career change university personal statement

How to write a personal statement if you’re changing fields

Your personal statement must answer the crucial question of any graduate school application: Why are you a perfect fit for a program? To demonstrate that fit, many students craft an academic arc that traces their undergraduate experiences to their current application. But what if your path is more jagged? After switching from an undergraduate major in History to graduate degrees in Science and Technology Studies and now Art History, I know it’s possible to craft a compelling academic narrative, even if you’re changing fields.

To make the most of the thousand-word personal statement, keep these ideas in mind:

Tip 1: emphasize the continuities.

Think back to your previous research experiences or jobs. Is there a salient connection to your intended field of study? When I wrote applications to Art History graduate programs, I mentioned an undergraduate paper that touched on visual culture and aesthetics, two central concerns of my new field. 

If you can’t think of something this direct, try to draw a connection between the methodologies or themes between the two disciplines; maybe both areas of studies emphasize ethnographic research or quantitative reasoning. You want to show that you have engaged with the research of your new field, even before you started officially studying it.

Tip 2: Embrace the Pivot

If you spent four years dedicating your studies to a certain subject, why do you want to switch? Finding a compelling answer to this question is key. Perhaps you had a life experience that underscored the importance of your new field, or you are drawn to the specific methodology a discipline uses to answer a social question you’re passionate about. A sharp explanation about your switch should go near the top of your statement.

This is also a good place to make your essay stand out: how might a different background improve your application? If you’re applying to an Economics program as a Math major, for example, you could highlight how your training will help you adapt to new trends in mathematical economics.

Tip 3: Practice Humility

At the end of your statement, it’s ok to reference that your path was not linear. In fact, academic flexibility can translate into an asset: completing research over an extended period of time often means adapting to multiple twists and turns. As a young scholar, it’s your job to embrace this iterative process with a willingness to learn. Your statement should convey an open curiosity with the your new field and the research of faculty members in your chosen department. 

Alex earned her BA in History from Brown University, and her MA in Science and Technology Studies from Oxford University, where she was a Baker Scholar. Currently, she is a Master's student at NYU's Institute of Fine Arts.

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10 Personal Statement Essay Examples That Worked

What’s covered:, what is a personal statement.

• Essay 1: Summer Program
• Essay 2: Being Bangladeshi-American
• Essay 3: Why Medicine
• Essay 4: Love of Writing
• Essay 5: Starting a Fire
• Essay 6: Dedicating a Track
• Essay 7: Body Image and Eating Disorders
• Essay 8: Becoming a Coach
• Essay 9: Eritrea
• Essay 10: Journaling
• Is Your Personal Statement Strong Enough?

Your personal statement is any essay that you must write for your main application, such as the Common App Essay , University of California Essays , or Coalition Application Essay . This type of essay focuses on your unique experiences, ideas, or beliefs that may not be discussed throughout the rest of your application. This essay should be an opportunity for the admissions officers to get to know you better and give them a glimpse into who you really are.

In this post, we will share 10 different personal statements that were all written by real students. We will also provide commentary on what each essay did well and where there is room for improvement, so you can make your personal statement as strong as possible!

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Personal Statement Examples

Essay example #1: exchange program.

The twisting roads, ornate mosaics, and fragrant scent of freshly ground spices had been so foreign at first. Now in my fifth week of the SNYI-L summer exchange program in Morocco, I felt more comfortable in the city. With a bag full of pastries from the market, I navigated to a bus stop, paid the fare, and began the trip back to my host family’s house. It was hard to believe that only a few years earlier my mom was worried about letting me travel around my home city on my own, let alone a place that I had only lived in for a few weeks. While I had been on a journey towards self-sufficiency and independence for a few years now, it was Morocco that pushed me to become the confident, self-reflective person that I am today.

As a child, my parents pressured me to achieve perfect grades, master my swim strokes, and discover interesting hobbies like playing the oboe and learning to pick locks. I felt compelled to live my life according to their wishes. Of course, this pressure was not a wholly negative factor in my life –– you might even call it support. However, the constant presence of my parents’ hopes for me overcame my own sense of desire and led me to become quite dependent on them. I pushed myself to get straight A’s, complied with years of oboe lessons, and dutifully attended hours of swim practice after school. Despite all these achievements, I felt like I had no sense of self beyond my drive for success. I had always been expected to succeed on the path they had defined. However, this path was interrupted seven years after my parents’ divorce when my dad moved across the country to Oregon.

I missed my dad’s close presence, but I loved my new sense of freedom. My parents’ separation allowed me the space to explore my own strengths and interests as each of them became individually busier. As early as middle school, I was riding the light rail train by myself, reading maps to get myself home, and applying to special academic programs without urging from my parents. Even as I took more initiatives on my own, my parents both continued to see me as somewhat immature. All of that changed three years ago, when I applied and was accepted to the SNYI-L summer exchange program in Morocco. I would be studying Arabic and learning my way around the city of Marrakesh. Although I think my parents were a little surprised when I told them my news, the addition of a fully-funded scholarship convinced them to let me go.

I lived with a host family in Marrakesh and learned that they, too, had high expectations for me. I didn’t know a word of Arabic, and although my host parents and one brother spoke good English, they knew I was there to learn. If I messed up, they patiently corrected me but refused to let me fall into the easy pattern of speaking English just as I did at home. Just as I had when I was younger, I felt pressured and stressed about meeting their expectations. However, one day, as I strolled through the bustling market square after successfully bargaining with one of the street vendors, I realized my mistake. My host family wasn’t being unfair by making me fumble through Arabic. I had applied for this trip, and I had committed to the intensive language study. My host family’s rules about speaking Arabic at home had not been to fulfill their expectations for me, but to help me fulfill my expectations for myself. Similarly, the pressure my parents had put on me as a child had come out of love and their hopes for me, not out of a desire to crush my individuality.

As my bus drove through the still-bustling market square and past the medieval Ben-Youssef madrasa, I realized that becoming independent was a process, not an event. I thought that my parents’ separation when I was ten had been the one experience that would transform me into a self-motivated and autonomous person. It did, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t still have room to grow. Now, although I am even more self-sufficient than I was three years ago, I try to approach every experience with the expectation that it will change me. It’s still difficult, but I understand that just because growth can be uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s not important.

What the Essay Did Well

This is a nice essay because it delves into particular character trait of the student and how it has been shaped and matured over time. Although it doesn’t focus the essay around a specific anecdote, the essay is still successful because it is centered around this student’s independence. This is a nice approach for a personal statement: highlight a particular trait of yours and explore how it has grown with you.

The ideas in this essay are universal to growing up—living up to parents’ expectations, yearning for freedom, and coming to terms with reality—but it feels unique to the student because of the inclusion of details specific to them. Including their oboe lessons, the experience of riding the light rail by themselves, and the negotiations with a street vendor helps show the reader what these common tropes of growing up looked like for them personally. 

Another strength of the essay is the level of self-reflection included throughout the piece. Since there is no central anecdote tying everything together, an essay about a character trait is only successful when you deeply reflect on how you felt, where you made mistakes, and how that trait impacts your life. The author includes reflection in sentences like “ I felt like I had no sense of self beyond my drive for success, ” and “ I understand that just because growth can be uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s not important. ” These sentences help us see how the student was impacted and what their point of view is.

What Could Be Improved

The largest change this essay would benefit from is to show not tell. The platitude you have heard a million times no doubt, but for good reason. This essay heavily relies on telling the reader what occurred, making us less engaged as the entire reading experience feels more passive. If the student had shown us what happens though, it keeps the reader tied to the action and makes them feel like they are there with the student, making it much more enjoyable to read. 

For example, they tell us about the pressure to succeed their parents placed on them: “ I pushed myself to get straight A’s, complied with years of oboe lessons, and dutifully attended hours of swim practice after school.”  They could have shown us what that pressure looked like with a sentence like this: “ My stomach turned somersaults as my rattling knee thumped against the desk before every test, scared to get anything less than a 95. For five years the painful squawk of the oboe only reminded me of my parents’ claps and whistles at my concerts. I mastered the butterfly, backstroke, and freestyle, fighting against the anchor of their expectations threatening to pull me down.”

If the student had gone through their essay and applied this exercise of bringing more detail and colorful language to sentences that tell the reader what happened, the essay would be really great. 

Table of Contents

Essay Example #2: Being Bangladeshi-American

Life before was good: verdant forests, sumptuous curries, and a devoted family.

Then, my family abandoned our comfortable life in Bangladesh for a chance at the American dream in Los Angeles. Within our first year, my father was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He lost his battle three weeks before my sixth birthday. Facing a new country without the steady presence of my father, we were vulnerable — prisoners of hardship in the land of the free. We resettled in the Bronx, in my uncle’s renovated basement. It was meant to be our refuge, but I felt more displaced than ever. Gone were the high-rise condos of West L.A.; instead, government projects towered over the neighborhood. Pedestrians no longer smiled and greeted me; the atmosphere was hostile, even toxic. Schoolkids were quick to pick on those they saw as weak or foreign, hurling harsh words I’d never heard before.

Meanwhile, my family began integrating into the local Bangladeshi community. I struggled to understand those who shared my heritage. Bangladeshi mothers stayed home while fathers drove cabs and sold fruit by the roadside — painful societal positions. Riding on crosstown buses or walking home from school, I began to internalize these disparities. During my fleeting encounters with affluent Upper East Siders, I saw kids my age with nannies, parents who wore suits to work, and luxurious apartments with spectacular views. Most took cabs to their destinations: cabs that Bangladeshis drove. I watched the mundane moments of their lives with longing, aching to plant myself in their shoes. Shame prickled down my spine. I distanced myself from my heritage, rejecting the traditional panjabis worn on Eid and refusing the torkari we ate for dinner every day. 

As I grappled with my relationship with the Bangladeshi community, I turned my attention to helping my Bronx community by pursuing an internship with Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda. I handled desk work and took calls, spending the bulk of my time actively listening to the hardships constituents faced — everything from a veteran stripped of his benefits to a grandmother unable to support her bedridden grandchild.

I’d never exposed myself to stories like these, and now I was the first to hear them. As an intern, I could only assist in what felt like the small ways — pointing out local job offerings, printing information on free ESL classes, reaching out to non-profits. But to a community facing an onslaught of intense struggles, I realized that something as small as these actions could have vast impacts. Seeing the immediate consequences of my actions inspired me. Throughout that summer, I internalized my community’s daily challenges in a new light. I began to stop seeing the prevalent underemployment and cramped living quarters less as sources of shame. Instead, I saw them as realities that had to be acknowledged, but could ultimately be remedied. I also realized the benefits of the Bangladeshi culture I had been so ashamed of. My Bangla language skills were an asset to the office, and my understanding of Bangladeshi etiquette allowed for smooth communication between office staff and its constituents. As I helped my neighbors navigate city services, I saw my heritage with pride — a perspective I never expected to have.

I can now appreciate the value of my unique culture and background, and of living with less. This perspective offers room for progress, community integration, and a future worth fighting for. My time with Assemblyman Sepulveda’s office taught me that I can be a change agent in enabling this progression. Far from being ashamed of my community, I want to someday return to local politics in the Bronx to continue helping others access the American Dream. I hope to help my community appreciate the opportunity to make progress together. By embracing reality, I learned to live it. Along the way, I discovered one thing: life is good, but we can make it better.

This student’s passion for social justice and civic duty shines through in this essay because of how honest it is. Sharing their personal experience with immigrating, moving around, being an outsider, and finding a community allows us to see the hardships this student has faced and builds empathy towards their situation. However, what really makes it strong is that they go beyond describing the difficulties they faced and explain the mental impact it had on them as a child: Shame prickled down my spine. I distanced myself from my heritage, rejecting the traditional panjabis worn on Eid and refusing the torkari we ate for dinner every day. 

The rejection of their culture presented at the beginning of the essay creates a nice juxtaposition with the student’s view in the latter half of the essay and helps demonstrate how they have matured. They use their experience interning as a way to delve into a change in their thought process about their culture and show how their passion for social justice began. Using this experience as a mechanism to explore their thoughts and feelings is an excellent example of how items that are included elsewhere on your application should be incorporated into your essay.

This essay prioritizes emotions and personal views over specific anecdotes. Although there are details and certain moments incorporated throughout to emphasize the author’s points, the main focus remains on the student and how they grapple with their culture and identity.  

One area for improvement is the conclusion. Although the forward-looking approach is a nice way to end an essay focused on social justice, it would be nice to include more details and imagery in the conclusion. How does the student want to help their community? What government position do they see themselves holding one day? 

A more impactful ending might look like the student walking into their office at the New York City Housing Authority in 15 years and looking at the plans to build a new development in the Bronx just blocks away from where the grew up that would provide quality housing to people in their Bangladeshi community. They would smile while thinking about how far they have come from that young kid who used to be ashamed of their culture. 

Essay Example #3: Why Medicine

I took my first trip to China to visit my cousin Anna in July of 2014. Distance had kept us apart, but when we were together, we fell into all of our old inside jokes and caught up on each other’s lives. Her sparkling personality and optimistic attitude always brought a smile to my face. This time, however, my heart broke when I saw the effects of her brain cancer; she had suffered from a stroke that paralyzed her left side. She was still herself in many ways, but I could see that the damage to her brain made things difficult for her. I stayed by her every day, providing the support she needed, whether assisting her with eating and drinking, reading to her, or just watching “Friends.” During my flight back home, sorrow and helplessness overwhelmed me. Would I ever see Anna again? Could I have done more to make Anna comfortable? I wished I could stay in China longer to care for her. As I deplaned, I wondered if I could transform my grief to help other children and teenagers in the US who suffered as Anna did.

The day after I got home, as jet lag dragged me awake a few minutes after midnight, I remembered hearing about the Family Reach Foundation (FRF) and its work with children going through treatments at the local hospital and their families. I began volunteering in the FRF’s Children’s Activity Room, where I play with children battling cancer. Volunteering has both made me appreciate my own health and also cherish the new relationships I build with the children and families. We play sports, make figures out of playdoh, and dress up. When they take on the roles of firefighters or fairies, we all get caught up in the game; for that time, they forget the sanitized, stark, impersonal walls of the pediatric oncology ward. Building close relationships with them and seeing them giggle and laugh is so rewarding — I love watching them grow and get better throughout their course of treatment.

Hearing from the parents about their children’s condition and seeing the children recover inspired me to consider medical research. To get started, I enrolled in a summer collegelevel course in Abnormal Psychology. There I worked with Catelyn, a rising college senior, on a data analysis project regarding Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Together, we examined the neurological etiology of DID by studying four fMRI and PET cases. I fell in love with gathering data and analyzing the results and was amazed by our final product: several stunning brain images showcasing the areas of hyper and hypoactivity in brains affected by DID. Desire quickly followed my amazement — I want to continue this project and study more brains. Their complexity, delicacy, and importance to every aspect of life fascinate me. Successfully completing this research project gave me a sense of hope; I know I am capable of participating in a large scale research project and potentially making a difference in someone else’s life through my research.

Anna’s diagnosis inspired me to begin volunteering at FRF; from there, I discovered my desire to help people further by contributing to medical research. As my research interest blossomed, I realized that it’s no coincidence that I want to study brains—after all, Anna suffered from brain cancer. Reflecting on these experiences this past year and a half, I see that everything I’ve done is connected. Sadly, a few months after I returned from China, Anna passed away. I am still sad, but as I run a toy truck across the floor and watch one of the little patients’ eyes light up, I imagine that she would be proud of my commitment to pursue medicine and study the brain.

This essay has a very strong emotional core that tugs at the heart strings and makes the reader feel invested. Writing about sickness can be difficult and doesn’t always belong in a personal statement, but in this case it works well because the focus is on how this student cared for her cousin and dealt with the grief and emotions surrounding her condition. Writing about the compassion she showed and the doubts and concerns that filled her mind keeps the focus on the author and her personality. 

This continues when she again discusses the activities she did with the kids at FRF and the personal reflection this experience allowed her to have. For example, she writes: Volunteering has both made me appreciate my own health and also cherish the new relationships I build with the children and families. We play sports, make figures out of playdoh, and dress up.

Concluding the essay with the sad story of her cousin’s passing brings the essay full circle and returns to the emotional heart of the piece to once again build a connection with the reader. However, it finishes on a hopeful note and demonstrates how this student has been able to turn a tragic experience into a source of lifelong inspiration. 

One thing this essay should be cognizant of is that personal statements should not read as summaries of your extracurricular resume. Although this essay doesn’t fully fall into that trap, it does describe two key extracurriculars the student participated in. However, the inclusion of such a strong emotional core running throughout the essay helps keep the focus on the student and her thoughts and feelings during these activities.

To avoid making this mistake, make sure you have a common thread running through your essay and the extracurriculars provide support to the story you are trying to tell, rather than crafting a story around your activities. And, as this essay does, make sure there is lots of personal reflection and feelings weaved throughout to focus attention to you rather than your extracurriculars. 

