sample essay about myself

The personal statement for college application provides opportunity for prospective students to introduce themselves in a more personal manner more than just merely based on numerical grades.  Knowing what to write about is very important for an appealing essay “about my self.” This is why knowing the topics to be avoided is also crucial to evade mistakes that can block your way to your dream school.

Achievements during your high school or grade school

These things are definitely not necessary since these may be reflected on your grades already.  Plus, grades during your high school or grade school are irrelevant since it’s your college grades that are considered.  This will just cause redundancy in the available information, thus leaving a negative impression to the reader because more often than not, it will really look like bragging.

Achievements in schools are obvious accomplishments and seem to be insignificant in assessing the real you since the primary goal of the essay is for the reader to know you personally.  Focus instead on your experiences that lead you to be an achiever, or talk about achievements that are more profound and speaks more about your personality.(1)

Insignificant details or experiences

To maintain the compelling nature of your “essay about my self,” descriptive details of momentous experiences is a must.  Writing your essay in a narrative form is better since this approach is more interesting.  However, as your excitement while sharing your experiences flourish, you might dwell much into the details that you fail to see that the insignificant ones have also been included.  Too much information can be boring and tiresome to read.  So make it a point that you continuously polish and re-write your essay so that you will be able to eradicate these unsightly entries.(2)

Personal issues you won’t be able to do justice in your essay

A personal statement tends to be indeed personal that you might end up discussing intriguing questions and dilemmas that you encountered.  If you wish to discuss sensitive issues in your “myself essay,” make sure that they’ll help the readers learn more about you.  An effective “essay on myself” does not have room for irrationality, which is opening up a certain issue and discussing about it without making sense out of it.  Thus, it is important to note that as a prospective student, you should have the ability to concretely come up with a conclusion to every personal issue that you will raise in your essay.  This will provide an impression that you are capable of organizing your thoughts.(3)

(1) http://www.cmu.edu/hpp/achieve/pstips.html
(2) http://www.psichi.org/pubs/articles/article_98.aspx
(3) http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/2006_01_06/sell_yourself_guidance_for_developing_your_personal_statement_for_graduate_school_applications

Getting into your dream school after high school can be quite tough, especially if you’re planning on enrolling into one of the top colleges or universities.  However, with the right admissions essay, you can effectively market yourself and land that spot in your dream school.

Your essay as a form of self-advertisement

Grades are just mere numbers that say how good or bad you are in terms of academics, but your essay is an extension of who you are, the real person behind those grades.  Through your essay, you will be able to make a distinction among other applicants.  As a major form of self-advertisement, you should focus on your strengths and on the essential characteristics that are unique to you.(1)  Just remember that you are not the only one aspiring to enter your dream school, it is a competition.  A competition that needs your best foot forward.  Acknowledging your weaknesses is a good thing but you should focus more on your potentials and how you struggle to overcome every weak bone in your system.  In this manner, you can leave an impression of a confident individual who knows how to use his or her strengths and who is an open-minded person who knows how to concede his or her flaws and learn from it.  The following are some tips on how to make your “myself essay” an effective marketing tool.

Writing an essay on myself:  catch the readers’ attention

As you are writing your “myself essay,” you should bear in mind that you are aiming to write a memorable work.  You have to captivate your readers’ attention by creating a catchy and ingenious introduction.  The first two lines should be written in an inviting and intriguing manner which encourages the reader to know what will happen next.  A choice of topic is also of utmost importance.  Think of the topic that you are most interested to and discuss it in a way that your enthusiasm will radiate through them.  Better yet, have another family member or friends read your essay, and see if they are compelled with your topic and manner of writing.(2)

Writing an essay about my self:  keep the reader’s interest throughout the essay

A memorable essay does not end in having a remarkable topic and excellent use of words.  Keep in mind that the admission officers read numerous essays, thus, catching their attention is as vital as keeping their attention.  After the compelling introduction, you have to continuously write it in a way that will surely stimulate the readers’ imagination and have their curious minds working.  It is vital to write your essay in a way that the reader will be able to relate to it, not necessarily to the detailed accounts but to the feelings conveyed.  Remember, your primary goal is to write an essay that will make your readers decide if you deserve to be a part of their incoming freshman batch.(3)

(1) www.depauw.edu/admission/documents/college-essay.pdf
(2) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/01/
(3) http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/apessay_overview.html

Admission essays are used by evaluators to further know the person applying for a university.  This can be made possible by the inclusion of the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis which is usually used in the field of business planning.  The SWOT analysis focuses on the internal and external environments and opportunities and threats in the external environment.

