what is a personal statement definition

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College Admissions , College Essays

In addition to standardized test scores and transcripts, a personal statement or essay is a required part of many college applications. The personal statement can be one of the most stressful parts of the application process because it's the most open ended.

In this guide, I'll answer the question, "What is a personal statement?" I'll talk through common college essay topics and what makes for an effective personal statement.

College Essay Glossary

Even the terminology can be confusing if you aren't familiar with it, so let's start by defining some terms:

Personal statement —an essay you write to show a college admissions committee who you are and why you deserve to be admitted to their school. It's worth noting that, unlike "college essay," this term is used for application essays for graduate school as well.

College essay —basically the same as a personal statement (I'll be using the terms interchangeably).

Essay prompt —a question or statement that your college essay is meant to respond to.

Supplemental essay —an extra school or program-specific essay beyond the basic personal statement.

Many colleges ask for only one essay. However, some schools do ask you to respond to multiple prompts or to provide supplemental essays in addition to a primary personal statement.

Either way, don't let it stress you out! This guide will cover everything you need to know about the different types of college essays and get you started thinking about how to write a great one:

• Why colleges ask for an essay
• What kinds of essay questions you'll see
• What sets great essays apart
• Tips for writing your own essay

Why Do Colleges Ask For an Essay?

There are a couple of reasons that colleges ask applicants to submit an essay, but the basic idea is that it gives them more information about you, especially who you are beyond grades and test scores.

#1: Insight Into Your Personality

The most important role of the essay is to give admissions committees a sense of your personality and what kind of addition you'd be to their school's community . Are you inquisitive? Ambitious? Caring? These kinds of qualities will have a profound impact on your college experience, but they're hard to determine based on a high school transcript.

Basically, the essay contextualizes your application and shows what kind of person you are outside of your grades and test scores . Imagine two students, Jane and Tim: they both have 3.5 GPAs and 1200s on the SAT. Jane lives in Colorado and is the captain of her track team; Tim lives in Vermont and regularly contributes to the school paper. They both want to be doctors, and they both volunteer at the local hospital.

As similar as Jane and Tim seem on paper, in reality, they're actually quite different, and their unique perspectives come through in their essays. Jane writes about how looking into her family history for a school project made her realize how the discovery of modern medical treatments like antibiotics and vaccines had changed the world and drove her to pursue a career as a medical researcher. Tim, meanwhile, recounts a story about how a kind doctor helped him overcome his fear of needles, an interaction that reminded him of the value of empathy and inspired him to become a family practitioner. These two students may seem outwardly similar but their motivations and personalities are very different.

Without an essay, your application is essentially a series of numbers: a GPA, SAT scores, the number of hours spent preparing for quiz bowl competitions. The personal statement is your chance to stand out as an individual.

#2: Evidence of Writing Skills

A secondary purpose of the essay is to serve as a writing sample and help colleges see that you have the skills needed to succeed in college classes. The personal statement is your best chance to show off your writing , so take the time to craft a piece you're really proud of.

That said, don't panic if you aren't a strong writer. Admissions officers aren't expecting you to write like Joan Didion; they just want to see that you can express your ideas clearly.

No matter what, your essay should absolutely not include any errors or typos .

#3: Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances

For some students, the essay is also a chance to explain factors affecting their high school record. Did your grades drop sophomore year because you were dealing with a family emergency? Did you miss out on extracurriculars junior year because of an extended medical absence? Colleges want to know if you struggled with a serious issue that affected your high school record , so make sure to indicate any relevant circumstances on your application.

Keep in mind that in some cases there will be a separate section for you to address these types of issues, as well as any black marks on your record like expulsions or criminal charges.

#4: Your Reasons for Applying to the School

Many colleges ask you to write an essay or paragraph about why you're applying to their school specifically . In asking these questions, admissions officers are trying to determine if you're genuinely excited about the school and whether you're likely to attend if accepted .

I'll talk more about this type of essay below.

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What Kind of Questions Do Colleges Ask?

Thankfully, applications don't simply say, "Please include an essay about yourself"; they include a question or prompt that you're asked to respond to . These prompts are generally pretty open-ended and can be approached in a lot of different ways .

Nonetheless, most questions fall into a few main categories. Let's go through each common type of prompt, with examples from the Common Application, the University of California application, and a few individual schools.

Prompt Type 1: Your Personal History

This sort of question asks you to write about a formative experience, important event, or key relationship from your life . Admissions officers want to understand what is important to you and how your background has shaped you as a person.

These questions are both common and tricky. The most common pit students fall into is trying to tell their entire life stories. It's better to focus in on a very specific point in time and explain why it was meaningful to you.

Common App 1

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Common App 5

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

University of California 2

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

University of California 6

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

Prompt Type 2: Facing a Problem

A lot of prompts deal with how you solve problems, how you cope with failure, and how you respond to conflict. College can be difficult, both personally and academically, and admissions committees want to see that you're equipped to face those challenges .

The key to these types of questions is to identify a real problem, failure, or conflict ( not a success in disguise) and show how you adapted and grew from addressing the issue.

Common App 2

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Harvard University 7

The Harvard College Honor Code declares that we “hold honesty as the foundation of our community.” As you consider entering this community that is committed to honesty, please reflect on a time when you or someone you observed had to make a choice about whether to act with integrity and honesty.

Prompt Type 3: Diversity

Most colleges are pretty diverse, with students from a wide range of backgrounds. Essay questions about diversity are designed to help admissions committees understand how you interact with people who are different from you .

In addressing these prompts, you want to show that you're capable of engaging with new ideas and relating to people who may have different beliefs than you.

Common App 3

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Johns Hopkins University

Tell us about an aspect of your identity (e.g., race, gender, sexuality, religion, community) or a life experience that has shaped you as an individual and how that influenced what you’d like to pursue in college at Hopkins.  This can be a future goal or experience that is either [sic] academic, extracurricular, or social.

Duke University Optional 1

We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community. 

Prompt Type 4: Your Future Goals

This type of prompt asks about what you want to do in the future: sometimes simply what you'd like to study, sometimes longer-term career goals. Colleges want to understand what you're interested in and how you plan to work towards your goals.

You'll mostly see these prompts if you're applying for a specialized program (like pre-med or engineering) or applying as a transfer student. Some schools also ask for supplementary essays along these lines. 

University of Southern California (Architecture)

Princeton Supplement 1

Prompt Type 5: Why This School

The most common style of supplemental essay is the "why us?" essay, although a few schools with their own application use this type of question as their main prompt. In these essays, you're meant to address the specific reasons you want to go to the school you're applying to .

Whatever you do, don't ever recycle these essays for more than one school.

Chapman University

There are thousands of universities and colleges. Why are you interested in attending Chapman?

Columbia University

Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia.

Rice University

Based upon your exploration of Rice University, what elements of the Rice experience appeal to you?

Princeton University

Princeton has a longstanding commitment to understanding our responsibility to society through service and civic engagement. How does your own story intersect with these ideals?

Prompt Type 6: Creative Prompts

More selective schools often have supplemental essays with stranger or more unique questions. University of Chicago is notorious for its weird prompts, but it's not the only school that will ask you to think outside the box in addressing its questions.

University of Chicago

“Vlog,” “Labradoodle,” and “Fauxmage.” Language is filled with portmanteaus. Create a new portmanteau and explain why those two things are a “patch” (perfect match).

University of Vermont

Established in Burlington, VT, Ben & Jerry’s is synonymous with both ice cream and social change. The “Save Our Swirled” flavor raises awareness of climate change, and “I Dough, I Dough” celebrates marriage equality. If you worked alongside Ben & Jerry, what charitable flavor would you develop and why?

What Makes a Strong Personal Statement?

OK , so you're clear on what a college essay is, but you're still not sure how to write a good one . To help you get started, I'm going to explain the main things admissions officers look for in students' essays: an engaging perspective, genuine moments, and lively writing .

I've touched on these ideas already, but here, I'll go into more depth about how the best essays stand out from the pack.

Showing Who You Are

A lot of students panic about finding a unique topic, and certainly writing about something unusual like a successful dating app you developed with your friends or your time working as a mall Santa can't hurt you. But what's really important isn't so much what you write about as how you write about it . You need to use your subject to show something deeper about yourself.

Look at the prompts above: you'll notice that they almost all ask you what you learned or how the experience affected you. Whatever topic you pick, you must be able to specifically address how or why it matters to you .

Say a student, Will, was writing about the mall Santa in response to Common App prompt number 2 (the one about failure): Will was a terrible mall Santa. He was way too skinny to be convincing and the kids would always step on his feet. He could easily write 600 very entertaining words describing this experience, but they wouldn't necessarily add up to an effective college essay.

