Step 2. ORGANIZATIO
Keep your goals or purpose in mind
Telling your personal story, like any storytelling, can take many forms. From short and choppy to verbose and ornate. introducing one's self by written words can take many forms and shapes -- as varied as individuals themselves speak. However, a successful personal statement is a narrow form of introduction which focuses primarily on two central themes -- "Who am I?" and "What Can I offer?" The successful personal statement must adequately meet these twin objectives -- introducing yourself and describing your potential as a successful candidate. Hence, it is important to isolate key accomplishments, turning points, and events in your life, things that shed light on these central themes. Analyze your experience, personal history and memory to isolate certain key "defining moments" in your life,
A more sophisticated document should also address two other themes - "What do I want to do?" and what does my proposed study have to do with what I want to do?" Good answers to these two questions can show people that you are a committed professional, not someone who seeks to go to America for its own sake.
Personal Assessment
The writing process can be an exciting process because it presents the opportunity to tell and explore your own personal history. What we write down, what we focus on, what we highlight and explore gives an insight as to our own particular and unique values, hopes, aspirations and ideals. Keep all this in mind. The information you present, as much as how you present it, can portray you either as a positive and eager individual or as an easily discouraged person merely going through the motions of the application process. Always keep in mind the particular image you wish to paint when sifting through your personal facts and writing your essay.
Some of the topics, not necessarily in order of importance or priority, to explore and develop for essay purposes include:
a) the educational achievements you have made
b) projects you have completed
c) particular jobs and responsibilities
d) accomplishments -- both professional and scholastic
e) major life events that you believe have changed you
f) challenges and personal hurdles you have overcome
g) life events which motivate you to apply for this particular course of education.
h) individuals who influenced, prepared, or motivated you to pursue a particular profession or school i) particular traits, work habits, attitudes or sensibilities that you have developed which will insure your success in school or in a profession.
J) your goals
k) your hobbies
Always remember to explore these topics with the underlying purpose of showing how these events, experiences and people have affected you in such a way that will help you succeed in the school you are applying to. Make a list of the things you wish to mention, and, while you do so, keep in mind your wish to give the reader the impression that you have the qualifications as well as the motivation, direction, and drive to succeed in their school or program.
At this stage, focus on writing down, as specifically as possible, the different events and accomplishments that you feel should be mentioned. You may not have to be concerned with grammar or other technicalities this early on. The important point is that you adequately describe your chosen events and accomplishments. This, as you may have learned, is called brainstorming.
Organizing Facts
Now that you have listed your interests and past jobs, read these facts carefully and isolate the emotion that each fact/event triggers. Does the memory of an event or activity or accomplishment trigger pride, resolve, or a sense of "making peace and moving on"? Does it motivate you to forge ahead and do more to correct a mistake? Once you are emotionally engaged, try to identify one trait that makes you feel good or particularly proud of yourself. And isolate the personal trait that you feel was improved or took some time to improve. Then isolate the events, experiences, or people with personal traits, goals and motivation. Circle the facts and pair them with specific personal traits or personal qualities. You should then write short sentences explaining how each pairing would help you become successful in the particular school or program you are applying to. In the parlance of English Writing teachers, this is called "clustering." When you finish clustering, you should be ready to find an organizing structure or format for your essay.
You as an applicant should first gain a comprehensive view into your personal attributes, prospects, and values in order to highlight your personal achievements and potential for excellence. Under the guidance of this view, you then craft the most effective personal statement possible. Don't forget what I have said earlier - everyone is special, and you are special, too. I do not know you, but trust me, you do have the attributes and qualifications that stand yourself apart from all others.
Your personal stories could be told in various forms, ranging from the novel to a short story to parables and allegories. One's personal story can fit into many types of presentations. Nevertheless, certain formats predominate over others because these formats are more commonly used and therefore time-tested. Here are just three organizing and thematic formats we often use in developing customized personal statements. A seasoned writer may be able to use different combinations of these and other formats in the same statement or essay.
1. OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
This format emphasizes your commitment, intelligence and the triumph of your human will in dealing with, overcoming, or making peace with unpleasant life-transforming events or characters.
Far from placing blame on others or making excuses, this format isolates the applicant's ability to thrive despite external and/or internal hindrances.
DO's:
i. Be Descriptive.
Use facts to back up ALL your assertions. Never state specifics -- describe them. How exactly are you "more mature"? What experiences have you had that would warrant an attribution of "entrepreneurial" and "creative"? Although most Admissions Committees are not looking for statements that describe some sort of personal revelation or enlightenment, use your personal facts to describe who you are and why you are exceptional.
ii. Emphasize your positive attitude by stating your future plans.
Fit this material with certain facts or programs about the school that you have discovered in your research.
iii. Show a proactive attitude through your word choices and sentence sequence.
DONT'S:
i. Do not dwell on how you suffered or how much of a "victim" you were. Don't place blame or judge -- you don't want to come off as bitter and angry.
ii. Don't engage in self-pity.
2. PERSONAL GROWTH
This format surveys your achievements and accomplishments and lists your comments thereupon. The comments trace the evolution and transformation of the individual into a successful and determined candidate.
DO's:
i. Use a positive, active voice
ii. Focus on the changes in your attitude and perspective giving concrete factual examples of these changes.
iii. Give a clear, concise and adequately developed description of key events from which you derived personal growth and wisdom.
DONT'S:
i. Make excuses for failed and dashed expectations.
Explain why things did not work out and most importantly what you have done to cope with disappointments. However, outside of illness or other unforeseen circumstances, don't just explain away bad grades or bad semesters. If applicable, do explain how personal setbacks have given you a new attitude, one that has translated into a concrete accomplishment. Try not to over-focus on personal enlightenment but focus instead on concrete outcomes or consequences of such personal revelations.
ii. Appear to feel sorry for yourself.
iii. Focus on just ONE achievement.
iv. Appear angry or bitter.
3. FAMILY HISTORY@ This format tells a family member's story and how the applicant interacted with that person's legacy or was inspired by that person's achievements. This format is often used to show how historical influences color and shape an individual. The family member here can be substituted with other personages.
DO's-.
i. Isolate personal traits and attributes
Briefly describe a family member who has inspired you to pursue your education or particular professional vocation.
ii. You may discuss, briefly, any struggles that your family has overcome.
iii. Remember that the Family History format's purpose is to highlight YOUR achievements & YOUR ability to cope with family obstacles.
DONT'S:
i. Overstate family problems.@ ii. Appear to be asking for pity.
iii. Place so much importance on your family's struggle that you lose focus on your own struggles and achievements.
CATCH WORDS
Whatever format you employ, try to pigeonhole your personal attributes and professional qualifications into terms that are readily understandable to the professors on the Admissions Committees. This means that, for students of business and humanities, you need to focus your essay on commitment, communication skills, organizational skills, leadership abilities, and team spirit. For students of science and engineering, you need to talk about your analytical and experimental skills, or, alternatively, your abilities in research and development, in addition to your commitment and team spirit. So, instead of saying how tenacious you are in the face of odds, you tell your readers how committed you are to your career. You have "team spirit" rather dm "love for the collective", "communication skills" rather than the ability to "say different things to diffrent people", and "leadership abilities" rather than "administrative and control capacity."
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