personal statement for university canada

Writing your personal statement

When putting together your application for graduate school, one of the supporting documents your program may require as part of the supplementary information form is a personal statement . A personal statement is your opportunity to explain more about who you are and why you belong in the program to which you’re applying, aside from your grades and test scores. This can be a powerful tool for demonstrating that you’re a great candidate!

At Waterloo, we have different names and formats for personal statements. They can also be referred to as a letter of intent or a statement of interest . Some programs will have a specific set of prompts/questions for you to answer, but others will not. Find out this information by searching your program in the Graduate studies academic calendar .

This video will walk you through the basics of writing a personal statement, including the main elements of a strong statement and what types of experiences you can include.   

Three main elements of a strong personal statement

• Your interest in the program
• The tools and skills that will help you succeed
• Why the program is a good fit for you

1. Your interest in the program

Some prompting questions to ask yourself include: 

• What problem do you want to solve? How do you know it’s a problem? What have you learned about it over time?
• What is drawing you to this program? What makes this a good next step for you?
• Who is it that you want to help with this degree? How do you know they need help?
• Why are you interested in this topic? What learning have you done in this area? What is it that you find exciting?

2. The tools and skills that will help you succeed

• What do you do well? How do you know you do it well? What do you do that’s different than somebody who is not good at this?
• What does it take to be good at what you want to do? What does someone need to know, do, or learn? When have you worked/learned in an environment like this? You may think you don’t have relevant experience but re-frame the experience you DO have. For example, if you don’t have relevant research experience, how do you share that you’re a good candidate? You’ve completed previous degrees, which teach you how to research.
• What have you observed or thought about that’s relevant to this work?

3. Why the program is a good fit for you

• How do your research interests match faculty interests? This is particularly important for research or thesis-based programs. What connects your proposed work with theirs?
• What did you notice about the program design, location, or content?
• What do you want to learn and how does this match the degree? For example, if a master’s degree is a pre-requisite for a career you’re interested in, WHY is it required?
• You can also frame this around your goals when you finish. How do these goals match the program?

Before you submit your statement

Don't forget to review it carefully, check for spelling and grammar, and have someone else look at it!

Additional resources

For current Waterloo students and alumni, the Centre for Career Development offers further education support , including working with you on your application documents like personal statements. For non-Waterloo students, your university may have similar resources available.

We hope that this information will help you in crafting your personal statement, getting you one step closer to a top-notch graduate studies application package!

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How to Write a Personal Statement for Admission to Your First-Choice Program

Grades aren't everything to registrars. effectively telling your story is just as important..

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a document some universities use to evaluate your suitability for admission. Sometimes the personal statement is used only for admission, and sometimes it's also used to assess your qualification for scholarships (so the purpose is often twofold).

Some personal statements (sometimes referred to as 'personal profiles' or other names) are required for admission, and some may be optional. For example, the Personal Profile is required for admission to many programs at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

Admissions personal statements are common in the United States. Although they're less common in Canada, more and more Canadian universities are starting to use personal statements for admission and scholarships, and I predict this trend towards a more "holistic" admissions process will continue to grow.

Why use a personal statement?

The rationale behind using the personal statement varies, but basically it provides another way for universities to evaluate your suitability as an applicant beyond your academics. Statements are used quite often at universities where admission is competitive, as a way to differentiate well-qualified applicants.

For example, in programs like Queen's Commerce , McMaster Health Sciences , and Waterloo Engineering , most of the applicants have averages at 90% or above, so the personal statement provides another way to choose from so many qualified students. Some programs may also use a video interview (in addition to the personal statement) as another method of evaluation.

What are schools looking for in a personal statement?

The key information varies according to the statement.

For personal statements in supplemental applications for highly competitive programs, you should specifically demonstrate your skills and personal qualities , and how they align with that particular program.

Generally speaking, though, what most personal statements have in common is they want you to demonstrate self-knowledge, and to align your interests, skills, and personal qualities to the program or university in some way . Schools will often ask about what you've learned through your academic and non-academic experiences. It's vital that you do some self-reflection before writing your statement so you can communicate their best learning experiences (this is part of what I help students to do). You want to draw connections between your experiences and the education you expect to receive.

Personal statements are also used to gauge your community involvement and ability to manage time . If you've been quite involved with your community, for example, through volunteer activities, and you've still maintained a 90%+ average, it demonstrates that you can balance academics and extra-curricular activities, which makes you an attractive candidate for any school.

Further, a history of involvement in high school increases the likelihood of continued involvement in university. That's exactly what the university is looking for: a solid student who will become a part of the campus community and make contributions to it. Schools aren't as interested in students who will only leave their dorm room to go to class.

More information and next steps

UBC provides a great description of what a personal statement is, and tips for how to complete it. Watch the video on the UBC Personal Profile page. Although the information is specific to UBC, it's general enough to describe how to complete most personal profiles .

And remember the golden rule of writing: revise ! Never send out your first draft. Once you've got a personal statement written, give it a few days, then return to it and make some edits. Show your draft to a trusted friend or loved one for feedback. This means you'll need to leave time for revision, so don't leave your statement til the last minute!

Janet MacDonald is a Scholarship Coach at mycampusGPS . She teaches students how to prepare their best scholarship applications through one-to-one coaching and workshops. She also wrote the guide "How to Find and Win Scholarships in Canada." Janet's blog is one of the top education blogs in Canada.