To do that, he'll need to talk about his motivations and his feelings: why he took such a job in the first place and what he did (and didn't) get out of it. Maybe Will took the job because he needed to make some money to go on a school trip and it was the only one he could find. Despite his lack of enthusiasm for screaming children, he kept doing it because he knew if he persevered through the whole holiday season he would have enough money for his trip. Would you rather read "I failed at being a mall Santa" or "Failing as a mall Santa taught me how to persevere no matter what"? Admissions officers definitely prefer the latter.

Ultimately, the best topics are ones that allow you to explain something surprising about yourself .

Since the main point of the essay is to give schools a sense of who you are, you have to open up enough to let them see your personality . Writing a good college essay means being honest about your feelings and experiences even when they aren't entirely positive.

In this context, honesty doesn't mean going on at length about the time you broke into the local pool at night and nearly got arrested, but it does mean acknowledging when something was difficult or upsetting for you. Think about the mall Santa example above. The essay won't work unless the writer genuinely acknowledges that he was a bad Santa and explains why.

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Eloquent Writing

As I mentioned above, colleges want to know that you are a strong enough writer to survive in college classes . Can you express your ideas clearly and concisely? Can you employ specific details appropriately and avoid clichés and generalizations? These kinds of skills will serve you well in college (and in life!).

Nonetheless, admissions officers recognize that different students have different strengths. They aren't looking for a poetic magnum opus from someone who wants to be a math major. (Honestly, they aren't expecting a masterwork from anyone , but the basic point stands.) Focus on making sure that your thoughts and personality come through, and don't worry about using fancy vocabulary or complex rhetorical devices.

Above all, make sure that you have zero grammar or spelling errors . Typos indicate carelessness, which will hurt your cause with admissions officers.

Top Five Essay-Writing Tips

Now that you have a sense of what colleges are looking for, let's talk about how you can put this new knowledge into practice as you approach your own essay. Below, I've collected my five best tips from years as a college essay counselor.

#1: Start Early!

No matter how much you want to avoid writing your essay, don't leave it until the last minute . One of the most important parts of the essay writing process is editing, and editing takes a lot of time. You want to be able to put your draft in a drawer for a week and come back to it with fresh eyes. You don't want to be stuck with an essay you don't really like because you have to submit your application tomorrow.

You need plenty of time to experiment and rewrite, so I would recommend starting your essays at least two months before the application deadline . For most students, that means starting around Halloween, but if you're applying early, you'll need to get going closer to Labor Day.

Of course, it's even better to get a head start and begin your planning earlier. Many students like to work on their essays over the summer, when they have more free time, but you should keep in mind that each year's application isn't usually released until August or September. Essay questions often stay the same from year to year, however. If you are looking to get a jump on writing, you can try to confirm with the school (or the Common App) whether the essay questions will be the same as the previous year's.

#2: Pick a Topic You're Genuinely Excited About

One of the biggest mistakes students make is trying to write what they think the committee wants to hear. The truth is that there's no "right answer" when it comes to college essays . T he best topics aren't limited to specific categories like volunteer experiences or winning a tournament. Instead, they're topics that actually matter to the writer .

"OK," you're thinking, "but what does she mean by 'a topic that matters to you'? Because to be perfectly honest, right now, what really matters to me is that fall TV starts up this week, and I have a feeling I shouldn't write about that."

You're not wrong (although some great essays have been written about television ). A great topic isn't just something that you're excited about or that you talk to your friends about; it's something that has had a real, describable effect on your perspective .

This doesn't mean that you should overemphasize how something absolutely changed your life , especially if it really didn't. Instead, try to be as specific and honest as you can about how the experience affected you, what it taught you, or what you got out of it.

Let's go back to the TV idea. Sure, writing an essay about how excited you are for the new season of Stranger Things  probably isn't the quickest way to get yourself into college, but you could write a solid essay (in response to the first type of prompt) about how SpongeBob SquarePants was an integral part of your childhood. However, it's not enough to just explain how much you loved SpongeBob—you must also explain why and how watching the show every day after school affected your life. For example, maybe it was a ritual you shared with your brother, which showed you how even seemingly silly pieces of pop culture can bring people together. Dig beneath the surface to show who you are and how you see the world.

When you write about something you don't really care about, your writing will come out clichéd and uninteresting, and you'll likely struggle to motivate yourself. When you instead write about something that is genuinely important to you, you can make even the most ordinary experiences—learning to swim, eating a meal, or watching TV—engaging .

#3: Focus on Specifics

But how do you write an interesting essay? Focus.

Don't try to tell your entire life story or even the story of an entire weekend; 500–650 words may seem like a lot, but you'll reach that limit quickly if you try to pack every single thing that has happened to you into your essay. If, however, you just touch on a wide range of topics, you'll end up with an essay that reads more like a résumé.

Instead, narrow in on one specific event or idea, and talk about it in more depth . The narrower your topic, the better. For example, writing about your role as Mercutio in your school's production of Romeo and Juliet is too general, but writing about opening night, when everything went wrong, could be a great topic.

Whatever your topic, use details to help draw the reader in and express your unique perspective. But keep in mind that you don't have to include every detail of what you did or thought; stick to the important and illustrative ones.

#4: Use Your Own Voice

College essays aren't academic assignments; you don't need to be super formal. Instead, try to be yourself. The best writing sounds like a more eloquent version of the way you talk .

Focus on using clear, simple language that effectively explains a point or evokes a feeling. To do so, avoid the urge to use fancy-sounding synonyms when you don't really know what they mean. Contractions are fine; slang, generally, is not. Don't hesitate to write in the first person.

A final note: you don't need to be relentlessly positive. It's OK to acknowledge that sometimes things don't go how you want—just show how you grew from that.

#5: Be Ruthless

Many students want to call it a day after writing a first draft, but editing is a key part of writing a truly great essay. To be clear, editing doesn't mean just making a few minor wording tweaks and cleaning up typos; it means reading your essay carefully and objectively and thinking about how you could improve it .

Ask yourself questions as you read: is the progression of the essay clear? Do you make a lot of vague, sweeping statements that could be replaced with more interesting specifics? Do your sentences flow together nicely? Do you show something about yourself beyond the surface level?

You will have to delete and rewrite (potentially large) parts of your essay, and no matter how attached you feel to something you wrote, you might have to let it go . If you've ever heard the phrase "kill your darlings," know that it is 100% applicable to college essay writing.

At some point, you might even need to rewrite the whole essay. Even though it's annoying, starting over is sometimes the best way to get an essay that you're really proud of.

What's Next?

Make sure to check out our other posts on college essays , including our step-by-step guide to how to write your college essay , our analysis of the Common App Prompts , and our collection of example essays .

If you're in need of guidance on other parts of the application process , take a look at our guides to choosing the right college for you , writing about extracurriculars , deciding to double major , and requesting teacher recommendations .

Last but not least, if you're planning on taking the SAT one last time , check out our ultimate guide to studying for the SAT and make sure you're as prepared as possible.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.

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• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

College essays

• College essay examples
• College essay format
• College essay style
• College essay length
• Diversity essays
• Scholarship essays

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Avoiding repetition
• Literature review
• Conceptual framework
• Dissertation outline
• Thesis acknowledgements
• Burned or burnt
• Canceled or cancelled
• Dreamt or dreamed
• Gray or grey
• Theater vs theatre

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How to Write a Personal Statement (with Tips and Examples)

Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

What is a personal statement, 6 tips on how to write a personal statement, personal statement examples (for college and university), faqs about writing personal statements, conclusion on how to write a personal statement.

How do you tell someone who you are in just a few hundred words?

It’s certainly no easy task, but it’s one almost every college applicant must do. The personal statement is a crucial part of any college or university application.

So, how do you write a compelling personal statement?

In this article, we’ll give you all the tools, tips, and examples you need to write an effective personal statement.

A personal statement is a short essay that reveals something important about who you are. It can talk about your background, your interests, your values, your goals in life, or all of the above.

Personal statements are required by many college admission offices and scholarship selection committees. They’re a key part of your application, alongside your academic transcript, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities.

The reason application committees ask you to write a personal statement is so they can get to know who you are. 

Some personal statements have specific prompts, such as “Discuss a period of personal growth in your life” or “Tell us about a challenge or failure you’ve faced.” Others are more open-ended with prompts that essentially boil down to “Tell us about yourself.”

No matter what the prompt is, your goal is the same: to make yourself stand out to the selection committee as a strong candidate for their program.

Here are some things a personal statement can be:

It can be funny. If you have a great sense of humor, your personal statement is a great place to let that shine.  

It can be vulnerable. Don’t be afraid to open up about hardships in your life or failures you’ve experienced. Showing vulnerability can make you sound more like a real person rather than just a collection of application materials.  

It can be creative. Candidates have got into top schools with personal statements that take the form of “a day in the life” descriptions, third-person short stories, and even cooking recipes.

Now we’ve talked about what a personal statement is, let’s quickly look at what a personal statement isn’t:

It isn’t a formal academic paper. You should write the personal statement in your natural voice, using first-person pronouns like “I” and “me,” not in the formal, objective language you would use to write an academic paper.

