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How To Write A Personal Statement For An Internship

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Personal statements are a great way for employers to learn more about the potential interns applying for their internships. It is also a chance for those who want an internship to showcase their amazing skills and talents.

So, that is why it is important that you are able to write a fantastic personal statement. 

A personal statement is an opportunity to show how you are more than just the figures on your resume. It is a chance for you to tell them about your background, challenges you’ve faced, and prove to them that you are the type of person they are looking to hire for this internship. 

It can seem a little daunting trying to figure out what to write about yourself. Well, don’t panic. This guide will help you to figure out what to include and how to write a personal statement for an internship. 

Table of Contents

What Is A Personal Statement?

Plan and reflect, plan your format, writing your opening paragraph , writing about your experience, summarizing, use the active voice, keep your personal statement short and sweet, proofread your work, get someone to give you constructive criticism, don’t repeat yourself, final thoughts .

Before we look at how to write a personal statement, it is important to go through what a personal statement is. 

A personal statement is an essay that goes through the individual’s skills, background, and why the individual would be perfect for the internship . A personal statement should be all about you. 

It might seem like a personal statement is a biography but it is important to keep linking what you’ve put in your personal statement to what you are applying for. This is why it is more like an essay than a biography of your life. 

It is an opportunity to show how you stand out from the other applicants. 

Now that you know what a personal statement is, let’s look at some things you can do to help you write a personal statement. 

The best personal statements are the ones that have been planned out thoroughly. Your personal statement should have a clear structure to it. However, before you can plan what you are going to include, you need to reflect on your life. 

You need to be able to take the time to reflect on your life experiences and what makes you a unique candidate for the internship.

You should go back to the description of the internship and ask yourself what they need that you’ve got to offer. You should think about what you’ve got but they don’t realize they need it. 

If you are struggling with what makes you stand out, then you can ask some of your family and friends. Discuss what qualities they think make you a great candidate for the internship. 

Once you have an idea of what you want to write about to sell yourself, then you can move on to formatting your personal statement.

Personal statements tend to have the same format. They often start with an introduction, then a few main body paragraphs that discuss your skills, experience, knowledge, and how they relate to the internship you are applying for.

Then you might want to include a paragraph of your future goal in relation to your career and link how this internship will help you achieve your goals.

Then it ends with a paragraph that concludes what you have discussed. This paragraph should be like a closing statement of the argument you have explained. 

However, there might be other guidelines as to how you should format your paragraphs from the internship you are applying for. Make sure you follow any instructions they have when it comes to writing your personal statement.

These instructions could be the font you are allowed to use or the size of the font. They might even have a word count limit for how much you can write for each paragraph or in total. 

You might be tempted to state who you are and where you are from in your opening paragraph. However, this doesn’t make you stand out from the crowd like your personal statement is supposed to. 

Instead, you should start your introductory paragraph with a story about the moment in your life that made you decide to pursue the career you have chosen. The point of this story is to hook the reader so that they want to read on. 

For this to be a good opening paragraph, it needs to be personal to you. Don’t go for any generic moment, make sure you are able to convey the importance and influence this moment had over your life. 

The main body paragraphs or the middle paragraphs should be about your experience. You should explain how your experience benefits the internship you are applying for.

During these paragraphs, you want to talk about your experience and what skills you have developed because of this experience. 

Make sure you look over the description of the internship you are applying for and that you have included examples to show that you meet the requirements of the candidate they are looking for. 

The aim of the middle paragraph is to discuss your life and how the things you have experienced in your life have made you right for the role you are applying to.

An example of this would be discussing how being part of the relay team during college has helped you develop resilience, determination, and teamwork skills. 

For your final paragraph, it is important to include a summary of what you have stated in your essay. It is a good idea to link back to the story you included in your first paragraph and develop the significance of that event. 

At this point, some decide to write about their life goals. Others prefer to write a paragraph before their conclusion about these life goals.

Either way is perfectly fine as long as you do include information about your career goals and how this internship will help you achieve your dreams. 

Top Tips 

Here are some tips to help you when writing and after you’ve finished writing your personal statement. 

When writing your personal statement make sure you are using the active voice rather than the passive voice. The active voice will make your personal statement seem more personal and the reader will feel more connected to you when reading your personal statement. 

When writing your personal statement it is important that you are genuine and authentic. The reader will be able to pick up on any moments where you are not being genuine in your personal statement. 

Personal statements are about you, so you need to be yourself when writing about your life. Don’t over-dramatize events that have happened in your life as the reader will be able to see that you’ve done that. 

The point of a personal statement is to prove to the employer that you are worthy of a place on this internship. If you are not being truthful or genuine in your statement then you are proving that you are not worthy of a place. 

You might be tempted to include skills that you haven’t developed yet because those skills seem easy to learn. However, if you do get through to the next stage, then you might be required to demonstrate those skills. This will only reflect poorly on you.

The last thing you want to do for a personal statement is to talk about yourself for pages and pages. This will not leave a good impression of you on your employer. Instead, you want to be selective about what you include in your personal statement. 

They are not interested in where you went to kindergarten. You should only be writing about the life experiences that are relevant to what they are looking for. If you do this, it shows them you are able to stay on topic and cut out any unnecessary information. 

There is nothing more important than proofreading your personal statement. If you send off a personal statement that has a lot of small mistakes littered in it, this gives those reading your personal statement a bad impression.

Sending off a personal statement that hasn’t been checked for mistakes gives the impression that you don’t care. It makes it seem like you are less passionate about the role you are applying for compared to other candidates. 

Attention to detail is a valuable skill that a lot of employers want their interns to have, so if your personal statement has mistakes in it, you’ve expressed to your employer that you don’t have this skill. 

Those who are looking at your application are able to tell when you have rushed your personal statement. So, give a good first impression by thoroughly proofreading your work for mistakes. 

Something that you can do in order to check your work is to get someone else to give you feedback. Ask your family or friends for help with proofreading. They might be able to spot mistakes that you haven’t noticed in your work. 

Having someone else read your work is a great way to see what they know about your personal statement and whether it is effective or not. They can help you with the structure of your personal statement to see if it flows smoothly. 

One thing to keep in mind is that you are not repeating yourself. These could be phrases like ‘I am a good fit for the internship because’. Try not to repeatedly use ‘I’. Instead of explicitly telling them you are a good fit, explain how the skills you have are relevant to the role. 

That brings us to the end of this guide on how to write a personal statement for an internship. The main thing to remember is that a personal statement should highlight your strengths and what makes you valuable to them.

As long as you are true to yourself then you should find it easy to plan what you are writing. Make sure to stick to any instructions they give you about writing your personal statement. 

Hopefully, this guide has helped you feel more confident about writing your personal statement. 

Related Resources

• How To Write An Email For An Internship
• How To Write A Cover Letter Engineering Interns
• How To Put An Internship On A Resume
• How To Apply For An Internship

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Guidelines for Writing a Personal Statement for Internship

Table of Contents

A personal statement for internship applications suggest that the firm wants to know more about you than just your résumé.