Visit mycampusGPS

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The personal profile is a crucial section in your UBC application. This is your chance to tell us about the things that are important to you, your significant achievements, what you’ve learned from your experiences, and the challenges you’ve overcome. It’s our chance to determine whether you’re a good fit for UBC and if you’ll receive an entrance scholarship.

On this page:

Who must write a personal profile

Preparing for the personal profile, personal profile questions, how ubc evaluates your personal profile, your personal profile and disruptions outside of your control.

Watch: Your personal profile for your UBC application

Get tips for crafting a strong personal profile that will help UBC understand what’s important to you, what you’ve achieved, and what you’ve learned from your life experiences so far.

You must complete a personal profile as part of your online application if:

• You’re a high school student applying to any degree on UBC’s Okanagan or Vancouver campuses (except the Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism ).
• You’re a university or college transfer student applying to the Bachelor of Nursing on the Okanagan campus, or the Bachelor of Commerce or the Bachelor of International Economics on the Vancouver campus.

Each of the personal profile questions requires short essay responses (50 – 500 words), so you’ll want to think about your answers before you start your online application. Here are three tips to keep in mind:

• Take time to reflect. Instead of simply listing your accomplishments and experiences, tell us what you’ve learned from them.
• Be specific. Use details to provide context and elaborate on your answers.
• Be true to who you are. Don’t focus on what you think we want to hear. Use your unique voice to tell us what you want to say.

Depending on which degree(s) you apply to, you’ll be asked to answer some or all of the following questions in your personal profile:

• Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why.
• What is important to you? And why?
• Family/community responsibilities
• Creative or performing arts
• Work/employment
• Service to others
• Tell us more about one or two activities listed above that are most important to you. Please explain the role you played and what you learned in the process. You will be asked for a reference who can speak to your response.
• Additional information: You may wish to use the space below to provide UBC with more information on your academic history to date and/or your future academic plans. For example: How did you choose your courses in secondary school? Are there life circumstances that have affected your academic decisions to date? What have you done to prepare yourself specifically for your intended area of study at UBC?
• Examples of referees include an employer, a community member, a coach, a teacher/instructor, or anyone who knows you well.
• One of the referees you select must be able to speak to one of the activities/experiences described in one of your long-answer responses above.
• For applicants who are currently attending a high school, one of your referees must be a school official (e.g., Grade 12 or senior year counsellor, teacher, or IB coordinator). Neither referee should be a friend, family member, or paid agent.
• Note that UBC does not send a link to references. We will contact your references directly, after offers of admission have gone out.

For the Bachelor of Education personal profile only:

• Why do you want to become a teacher?
• Describe the kind of teacher you want to be. Give examples.
• Give an example from your experience which illustrates your suitability for the teaching profession. For example, share a story of how you overcame a challenging situation, solved a problem in a professional manner, or learned from your mistake(s), etc.

For the Bachelor of Commerce personal profile only:

• Explain how you responded to a problem and/or an unfamiliar situation. What did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience?
• We live in a global and diverse society. Explain how your community involvement prepares you for the future in this complex world.

UBC’s trained readers will read and evaluate your personal profile and compare it with the profiles written by other UBC applicants. We’re not looking for a particular experience, and there are no right or wrong answers. Your profile will be assessed against four criteria.

Engagement and accomplishment

How do you pursue your interests and manage your responsibilities? What do you do with your time when you are not in class? What would you (or others in your community) consider your most significant contributions and accomplishments? Whether it’s winning an international award or taking care of a younger sibling, any experience can teach you something about yourself and/or the world around you. We want to know what you have been doing and what have you have learned from your experiences. Make sure to give specific examples.

Have you undertaken responsibilities and activities that have benefited those around you and/or contributed to your community in a meaningful way? If so, what have you learned about yourself and others in the process? Leadership can come in many forms. Any act of responsibility and/or initiative that serves others is a form of leadership. Leadership can be demonstrated in a formal role, within a group (e.g., being president of a club or captain of a team), or in an informal role, as an individual (e.g., taking it upon yourself to help in your community). And remember – it’s not just about being in a leadership role, it’s about what leadership has taught you.

Have you spent sufficient time reflecting upon what you want to say? Have you answered the questions in a detailed and meaningful way? Is the content of your personal profile superficial or clichéd, or are you presenting interesting, well-thought-out, and relevant ideas? Remember that trained UBC readers will be reviewing and comparing thousands of personal profiles. The best way to stand out is by making sure you have something meaningful and insightful to say.

Communication is important. Have you written a personal profile that is genuine and unique to who you are? Does your profile authentically reflect your own words? Will your voice stand out in a meaningful way, or will your profile read like many others?

We know that disruptions can arise that may affect your access to extracurricular activities at school or in your community. We will be as flexible as possible to ensure that your personal profile is not disadvantaged by disruptions caused by things outside of your control.

Remember that when we assess your personal profile we take into account all of the activities you’ve done across multiple years, not just the ones you hoped to complete in Grade 11 or 12. Your examples can come from any aspect of your life, including within your family or smaller community. There are no right or wrong answers – we’re not looking for certain activities or a long list of achievements, but rather your reflections on what you’ve experienced.

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Write your personal statement.

Personal statements are part of the application package to many professional and graduate school programs. Sometimes they are responses to a specific question, but often the questions are open ended. Although they vary in length, 500 words is a common length.

They are also known as letter of intent, personal essay, statement of purpose or application essays.

Attend a CV and Personal Statement Event to draft and refine your CV and/or personal statement in a semi-structured environment. Access workshops and small group chats, and receive advice, feedback and support from career educators

Download Guide to Writing Personal Statements for Further Education (PDF) for advice on writing personal statements for grad school.

