How to Get Started Writing the Graduate Personal Statement

The personal statement will most likely be the most important piece you will write for your graduate application package. Personal statement essays aid the admission committee in assessing an applicant’s eligibility to graduate school in psychology. On your part, the essay gives you the chance to tell something about yourself and your distinct qualities. Thus, your essay should be well-written and substantial enough to impress the readers. If you have no theme yet for your essay, here are some of the questions to ask before writing a personal statement:

1. Who am I? What are my skills and abilities?

2. What sets me apart from other applicants?

3. What are the difficulties that I had overcome in the past? How did I deal with them?

4. How have my experiences changed my life?

5. Who are my influences and how have they shaped me?

6. What are my goals for my career?

7. What jobs or internships have I had? What have I learned from them? How are they related to my subject of interest?

8. Have I been involved in volunteer work? How has it developed my skills and helped me to achieve my goals?

9. What are the extracurricular activities that I participate in? How have they helped me to meet my career goals?

10. Why do I want to go to grad school? Why have I chosen this school?

11. What can I offer to the program I am applying for?

12. How will graduate education help in my personal and career growth?

You must consider these questions so that you can write an essay that will get the thumbs up from the admission committee. The very first rule of how to get into top ranked Ph.D. programs in psychology is to write an excellent personal statement.

Need more help writing personal statements? Graduate school personal statements

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Instant College Admission Essay Kit – How to Write a Personal Statement Essay That Will Get You In

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