Essay Example #4: Love of Writing

“I want to be a writer.” This had been my answer to every youthful discussion with the adults in my life about what I would do when I grew up. As early as elementary school, I remember reading my writing pieces aloud to an audience at “Author of the Month” ceremonies. Bearing this goal in mind, and hoping to gain some valuable experience, I signed up for a journalism class during my freshman year. Despite my love for writing, I initially found myself uninterested in the subject and I struggled to enjoy the class. When I thought of writing, I imagined lyrical prose, profound poetry, and thrilling plot lines. Journalism required a laconic style and orderly structure, and I found my teacher’s assignments formulaic and dull. That class shook my confidence as a writer. I was uncertain if I should continue in it for the rest of my high school career.

Despite my misgivings, I decided that I couldn’t make a final decision on whether to quit journalism until I had some experience working for a paper outside of the classroom. The following year, I applied to be a staff reporter on our school newspaper. I hoped this would help me become more self-driven and creative, rather than merely writing articles that my teacher assigned. To my surprise, my time on staff was worlds away from what I experienced in the journalism class. Although I was unaccustomed to working in a fast-paced environment and initially found it burdensome to research and complete high-quality stories in a relatively short amount of time, I also found it exciting. I enjoyed learning more about topics and events on campus that I did not know much about; some of my stories that I covered in my first semester concerned a chess tournament, a food drive, and a Spanish immersion party. I relished in the freedom I had to explore and learn, and to write more independently than I could in a classroom.

Although I enjoyed many aspects of working for the paper immediately, reporting also pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I am a shy person, and speaking with people I did not know intimidated me. During my first interview, I met with the basketball coach to prepare for a story about the team’s winning streak. As I approached his office, I felt everything from my toes to my tongue freeze into a solid block, and I could hardly get out my opening questions. Fortunately, the coach was very kind and helped me through the conversation. Encouraged, I prepared for my next interview with more confidence. After a few weeks of practice, I even started to look forward to interviewing people on campus. That first journalism class may have bored me, but even if journalism in practice was challenging, it was anything but tedious.

Over the course of that year, I grew to love writing for our school newspaper. Reporting made me aware of my surroundings, and made me want to know more about current events on campus and in the town where I grew up. By interacting with people all over campus, I came to understand the breadth of individuals and communities that make up my high school. I felt far more connected to diverse parts of my school through my work as a journalist, and I realized that journalism gave me a window into seeing beyond my own experiences. The style of news writing may be different from what I used to think “writing” meant, but I learned that I can still derive exciting plots from events that may have gone unnoticed if not for my stories. I no longer struggle to approach others, and truly enjoy getting to know people and recognizing their accomplishments through my writing. Becoming a writer may be a difficult path, but it is as rewarding as I hoped when I was young.

This essay is clearly structured in a manner that makes it flow very nicely and contributes to its success. It starts with a quote to draw in the reader and show this student’s life-long passion for writing. Then it addresses the challenges of facing new, unfamiliar territory and how this student overcame it. Finally, it concludes by reflecting on this eye-opening experience and a nod to their younger self from the introduction. Having a well-thought out and sequential structure with clear transitions makes it extremely easy for the reader to follow along and take away the main idea.

Another positive aspect of the essay is the use of strong and expressive language. Sentences like “ When I thought of writing, I imagined lyrical prose, profound poetry, and thrilling plot lines ” stand out because of the intentional use of words like “lyrical”, “profound”, and “thrilling” to convey the student’s love of writing. The author also uses an active voice to capture the readers’ attention and keep us engaged. They rely on their language and diction to reveal details to the reader, for instance saying “ I felt everything from my toes to my tongue freeze into a solid block ” to describe feeling nervous.

This essay is already very strong, so there isn’t much that needs to be changed. One thing that could take the essay from great to outstanding would be to throw in more quotes, internal dialogue, and sensory descriptors.

It would be nice to see the nerves they felt interviewing the coach by including dialogue like “ Um…I want to interview you about…uh…”.  They could have shown their original distaste for journalism by narrating the thoughts running through their head. The fast-paced environment of their newspaper could have come to life with descriptions about the clacking of keyboards and the whirl of people running around laying out articles.

Essay Example #5: Starting a Fire

Was I no longer the beloved daughter of nature, whisperer of trees? Knee-high rubber boots, camouflage, bug spray—I wore the garb and perfume of a proud wild woman, yet there I was, hunched over the pathetic pile of stubborn sticks, utterly stumped, on the verge of tears. As a child, I had considered myself a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free. I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms. Yet here I was, ten years later, incapable of performing the most fundamental outdoor task: I could not, for the life of me, start a fire. 

Furiously I rubbed the twigs together—rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers. No smoke. The twigs were too young, too sticky-green; I tossed them away with a shower of curses, and began tearing through the underbrush in search of a more flammable collection. My efforts were fruitless. Livid, I bit a rejected twig, determined to prove that the forest had spurned me, offering only young, wet bones that would never burn. But the wood cracked like carrots between my teeth—old, brittle, and bitter. Roaring and nursing my aching palms, I retreated to the tent, where I sulked and awaited the jeers of my family. 

Rattling their empty worm cans and reeking of fat fish, my brother and cousins swaggered into the campsite. Immediately, they noticed the minor stick massacre by the fire pit and called to me, their deep voices already sharp with contempt. 

“Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” they taunted. “Having some trouble?” They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame. 

In the tent, I pondered my failure. Was I so dainty? Was I that incapable? I thought of my hands, how calloused and capable they had been, how tender and smooth they had become. It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive. And I’d gotten glasses, having grown horrifically nearsighted; long nights of dim lighting and thick books had done this. I couldn’t remember the last time I had lain down on a hill, barefaced, and seen the stars without having to squint. Crawling along the edge of the tent, a spider confirmed my transformation—he disgusted me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to squash him. 

Yet, I realized I hadn’t really changed—I had only shifted perspective. I still eagerly explored new worlds, but through poems and prose rather than pastures and puddles. I’d grown to prefer the boom of a bass over that of a bullfrog, learned to coax a different kind of fire from wood, having developed a burn for writing rhymes and scrawling hypotheses. 

That night, I stayed up late with my journal and wrote about the spider I had decided not to kill. I had tolerated him just barely, only shrieking when he jumped—it helped to watch him decorate the corners of the tent with his delicate webs, knowing that he couldn’t start fires, either. When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.

This student is an excellent writer, which allows a simple story to be outstandingly compelling. The author articulates her points beautifully and creatively through her immense use of details and figurative language. Lines like “a rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees,” and “rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers,” create vivid images that draw the reader in. 

The flowery and descriptive prose also contributes to the nice juxtaposition between the old Clara and the new Clara. The latter half of the essay contrasts elements of nature with music and writing to demonstrate how natural these interests are for her now. This sentence perfectly encapsulates the contrast she is trying to build: “It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive.”

In addition to being well-written, this essay is thematically cohesive. It begins with the simple introduction “Fire!” and ends with the following image: “When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.” This full-circle approach leaves readers satisfied and impressed.

There is very little this essay should change, however one thing to be cautious about is having an essay that is overly-descriptive. We know from the essay that this student likes to read and write, and depending on other elements of her application, it might make total sense to have such a flowery and ornate writing style. However, your personal statement needs to reflect your voice as well as your personality. If you would never use language like this in conversation or your writing, don’t put it in your personal statement. Make sure there is a balance between eloquence and your personal voice.

Essay Example #6: Dedicating a Track

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite. 

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin. 

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

This essay effectively conveys this student’s compassion for others, initiative, and determination—all great qualities to exemplify in a personal statement!

Although they rely on telling us a lot of what happened up until the board meeting, the use of running a race (their passion) as a metaphor for public speaking provides a lot of insight into the fear that this student overcame to work towards something bigger than themself. Comparing a podium to the starting line, the audience to the track, and silence to the gunshot is a nice way of demonstrating this student’s passion for cross country running without making that the focus of the story.

The essay does a nice job of coming full circle at the end by explaining what the quote from the beginning meant to them after this experience. Without explicitly saying “ I now know that what Stark actually meant is…” they rely on the strength of their argument above to make it obvious to the reader what it means to get beat but not lose. 

One of the biggest areas of improvement in the intro, however, is how the essay tells us Stark’s impact rather than showing us: His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The writer could’ve helped us feel a stronger emotional connection to Stark if they had included examples of Stark’s qualities, rather than explicitly stating them. For example, they could’ve written something like: Stark was the kind of person who would give you gas money if you told him your parents couldn’t afford to pick you up from practice. And he actually did that—several times. At track meets, alumni regularly would come talk to him and tell him how he’d changed their lives. Before Stark, I was ambivalent about running and was on the JV team, but his encouragement motivated me to run longer and harder and eventually make varsity. Because of him, I approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

Essay Example #7: Body Image and Eating Disorders

I press the “discover” button on my Instagram app, hoping to find enticing pictures to satisfy my boredom. Scrolling through, I see funny videos and mouth-watering pictures of food. However, one image stops me immediately. A fit teenage girl with a “perfect body” relaxes in a bikini on a beach. Beneath it, I see a slew of flattering comments. I shake with disapproval over the image’s unrealistic quality. However, part of me still wants to have a body like hers so that others will make similar comments to me.

I would like to resolve a silent issue that harms many teenagers and adults: negative self image and low self-esteem in a world where social media shapes how people view each other. When people see the façades others wear to create an “ideal” image, they can develop poor thought patterns rooted in negative self-talk. The constant comparisons to “perfect” others make people feel small. In this new digital age, it is hard to distinguish authentic from artificial representations.

When I was 11, I developed anorexia nervosa. Though I was already thin, I wanted to be skinny like the models that I saw on the magazine covers on the grocery store stands. Little did I know that those models probably also suffered from disorders, and that photoshop erased their flaws. I preferred being underweight to being healthy. No matter how little I ate or how thin I was, I always thought that I was too fat. I became obsessed with the number on the scale and would try to eat the least that I could without my parents urging me to take more. Fortunately, I stopped engaging in anorexic behaviors before middle school. However, my underlying mental habits did not change. The images that had provoked my disorder in the first place were still a constant presence in my life.

By age 15, I was in recovery from anorexia, but suffered from depression. While I used to only compare myself to models, the growth of social media meant I also compared myself to my friends and acquaintances. I felt left out when I saw my friends’ excitement about lake trips they had taken without me. As I scrolled past endless photos of my flawless, thin classmates with hundreds of likes and affirming comments, I felt my jealousy spiral. I wanted to be admired and loved by other people too. However, I felt that I could never be enough. I began to hate the way that I looked, and felt nothing in my life was good enough. I wanted to be called “perfect” and “body goals,” so I tried to only post at certain times of day to maximize my “likes.” When that didn’t work, I started to feel too anxious to post anything at all.  

Body image insecurities and social media comparisons affect thousands of people – men, women, children, and adults – every day. I am lucky – after a few months of my destructive social media habits, I came across a video that pointed out the illusory nature of social media; many Instagram posts only show off good things while people hide their flaws. I began going to therapy, and recovered from my depression. To address the problem of self-image and social media, we can all focus on what matters on the inside and not what is on the surface. As an effort to become healthy internally, I started a club at my school to promote clean eating and radiating beauty from within. It has helped me grow in my confidence, and today I’m not afraid to show others my struggles by sharing my experience with eating disorders. Someday, I hope to make this club a national organization to help teenagers and adults across the country. I support the idea of body positivity and embracing difference, not “perfection.” After all, how can we be ourselves if we all look the same?

This essay covers the difficult topics of eating disorders and mental health. If you’re thinking about covering similar topics in your essay, we recommend reading our post Should You Talk About Mental Health in College Essays?

The short answer is that, yes, you can talk about mental health, but it can be risky. If you do go that route, it’s important to focus on what you learned from the experience.

The strength of this essay is the student’s vulnerability, in excerpts such as this: I wanted to be admired and loved by other people too. However, I felt that I could never be enough. I began to hate the way that I looked, and felt nothing in my life was good enough. I wanted to be called “perfect” and “body goals,” so I tried to only post at certain times of day to maximize my “likes.”

The student goes on to share how they recovered from their depression through an eye-opening video and therapy sessions, and they’re now helping others find their self-worth as well. It’s great that this essay looks towards the future and shares the writer’s goals of making their club a national organization; we can see their ambition and compassion.

The main weakness of this essay is that it doesn’t focus enough on their recovery process, which is arguably the most important part. They could’ve told us more about the video they watched or the process of starting their club and the interactions they’ve had with other members. Especially when sharing such a vulnerable topic, there should be vulnerability in the recovery process too. That way, the reader can fully appreciate all that this student has overcome.

Essay Example #8: Becoming a Coach

”Advanced females ages 13 to 14 please proceed to staging with your coaches at this time.” Skittering around the room, eyes wide and pleading, I frantically explained my situation to nearby coaches. The seconds ticked away in my head; every polite refusal increased my desperation.

Despair weighed me down. I sank to my knees as a stream of competitors, coaches, and officials flowed around me. My dojang had no coach, and the tournament rules prohibited me from competing without one.

Although I wanted to remain strong, doubts began to cloud my mind. I could not help wondering: what was the point of perfecting my skills if I would never even compete? The other members of my team, who had found coaches minutes earlier, attempted to comfort me, but I barely heard their words. They couldn’t understand my despair at being left on the outside, and I never wanted them to understand.

Since my first lesson 12 years ago, the members of my dojang have become family. I have watched them grow up, finding my own happiness in theirs. Together, we have honed our kicks, blocks, and strikes. We have pushed one another to aim higher and become better martial artists. Although my dojang had searched for a reliable coach for years, we had not found one. When we attended competitions in the past, my teammates and I had always gotten lucky and found a sympathetic coach. Now, I knew this practice was unsustainable. It would devastate me to see the other members of my dojang in my situation, unable to compete and losing hope as a result. My dojang needed a coach, and I decided it was up to me to find one.

I first approached the adults in the dojang – both instructors and members’ parents. However, these attempts only reacquainted me with polite refusals. Everyone I asked told me they couldn’t devote multiple weekends per year to competitions. I soon realized that I would have become the coach myself.

At first, the inner workings of tournaments were a mystery to me. To prepare myself for success as a coach, I spent the next year as an official and took coaching classes on the side. I learned everything from motivational strategies to technical, behind-the-scenes components of Taekwondo competitions. Though I emerged with new knowledge and confidence in my capabilities, others did not share this faith.

Parents threw me disbelieving looks when they learned that their children’s coach was only a child herself. My self-confidence was my armor, deflecting their surly glances. Every armor is penetrable, however, and as the relentless barrage of doubts pounded my resilience, it began to wear down. I grew unsure of my own abilities.

Despite the attack, I refused to give up. When I saw the shining eyes of the youngest students preparing for their first competition, I knew I couldn’t let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was. The knowledge that I could solve my dojang’s longtime problem motivated me to overcome my apprehension.

Now that my dojang flourishes at competitions, the attacks on me have weakened, but not ended. I may never win the approval of every parent; at times, I am still tormented by doubts, but I find solace in the fact that members of my dojang now only worry about competing to the best of their abilities.

Now, as I arrive at a tournament with my students, I close my eyes and remember the past. I visualize the frantic search for a coach and the chaos amongst my teammates as we competed with one another to find coaches before the staging calls for our respective divisions. I open my eyes to the exact opposite scene. Lacking a coach hurt my ability to compete, but I am proud to know that no member of my dojang will have to face that problem again.

This essay begins with an in-the-moment narrative that really illustrates the chaos of looking for a coach last-minute. We feel the writer’s emotions, particularly her dejectedness, at not being able to compete. Starting an essay in media res  is a great way to capture the attention of your readers and build anticipation for what comes next.

Through this essay, we can see how gutsy and determined the student is in deciding to become a coach themselves. She shows us these characteristics through their actions, rather than explicitly telling us: To prepare myself for success as a coach, I spent the next year as an official and took coaching classes on the side.  Also, by discussing the opposition she faced and how it affected her, the student is open and vulnerable about the reality of the situation.

The essay comes full circle as the author recalls the frantic situations in seeking out a coach, but this is no longer a concern for them and their team. Overall, this essay is extremely effective in painting this student as mature, bold, and compassionate.

The biggest thing this essay needs to work on is showing not telling. Throughout the essay, the student tells us that she “emerged with new knowledge and confidence,” she “grew unsure of her own abilities,” and she “refused to give up”. What we really want to know is what this looks like.

Instead of saying she “emerged with new knowledge and confidence” she should have shared how she taught a new move to a fellow team-member without hesitation. Rather than telling us she “grew unsure of her own abilities” she should have shown what that looked like by including her internal dialogue and rhetorical questions that ran through her mind. She could have demonstrated what “refusing to give up” looks like by explaining how she kept learning coaching techniques on her own, turned to a mentor for advice, or devised a plan to win over the trust of parents. 

Essay Example #9: Eritrea

No one knows where Eritrea is.

On the first day of school, for the past nine years, I would pensively stand in front of a class, a teacher, a stranger  waiting for the inevitable question: Where are you from?

I smile politely, my dimples accentuating my ambiguous features. “Eritrea,” I answer promptly and proudly. But I  am always prepared. Before their expression can deepen into confusion, ready to ask “where is that,” I elaborate,  perhaps with a fleeting hint of exasperation, “East Africa, near Ethiopia.”

Sometimes, I single out the key-shaped hermit nation on a map, stunning teachers who have “never had a student  from there!” Grinning, I resist the urge to remark, “You didn’t even know it existed until two minutes ago!”

