PERSONAL STATEMENT,

LETTER OF MOTIVATION/STATEMENT OF PURPOSE,

CV/RESUME
GUIDELINES AND SAMPLES
Usually the program/university that you are applying to will ask you to write either a personal statement
or a motivational letter/statement of purpose.

There is not much of a difference between the personal statement and letter of motivation, however, the
personal statement can contain more about your past achievements and you as a person. It tends to be a
bit more personal.

Motivational letter/Statement of purpose can also include some personal info, however, it focuses more
on why you’ve chosen this particular program, or school, and your future goals.

A CV, or resume, can take various forms. It is basically a list of achievements with dates. There are
numerous templates available online. It’s best to keep the form simple.

For both the personal statement and motivation letter you should first and foremost address the
following:
*why you want to study at the particular program or school
*why they should choose you

PERSONAL STATEMENT Europe

Usually 450-600 words . The word limit is usually stated in the form.

Audience: the selection committee of a particular school, or a particular program.

Exceptions: UCAS – do not mention the university, but rather a particular course.

• Be convincing : you want to convince the reader that this course (school) is what you see
yourself studying and committing to (refer to research, competitions, extra reading, internships)

• Stand out, but don’t be too creative with structure. (European schools primarily want to see that
you’re academically prepared.)

• Personal traits/skills that are conducive to the chosen coursework (i.e. stamina, integrity,
teamwork, leadership, ability to learn independently)

• References to books, stories, experiences that have influenced you to choose this field of study
(if you really want to use a quote- use short quotes by relevant people - not just a Netflix series))

• Avoid: clichés such as “I have wanted to be a doctor ever since I was born”, slang, clichéd quotes,
overused words like “passionate”

• Use semi-formal to formal British English.

• Opening and closing sentence(s) are very important

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IT’S A PROCESS – several drafts are recommended

Make sure you read each draft out loud and ask someone with good English to read it as well.

Some programs actually give you prompts or questions to address in your personal statement or letter of
recommendation. Check each program’s website!

Here are some specific questions to help get you started.

• Why did you choose this course?

• What areas of this subject are of particular interest to you?

• What are your hobbies (i.e. music, sports), interests?

• What skills have they helped you develop?

• Have you been involved in projects? What have you learned from them?

• What have you learned from internships/work/volunteer work?

• Have you held any responsible positions?

• Do you have any career ideas?

• Prizes, awards

• Personal strengths

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 MOTIVATION LETTER/STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

As with the personal statement, the length is approx. 450-600 words . The word limit is usually
stated in the form.

• Be specific: research the program and school. Refer to specific courses, clubs,
atmosphere even the city and country.

• Tailor your letter to the particular program and school. Be careful if you are revising a
letter for a different school!

• How can this program/degree/school help you attain to your future goals?

• Why should they choose you? How can you contribute to the program/school?

• See the tips for personal statement

SAMPLE LETTER OF MOTIVATION

Admissions Office
Faculty of Urban Studies
Leiden University

Dear Admissions Office,

I would like to express my interest in and motivation behind studying Human Geography and Planning at
the University of Groningen. I find the programme that you offer fascinating, and with this letter I will
justify my choice and candidacy.

My interest in human geography and urban planning in particular comes from studying the IB Geography
HL, specifically the section regarding urban environments. Throughout the duration of this course, I have
gained substantial knowledge about cities as well as how and why they should be made sustainable and
friendly to both the residents and the environment. Ever since gaining that type of knowledge, I have
been observing and noticing more examples, aspects, and results of different processes taking place in
several cities with both positive and negative consequences. Examples of successful urban planning
include the introduction of the superblock system in Barcelona and the U-Bahn and S-Bahn railway
systems in Berlin and its immediate surroundings. I have also developed an understanding of various
factors that influence the differences between these cities, especially when compared to Warsaw, the
capital of Poland, where such opportunities for sustainable and quality development have not been fully
utilised and only recently have gained considerably more momentum.