As with any application, the internship personal statement is your chance to demonstrate the organization who you are and why they should hire you. It is a separate document you submit alongside your internship application, resume, and other required documents.

This article explains what an internship entails, provides guidelines and an example to help you draft great personal statements .

What Is an Internship?

An internship is an opportunity to learn about a particular job or field by working in it. It provides students still in school with job experience and enables them to determine if they wish to pursue that career route after graduation.

Internships can also be an excellent way for recent graduates to gain more work experience and make connections in their industry.

A personal statement should begin with an introduction, then description of relevant experiences related to the field , and end with a great conclusion

Internship coordinators will typically have additional requirements, such as requiring you to use a specific typeface (such as Times New Roman or Arial), a particular point size (10 or 12), and a word restriction (500 or 800 words).

Use a standard 10- or 12-point font, and keep the statement to up to two pages if you don’t obtain specific instructions. Put “Personal Statement for” and your name at the top. Other great tips include the following:

1. Seek a Background Connection

Take a moment in your life that made you want to go into this industry and think about it. Hearing a famous politician speak or learning carpentry from your grandfather may have peaked your curiosity.

A captivating narrative will keep the reader interested and make you stick in their mind. The “thread” of your argument should consist of anecdotes.

2. Describe your Abilities and Experiences

Think about what it is that makes someone successful in that industry. Reading the internship advertisement, job description, and LinkedIn profiles of industry professionals can help you understand what an employer wants. Drawing on your findings.

Use the body of your essay to discuss your abilities and experiences. You can discuss, for instance,

• How your leadership on the debate team improved your public speaking
• Your time on a summer construction crew toughened you up and taught you to work hard.

This section still serves as a personal narrative but also makes your case for why you should be chosen as an intern.

3. Proofread Your Draft

Correct any spelling or grammar issues in your initial draft when you’ve finished writing it. Whether a student or a recent grad, your statement should reflect your best efforts as a professional candidate.

4. Conclusion

A story’s beginning is only as good as its conclusion, so ensure they’re connected. The decision should emphasize critical points about your character and the story you’re telling. To conclude reasonably, think about why the story is worth telling in the first place.

Great Example of Personal Statement for Internship

An internship is a great way to gain experience in your desired field. It can allow you to learn about the company, its culture, and how things operate from the inside. Here’s a sample of a great one:

I am writing to apply for the internship program I saw on your website.

I am a recent college graduate looking for an opportunity to gain experience in the marketing field. My studies have focused on marketing and business. An internship would be a great way to learn more about the industry and develop my skills.

I can provide examples of my work from previous jobs or internships and references from professors or colleagues. I would appreciate the chance to come in for an interview to discuss this position further. Thank you for your time.

A personal statement for internship is an opportunity for you to lay out your experience, interests, and future goals . Take your time because it is well worth the investment.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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How to write a personal statement for an internship.

When employers ask you for a personal statement as part of your internship application packet, it signals that they want to know more about your background than the facts and figures on your resume reveal. While an internship personal statement is your chance to share more of your personal side , as with all application materials, it's also an opportunity to sell yourself and to prove you're the person the employer wants as an intern. Typically, this is a separate document that you attach to your internship application, along with your resume and other requested materials.

Personal Statement Formatting

The format for a personal statement includes an introductory paragraph, a few paragraphs that describe your experiences and how they relate to the career field or the internship for which you're applying, and a paragraph that wraps it all up and ties the beginning to the end. Often, internship coordinators will have other guidelines, such as limiting you to fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial, using only 10- or 12-point size font, and limiting the statement to 500 or 800 words, for example. If you don't get any guidelines, use a common font of 10- or 12-point size, and limit the statement to one or two pages. At the top, type "Personal Statement for," followed by your name.

Find a Thread

Think of a time in your life that shaped your decision to pursue this field . Maybe you saw a famous politician speak and it inspired you to pursue politics, or your grandfather taught you basic carpentry and it inspired you to pursue a career in construction. These are the types of stories you'll want to use as the "thread" of your statement. Start off your statement with a paragraph that tells this story. Later, you'll also weave in more details that relate to the story. A good story will encourage the reader to continue reading , and also help her remember you.

Relate Your Experience

The middle paragraphs should include information about your experience and how it can benefit the organization. Think about the skills or characteristics that make a person successful in that particular field. Read job descriptions and the internship posting to get an idea of what the employer wants, but also check out the resumes and self descriptions of people in the field on sites such as LinkedIn. Based on all of that research, use the middle paragraphs to talk about skills or knowledge you have, such as how being the captain of the debate team helped you hone your public speaking skills, or how working on a construction crew during the summers has taught you to be tough and hard-working. You're still telling a story about your life here, but you're also making a case about being the best internship candidate .

Sum It All Up

As with any good story, the beginning should be tied to the end. Once again, share a tidbit about the story you introduced in the beginning of the statement. For example, you might share a quote from that famous politician, or talk about your grandfather's best carpentry work. At this point, it's also good to talk about your overall goals in life and how you see this particular internship fitting into your plan.

Once you've written that first draft, read it over carefully and remove spelling and grammar mistakes . You may be a student or a recent graduate, but employers will still expect professionalism in your personal statement.

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Nicole Vulcan has been a journalist since 1997, covering parenting and fitness for The Oregonian, careers for CareerAddict, and travel, gardening and fitness for Black Hills Woman and other publications. Vulcan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism from the University of Minnesota. She's also a lifelong athlete and is pursuing certification as a personal trainer.

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How to Write a Strong Personal Statement

• Ruth Gotian
• Ushma S. Neill

A few adjustments can get your application noticed.

Whether applying for a summer internship, a professional development opportunity, such as a Fulbright, an executive MBA program, or a senior leadership development course, a personal statement threads the ideas of your CV, and is longer and has a different tone and purpose than a traditional cover letter. A few adjustments to your personal statement can get your application noticed by the reviewer.

• Make sure you’re writing what they want to hear. Most organizations that offer a fellowship or internship are using the experience as a pipeline: It’s smart to spend 10 weeks and $15,000 on someone before committing five years and $300,000. Rarely are the organizations being charitable or altruistic, so align your stated goals with theirs
• Know when to bury the lead, and when to get to the point. It’s hard to paint a picture and explain your motivations in 200 words, but if you have two pages, give the reader a story arc or ease into your point by setting the scene.
• Recognize that the reviewer will be reading your statement subjectively, meaning you’re being assessed on unknowable criteria. Most people on evaluation committees are reading for whether or not you’re interesting. Stated differently, do they want to go out to dinner with you to hear more? Write it so that the person reading it wants to hear more.
• Address the elephant in the room (if there is one). Maybe your grades weren’t great in core courses, or perhaps you’ve never worked in the field you’re applying to. Make sure to address the deficiency rather than hoping the reader ignores it because they won’t. A few sentences suffice. Deficiencies do not need to be the cornerstone of the application.