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Whether you are writing a Personal Statement, Letter of Intent, Biographical Sketch, or other type of application for a graduate program, professional school, fellowship/scholarship/award, or employment opportunity, CaPS can assist you.

Before taking advantage of the resources below, we strongly recommend you write the first draft on your own, according to the specifications provided by the institution or organization. Your style of writing in the letter is a reflection of your character and personality, and you would not want that tainted by following a textbook format.

Once you have given your letter a first attempt (and there will be many to follow), take advantage of the following resources to ensure it is at its best upon submission.

To have your personal statements reviewed, please make an appointment: 514-398-3304.

Personal Statement Samples

• Writing the Personal Statement | Examples (Perdue Online Writing Lab)
• Sample personals statements, by subject (Studential.com)
• Personal Statement Books (available in the McGill Library)

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• McGill - Tips for writing a research proposal
• Graduate school applications: writing a research statement (Purdue OWL)

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Consult the following websites for pre-selection interview questions and answers.

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• Top 10 graduate school interview questions (GradSchools.com)

Please note that CaPS and McGill do not endorse any particular websites/services; the listing is for your information only.

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Tips | Personal Statement

Personal statements are a part of the application package to many professional and graduate school programs. Sometimes they respond to a specific question, but often the questions are open-ended and vary in length requirements ranging from as little as 250 words to more than two pages. They are also called letters of intent, personal essays, statements of purpose, or application essays.

1. Why Do Schools Request Them?

Personal statements are an opportunity for you to present yourself to the application committee. A strong personal statement will not make up for a weak application, but may be a deciding factor to a committee in the final selection process. It should reflect the skills requested by the program such as communication, analytical, organizational or problem-solving skills. It is also an opportunity for you to show the committee that you have the ability and motivation to succeed in the field. Your personal statement should go beyond what you have already covered in your application. The most important thing to remember about writing personal statements is that they should reflect your uniqueness by highlighting your most pertinent experiences.

TIP: Pay attention to your audience (committee) throughout the statement. Remember that your audience consists of professionals who are experts in their fields. Avoid making self-important and grandiose statements about the nature of the field. Do not tell them what they already know! Below are points on how to prepare your personal statement.

2. Start Early and Research

Read the instructions carefully for each school.  Selection committees receive numerous applications. Tailored applications will speak to them much more strongly than applications that are generic.

• Research the institution to understand the culture and vision.
• Research the department to know their research strengths and their faculty’s area of expertise.
• For thesis-based programs, include information about possible professors you would like as supervisors and why you are interested in that person specifically.
• Explore their website and, if possible, visit the campus in person.
• Talk to the admissions officers directly either at their office or attend the Professional Schools Fair held on campus.
• Register for our Personal Statement workshop on CLNx to help get you started.  

If you cannot attend the workshop, complete the Personal Statement E-Module . 

Once you have completed the workshop or e-module, book an appointment with a Career Counselor to have it critiqued. We do not edit your work but will identify areas that are weak or need further clarification. Critiques (personal statement or CV) are limited to a maximum of 3 appointments per semester. We offer critiques online or in person.

3. Know Yourself

Your statement will address your strengths and fit for their program. If you need assistance identifying your skills, meet with a Career Counsellor or check out the numerous resources available at the Career Centre. Talk to your family and friends as they can offer a unique perspective on your skills and abilities. If possible, discuss your options with a professor or teaching assistant. They will be able to speak to your strengths with respect to the discipline you wish to study.

4. Brainstorm

Begin by spending some time reflecting on your life and experiences. Do not make any judgments or edit your thoughts at this point. Possible questions for you to consider are:

• What experiences or education made me want to pursue further studies?
• When did I become interested in this field?
• What appeals to me about the program — what is unique about it?
• What can I bring to this area of study — my unique perspective?
• What do I plan to do once I finish my studies — my long-term goals?

5. Write Your First Draft

Make sure your first paragraph is engaging and has a specific thesis statement or a marketing pitch. Do not just say what you think the committee wants to hear, but speak from the heart. Be confident and positive — it’s not always what you say but how you say it. They are not looking for your life history; focus on specific experiences and achievements that substantiate your marketing pitch.

Always keep in mind the audience who will be reading this document. Professional schools have a different focus than master's or PhD programs. When you finish the draft, set it aside for a few days and then get back to it with a fresh perspective.

After taking a break, come back to your draft and consider these questions:

• Did I answer the question or questions as specified in the application?
• Does it reflect the real me?
• Does it include any controversial subjects, experiences, opinions, or politics?
• Does it rely on clichés or quotes to make my point?
• Have I chosen the right key experiences to highlight? Does it allow the reader to draw conclusions from the evidence that I have provided?
• Am I being repetitive?
• Does the document reflect strong interest in the program?
• Have I used the pronoun “I”  too much?

If asked about undergraduate research projects:

• List projects in order of interest.
• Use working titles.
• Mention name of professor and/or supervisor.
• Explain relevance of the research to the program and identify applicable skills.

Remember that a personal statement should:

• Demonstrate how you are a good fit for the program
• Be specific and persuasive. Document and support your conclusions with examples or draw conclusions from individual experience.  It should NOT be a catalogue of achievements. The statement is far more than a resume.
• Avoid lecturing the reader. For example, you should avoid making a statement such as "Communication skills are important in this field." Graduate admissions committee members know this and are not there to learn about the field from the applicant. If you are asked about your understanding of the field, write about how your understanding of the field has shaped your career goals or challenged you.

