Top 5 Tips on How to Write a Winning Essay with the Help of a Sample Personal Statement Essay
Your essay is very important to your college admission. Many colleges stress immense importance on the admission essay. However, you can still aim higher rather than just aiming for that college admission. Make yourself remarkable in your first step into college by writing a winning essay. An excellent way of starting an essay that has a high potential for winning is by using a sample personal statement essay. Below are 5 tips that will help you come up with an award-winning piece.
1. Choose an excellent sample essay.
If you want to write a winning essay, you must have winning material. You can do this only by choosing from a list of winning essays in the library or on the Internet. An award certifies that an essay is written well and has an excellent content. Choose a sample personal statement essay that has won an award. It is upon this essay that you will base yours. Basing upon a poorly written work creates a poorly written essay. If you can do more work, then you may choose two sample essays. This allows you to have a wider viewpoint.
2. Pick a single aspect of the essay that you like best.
An essay has many facets. Choose what interests you most in a sample essay and study it. It could be the content, outline, or style. Study it carefully and figure out how it helps in making that essay an excellent piece. Then, study how you can apply his writing techniques in the development of your essay. You do not have to master everything. Your essay only has to possess one distinctive characteristic and you already have a potentially winning essay.
3. Be specific.
What makes an essay boring? It is unsupported generalization. It leads the reader nowhere. Discover how the author of the sample essay develops his topic. Know how he or she focuses on something very specific and concrete. Study how he makes every detail in his essay revolve around a specific incident or idea. Specific details make a solid piece. Learn the writer’s technique and pattern your outline after his or hers. A concrete essay based on specific details is more likely to earn better recognition.
4. Your work must reflect yourself.
You must be able to reveal yourself in writing. Even though you are using a sample essay, it does not mean that you have to exclude yourself. Your sample essay is just a pattern, something that guides you, and stimulates your thinking. Your essay still has to show how unique your personality is. Showing the evaluators how distinctive you are can create an excellent impression. It also means additional winning points.
5. Acknowledge your sources.
You probably have lifted some information from the sample personal statement essay that you are using so be sure to cite the material in your works cited page. In any case, you must cite the author when you borrow ideas. This means that you still have to cite the author if you changed his or her words.
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Some of the best things in life may not come cheap. This may also apply to your education. Studying in a prestigious university may cost you a great deal. However, this should not stop you from pursuing your dream of attending an excellent school and taking a course in which you are really interested in. There are scholarship grants that can help you finish college. Along with other requirements, you have to submit an essay for the scholarship grant. Below are some tips that could help you win a grant whether you are applying in a public or private educational institution.
Tip #1: Explain clearly why you deserve a scholarship.
There are many other people like you who are vying for a scholarship. This is why in writing your essay, you have to make certain that you are portrayed uniquely in your scholarship essay. At the same time, you have to ensure that you write sincerely. You can talk about your accomplishments, but make sure that you do not sound like you’re bragging.(1) You can also include your goals for the future.
Tip #2: Look at well-written personal statement samples.
Reading a free sample personal statement is not only helpful in writing your own personal statement for college, this can also aid you in writing an excellent scholarship essay. Just make sure that you choose a personal statement sample that is well-written and worthy to be used as a guide. You have to pay attention to how the essay was constructed. You also have to observe how the writer weaved the ideas to make the sentences unified and coherent.(2)
Tip #3: Draft, edit, revise, revise.
Revising and editing are characteristics of good writing. It is important that you stop yourself from falling in love with your first draft.(3) You have to read and reread your work several times in order to polish it. Read your essay many times and let others take a look at your work.
(1) https://financialaid.arizona.edu/scholarships/tips.aspx
(2) http://www.k-state.edu/artsci/scholarship/essay.shtml
(3) http://www3.sdstate.edu/Academics/AcademicAffairs/SDSUNationallyCompetitiveScholarships/ResourcesforProspectiveScholars/WritingScholarshipEssays/Index_Text.cfm
There are a lot of students who are taking a double degree or a double major. Getting this will enable you to graduate with two degrees within your regular number of years in college, though there are instances in which you have to extend one year of your stay in college.(1) Pursuing a double degree has lots of advantages and disadvantages. Below are some of the pros and cons that could help you in deciding whether or not to get a double degree or major.