At multiple points in your life, you will need to take action to transition from where you are to where you want to be. This process is layered and time-consuming, and getting yourself to stand out among the masses is an arduous but not impossible task. Having a polished resume that explains what you’ve done is the common first step. But, when an application asks for it, a personal statement can add color and depth to your list of accomplishments. It moves you from a one-dimensional indistinguishable candidate to someone with drive, interest, and nuance.

• Ruth Gotian is the chief learning officer and associate professor of education in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and the author of The Success Factor and Financial Times Guide to Mentoring . She was named the #1 emerging management thinker by Thinkers50. You can access her free list of conversation starters and test your mentoring impact . RuthGotian
• Ushma S. Neill is the Vice President, Scientific Education & Training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She runs several summer internships and is involved with the NYC Marshall Scholar Selection Committee. ushmaneill

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Personal Statements

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The personal statement is an essay of varying length that may be requested when you are applying to a graduate or professional school, for an internship, or for a grant/fellowship.  With the statement, you are representing your best self: your academic background; your work experience; a narrative of your past, present, and future interests; and your personal commitment to the program or organization at in question.  The statement needs to demonstrate that you are well-informed about the program and that your background and interests match well with the program's mission.

Planning Ahead

• Familiarize yourself with the program or organization to which you are applying, and contact a program representative with any questions you may have.  Be sure to identify particular features of the program or organization that interest you most.
• Take time to do some reflection.  Identify your goals, find meaning in your past experiences, and take stock of your investment in the program or organization to which you are applying.  The more familiar you are with these, the better equipped you will be to write about them and represent them accurately.
• Give yourself plenty of time to write multiple drafts (the more, the better!).  Seek feedback from advisors, professors, those familiar with the program or organization to which you are applying, and even those who have simply written a personal statement in the past.
• Bring the application and your statement draft to the Writing Center for feedback.
• After revising the draft for content, edit your draft for grammar and mechanics, conciseness, “flow”, and style.

What to Include in a Personal Statement

• When, how, and why did you become interested in this area of study or work?   Be specific! Here, you want to distinguish yourself.  You want to demonstrate how well you know your interests.
• What you hope to gain Tailor your statement to your readers and be prepared to name specific features about the program or organization including people, courses, or available resources. How will this specific program help you further your personal or professional goals?
• What you have to  offer Consider how your knowledge and experience makes you a valuable addition to the program.
• Community Service and Other Extracurricular Activities
• Leadership Positions
• Internship and Work Experiences
• What are your accomplishments, particularly ones that make you stand out as a successful candidate?  Elaborate on major accomplishments mentioned briefly in other parts of the application and/or take this opportunity to write about accomplishments not yet mentioned. Describe accomplishments that best illustrate your strengths.
• Have you had any profound experiences or obstacles that affect your application?  Only mention controversial topics if they are critical to your application.
• What are some of your goals or future plans going into this area of study or work?  Show that you have a sense of direction and purpose by giving your reader an idea of your long-term goals and how acceptance into the program or organization to which you are applying will help you accomplish them.

Things to Avoid

• Try not to go overboard with when including biographical narrative.  The focus is more on the ways in which your experiences have shaped your interests, goals, and thinking, rather than on the events themselves.
• Try not to “preach” to your reader.  If you have strong sentiments or opinions pertaining to a particular issue or interest, express them in such a way that they do not come across as overly fanatical or extreme.
• Where possible, try not to mention things covered elsewhere in your application.  If you feel that something previously listed in your application merits elaboration, carefully evaluate how to include it without its inclusion being redundant.
• In trying to bring your “voice” into the personal statement, try to keep away from doing anything too extravagant or “gimmicky”.  While the objective is to give the reader a sense of who you are, being too flashy may give them the impression that you are trying more too hard to appear a fitting candidate, rather than simply explaining what makes you so.

Additional Resources on Personal Statements

• Stelzer, Richard.  How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School.  3rd ed. Princeton, NJ: Peterson's Guides 1997.
• Steward, Mark Alan.  Perfect Personal Statements.  2nd ed.  Lawrenceville, NJ: Thompson/Peterson's, 2002.
• “Writing the Personal Statement.”  Purdue Online Writing Lab.  Purdue University, 25 Apr. 2010.  Web. 30 July 2010.  < https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/job_search_writing/preparing_an_application/writing_the_personal_statement/index.html >

[Compiled by Natasha Azank, Michelle Deal, Jessica Oulette, and Stefana Soitos. Revised by Sean Coffill Nov. 19, 2010.]

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How Long Should a Personal Statement Be: Writing a Strong Personal Statement

As part of your applications to graduate schools, you will need to write a personal statement. But what is a personal statement? What should you write about? And more importantly, how long should a personal statement be?

A personal statement is important because it allows you to make sure your application stands out from others. It will allow you to show off your biggest achievements in life and what you consider to be your best attributes.

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Explore the below tips to learn how to write a strong personal statement and what length you should keep your personal statement at.

What Is a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is an essay explaining your reasons for wanting to enter the coding bootcamp , four-year program, or graduate program you are applying for. It is your chance to tell the school who you are and how you became interested in your field. 

In your personal statement, you should show your passion for the subject and motivation behind applying for the program. There should also be an emphasis on storytelling. Schools typically require applicants to write about challenges in their lives and how they have overcome them.

Maybe you are choosing a program that does not align with your previous education, or maybe you do not have specific work experience related to the field. In this case, a personal statement will help you emphasize your strengths and show why you belong in the program.

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be?

It is best to focus on the message you are delivering in the essay rather than the length. Requirements for the length of a personal essay may vary depending on the school to which you are applying. Typically, colleges and coding bootcamps ask for a word count of about 200 to 500.

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be for College?

While you won’t run into this often, you may find the occasional college application to a four-year school that requires a personal statement. If your ideal college requires a personal statement as part of the college application, you should plan on writing around 500 words. 

During the application process, you will likely find out the personal statement word limit set by your school. It is important to double-check the requirements set forth by your ideal college because 500 words is simply a ballpark number. Some schools may require shorter or longer essays.

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be for Grad School?

If you are working on a statement for graduate school applications, you can expect to write a bit more than you would for a four-year college. Typically, a grad school application requires a personal statement that is around two to three pages in length.

A personal statement for graduate school is also a bit more serious than one for a four-year college. You’ll notice the entire grad school application requires more application materials in general, like a cover letter . That means you will need to work extra hard to avoid awkward sentences, punctuation errors, and exceeding or not meeting the required length for your personal statement letter.

What Are Schools Looking for in a Personal Statement?

Through a personal statement, schools are trying to get to know you on a deeper level. It is important to include a story about yourself in your statement. It should be related to your personal failures and triumphs. 

All the experiences you write about should also be related to your field of study. It’s a good idea to avoid opening your essay with a quote and try not to use cliches or get too creative. You still want to come across as a professional, serious applicant.

The admissions committee will also be looking for your inspiration behind entering your chosen field. They will want to know what made you interested in the specialization. While explaining your interests, do not make the mistake of going back to the beginning of your life, or even to high school. Avoid starting your statements with “I fell in love with …. When I was 8.”

