Tips for a Compelling Personal Statement
Summer is upon us, and If your student is entering their senior year, then college applications should be one of their top priorities. For their sake, and yours, your student should start working on their Personal Statement now.
Below are the Common App prompts for the 2024-25 cycle. Have your student read through them and spend some time carefully considering which prompt resonates with them the most.
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
After your student has decided on their prompt, have them do a brainstorming session or two to generate some ideas. If they struggle with this, they may have selected the wrong prompt, and they should try out another.
As they work on their essay, here are a few things they should keep in mind:
Convey your passions and who you are. Use this space to emphasize your interests. Do you have any hobbies or personal/academic achievements that tie into your desired field of study? Have you won any awards or contests that might be relevant to your prospective field? This is where you tie those accomplishments into your future studies. Be careful not to stray too far away from your point. Make sure all the information you are giving here is relevant to your educational goals in some way.
Analyze and explain your experiences. This is your chance to really reflect on what you are saying in your opening statement and subsequent paragraphs. You want to show the college that you are capable of learning and growing, not just memorizing facts. This will probably take the longest and involve the most brainstorming. Take your time with this task.
Conclude your essay by emphasizing why the school should accept you. Remember, the personal essay is there to show your writing and analytical skills, but it is also your chance to really sell yourself to the college. Why should they accept you over other equally-qualified candidates? What is it about you that makes you a catch? Don’t be afraid to be proud of your record and accomplishments. Brag a little bit. Just make sure you don’t come across sounding conceited.
Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU USE AI to complete your essay. We’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating. AI cannot and will not be an adequate substitute for human emotion or human experience. The essays generated by this technology are cliche at best, and boring at worst. No admissions officer is going to be impressed by them. We cannot emphasize this enough: AI will not get you into a top college. It probably won’t even get you into a decent college. So don’t use it. Write your own essay.
The personal statement is typically the most difficult essay a student has had to write so far, and it takes time. Don’t wait until after summer camp, or the family vacation. This essay should be crafted and revised several times over the next several months!
If your student needs one-on-one guidance while crafting their personal statement or college supplements, check out the Power-5 College App Camp, or contact Ivy Link below to learn more about our comprehensive application assistance.