It isn’t a five-paragraph essay. You should use as many paragraphs as you need to tell your story instead of sticking to the essay structure you learned in school.

It isn’t a resumé. You should try to describe yourself by telling a clear and cohesive story rather than providing a jumbled list of all of your accomplishments and ambitions.

Here are our top six tips for writing a strong personal statement.

Tip 1: Do Some Serious Self-Reflection

The hardest part of writing a personal statement isn’t the actual process of writing it.

Before you start typing, you have to figure out what to write about. And that means taking some time to reflect on who you are and what’s important in your life.

Here are some useful questions you can use to start your self-reflection. You can either answer these on your own by writing down your answers, or you can ask a trusted friend to listen as you talk about them together.

What were the key moments that shaped your life? (e.g. an important friendship, a travel experience, an illness or injury)

What are you proud of? (e.g. you’re a good listener, you always keep your promises, you’re a talented musician)

How do you choose to spend your time? (e.g. reading, practicing soccer, spending time with your friends)

What inspires you? (e.g. your grandmother, a celebrity, your favorite song)

Doing this self-reflection is crucial for figuring out the perfect topics and anecdotes you can use to describe who you are.

Tip 2: Try to Avoid Cliché Topics

College application committees read thousands of personal statements a year. That means there are some personal statement topics they see over and over again.

Here are a few examples of common personal statement topics that have become cliché:

Winning a tournament or sports game

Volunteering in a foreign country

Moving to a new home

Becoming an older sibling

Being an immigrant or having immigrant parents

If you want to make a strong impression in the application process, you need to make your personal statement stand out from the crowd.

But if your chosen personal statement topic falls into one of these categories, that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t use it. Just make sure to put a unique spin on it so it still delivers something the committee hasn’t seen before.

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Tip 3: Show, Don’t Tell

One common mistake you might make in your personal statement is to simply tell the reader what you want them to know about you, such as by stating “I have a fear of public speaking” or “I love to cook.”

Instead of simply stating these facts, you should show the committee what you’re talking about through a story or scene, which will make your essay much more immersive and memorable.

For example, let’s say you want the committee to know you overcame your fear of public speaking. Instead of writing “I overcame my fear of public speaking,” show them what it was like to be onstage in front of a microphone. Did your palms get clammy? Did you feel light-headed? Did you forget your words?

Or let’s say you want the committee to know you love to cook. Instead of writing “I love to cook,” show them why you love to cook. What’s your favorite dish to cook? What does the air smell like when you’re cooking it? What kitchen appliances do you use to make it?

Tip 4: Connect the Story to Why You’re Applying

Don’t forget that the purpose of your personal statement isn’t simply to tell the admissions committee who you are. That’s an important part of it, of course, but your ultimate goal is to convince them to choose you as a candidate.

That means it’s important to tie your personal story to your reasons for applying to this specific school or scholarship. Finish your essay with a strong thesis.

For example, if your story is about overcoming your fear of public speaking, you might connect that story to your ambition of becoming a politician. You can then tie that to your application by saying, “I want to apply to this school because of its fantastic politics program, which will give me a perfect opportunity to use my voice.”

Tip 5: Write in Your Own Voice

The personal statement isn’t supposed to be written in a formal tone. That’s why they’re called “personal” statements because you have to shape it to fit your own voice and style.

Don’t use complicated or overwrought language. You don’t need to fill your essay with semicolons and big words, unless that’s how you sound in real life.

One way to write in your own voice is by speaking your personal statement out loud. If it doesn’t feel natural, it may need changing. 

Tip 6: Edit, Edit, Edit!

It’s important to revise your personal statement multiple times in order to make sure it’s as close to perfect as possible.

A single typo won’t kill your application, but if your personal statement contains multiple spelling errors or egregious grammar mistakes, you won’t be putting your best foot forward.

ProWritingAid can help you make sure your personal statement is as clean as possible. In addition to catching your grammar errors, typos, and punctuation mistakes, it will also help you improve weaknesses in your writing, such as passive voice, unnecessary repetition, and more.

Let’s look at some of the best personal statements that have worked for successful candidates in the real world. 

Harvard Personal Statement Example

Love. For a word describing such a powerful emotion, it is always in the air. The word “love” has become so pervasive in everyday conversation that it hardly retains its roots in blazing passion and deep adoration. In fact, the word is thrown about so much that it becomes difficult to believe society isn’t just one huge, smitten party, with everyone holding hands and singing “Kumbaya.” In films, it’s the teenage boy’s grudging response to a doting mother. At school, it’s a habitual farewell between friends. But in my Chinese home, it’s never uttered. Watching my grandmother lie unconscious on the hospital bed, waiting for her body to shut down, was excruciatingly painful. Her final quavering breaths formed a discordant rhythm with the steady beep of hospital equipment and the unsympathetic tapping hands of the clock. That evening, I whispered—into unhearing ears—the first, and only, “I love you” I ever said to her, my rankling guilt haunting me relentlessly for weeks after her passing. My warm confession seemed anticlimactic, met with only the coldness of my surroundings—the blank room, impassive doctors, and empty silence. I struggled to understand why the “love” that so easily rolled off my tongue when bantering with friends dissipated from my vocabulary when I spoke to my family. Do Chinese people simply love less than Americans do?

This is an excerpt from a personal statement that got the applicant admitted to Harvard University. The applicant discusses her background as a Chinese-American by musing on the word “love” and what that means within her family.

The writer uses vulnerable details about her relationship with her grandmother to give the reader an understanding of where she comes from and how her family has shaped her.  

You can read the full personal statement on the Harvard Crimson website.

Tufts Personal Statement Example

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry’s “Cars and Trucks and Things That Go,” and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon. Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration. Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear. I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

This is the beginning of a personal statement by Renner Kwittken, who was admitted into Tufts University as a pre-medical student.

Renner uses a humorous anecdote about being a pickle truck driver to describe his love for nanomedicine and how he got involved in his field. You can feel his passion for medicine throughout his personal statement.

You can find Renner’s full essay on the Tufts Admissions page.

Law School Personal Statement Essay Example

For most people, the slap on the face that turns their life around is figurative. Mine was literal. Actually, it was a punch delivered by a drill sergeant at Fort Dix, New Jersey, while I was in basic training. That day’s activity, just a few weeks into the program, included instruction in “low-crawling,” a sensible method of moving from one place to another on a battlefield. I felt rather clever for having discovered that, by looking right rather than down, I eliminated my helmet’s unfortunate tendency to dig into the ground and slow my progress. I could thus advance more easily, but I also exposed my unprotected face to hostile fire. Drill sergeants are typically very good at detecting this type of laziness, and mine was an excellent drill sergeant. So, after his repeated suggestions that I correct my performance went unheeded, he drove home his point with a fist to my face. We were both stunned. This was, after all, the New Army, and striking a trainee was a career-ending move for a drill sergeant, as we were both aware. I could have reported him; arguably, I should have. I didn’t. It didn’t seem right for this good sergeant, who had not slept for almost four days, to lose his career for losing his temper with my laziness. Choosing not to report him was the first decision I remember making that made me proud.

These are the first three paragraphs of an anonymous personal statement by a Wheaton College graduate, who used this personal statement to get into a top-25 law school.

This statement describes a time the applicant faced a challenging decision while in the army. He ended up making a decision he was proud of, and as a result, the personal statement gives us a sense of his character.

You can find the full essay on the Wheaton Academics website.

Here are some common questions about how to write a personal statement.

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be?

The length of your personal statement depends on the specific program you’re applying to. The application guidelines usually specify a maximum word count or an ideal word count.  

Most personal statements are between 500–800 words. That’s a good general range to aim for if you don’t have more specific guidelines.  

Should Personal Statements Be Different for Scholarships?

Many scholarship applications will ask for personal statements with similar prompts to those of college applications.

However, the purpose of a personal statement you’d write for a scholarship application is different from the purpose of one you’d write for a college application.

For a scholarship application, your goal is to showcase why you deserve the scholarship. To do that, you need to understand the mission of the organization offering that scholarship.

For example, some scholarships are meant to help first-generation college students get their degree, while others are meant to help women break into STEM.

Consider the following questions:

Why is this organization offering scholarships?

What would their ideal scholarship candidate look like?

How do your experiences and goals overlap with those of their ideal scholarship candidate?

You can use the same personal anecdotes you’d use for any other personal statement, but you’ll have a better chance of winning the scholarship if you tailor your essay to match their specific mission.

How to Start a Personal Statement

You should start your personal statement with a “hook” that pulls the reader in. The sooner you catch the reader’s attention, the more likely they’ll want to read the entire essay.

