The majority of graduate programs require students to submit a personal statement or “statement of purpose” as part of their application requirements.
Ellen Shelton, the interim Writing Center director on the Oxford Campus, explained the personal and professional balance that is required for a personal statement.
“Students look very similar on a resume, but the personal statement demonstrates the personality. They should think about the statement as the opportunity to shape their narrative beyond the resume,” Shelton said.
The University of Mississippi offers several resources to assist students in crafting quality personal statements. These resources are housed within the Writing Center, which offers in-person and online consultations to help students at any point in the writing process. Similarly, the Graduate Writing Center offers one-on-one consultations to graduate students.
Both writing centers hold workshops, and writing personal statements is often a topic of discussion.
Claire Mischker is the director of the Graduate Writing Center and a lecturer of composition.
According to Mischker, the general steps for crafting a personal statement are as follows:
- Understand the purpose and audience of the statement.
- Brainstorm content.
- Produce a first draft.
- Ask for feedback, perhaps from the Writing Center.
- Revise and proofread.
- Submit a polished statement before the posted deadline.
She also highlighted the importance of keeping purpose and audience in mind.
“Purpose and audience are the foundation of any form of communication — written or otherwise,” Mischker said. “When crafting a personal statement, the first step should always be adhering to the guidelines set by the organization or institution to which they are applying. Making sure those specifications continue to be met through drafting and revising should also be a priority.”
Shelton also stressed the importance of understanding the targeted audience.
“I usually tell students to do their homework and find out more about their audience: What is the mission or vision of the program? What language is used on the website? What does the school or program seem to champion?” Shelton said.
Mischker describes an effective personal statement as an engaging narrative that is both personal and professional.
“Because of its narrative nature, a personal statement will often begin with a ‘hook’ — a recount of a significant experience or pivotal moment that illustrates the spark or impetus that led the applicant to eventually apply to that specific program,” Mischker said. “A personal statement, despite its name, needs to strike a balance between the personal and professional that doesn’t depend too much on anecdote and personal beliefs but also doesn’t turn into a retelling of a CV or resume.”
As students are working on their statement, they should be careful to show — not tell — their audience their story.
“This involves being descriptive and specific about experiences and knowledge. Instead of writing something like ‘I am a very hard worker,’ write something about specific instances in which you demonstrated hard work. Show the reader how you are a hard worker instead of just telling them,” Mischker said.
Technical writing skills are also important in crafting an effective statement.
“Writers should strive to be clear, concise and consistent in all communications but especially for application documents. Language, tone and style always need to be appropriate and tailored for (back to where I started) purpose and audience,” Mischker said.