The school will want to find out what personally motivated you to apply. Be honest in your statement and explain why it is an appropriate step on your educational path, and how it will help you achieve your future career goals.

Of course, strong writing skills are crucial to a strong essay. A successful personal statement will show that you can write coherently. Make sure you use correct grammar, punctuation, and capitalization. Ask a couple of family members, friends, or former professors to proofread your essay when you feel you are finished.

There are five universal traits that most schools will be looking for you to demonstrate in your essay:

• Punctuality
• Ability to work independently
• Good communication skills
• Time management abilities
• Determination and perseverance

How to Start Off a Personal Statement

If you want to submit a stand-out personal statement letter with your college application, you’ll want to know exactly how to start off a personal statement. The opening sentence is incredibly important to your personal statement essay, as it needs to be clean, clear, and eye-catching.

Throughout each application cycle, the college admissions team will see hundreds of personal statements. Many applicants open their letters with a quote, and while this is not a bad idea, it has become generic. Try starting your personal statement off with a quick and interesting anecdote about a valuable experience that has impacted your desire to enroll in the program.

Any sort of life experience or challenging experience you can think of related to your field of study should go into the essay as early as possible. That being said, don’t cram in all of the relevant experiences you can think of in the first paragraph. If you find yourself doing this, try adding an extra paragraph to your opener.

A killer personal statement should also allude to a few personal characteristics that fit with the field of study. For example, in the law, medical, and philanthropic fields, you may want to start off your personal statement with a quick anecdote about a life experience that displays your ability to logically help others.

How to Start Off a Personal Statement: A Sample

The following sample is tailored to a student applying for medical school:

In 2016, I spent one month in rural Haiti volunteering at a hospital. This was an extremely challenging experience for me, as I saw many people in need of critical healthcare that simply was not available to them. However, it was this experience that helped me decide I wanted to attend medical school and study to become a doctor. 

I quickly learned to separate my logical self from my emotional self so that I could help people receive treatment as quickly and efficiently as possible, while also providing reassurance and bedside company to those who needed it.

Writing a Personal Statement Step-by-Step

Writing a personal statement can be challenging. On top of having to explain all of your strengths in one short essay, you will also need to follow the rules and have no grammatical errors. Here are eight steps to take when writing a personal statement:

1. Start Early

Start the process a couple of months before your application is due. Personal statements take a lot of work, especially if you are also balancing other commitments in your life. Setting aside extra time means you will not have to squeeze in hours of work at the last minute. Starting early also allows for careful planning to ensure everything down to the sentence structure is perfect in your finished application essay.

2. Read the Requirements Thoroughly

It is very important to make sure that you understand the instructions fully. Your program will give the information as to what content your statement should focus on, how long it should be, and even how to save your essay.

"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"

Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot

Some colleges are very specific and will give you a character limit for your piece of writing, while others will be much more relaxed. If you have trouble finding the personal statement instructions, try reaching out to your school’s admissions staff.

3. Brainstorm Ideas

Brainstorm topics you would like to discuss. Common topics for this essay include extracurricular activities , a compelling story, and concrete examples of why you are one of the most qualified students for the program. 

This can give you a better shot at admissions by separating you from the other numerous candidates. Figure out how you will present your goals, what the program means to you, and why you are interested in it.

4. Make an Outline

Create a chart or a list of the things you plan to mention in your essay and the order you would like to discuss them. This is the time to develop your personal statement structure. You can find inspiration for your own essay by looking at personal statement examples online.

5. Draft Your Essay

Now, begin writing your admission essay. When you enter this stage, it is entirely okay to write down anything that seems relevant. While you continue to draft, you can take out parts that seem unnecessary. An admission tutor would be very helpful during the actual writing process and can help you become the perfect candidate.

6. Get Feedback

Allow people you trust to read your essay and provide feedback. They will see your writing with fresh eyes and tell you what needs to be fixed. Discussing your essay with people who have read it will help you improve your writing.

7. Edit Your Essay

Now that you have feedback, you will be able to revise and edit your statement based on the responses of people you trust. Look out for sentences with unnecessary information. Personal statements are intended to be short, so if one sentence is not essential, take it out. You can even send your essay to a personal statement editing service.

8. Proofread 

The last step is to proofread, a lot. Make use of your computer’s spellchecker, Grammarly, and any other resources available to you. Proofread one sentence at a time. Then, allow others to proofread your final draft. If they see a problem, go back one step, then proofread again.

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be FAQ

Typically, personal statements are double-spaced. You may find a college requiring single-spaced personal statements, but unless it is clearly stated, double-spaced is a safe option. If you are really unsure, reach out to your admissions office for guidance.

If your personal statement is too long, review it and remove any information that is not 100 percent necessary. Unless a sentence is providing clear, important information about you as a candidate for the program, it should be removed. You can look up personal statement examples to get a better idea of how yours should be.

Avoid saying anything in your personal statement that is negative or braggy, or that takes the focus away from you. Many students complain about past educational experiences, but if you do this, you will likely have a harder time being accepted into the program. You want to describe positive personal experiences you have had but aim to do so without bragging about yourself.

It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to write a personal statement. It primarily depends on how far in advance you plan your essay, your writing style, and how much time you put into editing and reviewing. Taking some extra time to write this statement is never a bad idea.

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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.

Get Wordtune for free > Get Wordtune for free >

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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How to Develop a Personal Statement for Research

• To share your interest and enthusiasm for the specific work you are applying to do
• To demonstrate what you can contribute to the program to which you are applying
• To state the specific lab you want to work in and why
• To state your professional goals and what or how you hope to contribute to this program

First Steps

• Read the personal statement question carefully and analyze what it is asking for
• Visualize your audience: will this be read by a scientist? A physician? An administrator?
• Make yourself as desirable to the selector as possible while being honest about yourself
• Your research interests as they relate to the work you are applying for
• Year of study and current major, related academic and career goals, impressive academic credentials

Experience in the Field

• Any special connection to this work such as prior experience or family background
• Something unique about your research interests or an idea that fuels your own research interests.

Your Proposed Contributions to the Program and Benefits of the Program to You

• Personal qualities that would benefit the program, demonstrated through examples
• What you can do for them; what you seek to gain from the opportunity
• How this specific work fits into your academic and research goals

Writing and Mechanics

Correct usage conveys your attention to detail

• Use strong word choices, particularly verbs and adjectives
• Use the more powerful "I am," rather than "I have always been"
• Make positive statements: "I have experience in…" not "I don't have experience in x, but do have…”
• Craft clear, engaging opening and closing sentences
• Check that the opening statement is supported in the body and consistent with the closing statement
• Organize the statement so it flows from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph
• Proofread for grammar, spelling, paragraph breaks, and correct punctuation

Ask Yourself

• Does this statement show my interest in this specific program , or could it be sent to any program?
• Does this statement describe me specifically, or could any good student in my field use this?