Eritrea is to the East of Ethiopia, its arid coastline clutches the lucrative Red Sea. Battle scars litter the ancient  streets – the colonial Italian architecture lathered with bullet holes, the mosques mangled with mortar shells.  Originally part of the world’s first Christian kingdom, Eritrea passed through the hands of colonial Italy, Britain, and  Ethiopia for over a century, until a bloody thirty year war of Independence liberated us.

But these are facts that anyone can know with a quick Google search. These are facts that I have memorised and compounded, first from my Grandmother and now from pristine books  borrowed from the library.

No historical narrative, however, can adequately capture what Eritrea is.  No one knows the aroma of bushels of potatoes, tomatoes, and garlic – still covered in dirt – that leads you to the open-air market. No one knows the poignant scent of spices, arranged in orange piles reminiscent of compacted  dunes.  No one knows how to haggle stubborn herders for sheep and roosters for Christmas celebrations as deliberately as my mother. No one can replicate the perfect balance of spices in dorho and tsebhi as well as my grandmother,  her gnarly hands stirring the pot with ancient precision (chastising my clumsy knife work with the potatoes).  It’s impossible to learn when the injera is ready – the exact moment you have to lift the lid of the mogogo. Do it too  early (or too late) and the flatbread becomes mangled and gross. It is a sixth sense passed through matriarchal  lineages.

There are no sources that catalogue the scent of incense that wafts through the sunlit porch on St. Michael’s; no  films that can capture the luminescence of hundreds of flaming bonfires that fluoresce the sidewalks on Kudus  Yohannes, as excited children chant Ge’ez proverbs whose origin has been lost to time.  You cannot learn the familiarity of walking beneath the towering Gothic figure of the Enda Mariam Cathedral, the  crowds undulating to the ringing of the archaic bells.  I have memorized the sound of the rains hounding the metal roof during kiremti , the heat of the sun pounding  against the Toyota’s window as we sped down towards Ghinda , the opulent brilliance of the stars twinkling in a  sky untainted by light pollution, the scent of warm rolls of bani wafting through the streets at precisely 6 o’clock each day…

I fill my flimsy sketchbook with pictures from my memory. My hand remembers the shapes of the hibiscus drifting  in the wind, the outline of my grandmother (affectionately nicknamed a’abaye ) leaning over the garden, the bizarre architecture of the Fiat Tagliero .  I dice the vegetables with movements handed down from generations. My nose remembers the scent of frying garlic, the sourness of the warm tayta , the sharpness of the mit’mt’a …

This knowledge is intrinsic.  “I am Eritrean,” I repeat. “I am proud.”  Within me is an encyclopedia of history, culture, and idealism.

Eritrea is the coffee made from scratch, the spices drying in the sun, the priests and nuns. Eritrea is wise, filled with ambition, and unseen potential.  Eritrea isn’t a place, it’s an identity.

This is an exceptional essay that provides a window into this student’s culture that really makes their love for their country and heritage leap off the page. The sheer level of details and sensory descriptors this student is able to fit in this space makes the essay stand out. From the smells, to the traditions, sounds, and sights, the author encapsulates all the glory of Eritrea for the reader. 

The vivid images this student is able to create for the reader, whether it is having the tedious conversation with every teacher or cooking in their grandmother’s kitchen, transports us into the story and makes us feel like we are there in the moment with the student. This is a prime example of an essay that shows , not tells.

Besides the amazing imagery, the use of shorter paragraphs also contributes to how engaging this essay is. Employing this tactic helps break up the text to make it more readable and it isolates ideas so they stick out more than if they were enveloped in a large paragraph.

Overall, this is a really strong essay that brings to life this student’s heritage through its use of vivid imagery. This essay exemplifies what it means to show not tell in your writing, and it is a great example of how you can write an intimate personal statement without making yourself the primary focus of your essay. 

There is very little this essay should improve upon, but one thing the student might consider would be to inject more personal reflection into their response. Although we can clearly take away their deep love and passion for their homeland and culture, the essay would be a bit more personal if they included the emotions and feelings they associate with the various aspects of Eritrea. For example, the way their heart swells with pride when their grandmother praises their ability to cook a flatbread or the feeling of serenity when they hear the bells ring out from the cathedral. Including personal details as well as sensory ones would create a wonderful balance of imagery and reflection.

Essay Example #10: Journaling

Flipping past dozens of colorful entries in my journal, I arrive at the final blank sheet. I press my pen lightly to the page, barely scratching its surface to create a series of loops stringing together into sentences. Emotions spill out, and with their release, I feel lightness in my chest. The stream of thoughts slows as I reach the bottom of the page, and I gently close the cover of the worn book: another journal finished.

I add the journal to the stack of eleven books on my nightstand. Struck by the bittersweet sensation of closing a chapter of my life, I grab the notebook at the bottom of the pile to reminisce.

“I want to make a flying mushen to fly in space and your in it” – October 2008

Pulling back the cover of my first Tinkerbell-themed diary, the prompt “My Hopes and Dreams” captures my attention. Though “machine” is misspelled in my scribbled response, I see the beginnings of my past obsession with outer space. At the age of five, I tore through novels about the solar system, experimented with rockets built from plastic straws, and rented Space Shuttle films from Blockbuster to satisfy my curiosities. While I chased down answers to questions as limitless as the universe, I fell in love with learning. Eight journals later, the same relentless curiosity brought me to an airplane descending on San Francisco Bay.

“I wish I had infinite sunsets” – July 2019

I reach for the charcoal notepad near the top of the pile and open to the first page: my flight to the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes. While I was excited to explore bioengineering, anxiety twisted in my stomach as I imagined my destination, unsure of whether I could overcome my shyness and connect with others.

With each new conversation, the sweat on my palms became less noticeable, and I met students from 23 different countries. Many of the moments where I challenged myself socially revolved around the third story deck of the Jerry house. A strange medley of English, Arabic, and Mandarin filled the summer air as my friends and I gathered there every evening, and dialogues at sunset soon became moments of bliss. In our conversations about cultural differences, the possibility of an afterlife, and the plausibility of far-fetched conspiracy theories, I learned to voice my opinion. As I was introduced to different viewpoints, these moments challenged my understanding of the world around me. In my final entries from California, I find excitement to learn from others and increased confidence, a tool that would later allow me to impact my community.

“The beauty in a tower of cans” – June 2020

Returning my gaze to the stack of journals, I stretch to take the floral-patterned book sitting on top. I flip through, eventually finding the beginnings of the organization I created during the outbreak of COVID-19. Since then, Door-to-Door Deliveries has woven its way through my entries and into reality, allowing me to aid high-risk populations through free grocery delivery.

With the confidence I gained the summer before, I took action when seeing others in need rather than letting my shyness hold me back. I reached out to local churches and senior centers to spread word of our services and interacted with customers through our website and social media pages. To further expand our impact, we held two food drives, and I mustered the courage to ask for donations door-to-door. In a tower of canned donations, I saw the value of reaching out to help others and realized my own potential to impact the world around me.

I delicately close the journal in my hands, smiling softly as the memories reappear, one after another. Reaching under my bed, I pull out a fresh notebook and open to its first sheet. I lightly press my pen to the page, “And so begins the next chapter…”

The structuring of this essay makes it easy and enjoyable to read. The student effectively organizes their various life experiences around their tower of journals, which centers the reader and makes the different stories easy to follow. Additionally, the student engages quotes from their journals—and unique formatting of the quotes—to signal that they are moving in time and show us which memory we should follow them to.

Thematically, the student uses the idea of shyness to connect the different memories they draw out of their journals. As the student describes their experiences overcoming shyness at the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes and Door-to-Door Deliveries, this essay can be read as an Overcoming Obstacles essay.

At the end of this essay, readers are fully convinced that this student is dedicated (they have committed to journaling every day), thoughtful (journaling is a thoughtful process and, in the essay, the student reflects thoughtfully on the past), and motivated (they flew across the country for a summer program and started a business). These are definitely qualities admissions officers are looking for in applicants!

Although this essay is already exceptionally strong as it’s written, the first journal entry feels out of place compared to the other two entries that discuss the author’s shyness and determination. It works well for the essay to have an entry from when the student was younger to add some humor (with misspelled words) and nostalgia, but if the student had either connected the quote they chose to the idea of overcoming a fear present in the other two anecdotes or if they had picked a different quote all together related to their shyness, it would have made the entire essay feel more cohesive.

Where to Get Your Personal Statement Edited

Do you want feedback on your personal statement? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Next Step: Supplemental Essays

Essay Guides for Each School

How to Write a Stellar Extracurricular Activity College Essay

4 Tips for Writing a Diversity College Essay

How to Write the “Why This College” Essay

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Writing a Personal Statement

Preparing to Write

Brainstorming, don't forget, sample prompts.

A personal statement is a narrative essay that connects your background, experiences, and goals to the mission, requirements, and desired outcomes of the specific opportunity you are seeking. It is a critical component in the selection process, whether the essay is for a competitive internship, a graduate fellowship, or admittance to a graduate school program. It gives the selection committee the best opportunity to get to know you, how you think and make decisions, ways in which past experiences have been significant or formative, and how you envision your future. Personal statements can be varied in form; some are given a specific prompt, while others are less structured. However, in general a personal statement should answer the following questions:

• Who are you?
• What are your goals?
• How does this specific program/opportunity help you achieve your goals?
• What is in the future?

A personal statement is not:

• A variation of your college admissions essay
• An academic/research paper
• A narrative version of your resume
• A creative writing piece (it can be creative, though)
• An essay about somebody else

Keep in mind that your statement is only a portion of the application and should be written with this in mind. Your entire application package will include some, possibly all, of the materials listed below. You will want to consider what these pieces of the application communicate about you. Your personal statement should aim to tie everything together and fill in or address any gaps. There will likely be some overlap but be sure not to be too repetitive.

• Personal Statement(s)
• Transcripts
• Letters of recommendations
• Sample of written work
• Research proposal

Preparing to Write A large portion of your work towards completing a personal statement begins well before your first draft or even an outline. It is incredibly important to be sure you understand all of the rules and regulations around the statement. Things to consider before you begin writing:

• How many prompts? And what are they? It is important to know the basics so you can get your ideas in order. Some programs will require a general statement of interest and a focused supplementary or secondary statement closely aligned with the institution's goals.
• Are there formatting guidelines? Single or double spaced, margins, fonts, text sizes, etc. Our general guideline is to keep it simple.
• How do I submit my statement(s)? If uploading a document we highly suggest using a PDF as it will minimize the chances of accidental changes to formatting. Some programs may event ask you to copy and paste into a text box.
• When do I have to submit my statement(s)? Most are due at the time of application but some programs, especially medical schools, will ask for secondary statements a few months after you apply. In these instances be sure to complete them within two weeks, any longer is an indication that you aren't that interested in the institution.

Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on your experiences and motivations as they relate to the programs to which you are applying. This will offer you a chance to organize your thoughts which will make the writing process much easier. Below are a list of questions to help you get started:

• What individuals, experiences or events have shaped your interest in this particular field?
• What has influenced your decision to apply to graduate school?
• How does this field align with your interests, strengths, and values?
• What distinguishes you from other applicants?
• What would you bring to this program/profession?
• What has prepared you for graduate study in this field? Consider your classes at Wellesley, research and work experience, including internships, summer jobs and volunteer work.
• Why are you interested in this particular institution or degree program?
• How is this program distinct from others?
• What do you hope to gain?
• What is motivating you to seek an advanced degree now?
• Where do you see yourself headed and how will this degree program help you get there?

For those applying to Medical School, if you need a committee letter for your application and are using the Medical Professions Advisory Committee you have already done a lot of heavy lifting through the 2017-2018 Applicant Information Form . Even if you aren't using MPAC the applicant information form is a great place to start.

Another great place to start is through talking out your ideas. You have a number of options both on and off campus, such as: Career Education advisors and mentors ( you can set up an appointment here ), major advisor, family, friends. If you are applying to a graduate program it is especially important to talk with a faculty member in the field. Remember to take good notes so you can refer to them later.

When you begin writing keep in mind that your essay is one of many in the application pool. This is not to say you should exaggerate your experiences to “stand out” but that you should focus on clear, concise writing. Also keep in mind that the readers are considering you not just as a potential student but a future colleague. Be sure to show them examples and experiences which demonstrate you are ready to begin their program.

It is important to remember that your personal statement will take time and energy to complete, so plan accordingly. Every application and statement should be seen as different from one another, even if they are all the same type of program. Each institution may teach you the same material but their delivery or focus will be slightly different.

In addition, remember:

• Be yourself: You aren’t good at being someone else
• Tragedy is not a requirement, reflection and depth are
• Research the institution or organization
• Proofread, proofread, proofread
• How to have your personal statement reviewed

The prompts below are from actual applications to a several types of programs. As you will notice many of them are VERY general in nature. This is why it is so important to do your research and reflect on your motivations. Although the prompts are similar in nature the resulting statements would be very different depending on the discipline and type of program, as well as your particular background and reasons for wanting to pursue this graduate degree.

• This statement should illustrate your academic background and experiences and explain why you would excel in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (UMass Amherst - M.S. in Civil Engineering).
• Describe your academic and career objectives and how the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies can help you achieve them. Include other considerations that explain why you seek admissions to the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and your interests in the environmental field (Yale - Master of Environmental Management).  
• Please discuss your academic interests and goals. Include your current professional and research interests, as well as your long-range professional objectives. Please be as specific as possible about how your objectives can be met at Clark and do not exceed 800 words (Clark University - M.A. in International Development and Social Change).
• Write a 500- to 700-word statement that describes your work or research. Discuss how you came to focus on the medium, body of work, or academic area you wish to pursue at the graduate level. Also discuss future directions or goals for your work, and describe how the Master of Fine Arts in Studio (Printmedia) is particularly suited to your professional goals (School of the Art Institute of Chicago - MFA in Studio, Printmaking).
• Your statement should explain why you want to study economics at the graduate level. The statement is particularly important if there is something unusual about your background and preparation that you would like us to know about you (University of Texas at Austin - Ph.D in Economics).
• Your personal goal statement is an important part of the review process for our faculty members as they consider your application. They want to know about your background, work experience, plans for graduate study and professional career, qualifications that make you a strong candidate for the program, and any other relevant information (Indiana University Bloomington - M.S.Ed. in Secondary Education).
• Your autobiographical essay/personal statement is a narrative that outlines significant experiences in your life, including childhood experiences, study and work, your strengths and aspirations in the field of architecture, and why you want to come to the University of Oregon (University of Oregon - Master of Architecture).
• Personal history and diversity statement, in which you describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may refer to any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education (U.C. Davis - M.A. in Linguistics).
• A Personal Statement specifying your past experiences, reasons for applying, and your areas of interest. It should explain your intellectual and personal goals, why you are interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary degree rather than a more traditional disciplinary one, and how this degree fits into your intellectual and personal future (Rutgers University - Ph.D in Women’s and Gender Studies).
• Your application requires a written statement to uploaded into your application and is a critical component of your application for admission. This is your opportunity to tell us what excites you about the field of library and information science, and what problems you want to help solve in this field. Please also tell us how your prior experiences have prepared you for this next step toward your career goals and how this program will help you achieve them (University of North Carolina Chapel Hill - Master of Science in Library Science).
• After watching the video, please describe what strengths and preferences as a learner you have that will facilitate your success in this innovative curriculum. What challenges in our curriculum do you anticipate and what strategies might you use to address these challenges? (MGH Institute of Health Professions PT - They recently redesigned their curriculum)
• Your personal goal statement should briefly describe how you view the future of the field, what your goals are to be part of that future, and what brought you to pursue an advanced education degree in your chosen field. You may include any other information that you feel might be useful. (Northeastern PT)
• Personal Statement: In 500 words or less, describe a meaningful educational experience that affected your professional goals and growth and explain how it impacted you. The educational experience does not need to be related to this degree. Focus on the educational experience and not why you think you would be a good professional in this field. (Simmons PT)
• Personal Statement (500 word minimum): State your reasons for seeking admission to this program at this institution. Include your professional goals, why you want to pursue a career in this field and how admission to this program will assist you in accomplishing those goals. (Regis College Nursing)
• “Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to this type of program.” (AMCAS)
• Address the following three questions(Though there is no set limit, most statements are 1–2 pages, single-spaced.): What are your reasons for pursuing this degree? Why do you wish to pursue your degree at this institution? How do you intend to leverage your degree in a career of this field? (Boston University MPH)
• Please submit a personal statement/statement of purpose of no more than 500 words for the department/degree of choice. Professional degree essays require a clear understanding of the _______ field and how you hope to work within the field. Be sure to proofread your personal statement carefully for spelling and grammar. In your statement, be sure to address the following: what interests you in the field of _____ what interests you in a specific degree program and department at this institution and what interests you in a particular certificate (if applicable). Please also describe how you hope to use your ________ training to help you achieve your career goals. (Columbia PhD in Public Health - Epidemiology)
• Because each Home Program requires significant original research activities in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree, we are interested in obtaining as much information as possible about your previous research experiences. Those who already have such experience are in a better position to know whether they are truly interested in performing ______ research as part of a graduate program. Please include specific information about your research experience in your Statement of Purpose. You may also use the Statement to amplify your comments about your choice of Home Program(s), and how your past experiences and current interests are related to your choice. Personal Statements should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). Make sure to set your computer to Western European or other English-language setting. We cannot guarantee the ability to access your statement if it is submitted in other fonts. (Stanford Biosciences PhD)
• Your statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the Department of ____ at ___ University. It would be helpful to include what you have done to prepare for this degree program. Please describe your research interests, past research experience, future career plans and other details of your background and interests that will allow us to evaluate your ability to thrive in our program. If you have interests that align with a specific faculty member, you may state this in your application. Your statement of purpose should not exceed two pages in length (single spaced). (Stanford Bioengineering PhD)
• Statement of purpose (Up to one page or 1,000 words): Rather than a research proposal, you should provide a statement of purpose. Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at this institution and your relevant experience and education. Please provide an indication of the area of your proposed research and supervisor(s) in your statement. This will be assessed for the coherence of the statement; evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study; the ability to present a reasoned case in English; and commitment to the subject. (Oxford Inorganic Chemistry - DPhil)

Related resources

Interview Prep: crafting a compelling career change personal statement

Making a career change can be both exciting and challenging. Whether you're looking for a fresh start, pursuing your passion, or seeking new opportunities, the personal statement you present during an interview plays a crucial role in highlighting your motivations and qualifications for the new role. In this blog post, we will provide you with valuable tips and examples to help you ace the interview question,"Tell me about yourself," during a career change, and develop a career-change personal statement example.

