During the application process to any graduate school, you will need to write a satisfactory personal statement. This is because many other students are also applying for the same chance, and the competition is quite high. So, a well-written and structured personal statement is what distinguishes the best students to get the chance. Besides, this document has a personal touch as it explains an individual at a personal level for the readers to understand the student better.
Personal statement for college outline
While you can always refer to a personal statement outline template during the writing process, let us simplify how you should write a personal statement outline below:
The introduction paragraph
As much as it may be enticing to start narrating your accomplishments and achievements, consider writing an introduction section first as a way of familiarizing the reader with your document. Explain why you are attracted to joining a certain field and why you are the ideal candidate for the opportunity. Do not go into many details at this point. Simply summarize everything, but remember to define who you are in one or two sentences.
The main body
- Paragraph one: the recent past
In this paragraph, you need to give the reader the reason to keep reading through your personal statement. The main focus should be on the reasons why you want to get a chance to enroll in a given institute.
- Paragraph two: the present
Here, you talk about yourself, how you are, and your core values at the present moment. Keep the focus on qualities that characterize you as an individual, like determination to succeed, confidence, intellect, and such elements. Ensure you maintain a positive image of yourself in this section to boost your chances of being considered for the position.
- Part three: the future
Now, write positive elements in regards to how you see the future according to the degree or course you are pursuing. Ensure you can visualize your vision and determination in a couple of years to come.
The concluding paragraph
Once you write a visualization of your future, sum up your personal statement by explaining your past achievements, your current identity, and the goals you have for the future.
Common questions you need to know about personal statement outline
Writing a presentable personal statement involves five easy steps as described below:
- Reading and understanding the requirements
While some institutes will give detailed requirements of how they expect your personal statement to be, some will simply give the titles without any further requirements. So, don’t assume all institutes are the same. Make sure you know every single detail in terms of the required length and formatting instructions.
- Talk about personal experiences
Since this is a personal statement, focus on telling the why rather than explaining your love for a given subject. Describe how you came to love a given subject and how you pushed yourself until you wanted to even achieve more in the same field.
- Make it personal
Make sure you narrow your focus on your dreams. Let the reader know what pushes towards accomplishing this milestone and degree as a whole element.
- Explain issues and challenges positively
Should your personal statement have anything negative, such as a semester you performed badly, explain how the events happened until you got negative results while maintaining a positive attitude.
- Prove you are knowledgeable
When writing a personal statement, ensure you do a background search about the institute. Let the admission committee know that you have adequate knowledge of the institute.
What are the steps to write a personal statement? 5 easy steps to follow
- How do you write a personal statement for college?
Make sure to include details related to your course, such as jobs, voluntary services, and work experiences. The experiences should reflect your future plans.
- What is the format for a personal statement?
Generally, a personal statement should have 2 to 3 pages with a New Times Roman font 12. However, there are no specific guidelines, but this is an ideal format.
- How do you start a personal statement opening statement?
An outline for personal statement will give you a clear strategy on how to begin your statement. However, the very first sentence should capture the reader’s attention while showing reasons for your interest in that field.
Conclusion
This article has featured the five easy steps you need to follow in drafting your personal statement. I hope you have learned a concept or more ideas.