Additional Suggestions:

• Reread the personal statement multiple times out loud for clarity, logic, and flow
• Have someone else read the statement. Ask someone at the Center for Career Opportunities .
• Share your finished personal statement with the faculty member writing your recommendations
• Limit the statement to one and a half to two pages with at least one and a half spacing
• Include a header with your name on each page, which will be numbered as well
• Restating the question/topic
• Rewriting your transcript or resume
• Clichés such as "to make the world a better place"; instead, explain exactly how such a lofty goal will be achieved
• Providing unrelated information, e.g., explaining when you learned you were not interested in computers
• Using phrases like "this opportunity will be fun and interesting for me"; focus on what you can contribute
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January 23rd, 2023

How to Write a Perfectly Formatted Personal Statement for Internship in 2023? With Examples

Personal statement for internship is a very important document in the applicatio n for internship programs. This guide will show you:

• How to write personal statement for internship?
• Interview-fetching personal statement for internship examples for reference
• Answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding personal statement for internship.

What is a Personal Statement for Internship?

Personal statement for internship is a self-written document that you submit to a company or organization when you apply for internship there.

It is very important to know what is a personal statement for an internship before writing it because it is different from personal statement for course admissions .

How Important is a Personal Statement for Internship?

Internship is a brief period that acts as a bridge between your academic formation and full-time professional career .

As this period is a stepping stone to your career, you need to intern at the best place possible. And that requires you to write a winning personal statement.

A carefully written personal statement for internship accomplishes the following goals.

• It helps you showcase your personality, achievements experiences, and future goals.
• It enables the organizations to figure out your suitability more closely than from a CV.
• It gives you the opportunity to speak about your goals so that the employer might consider you as their employee in future.
• Personal statement is a personalized document. Thus, employers can easily know whether you have crafted it seriously or not.

NEED EXPERTS HELP FOR WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT? CLICK HERE NOW!

How to Write Personal Statement for Internship in Seven Simple Steps?

It is already established that you need a perfect internship personal statement to sell yourself to the prospective employer. Here are the key steps to write a powerful personal statement internship.

Brainstorming:

Only you can know about your strengths and weaknesses. Take time to reflect on the areas that can be your selling points.

Write a strong introduction:

Every word in the introduction counts. So, try to make it attention-grabbing. Start with an experience from your past that influenced your decision

Write in active voice:

Most students forget about this. A personal statement written in active voice looks more impactful than one written in passive voice.

Talk about your competencies:

Highlight your competencies and how the employer can benefit from them. Use anecdotes to show how you applied your skills and qualities in the past.

Simple and straight to the point:

A generic approach is a big no in writing internship personal statement. Make it specific, simple and straight to the point.

Be true to yourself:

If you don’t possess leadership quality and highlight it in your statement, you may be asked to lead a team of interns and be in real trouble.

Familiarize yourself with the organization:

Research about the organization that are applying and know about it through and through. Your familiarity will be an added merit.

Know the Ideal Format for Personal Statement for Internship

The use of the right personal statement format for internship will make it look well-organized and brings in a good flow.

It enables the reader to scan it easily and find the points that they are specifically looking for. Here is a commonly recognized personal statement format.

Opening paragraph/introduction

This is the most important part in your internship personal statement. This is where you establish your story and grab the attention of the reader.

First body paragraph

Talk about a domain specific skill that you have and support it with ample evidence from past. Demonstrate how the employer will benefit from this quality of yours.

Second body paragraph

Use this paragraph to talk about a personal strength such as leadership quality and elaborate how you applied it. Show how it will favor you during the internship.

Future goals

Talk about your short term as well as long term career goals and say how much you think this internship will help you reach there.

Present your conclusion as the summation of the story you presented. End it with a reiterating closing statement that shows your suitability for the program. 

Read more here on personal statements:

Sample for Internship Personal Statement

Here is an example of personal statement for internship. Use this only as a reference. Do not attempt to do personal statement examples copying as it can lead to plagiarism.

Personal Statement for Internship

My name is ____________ and with much enthusiasm and excitement, I would like to intern at your organization during this summer for the post of Digital Marketing Intern. The internship at your firm is highly sought-after and well regarded due to its quality and highly career oriented level. I am sure with my existing experience and professional mindset, I would be able to perform well in my domain. I am sure this opportunity would surely propel my career and give me a chance to advance in my chosen field.

I understand that you are looking for a candidate, who is professional in approach and dedicated to work. I believe that I possess the right talents you seek for this post and I would be delighted to enhance my skill set with the right guidance and advice received from your end. The post Digital Marketing Intern is a dream for me as I always sought to build a career in this field due to its huge growth opportunities. During my masters in Business Administration at ______________ (name of the institute), I had an overall development as a Marketing Associate in a few of our Management Fests. I also handled social media handles like Instagram, Facebook. Twitter, etc for the popularity of the fest. This gave me hands-on experience in management, administration, web traffic, analytics, content development, etc. This was a golden opportunity for me to polish my skill set and acquire new ones.

As described in the job description, I would like to try my hands on revenue management and analysis of consumer behavior. I would also like to exhibit my skills in Email marketing, Search Engine marketing, advertising, campaigning, etc. This position is a perfect combination of your desires and my skill set. I hope through this internship, I can give an outlet to the theoretical knowledge I have gained. I am sure with my creative writing expertise I can create attractive content for your clients. Through interaction with fellow mates and senior officials I hope to enhance my skill set and digital knowledge. I am sure with the experience gained, I can become a master in my chosen field. As described in the description, I am an expert in social media content and social media campaigns. With this internship I would like to enhance my knowledge on various tools used and techniques implemented.

I would be honored if I receive this internship and opportunity to work with an amazing company. Let me express my gratitude for your time and consideration and I really look forward to hearing from you so that we can take this discussion further. I may be reached _______ or by email at ___________.

Pro Tips from Experienced Internship Personal Statement Writers

It is important to present a concise personal statement for internship that shows your confidence. It can be a challenging task. Follow these key tips from experts to compose a polished piece of writing.

Gather materials:

Your internship personal statement should be in compliance with other documents. So, keep all those docs ready at hand to refer them easily.

List all important information:

On a piece of paper, note down all important information that may be required while writing your internship personal statement.

Write in first person point of view:

Personal statement for internship is a document that is exclusively about you. So, write it using first person singular ‘I’.

Beware of duplication:

Do not repeat any information that has already been said in your personal statement. Also, try to avoid repeating the course titles in the writeup.

Make it unique:

The best way to make your personal statement unique is to present it in the backdrop of an experience you had which influenced your decision.

Keep it brief:

Remember that personal statement is different from statement of purpose. It is a rather brief and concise version which doesn’t go beyond one typed page.

Revise your statement:

It is recommended to write a rough draft at first and then keep it revising and improving gradually. This way, you will get a flawless draft at last.

Seek professional help if needed:

If you don’t feel 100% confident about your personal statement after completely writing it, seek professional help which will help get it made more impactfully.