Let’s begin with what an interviewer is looking for when you give a personal statement

An interviewer will typically ask a question like “tell me about yourself” at the beginning of an interview. Usually, candidates who have been working in their field a long time can answer this question with ease – for example, they got a software engineering internship in college, joined the company after graduation, and have been steadily receiving promotions in their career since.

But as a career switcher, your answer to this question won’t be as linear. You’ll need to come up with a framework on why you’re switching careers that the interviewer will find compelling and believable. If you don’t develop at least a few mental bullet points on a career-change personal statement example, you may find yourself grasping for ideas, or giving less than ideal answers, like “better pay and fewer hours.” Even if higher pay is a factor in your career change, it won’t be enough to sustain your interest in your new field over the long run, and your interviewer will need to know you have an interest in the work before making you any sort of offer.

It’s also wise to prepare for other variations of this question, like:

1.    "Walk me through your background."

2.    "Give me a brief overview of your professional experience."

3.    "Tell me your story."

4.    "Take me through your resume."

5.    “Tell me something that’s not on your resume.”

6.    "Describe your career trajectory."

7.    "Share a bit about yourself and your professional journey."

8.    "Explain how your background aligns with this position."

9.    "Help me understand your professional background and how you got here."

How to craft a career-change personal statement, with examples

Start with your current career and how you got started in that. Begin by introducing your current career and briefly discuss how you got involved in it. Highlight the skills and experiences you have gained so far, emphasizing any transferable skills that are relevant to the new role. This demonstrates your foundation and expertise in your current field.

Example:"Currently, I am working as a project manager in the IT industry. Over the past five years, I have successfully led multiple software development projects, honing my organizational and problem-solving skills.”

Next, explain how you became interested in your new career. Share the story of what sparked your interest in your new career path. This can include experiences, challenges, or encounters that inspired you to explore a different professional direction. Be genuine and show enthusiasm for the new field, highlighting any relevant skills or qualities you possess.

Example: "During my time as a project manager, I had the opportunity to collaborate closely with product design teams. I found myself drawn to their strategic thinking, creativity, and ability to understand and connect with audiences. Witnessing the impact of their work on our app, which helped keep our users interested and engaged, sparked a deep interest in pursuing a career in product design."

Discuss the steps you took to start your new career. Outline the proactive measures you have taken to transition into your desired field. This can include acquiring additional education, attending workshops or courses, gaining relevant certifications, or participating in volunteer work or side projects.Emphasize how these actions have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in the new role.

Example: "To prepare for a career in software engineering, I enrolled in an engineering bootcamp and attended industry conferences to stay updated with the latest trends. I also took on freelance engineering projects to gain hands-on experience and build a solid portfolio. These experiences have provided me with a strong foundation in coding basics."

Explain why you're applying for the specific role. Lastly, tie your personal statement to the position you're interviewing for. Showcase your understanding of the role's requirements and how your background, skills, and newfound passion make you an ideal candidate. Connect the dots between your career change and the potential value you can bring to the organization.

Example: "I would be excited about the opportunity to join your team as a product manager. The role perfectly aligns with my passion for creating compelling user journeys and leveraging data to drive meaningful impact. With my engineering background and newfound expertise in product, I am confident that I can contribute to the team's success in delivering engaging product features that resonate with the target audience."

Tips on what not to do when making a career-change personal statement

Once you craft your career-change personal statement example, you likely won't make any of the below mistakes the job-seekers sometimes make when answering this question. But just in case, we recommend the following: 

Don't give an answer about wanting to change careers for money, or receiving more vacation, or another lifestyle factor. Look - aspiring to earn more money, or live a lifestyle that's more in line with your work-life balance, is great! But interviewers will want to hear that you're interested in their company or their role because of the work and because you're excited about it - not because of a personal factor.

Avoid making your answer overly personal. While it's important to show authenticity, refrain from sharing overly personal details or unrelated anecdotes. Keep the focus on your professional journey and how it aligns with the new career path.

Don't give too long or too short of an answer. Strike a balance between being concise and providing enough relevant information. Avoid rambling or giving an overly brief response that fails to convey your motivations and qualifications for the career change.

Don't feel awkward about wanting to switch careers - it's common! Remember that practice makes perfect and practicing this question with a friend or even alone will help you gain more confidence in your answer and avoid any long silences or awkward moments.

Career switchers – what’s been some of your best advice when giving career-change personal statement examples?

‍ Want more interview prep? Check out our posts on: 

Interview prep for Founding Engineers

How to answer the interview question, what do you bring to the company

How to talk about your long-term career goals

For other interview tips, check out our other posts on interviewing on the blog.  

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By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 18 August 2023 | 22 min read

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Stand out from the crowd: here's how to write a good personal statement that will get you noticed

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Your personal statement forms a core part of your university application, and the sooner you get going, the better you can make it. You may think that your personal statement won’t matter as much to unis as your grades and experience but a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grades. Sure, your application might not reach that deal breaker stage. But is it something you want to leave to chance?  Here we’ll take you through the process of planning, writing and checking a good personal statement, so you end up with something you can submit with confidence. And to make sure the advice we're giving you is sound, we’ve spoken to admissions staff at loads of UK universities to get their view. Look out for video interviews and advice on applying for specific subjects throughout this piece or watch our personal statement playlist on YouTube .

• Are you looking for personal statement examples? Check our library of hundreds of real personal statements, on The Student Room

Personal statement deadlines

You'll need to make sure you've got your personal statement written well in advance of your application deadline. Below are the main university application deadline dates for 2024 entry.

2024 entry deadlines

16 October 2023: Deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities, along with most medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses.   31 January 2024: Deadline for applications to the majority of undergraduate courses. After this date, universities will start allocating places on these courses –   but you can still apply after the 31 January deadline , as this article explains . 30 June 2024:  Students who apply after this date will be entered into Clearing .

• Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a central part of your Ucas application, where you explain why you’ve chosen a particular course and why you’ll be good at it. It's your chance to stand out against other candidates and hopefully get that all-important offer. You only write one personal statement which is then read by each university you apply to, so if you are applying for more than one subject (or it's a combined course) it's crucial that you include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects. Personal statements are especially important if you’re trying to get on a very competitive course, where you need to do anything you can to stand out to admissions tutors. Courteney Sheppard, senior customer experience manager at Ucas, advises that your personal statement is "the only part of the application that you have direct control over. Do lots of research to demonstrate your passion, curiosity and drive to pursue your chosen subject." There’s a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. This may appear generous (read: long) but once you've got going you may find yourself having to edit heavily.

• Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

1. Plan what you want to cover

The first thing you need to do is make a plan. Writing a personal statement off the top of your head is difficult. Start by making some notes, answering the following questions:

• What do you want to study?
• Why do you want to study it?
• What is there about you that shows you’re suited to studying this subject at university? Think about your personality, as well as your experiences.
• What are your other interests and skills?

These few points are going to form the spine of your personal statement, so write them in a way that makes sense to you. You might want to make a simple bulleted list or you might want to get all arty and use a mindmap. Whatever you choose, your aim is the same. You want to get it clear in your own head why a university should offer you a place on its course. Getting those details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. You might try carrying a notebook with you or set up a memo on your phone. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down. Inspiration sometimes comes more easily when you’re thinking about something else entirely. It might help to take a look at The Student Room for some sample personal statements by university and sample personal statements by subjects , to give you an idea of the kind of thing you want to include. 

• Read more: personal statement FAQs

2. Show off your experience

Some things are worth adding to your personal statement, some things are not. Firmly in the second camp are your qualifications. You don’t need to mention these as there’s a whole other section of your personal statement where you get to detail them very precisely. Don’t waste a single character going on about how great your GCSE grades are – it’s not what the admissions tutor wants to read. What they do want to see is: what have you done? OK, so you’ve got some good grades, but so do a lot of other applicants. What have you done that’s different, that shows you off as someone who really loves the subject you’re applying for? Spend some time thinking about all the experience you have in that subject. If you’re lucky, this might be direct work experience. That’s going to be particularly appropriate if you’re applying for one of the more vocational subjects such as medicine or journalism . But uni staff realise getting plum work experience placements is easier for some people than others, so cast your net wider when you’re thinking about what you’ve done. How about after-school clubs? Debating societies? Are you running a blog or vlog? What key skills and experience have you picked up elsewhere (eg from hobbies) that could be tied in with your course choice? Remember, you’re looking for experience that shows why you want to study your chosen subject. You’re not just writing an essay about what you're doing in your A-level syllabus. Use this checklist as a guide for what to include:

• Your interest in the course. Why do you want to spend three years studying this subject at university?
• What have you done outside school or college that demonstrates this interest? Think about things like fairs/exhibitions, public lectures or voluntary work that is relevant to your subject.
• Relevant work experience (essential for the likes of medicine, not required for non-vocational courses such as English )
• Skills and qualities required for that career if appropriate (medicine, nursing and law as obvious examples)
• Interest in your current studies – what particular topics have made an impression on you?
• Any other interests/hobbies/experiences you wish to mention that are relevant either to the subject or 'going to uni'. Don't just list your hobbies, you need to be very selective and state clearly what difference doing these things has made to you.
• Plans for a gap year if you’re deferring entry.

Read more: 6 steps you need to take to apply to university

3. Be bold about your achievements

Don't be bashful about your achievements; that’s not going to help you get into uni. It's time to unleash your inner Muhammed Ali and get all “I am the greatest” with your writing. Do keep it focused and accurate. Do keep your language professional. But don’t hide your qualities beneath a layer of false modesty. Your personal statement is a sell – you are selling yourself as a brilliant student and you need to show the reader why that is true. This doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and if you’re finding it difficult to write about how great you are it’s time to enlist some help. Round up a friend or two, a family member, a teacher, whoever and get them to write down your qualities. Getting someone else’s view here can help you get some perspective. Don’t be shy. You are selling your skills, your experience and your enthusiasm – make sure they all leap off the screen with the way you have described them.

• Read more: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement  

4. How to start your personal statement

Type your personal statement in a cloud-based word processing program, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word and don’t copy and paste it into Ucas Hub until it’s finished.  One of the benefits of doing it this way is that you can run spell check easily. (Please note, though, that Word adds "curly" quotation marks and other characters (like é or ü) that won't show up on your Ucas form, so do proofread it on Ucas Hub before submitting it to ensure it is how you typed it.)  Another big benefit is that you'll always have a backup of what you've written. If you're being super careful, you could always save your statement in another place as well. Bear in mind that extra spaces (eg adding spaces to the beginnings of paragraphs as indentation) are removed on Ucas. In your first sentence, cut to the chase. Why do you want to do the course? Don’t waste any time rambling on about the daydreams you had when you were five. Just be clear and concise – describe in one line why this course is so important to you. Then, in the rest of your intro, go into more detail in demonstrating your enthusiasm for the course and explaining how you decided this is what you want to do for the next three or more years. However you choose to start your statement, just avoid the following hoary old chestnuts. These have been some of the most used lines in personal statements over the years – they are beyond cliche, so don’t even think about it.

• From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
• For as long as I can remember, I have…
• I am applying for this course because… 
• I have always been interested in… 
• Throughout my life I have always enjoyed… 
• Reflecting on my educational experiences… 
• [Subject] is a very challenging and demanding [career/profession/course]… 
• Academically, I have always been… 
• I have always wanted to pursue a career in… 
• I have always been passionate about…   

5. Focus your writing on why you've chosen that subject

So you’ve got your intro done – time to nail the rest of it. Bear in mind that you’ve got to be a little bit careful when following a personal statement template. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying someone else’s style, and in the process lose all of your own voice and personality from your writing. But there is a rough order that you can follow, which should help keep you in your flow. After your opening paragraph or two, get into any work experience (if you’ve got it). Talk about extracurriculars: anything you've done which is relevant to the subject can go here – hobbies, interests, volunteering. Touch on your career aspirations – where do you want this course to take you? Next, show your enthusiasm for your current studies. Cite some specific examples of current work that you enjoyed. Show off your relevant skills and qualities by explaining how you’ve used these in the past. Make sure you’re giving real-world examples here, not just vague assertions like “I’m really organised and motivated”. Try to use examples that are relevant.   Follow this up with something about you as a person. Talk about non-academic stuff that you like to do, but link it in some way with the course, or with how it shows your maturity for dealing with uni life. Round it all off by bringing your main points together, including a final emphasis of your commitment to studying this particular course.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement in an evening  

6. How long should a personal statement be?

You've got to work to a very specific limit when writing your personal statement. In theory you could use up to 4,000 characters – but you’re probably more likely to be limited by the line count. That's because it's a good idea to put line breaks in between your paragraphs (to make it more readable) and you only get a maximum of 47 lines. With this in mind, 3,500 characters is a more realistic limit. But when you’re getting started you should ignore these limits completely. At first, you just want to get down everything that you feel is important. You'll probably end up with something that is far too long, but that's fine. This is where you get to do some polishing and pruning. Keep the focus of your piece on the course you’re applying for, why you want to do it and why you’re perfectly suited to it. Look through what you’ve written so far – have you got the balance right? Chop out anything that goes on a bit, as you want each point to be snappy and succinct.

• Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements  

7. Keep it simple

8. Smart ways to end your personal statement

Writing a closing line that you’re happy with can feel as tricky as coming up with your opener. What you’re looking for here is a sign-off that is bold and memorable. The final couple of sentences in your statement give you the opportunity to emphasise all the good stuff you’ve already covered. Use this space to leave the reader in no doubt as to what an excellent addition you would be to their university. Pull together all your key points and – most importantly – address the central question that your personal statement should answer: why should you get a place on the course?

• Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang  

9. Make sure your personal statement has no mistakes

Now you’ve got a personal statement you’re happy with, you need to make sure there are no mistakes. Check it, check it a second time, then check it again. Once you’ve done that, get someone else to check it, too. You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you send through a personal statement with spelling and/or grammatical errors. You’ve got months to put this together so there really is no excuse for sending through something that looks like a rush job. Ask your teachers to look at it, and be prepared to accept their feedback without getting defensive. They will have seen many personal statements before; use what they tell you to make yours even better. You’ve also got another chance here to look through the content of your personal statement, so you can make sure the balance is right. Make sure your focus is very clearly on the subject you are applying for and why you want to study it. Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or social media where anyone can see it. You will get picked up by the Ucas plagiarism checker. Similarly, don't copy any that you find online. Instead, now is a good time to make your parents feel useful. Read your personal statement out to them and get them to give you feedback. Or try printing it out and mixing it up with a few others (you can find sample personal statements on The Student Room). Get them to read them all and then try to pick yours out. If they can't, perhaps there's not enough of your personality in there.  

10. Don't think about your personal statement for a whole week

If you followed the advice at the very start of this guide, you’ve started your personal statement early. Good job! There are months before you need to submit it. Use one of these weeks to forget about your personal statement completely. Get on with other things – anything you like. Just don’t go near your statement. Give it a whole week and then open up the document again and read through it with fresh eyes. You’ll gain a whole new perspective on what you’ve written and will be well placed to make more changes, if needed.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say  

10 steps to your ideal personal statement

In summary, here are the ten steps you should follow to create the perfect personal statement.  