Words and phrases to avoid without an explanation:

• significant
• interesting
• challenging
• satisfying/satisfaction
• exciting/excited
• enjoyable/enjoy
• appealing to me
• appealing aspect
• it's important
• I can contribute
• meant a lot to me
• stimulating
• helping people
• I like helping people

(Adapted from the Career Centre website of the University of California, Berkeley)

Ask several people to review your personal statement including your professors (especially if they belong to the field to which you are applying).  In order to have your personal statement critiqued by a Career Counsellor, you must either complete the e-module mentioned earlier (Personal Statement E-Module under Further Education/Resources and Links on the Career Centre website) or attend one of our Personal Statement workshops offered a few times each semester.  Then, book an appointment with a Career Counsellor. Please send a copy of your statement at least 24 hours before your appointment so that the Counsellor can review it.  Send to [email protected] .  Please bring a printed copy of your document if you have an in-person appointment.

7. Before Submitting Your Final Copy

Proofread for spelling or grammar mistakes. Make sure you present it in a professional manner, which is neat and within the word or page limit.

If you need further assistance with grammar and writing skills contact the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (also check their online writing resources).

Recommended Resources from UTM Career Centre

• Graduate Admissions Essays by Donald Asher
• Mastering the Personal Statement by John Richardson

Additional Resources (If you require help with grammar)

• Statement of Purpose     
• Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)  
• U of T - Writing  
• Attend workshops about the application process for graduate schools, professional schools (medical school, law school, teaching, held in the fall and winter terms (probably virtual this fall).
• Check out Further Education tip sheets (i.e. Professional Schools and Academic References).  Also available in print at the Career Centre.

To book an appointment with a Career Counsellor in person or online call: 905.838.5451. You can also connect with us at our Live Chat located on our website.

This information is subject to change. It is best to refer to the original sources for the most up-to-date information.

Updated June 13, 2023

10 Tips for Writing a Strong Personal Statement

1. read the instructions carefully.

This is especially important when you are applying to multiple programs. Pay particular attention to length limits and content/questions you are supposed to address.

When you attend a Post Grad Application Support appointment, it can be very helpful to bring these instructions with your drafts (in hardcopy!)

2. Focus on yourself

Avoid getting into long explanations of the courses you took, or places you volunteered. The selection committee will be more interested in how these experiences influenced your perspective, your intellectual development and motivated you to pursue further education. YOU are the main focus of the personal statement.

3. Demonstrate your genuine interest and enthusiasm

Post graduate education can be very challenging and stressful. The committee will be looking for evidence that you are truly motivated and excited about what you want to study since such students make more positive peers and are more likely to successfully complete the program.

4. Start early

Although personal statements aren’t usually very long, you will need to write multiple drafts to get your statement to the level you want it to be.

This is a different kind of writing than you are used to, and it can take much longer than you expect to figure out what you are trying to say, and how to say it in the most effective way. Beginning 2-3 months before your deadline is a good rule of thumb.

5. Explain any discrepancies in your application in your personal statement

Be sure to address any grades on your transcripts that do not reflect your academic ability, especially if they occurred in the last two years of your degree, and are in courses related to the programs to which you are applying.

Your explanation should be concise, and focused on assuring the committee that whatever the problem was, it is in the past and will not impact your ability to do well in the future. You can discuss strategies for doing this in a Post Grad Application Support session.

6. Review good sentence and paragraph structure

A personal statement requires you to put a lot of information in very few words, so the structure of your sentences and paragraphs is key. The Purdue Online Writing Lab is an excellent resource to review these elements of good writing before you get started.

7. Use the active voice

This means put “I” in the subject position of your sentences and avoiding terms like ‘allowed’ and ‘gave'; with you as the receiver rather than the initiator of the action.

For example, instead of “This course gave me a new understanding of...” use “Through this course, I gained a new understanding of...”.

8. Give explicit reasons for selecting the program for which you are applying

The selection committee will select qualified candidates who can give rational, persuasive reasons why that program is a good fit for them.

Compelling reasons for selecting a program could include the fact that there are several professors who are experts in your particular area of interest in a particular program, or that the structure of the program will enable you to focus on a particular topic.

Maybe the location is near an important resource, or there are courses specifically focused in your area of interest. Make sure you clearly articulate why these aspects of the program appeal to you.

9. Indicate what your goals are once you’ve graduated from the program

Committees like to get a sense of how you see their program supporting your goals to make sure you have realistic expectations and to ensure you are not making erroneous assumptions as to the purpose of the program

10. Revise, revise, revise!

Check for problems with the structure and flow of your statement. Look for awkward phrases, jarring transitions, ambiguous statements and, of course, grammar and spelling errors. Get feedback from as many people as possible. The Personal Statement Peer Review is an excellent resource to help you do this.

Click here to go back to: Thinking about grad school or further education?

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Personal Statements for University in Canada

7 February 2021

6 minutes reading time

• 01. What Should Be On Your Personal Statement?
• 02. How to Write Your Personal Statement?
• 03. What Not To Write on a Personal Statement
• 04. Start Writing Your Personal Statement

Personal statements are more commonly used in other parts of the world like the United Kingdom and the United States, but some universities in Canada accept personal statements. They can be a valuable tool admissions officers use to pick the right applicants . It is important to note more and more universities allow students to submit a personal statement along with their application.

