I'm feeling a bit stuck on my personal statement for college apps. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for making it stand out? I'm worried mine feels too generic right now.
One thing I often advise students in your position is to think about what makes you unique. What could only be written by you or about you? From there, try following these steps:
1. Find Your Story: Everyone has a story to tell, but it might take some digging to find it. What events or experiences have shaped who you are and what you want to do? Remember, it doesn't need to be about overcoming enormous hardship or achieving something impressive—it can be about something simple or small that holds great significance to you.
2. Follow the “Show, Don’t Tell” Rule: Avoid making blanket statements about yourself without backing them up with evidence. For example, instead of saying that you're "outgoing," illustrate it with a story about how you started a club, organized an event, or helped a friend in need.
3. Allow Your Personality to Shine Through: The other aspects of your application—GPA, test scores, extracurriculars—show what you've achieved. Your personal statement should show who you are. Let your sense of humor, curiosity, or enthusiasm shine through in your writing.
4. Draft and Revise: The first draft is just that—a first draft. Write freely, then go back to revise and refine. Don't worry about making it perfect at first. In fact, it probably won't be. You might need a few drafts (or more) before you get to a final product that really expresses who you are and why you're a good fit for the particular schools you're applying to.
5. Get Feedback: Once you've written and revised, it can be helpful to ask others for their opinions. Teachers, mentors, or guidance counselors can provide valuable feedback. But remember, while input is helpful, the statement should still be your voice.
Remember, the more personal and detailed your essay is, the more it will stand out from the numerous generic essays admissions officers read every day. For example, instead of just writing "I love music," you could dive into a specific moment where you connected with a piece of music or performed in a concert, and how that impacted you. Good luck!
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