Personal statement dos and don'ts

• Remember that your personal statement is your personal statement, not an article written about your intended field of study. It should tell the reader about you, not about the subject.
• Only put in things that you’re prepared to talk about at the interviews.
• Give convincing reasons for why you want to study the course – more than just "enjoying the subject" (this should be a given).
• For very competitive courses, find out as much as you can about the nature of the course and try to make your personal statement relevant to this.
• Be reflective. If you make a point like 'I like reading', 'I travelled abroad', say what you got from it.
• Go through the whole thing checking your grammar and your spelling. Do this at least twice. It doesn’t matter if you’re not applying to an essay-based course – a personal statement riddled with spelling mistakes is just going to irritate the reader, which is the last thing you want to do. If this is something you find difficult then have someone look over it for you.
• Leave blank lines between your paragraphs. It’s easier for the reader to get through your personal statement when it’s broken into easily digestible chunks. Remember that they’re going to be reading a lot of these! Make yours easy to get through.
• Get someone else's opinion on your statement. Read it out to family or friends. Share it with your teacher. Look for feedback wherever you can find it, then act upon it.
• Don’t write it like a letter. Kicking off with a greeting such as "Dear Sir/Madam" not only looks weird, it also wastes precious space.
• Don’t make jokes. This is simply not the time – save them for your first night in the union.
• Don’t criticise your current school or college or try to blame teachers for any disappointing grades you might have got.
• Be afraid of details – if you want your PS to be personal to you that means explaining exactly which bits of work or topics or activities you've taken part in/enjoyed. It's much more compelling to read about one or two detailed examples than a paragraph that brushes over five or six.
• Just list what you're doing now. You should pull out the experiences that are relevant to the courses which you're applying to.
• Mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated by you or what you learnt from them. Anyone can write "I have great leadership skills" in a PS, actually using a sentence to explain when you demonstrated good leadership skills is much rarer and more valuable.
• Refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs (or equivalent).
• Give explanations about medical or mental health problems. These should be explained in your reference, not your PS.
• Apply for too many different courses, making it difficult to write a convincing personal statement which supports the application.
• Write a statement specific to just one institution, unless you're only applying to that one choice.
• Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else! This means do not plagiarise. All statements are automatically checked for plagiarism by Ucas. Those that are highlighted by the computer system are checked manually by Ucas staff. If you’re found to have plagiarised parts of your statement, the universities you apply to will be informed and it could jeopardise your applications.
• Use ChatGPT or another AI program to write your personal statement for you. Or, if you do, make sure you thoroughly edit and personalise the text so it's truly yours. Otherwise you're very much at risk of the plagiarism point above.

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Home » Career Advice » Professional Development » How to Write a Personal Statement for a University

How to Write a Personal Statement for a University

Last Updated on June 19, 2024 by Career Reload

When it comes to applying for university, your personal statement carries immense weight. It’s not just another piece of paperwork; it’s your chance to shine. It’s your opportunity to tell your story. It serves as a window into your personality, your dreams, and your potential contributions to the university community. Think of it as your chance to introduce yourself beyond the numbers and transcripts.

Your personal statement plays an important role in setting you apart from other applicants. It’s where you have the chance to showcase what makes you unique. Admissions officers sift through countless applications, and a well-crafted personal statement can make yours stand out in a sea of submissions. So, it’s essential to understand the purpose behind it and use it to your advantage.

In this guide, we’ll look into the ins and outs of crafting a compelling personal statement for a university that will catch the eye of admissions officers.

Preparing to Write

Before you start drafting your personal statement, it’s essential to lay down some groundwork. This involves several key steps that will help you shape your narrative effectively. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start, enlisting a professional personal statement writer can be a wise investment.

Researching the Target Universities

Begin by researching the universities you’re applying to and understanding their specific requirements for personal statements. Each institution may have different expectations or prompts, so take the time to familiarize yourself with what they’re looking for. Pay attention to any guidelines regarding length, format, or specific topics they want you to address.

Reflecting on Personal Experiences

Next, take some time for self-reflection. Think about your personal experiences, interests, and goals. Consider the moments in your life that have shaped you, challenges you’ve overcome, or achievements you’re proud of. Reflecting on these aspects will help you identify what sets you apart and what you want to convey to the admissions committee.

Identifying Key Themes and Messages

As you reflect on your experiences, start identifying key themes or messages you want to convey in your personal statement. What values or qualities do you possess that you want to highlight? What are your academic or career goals, and how do they align with the program you’re applying to? By pinpointing these themes early on, you can ensure that your personal statement has a clear focus and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Structuring the Personal Statement

Now that you’ve done the groundwork, it’s time to structure your personal statement effectively. This involves organizing your thoughts and experiences in a way that captivates the reader and leaves a lasting impression.

Introduction

Your introduction sets the stage for the rest of your personal statement. It should grab the reader’s attention from the get-go. Consider starting with a compelling anecdote, quote, or question that relates to your journey. Then, succinctly state the purpose of your personal statement and why you’re passionate about applying to the specific program or university.

The body of your personal statement is where you delve into the details of your experiences, achievements, and aspirations. It’s essential to organize this section coherently to maintain the reader’s interest. Consider structuring it chronologically, thematically, or by importance, depending on what makes the most sense for your story.

Within the body, provide evidence and examples to support your claims and aspirations. Don’t just list your achievements; explain their significance and how they’ve shaped your academic and personal growth. Show enthusiasm for your chosen course of study and demonstrate why you’re a suitable candidate for the program. Use specific examples and anecdotes to bring your story to life and make it memorable.

Personal Statement Conclusion

In your conclusion, tie everything together by summarizing the key points you’ve discussed in your personal statement. Reiterate your interest in the program and why you believe you’re a strong candidate. Leave the reader with a memorable closing statement that reinforces your passion, drive, and suitability for the program. This final impression is what will linger in the minds of admissions officers long after they’ve finished reading your personal statement.

Writing Tips and Strategies

Crafting a standout personal statement requires more than just structuring it well. Here are some essential tips and strategies to ensure your writing shines and effectively communicates your story and aspirations.

Showcasing Individuality and Authenticity

Your personal statement is your chance to showcase what makes you unique. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through in your writing. Share personal anecdotes , insights, and perspectives that illustrate who you are and what drives you. Admissions officers are looking for authenticity, so be genuine and true to yourself in your writing.

Using Clear, Concise Language and Avoiding Clichés

When writing your personal statement, aim for clarity and conciseness. Use simple, straightforward language to convey your message effectively. Avoid using overly complex vocabulary or convoluted sentences that might confuse the reader. Additionally, steer clear of clichés and generic phrases that don’t add depth to your narrative. Instead, focus on expressing your ideas in a fresh and engaging manner.

Seeking Feedback from Teachers, Mentors, or Peers

Before finalizing your personal statement, seek feedback from trusted individuals such as teachers, mentors , or peers. They can offer valuable insights and suggestions to help strengthen your writing. Consider their feedback carefully and be open to making revisions based on their input. Fresh eyes can often catch mistakes or areas for improvement that you might have overlooked.

Proofreading for Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation Errors

Finally, don’t forget to proofread your personal statement carefully before submitting it. Look out for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that could detract from the professionalism of your writing. Reading your statement aloud or asking someone else to review it can help you catch any lingering mistakes. A polished and error-free personal statement demonstrates your attention to detail and commitment to presenting yourself in the best possible light.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to fall into traps that can weaken your personal statement. Here are some common pitfalls to steer clear of as you craft your narrative.

Being Overly Generic or Vague

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is being overly generic or vague in your personal statement. Avoid using generic phrases or clichés that don’t offer any insight into who you are as a person. Instead, be specific and concrete in your descriptions, using vivid details and examples to bring your experiences to life. This will help make your personal statement more memorable and engaging for the reader.

Focusing Too Much on Achievements Without Reflecting on Their Significance

While it’s essential to highlight your achievements and accomplishments, it’s equally important to reflect on their significance. Don’t just list your achievements without providing context or explaining how they’ve shaped your goals and aspirations. Admissions officers are interested in the story behind the achievements, so take the time to reflect on what they mean to you and how they’ve influenced your journey.

Using Clichés or Overly Formal Language

Another common mistake is using clichés or overly formal language in your personal statement. Avoid relying on tired phrases or expressions that don’t add anything meaningful to your narrative. Instead, strive for authenticity and originality in your writing. Use language that feels natural and reflects your personality rather than trying to sound overly polished or formal.

Exceeding the Word Limit or Ignoring Formatting Guidelines

Finally, be mindful of the word limit and formatting guidelines provided by the university. Exceeding the word limit or ignoring formatting requirements can make your personal statement appear sloppy or unprofessional. Take the time to carefully review the instructions and make sure your personal statement adheres to them. Pay attention to details such as font size, spacing, and margins to ensure your document looks polished and well-presented. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure that your personal statement is strong and compelling and effectively communicates your story and aspirations.

Final Thoughts

Crafting a strong personal statement requires time, effort, and careful consideration. By following the guidance provided in this article and staying true to yourself, you can create a personal statement that effectively communicates your unique strengths and aspirations, ultimately increasing your chances of success in the university application process .

Sara has been in the career development field for over 10 years and has a wealth of knowledge to share. She covers topics such as resume writing, job search strategies, interview techniques, career planning, and more. You can connect with her on LinkedIn . She has curated our free downloadable resume templates for Word  and  resume templates for Google Docs .

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45 Strong Career Change Statement Examples

By Status.net Editorial Team on February 7, 2024 — 13 minutes to read

Crafting a strong career change statement is important because it serves as your introduction to potential employers. The statement conveys your motivations, relevant strengths, and commitment to transitioning into a new field. Given the competitiveness of job markets, clearly expressing your intent can set you apart.

• Clarity: Your statement illuminates the purpose behind your career shift, offering a clear narrative that explains the ‘why’ behind the change. It guides employers through your journey, linking past experiences to future aspirations.
• First Impression: As the opening of your resume or cover letter, it gives employers a first glimpse of who you are beyond a list of skills and job titles, creating a compelling and relatable image of your professional self.
• Transitioning Skills: Here, you highlight transferable skills. You may not have direct experience in the new field, but your statement can draw attention to how your existing skills apply to the new role.

Related: How To Change Careers (Steps and Examples)

Crafting Your Career Change Statement

Preparing to present your career change to prospective employers means reflecting on your past experiences, pinpointing your strong suits, and conveying your new career direction clearly.

Self-Assessment and Reflection

To start, ask yourself why you want to make this change and what you hope to achieve. Are you seeking greater job fulfillment, a new challenge, or alignment with personal values? For example, you might realize that your extensive experience in project management has sparked a passion for organizational development, signaling a change from IT to human resources.

Identify Your Transferable Skills

Your next step is to list the skills you’ve acquired that are relevant to your new field. You might be surprised to find how many skills are transferable. For instance, if you’re moving from education to corporate training, your curriculum development skills and public speaking experience could be your ticket in.

Articulating Your Value Proposition

Finally, you’re ready to articulate your value proposition. What unique combination of skills, experiences, and personal attributes will you bring to your new career field? You’ll want to be specific. Say you’re moving from sales to marketing; you can highlight your deep understanding of customer needs and experience in persuasion to show you’re well equipped for crafting compelling marketing strategies.

When you’re ready to leap into a new career, your statement should reflect a clear commitment to the new path and the skills you bring to the table. Here’s how you might articulate your transition:

• “After a decade of honing my project management skills in the construction industry, I’m excited to apply my expertise in a tech startup environment. I believe my background in leading diverse teams and managing budgets makes me a unique fit for this dynamic sector.”
• “As a former educator, I’m passionate about making a tangible difference in the world of health and wellness. My experience in curriculum design and mastery of communication will enable me to effectively promote health education.”
• “My extensive background in sales has equipped me with the negotiation, customer service, and strategic thinking skills necessary to thrive in a nonprofit fundraising role.”
• If you’re coming from a creative field: “I’ve spent the past five years as a graphic designer, where I’ve developed a keen eye for aesthetics and user experience. I’m eager to transfer these skills to the world of web development, where I can create visually appealing and user-friendly websites.”
• “Drawing on my previous career in hospitality, where I excelled at customer satisfaction and operations management, I am transitioning to a career in real estate to combine my people skills with my passion for the property market.”

Your career change statement should show your enthusiasm for your new path and how your previous experiences have prepared you for this transition. Be authentic, demonstrate your transferable skills, and you’ll make a compelling case for why you’re the perfect candidate for a career change.

Examples of Strong Career Change Statements

• 1. Skilled carpenter seeking to leverage my attention to detail and craftsmanship in a new role as a building inspector.
• 2. Accomplished educator transitioning to corporate training, bringing a wealth of experience in curriculum development and instructional design.
• 3. As a seasoned journalist, I am now seeking to apply my strong research and storytelling skills in a public relations role.
• 4. Transitioning from a career in law enforcement to private security, offering a strong background in risk assessment and crisis management.
• 5. After years as a professional chef, I am ready to apply my expertise in time management and creative problem-solving to the event planning industry.
• 6. Former military officer now pursuing a career in project management, bringing leadership, discipline, and a proven track record of managing complex operations.
• 7. IT professional transitioning to a career in cybersecurity, armed with a solid foundation in network infrastructure and a commitment to data protection.
• 8. As a bank manager moving into financial consulting, I bring extensive experience in client relationship management and strategic planning.
• 9. Dedicated teacher looking to shift into educational technology, offering a unique perspective on integrating digital tools into traditional learning environments.
• 10. Seasoned sales professional pivoting to a career in marketing, eager to apply my persuasive communication skills and customer insight to brand strategy.
• 11. Licensed nurse transitioning to healthcare administration, armed with hands-on patient care experience and a strong understanding of healthcare systems.
• 12. Eager to leverage my decade of experience in customer service to thrive in the human resources field, bringing exceptional interpersonal skills and a passion for employee development.
• 13. With a background in retail management, I am now targeting a career in supply chain logistics, bringing a keen understanding of inventory control and distribution.
• 14. Accomplished graphic designer transitioning to user experience design, offering a strong aesthetic sense and a user-centered approach to product development.
• 15. As an experienced accountant, I am seeking to apply my analytical skills and financial expertise in the field of financial planning.
• 16. Transitioning from a successful career in advertising to digital marketing, bringing a blend of creative thinking and data-driven strategy.
• 17. Former professional athlete looking to bring my dedication, teamwork, and leadership skills to a coaching or athletic administration role.
• 18. Skilled mechanic transitioning to automotive sales, where I can combine my technical knowledge with my passion for customer service.
• 19. As a biologist transitioning to environmental policy, I bring a scientific background and a commitment to sustainable development.
• 20. Moving from the hospitality industry to real estate, ready to provide exceptional client service and apply my expertise in property management.
• 21. Transitioning from the performing arts to arts administration, bringing a deep understanding of the creative process and organizational skills.
• 22. As a seasoned event planner, I am pursuing a career in non-profit program coordination, offering expertise in logistics and community engagement.
• 23. With a background in aerospace engineering, I am now targeting opportunities in renewable energy, bringing a passion for innovation and sustainability.
• 24. Transitioning from veterinary medicine to animal welfare advocacy, ready to leverage my medical knowledge and compassion for animals in a new way.
• 25. Experienced in the world of publishing, I am now seeking to apply my editorial skills and content management experience in the digital media space.
• 26. Skilled in commercial diving, I am seeking to transition into marine conservation, offering a unique skill set and a dedication to environmental stewardship.
• 27. Moving from the finance sector to non-profit fundraising, ready to apply my analytical abilities and relationship-building skills to support meaningful causes.
• 28. As a professional translator, I am now aiming to utilize my language skills and cultural competency in the field of international relations.
• 29. Former police detective transitioning to corporate security, offering investigative skills and a keen eye for detail.
• 30. With a background in pharmacy, I am now seeking to contribute my expertise in medication management and patient counseling to a clinical research coordinator role.
• 31. Transitioning from a career as a pilot to aerospace engineering, bringing a practical understanding of aircraft operation and a passion for technological advancement.
• 32. Professional musician seeking to apply my creativity and performance experience in the field of music therapy.
• 33. As a seasoned entrepreneur, I am now looking to leverage my experience in business development and strategic planning in a corporate innovation role.
• 34. Transitioning from a career in mining to environmental engineering, bringing a strong foundation in geology and a commitment to sustainable resource management.
• 35. Former professional dancer moving into dance education, eager to inspire the next generation with my passion and knowledge of the art form.
• 36. With a background in film production, I am now targeting a career in digital content creation, bringing storytelling expertise and technical skills.
• 37. As an experienced sommelier, I am transitioning to a career in wine sales, offering in-depth knowledge of wine and a proven ability to connect with clients.
• 38. Moving from the legal field to compliance, ready to apply my understanding of regulations and ethical standards to help organizations navigate complex legal landscapes.
• 39. Transitioning from the world of professional gaming to software development, bringing a user’s perspective and a passion for technology.
• 40. Experienced in the travel industry, I am now seeking to apply my planning and customer service skills in the field of corporate event coordination.
• 41. As a commercial pilot transitioning to aviation safety, I bring a commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of industry regulations.
• 42. Skilled electrician seeking to transition into electrical engineering, offering practical experience and a drive to expand my technical knowledge.
• 43. Transitioning from the fitness industry to physical therapy, eager to apply my knowledge of human anatomy and my passion for helping others achieve their wellness goals.
• 44. With a background in professional sports management, I am now aiming to leverage my negotiation skills and strategic thinking in a career in talent representation.
• 45. Experienced in the world of fine arts, I am now seeking to apply my curatorial skills and artistic insight to a career in art therapy.

Tailoring Your Statement to Different Industries

When changing careers, your statement should resonate with the specific industry you’re targeting. Experts emphasize the importance of customizing your career change statement to reflect an understanding of industry requirements and how your unique set of skills will benefit potential employers. For example:

Tech Sector Focus

In the tech industry, you need to demonstrate an aptitude for continuous learning and adaptability. For instance, if you’re coming from a non-tech background, highlight your problem-solving skills and any coding or software development experience you’ve gained, even if it’s through self-guided learning or courses. You should also emphasize your ability to work in agile environments and your passion for tech trends.