Apart from the Geography course, my personal interest and hobbies have also influenced my decision to
apply particularly for Human Geography and Planning in Groningen. One of them is cycling and has been
for over a decade now. Various design features are combined to create a bike-friendly city, especially
when paired with such initiatives as Barcelona’s superblocks, and I’d like to enjoy that kind of
management and the benefits coming from it. Apart from actively spending time outside, I have been

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involved in scouting, which not only has enhanced my respect and care for nature ,but also led to the
development of teamworking skills and practical knowledge of surrounding environments. Studying in
Groningen would not only present me with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in creating a
well-organised urban environment with a different background, but also expand my knowledge in the
field of urban design and cooperation with different bodies and authorities.

As a daily commuter, I have experience in using several types of public transportation and ways in which
it is managed, or sometimes mismanaged. Observing the inflow of Warsaw’s Metropolitan Area
residents into the city has brought my attention to the need to organise and develop a reliable and
sustainable transportation network to ease the stress it creates on the city, and by studying such subjects
as Rural-Urban Relations or Urbanism and Planning I will be able to learn how to approach urban
renewal and control of urban sprawl in the foreseeable future, and hopefully contribute to this process
myself.

Kind regards,
Sign your full name as it is written on your application, e.g. Aleksandra, not Ola

CV/RESUME

A curriculum vitae is a short written summary of one’s work experience, qualifications, (interests) and
education with dates.

As a warm-up exercise, start by making a random list of all of your experiences as a volunteer,
course/event participant, languages, qualifications, etc.

SAMPLE CV

Curriculum Vitae

Dorota Kowalska

____________________________________________________________________________________

+48 664 588 855 dorota.kowalska@gmail.com

Personal profile

I am a student of IB World School 1531 “Raszyńska” in Warsaw – a leading and selective high school that
is one of the first in the country to be certified by the IBO. I have completed the IB Middle Years
Programme and am about to take the final exams for the IB Diploma Programme.

Education

• IB Diploma Programme at IB World School 1531, Warsaw, Poland: 2021 – present

• IB Middle Years Programme at IB World School 1531, Warsaw, Poland: 2019-2021

• Bednarska Szkoła Podstawowa Primary School, Warsaw, Poland: 2011-2019

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Achievements

Involvement in volunteer work, which has taught me teamwork, care for greenery, and the importance
of housing and surrounding environments.

• Working with numerous agencies and NGOs including:

o Habitat for Humanity Poland

o Zarząd Zieleni m.st. Warszawy (Warsaw Green Areas Authorities)

o Athletic organisations such as Warsaw Marathon Foundation and Runmageddon Foundation

o the Polish Scouting Association(ZHP) –I have participated in several scouting-based volunteer

activities, such as the annual Warsaw Uprising celebrations or the 160th anniversary of the January
Uprising in 2023 organised by Warsaw City Hall,

• Participation in school democracy: judge in primary school's court (2017-2019), member of high
school's parliament (2021-2022)

• the Polish Scouting Association -active membership since 2016 Participation in numerous
activities, personal development scheme (group work, first aid, navigation skills), co-organising multiple
trips since 2020, such as preparation of a cross-national summer camping trip to Romania and
organisation of a 2023 summer trip to Slovenia (in progress)

Personal interests and hobbies

• History, with emphasis on twentieth-century conflicts such as the Spanish Civil War and the
Second World War

• Geography: urban environments and sustainable public transportation

• Analogue and digital photography

• Decade long interest and involvement in both recreational and long-distance cycling

• Mountain trekking: completed many of the most demanding trails in Tatra Mountains in Poland
and Slovakia as well as multiple routes in Carpathians in Romania

• Participation in “Runmageddon” – an extreme obstacle race

• Indoor rock climbing

• Experienced skier

Languages

• Polish: native speaker

• English: full proficiency – graduate of International Baccalaureate’s MYP and DP with English as
the medium of instruction

• Spanish: intermediate

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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etc………

Please take note that our school’s name in English is:

I SLO Jam Saheba Digvijay Sinhji World School 1531

USA College essays for schools in the U.S. employ a narrative style. Some schools also give specific
prompts to respond to. Take a look at samples of essays on various university websites as well as the
following:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/college-essays-that-worked

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Sources: UCAS, university websites, Ultimate UCAS Personal Statement Guide, by Rowan Argwal & David
Salt, students’ work

by Maryanne Chodkowski