The personal statement is a document that is used for admission and can also be used for scholarships . On a personal statement, you should explain why your the right person for the program. It’s essentially like a job cover letter or an interview question like “why do you want to work here” . Personal statements should be seen as a positive . Think about it from the admission officers they have 100s of students with the right qualifications and grades. How do they possibly decide who is the right fit? Your statement is a great way to stand out from the crowd and gain acceptance .

What Should Be On Your Personal Statement?

The basis of your personal statement should specifically demonstrate why your right for the program . This means your going to explain all of your skills and personal qualities that would make you the perfect person to enrol. Schools are also going to be looking for students who contribute to their school. They want someone who will be a leader for other students and get involved in the school's community .

Aside from the things listed above you should also add how you've grown as a person in an academic and non-academic way . You can also provide some insight into why you want to attend the university and your plan for connecting with the university. Keep your statement to the point. Stay on topic and only list necessary experiences and qualities.

How to Write Your Personal Statement?

Your statement needs to be thought out. You shouldn't just sit down and start writing. Your first step should be looking at your school's website . If they require a personal statement they should have some things there looking for on their application page. This is going to be your checklist for when you start writing. Next, look at your checklist and figure out your experiences and abilities of what makes you a great fit .

Your next step is to start writing . After you've finished writing your first draft, now is the time to go back through the school's checklist and make sure you have all the right steps. Now, it’s time to re-write, re-read and edit, until you feel confident in your work. A good writer will re-visit their work a day or two later to finish their statement . You’ll have fresh eyes and be able to pick up on new things. It’s best to always have someone read it over for you before submitting it. If you’re worried about the structure of your statement there are lots of examples online.

Make sure your statement is reflective of you . You should be honest with yourself when writing. Don’t lie to seem like a better candidate, the school will be able to tell it’s not genuine. We all have something the makes us unique, you can use that in your personal statement to stand out. Our last tip for writing your personal statement is to have different personal statements for each school you apply to . We know this is time-consuming and may sound unnecessary, but just like applying for a job, your application should match the school . This means there going to be looking for different things or value some experiences more than others.

Schools that expect personal statements do a great job of explaining what they're looking for and how to stand out in the application process. Start with the school's website you're looking for as your first step . If you are stuck writing just write what comes to mind. Your first draft is never perfect . Your second draft may not even be perfect, but you can't start fixing things until you have something down. If you are really finding it hard to find the words to say about yourself ask your friends and family about your qualities . The schools are going to be looking for certain qualities or experiences in their applicants. You can ask the people that know you how these qualities and experiences relate to you. Then after you can write down what they say and put it into your own words. It can sometimes be hard to examples of the qualities about ourselves, so ask the people that know you.

What Not To Write on a Personal Statement

Your personal statement is the chance to showcase your strengths and show the admissions boards why you're the right fit for the job . It's essential to know what to include on your personal statement and it's just as essential to know what not to write on your personal statements. We'll list 3 things you should not add to your personal statement to a university in Canada.

• Grammar and Punctuation - This is crucial to your personal statement. Having spelling mistakes or other common writing errors can cause you to look unprofessional. You want your writing to stand out. Using grammar and punctuation software is a good idea, but they can still miss errors . Always go over your writing and have other people review your work.
• Unnecessary Information - You should not be adding any unnecessary additional information. Keep your information relevant and to the point. Of course, you need to show how you're a great fit, but saying too much can be worse than saying too little.
• Quotes and Common Phrases - The personal statement needs to be your words. Adding quotes in or common phrases doesn't showcase your writing talent and won't showcase your qualities. It's best to steer clear.

Start Writing Your Personal Statement

Our last big tip for personal statements is not to start them at the last minute. You want time to critically think about your writing and the qualities the school is looking for. Leave yourself lots of time and you'll be off to a great start. Also, feel free to ask family or friends to help you edit or re-word things. It never hurts to have a second pair of eyes on your writing. Now, the rest is up to you. It can cause you to be anxious thinking about your personal statement, but the quicker you start the less anxious you'll start to feel . Your personal statements are your time to prove to the university where you're fit to a be student there. It's your time to stand out from the crowd.

Applying to university is going to require having the grades as well. If you need help in school or raising your grades your tutor will be able to help you. Superprof has 100s of tutors that offer lessons on numerous subjects . They all have the experience and knowledge to help you learn the best way possible. Superprof also offers lessons online and in-person giving you the freedom and flexibility to learn when you want to learn. Get the help you need with a Superprof tutor.

Applying to University in Canada can come with a lot of questions. This is why we have created numerous articles to help make your application process easier. Check out the articles down below to learn more.

• The Steps to Applying to University in Canada
• What Courses to Take in University?
• Application Process for University 
• When to Apply to University in Canada?

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• January 4, 2022
• Personal Statement

This is a University of Waterloo personal statement sample submitted by a masters applicant. Please only use this as a guide, do not copy it.

Before we provide the personal statement sample, let’s answer some of the frequently asked questions about the University of Waterloo personal statement.

Why You Need a Personal Statement

Personal statement writing is your chance to showcase your skills, passion, experience and understanding of the given program you want to enrol for. Hence, good use of language, grammar and punctuation is important. The statement you compose will serve as proof to show the admission tutor that you’re able to construct a piece of writing effectively.

Length for University of University of Waterloo Personal Statement

Your statement is an important component of your application to any university in Canada. As at the time of writing this, the University of Waterloo accepts a maximum personal statement length of 500 . Hence, with the limited word count, you’re expected to articulate your thoughts properly before composing your statement and submitting it.