Healthcare Industry Adaptation

Transitioning into healthcare, you should convey a deep respect for patient care and medical ethics. If your previous work wasn’t healthcare-related, discuss your experiences with regulatory compliance or handling sensitive information. Your statement could mention volunteer work that illustrates your commitment to helping others and teamwork within a high-stakes setting.

Educational Transition Strategies

If education is your goal, focus on your skills in mentorship, knowledge dissemination, and curriculum development, even if your experience in these areas comes from outside a traditional classroom setting. An example might be managing a team and training new employees, which shows leadership and the ability to educate.

Finance and Banking Nuances

Entering the finance sector requires you to speak to your analytical skills and attention to detail. If you’ve managed budgets in previous roles or have experience with forecasting and reporting, these are vital to mention.

Dos and Don’ts in Career Change Statements

• You should focus on the strengths and skills you can bring to the new field. For example, if you’ve been in retail but are moving to sales, emphasize your customer communication and relationship-building expertise.
• Avoid drawing attention to experience you lack. Instead, you want to ensure your statement remains positive and forward-looking.
• Convey genuine interest and excitement about the industry you’re entering. You could say, “I’m eager to apply my problem-solving skills within the innovative tech sector.”
• It might be tempting to use industry-specific terms to fit in, but if you’re not comfortable with the lingo, it can come off as inauthentic. Stick to language you understand well.
• Your career change statement should include a brief explanation of why you’re making the shift. This could be a desire for new challenges, alignment with personal values, or interest in personal growth within the new field.
• It’s important to keep your statement positive. Any negativity about previous workplaces can be seen as unprofessional.

Overcoming Common Challenges

When you’re navigating a career change, you might face a few hurdles along the way. Understanding these challenges can help you tackle them head-on.

• Skills translation can be tricky. You have valuable skills from your previous experience, but it’s important to show how they apply to your new field. For example, if you’re moving from teaching to corporate training, highlight your communication skills and your ability to engage an audience.
• Another common issue is networking. You need to build a new professional network that aligns with your chosen industry. Start by attending industry events and connecting with professionals on LinkedIn to gradually foster relationships in your new field.
• Experience gaps can seem daunting. If you lack direct experience, consider volunteering or internships. These opportunities offer hands-on experience and sometimes lead to full-time positions.
• Lastly, dealing with resume gaps can be a concern. Use a functional resume format to focus on your skills rather than chronological work history, ensuring that you’re seen as a capable candidate despite any breaks in employment. Related: Confidently Explain Employment Gaps on Your Resume (Examples)

Measuring the Effectiveness of Your Statement

To establish how well your career change statement resonates, begin by assessing feedback from your network. If peers, mentors, or professionals in your desired industry understand your motivations and support your direction after reading your statement, that is a positive indicator.

Following are some measures to consider:

• Clarity: Your statement should make it obvious why you’re shifting careers. Use concrete examples like increased enthusiasm for the new field or sharper skills that align with the new role.
• Goals Alignment: Verify that your statement aligns with your long-term professional objectives. For instance, if you’re moving into marketing, highlight your passion for creative communication and strategy development.
• Persuasiveness: Does your statement convince readers that the change is a sound, well-thought-out decision? You could mention any preparatory steps you’ve taken, such as courses or volunteer work, that bolster your commitment.
• Authentic Voice: Ensure your statement sounds like you . This means reflecting your personality and values in the text.
• Brevity: Keep your statement concise but impactful. Aim for a brief overview that encapsulates your drive without wandering off-topic.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you craft a compelling personal statement when shifting careers.

Creating a compelling personal statement for a career change means focusing on your enthusiasm for the new field, your readiness to learn, and how your previous experiences have equipped you with a unique perspective. Illustrate this with specific examples from your past that align with the skills and capabilities valued in the new industry.

What should be included in a resume summary for those transitioning to a new industry?

Your resume summary should include your years of relevant experience, key skills, major achievements, and your career objective. It might read, “Experienced marketing strategist with over 10 years in the business sector looking to apply strategic analysis and communication skills in the non-profit space.”

How can I effectively highlight my transferable skills in a career change resume objective?

You should weave your transferable skills into your resume objective by connecting them directly to the requirements of the job. For example, “Customer service expert eager to leverage extensive conflict resolution and communication skills in a human resources role.”

What are the elements of a strong resume for individuals with no experience in their new field?

Your resume should spotlight your transferable skills, any relevant volunteer or project work, and your adaptability and eagerness to learn. Emphasize your capacity to quickly assimilate new information and environments.

What strategies can be used to feature transitional experience in a career change resume?

When showcasing transitional experience, focus on achievements and projects that demonstrate applicable skills and a capacity to take on new challenges. For example, if you’ve led a team, highlight your leadership and collaboration skills, tailored to the new role you’re pursuing.

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• Mature Student Personal Statements
• Personal Statements By University
• Personal Statement Editing Service
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• Submit Your Personal Statement
• Personal Statement Questions 2025
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Mature Student Personal Statement Examples

What is a mature student personal statement?

A mature student personal statement for university should describe your motivations for wanting to study a particular subject at university. It tells the admissions tutors who you are and why you will make a great candidate on their course. Whether you're applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate course, it's crucial you present yourself in the best possible light to convince the university you will be a valuable asset to their department.

As a mature student, you are likely to have the advantage of  more experience than those who have just left school or college, so don't be put off from applying!

How do I write a mature student personal statement?

We recommend you start your mature student personal statement by jotting down some notes about your skills, experience, hobbies/extracurricular activities, strengths and ambitions for the future.

As mentioned earlier, you probably have more experience to draw on than students that have just completed their A-levels (or similar qualifications).

However, it's important to only include life experience that is relevant to your degree - remember that your statement needs to stay focussed, and not become overwhelmed with too much detail. Our personal statement template can help you structure your thoughts into coherent and concise paragraphs.

Many mature students like to open their personal statement with why they became interested in their chosen subject, and their motivations for wanting to pursue a degree in it.

However, this doesn't mean you have to do the same - just try to make the first sentence or two interesting enough that the admissions tutors want to read on.

Start drafting your statement early and give yourself plenty of time to revise and improveyour statement, and proofread it for spelling and grammar. You will need to go through at least three or four revisions before you have a final, polished draft.

Once you're happy with it, make sure you check it for spelling and grammar (don't just rely on Spellchecker for this). Get someone else to read through it if you're worried you might miss something. You can then think about pasting it into your UCAS form, ready to submit.

What should I include in my mature student personal statement?

To write a successful personal statement as a mature student, we recommend:

• Talk about why you want to go to university now (rather than earlier, when you left school/college). Perhaps this had always been your plan, but if you can put your decision into context, then it helps the admissions tutors get a better idea of who you are and your motivations.
• Show universities evidence of recent formal study you have undertaken. This can include anything from an Access to HE course or NVQ, to job training courses or a Diploma. This shows that you're committed to academic achievements and are ready for the next step.
• Write about your wider reading, hobbies/interests, work experience and anything else that demonstrates a degree in your chosen subject is the next logical step in your career plan. Make sure you do your homework and know what's involved in this - tutors want to see you have done your research.
• Be specific and try to give examples of your skills, such as analytical, communication, research, team work, IT, and problem solving, all of which are important in a degree.
• Tailor your statement if you’re applying for a joint honours, e.g. business and computing, so you relate it to both of these subjects.
• Include any relevant work experience. For example, a law personal statement might mention a role of responsibility, such as leader of your student debating society school or head boy/girl at your sixth form. Or for an economics and finance personal statement, you could mention managing money or a budget at one of your jobs, and what you learned from it.
• Any hobbies or other activities you are involved in, either at school/college or later on, should always be linked to your degree programme. If you don't feel something is relevant, then don't mention it - remember you only have a limited space of 4,000 characters, so every word has to earn its place.
• Round off your statement by talking about your ambitions and where you hope your degree will take you in the future. However, be aware that this might involve juggling various other commitments such as childcare or a part-time job, so make sure the tutors know you are aware of these addeded pressures.
• Remember to be honest throughout your statement, and make it personal. This means using your own voice and being transparent about your reasons for wanting to studying for a degree (it doesn't always have to be for a career change - maybe you just want to excel in this subject for your own personal development).

For more help and advice on what to write in your mature student personal statement, please see:

• Personal Statement Editing Services
• Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
• Analysis Of A Personal Statement
• The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
• Personal Statement FAQs
• Personal Statement Timeline
• 10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
• What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.

Where can I find out more information about going to university as a mature student?

There are lots of great resources out there with in-depth advice on applying to university as a mature student. These include:

• Studential Mature Student Guide
• UCAS Mature undergraduate students
• UCAS Undergraduate For Mature Students
• The Complete University Guide for Mature Students
• UCAS Mature Students' Guide

Related resources

Personal statement writing tips.

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Career Center > Resumes & Interviews > Personal Statements

Tips for Writing a Personal Statement

Graduate schools often require a written statement—often called a “statement of purpose,” “personal statement” or “letter of intent”—as a part of the application. Some require fairly specific information. Others are unstructured, leaving the applicant free to address a wide range of topics. Usually the purpose is to persuade the admissions committee that you are a distinctive applicant who should be selected.

Make sure everything you include supports the overall purpose of the statement, and remember the audience as you draft it. Your readers are professionals in their field, and they are assessing you for fit, distinctions, self-awareness and quality in order to make their decision.

What to write in your personal statement

Some programs provide questions or guidance to help you structure your statement. Analyze them. Answer the prompts fully and thoughtfully. Usually graduate and professional schools are interested in the following topics, although the form of the question(s) and answers may vary.

Your professional and academic purpose in graduate study Include the big issues and questions you are interested in tackling, and how you intend to apply your graduate study in terms of your future career or other professional goals. You can demonstrate knowledge about the program by referring to faculty, curriculum or other program details.

Your area of specialization Why are you drawn to this area and how does this program align with your interests and goals? Learn about your area of interest in detail so that you are able to state your preferences using area-specific language, and be sure it aligns with the program’s faculty and curriculum.

How you’re uniquely prepared and qualified Correlate your academic credentials and your extracurricular experience with program criteria to show how they combine to make you a special candidate. Present yourself as a distinct candidate based on your background, interests, goals or passions. Many programs value diversity, so this is also a great place to highlight your background or diverse perspectives.

Why this program? Why now? Your statement should convince the committee that this is your top choice of any program. Research the school and describe its special appeal to you. Demonstrate that you know what is involved academically, and that your goals align with the details of the program. Also, make it clear why now is the right time for you to begin this study.

Tell them who you are as a person Remember, your readers know nothing about you. Give them a strong sense of who you are as a person. Relate your application to personal experience or passion. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that you will be an active and generous member of the learning community.

From the Career Library

• Writing a Personal Statement ​

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The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories:

1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:

This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.

2. The response to very specific questions:

Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions.

Questions to ask yourself before you write:

• What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
• What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
• When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
• How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
• If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
• What are your career goals?
• Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?
• Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?
• What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
• What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
• Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school—and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
• What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

General advice

Answer the questions that are asked

• If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar.
• Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked.

Tell a story

• Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.

Be specific

• Don't, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, or whatever should be logical, the result of specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.

Find an angle

• If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.

Concentrate on your opening paragraph

• The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.

Tell what you know

• The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Too many people graduate with little or no knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the profession or field they hope to enter. Be as specific as you can in relating what you know about the field and use the language professionals use in conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other source of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited to it. Since you will have to select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your judgment.

Don't include some subjects

• There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).

Do some research, if needed

• If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.

Write well and correctly

• Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.

Avoid clichés

• A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.

For more information on writing a personal statement, see the personal statement vidcast .

• Mature students: five things to include in your personal statement

Mature students

• Financial challenges as a mature student
• Mature students – getting ready to start your course
• Mature student case studies
• The application process for mature students
• Student finance for mature students
• Preparing for study as a mature student – student support
• Preparing for study as a mature student – your qualifications
• Preparing for study as a mature student – choosing where to study

As a mature student, your personal statement will still cover the same basic things as any personal statement: evidence of your interest in, understanding of, and enthusiasm for the chosen subject.

You may also have a lot more life history to fit into your statement than the average school leaver. So, think carefully about which aspects of your past experiences best suit the course and type of university you want to apply to. 

If you’re ready to begin your personal statement , read our top tips on what every applicant should include. 

Rob Evans – Head Of Admissions, University Of Sussex

Five things to include in your personal statement, 1. answer the question ‘why now…’.

Explain why you've decided to change direction and apply to university at this point in your life. Makes some notes to reflect on things like why you didn't choose to go to university immediately after school or college, or why studying later was part of your plan. Think too about how you have changed and developed. Whatever your reasons for studying now, you’ll need to explain those in your statement.

2. Demonstrate your personal progression

Tell them why it makes sense for you to study now. Why is a degree the logical next step for you? You could talk about:

• your work experience
• training courses
• interests and hobbies
• your general reading

And say how you would make further progress through your studies.

If your primary goal is to train for a new career, show you’re aware of the specific challenges of that career, and that you ’ ve researched it before you apply.

Browse our subject guides to sign up for subject-specific statement tips, and more.

3. Talk about your life and work experience

This is where you have the advantage as a mature student.

Student Recruitment Officer at the University of Liverpool, Louise Carr, says:

Mature students will have much richer life experience they can bring, and that doesn’t necessarily need to be work experience, but also life experience. If they can say why it’s relevant for the course, that’s also helpful.

Try and relate any jobs and hobbies you mention to the course you want to study – even if that’s in relation to transferable skills like time management or communication skills.

4. Show you understand the time commitments of degree study

Any evidence of formal study helps to show the admissions tutor you're capable of studying and learning. Mention night school, Access to HE courses or on-the-job courses in your statement, even if they’re in a non-relevant field.

Student Recruitment Officer Louise Carr says:

Whether it’s a free course or a seminar or webinar they’ve attended, all those experiences can be drawn upon and used as examples to show they have the initiative to find out more about their subject of interest.

Juggling other responsibilities such as family, childcare, part-time work or travel can put extra pressure on mature students, so also show you understand the commitments of studying for a full or part-time degree.

5. Keep your statement story honest – and personal

You might have fewer tangible reasons for applying to university as a mature applicant than simply training for a new career.

65 year old Peter White is a retired programmer who decided to fulfil another ambition and apply for a fine arts degree. Pete successfully wrote a very personal statement about his journey that included his career, personal interests, the development of his painting and drawing, the constraints of his family circumstances, and his reasons for applying.

Don’t be afraid to tell the truth about you and your story.

Ready to get cracking? Read five things everyone should include in their statement here.

Ana Ghaffari Moghaddam – Third Year Law student and careers coach, University of Liverpool

• Do address why you want to study at this stage in your life.
• Do talk about your life and experiences so far, in relation to what you want to study.
• Do show you understand the commitment required to study for a degree.
• Don't underestimate everything you have achieved so far – most of it is relevant.
• Don’t forget to ask your friends and family what they think your strengths are.
• Don’t leave it until the last minute – take your time to think about all your past experiences.

Final thought

Director of Admissions at the University of Stirling, Shona Barrie, concludes:

Mature students will have much richer life experience they can bring.

These experiences can really make you stand out from other applicants, so highlight those transferable skills in your personal statement and be proud of what you’ve done so far in your life.

Louise Carr at the University of Liverpool adds:

Mature students are usually great students because they have drive. They’ve made a dedicated choice to perhaps make a change in their career or their life to go to university.

So, what are you waiting for?

Need more advice?

• Register for your UCAS Hub to get started with your personal statement using the Personal Statement builder
• Dos and Don’ts of personal statements
• Difference between an undergraduate and a postgraduate statement
• Advice for students with alternative arrangements

UCAS scans all personal statements with the Copycatch system, to compare them with previous statements.

Any similarity greater than 30% will be flagged and action could be taken against you. 

Find out more

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Key to Writing Better Career Change Personal Statements

Table of Contents

A  career change personal statement  outlines an individual’s reasons for wanting to transition from their current career into a new one. It typically includes details of the person’s skills, qualifications, and relevant experience that would make them suitable for the desired role. 

In addition to summarizing an applicant’s credentials, it should also explain their interest in switching and how it aligns with their professional aspirations.

The Importance of a Career Change Personal Statement

A  career change personal statement  is essential in a cross-career job application because it helps quell a recruiter’s doubts regarding qualifications. Career shifters are typically disadvantaged because of the initial perceived lack of experience. Moreover, you’ll also need to contend with the presumption that you’re shifting careers because things didn’t work out.

This is particularly true among applicants with few transferable skills or experience. The main point of a career change statement is to showcase your value and also your willingness to excel in the new field.

The most crucial function of a personal statement is to help recruiters understand and appreciate your unique experience and skill set . It’s a way for applicants to provide meaningful evidence of their transferable skills, knowledge, and achievements.

Not all recruiters will immediately see the value of your transferable skills. There are many times applicants will have to point them out.

A more significant change of career statement can elucidate to a reader how your cross-career skills can benefit your success in your new role. The following section describes how best to write them.