What it entails to get a double major
Having a double major is not as easy as many think it is. Getting one entails that you have to double your effort, time, and money spent in studying. So if you are planning to get one, you have to make sure that you are willing to sacrifice some of the things that you enjoyed doing such as hanging out with friends very often.
Pros of having a double major
Although having a double major entails that you have to double your effort in studying, it would prove to be worth it once you have finished your schooling. For one, this could enhance your career in the future. Many employers would probably prioritize you, knowing that you are equipped with the right skills and knowledge.(2)
When writing your personal statement for college, it’s very important that you state why you wish to pursue a double major. Your personal statement for college allows the admissions panel to see your personality and determine if you’re ready for a double degree. A free sample personal statement can help you write your own. Just make sure that you use the personal statement sample as a guide and not as something you can copy ideas from.
Cons of having a double major
One of the drawbacks of a double major is that it requires a lot of time and effort. College is about concentrating on a specific field. And getting another degree could prove to be more difficult. It would be very hard for you to balance your academic and personal life. Aside from this, a double degree also means you have to be spending a lot of money for tuition and other school-related expenses.(3)
(1) http://people.clarkson.edu/~avadikic/dual.html
(2) http://oberwiki.net/Double_Degree_Program
(3) http://davidhildebrand.org/teaching/doublemajor.html
If you are interested in music, why not pursue this field? There are a lot of advantages if you choose to tread the path in which you really show passion and talent. It is also easy for you to surpass the obstacles along your way if you love your course. So, if it is music that you care about, then start writing a personal statement for college that would open the door of this field for you. Below is a guideline that you can consider when you write your personal statement.
Stating your musical interests
When you read some sample personal statements, you will observe that one of the most common features of these is the introduction of the writers’ interest on their chosen field. This is why in writing your own, you should emphasize your ardent desire to major in music. Aside from your interest, you also have to mention the skills and the things that you have learned to make you suitable to pursue a career in music.(1)
Writing how your musical interests have influenced your career decisions
You also have to talk about how your interest in music affected your decisions in choosing a field to pursue. You have to talk about your intentions on why you are entering a specific field and what are your experiences that prompted you to choose this particular course.(2)
Writing about having a career in music
Showing your interest in the field that you choose is one of the factors that could contribute to your chances of admissions. To do this, you have to ensure that you leave to the readers the impression that you have future career goals that you want to achieve and that choosing this specific course is a step toward your goals.
The personal statement for college is your chance to let the admissions committee know you passionately love music.(3) So, you should not have qualms in showing your interest through your essay. You can read personal statement samples to help you improve your own writing.
(1) http://www.unm.edu/~pre/law/archuleta.htm
(2) http://www.dickinson.edu/career/student/persstmt.html
(3) http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Prospect/PerStmt.htm
If you decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree, there are various decisions you have to make, decisions that would really have a great impact on your future. One of these is your choice of major.
Why choosing a major is important
Choosing a major is very important because this will determine the discipline you will spend a lot of time and energy studying or mastering.(1) Aside from this, your major will have a significant effect in the job opportunities that would be coming your way in the future. If you still want to pursue a graduate degree, your major in college can also determine if you can easily enroll in the graduate school that you want.
The do’s of choosing a major
It is important that you find sufficient information to help you decide for the major that you would take. You should also determine what field you are really interested in. You should consider your passions and your skills in choosing the major that you would be concentrating in. It is also helpful if you visualize yourself several years from now as a professional in your chosen field.
The don’ts of choosing a major
In choosing a major, it is really important that you look for sufficient information to help you decide for the field that you have to pursue. However, you have to ensure that you are not overwhelmed by the information you find.(2) Although it is an advantage if you ask your friends or parents to help you decide what major to choose, it is still your own preference what you should prioritize in the end.