Guide to Writing Your Personal Statement for University of Waterloo;

Because of the limited word count for the University of Waterloo statement, we’ve created this outline to guide you while writing yours. Note: This is our recommended outline; you may decide to try a better approach known to you.

• Paragraph one: Intellectual trajectory and why this degree is important at this stage.
• Paragraph two: Why the country and university is the preferred choice.
• Paragraph three: Skills, competencies, and hobbies that will be relevant for this study.
• Paragraph Four: Why will you be a good fit for this program

University of Waterloo Personal Statement Sample

I have been involved in business development and management for over 10 years. My introduction to business management came early; helping my parents run their retail store business in Niger State, Nigeria. This early exposure increased my drive for business, and together with my siblings, we helped my parents advance their business from a mere local store customer business to serve over 5000 customers yearly. Hence, I can say that my entrepreneurial background is based on the influence of my parents.

I proceeded to study Banking and Finance for my undergraduate degree. The program gave me a comprehensive understanding of business management through specific courses that covered marketing, operations, finance, business development, information technology, and business strategies and policy development. It was through this course that I gained adequate knowledge, understanding, and insight to launch my banking career.

After 5 years working in three financial institutions, and a couple of other Edutech companies in business development positions, I reached a level where I gained enough knowledge, insight, and understanding to strive in the business world and unleash my entrepreneurial ambitions. In response to a market opportunity that I discovered, I co-founded xxx – a food service and household utility company with my wife. Currently, we cater for over 1,500 Nigerian families and also boast staff strength of about 30. Initially, our operations were driven by traditional business and marketing tools, but upon the introduction of tech-driven innovations like our mobile app and WhatsApp, we have been able to attract more customers. After seeing how technological innovations can influence rapid growth in our business, I am now poised to make an academic investment that will bring me up to speed and instil in me the insight to capitalize on technology in my entrepreneurial pursuit.

Our goal is to expand our market audience which is primarily Lagos based to other big cities in Nigeria while also improving our staffing strength to provide employment opportunities for the Nigerian economy which already has a troubling unemployment rate of 32.5% according to Statista. In the future, I also have my eyes on establishing an edutech company that will help Africans get access to quality education.

After thorough research and recommendation from other business associates, I have chosen to go ahead with the Master’s Program in Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology of the University of Waterloo. I particularly like the line-up of courses; they have been designed to help students gain business skills that will help them create, and commercialize business solutions. More so, I am pleased with the experience of the lecturers and the learning facilities available for this program.

Conclusively, successful businesses heavily rely on knowledge to inform various critical business decisions. It is on this knowledge that I believe that this program will equip me with the knowledge to properly utilize technology to create a competitive advantage in our present business sector.

Do You Need Assistance Reviewing Your Personal Statement for the University of Waterloo?

Thank you for taking out the time to read this University of Waterloo Personal Statement Sample. If you need assistance writing or reviewing your statement, contact us today and a writer will be assigned to you.

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How to Write a Personal Statement

A personal statement can be a key part of your college application, and you can really make yours shine by following a few tips.

When you're applying to college—either to an undergraduate or graduate program—you may be asked to submit a personal statement. It's an essay that gives you the chance to share more about who you are and why you'd like to attend the university you're applying to.  

The information you provide in your personal statement can help build on your other application materials, like your transcripts and letters of recommendation, and build a more cohesive picture to help the admissions committee understand your goals.

In this article, we'll go over more about personal statements, including why they're important, what to include in one, and tips for strengthening yours.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement—sometimes known as a college essay —is a brief written essay you submit with other materials when applying to college or university. Personal statements tend to be most common for undergraduate applications, and they're a great opportunity for an admissions committee to hear your voice directly.

Many colleges and universities in the US, especially those using Common App , provide prompts for you to use. For example, "Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea" or "Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time" [ 1 ]. If the school you're interested in attending doesn't require prompts, you will likely want to craft a response that touches on your story, your values, and your goals if possible.

In grad school, personal statements are sometimes known as letters of intent , and go into more detail about your academic and professional background, while expressing interest in attending the particular program you're applying to.

Why is a personal statement important?

Personal statements are important for a number of reasons. Whereas other materials you submit in an application can address your academic abilities (like your transcripts) or how you perform as a student (like your letters of recommendation), a personal statement is a chance to do exactly that: get more personal.

Personal statements typically:

Permit you to share things that don't fit on your resume, such as personal stories, motivations, and values

Offer schools a chance to see why you're interested in a particular field of study and what you hope to accomplish after you graduate 

Provide an opportunity for you to talk about past employment, volunteer experiences, or skills you have that complement your studies 

Allow colleges to evaluate your writing skills 

Bring life to a college application package otherwise filled with facts and figures 

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How to write a personal statement.

As we mentioned earlier, you may have to respond to a prompt when drafting your personal statement—or a college or university may invite you to respond however you'd like. In either case, use the steps below to begin building your response.

Create a solid hook .

To capture the attention of an admissions committee member, start your personal statement with a hook that relates to the topic of your essay. A hook tends to be a colorful sentence or two at the very beginning that compels the reader to continue reading.

To create a captivating hook, try one of these methods:

Pose a rhetorical question. 

Provide an interesting statistic. 

Insert a quote from a well-known person.

Challenge the reader with a common misconception. 

Use an anecdote, which is a short story that can be true or imaginary. 

Credibility is crucial when writing a personal statement as part of your college application process. If you choose a statistic, quote, or misconception for your hook, make sure it comes from a reliable source.

Follow a narrative.

