Look Out! Avoid These Mistakes When Writing Your Personal Statement

Some common mistakes that prospective students make when writing their personal statements include:

• Neglecting to proofread. Spelling, punctuation, formatting, and grammatical errors make your essay look sloppy and show an inattention to details. Make sure you give yourself enough time to fully edit and proofread your personal statement. Even better, have someone else proofread your statement for you. A fresh pair of eyes can catch things you might miss.

• Neglecting to personalize the statement. If you are applying to more than one graduate school, you can't send the same statement to each school. You need to write separate statements explaining what interests you about each school, how you can contribute to its program, and why you want to go to graduate school there. Use specific details about the school's curriculum, faculty, and facilities that you have gleaned from your research and campus visits.

• Lack of confidence. Your personal statement is not a time to be modest. You need to write confidently about what you have accomplished and what you hope to accomplish. You need to show that you are unique, that you can handle the academic challenges of graduate school, and that you will be an asset to the program.

• Neglecting to include the required information. You need to make sure that your statement addresses the statement topic.

• Repeating your resume. You generally include a resume with your application packet, so you do not need to list all of your work history, prizes, education, etc. Chronological, detailed lists can quickly become boring. Focus instead on presenting your goals and achievements in a positive, interesting way.