Six Mistakes That Can Negatively Affect Your Internship Personal Statement

The six common mistakes student often make while composing their personal statement for internship. Beware of them and try to avoid them in your writeup.

• Not doing enough research about the internship program and the organization.
• Writing the document generically without focusing on the key themes.
• Not saying sufficiently about what and how you can contribute to the firm that hires you.
• Not seeking feedback on your personal statement for internship from someone who is familiar with it.
• Not being genuine and writing things that are not true to your experience or skills.
• Not proofreading and correcting the mistakes. Even if they are minor like spelling errors, they could break your chances.

It is completely okay to seek personal statement writing help for internship from experts if you lack the expertise to compose it perfectly. It will improve your acceptance chances and save you from unnecessary worries.

Top 10 Internship Programs You Will Need a Personal Statement For

Today, almost all internship programs ask applicants to include a personal statement in their application. The top 10 programs are:

• Dietetic internship
• Summer internship
• Medical internship
• Research internship
• Law internship
• Semester internship
• Quarterly internship
• Holiday internship
• Fall internship
• Spring internship

All things considered…

You may have good track records as a student but your prospective employer wouldn’t know about them unless you describe them in a personal statement for internship.

Reading this blog, you have got to the nitty-gritty of writing a strong personal statement to produce in your internship application.

If you still got any doubts or want to share your feedback with us on this blog, use the comment section below.

What is the ideal length for a personal statement for internship?

Personal statement for internship needs to be short and concise. It shouldn’t exceed more than a page in typed version, which would be about 500 words in length.

Who will review my personal statement for internship?

Your personal statement for internship will be checked and verified by the program officer or the HR team of the company/organization/institute you are applying to.

Should I submit a resume along with my personal statement for internship?

It is recommended to verify what documents you are expected to include in the application for internship. Resume is normally asked.

What will happen if my internship personal statement fails to comply with the requirements?

If your personal statement is found to be incomplete or doesn’t meet the requirements put forth by the program, it might lead to the rejection of your application. Once rejected, you won’t probably get a second chance. Therefore, it is important to give as much attention and seriousness as possible while writing it.

Can my teachers or professors write my personal statement for internship?

Personal statement is different from a letter of recommendation. Hence, it is not your teachers or professors who have to write it. Of course, you can seek their guidance before writing it.  If you are not confident to write it on your own, it is better to seek the assistance of a professional who knows about it well.

Mrs Jizah M

Mrs Jizah M has always enjoyed writing down her thoughts since school days. What just started as a hobby slowly transformed into a passion. Her writing skills were first acknowledged by few of her professors when she wrote content for the college website; this was a turing. Slowly she started getting freelance works and later on, a series of events led her to specialize in academic and higher education related documentations. In additional to personal statements, she along with her team writes LORs, SOPs, college application essays, admission essays and all similar types of documents.

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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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How to Write a Personal Statement for Summer Research

Susanna campbell, career peer liaison to cnms, the purpose of a personal statement .

• Share your interests and enthusiasm for the specific work you are applying to do.
• Demonstrate what you can contribute to the program to which you are applying
• To state the specific lab/program you want to work in and why
• To state your professional goals and what or how you hope to contribute to the program

First Steps

• Read the personal statement question carefully and analyze what it is asking for.
• Visualize your audience: will this be read by a scientist? An administrator? A physician?
• Recite your research interests as they relate to the work you are applying for
• Write your year of study, major, related academic and career goals, and impressive academic credentials

Experience in the Field

• Mention any special connections to the work such as prior experience or family background (i.e. Name drop)
• Write something unique about your research interests or an idea that fuels your own research interests

Your Proposed Contributions to the Program

• List personal qualities and demonstrate these through examples
• State what you can do for them and what you seek to gain from the opportunity
• Explain how the work fits into your academic and research goals.
• Saying “I am” is more powerful than saying “I have always been.”
• Make positive statements. “I have experience in…” not “I don’t have experience in x, but do have…”
• Craft clear, engaging opening and closing sentences.
• Check that your opening statement is supported in the body and is consistent with your closing.
• Organize the statement so it flows from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph.
• Proofread for grammar, spelling, paragraph breaks, and correct punctuation.

When you have finished drafting your statement, ask yourself:

• Does this statement show my interests in the specific program or is it generic?
• Does this statement describe me specifically or could any good student in my field use this?

Some common mistakes to avoid:

• Restating the question/topic or rewriting your resume or transcript
• Clichés such as “to make the world a better place” instead, explain how such a lofty goal will be achieved
• Providing unrelated information
• Any background earlier than high school.

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Writing the Personal Statement

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The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories:

1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:

This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.

2. The response to very specific questions:

Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions.

Questions to ask yourself before you write:

• What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
• What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
• When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
• How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
• If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
• What are your career goals?
• Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?
• Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?
• What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
• What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
• Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school—and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
• What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

General advice

Answer the questions that are asked

• If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar.
• Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked.

Tell a story

• Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.

Be specific

• Don't, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, or whatever should be logical, the result of specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.

Find an angle

• If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.

Concentrate on your opening paragraph

• The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.

Tell what you know

• The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Too many people graduate with little or no knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the profession or field they hope to enter. Be as specific as you can in relating what you know about the field and use the language professionals use in conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other source of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited to it. Since you will have to select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your judgment.

Don't include some subjects

• There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).

Do some research, if needed

• If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.

Write well and correctly

• Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.

Avoid clichés

• A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.

For more information on writing a personal statement, see the personal statement vidcast .

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Personal statements are short essays often written as part of an application (for graduate study, study abroad, a job, an internship, a scholarship...). Some personal statement instructions ask specific questions and offer specific length requirements; others leave the topic and length more open and allow you to figure it out yourself.

Personal Statements Overview : this UWC resource introduces types of personal statements, surveys a common structure, and identifies pitfalls.

Annotated Personal Statement : this UWC-created companion piece to the personal statements overview above points out the moves and choices in a student's personal statement for a graduate school application.

Two-part UWC video series for anyone applying to a graduate or professional school: how to write thoughtful, eloquent personal statements that will help you stand out in a competitive field.

Part I: Writing Personal Statements : strategies for composing personal statements, including how to choose what to write about, how to break down essay writing into a manageable series of tasks, and how to avoid common pitfalls. UWC Writing Specialist Lucy Bryan Malenke anticipates your concerns in this video (full of useful slides along the way).

Part II: Faculty Panel Discussion: Personal Statements : JMU Graduate school faculty members who have served on selection committees share invaluable advice for applicants. They discuss what qualities most impress them, what they're tired of reading about, and tips for addressing poor academic performance in personal statements. Although the panelists come from programs in health and behavioral fields, their reflections and suggestions will help anyone working on an application essay.

PowerPoint tutorial on writing personal statements (a UWC-created resource)

Drafting your statement of purpose : the guidelines here are part of a suite of Purdue OWL resources focused on graduate school applications (but applicable to other purposes). Check out the menu links to the left of the page.

"How to Write a Great Statement of Purpose" : an introspective piece complete with a checklist.

