The personal statement is an important component of the US university application. Please read Vela Education’s tips on what you should, and shouldn’t do, when writing this important essay!

Do: Identify personal qualities you want to highlight in the essay! Readers are interested in your values and traits that make you a wonderful community member. Being clear about what attributes you are highlighting before you pick a topic is a good idea!

Don’t: Do not focus on personal habits related to academic schoolwork. Though you may study diligently and that has been the key to your academic success, that is not the kind of trait that will convince an admissions committee to admit you! Also, they can deduce this by analyzing your grades and test-scores.

Do: Use specific examples from your life to support your claims! Compelling details are the “evidence” in your essay to persuade a reader you have experienced/accomplished/learned what you are writing about.

Don’t: Avoid generalization, platitudes, and cliches! Though phrases everyone uses may be on your mind, admissions readers are more interested in authentic and original ideas. Also, this essay is an opportunity to demonstrate how well you write— a key skill for a liberal arts education in the US. Carefully explaining your ideas and examples is better than relying on pat phrases.

Do: Be positive. It’s fine to address a conflict or challenge in your essay. However, do not focus on the negative aspects or difficulties. Describe the challenge and conflict with an even tone and then focus on the positive outcome.

Don’t: Complain. We appreciate that you often have the right to feel frustrated and disappointed! However, how you deal with these disappointments is what admissions readers care about.

Do: Be authentic. Admissions readers want to know about your life. This means writing in your own voice, accurately choosing examples from your life experience. Experienced admissions readers are not expecting tales of an extraordinary life that only someone with 20 more years of experience could have!

Don’t: Avoid exaggerations and overdramatization of your life experiences. Though you may think that using charged vocabulary makes your life experiences “pop” to the readers, this can seem odd to and admissions committee.

If you have any questions about the US personal statement, we recommend you view our webinar! Also, please consider scheduling a strategic consultation so we can develop a plan tailored to your needs.