Here are some examples of hooks you can use:

A story (e.g. When the spotlight hit my face, I tried to remind myself to breathe. )

A setting description (e.g. My bedroom floor is covered with dirty laundry, candy wrappers, and crumpled sheet music. )

A funny anecdote (e.g. When I was a little kid, my friends nicknamed me Mowgli because of my haircut. )

A surprising fact (e.g. I've lived in 37 countries .)

There you have it—our complete guide to writing a personal statement that will make you stand out to the application committee.

Here’s a quick recap: 

A personal statement is a short essay that shows an application committee who you are

Start with a strong hook that pulls the reader in

Tell a story to engage the reader 

Write in your own voice, not in a formal tone

Good luck, and happy writing!

Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

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• FRONT MATTER
• TABLE OF CONTENTS

Defining the Personal Statement

Because a personal statement is unlike other documents you write in college, many students struggle with understanding the fundamentals of its definition. First off, don’t let the term itself confuse you—some application materials will use other terms such as “personal essay,” “reflective essay,” “statement of purpose,” or “narrative.” Regardless of the term used, such essays are defined by their comment elements, as detailed below.

One of the best extended definitions of the personal statement I’ve seen appears on a website from the Fellowships Office at Bryn Mawr (see the article "Advice from Fellowship Foundations "). Below I offer a condensed version adapted from that website.

A personal statement is:

• A picture . Provide a snapshot of who you are as a person.
• An invitation . Your job is to “bridge the assumed distance of strangers.” Invite your reader to get to know you.
• An indication of your priorities and judgment . Your selection of material reveals your priorities and ability to discern effectively.
• A story, or more precisely, your story . The personal statement allows you room for creative, meaningful self-reflection.

A personal statement is not:

• An academic paper with you as the subject. The objective distance of academic writing disengages the reader from you in a personal statement.
• A resume in narrative form . Other parts of your application, which might include a resume, already tell readers about your accomplishments. A personal statement must reveal and interpret well beyond a resume.
• A journal entry . A common mistake is allowing your personal statement to read like a diary. Share only relevant material selectively, in a voice that remains both individual and professional.
• A plea or justification . Don’t beg and don’t defend the (incorrect) assertion that you are more worthy than other candidates—it only backfires.

Of course, nuances to this definition may be added based on the circumstances. For instance, at times an application might require three different essays with highly specific parameters, and perhaps one of these essays involves a personal narrative while another poses you a philosophical question to answer. Always look to the application itself to determine the degree to which the definitions above apply, and know that when there is a series of questions in an application at least one of them is usually designed to elicit a personal essay from you.

To further help you in defining the basics of the personal statement, I recommend these two sites:

“Instructions for Completing a Personal Statement Worksheet” (automatic download) from Bryn Mawr College

“Definition of a Personal Statement” from the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Truman Scholarship Foundation

How To Write a Personal Statement That Stands Out

Table of contents

Laura Jane Bradbury

A personal statement is a chance to highlight your unique qualities, skills, and experiences, all while showcasing your personality.

But whether you're applying for university, a job, or funding, it can be daunting to write about yourself. To increase your chances of getting accepted, it's important to know how to create an effective personal statement.

In my six years as a copywriter, I’ve written many personal statements that get results. In this article, I’ll guide you through what to include, what to avoid, and how to tailor a personal statement based on your application type.

Key Takeaways

• A personal statement is an opportunity to share your unique qualities, experiences, and skills.
• It should always relate to the course, job, or funding you are applying for.
• Include accomplishments and experiences that demonstrate how suited you are to the position or course you are applying for.
• Use clear and simple language to ensure your points are understood.

Your personal statement should be concise and demonstrate how you fit the position or opportunity you’re applying for. It’s important to keep information relevant, rather than listing all of your skills and accomplishments.

Follow these steps to accurately write and tailor your statement.

Understand your prompt

Before you start, make sure you understand what's expected of you. Are there specific instructions, keywords, or phrases that stand out in your prompt? Read through it thoroughly and note the requirements. You can then brainstorm ideas for each point.

Let's say I'm applying for a university journalism course. I've been asked to write a statement that shares why I'm interested and why I would be a good fit. I can use columns to plan my content:

Putting your ideas together first makes it easier to stay on track. Otherwise, you might lose focus and include irrelevant information. 

Show, don't just tell

Once you’ve listed your experiences, skills, and accomplishments, consider how you can demonstrate them with examples. Take a look at the list you created during the previous exercise and organize your points so you have clear examples and proof.

This technique helps you demonstrate your experiences and how they tie in with your application.

When telling anecdotes, use engaging stories that demonstrate your skills. For instance, a story about how I handled a fast-paced news internship proves I work well under pressure. 

Start strong

Recruiters, application tutors, and funders read lots of personal statements. You can make yours stand out with an engaging introduction.

Examples of a strong opening include:

A meaningful statistic

This draws readers in and increases credibility: 

"Communication is the key to marketing success, according to Business Marketing News. With five years of experience communicating and delivering campaigns to global clients, I have the skills and passion to add value to your team."

A personal story

Anecdotes connect the reader with the author’s real-life experience: 

"My first exposure to microbiology was during my time as a research assistant for a microbiologist. I was fascinated by the complex and intricate processes within cells."

An alarming statement

This piques the reader’s interest by making an issue seem urgent:  

“ The fashion industry churns out clothes at an alarming rate, causing mass production of synthetic fibers and harsh chemicals which have a detrimental impact on the planet. Funding my sustainability initiative is vital to mitigating this environmental impact." 

Avoid cliches such as "From a young age, I have always loved...." and "For as long as I can remember, I have had a passion for..."

Pro tip: Use Wordtune Editor 's Shorten feature to cut unnecessary fluff and make your intro sharper. Simply type in your sentence and click Shorten to receive suggestions.

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Admission committees and employers appreciate sincerity and authenticity. While it may be tempting, avoid exaggeration. You can better emphasize your skills and personality by being honest. For instance, rather than claiming I read every type of newspaper in my journalism application, I can focus on my dedication to reading The New York Times.

Your writing style should also feel genuine. Instead of trying to impress with complex language and fancy words, keep sentences simple and direct . This makes them more effective because they’re easier to read. 

Address weaknesses

Addressing weaknesses can show your willingness to confront challenges. It also gives you a chance to share efforts you have made for improvement. When explaining a weakness, exclude excuses.

Instead of saying "I didn't achieve my expected grades due to work commitments impacting my studies," try “While I didn't achieve my expected grades, I am now working with a tutor to help me understand my weak areas so I can succeed in your program.”

Wordtune’s Spices feature can help you develop counterarguments to weaknesses. In the Editor, highlight your text, click on Spices, and then Counterargument . Here’s an example:

Using Wordtune’s suggestion, I can highlight my eagerness to learn and provide examples to support my argument.

Highlight achievements

This is your chance to shine! A personal statement should highlight your best qualities — provided they relate to your prompt.

Ask yourself:

• What are your skills and strengths? Identify both academic and non-academic abilities such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.
• What challenges have you faced? Reflect on how you have overcome significant challenges and how these experiences have helped you grow. For example, completing a course, learning a new language, or starting a business.
• What are your unique selling points? Consider what sets you apart from other applicants. For example, you may have a unique set of technical skills or experience learning in a different country.
• How have your achievements shaped your goals and aspirations? Sharing your goals shows that you think long-term and have taken the time to make sure you’re applying for the right opportunity.

Connect with the institution or company

Tailor your statement to the specific institution or company you're applying to — this shows you understand their values and have carefully considered where you want to seek opportunities.

To do this, head to the company or institution’s website and look for the About page. Many organizations include a mission statement on this page that conveys its purpose and values.

For example, universities often include their values under “Community” or “Student Life” sections. Here, Princeton University’s “In Service of Humanity” section highlights how they value using education to benefit society. Applicants can engage with this by explaining how they interact with their communities and seek to use their education to help others.

You can also research a company or institution’s social media. Look for similarities — maybe you both prioritize collaboration or think outside the box. Draw upon this in your personal statement. 

End with a strong conclusion

A strong conclusion is clear, concise, and leaves a lasting impression. Use these three steps:

• Summarize the main points of your statement. For example, “My experience volunteering for the school newspaper, along with my communication skills and enthusiasm for writing, make me an ideal student for your university."
• Discuss your future . Share your future ambitions to remind the reader that you’ve carefully considered how the opportunity fits into your plans.
• Include a closing statement. End on a positive note and offer the reader a final explanation for why you would be a great match. For instance, “Thank you for reviewing my statement. I am confident my skills and experience align with the role and your company culture.”

Tip: Learn more about writing an effective conclusion with our handy guide . 

Different types of personal statements

Now you know how to write a personal statement, let’s look at what to focus on depending on your application type.

The length of your personal statement will vary depending on the type. Generally, it should be around 500 words to 650 words . However, a university application is often longer than a statement for a job, so it’s vital to determine what is expected of you from the beginning.

Whatever the length, it’s important to remove and edit content fluff , including any repetition or copy that does not relate to your prompt.