General Guidelines for the Personal Statement : dos and don'ts for writing an effective statement.

Personal Statements and Application Letters : a discussion of how to prepare, draft, format, and revise your work, featuring a sample statement.

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How Long Should a Personal Statement Be for Grad School?

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In personal statement tips & advice.

In my recent posts, I have discussed some high-powered tips for creating an outstanding personal statement for grad school . I have also shared over 100 samples of personal statements that exemplify these strategies in action. These samples can serve as inspiration for you while you write your own statement. Additionally, I’ve shared a framework for self-evaluating your personal statements and identified common pitfalls to avoid when writing an essay that grad schools will love.

In this post, I will explore the crucial topic of ideal length of a personal statement for grad school applications. I will also discuss why adhering to appropriate length guidelines is essential for a grad school essay.

In this Article

Why Length Matters?

What happens if you exceed the word requirement, strict word or page limits, general guidelines, demonstrating fit with the program, showcasing personal and academic achievements, explaining gaps or weaknesses in your application, how long should a personal statement for a masters be, how long should a personal statement for a phd be, removing redundant or irrelevant information, streamlining sentences and paragraphs, prioritizing key points, developing your main points more thoroughly, adding relevant experiences or achievements, personal statement length examples.

The length of a personal statement plays an important role in its effectiveness. Providing enough information is crucial, but lengthy and overly detailed statements can easily bore the admissions committee (adcom). 

Typically, the adcom spends about 5 minutes on each statement before they lose interest and move on.  

Thus, a concise and well-structured personal statement is more likely to engage the reviewers and create a favorable impression.

Writing more than the required length is seen by admissions committees as lack of attention to detail and the inability to follow instructions. Professionalism is an important quality that graduate programs value in their applicants. Writing more can also make your personal statement appear unfocused, and difficult to read. Moreover, it can also bore the admissions committee, who have limited time to review your application and may not have the patience or inclination to read a lengthy personal statement. 

If you write too little, you run the risk of not providing enough information to the admissions committee to evaluate your fit for the program. This can make it difficult for them to make an informed decision about your application. It can also give the impression that you are not taking the application process seriously or that you lack the necessary skills to write a compelling personal statement. 

Therefore, it is important to ensure that your personal statement meets the length requirement to the fullest as that will leave a positive impression on your application.

Factors That Determine a Personal Statement’s Length

Various factors play a role in determining the length of your personal statement. These factors include specific grad school requirements, and the key elements of the personal statement itself. By considering these factors, you can ensure that your personal statement is both engaging and effective while adhering to the length expectations set forth by the graduate programs you are applying to.

Grad School Requirements

Some graduate programs, fellowships, and scholarships may have strict word or page limits for personal statements. For example, the Fulbright scholarship requires a 750 word personal statement . The Stanford graduate program in CS requires a 2-page personal statement. 

It is important that you strictly follow these requirements, as exceeding or falling short of the word limit will negatively impact your application. 

Before starting to write, review the application instructions and guidelines for your specific program. 

For example, MBA programs have wide-ranging length requirements; some may require a 500-word essay, others a 250-word essay, or even a 1000-word essay in certain cases.

If the grad school does not specify a precise limit, then use the general guidelines discussed below to determine an appropriate length for your personal statement.

Although rare, but in some cases, grad schools do not define any strict word or page limits. If you come across such a situation then as a general rule of thumb, you should write a personal statement that is 500-750 words for master’s programs , and 1000-1500 words for doctoral programs . 

Nevertheless, it is always a good idea to research your specific program and consult with current students, alumni, or faculty to get a better understanding of the expectations.

The Purpose of the Personal Statement

In a previous post , I thoroughly explored the essential components of a personal statement. Regardless of length requirements—whether a program calls for a 500-word essay or a 2000-word essay—it’s vital to ensure that your grad school personal statement addresses the following key elements.

One of the main elements of a personal statement is to demonstrate your fit with the graduate program . To do this, you need to discuss your research interests, academic background, and career goals in relation to the program’s offerings and faculty expertise. 

Do not write a generic personal statement and send it to all programs.  

You must tailor your personal statement and focus on key aspects that align with the program, keeping in mind that the statement’s length should allow you to address these points without being overly wordy.

A personal statement is an opportunity to showcase your personal and academic achievements . These may include research projects, internships, publications, presentations, awards, or leadership experiences. 

When discussing these accomplishments, be selective and focus on those that are most relevant to your field of study and the program you are applying to.  

Ensure that the length of your personal statement provides enough space to highlight these achievements without overshadowing the other components.

If you have gaps in your academic or professional history, or any weaknesses in your application, such as a low GPA , the personal statement is a chance to address these issues . When discussing these topics, be concise, honest, and provide context for the situation.

Focus on what you have learned from these experiences and how they have contributed to your personal growth. The length of your personal statement should allow you to explain these issues without taking up too much space, as the primary focus should still be on your strengths and fit with the program. 

Typical Length Ranges

For most master’s programs, personal statements tend to be between 500-750 words in length. 

This range allows you to provide a concise overview of your academic background, research interests, and career goals, while also showcasing your personal qualities and experiences. Again, just keep in mind that some programs may have more specific length requirements, so always consult the application guidelines for the program you are applying to.

Doctoral program personal statements are usually longer than those for master’s programs, typically falling within the range of 1000-1500 words.  

This increased length allows you to delve deeper into your research interests, discuss your long-term academic and professional goals, and provide more detailed information about your background and achievements. As with master’s programs, always check the application guidelines for specific length requirements.

Handling Length Restrictions  

Strategies for cutting down an overly long personal statement (with examples).

If your personal statement exceeds the length limits, begin by removing any redundant information that is not relevant to the program you are applying to. You should assess each section and sentence to determine if it adds value to your overall narrative or if it can be omitted without affecting the clarity and impact of your statement. 

Focus on maintaining the most important points and removing any content that does not directly contribute to your main themes.

Let’s consider a hypothetical paragraph from a personal statement and I’ll demonstrate how to remove redundant or irrelevant information.

Original Paragraph

During my undergraduate studies, I volunteered at a local animal shelter every weekend for three years. This experience not only allowed me to develop compassion for abandoned animals but also taught me the importance of community service. I was able to provide a safe and nurturing environment for these animals, while also learning about the challenges faced by nonprofit organizations. I even had the opportunity to organize fundraising events, which contributed to the shelter’s ongoing operations. Additionally, I joined a club called “Students for Animal Welfare” and participated in several campus-wide initiatives to raise awareness about animal rights issues. This experience further strengthened my commitment to animal welfare and my passion for making a difference in my community.

Revised Paragraph

During my undergraduate studies, I volunteered at a local animal shelter, where I developed compassion for abandoned animals and learned the importance of community service. I organized fundraising events to support the shelter’s operations and participated in campus-wide initiatives to raise awareness about animal rights issues through the “Students for Animal Welfare” club. These experiences strengthened my commitment to animal welfare and my passion for making a difference in my community.