Writing about my self:  discussing strengths and weaknesses

In your “essay about myself,” you should discuss both your strength and weaknesses which are internal factors in one’s personality so the readers will have a better understanding about you, of the things that you can do best, and the possible hindrances in achieving your goals.  It will be great if you can fully express your strengths in such a way that you are not being immodest about it but in a manner wherein you are conveying it to show that you are as capable as any other applicants, and that you are willing to use those strengths to pursue your chosen path.  Citing your weaknesses does not significantly mean that you are leaving a bad impression, that is, if you are going to let them understand that you have already acknowledged your flaws and you are taking it as a challenge to do better and excel.  Just bear in mind that the mode of expressing your thoughts is the best kept secret for an effective essay.(1)  You can read a “sample essay about myself” to get an idea on how to market yourself effectively.

Writing about my self:  including opportunities and threats

After the analysis and discussion of the internal factors which are your strengths and weaknesses, it will be important to continue discussing in your essay the external factors of your personality which are the opportunities and threats.  It will be very important for the readers to understand these four aspects of your personality.  These aspects will help them gauge how you can utilize your strengths to grasp potential opportunities and how your weaknesses, as a threat, can be avoided as soon as you acknowledge them.(2)

Marketing yourself effectively

The SWOT analysis is definitely one of the best steps to market yourself effectively just like in any other business endeavours.  Understanding yourself first is very crucial before having the ability to fully express your thoughts to others.  So incorporating the SWOT analysis in your essay will make the reader understand how you are able to focus on your strengths, work on your weaknesses, maximize the benefits of possible existing opportunities, and daunt potentially shattering threats.(3)

(1)  http://sbinformation.about.com/cs/bestpractices/a/swot.htm
(2)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_analysis
(3)  http://students.berkeley.edu/apa/personalstatement/

When writing a college admissions essay, keep in mind that this is a way for you to let the readers know more about you.  It should be able to let the readers see a different side of you so that you’ll stand out from the rest of the other applicants.  After all, your goal is to land a spot at your dream school.  To help you stand out, read the tips below for a truly unique “myself essay.”

Writing an essay on myself: your experience as a topic

One of the major ingredients for a well-written prose is talking about the subject that interests you the most.  Why waste your time thinking about what the reader would want to read, when you can focus your discussion on the topics that interests you such as your most memorable experiences? Your energy and enthusiasm while writing your essay will transpire to your readers.  And in turn, they will be interested in your topic as well and see a side of your personality.  Just make sure that these experiences can help you explain why you want to pursue a certain degree or career path.(1)

Writing an essay on myself: discussing what you’ve learned from such experiences

Your experiences will remain to be plainly experiences if you do not know how to discuss what you learned from them.  The reader will be able to decipher what your motivations are, what are the things and values that you care about by your perspective on the things that happened to you.  It is undeniably true that every experience that you have, no matter how simple it may seem to other people, has underlying lessons for you to learn.   Concocting the right words to express your learning from those memorable moments of your life will definitely make your essay stand out.  Just make sure to choose the right topic that will show your greatest potential to be a member of your dream school’s academic community.(2)

Writing an essay about my self: personalizing your essay through detailed accounts of experiences

No one wants their essay to be just the same as everybody else’s writing.  Since admission committee members read thousands of letters, why not take the extra effort of giving your essay a sense of originality? You can do this through citing important details of your experiences.  It would be nice to present your writing in a narrative form since thoughts are tend to be more organized if they are written as stories.  Giving examples will be more appropriate.  Descriptive and clear words are imperative.  Conveying your commitment in doing outreach programs through examples are more appealing than plainly citing “I am into outreach programs.” Just always remember that it is not all about what you have to say but how you say it.(3)

(1) http://ual.stanford.edu/pdf/uar_writingstatementofpurpose.pdf
(2)  www.sac.edu/students/library/nealley/pathfinders/meb_essay.htm
(3)  http://www.princeton.edu/career/undergrads/grad-prof/law/personal-statements/

A personal statement for the medical school that you are applying for may be cumbersome to work out, but remember that it is one of the most important requirements for admission.  Your “myself essay” will tell the admissions committee something about you that cannot be seen on your other credentials, such as your undergraduate records and your Medical School Admission Test or MCAT scores.  It is practically your voice in the admissions process when the interview is not yet on the way.  To help you come up with an excellent “myself essay,” here are some “essay on myself” writing tips.