Writing a Change of Career Statement

Use Vivid Language

Anecdotes rely heavily on imagery. Therefore, it’s only perfect sense that you use strong descriptors to share your story. Painting a vivid picture will attract and grasp your reader’s attention, keeping them invested until the end.

Explain Your Decision to Shift Careers

Explaining your career shift will give recruiters insight into your decision and clarify any questions they might have. Nobody just shifts careers on a whim. Quelling this point of curiosity can set a strong background for you. Make sure to demonstrate how your career shift aligns with your long-term goals.

Include Concrete Evidence

Use concrete experiences to showcase your ability. Even when you may not have experience in your new career, try to research key skills. Use this information to show how you were able to use key skills in your previous role or company. Focus on transferable skills.

Use Your Emotions

A powerful letter can sway hearts and minds. We can say the same for expressive personal statements . The point of leveraging emotion is that people are more likely to remember their feelings during an experience. If your personal statement evokes their emotions, they are more likely to remember you.

Use a Broad Vocabulary

A broad vocabulary is essential because it helps keep your sentences fresh and unique. A repetitive personal statement is the quickest way to bore your reader. Moreover, expansive vocabularies give off the impression that you are intelligent and communicative.

The best part is the simplicity of using this tip. You need only use a thesaurus to find other and better words to represent your ideas.

Career Change Personal Statement Examples

After a decade of working as an engineer, I have realized that my true passion lies in teaching. As such, I am eager to transition from engineering and devote myself to helping others learn and grow through education. I can utilize my experience in technology to enhance learning opportunities. With this, I possess the requisite patience, empathy, and enthusiasm to thrive as an educator. 

Having worked in my current field for over a decade, I have gained extensive experience and knowledge. Although it has been an immensely gratifying journey to hone my expertise, I now feel the urge to pursue something new. I am well-versed in the challenges that lay ahead, yet, I look forward to facing them with enthusiasm and ambition. 

Throughout my professional life, I have remained passionate about problem-solving and creative collaboration. I consistently seek out unique opportunities to bolster my capabilities and test myself. Shifting into a different field will be stimulating and allow me to expand on my existing skill set. 

I am confident that my multidisciplinary outlook will allow me to quickly become proficient in any vocation. Being self-motivated, tenacious, and having a penchant for innovating solutions, I can meaningfully contribute to any organization or team. 

By embracing novel approaches and drawing from tangible and intangible resources, I thrive in dynamic work environments that foster growth. Most importantly, I’m invigorated by obstacles making them stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks.

After spending nearly a decade as a highly successful software engineer, I have decided to pursue a career shift into the finance sector. My years of coding and programming experience have equipped me with a plethora of technical understanding I can use in this new industry. 

My familiarity with complex data analysis and problem-solving will enable me to quickly become an invaluable asset to any financial services company. Furthermore, my familiarity with stochastic processes and high-level mathematics proves that I am uniquely qualified for success. 

I understand that transitioning into finance may not come without its challenges. Yet, having the capacity to exercise nimble adaptability is a salient reminder I am more than capable of overcoming any hurdles. 

I am poised to make an immediate impact on any organization willing to take me on.

Personal statements are essential in applications because they give recruiters a clear idea of your values and character . They are also an opportunity to create a good impression. If you want to stand out from the applicant pool despite shifting careers, this is the way.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Personal Statement for Career Change

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What is a personal statement, and why do you need one when looking for a job? A job search personal statement is a type of paper where you can share why you’re interested in a position and why you’re a good fit. In your statement, you can get a little personal. Our essay writing service uses it as an opportunity to share details and insights about yourself, and forge a connection with potential employers. Here are some recommendations on how to write a successful personal statement that will help your job search.

Change of Career Personal Statement Basics

A personal statement can be included in your resume or CV. Much like an in-person elevator speech or the summary section in an abstract, a resume personal statement highlights your goals and abilities. Since a resume can span several pages, this allows you to present details to see in the document. You will want to write a few sentences for a personal statement in a resume.

Or, you may need to write a personal statement as part of a job application. This allows hiring managers to separate candidates applying for each job in a category (e.g., Apply for a “Production Manager” position) from more motivated candidates who are interested in the company.

Write a career change personal statement text that matches the word count requested by the application; if not, aim for 250-500 words. No matter where it appears, your goal in a personal statement is the same: try to connect your background and goals with the job at hand.

What You Should Include in Personal Statement for Career Change

In your personal statement for career change, you need to make a connection between you and the position. Think of it as a three-part process:

Share some details about yourself. Who are you? You can say things like “highly experienced production manager” or “recent graduate with honors.”

Highlight your most relevant experience and talents and share what you will bring to the company. Think: “strong, fast writer able to design advertising copy that engages and delights.” or “In my years as a project manager, I’ve never dropped a detail, won international awards for best team player. My projects come out on time and meet requested specifications.”

Provide a little information about your career goals. For example, “Seeking a position as a copywriter”; “Wanting to be placed in a mid-sized company as an audit supervisor” or “Seeking a production assistant position to develop my TV skills and testing.”

While this is called a personal statement, avoid oversharing. Only include information that is relevant to the job at hand. That’s if you’re applying for a job as an accountant, no need to mention your goal of becoming a staff writer in a magazine. Remember, the main purpose of your personal statement for a career change is to further your job search.

Tips for Writing a Job Search Personal Statement

Your change of career personal statement should always be personalized. It’s a mistake to reuse the same personal statement for every job you apply for. You don’t need to write a personal statement every time. Just make adjustments to reflect the company’s needs and the qualities requested in the job description.

Here are some other tips that our personal statement writing service follows:

• Know your audience. Target your personal statement to a specific position and company. Spend some time researching the company to get an idea of what they are looking for in a candidate. Decode the job description to understand the company’s needs in a candidate. Take notes on where your qualifications fit the position.
• Make some lists. What have you done that employers should know? Make a list of your accomplishments (and keep in mind that while splashy rewards are important, so is reorganizing a chaotic system that allows everyone in the family to make the experience friendly). Brainstorm a list of your talents as well as your soft, communication, and general skills.
• Go long on your first draft, then cut it. Hopefully your time spent thinking about the needs of the business and what you have to offer has given you plenty of fodder to start writing your personal statement. At this point, don’t worry about length; write as much as you want. Then, go back and edit-get a few sentences for a resume and about 250-500 words in an application. Cut out unnecessary words and clichés that add no meaning. Instead, use action verbs. While it’s fine to write in the first person, avoid using the “I” word.
• Make it focused. You have many skills and interests and work experience. What you want to emphasize in one position is not necessarily what you want to emphasize in another. If you are both a writer and an editor, choose which talent to name in your personal statement and make it the most relevant to the position you are seeking.
• Ask people who don’t know you to review your personal statement and comment (at least 5 people). This is not a matter of taking everyone’s comments into account. This is your personal statement and should reflect what you want to say, but it’s always helpful to get advice from people with different backgrounds, writing styles, etc.

Career Change Personal Statement Example

You can use any career change personal statement example below:

I am a seasoned accountant with X and X certifications and over 10 years of experience in large companies. Supervisory audits and a department. My positive attitude and detail-oriented mindset help make month-end financial recaps run smoothly without inaccuracies or miscalculations. Looking for a leadership role in my next aspiration.

Recent college graduate with freelance writing experience in major print magazines as well as online outlets and the college newspaper. A strong writer who consistently meets deadlines and matches the tone and voice of the company. Seeking a personal editor position and am eager to learn the magazine business from scratch.

I am an award-winning designer in children’s apparel looking to transition into the adult sports year. At Company X, I developed a new line for toddlers and traveled to Asia to oversee production. I am a quick learner and look forward to a new challenge in the growing field of athleisure.

Career Break Personal Statement Example

There might also appear a need for you to write a statement concerning your taking a long break from your work. It might be connected to your personal challenges like having a kid or being obliged to take care of your mental health. Regardless, you need the plan to go back into action, as your HR might not want to take in someone with a huge gap. This is not the end of the world, as you can still masterfully write a proper statement that highlights your positive moments, that motivates them to accept you in the team.

Start with picking the prominent roles that you’ve had experience with before. The important piece of advice here is not to get discouraged. Don’t think that you are worthless only because you took a break for a year or two. Show your confidence, insisting that past events led you to have lots of experience with a particular sphere. It’s always best to find the required documents that can confirm this experience, showing your acknowledgements properly. It’s essential to be exact with your dates, indicating that it’s true. Interestingly enough, you can include information on any kind of job, including volunteering. The only thing that matters is that it has to be connected with the position you are aiming for, especially if this is a recent activity.

Stating Your Positive Moments

In this career break personal statement example you can create two separate sections, stating your unique abilities and what you’ve attained throughout your career. You can find 100 reasons to be the most useful worker. It should be something that you enjoy about yourself. It can be a situation when you’ve helped your boss with cost-effective plans. Then you can go for the second section, stating the abilities that helped you overcome those obstacles, stating that you are more than ready to prove your worth. You can also talk more about your training and certificates that led you to be a decent worker.

It’s also worth reconsidering your strategy on explaining the gaps in your resume. First, try to show that your reason for leaving your previous position is a respectable one. You can refer to your family situation as a noble cause, but it is not always granted to work. Instead, try to pose it as a time you took for personal enrichment, seeking more experience for the sake of increasing your chances to succeed in a particular career. Also, you should remove smaller gaps in your CV. If you worked somewhere for a couple of months, then it doesn’t grant you a huge advantage. Instead, it shows your weakness, proving that you didn’t last there for long. HR might be scared of the possibility of you leaving within a month, as they need individuals who are ready to work there for years, so mind that.

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Personal Statement Examples

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Personal statement examples

The personal statement on your CV is your chance to shine. It allows you to show off your strengths, shout about your achievements and share your career aspirations with the hiring manager. However, ensure that you don’t fill this valuable space with clutter and boring business speak, as you’ll end up sounding like everyone else.

Before you get started we recommend that you take some time to read up on what a personal statement is and  how to write the perfect personal statement . Below we have provided personal statement examples to fit a range of scenarios to help inspire you, and to ensure you’re on your way to a winning personal statement.

Career Break Personal Statement

There are endless reasons to take a career break, whether this is parental leave, travel or long-term illness. We understand that it can be difficult to know how to address a career break on your CV, however, the biggest mistake you can make is by not addressing it at all – leaving an unexplained gap on your CV is a big no.

When structuring your personal statement answer the key questions of who you are, what you can offer this company and why this chosen career path. We recommend that you reference your career break in this section – however, don’t take up too much space here – address this in further detail in your cover letter. Instead, use your personal statement to focus upon your successful career before your time off.

“ A highly experienced and passionate (insert role), currently seeking to resume my professional career after dedicating the last X years to raising a family. After working for 10 years as a (insert role) I have gained excellent skills, knowledge and experience within this industry. To refresh my skill set I have completed an (online course/training/work experience), and I am now one hundred percent committed to continuing my career on a full time basis.”

Career Change Personal Statement

If you’ve decided to change career you’ll need a personal statement that sells your transferable skills that are applicable to the new industry and role. A career change can be extremely daunting, therefore it is important to ensure that you sell your key skills, enthusiasm and reason for a career change within your personal statement.

“ An enthusiastic professional individual who is seeking a new challenging career after many years of being in (X profession). I am a hardworking individual who strives to achieve the best in all areas, and I am always eager to learn new skills and advance my career. As this is a huge career change I have completed a training course (enter course or work experience that has introduced you to new career), and I am keen to build upon my knowledge and continue to learn within this sector. As a self motivated individual, I am keen to follow my dream within this new industry of becoming (new career/job role)."

School Leaver Personal Statement Example

It’s extremely important that your personal statement is tailored to the situation and role. In 50 to 150 words you need to tell the hiring manager – why you want this role, why this industry, what skills make you the best for the role, and what your career aspirations are.

If you’re a school leaver composing a personal statement you may be stuck when it comes to achievements from previous employment. Instead of attempting to relate your after school job to your new career, we recommend that you put emphasis on the skills you’ve developed throughout your education and school life.

“Enthusiastic school leaver with five GCSEs looking for an apprenticeship in the engineering field. Possessing good written and verbal communication and an interest in engineering which has spanned my lifetime with a particular passion for electrics. For my GCSE Design & Technology project, I built a working calculator and was awarded an A*. Looking for a start in the exciting world of electrical engineering where I can learn a trade and realise a lifetime ambition.”

Graduate Personal Statement Example

A graduate personal statement is similar to a school leaver personal statement, as the focus will be more on education instead of employment history. Ensure that your graduate personal statement places extra emphasis on your higher education, and skills learnt at university.

As a graduate applying for a role it is key that your personal statement catches the recruiter’s eye quickly. Your personal statement will need to allow them to easily identify your education and transferable skills as a successful applicant.

“ As a recent graduate from X University, with a 2:1 honours degree in X, I have undertaken internships at the industry leading organisations X and X. These internships have allowed me to develop my knowledge of the industry and gain hands on experience, as well as furthering my transferable skill set in this exciting sector. My career goal is to gain a role which allows me to further my knowledge and skills, as well as increased responsibility at a market-leading and innovative company. ”

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Related links

• How to Make Your Personal Statement Pop
• How to Write a CV with No Experience
• How Easy is it to Get a Graduate Job?

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Graduate Personal Statement Essay Ideas - Career Change

I am changing careers from accounting to communication sciences and disorders. I am currently taking the required prerequisite courses and ready to apply for graduate school.

Can anyone give me ideas on what I should write in my personal statement?

I only have a background in working in Accounting and due to COVID19 I am not able to shadow a SLP to gain experience.

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FACT SHEET: President   Biden Announces New Actions to Keep Families   Together

Since his first day in office, President Biden has called on Congress to secure our border and address our broken immigration system. As Congressional Republicans have continued to put partisan politics ahead of national security – twice voting against the toughest and fairest set of reforms in decades – the President and his Administration have taken actions to secure the border, including:

• Implementing executive actions to bar migrants who cross our Southern border unlawfully from receiving asylum when encounters are high;
• Deploying record numbers of law enforcement personnel, infrastructure, and technology to the Southern border;
• Seizing record amounts of fentanyl at our ports of entry;
• Revoking the visas of CEOs and government officials outside the U.S. who profit from migrants coming to the U.S. unlawfully; and
• Expanding efforts to dismantle human smuggling networks and prosecuting individuals who violate immigration laws.

President Biden believes that securing the border is essential. He also believes in expanding lawful pathways and keeping families together, and that immigrants who have been in the United States for decades, paying taxes and contributing to their communities, are part of the social fabric of our country. The Day One immigration reform plan that the President sent to Congress reflects both the need for a secure border and protections for the long-term undocumented. While Congress has failed to act on these reforms, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked to strengthen our lawful immigration system. In addition to vigorously defending the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood arrivals) policy, the Administration has extended Affordable Care Act coverage to DACA recipients and streamlined, expanded, and instituted new reunification programs so that families can stay together while they complete the immigration process.  Still, there is more that we can do to bring peace of mind and stability to Americans living in mixed-status families as well as young people educated in this country, including Dreamers. That is why today, President Biden announced new actions for people who have been here many years to keep American families together and allow more young people to contribute to our economy.   Keeping American Families Together

• Today, President Biden is announcing that the Department of Homeland Security will take action to ensure that U.S. citizens with noncitizen spouses and children can keep their families together.
• This new process will help certain noncitizen spouses and children apply for lawful permanent residence – status that they are already eligible for – without leaving the country.
• These actions will promote family unity and strengthen our economy, providing a significant benefit to the country and helping U.S. citizens and their noncitizen family members stay together.
• In order to be eligible, noncitizens must – as of June 17, 2024 – have resided in the United States for 10 or more years and be legally married to a U.S. citizen, while satisfying all applicable legal requirements. On average, those who are eligible for this process have resided in the U.S. for 23 years.
• Those who are approved after DHS’s case-by-case assessment of their application will be afforded a three-year period to apply for permanent residency. They will be allowed to remain with their families in the United States and be eligible for work authorization for up to three years. This will apply to all married couples who are eligible.  
• This action will protect approximately half a million spouses of U.S. citizens, and approximately 50,000 noncitizen children under the age of 21 whose parent is married to a U.S. citizen.

Easing the Visa Process for U.S. College Graduates, Including Dreamers

• President Obama and then-Vice President Biden established the DACA policy to allow young people who were brought here as children to come out of the shadows and contribute to our country in significant ways. Twelve years later, DACA recipients who started as high school and college students are now building successful careers and establishing families of their own.
• Today’s announcement will allow individuals, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers, who have earned a degree at an accredited U.S. institution of higher education in the United States, and who have received an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree, to more quickly receive work visas.
• Recognizing that it is in our national interest to ensure that individuals who are educated in the U.S. are able to use their skills and education to benefit our country, the Administration is taking action to facilitate the employment visa process for those who have graduated from college and have a high-skilled job offer, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers. 

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Fall 2024 Semester

Undergraduate courses.

Composition courses that offer many sections (ENGL 101, 201, 277 and 379) are not listed on this schedule unless they are tailored to specific thematic content or particularly appropriate for specific programs and majors.