Personal statement checklist

Use this checklist to ensure that your statement includes: 

• An engaging introduction.
• Clear examples of your experiences, skills, and expertise. 
• A commitment to improvement, if required.
• Any applicable achievements. 
• A direct connection to the company or institution’s values.
• A strong conclusion that summarizes information without adding new content.
• Authentic, simple language.

Personal statements are an opportunity to delve deeper and share who you are beyond your grades or resume experience. Demonstrate your ability with anecdotes and examples, address any weaknesses, and remember to use genuine and simple language. This is your place to shine, so follow our tips while displaying your unique personality, and you’ll be sure to stand out from the crowd.

Want to get started and create a powerful introduction? Read our step-by-step guide .

What is the difference between a cover letter and a personal statement?

A cover letter expresses your interest in a position and introduces you to an employer. It’s typically shorter and focuses on your qualifications, skills, and experience for a particular role. A personal statement, however, is common for a job, internship, funding, or university application. It explores your background, goals, and aspirations, as well as your skills and experience.

What is the purpose of a personal statement?

A personal statement is an opportunity to stand out by detailing your background, experiences, and aspirations. It should explain why you are interested in and a good match for the company or institution you are applying to.

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A personal statement is an autobiographical essay that many colleges, universities, and professional schools require as part of the admissions process. Also called a  statement of purpose, admissions essay, application essay, graduate school essay, letter of intent , and goals statement .

The personal statement is generally used to determine a student's ability to overcome obstacles, achieve goals, think critically, and write effectively.

See Observations and Recommendations below. Also see:

• Compose a Narrative Essay or Personal Statement
• Critical Thinking
• Illustration
• Personal Essay
• Personal Letter
• Revision and Editing Checklist for a Narrative Essay

Observations and Recommendations

• Get good advice "[T]he essay or personal statement began as a gauge of student enthusiasm ('Why in particular do you wish to attend Bates College?'). Over the years, it has been called upon to do other work: to capture how the applicant thinks; to reveal how he or she writes; to uncover information about values, spirit, personality, passions, interests, and maturity. . . . "Admissions officers, counselors, teachers, and students in my survey rated what matters most in an application essay. All four groups agreed that the most important criteria are correctness , organization , specific evidence , and an individual style . . . . "As an applicant's best chance to plead his or her own case, the essay is a valuable piece in the admissions puzzle. Students need the advice of someone who knows them well to put together a convincing case, and parents are great resources, with their firsthand information about and commitment to their children." (Sarah Myers McGinty, "The Application Essay." Chronicle of Higher Education , January 25, 2002)
• Consult friends and relatives for ideas. . . .
• Take inventory of your unique experience, major influences, and abilities. . . .
• Write an experimental creative essay in which you are the main character . . . .
• Assemble your applications and determine how many essays you must write. . . .
• Get feedback from others before completing your final draft."
• Keep it real "Authenticity is what matters in personal statements , in my experience. Strong writing and scrupulous proofreading are essential, but most of all, the topic and the expression must bring alive in the minds and hearts of the readers some aspect of the real teenager writing the statement. . . . "Writing a strong personal statement calls upon you to observe your real life, as it is, and get it on paper. Your best writing will emerge when you slow down to notice and record not just what happened, but also the small sensory details that make up the important and challenging events of your life. In a nutshell: Keep it real; show, don’t tell." (Susan Knight, director of college placement at the Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice in Brooklyn. The New York Times , September 11, 2009)
• Make it relevant "'With so many students getting similar grades, personal statements are often all that universities have to go on,' says Darren Barker of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas). 'That’s why we advise applicants to take them seriously.' . . . “'You need to express yourself concisely and give thought to what universities are likely to regard as relevant,' he says. 'If you have done work-shadowing in the field in which you have chosen an academic course, that’s obviously a plus. But even extra-curricular things on your CV can be worth including. . . .' "Personal statements are just that, personal. . . . This is about you--who you are, where you have come from and where you want to go. Bluff, spin a line, pretend you are something you are not and you will be found out." (Julie Flynn, "Ucas Form: A Very Personal Statement of Intent." The Daily Telegraph , October 3, 2008)
• Be specific "A possible area of discussion in your personal statement might be around what led you to pursue medicine as a career. You could discuss the courses, people, events or experiences that have influenced you and why. Discuss your extracurricular activities and why you participated. Tell about your educational experiences and summer internships. When doing so, write chronologically . . . . "Be specific and do not exaggerate. Be philosophical and idealistic, but be realistic. Express your concern for others and share your unique experience that had a profound effect on your career choice. Express all of these things, but show your sense of value, partnership, independence and determination." (William G. Byrd, A Guide to Medical School Admission . Parthenon, 1997)
• Focus "Statements may be weak for several reasons. The most foolish thing you can do probably is not to proofread what you write. Who wants to hire someone who turns in a statement with spelling , grammatical , or capitalization errors? An unfocused statement is also not likely to help you. Hiring institutions like to see focus , clarity , and coherence , not a stream-of-consciousness approach that seems incoherent to the reader, however coherent it may seem to you. Also, do not just say what you are interested in. Say what you have done about your interests." (Robert J. Sternberg, "The Job Search." The Portable Mentor , ed. by M. J. Prinstein and M. D. Patterson. Kluwer Academic/Plenum, 2003)
• Know yourself "Admissions officers say the most successful essays show curiosity and self-awareness. Says Cornell's [Don] Saleh: 'It's the only thing that really lets us see inside your soul.' While there's no one right formula for soul baring, there are many wrong ones. It's disastrous to write, as a Rice applicant did, of what he could 'bring to the University of California.' A self-absorbed or arrogant tone is also a guaranteed turnoff. Exhibit A: a Rice essay beginning, 'I have accumulated a fair amount of wisdom in a relatively limited time of life.' Exhibit B: a Cornell applicant who set out to 'describe the indescribable essence of myself.'" (Jodie Morse et al., "Inside College Admissions." Time , October 23, 2000)
• How to Ace Your University of Wisconsin Personal Statements
• UC Personal Statement Prompt #1
• How to Write an Outstanding College Application Essay
• 6 Steps to Writing the Perfect Personal Essay
• How to Write the Graduate Admissions Essay
• How to Write Your Graduate School Admissions Essay
• How to Write a Narrative Essay or Speech
• FAQs About Writing Your Graduate Admissions Essay
• 7 Law School Personal Statement Topic Ideas
• Tips for Writing a Winning College Application Essay
• What Is a Personal Essay (Personal Statement)?
• Common Topics for Graduate School Admissions Essays
• Self Assessment and Writing a Graduate Admissions Essay
• How to Write and Format an MBA Essay
• How to Write a Personal Narrative

• Admission Guides
• Admission Writing Tips

How to Write a Personal Statement that Will Work: Step-By-Step Guide

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• Basics of Essay Writing
• Essay Topics
• Other Essays
• Main Academic Essays
• Research Paper Topics
• Basics of Research Paper Writing
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• Chicago/ Turabian
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• Admission Advice
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A personal statement is a type of admission writing that provides a summary of a student's background, experiences, and interests. It is often used as part of a college or graduate school application process. Personal statements help the admissions committee understand who the applicant is and what they can bring to the program.

So, you have decided to pursue a degree in college or university. Congratulations, you are on the right track! From now on, you have a lot of organizational issues to resolve, and writing a personal statement is one of them. While there are no more or less important things on the way to your degree, a personal statement essay is the one worth putting your efforts in. 

The matter is that a well-written paper can set you apart from other applicants and get your foot in the door at the school of your choice. That's why in this article, we will explain how to write a personal statement for college or graduate school step-by-step. Keep on reading or use our college admission essay writing service from the get-go!

What Is a Personal Statement: Definition 

A personal statement is a custom-written essay that you have to submit along with other documents when applying for college or a degree program. It's an opportunity to show off your personality, interests, and accomplishments in an original way by writing about something that's meaningful to you. 

Unlike a college essay , a personal statement is typically a shorter and more focused piece of writing. Your college or university personal statement should always be tailored to the program that you're applying for. It should also showcase your knowledge, skills, and aspirations in such a way that makes you a perfect applicant for this particular program. 

The biggest deal with writing your personal statement is to keep it personal but make it sound professional. So, let's find this fine balance together.

What Makes a Good Personal Statement?

