PERSONAL STATEMENT

HAROON AZIZ
 A PERSONAL STATEMENT IS

A PERSONAL STATEMENT IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF YOUR CAREER OR

RESEARCH GOALS THAT'S REQUIRED FOR APPLICATIONS TO UNIVERSITIES,
COLLEGES, AND JOBS. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SELL YOURSELF BY TELLING A
UNIQUE AND IMPRESSIVE STORY THAT SHOWCASES YOUR STRENGTHS AND
EXPERIENCES.
WHY PERSONAL STATEMENTS ARE IMPORTANT?

• COURSES ARE INCREASINGLY COMPETITIVE

• PREPARATION FOR FUTURE JOB APPLICATIONS
• NOT ALL UNIVERSITIES INTERVIEW & THIS IS A CHANCE FOR THEM TO GET
TO KNOW ANOTHER SIDE OF YOU
• YOU HAVE TO SELL YOURSELF
WHAT TO INCLUDE?

1. BE CLEAR AND CONCISE.

2. USE POSITIVE LANGUAGE.
3. AVOID COMPLICATED OR EXAGGERATED PHRASES.
4. KEEP SENTENCES SHORT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.
5. ADD A PERSONAL TOUCH, BUT BE MINDFUL OF HUMOR AND CASUAL LANGUAGE.
6. USE EXAMPLES OF PERSONAL GROWTH AND LEARNING TO SUPPORT STATEMENTS.
7. STRUCTURE THE STATEMENT LIKE AN ESSAY OR JOB/SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION.
8. DIVIDE IT INTO 5-6 PARAGRAPHS WITH HEADINGS IF NECESSARY.
9. ENSURE THAT GRAMMAR AND SPELLING ARE CORRECT.
10. ASK OTHERS TO PROOFREAD AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE

1. AVOID PLAGIARISM.
2. DON'T USE WORDS THAT ARE TOO CLEVER OR GIMMICKY.
3. ONLY INCLUDE RELEVANT INFORMATION.
4. AVOID WAFFLING OR PADDING.
5. DON'T USE QUOTES OR QUIRKY LANGUAGE UNLESS IT IS RELEVANT.
6. AVOID MENTIONING SPECIFIC UNIVERSITIES OR COURSE NAMES.
7. DON'T LIST YOUR QUALIFICATIONS.
8. ADDITIONAL PAPERS SHOULD BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE UNIVERSITIES.
9. AVOID IMMATURE CONTENT OR TOPICS.
10. DON'T MAKE EXCUSES FOR WHY YOU HAVEN'T GAINED RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.
TIPS FOR PERSONAL STATEMENTS

• WRITE IN YOUR OWN VOICE

• KEEP IT SIMPLE
• HAVE A POSITIVE TONE
• USE ACTIVE VOICE
• BE UNIQUE {BE YOU}
FORMAT FOR WRITING A PERSONAL STATEMENT

• WRITTEN IN ESSAY FORMAT.

• WORD LIMIT, FONT & FONT SIZE WILL BE GIVEN.
• SPACING, MARGINS, CHARACTER LIMIT, WORD LIMIT ETC.
Introduction: Your
interests and why
HOW TO WRITE PERSONAL STATEMENT
Interests outside of
school and
responsibilities

Work experience
and things you have
done in
school/college

Goal of going to
university

Closing Statement
INTRODUCTION

1. WRITE A PERSONAL INTRODUCTION.

2. REFLECT YOUR PERSONALITY AND INTERESTS.
3. USE A SINGLE, STRONG SENTENCE FOR A JOB APPLICATION.
4. DISCUSS PROGRAM/SCHOOL ALIGNMENT FOR A UNIVERSITY APPLICATION.
5. WRITE A FULL PARAGRAPH FOR A UNIVERSITY INTRODUCTION.
6. ENCOURAGE THE RECIPIENT TO READ FURTHER.
THINGS TO CONSIDER

• DID MY OPENING PARAGRAPH CAPTURE THE READER’S ATTENTION

• IS THE STATEMENT INTERESTING?
• IS IT WELL WRITTEN?
• IS IT POSITIVE & UPBEAT?
• DOES IT REFLECT WELL ON ME & MY QUALIFICATIONS?
• DOES IT ANSWER KEY QUESTIONS ASKED IN THE APPLICATIONS?
• IS IT FREE OF TYPOS & ERRORS?
• HAS THE STATEMENT DISTINGUISHED ME FROM OTHER APPLICANTS?