Prior to sitting down at a computer to write my personal statement, I read every how-to guide, tips sheet, and "what is a personal statement?" website I could find. I scared myself by thinking that I couldn't be creative enough to write a good hook (to catch the reviewer's attention). I scared myself into thinking that I wasn't even good enough for graduate school and that my experiences didn't coincide with my future career goals. Needless to say, it took all my efforts to finally write the 2 page statement. I was writing about myself but found nothing to say.
I started with the usual "I love English because..." then morphed into a Career Services-based paper on the importance of finding the right career that fits my personal needs. I gave up on those tracks really quickly because they were boring and impersonal (the exact opposite of my goal).
Finally, I just wrote about the time I realized just how passionate I am about literature and the written word. A few years ago, my professor wrote a Mark Twain quote on the white board:
The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter - it is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.
I found myself scribbling furiously to get this gem written down on my notebook. For some reason, a feverish quality struck me. I desperately needed to have this quote ingrained in my memory, or at least on my notebook to look back upon in the future.
Throughout the semester I would trace the words with my pen until the quote was quite literally etched into the plastic. I still have that binder with the bright blue ink spelling out that wonderful quote. I still think of how the words affected me. That's how I know I'll make a great graduate student. And, that's the point I had to convey in my personal statement.
To all those writing personal statements, the tip sheets all say to make it personal. I cannot stress that point enough. Use specific details from your personal experiences to make your statement stand out. If you think you've written a stellar statement, you should still get it reviewed by others. Anybody can help with this, but if you'd like a professional you can visit Career Services during drop-in hours between noon and 2pm.
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