Before we discover how to write a good personal statement, let’s take a look at the requirements it should be compliant with. While this type of academic assignment still leaves room for creativity, there are several features you should keep in mind when writing it. So, the best personal statements should:

• Describe you as a person. A good personal statement will let the admission committee know who you are and what your passions are.
• Describe you as a life learner. Your essay should also demonstrate that you are eager to learn about the world around you, deepening your knowledge in a specific subject.
• Explain your motivation to study a particular subject. It is not enough to say that you want to study the subject or participate in the program just because you like it. You will have to add the context and value, explaining why you want it, how this decision was shaped, and how you plan to use the knowledge obtained.
• Have a classic structure. We bet you know the best academic writing practices pretty well. Fortunately, your personal statement should have the same intro-body-conclusion logic as any other good essay.
• Are well-written and grammatically correct. A personal statement essay is the opportunity to make the first impression on the admissions committee, and it can set the tone for the rest of your application.
• Are compliant with the specific requirements of an educational institution. For example, some schools may require that you include certain information about yourself or your background, such as your GPA or GRE scores. Other schools may require specific content in the applicants’ papers, such as a list of courses you've taken or extracurricular activities you've participated in.

As you can see, powerful personal statements are more than just a list of achievements. They are a reflection of who you are and how you've grown as a person and as a future professional. That’s why writing a good personal statement requires a lot of preparational work to be done. Asking yourself some questions is the first step. 

Questions to Ask Before Writing a Personal Statement 

Before writing a college or grad school personal statement, find and write down the answers to the next questions. At this step, don’t think for too long — instead, just write down the things that come to your mind. This is not the final version of your paper; it isn’t even the first draft. Now you are free to write everything you want. The sincere and well-reasoned answers you put into the text of your paper are just what will make your essay different from personal statements for graduate school submitted by other students. 

So, here are the questions:

• Why I have chosen this particular college/subject/program?
• What sparkles my interest in it?
• What value and meaning do I see in studying this subject?
• What makes me a great candidate to participate in the program?
• How do I stand out among other applicants?
• What are my strengths and weaknesses as a personality?
• What are achievements I’m proud of?
• What study-related challenges have I faced? How did I resolve them and what had I learned from them?
• What will I do after completing the program?
• What value will I be able to offer society, science, and the whole world?

How to Write a Personal Statement Step-by-Step? 

After you are done with all answers to the questions below, you can proceed with crafting your personal statement. Here is how to write a personal statement for college or university step-by-step. Follow the battle-proven writing practices, stay compliant with academic writing rules, and keep your personality in the spotlight.

1. Brainstorm Your Ideas

Before you write a college personal statement, you should brainstorm as many ideas as possible.  If you haven’t skipped the tip above and answered all or at least some of the questions, you probably already have something to highlight in your personal statement. 

Now, it’s time to summarize your answers. Leave only those that are relevant to the program you are applying for. At this stage, you might also want to take one more look at the institution's requirements. It will help align the ideas you’ve brainstormed to the concepts an admission committee expects to read about in submitted statements.

2. Do Your Research

A winning personal statement for university is always a well-researched and well-grounded one. The most successful personal statements are written by students who have done their homework. So, don't be afraid to ask around or read up on what works and what doesn't. You can also look at a school's website or other resources to get an idea of what they are looking for in their applicants' personal statements. At this stage, don’t hesitate to read samples created by other students. The best (and worst) practices you learn from them, the more chances of writing a great piece you will have.

3. Create a Personal Statement Outline

To write a solid personal statement, you need to ensure that your work flows logically from one idea to the next and that it remains concise. To do this, start by creating an outline of your essay. As for organization, a personal statement format doesn't differ from a typical structure of an essay . So, write down the core idea of an intro, move on to the bullet point of statements you want to have in the body, and highlight the most important things in the conclusion of an outline. Revise and rewrite your outline until you achieve a logical flow and ultimate clarity. 

>> Read more: How to Write an Outline of an Essay?

4. Write a Strong Opening

So, how to start a personal statement for college? There are two possible approaches but only one of them is especially winning. Usually, students begin a personal statement by introducing themselves and briefly explaining their reasons and motivators to choose this particular program. And this approach is right! 

However, the task of your statement is to make you stand out from the crowd. That’s why writing a more attention-grabbing introduction is a better tactic. In this case, you need to add a unique angle or, in other words, hook your readers. Introduce yourself and explain your “why” but do it in a more captivating way. And you guessed it right — you have to tell a story, letting the admission committee know how your decision was shaped. In this case, you can take a little more space and write up to 2 paragraphs as an introduction.

>> Learn more: How to Start an Essay?

5. Tell a Story and Be Specific

At the next step of writing a college personal statement, continue by telling the story that sets the stage for why you are applying to a certain program. Most likely, it will be a story of successes and failures, ups and downs, mistakes and lessons, disappointments, and excitement. Talk about them in your essay, showing the admission committee how each of the events shaped you as a person and a professional. Your essay should tell a compelling tale about who you are and why the school should admit you. 

Let your story flow and evolve in your body paragraphs. Don't be afraid to be reasonably creative and most importantly, find your own tone of voice. Your individual style and story are what will make your personal statement stand out.

6. Use Real-Life Examples

In addition to telling a story, provide real-life examples that add context to your personal statement. For instance, if you apply for a degree in Economy, you can add context by mentioning specific events from the past or present like the Great Depression or Economic Recession.

If you're applying for a degree in Psychology, think back on something that happened to you personally or to somebody close to you. The task of using examples in personal statements is to bring them as close to real life as possible. Show your attitude to specific events in either your life or the life of the whole world.

7. Summarize Key Points

The conclusion of your personal statement summarizes the entire essay. You should also provide some insight into what you will do in the future, and how this program will help you achieve your goals. When writing an undergraduate school personal statement, keep in mind that you shouldn't provide any new information in a conclusion. Instead, it should be just a summary which you can end with a positive statement about yourself and your future aspirations.

8. Proofread Your College Personal Statement

Congratulations, you are almost done with your personal statement. Now, let’s make it shine! After you’ve finished writing the text, make sure to carefully revise and proofread it. Get started with revision and ensure that your paper has a logical structure. The paragraphs you’ve created should have approximately the same volume and a clear flow as well. 

Next, proofread your essay, looking for mistakes and typos. You are also welcome to use proofreading and editing tools like Grammarly to achieve even more clarity and make sure no single mistake is missed. If you have such an opportunity, you may ask your teacher to take one more look at your personal statement before submitting it.

How to Write a Personal Statement Example

Writing a personal statement is just the first challenge you will face on the way to getting a degree. Now, you have a step-by-step guide on how to do it right. To get an even better understanding, check the personal statement essay example below. Keep in mind that you can find even more inspiring samples in another blog on our platform.

Personal Statement Writing Tips

Feel like you need more best practices to make your personal statement stand out? We've put together some tips for writing a personal statement for college or university that will get you noticed by the admission committee.

• Don't hesitate to talk about your achievements. Schools want to know that you are capable of achieving great things in your career.
• Make it concise and focused. You don't have much space (usually around two pages), so make sure that every word counts!
• Focus on yourself as an individual. Your paper should explain why you're right for the program, not why one program is right for everyone.
• Follow an introduction-body-conclusion structure. This may seem obvious, but it's important that you follow a general outline for each paragraph of your personal statement.
• Leverage winning examples for inspiration. A great way to get started is by looking at examples from successful applicants who were accepted into grad school programs similar to yours.

Keep these tips for writing a personal statement in mind when crafting your paper. Also, pay attention to certain things you have to avoid.

Things to Avoid in Your Personal Statement Writing

When you're applying for a graduate program or college, you need to make sure that everything about your personal statement is perfect. It's hard to write personal statements for grad school, but it's even harder when you don't know what to avoid. Below are the common mistakes you should keep in mind and never make:

• Describing the program you are applying for in detail.
• Using slang and clichés.
• Making typos and grammar mistakes.
• Trying to appear a different kind of person than you actually are.
• Being too personal.
• Providing irrelevant or excessive details.

Personal Statement Checklist

After you are done with writing a personal statement, take your time for one more revision and make sure it is compliant with key requirements.

• checkbox I’ve checked the way I have started my personal statement.
• checkbox My essay begins with a strong opening sentence that grabs attention.
• checkbox I’ve mentioned my current major and other academic credentials.
• checkbox I’ve explained my educational background.
• checkbox In my personal statement, I specified my interests and motivation to study this particular field.
• checkbox I’ve featured real-life examples that support each of my statements.
• checkbox I highlighted my future goals and the ways the program will help me achieve them.
• checkbox I’ve explained all reasons that make me a great fit for the program.
• checkbox I’ve listed the skills I have now and skills I'd like to develop during my education.
• checkbox I described my personality traits that set me apart from other applicants.

Final Thoughts on Graduate School Personal Statement Writing

A personal statement is a crucial part of the application process. It shows an admission committee who you are as a person and why you would be a good fit for their program. Your statement should show that you are not only interested in the field, but that you have the personality traits and experiences that will make you successful in it. Now, after you’ve discovered how to write a grad school personal statement, you are ready to do your best and make it stand out from the crowd!

Order professional assistance from admission experts. Our writers have helped thousands of students with their applications and would be glad to assist you, too. From getting help writing scholarship essay or personal statements, you are sure to find a pro for your individual case.

FAQ About Personal Statements

1. how long should a personal statement be.