• 100-200 level

ENGL 151.S01: Introduction to English Studies

Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Sharon Smith

ENGL 151 serves as an introduction to both the English major and the discipline of English studies. In this class, you will develop the thinking, reading, writing and research practices that define both the major and the discipline. Much of the semester will be devoted to honing your literary analysis skills, and we will study and discuss texts from several different genres—poetry, short fiction, the novel, drama and film—as well as some literary criticism. As we do so, we will explore the language of the discipline, and you will learn a variety of key literary terms and concepts. In addition, you will develop your skills as both a writer and researcher within the discipline of English.

ENGL 201.ST1 Composition II: The Mind/Body Connection

In this section of English 201, students will use research and writing to learn more about problems that are important to them and articulate ways to address those problems. The course will focus specifically on issues related to the mind, the body and the relationship between them. The topics we will discuss during the course will include the correlation between social media and body image; the efficacy of sex education programs; the degree to which beliefs about race and gender influence school dress codes; and the unique mental and physical challenges faced by college students today. In this course, you will be learning about different approaches to argumentation, analyzing the arguments of others and constructing your own arguments. At the same time, you will be honing your skills as a researcher and developing your abilities as a persuasive and effective writer.

ENGL 201.S10 Composition II: Environmental Writing   

Monday/Wednesday/Friday 1-1:50 p.m.

Gwen Horsley

English 201 will help students develop the ability to think critically and analytically and to write effectively for other university courses and careers. This course will provide opportunities to develop analytical skills that will help students become critical readers and effective writers. Specifically, in this class, students will:

• Focus on the relationships between world environments, land, animals and humankind.
• Read various essays by environmental, conservational and regional authors.
• Produce student writings. 

Students will improve their writing skills by reading essays and applying techniques they witness in others’ work and those learned in class. This class is also a course in logical and creative thought. Students will write about humankind’s place in the world and our influence on the land and animals, places that hold special meaning to them or have influenced their lives and stories of their own families and their places and passions in the world. Students will practice writing in an informed and persuasive manner, in language that engages and enlivens readers by using vivid verbs and avoiding unnecessary passives, nominalizations and expletive constructions.

Students will prepare writing assignments based on readings and discussions of essays included in "Literature and the Environment " and other sources. They may use "The St. Martin’s Handbook," as well as other sources, to review grammar, punctuation, mechanics and usage as needed.

ENGL 201.13 Composition II: Writing the Environment

Tuesday and Thursday 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Paul Baggett

For generations, environmentalists have relied on the power of prose to change the minds and habits of their contemporaries. In the wake of fires, floods, storms and droughts, environmental writing has gained a new sense of urgency, with authors joining activists in their efforts to educate the public about the grim realities of climate change. But do they make a difference? Have reports of present and future disasters so saturated our airwaves that we no longer hear them? How do writers make us care about the planet amidst all the noise? In this course, students will examine the various rhetorical strategies employed by some of today’s leading environmental writers and filmmakers. And while analyzing their different arguments, students also will strengthen their own strategies of argumentation as they research and develop essays that explore a range of environmental concerns.

ENGL 201 Composition II: Food Writing

S17 Tuesday and Thursday 12:30-1:45 p.m.

S18 Tuesday and Thursday 2-3:15 p.m.

Jodi Andrews

In this composition class, students will critically analyze essays about food, food systems and environments, food cultures, the intersections of personal choice, market forces and policy and the values underneath these forces. Students will learn to better read like writers, noting authors’ purpose, audience organizational moves, sentence-level punctuation and diction. We will read a variety of essays including research-intensive arguments and personal narratives which intersect with one of our most primal needs as humans: food consumption. Students will rhetorically analyze texts, conduct advanced research, reflect on the writing process and write essays utilizing intentional rhetorical strategies. Through doing this work, students will practice the writing moves valued in every discipline: argument, evidence, concision, engaging prose and the essential research skills for the 21st century.

ENGL 221.S01 British Literature I

Michael S. Nagy

English 221 is a survey of early British literature from its inception in the Old English period with works such as "Beowulf" and the “Battle of Maldon,” through the Middle Ages and the incomparable writings of Geoffrey Chaucer and the Gawain - poet, to the Renaissance and beyond. Students will explore the historical and cultural contexts in which all assigned reading materials were written, and they will bring that information to bear on class discussion. Likely themes that this class will cover include heroism, humor, honor, religion, heresy and moral relativity. Students will write one research paper in this class and sit for two formal exams: a midterm covering everything up to that point in the semester, and a comprehensive final. Probable texts include the following:

• The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Middle Ages. Ed. Alfred David, M. H. Abrams, and Stephen Greenblatt. 9th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2012.
• The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Sixteenth Century and Early Seventeenth Century. Ed. George M. Logan, Stephen Greenblatt, Barbara K Lewalski, and M. H. Abrams. 9th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2012.
• The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century. Ed. George M. Logan, Stephen Greenblatt, Barbara K Lewalski, and M. H. Abrams. 9th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2012.
• Gibaldi, Joseph. The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. New York: The Modern Language Association of America, 2003.
• Any Standard College Dictionary.

ENGL 240.S01 Juvenile Literature Elementary-5th Grade

Monday, Wednesday and Friday noon-12:50 p.m.

April Myrick

A survey of the history of literature written for children and adolescents, and a consideration of the various types of juvenile literature. Text selection will focus on the themes of imagination and breaking boundaries.

ENGL 240.ST1 Juvenile Literature Elementary-5th Grade

Randi Anderson

In English 240 students will develop the skills to interpret and evaluate various genres of literature for juvenile readers. This particular section will focus on various works of literature at approximately the K-5 grade level. We will read a large range of works that fall into this category, as well as information on the history, development and genre of juvenile literature.

Readings for this course include classical works such as "Hatchet," "Little Women", "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "Brown Girl Dreaming," as well as newer works like "Storm in the Barn," "Anne Frank’s Diary: A Graphic Adaptation," "Lumberjanes," and a variety of picture books. These readings will be paired with chapters from "Reading Children’s Literature: A Critical Introduction " to help develop understanding of various genres, themes and concepts that are both related to juvenile literature and also present in our readings.

In addition to exposing students to various genres of writing (poetry, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, picture books, graphic novels, etc.) this course will also allow students to engage in a discussion of larger themes present in these works such as censorship, race and gender. Students’ understanding of these works and concepts will be developed through readings, research, discussion posts, exams and writing assignments designed to get students to practice analyzing poetry, picture books, informational books and transitional/easy readers.

ENGL 241.S01: American Literature I

Tuesday and Thursday 12:30-1:45 p.m.

This course provides a broad, historical survey of American literature from the early colonial period to the Civil War. Ranging across historical periods and literary genres—including early accounts of contact and discovery, narratives of captivity and slavery, poetry of revolution, essays on gender equality and stories of industrial exploitation—this class examines how subjects such as colonialism, nationhood, religion, slavery, westward expansion, race, gender and democracy continue to influence how Americans see themselves and their society.

Required Texts

• The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Package 1, Volumes A and B Beginnings to 1865, Ninth Edition. (ISBN 978-0-393-26454-8)

ENGL 283.S01 Introduction to Creative Writing

Steven Wingate

Students will explore the various forms of creative writing (fiction, nonfiction and poetry) not one at a time in a survey format—as if there were decisive walls of separation between then—but as intensely related genres that share much of their creative DNA. Through close reading and work on personal texts, students will address the decisions that writers in any genre must face on voice, rhetorical position, relationship to audience, etc. Students will produce and revise portfolios of original creative work developed from prompts and research. This course fulfills the same SGR #2 requirements ENGL 201; note that the course will involve a research project. Successful completion of ENGL 101 (including by test or dual credit) is a prerequisite.

ENGL 283.S02 Introduction to Creative Writing

Jodilyn Andrews

This course introduces students to the craft of writing, with readings and practice in at least two genres (including fiction, poetry and drama).

ENGL 283.ST1 Introduction to Creative Writing

Amber Jensen, M.A., M.F.A.

This course explores creative writing as a way of encountering the world, research as a component of the creative writing process, elements of craft and their rhetorical effect and drafting, workshop and revision as integral parts of writing polished literary creative work. Student writers will engage in the research practices that inform the writing of literature and in the composing strategies and writing process writers use to create literary texts. Through their reading and writing of fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction, students will learn about craft elements, find examples of those craft elements in published works and apply these elements in their own creative work, developed through weekly writing activities, small group and large group workshop and conferences with the instructor. Work will be submitted, along with a learning reflection and revision plan in each genre and will then be revised and submitted as a final portfolio at the end of the semester to demonstrate continued growth in the creation of polished literary writing.

• 300-400 level

ENGL 424.S01 Language Arts Methods grades 7-12  

Tuesday 6-8:50 p.m.

Danielle Harms

Techniques, materials and resources for teaching English language and literature to middle and secondary school students. Required of students in the English education option.

AIS/ENGL 447.S01: American Indian Literature of the Present 

Thursdays 3-6 p.m.

This course introduces students to contemporary works by authors from various Indigenous nations. Students examine these works to enhance their historical understanding of Indigenous peoples, discover the variety of literary forms used by those who identify as Indigenous writers, and consider the cultural and political significance of these varieties of expression. Topics and questions to be explored include:

• Genre: What makes Indigenous literature indigenous?
• Political and Cultural Sovereignty: Why have an emphasis on tribal specificity and calls for “literary separatism” emerged in recent decades, and what are some of the critical conversations surrounding such particularized perspectives?
• Gender and Sexuality: What are the intersecting concerns of Indigenous Studies and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and how might these research fields inform one another?
• Trans-Indigeneity: What might we learn by comparing works across different Indigenous traditions, and what challenges do such comparisons present?
• Aesthetics: How do Indigenous writers understand the dynamics between tradition and creativity?
• Visual Forms: What questions or concerns do visual representations (television and film) by or about Indigenous peoples present?

Possible Texts

• Akiwenzie-Damm, Kateri and Josie Douglas (eds), Skins: Contemporary Indigenous Writing. IAD Press, 2000. (978-1864650327)
• Erdrich, Louise, The Sentence. Harper, 2021 (978-0062671127)
• Harjo, Joy, Poet Warrior: A Memoir. Norton, 2021 (978-0393248524)
• Harjo, Sterlin and Taika Waititi, Reservation Dogs (selected episodes)
• Talty, Morgan. Night of the Living Rez, 2022, Tin House (978-1953534187)
• Wall Kimmerer, Robin. Braiding Sweet Grass, Milkweed Editions (978-1571313560)
• Wilson, Diane. The Seed Keeper: A Novel. Milkweed Editions (978-1571311375)
• Critical essays by Alexie, Allen, Cohen, Cox, King, Kroeber, Ortiz, Piatote, Ross and Sexton, Smith, Taylor, Teuton, Treuer, Vizenor, and Womack.

ENGL 472.S01: Film Criticism

Tuesdays 2-4:50 p.m.

Jason McEntee

Do you have an appreciation for, and enjoy watching, movies? Do you want to study movies in a genre-oriented format (such as those we typically call the Western, the screwball comedy, the science fiction or the crime/gangster, to name a few)? Do you want to explore the different critical approaches for talking and writing about movies (such as auteur, feminist, genre or reception)?

In this class, you will examine movies through viewing and defining different genres while, at the same time, studying and utilizing different styles of film criticism. You will share your discoveries in both class discussions and short writings. The final project will be a formal written piece of film criticism based on our work throughout the semester. The course satisfies requirements and electives for all English majors and minors, including both the Film Studies and Professional Writing minors. (Note: Viewing of movies outside of class required and may require rental and/or streaming service fees.)

ENGL 476.ST1: Fiction

In this workshop-based creative writing course, students will develop original fiction based on strong attention to the fundamentals of literary storytelling: full-bodied characters, robust story lines, palpable environments and unique voices. We will pay particular attention to process awareness, to the integrity of the sentence, and to authors' commitments to their characters and the places in which their stories unfold. Some workshop experience is helpful, as student peer critique will be an important element of the class.

ENGL 479.01 Capstone: The Gothic

Wednesday 3-5:50 p.m.

With the publication of Horace Walpole’s "The Castle of Otranto " in 1764, the Gothic officially came into being. Dark tales of physical violence and psychological terror, the Gothic incorporates elements such as distressed heroes and heroines pursued by tyrannical villains; gloomy estates with dark corridors, secret passageways and mysterious chambers; haunting dreams, troubling prophecies and disturbing premonitions; abduction, imprisonment and murder; and a varied assortment of corpses, apparitions and “monsters.” In this course, we will trace the development of Gothic literature—and some film—from the eighteenth-century to the present time. As we do so, we will consider how the Gothic engages philosophical beliefs about the beautiful and sublime; shapes psychological understandings of human beings’ encounters with horror, terror, the fantastic and the uncanny; and intervenes in the social and historical contexts in which it was written. We’ll consider, for example, how the Gothic undermines ideals related to domesticity and marriage through representations of domestic abuse, toxicity and gaslighting. In addition, we’ll discuss Gothic texts that center the injustices of slavery and racism. As many Gothic texts suggest, the true horrors of human existence often have less to do with inexplicable supernatural phenomena than with the realities of the world in which we live. 

ENGL 485.S01: Undergraduate Writing Center Learning Assistants 

Flexible Scheduling

Nathan Serfling

Since their beginnings in the 1920s and 30s, writing centers have come to serve numerous functions: as hubs for writing across the curriculum initiatives, sites to develop and deliver workshops and resource centers for faculty as well as students, among other functions. But the primary function of writing centers has necessarily and rightfully remained the tutoring of student writers. This course will immerse you in that function in two parts. During the first four weeks, you will explore writing center praxis—that is, the dialogic interplay of theory and practice related to writing center work. This part of the course will orient you to writing center history, key theoretical tenets and practical aspects of writing center tutoring. Once we have developed and practiced this foundation, you will begin work in the writing center as a tutor, responsible for assisting a wide variety of student clients with numerous writing tasks. Through this work, you will learn to actively engage with student clients in the revision of a text, respond to different student needs and abilities, work with a variety of writing tasks and rhetorical situations, and develop a richer sense of writing as a complex and negotiated social process.

Graduate Courses

Engl 572.s01: film criticism, engl 576.st1 fiction.

In this workshop-based creative writing course, students will develop original fiction based on strong attention to the fundamentals of literary storytelling: full-bodied characters, robust story lines, palpable environments and unique voices. We will pay particular attention to process awareness, to the integrity of the sentence and to authors' commitments to their characters and the places in which their stories unfold. Some workshop experience is helpful, as student peer critique will be an important element of the class.

ENGL 605.S01 Seminar in Teaching Composition

Thursdays 1-3:50 p.m.

This course will provide you with a foundation in the pedagogies and theories (and their attendant histories) of writing instruction, a foundation that will prepare you to teach your own writing courses at SDSU and elsewhere. As you will discover through our course, though, writing instruction does not come with any prescribed set of “best” practices. Rather, writing pedagogies stem from and continue to evolve because of various and largely unsettled conversations about what constitutes effective writing and effective writing instruction. Part of becoming a practicing writing instructor, then, is studying these conversations to develop a sense of what “good writing” and “effective writing instruction” might mean for you in our particular program and how you might adapt that understanding to different programs and contexts.

As we read about, discuss and research writing instruction, we will address a variety of practical and theoretical topics. The practical focus will allow us to attend to topics relevant to your immediate classroom practices: designing a curriculum and various types of assignments, delivering the course content and assessing student work, among others. Our theoretical topics will begin to reveal the underpinnings of these various practical matters, including their historical, rhetorical, social and political contexts. In other words, we will investigate the praxis—the dialogic interaction of practice and theory—of writing pedagogy. As a result, this course aims to prepare you not only as a writing teacher but also as a nascent writing studies/writing pedagogy scholar.

At the end of this course, you should be able to engage effectively in the classroom practices described above and participate in academic conversations about writing pedagogy, both orally and in writing. Assessment of these outcomes will be based primarily on the various writing assignments you submit and to a smaller degree on your participation in class discussions and activities.

ENGL 726.S01: The New Woman, 1880–1900s 

Thursdays 3–5:50 p.m.

Katherine Malone

This course explores the rise of the New Woman at the end of the nineteenth century. The label New Woman referred to independent women who rebelled against social conventions. Often depicted riding bicycles, smoking cigarettes and wearing masculine clothing, these early feminists challenged gender roles and sought broader opportunities for women’s employment and self-determination. We will read provocative fiction and nonfiction by New Women writers and their critics, including authors such as Sarah Grand, Mona Caird, George Egerton, Amy Levy, Ella Hepworth Dixon, Grant Allen and George Gissing. We will analyze these exciting texts through a range of critical lenses and within the historical context of imperialism, scientific and technological innovation, the growth of the periodical press and discourse about race, class and gender. In addition to writing an argumentative seminar paper, students will complete short research assignments and lead discussion.

ENGL 792.ST1 Women in War: Female Authors and Characters in Contemporary War Lit

In this course, we will explore the voices of female authors and characters in contemporary literature of war. Drawing from various literary theories, our readings and discussion will explore the contributions of these voices to the evolving literature of war through archetypal and feminist criticism. We will read a variety of short works (both theoretical and creative) and complete works such as (selections subject to change): "Eyes Right" by Tracy Crow, "Plenty of Time When We Get Home" by Kayla Williams, "You Know When the Men are Gone" by Siobhan Fallon, "Still, Come Home" by Katie Schultz and "The Fine Art of Camouflage" by Lauren Johnson.