One of the important requirements that you have to submit is the personal statement for college. You have to include your reasons why you chose a specific major in your personal statement for college. To help you in writing one, you can read sample personal statements. You can look for these personal statement samples at online sources.(3)
(1) http://www.stanford.edu/~susanz/Majors.html
(2) http://www.temple.edu/studentaffairs/careercenter/students/workshops/documents/ChoosingaMajorpacket.pdf
(3) http://www.blinn.edu/advising/success_strategies.htm
Having a degree from a graduate school will open various career opportunities for you in the future. This is because companies and firms know that anyone who is a graduate degree holder is equipped with knowledge and skills that are very useful in specific fields. However, a degree from a grad school does not come cheap. Like all the best things in life, this may also cost you a great deal, especially today that the country is experiencing an economic crisis. This is why if it is really your ardent dream to attend a grad school, you have to weigh the pros and cons of pursuing further education.(1)
Pros of going into graduate school
There are lots of reasons why many dream of getting a graduate degree. For one, a grad school can give you prestige. This can also open various doors of opportunities for you in the future.
Cons of going into graduate school
As mentioned earlier, attending a grad school is not as easy as others may think it is. You must really have a strong passion to do so. This is because grad school requires a lot of hard work. This also means you should be willing to sacrifice a lot of things if you enter graduate school. Another thing is that this endeavour can be quite expensive.
Some graduate school essay writing tips
After you have made your choice and have decided to pursue further studies, you have to decide which school you want to apply to.(2) You should then prepare the requirements that you will need. These include your resume and personal statement. You can get ideas on how to write an attention-grabbing essay by reading a sample personal statement essay online. You can also get a copy of a sample personal statement from your friends who have attended or are attending the same school.(3) You should analyze the structure of the sample personal statement essay in order to write an excellent one for yourself. Make sure that you choose a quality personal statement sample as a guide.
(1) http://www.spsu.edu/cccenter/counseling/career/Gradschool.htm
(2) http://www.providence.edu/Philosophy/Graduate+School+Advising/
(3) http://www.inta.gatech.edu/student-resources/gradschool/
Today, blogging is one of the favorite hobbies of many students. If you are one of those who take interest in writing blog entries, you can use this hobby as a topic for your personal statement for college. This could really be a very interesting topic. For one, blogging is trendy yet many applicants for college think that this topic is not as “deep” or as “profound” as other themes such as tragic events that happened in their lives. So choosing this topic would really make your essay one-of-a-kind. Below are some points about blogging that you should explore on your essay.
Explaining why you started a blog
One of the points you should talk about is the reason why you started a blog. Did some friends convince you? Or, you just thought of this yourself? Writing blog entries has also lots of benefits.(1) You can mention these things as you go on with your essay.
Discussing what your blog is about
Your essay, more than anything else, should introduce you to the admissions panel.(2) This is why you have to talk about your topics of interest. You also have to give reasons why you are fond of these topics. In this way, the admissions committee would have an idea about your personality.
Stating how blogging has influenced you
You should then discuss in your personal statement for college how blogging influenced your beliefs, ideas, and goals. It is best that you write about the impact of your hobby on your decision to pursue a certain course or to study in a particular university. Aside from this, you can also explore the effect of blogging on your academic goals.
So that you can write an essay that would ensure your success in your college application, you have to read many free sample personal statement essays. These sample personal statements can be your model. You can also consult your teachers and counselors for more tips.(3)
(1) https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/avee/web/blog_benefits.html
(2) http://www.dartmouth.edu/~csrc/students/gradschool/artsci/statement.html
(3) http://www.admissions.uci.edu/admissions_info/freshmen_admission/personal_statement.html
Having not-so-good high school records is out of your control. You can’t do anything about it. Although this requirement for admissions is very influential in the result of your college application, it is not the only thing that could make or break your admissions. Another factor that plays a very important role in the admission process is the personal statement for college. This adds depth and meaning to the information found in other parts of your application.(1) This also allows you to state your case about some problems with your other application requirements, such as your grades for example. Because of the importance of your personal essay, it is necessary that you choose a topic that would grab the attention of those who will read it. Below are some of the topics that might catch the interest of the readers.