The best personal statements typically read like a story: they have a common theme, as well as a beginning, middle, and end. This type of format also helps keep your thoughts organized and improves the flow of your essay.

Common themes to consider for your personal statement include:

Special role models from your past

Life-altering events you've experienced

Unusual challenges you've faced

Accomplishments you're especially proud of

Service to others and why you enjoy it

What you've learned from traveling to a particular place

Unique ways you stand out from other candidates

Be specific.

Admissions committees read thousands of personal statements every year, which is why being specific on yours is important. Back up your statements with examples or anecdotes.

For instance, avoid vague assertions like, "I'm interested in your school counseling program because I care about children." Instead, point out experiences you've had with children that emphasize how much you care. For instance, you might mention your summer job as a day camp counselor or your volunteer experience mentoring younger children.

Don't forget to include detail and vibrancy to keep your statement interesting. The use of detail shows how your unique voice and experiences can add value to the college or university you're applying to.

Stay on topic.

It's natural to want to impress the members of the admissions committee who will read your personal statement. The best way to do this is to lead your readers through a cohesive, informative, and descriptive essay.

If you feel you might be going astray, ensure each paragraph in your essay's body supports your introduction. Here are a few more strategies that can help keep you on track:

Know what you want to say and do research if needed. 

Create an outline listing the key points you want to share.

Read your outline aloud to confirm it makes logical sense before proceeding. 

Read your essay aloud while you're writing to confirm you're staying on topic.

Ask a trusted friend or family member to read your essay and make suggestions.

Be true to your own voice.

Because of the importance of your personal statement, you could be tempted to be very formal with structure and language. However, using a more relaxed tone is better than you would for a classroom writing assignment. 

Remember: admissions committees really want to hear from you . Writing in your own voice will help accomplish this. To ensure your tone isn't too relaxed, write your statement as if you were speaking to an older relative or trusted teacher. This way, you'll come across as respectful, confident, and honest.

Tips for drafting an effective personal statement.

Now that you've learned a little about personal statements and how to craft them, here are a few more tips you can follow to strengthen your essay:

1. Customize your statement.

You don't have to completely rewrite your personal statement every time you apply to a new college, but you want to make sure you tailor it as much as possible. For instance, if you talk about wanting to take a certain class or study a certain subject, make sure you adjust any specifics for each application.

2. Avoid cliches.

Admissions committees are ultimately looking for students who will fit the school, and who the school can help guide toward their larger goals. In that case, cliches can get in the way of a reviewer understanding what it is you want from a college education. Watch out for cliches like "making a difference," "broadening my horizons," or "the best thing that ever happened to me."

3. Stay focused.

Try to avoid getting off-track or including tangents in your personal statement. Stay focused by writing a first draft and then re-reading what you've written. Does every paragraph flow from one point to the next? Are the ideas you're presenting cohesive?

4. Stick to topics that aren't controversial.

It's best not to discuss political beliefs or inappropriate topics in your essay. These can be controversial; ideally, you want to share something goals- or values-driven with an admissions committee.

Polish your writing skills on Coursera.

A stellar personal statement starts with stellar writing skills. Enhance your writing ability with a writing course from a top university, like Good with Words: Writing and Editing from the University of Michigan or Writing a Personal Essay from Wesleyan University. Get started for free to level up your writing.

Article sources

1. Common App. " 2022-2023 Common App Essay Prompts , https://www.commonapp.org/blog/2022-2023-common-app-essay-prompts." Accessed January 9, 2024.

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Canada Personal Statements Samples For Students

7 samples of this type

Do you feel the need to check out some previously written Personal Statements on Canada before you start writing an own piece? In this open-access database of Canada Personal Statement examples, you are provided with an exciting opportunity to explore meaningful topics, content structuring techniques, text flow, formatting styles, and other academically acclaimed writing practices. Adopting them while composing your own Canada Personal Statement will surely allow you to finalize the piece faster.

Presenting superb samples isn't the only way our free essays service can help students in their writing ventures – our experts can also compose from point zero a fully customized Personal Statement on Canada that would make a solid basis for your own academic work.

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Cardiology Fellowship Application Personal Statement

From childhood, it has been my dream to be a doctor and it has been a great source of pride in me to have been able to realise this dream in the last few years. Furthermore, my professional medical experience has enabled me to realise that I am fascinated by the human heart and its inner-mechanics. As a result, it is my honour to request that I be accepted on to the Cardiology Fellowship and I wish to do so in Canada as it is my understanding that its cardiology training is amongst the best in the world.

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Program director, introduce my educational background, and convince my university that i satisfy english personal statement example, personal statement., biomedical engineering personal statement examples.

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Personal information of thousands, including SINs and bank info, likely exposed in cyberattack: U of Winnipeg

Leak of information in march cyberattack could affect all students enrolled since 2018, staff since 2003.

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Personal data from potentially thousands of students and staff was stolen in a cyberattack late last month, the University of Winnipeg says.

The names, social insurance numbers, birth dates and addresses of former and current students and school employees have likely been exposed to the attackers, the university said in a Thursday news release.

The bank account information of anyone employed by the university since 2015 is also part of the potential exposure.

"We're talking about personal financial information going back, I think in some cases, even 20 years," said Peter Miler, president of the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association.

"It's clearly highly serious.… It's a lot of data, specific data, that can be used in a lot of nefarious ways."

The leak potentially affects all graduate and undergraduate students enrolled since the fall of 2018, those enrolled in professional, applied and continued education and English-language programs since September 2019, as well as students who were issued T4A forms by the U of W since 2016, the university said.

