statements and/or personal thought process is inevitably inappropriate.
- Don’t tell your readers that you are unique – show them through your thoughtful demonstration, personal development and readiness for this specific professional calling.
- Instead of filling a personal statement with adjectives alone to describe yourself, offer them a clear understanding of who you truly are through experiences and examples that demonstrate and provide depth to those adjectives (which you may not need after all).
- "My Father, My Role Model"
- It is common to personally self-reflect and/or consider individuals who have had meaningful impacts along your journey. However, it may not always be helpful in your approach to your personal statement.
- Don't devote your statement to a celebration of that person's achievements or overcoming challenges in the face of their own journey. Don't summarize their entire story and state that their motivation is personally yours.
- Your statement should be about you, even if you appreciate another person's influence that has led you to who you are today, regardless of the individual circumstances.