Introduction

An effective application strategy involves more than just deciding which classes to take and when to take them. Your strategy  is a plan for personal, as well as intellectual, development. Your personal statement is an excellent opportunity and foundation for exploring your own goals. Additionally, many Nationally Competitive Scholarships require a personal statement and/or essay as part of the application procedure itself.

Usually between 500 and 1000 words, a personal statement or essay offers insight into the kind of person you are and the life you live. It should be the product of deep reflection on who you are and not just what you’ve done. It should also show how you got to be who you are and where you think you’re heading--not just in school, but in life itself. Because you personal statement is so short, identify a few points that you want to develop; let the other aspects of your application present other important information about yourself. Use your personal statement or essay to say what the other parts of your application cannot.

Often, you’ll be writing a personal statement or essay in response to a specific question that your chosen scholarship’s application will ask you about yourself. Like your letters of recommendation, your personal statement or essay shouldn’t be vague; it should take into account the scholarship you’re applying for. Of course, you do want to be truthful about yourself; don’t just say what you think the scholarship committee wants to hear.

There is no prepared format or style for writing a personal statement. The lack of a strict writing format encourages you to be yourself rather than someone you’re not, as your personal statement or essay should reflect your own unique personality. In other words, your statement or essay should tell a “story” about you and make readers want to know you. Personal statements and essays are read quickly and often in bulk; yours should be a pleasure to read, and it shouldn’t be filled with lots of filler to make yourself look better. Never use big words and complex phrases for the sake of using them; your readers will notice and will quickly disregard your application. Your statement or letter should start fast, quickly taking the reader into the heart of your discussion. Be imaginative, expressive, and honest. Most of all--and we can’t stress this enough--be yourself.

You’ll find more advice in the dropdown menus below. Additionally, you should ask your mentor, recommenders, professors, and, of course, your Scholarship Advisor for help. You should also visit the UAA Learning Commons’ Writing Center in Room 115 of the Sally Monserud Hall.

• The “Why”

  Before you begin writing, you have to remind yourself why you’re doing it. In short: you’re introducing yourself to the scholarship committee, and you’re doing so as a person, not as a list of achievements. You’ve already introduced your academic side through the rest of your application (through items such as your List of Honors, Awards, and Activities and your Letters of Recommendation). They know your G.P.A.; they’ve seen your transcript. But who are you beyond your grades and extracurricular activities?

  Imagine being stripped of your G.P.A. and your memberships and your status. What kind of person are you? Are you altruistic, kind, or understanding? Do you speak to people like they’re human, or do you only act friendly to people that can do things for you? How do you treat those who can’t immediately benefit you? Furthermore, how would you react under pressure? Would you blame your issues on others, or would you take responsibility and try to help the problem come to a solution? You don’t have to be a saint, but you should be the kind of person that doesn’t look down on others, even when they’re looking up to you.

  When you speak about yourself, don’t just talk about which extracurricular activities you’re in; talk about why you’re in them. Talk about why you felt the need to excel in classes and why you went out for all your honors and activities. And don’t just speak about the classes you’ve taken; speak about why you took them and what you’ve taken away from them. Your scholarship committee reads hundreds to thousands of essays throughout the application procedure. When it comes down to it, they don’t want people who will make their organization look bad. And you wouldn’t either, would you? So don’t talk about what you do in your life--talk about why you do it.

• Preparing to Write

  You will need time to reflect and draft, so START EARLY. The summer months are ideal for this project, as both you and your various readers and editors will have more open-ended intellectual time to read and revise your writing.

  Begin collecting random notes for your personal statement; be ready to write at any time. Review these items occasionally; let them tell you more about what you want your personal statement to say.

  Reflect on your life journey, experiences, interests, and accomplishments. List all you have done as an undergraduate: research experiences, travel, papers, activities, important conversations, life experiences, etc. But don’t just list them; talk about why they matter to you and how they’ve shaped you as a person. Describe your goals and vision for your future, and above all, be truthful about your feelings.

  Allow yourself to write freely at first, getting all your thoughts down on the page. Share your writing with your friends, mentors, professors, and advisors, and discuss them with what might best represent you in an essay, Additionally, research the Nationally Competitive Scholarships you are applying for. While you may use your personal statement for a variety of applications, it is very important to tailor each essay to the specific program you are applying for.

  Consider these questions when writing your personal statement or essay:

  • When does time disappear for you?
  • What does this tell you about your passions and values? What fascinates you and why?
  • When was the last time you were emotionally moved by something that really mattered?
  • What people, ideas, books, courses, and events have had a profound impact on you? How so?
  • To whom do you feel obliged and why?
  • To what extent to your current commitments reflect your most strongly held values?
  • In fact moral choices, where do you draw the line?
  • What errors or regrets have taught you something important about yourself?
  • What would you like to change about yourself? Why?
  • When have you changed?
  • Consider yourself before and after said change. What does this change mean?

  You don’t have to answer all of these questions in your personal statement or essay--and really, you shouldn’t, because you only have 500 to 1000 words--but they’re still important to consider.

• Drafting

  Things to Avoid in Your Personal Essay:

  • Excessive claims
  • Quotations of authors, celebrities or public figures that are not truly meaningful to you
  • Name dropping
  • Vague or unrealistic goals
  • Overly flashy or clever language

  Do your best to find a balance between the big picture and specific details. Specific examples are more vivid than generalities and abstract statements. Select examples that are most important to you and use them to create the foundation for your essay. Make sure you link these details and show your understanding of the larger context of your personal interests and goals.

  Consider your audience. You are writing for an intelligent non-specialist (i.e., you’re writing to someone who, while intelligent and understanding, isn’t in your field and won’t understand the hard specifics of your research). The tone of your personal statement or essay should be neither too academic nor too personal. In other words, don’t write like you’re sending a text to your friend, and don’t write like you’re writing a research paper, either. Find a balance between the two. Be respectful and clear in your voice, but also have a voice, too. Make sure the terminology you use will be understandable to someone outside of your field, and aim for economy, enthusiasm, and directness. Eloquence is welcome, but not at the expense of substance or honesty.

  Finally, make sure all your information is accurate and that you will be prepared to discuss in some detail anything you mention. Do not pad your writing with filler words and phrases in attempt to look smarter, because your readers will notice and won’t be impressed (and because, again, you only have 500 to 1000 words). Just as well, do not be falsely modest. If you reflect carefully and sincerely on your strengths, talents, and accomplishments, you will avoid exaggeration.

• Revising and Finalizing

  Revise! Revise! Revise!

  Plan to experiment and try completely different versions of your statement or essay. Give your essay to multiple readers for comment and editing. Because it is impossible to predict who will review your writing, you want it to speak to your physics professor as well as your neighbor, your academic advisor, and also some of your good friends and closest peers.