In the revised paragraph, the focus is on the most relevant and important aspects of the experience. Sentence 3 in the original paragraph about providing a safe environment and learning about nonprofit challenges was removed, as it doesn’t directly contribute to the main themes of the personal statement (commitment to animal welfare and passion for community service). The revised paragraph is more concise and maintains a strong focus on the key points.

You should review your personal statement to streamline sentences and paragraphs. You can do this by rephrasing long, complex sentences using simpler language and sentence structure. 

Condense lengthy paragraphs by focusing on the most crucial information and removing extraneous details. This process will not only help reduce the length of your personal statement but also improve its readability and clarity.

Let’s consider another paragraph from a personal statement and discuss how to streamline sentences.

Original Paragraph:

During my time as a research assistant in Dr. Smith’s cognitive psychology lab, I was given the opportunity to work on a variety of projects that significantly contributed to my understanding of the complexities of human memory and cognitive processes. One of the most memorable projects that I had the chance to work on was a study examining the effects of sleep deprivation on short-term memory recall, which involved designing and implementing a series of controlled experiments, as well as recruiting participants and collecting and analyzing data.

Revised Paragraph:

As a research assistant in Dr. Smith’s cognitive psychology lab, I worked on diverse projects that deepened my understanding of human memory and cognition. One notable project involved examining sleep deprivation’s impact on short-term memory recall, which included designing experiments, recruiting participants, and analyzing data.

In the revised paragraph, rephrasing has helped reduce the length by 50%. All of the extraneous details have been removed while retaining the most crucial information. The streamlined paragraph is more concise, easier to read, and clearer in conveying the main points.

If length is an issue then you can also consider reducing it by prioritizing your key points. You can start this by determining which aspects of your background, experiences, and goals are most important for the graduate program. Then, just focus on these points and remove less significant information to meet the length requirements.

Again, in order to better understand how we can do this, let’s consider a hypothetical paragraph from a personal statement.

During my undergraduate studies, I took a variety of courses in different disciplines, such as sociology, economics, and political science. I also developed an interest in public policy and volunteered for a local government office, where I gained experience in policy analysis and implementation. In my free time, I enjoyed hiking and photography, often combining these hobbies to explore the beautiful landscapes in my region. Additionally, I was an active member of the debate club, which helped me develop strong critical thinking and communication skills.

During my undergraduate studies, I developed an interest in public policy through courses in sociology, economics, and political science. I volunteered for a local government office, where I gained experience in policy analysis and implementation. As an active member of the debate club, I honed my critical thinking and communication skills.

In the revised paragraph, the focus is on the key points most relevant to the graduate program (interest in public policy, relevant experience, and essential skills). The information about hiking and photography, although interesting, is less significant for demonstrating the applicant’s fit with the program and has been removed. The revised paragraph is more concise and maintains a strong focus on the prioritized points. 

Ensuring Your Statement Is Long Enough

If your statement is too short, it may not provide sufficient detail to effectively showcase your background, experiences, and goals. To ensure that your statement is long enough, consider doing the following:

Expand on your research interests, academic achievements, or career goals by providing additional context, examples, or details. This additional information can help strengthen your argument and create a more compelling narrative.

Let’s consider an example:

My research interests lie in the field of environmental policy. I have interned at an environmental nonprofit and have taken relevant courses during my undergraduate studies.

My research interests lie in the field of environmental policy, particularly in the development and evaluation of strategies to address climate change and promote sustainable resource management. During my undergraduate studies, I took courses in environmental economics, policy analysis, and sustainable development, which provided me with a solid theoretical foundation. Additionally, I interned at an environmental nonprofit, where I contributed to a project focused on assessing the effectiveness of local climate adaptation measures. This hands-on experience allowed me to apply my academic knowledge in a practical setting and further solidified my commitment to pursuing a career in environmental policy research.

In the revised paragraph, I have developed the main points more thoroughly. The research interests have been expanded upon to provide additional context, and the relevant courses and internship experience have been described in greater detail. This additional information strengthens the argument and creates a more compelling narrative.

To increase the length of your personal statement, consider adding relevant experiences or achievements that demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and passion for your field. These may include internships, research projects, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities related to your discipline. Make sure that any new content aligns with your main themes and contributes to the overall narrative of your personal statement.

As an example, consider the following:

I am passionate about public health and have completed my undergraduate degree in the field. I am eager to continue my studies in a graduate program.

I am passionate about public health, having completed my undergraduate degree in the field. During my studies, I participated in a summer internship at a local health department, where I assisted with community outreach programs and health education initiatives. This experience allowed me to witness firsthand the positive impact of public health policies on vulnerable populations. I also volunteered with a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare access in underserved areas, which further reinforced my commitment to the field. Eager to build on my knowledge and experiences, I am excited to pursue a graduate program in public health.

In the revised paragraph, relevant experiences (internship and volunteer work) have been added to provide a more comprehensive picture of the applicant’s passion for public health. These additional details strengthen the narrative, demonstrate the applicant’s skills and dedication, and create a more compelling case for their admission to a graduate program.

By following these strategies for handling length restrictions, you can create a personal statement that effectively communicates your ideas and showcases your strengths within the specified word or page limits. 

Here are some samples of personal statements of various lengths that demonstrate how past applicants have effectively conveyed their passion, experiences, and goals while adhering to the specified word limits. 

These samples will serve as a reference for you, illustrating how you can tailor your personal statements according to the length requirements of different graduate programs. By studying these examples, you will also gain insights into drafting a strong personal statement that balances concision with comprehensive information, ensuring that you make a strong impression on the admissions committee.

• 100-word Personal Statement Sample
• 150-word Personal Statement Sample
• 200-word Personal Statement Sample
• 250-word Personal Statement Sample
• 300-word Personal Statement Sample
• 400-word Personal Statement Sample
• 500-word Personal Statement Sample
• 600-word Personal Statement Sample
• 700-word Personal Statement Sample
• 750-word Personal Statement Sample
• 800-word Personal Statement Sample
• 1000-word Personal Statement Sample

By adhering to the specific length requirements, you demonstrate your attention to detail and your ability to follow instructions. It also shows your genuine interest in the program and your commitment to finding the best fit for your career goals. 

So, focus on presenting your most important points in a concise manner. By emphasizing quality over quantity, you can create a personal statement that ultimately improves your chances of being admitted to your desired graduate program.

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• Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Personal Statement
• Writing a Killer Opening Paragraph for Your Personal Statement
• Ideal Length for a Graduate School Personal Statement
• 100 Inspiring Quotes to Jumpstart Your Personal Statement

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WANT AMAZING ARTICLES ON GRAD SCHOOL PERSONAL STATEMENTS?

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Q: What is an appropriate length for my personal statement?

A: No more than 2-3 pages. Be sure that your statement addresses: 1) any relevant experience you have with this field, including coursework, research, and operational experiences; 2) why you are interested in studying at Weill Cornell; and, 3) what you hope to do after graduation and how this degree will help you accomplish those goals.