You’ve probably imagined college life to take place in one of the top universities in town. You have an above-average GPA and even scored high on your SAT. Unfortunately, so did other applicants. With the sea of candidates competing for the limited slot, you can secure your entry to your chosen university by submitting an admission essay that will set you apart from them. Just how can you do just that, here are some practical tips:
Write as you speak
The common mistake in writing an application essay is making it seem like it’s written by another person. Some essays barely make any impression at all because the writing seems detached. It’s as if the applicant is merely listing down all good reasons to get accepted to the college program. These are not enough to convince the admissions panel, since almost everybody has the same good reasons as yours.
When you write as you speak, it’s as if you’re letting the panel view the world through your own eyes. Give a fresh take on a topic that’s been discussed a million times before by citing personal experiences. You can illustrate the kind of person you are through this style of writing.
Although your personal statement for college is a matter that should be taken seriously, it shouldn’t stop you from being creative with the way you relay your thoughts. Write as if you’re just telling a story to a friend. This writing style will make your essay sound more original and truly personal. You can easily connect with your audience this way.
Be more introspective
Don’t just offer a summary of your accomplishments. The purpose of the essay is not to rewrite your resume. You should provide details about yourself that are not found in other application requirements such as your recommendation letter.
Because of the word limit, you should be more selective of the experiences you will share. You can also cite personal anecdotes that can best describe as who you are, or quotes that will serve as starting points in discussing your application. Others also pose rhetorical questions to best exhbit their logical reasoning and communication skills.
You need to be more introspective and think about situations in your life that made you who you are and who you want to be. These kinds of stories will appeal more to your audience.
Make it a fun read
Keep it short but entertaining. If you want to get your readers hooked, don’t start lamely. Have an attention-grabbing intro to keep them going. The details you provide in the body should support the thesis of your personal statement; the subtopics should also be well connected.
Make the time spent in going over your essay worthwhile for your readers. Don’t make them cringe because of the big words you’re using or trite expressions they’ve heard for the nth time. Write as if you’re talking to them directly. This will surely keep their interest. You can use a sample personal statement essay as a guide.
One of the hardest parts about writing a personal statement is coming up with a catchy topic to write about. While some people focus on world events or challenging experiences, others choose topics related to their passion or interests, such as sports. Sports can be a great topic for your personal statement, especially if you are applying for a sports-related scholarship program. It’s important to realize that the topic of sports, if not handled well by the writer, can come off as a shallow topic considering that the personal statement should be a representation of your character and personality. This article will give you some suggestions and tips for using sports as the topic for your personal statement.
Discussing your favorite sports activity
One way of using sports as a topic for your personal statement is to discuss your favorite sports activity, whether that be football, basketball, soccer, baseball, or any other sport. If you play sports competitively, you can discuss how sports have helped mold your character traits and personality. For example, sports help develop leadership, teamwork, and dedication. When discussing your favorite sports activity, it’s essential that you talk about how the sport has helped you build admirable virtues, values, qualities, and traits. Try to reflect on how engaging in the particular sports activity has affected you physically, mentally, or perhaps even spiritually. Remember, your perspective of the topic is just as important to your personal statement as the actual topic itself.
Discussing your favorite sports personality
Another angle for using sports as a personal statement is to write about your favorite sports personality. Perhaps this is someone you have idolized, such as a player that you have watched all your life. You may be tempted to write about that player’s accomplishments in sports, but you should try to focus on the impact that the person has had on your life. Perhaps this sports player has inspired you to undertake some of your own great accomplishments, both in sports and in other areas of life. You can also write about some of the qualities of the player that you have admired and how you emulate these positive qualities in your life. When it comes down to it, your personal statement is about you and not the sports personality that you admire.
Other ways on how to use sports as a theme of your essay
- Discuss a specific sports-related experience that has challenged you and taught you valuable life lessons.
- Discuss how a sport has helped you in developing your focus, dedication, and aspiration toward future goals.
One of the most important things to remember when writing your personal statement is that your essay should be personal to you. The essay should be an honest and earnest representation of who you are, because your personal statement is a way of introducing yourself to the admissions committee. So, no matter what kind of sports topic you decide to write about, relate your topic to how you have become a better person who is better prepared to handle the challenges you will be facing in the future.
A personal statement essay is your own way of describing who you are, what makes you tick, and why you are unique. In it, you are expected to explain not only what the school will do for you, but also what you are capable of doing for the school. The best way to explain all of this is by focusing on your passion; the one thing that you love most. For music enthusiasts, this should come as a breeze since music is known to many as the universal language understood and appreciated by all people around the globe. If you choose to focus on music in your personal essay, you might want to consider using the following subtopics
Your favorite music artist
By naming your favorite music artist, you are letting your reader know about your personality. If, perhaps, your favorite artist is a pop star, you are telling your reader that your personality is more or less fun-loving, bubbly, and outgoing. If, on the other hand, your favorite artist is a rock star, you are basically saying that your personality is exciting, edgy, and passionate. And, if your favorite artist is a jazz or blues musician, you are essentially telling your reader that you are extremely creative, intuitive, and perhaps even intellectual. However, no matter what genre of music your favorite artist belongs to, it is really up to you to decide how your reader will interpret your type of personality. Based on the reasons why you love this particular musician, your reader will be able to understand more fully the depth of your passion not only for music, but also for life.
Your favorite music genre
If you do not want to name just one specific artist, you can also name your favorite music genre. By doing this, you are giving your reader more opportunities to understand who you are as an individual, rather than as a distinct comparison to just one musician. For those who love disco music, for instance, the reader will be able to grasp that you are a very outgoing and sociable personality, and, at the same time, he or she will be given the chance to read about why you are outgoing and sociable. Remember that when you state your favorite music genre, you must use it as a “stepping stone” in order to describe your attitude and outlook in life.
Other ways to use music as a focus
The reason music is a great way of explaining who you are in your personal essay is that music, as a form of art, expresses one’s dedication to creativity, as well as one’s love for life and harmony. It is an expression of drive and passion, one that tells the reader that you are capable of expressing yourself to the fullest. In the event that you decide to take your personal statement even further, don’t be afraid to be creative. Instead of just writing about your favorite music, you can try composing your sentences in a musical form. You can also use quotations from lyrics of your favorite song(s), or even explain who you are in relation to the subjects of other songs. Remember that creativity can never go too far when writing your personal statement; don’t be afraid to show just how creative you really are.
