Answers to Your Questions About Writing Your Personal Statement
You have made a list of your attributes. You know what questions you need to answer. Now it's time to sit down and start writing your personal statement - but you still have some lingering questions. Below are answers to your questions about writing personal statements.
Do I write in the first person?
You may not be comfortable writing in first person simply because you don't have a lot of experience using it. However, the personal statement is your chance to let the admissions committee get to know you, see your accomplishments, and appreciate your unique abilities. Therefore, you need to use first person when writing your personal statement.
What tone do I use as I write my personal statement?
The tone of a piece of writing reflects your attitude. For your personal statement, strive for a tone that is serious, professional, and moderately formal. Use humor only in limited amounts and only if it fits well in the statement. You want to sound professional but not stuffy.
Do I need to include a possible thesis or dissertation topic in my personal statement?
At this point, you don't need to have a thesis or dissertation topic chosen. However, you should be able to discuss your research interests in general. This will show your breadth of knowledge in the field of study and your motivation for further studies.
Do I specify which faculty member with whom I want to work?
Specifying a faculty member with whom you want to work helps the admissions committee determine whether there is space for you in specific areas of the graduate program. However, you should always list more than one faculty member. If you list only one professor and that professor isn't accepting new students, you are taking a chance of being rejected.
Should I discuss my volunteer and job experiences?
You will likely include a resume with your application packet, so you do not need to list your entire volunteer and job experience. However, you can and should discuss experiences that relate to your field of study or that influenced your academic and career goals.
Should I explain flaws in my application?
If you have reasonable explanations for low grades, low GRE scores, or other flaws in your application, then you can include this information in your personal statement. For example, if you had poor grades one semester because of an illness or a death in the family, that is a reasonable explanation.