All current employees and all former employers since 2003 are also likely affected.

LISTEN | Faculty association president reacts to U of W cyberattack update:

The phone numbers of staff and compensation information were also part of the leaked data, the university said.

"I'm disturbed," said Karen Froman, assistant professor in the school's history department. "A lot of personal information has been leaked. So I'm very concerned about this, not only for myself but, you know, for the students as well."

• University of Winnipeg extends semester after confirming it was targeted by cyberattack
• Cyberattacks on universities highlight how Canada lags in response to foreign threats: expert

Students might have also had their fees and tuition amounts, gender and marital status information, and student numbers stolen by the attackers, the university said.

"Immediately, I reached out to my parents and was like, what do I do?" said Elysse Paterson, a classics major. 

"If people can take everything from me — I mean, I don't have much to give. But there's a lot of personal information, and I just don't know how to cope with this."

Himanshu Gill, a business administration student, said he feels powerless knowing that bad actors may have their hands on his personal data.

"They can exploit us in the near future," he said. "So yeah, it's a little bit concerning."

Investigation could take months, school says

The U of W said it's still investigating whether other people have been affected by the attack, which was detected on March 24 , but has "now confirmed that data from a university file server has been stolen and that the stolen information likely includes the personal information of current and former students and employees," the university's news release said.

It's believed the theft likely occurred the week before it was discovered.

The university pushed back its exam period and move-out date for students living on campus in the week following the detection, which led to the shutdown of some of its critical systems.

"We're also scrambling of course to finish the term and deal with the continuing ramifications of the cyberattack's kind of freezing of some technology on campus," Miller said. "So it's definitely a kind of whirlwind of bad things all at once."

The probe into the attack could take months, the university says. Law enforcement and the Manitoba Ombudsman office have been notified.

• Cyberattack and extended semester leaves students stressed and scared: students' association president
• University of Winnipeg to conduct forensic analysis following cyberattack

The university says it's providing anyone who was likely affected by the attack with two-year credit monitoring so they're better protected against identity fraud. Instructions will be sent out in the coming days.

Marc Perreault, senior manager of security assurance at Mozilla, said all the information has probably already been put up for sale on the dark web.

He said all it takes is one flaw in an organization's cybersecurity protocols for attackers to gain a foothold into a system.

"At the end of the day, you know, it would be hard to believe if the university was negligent and that was the cause of this," he said. "The reality is, it happens to … individuals and then everything up to like organizations with tens of thousands of users."

In its release the university says it is "deeply sorry" about the incident and pledges to implement stronger defences in its online systems.

Miller said the faculty association will continue to push the school's administration for transparency into the situation, and more protections.

With files from CBC's Jim Agapito and Radio-Canada's Mario De Ciccio

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Minister Miller issues statement on international student allocations for provinces and territories

From: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, issued the following statement

Ottawa, April 5, 2024— The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, issued the following statement:

“On January 22, I announced a national cap on study permit applications to address the rapid increase of international students in Canada. Provincial and territorial allocations for 2024 have now been finalized. I would like to take this opportunity to share those figures and explain how we made these decisions.

Net zero first year growth model

“The national cap is based on the amount of expiring study permits this year. This means that the number of international students coming to Canada in 2024 should be the same as the number of students whose permits expire this year. For 2024, the target is 485,000 approved study permits.

“About 20% of students apply for an extension each year and remain in the country. Therefore, IRCC subtracted that amount (97,000) from the target of 485,000 and set aside a small buffer to allow for other variations, resulting in a revised target of 364,000 approved study permits in 2024.

“Accordingly, based on the national approval rate of 60% for study permit applications, the target of 364,000 approved study permits translates into a cap of 606,000 study permit applications received for 2024.

“Some international students are exempt from the cap, such as primary and secondary school students and master’s or doctoral degree students. IRCC deducted the estimated volume of these groups (140,000 based on 2023 data) from the 2024 target number of approved study permits. This resulted in a target of 236,000 approved study permits for 2024, which converts to roughly 393,000 study permit applications to be allocated.

Finalizing provincial and territorial allocations

“IRCC distributed the adjusted number of study permit applications, 393,000, based on the population share of each province and territory. Under this model, some provinces and territories would get more students in 2024 than in 2023, while others would see fewer new students.

“For provinces that would receive more international students in 2024 than in 2023 based on population share, we adjusted their allocation to limit growth to 10% compared to 2023.

“For provinces that would receive fewer international students in 2024 than in 2023, we adjusted their allocation to lessen the negative impact in the first year and support broader regional immigration goals.

“IRCC also topped up allocations for provinces whose approval rate was lower than 60%. The top­-ups will help provinces with lower approval rates reach their expected number of approved study permits in 2024.

“As a result, a total of about 552,000 study permit applications have been allocated to provinces and territories under the national cap. These allocations are expected to yield approximately 292,000 approved study permits, representing a 28% reduction from 2023 for the groups included under the cap.

“Many variables may influence the number of new international students who arrive in Canada in 2024, for example

• provinces and territories with room to grow may not end up using their full allocations
• approval rates may change
• in-year adjustments may be required

“These results will help me make decisions on allocations for 2025. I have included the full allocation model below.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with provinces and territories to strengthen the International Student Program and to provide international students with the supports they need to succeed in Canada.”

Allocation model

For further information (media only), please contact:

Bahoz Dara Aziz Press Secretary Minister’s Office Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [email protected]

Media Relations Communications Sector Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 613-952-1650 [email protected]

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