Usually, the length of a personal statement is up to 700 words. This volume is enough to cover the key points but isn’t enough to make an admission committee feel tired.

2. How to format a personal statement?

A personal statement format is as follows:

• Keep it up to two pages (700 words)
• Use double-space and 1-inch margins
• Use Times New Roman font, size 12.

3. What to include in a personal statement?

A personal statement should include your academic background, your interests, and motivators, the reasons why you have chosen this particular program, and the personality traits and characteristics that make you a good fit for studying this field.

4. How to end a personal statement?

To conclude a personal statement, briefly summarize the points you’ve provided in the body. Tell about your future career goals and the ways you believe your knowledge will benefit society or the field of science you are about to study.

Rachel R. Hill is a real educational devotee. She prides in writing exceptional general guides while listening to every need of students.

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What is a Personal Statement?

In this briefing sheet, Mary Hale Tolar, a former Rhodes and Truman scholar, a scholarship advisor at four different schools, and who has helped more than 60 students win national scholarships, explains why.

Definition of a Personal Statement

by Mary Hale Tolar, Former Deputy Executive Secretary, Truman Scholarship Foundation

If you are applying for nationally competitive scholarships, for graduate school, or for a number of post-graduate service or employment opportunities, you have seen the vaguely phrased request; in one form or another, it comes down to "tell us something about yourself."

The Rhodes and Marshall competitions require a 1,000-word personal essay: the Fulbright, a "curriculum vita." You are asked to share your "academic and other interests." A clearer charge might be: compose an essay that reveals who you are, what you care about, and what you intend to do in this life. Tell this story in a compelling manner, and do so in less than a thousand words. What's so hard about that? Simply make sense of your life (right.) But what does that mean? What will it look like?

Because personal statements are personal, there is no one type or style of writing that is set out as a model. That can be liberating; it can also be maddening. But while every personal statement is unique in style, its purpose is the same. A personal statement is your introduction to a selection committee. It determines whether you are invited to interview; and if selected as a finalist, interview questions will be based on this material. It is the heart of your application.

A personal statement is:

• A picture. Your personal essay should produce a picture of you as a person, a student, a potential scholarship winner, and (looking into the future) a former scholarship recipient.
• An invitation. The reader must be invited to get to know you, personally. Bridge the assumed distance of strangers. Make your reader welcome.
• An indication of your priorities and judgment. What you choose to say in your statement tells the committee what your priorities are. What you say, and how you say it, is crucial. 
• A story, or more precisely, your story. Everyone has a story to tell, but we are not all natural storytellers. If you are like most people, your life lacks inherent drama. This is when serious self-reflection, conversation with friends, family, and mentors, and permission to be creative come in handy.

A personal statement is not:

• An academic paper with you as the subject. The papers you write for class are typically designed to interpret data, reflect research, analyze events or readings--all at some distance. We are taught to eliminate the "I" from our academic writing. In a personal statement your goal is to close the distance between you and the reader. You must engage on a different, more personal level than you have been trained to in college. A resume in narrative form.
• An essay that reads like a resume of accomplishments and goals tells the reader nothing that they could not glean from the rest of the application. It reveals little about the candidate, and is a wasted opportunity.
• A journal entry. While you may well draw on experiences or observations captured in your personal journal, your essay should not read like a diary. Share what is relevant, using these experiences to give a helpful context for your story. And include only what you are comfortable sharing--be prepared to discuss at an interview what you include.
• A plea or justification for the scholarship. This is not an invitation to "make your case." Defending an assertion that you are more deserving of the scholarship than other candidates is a wasted effort-you've likely just accomplished the opposite.
• Most importantly, a personal statement is authentic. Don't make the mistake of trying to guess what the committee is looking for, and don't write what you think they want to hear. They want to know you.

So, what must you include in the personal statement?

An effective personal statement will answer the following questions:

• Who do I want to be?
• What kind of contribution do I want to make, and how?
• Why does it make sense for me to study at Oxford (or York, LSE, Cambridge, Sussex)? For the Rhodes, you will want to include a proposal of study, one or two paragraphs devoted to why Oxford makes sense for you. (For the Marshall and Fulbright, your "proposed academic programme" is presented separately.)
• Why is this the right place and program? Is it consistent with your studies and activities to date? Draw connections.

Remember the goal: grab the readers' interest, and make them want to meet you for an interview . Get a sense of the experiences and dreams you wish to share, then examine them for a helpful means of making sense of it all. You will find your story; and if you share it honestly, you will have written a personal statement.

Finally, know that writing a personal essay is hard and will take many drafts and much reflection. Don't wait until you have it right to share it with others; their input will likely make it stronger, clearer, and tighter. Don't put it off until you have it right . . . just write!

Personal Vision Statement: Definition, Examples, Strategies

Having direction is one of the key ingredients to success in life. But while most people understand it, only 14% of people actually have a plan in mind that they follow. 

And unsurprisingly, that 14% is up to ten times more successful than the vast majority of people that don’t set goals and try to accomplish them. 

But at the same time, setting just any goals isn’t very practical as well. You can spend years working towards something only to realize that it doesn’t align with who you want to be and the mark you want to leave in the world.

Luckily, that’s where a personal vision statement can be very useful.

It’s the perfect way to crystalize the core goals and values you want your life to represent, helping you put together a simple but accurate roadmap of where you want to go.

But what a vision statement, anyway? And how can it help you? 

Let’s answer these questions and also explore some personal vision statement examples.

What is a Personal Vision Statement?

A personal vision statement is a statement of your main goals in life. It can include both personal and professional goals, accomplishments, and values that you aspire to, all of which combine to create a guide map of where you want to get to.

However, since these types of statements are actually less common than those made by companies, things can be a bit more confusing. But in essence, there’s little difference between business mission statements and one that you’d create for your own life.

The main difference is that for businesses, the goals will usually relate to company-wide achievements. These achievements can be directly related to profits or business goals, but they can also be broader and encompass the company’s aspirations to change the world for the better.

The same can be said about personal vision statements as well.

On one hand, you can and should focus on your career goals, listing who you want to become and what you want to achieve once you get there. But at the same time, you want to look beyond career goals and think of them in terms of how they can help you realize yourself as a person, leaving a mark on the world while remaining aligned with the values that matter to you.

The process of listing your goals and aspirations may seem simple and even redundant. After all, most people already know what they stand for and what they want, right? 

Well, the truth is that words put on paper (or in a word processor) with intention have a lot of power. And that’s what we’ll explore in the next section. 

Why Does It Matter?

Staying on top of your goals and aspirations isn’t easy. Life gets in the way, you have to change course, and getting back on track isn’t always as simple as it can seem from the outside.

But even though it’s not easy, there are ways how you can at least make it a bit easier. And one of those ways is using personal vision statement examples as a guide for your decisions.

Let’s explore a few of the main ways it can help you. 

Crystalize Your Priorities

Achieving ambitious goals isn’t easy. In fact, achieving any goals isn’t easy if they require effort and consistency. Often, it requires you to make decisions that you won’t want to make and do things that make you uncomfortable.

The good news is that if you use a personal vision statement as your guide, you can at least make a stronger case for yourself why all that effort matters.

When faced with a tough decision, you can look back at your vision and know which choice gets you closer to those ultimate goals. And if those goals really matter to you (which they should if your personal vision statement is done right), you will usually have no problem following through despite all of the challenges.

In my program, Managing Happiness , one of the biggest areas of focus is helping people figure out what they should prioritize. In the program, I help people define their vision and core values, exchange ideas with peers, and find the inner motivation to move forward. 

Inspire You to Take Action

Humans are naturally inclined to strive for comfort. And without self-reflection, that inclination can quickly turn to complacency and a lack of action in the most critical areas of your life.

But if you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and crystalize that vision into specific aspirations, you might actually find yourself itching to get as much done as possible, eliminating all distractions because of the sheer excitement that your mission creates.

The best personal vision statement examples aren’t afraid to dream big and portray the best versions of the people they were written by. If you can create one like that, it can be a huge inspiration that helps you stay motivated.

In the How We Solve Podcast , Catherine Arnston shares her story of starting a company in a market that didn’t exist, and it’s a great example of not being afraid to set grand goals. When you know your “why?”, everything else is just a matter of taking action and putting enough effort. And a personal vision statement can help you get through that.

Push Through Difficult Challenges

Finally, you need a personal mission statement to remain focused and determined when faced with various obstacles that are sure to arise in life. 

When that happens, you’ll need all the motivation you can get to stay proactive , and coming back to the very core of your values will be the guide that shows you what really matters and puts any shortcomings or failures into perspective.

The small victories and defeats are stepping stones towards what you will eventually achieve. But having that end result written out is much better than only having it as a vague idea in your head. 

How to Write a Personal Vision Statement?

Now that we’ve established why good personal vision statement examples are so powerful, we need to answer the next essential question: 

How can you actually write one? 