Topic #1: your sexual orientation
An interesting topic would be your sexual orientation. You can explore your essay using your sexual orientation as a thread that would bind your sentences and ideas together. If you are planning to pursue courses such as sociology or social work, talking about your sexual orientation and how it influenced your career goals sounds appealing.(2) You can read various personal statement samples before you write your own and use them as guides.
Topic #2: a unique hobby
One of the things that could set you apart from other applicants is your unique hobby or interest.(3) So if you have one, you should write about it. Just make sure that this interest of yours is still related to why you want to pursue a study in a certain field. You can also use a sample personal statement to help you in writing your own.
Topic #3: a very tragic event
Telling about a tragic event that happened in your life can also call the readers’ attention to your essay. You can read other personal statement samples and take note on how to tell a tragic event without appearing to be soliciting the sympathy of the admissions committee.
(1) http://www.californiacolleges.edu/admissions/university-of-california-uc/personal-statement.asp
(2) http://www.aurora.edu/academics/programs-majors/graduate/social-work/personal-statement.html
(3) http://www.lsa.umich.edu/advising/advisor/prelaw/statement
If you want to study in a prestigious university, yet you don’t have excellent school records, you don’t have to worry too much. You can make up for your not-so-impressive grades by writing a personal statement for college that would grab the attention of the admissions committee. Reading lots of personal statement samples would give you idea on how to write your own. As a matter of fact, there are several resources you can go to for sample essays.
Resource #1: from friends who’ve written their own personal statements
Your friends who applied to the school where you want to study can give you a copy of their personal statement for college. You can ask them for tips on how you should select your topic and how to make your personal statement for college very interesting. You can also ask them to help you remember and choose events in your life that had a great impact on your ideals and aspirations.(1)
Resource #2: from teachers and counselors who can show you a sample personal statement essay
Aside from your friends and peers, you can get a copy of a well-written personal statement for college from your teachers and counselors. More than anyone else, these people have broad knowledge about writing personal statements. They can teach you the ways on how to make your essay appealing.
Resource #3: from websites that offer free sample personal statement essay
You can also find various personal statement samples from online sites. These websites can provide you with numerous excellent samples that you can use as models of your own personal statement. All you have to do is to key-in the keyword “personal statement” and you can surely find various essays.(2)
How to use these sample personal statements
You have to observe how these essays are structured. It is important that you watch out for the writer’s technique in writing essays. Try to find out how the statements and ideas were woven together to create a unified whole. After you have made the first draft, ask your friends, teachers, counselors, or relatives if what you portray in your essay is the same as how they see you.(3)
(1) students.berkeley.edu/files/Admissions/12626_4.statement.pdf
(2) http://www.uwc.ucf.edu/Writing%20Resources/Handouts/personal_statements.htm
(3) http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/application.html
Proving your worth to the admissions committee is the first step to be able to attend the university of your dream. To do this, you have to impress the admissions personnel. You can do this by preparing a personal statement for college and a resume. These two are very important because they provide details about you that are vital in your college application. These admissions requirements have similarities and differences.
The details included in the resume and the personal statement
In your resume, you have to include your contact information such as your address and contact numbers.(1) You also have to include the schools you attended in the past. Aside from these, you should include in your resume the trainings, education, and work experiences you have undergone. Skills are also among the necessary details you should not forget.(2) The personal statement sample for college, on the other hand, contains information such as skills, experiences, and goals. There is no need to write your contact details on your essay.
Similarities of the personal statement and your resume
Both your resume and personal statement should contain information that would introduce you to the admissions officers. Both should contain your skills, work experiences, and education records. Your resume and essay should also have to be very informative and engaging in order for you to capture the interest of the admissions committee.
Differences of the sample personal statement from your resume
Although there are a lot of similarities between the resume and personal statement for college, these two are very different from each other. The former lists the necessary information about you. The latter, on the other hand, tells more about your personality through the choices and actions you have made in the past and the goals you are planning to achieve. The goal of the essay is to tell who you you really are behind your academic achievements and awards.(3)
(1) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/565/01/
(2) http://www.career.vt.edu/jobsearc/resumes/formats.htm
(3) http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply/how_apply/personal_statement.html
