Common Mistakes of Poorly Written Personal Statements
If you have done your research on applying to tertiary educational institutions, you probably already know that the personal statement can make or break your application. In many cases, admissions committees make their final decision based on the applicant’s personal statement. The reason schools place so much importance on personal statements is because these show a different side of the applicants. While the resume and application sheet will fill-in information on your achievements and grades, the personal statement allows you to express how you have grown and matured as a person because of your achievements in your career life and academic life. Here are two mistakes that you should try to avoid when writing your personal statement:
Trying to sound intelligent
One common mistake that people often make when writing their personal statements is that they try to impress readers with large words or an expansive vocabulary. The problem with using big or highfalutin words is that the writer may fail to project the “personal” side of personal statements. Instead of trying to impress the admissions committee with a large vocabulary, it may be better to impress them with the actual content and style. Most members of admissions committees are accustomed to reading all kinds of literature, especially those penned by students. As such, you can be assured that they look for originality, personality, and honesty over highfalutin words.
Writing about “what” instead of “why” or “how”
When writing personal statements, it is important to tell a story, instead of just mentioning things in short. For example, don’t just say that you entered into an organization, but write about why you entered the organization and how it has changed you as a person. This rule also applies when talking about your goals and aspirations. Try to give the reader a full picture of what you want to do in the future, why you want to do it, and how it can benefit you and the others around you.