When you’re staring at a blank screen and need to lay out your life’s vision, it’s easy to become stuck. But if you take a structured approach, you can usually get it done in less than an hour.

Let’s break down the steps involved in the process below.

Consider Your Strengths

Most people gravitate towards things they are naturally good at. Therefore, starting with your strengths is a great way to get the ball rolling if you want to start looking at the things you want to achieve. 

Now, that doesn’t mean that you can only strive for accomplishments that align with what you do right now, but you may find that your strengths can still help get you where you need to go.

List all of your strengths and skills without worrying about their order or whether they all matter. When you’re writing the actual personal vision statement, you can use this list to guide what to include and what to emphasize.

Highlight Your Values

Strengths and skills are essential, but only as long as they align with the values that you want to represent. Therefore, the next step when creating a vision statement is listing the beliefs that define you and matter to you.

Ideally, try to find values that reflect how you want to be perceived or what you want to achieve. Do you want your work or achievements to contribute to society? Do you want to have the freedom to pursue your passions and hobbies? Or would you like to become a leader and a role model to others?

These things can be a significant motivator and the basis for your personal vision statement, so thinking through how your values relate to your goals is a great way to connect the dots.

Identify Career or Business Goals

Even though a personal mission statement can cover many aspects of your life, it should include career and/or business goals since that’s likely a big part of how you want to fulfill your purpose. 

What’s more, focusing on the career path you want to take will allow you to pursue work that actually makes you happy. Having a passion for your job is a great position to be in, but you need to combine your big-picture goals with the work you want to do to be truly satisfied.

Achieving professional success requires a lot of hard work and commitment, so you should take the time to write out your goals to ensure that they will actually make you happy once you achieve them.

Put Everything Together

Finally, once you have your strengths, values, and career goals, you can start using bits and pieces from all three to create your personal vision statement.

Keep in mind that a personal mission statement must not be much longer than 50 words for it to be effective. Some people even try to fit it into a single sentence. That’s because you will be reading it every day (or at least frequently), so you want it to be punchy, short, and to the point.

To keep things simple:

• Start with the career you want to have, describing it in one short sentence.
• Base that on the strengths that you have and the way you want to contribute to the world.
• Add another sentence that briefly expands on how your career and personal goals will contribute to others or the causes you’re passionate about.

Personal Vision Statement Examples

At this point, you are almost ready to create your own personal vision statement that reflects who you are and what you want to achieve. To give you some inspiration, you can take a look at the personal vision statement examples below.

These are simple illustrations of how the statement might look. But keep in mind, copying someone else’s personal vision won’t make it useful. If you want to draw inspiration from it every day, it must come from within and describe the mission that’s right just for you.

• “My goal is to become a CEO at X company. I want to become an ethical leader and realize my vision of how the company should be run and help create a more sustainable and inclusive environment that will propel the company’s growth.”
• “I want to become a career counselor that helps people discover their true purpose and a job that’s aligned with their goals and passions. My ultimate purpose is to give people the tools and confidence they need to pursue their dreams, realizing the full potential they have.”
• My goal is to start my own baking business where I sell vegan pastries. I believe in a world that’s free of animal cruelty and land exploitation, so my purpose is to create a sustainable and environmentally business that brings people together and brings attention to the cause.
• I want to build a tech company that helps businesses connect with their best customers. I believe that marketing can be ethical and transparent and want to create a marketing tool that makes it possible to attract leads without compromising on user data privacy.”
• My ultimate goal is to launch a successful company and become financially independent. I want to dedicate my time to helping the less fortunate, discovering cultures around the world, and meeting people that help me grow and understand life on a deeper level.”

These are just a few examples of how different people might see their personal vision. And while you do need to come up with one that’s unique to you, don’t be afraid to put something on paper right now, in the next hour.

As you grow and learn new things, you can always tweak your mission statement and make it better. But it all has to start with something.

Bottom Line

Creating a personal vision statement can be a great way to crystalize what really matters to you and what you want to accomplish. And while the task can seem daunting at first, by breaking it down into actionable steps, you can usually put down an actionable statement in less than an hour.

How are you using a personal vision statement in your personal or professional life? And what are some of the best personal vision statement examples you have found? Share in the comments below!

David Henzel

I’m a serial entrepreneur and I write about things I have learned along the way. I’m passionate about helping entrepreneurs and executives to find success and harmony in business and in life.

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• Personal Finance

Personal Financial Statement: Definition, Uses, and Example

What Is a Personal Financial Statement?

The term personal financial statement refers to a document or spreadsheet that outlines an individual's financial position at a given point in time. The statement typically includes general information about the individual, such as name and address, along with a breakdown of total assets and liabilities . The statement can help individuals track their financial goals and wealth, and can be used when they apply for credit .

Key Takeaways

• A personal financial statement lists all assets and liabilities of an individual or couple.
• An individual's net worth is determined by subtracting their liabilities from their assets—a positive net worth shows more assets than liabilities.
• Net worth can fluctuate over time as the values of assets and liabilities change.
• Personal financial statements are helpful for tracking wealth and goals, as well as applying for credit.
• Although they may be included in a personal financial statement, income and expenses are generally placed on a separate sheet called the income statement.

Understanding the Personal Financial Statement

Financial statements can be prepared for either companies or individuals. An individual’s financial statement is referred to as a personal financial statement and is a simpler version of corporate statements . Both are tools that can show the financial health of the subject.

A personal financial statement shows the individual's net worth —their assets minus their liabilities—which reflects what that person has in cash if they sell all their assets and pay off all their debts. If their liabilities are greater than their assets, the financial statement indicates a negative net worth. If the individual has more assets than liabilities, they end up with a positive net worth.

Keeping an updated personal financial statement allows an individual to track how their financial health improves or deteriorates over time. These can be invaluable tools when consumers want to change their financial situation or apply for credit such as a loan or a mortgage . Knowing where they stand financially allows consumers to avoid unnecessary inquiries on their credit reports and the hassles of declined credit applications.

The statement allows also credit officers to easily gain perspective into the applicant's financial situation in order to make an informed credit decision. In many cases, the individual or couple may be asked to provide a personal guarantee for part of the loan or they may be required to put up collateral to secure the loan.

Special Considerations

A personal financial statement is broken down into assets and liabilities. Assets include the value of securities and funds held in checking or savings accounts , retirement account balances, trading accounts , and real estate. Liabilities include any debts the individual may have including personal loans, credit cards, student loans, unpaid taxes , and mortgages. Debts that are jointly owned are also included. Married couples may create joint personal financial statements by combining their assets and liabilities.

Income and expenses are also included if the statement is used to attain credit or to show someone's overall financial position. This can be tracked on a separate sheet or an addendum, called the income statement . This includes all forms of income and expenses—typically expressed in the form of monthly or yearly amounts.

The following items are not included in a personal financial statement:

• Business-related assets and liabilities: These are excluded unless the individual is directly and personally responsible. So if someone personally guarantees a loan for their business—similar to cosigning —the loan is included in their personal financial statement.
• Rented items: Anything rented is not included in personal financial statements because the assets aren't owned. This changes if you own the property and rent it out to someone else. In this case, the value of the property is included in your asset list.
• Personal property: Items such as furniture and household goods are typically not included as assets on a personal balance sheet because these items can’t easily be sold to pay off a loan. Personal property with significant value, such as jewelry and antiques, may be included if their value can be verified with an appraisal .

Business liabilities are only included in a personal financial statement if an individual provides the creditor with a personal guarantee.

Keep in mind. Your credit report and credit history are big considerations when it comes to getting new credit and every lender has different requirements for issuing credit. So, even if you have a positive net worth—more assets than liabilities—you may still be refused a loan or credit card if you haven't paid your previous debts on time or have too many inquiries on file.

Example of a Personal Financial Statement

Let's assume that River wants to track their net worth as they move toward retirement . They have been paying off debts, saving money, investing , and are getting closer to owning their home. Each year, they update the statement to see the progress they have made.

Here's how they would break it down. They would list all their assets—$20,000 for a car, $200,000 for their house, $300,000 in investments, and $50,000 in cash and equivalents . They also own some highly collectible stamps and art valued at $20,000 that they can list. Their total assets are, therefore, $590,000. As for liabilities, River owes $5,000 on the car and $50,000 for their house. Although River makes all of their purchases with a credit card, they pay the balance off each month and never carry a balance. River cosigned a loan for their daughter and $10,000 remains on that. Even though it is not River's loan, they are still responsible, so it is included in the statement. River's liabilities are $65,000.

When we subtract their liabilities from their assets, River's net worth is $525,000. Although they use it mainly to track their financial health, River can use this information—and the statement as a whole—if they want to apply for any other credit.

Small Business Administration. “ Personal Financial Statement .” Pages 2-3.

Experian. “ What Happens If Your Loan Is Denied? ”

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