Focus on your strengths

The admission process for medical school is usually a very competitive one.  Do not forget that you will be competing with people with similar or even higher undergraduate grades or MCAT scores.  Therefore, like in any other competitions, you should always put the best foot forward.  While stating your weaknesses is not entirely discouraged, it would preferable if you focus and “advertise” your strengths and other achievements in your “essay about myself.” Write about your skills and talents, particularly those that you deem are important characteristics for a medical professional to have.(1)

Show your unique side

Always remember that you are not the only applicant for admission to a particular medical school.  Most schools have limited slots for admission, but they also more often than not receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants yearly for those slots.  And yes, all of those applicants try to offer their best foot forward.  The best way to get noticed among the other applicants is to make a good first impression by showing that you are unique.  You can do this by discussing out-of-this-world things that you have done in the past, even your plans in the future.  Just tell them something about you that will set you apart from the others.(2)

Show your excellent writing skills

One other sure way to get noticed and be unique is an excellent essay.  While most schools have limited word count for each personal statement, the number of applicants still means that the admissions committee will have to endure reading lots of essays.  Boring them with your writing style may of course jeopardize your admission.  You must make sure that your essay is finely written with no technical or grammar errors.  And you can do it with lots of practice.(3)

(1) http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/personal_statement.shtml
(2) http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:Dcf7aulqS78J:www.wpi.edu/Academics/FS/personal.pdf+personal+statement&cd=10&hl=tl&ct=clnk&gl=ph
(3) http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply/how_apply/personal_statement.html

The law school application process can be a lot tougher as the decision-making itself.  After evaluating yourself that you are indeed decided to enter law school, the application process begins.  And it all boils down to a single crucial step — writing your admissions “essay on myself.”(1)

Essay about myself:  goals or reasons for becoming a lawyer

It is imperative to discuss in any admission essay the main reasons for your decision.  Is being a lawyer your passion? Definitely, since it seems impossible for a student dreaming of becoming a lawyer who does not have passion for justice.  Then, you can discuss how you find genuine happiness in doing the things that you really want to do.  You can also elaborate by stating that you see yourself being more productive in this field.  If you’re planning on going to law school just because you don’t really know what to do after college, then you’re probably not meant for a career in this field.  So on your essay, it is important to convince the readers that after long years of studying, when someone asks you whether or not you regret going to law school, you can give them a proud “no” for an answer.(2)

Essay about myself:  determine how to reach the goals

In reality, law practice isn’t always intellectually stimulating and exciting.  There are times wherein the student will get bored and stressed.  This is why it’s very important that before you apply for law school, you really know what you are getting into.

The journey towards the achievement of your goal to become a lawyer is not that easy.  It is vital to make the evaluators realize that you are entirely aware of how difficult and challenging law school can be, as well as the profession itself.  This can give them the impression that you are more than willing to surpass all of them.(3)

Essay about myself:  What you can contribute to the law school community

As a prospective law student, describe what you can share to the school community in terms of your participation in meaningful school activities other than focusing all your attention to your academics.  You must point out that you are a well-rounded individual who knows how to value the essence of camaraderie.

(1)  http://www.yale.edu/visvi/students/gradprof/lawschool/lawapply.html
(2)  http://www.100megsfree3.com/wordsmith/2bornot2.html
(3)  http://www.abanet.org/yld/chooselaw/frink.shtml

Stanford University is a learning institution that most high school graduates hear about, but only few students are actually admitted to.  On a yearly basis, thousands of people send their application packages to Stanford with high hopes of getting admitted to this school.  More often than not, however, applicants receive the thin rejection envelope instead of the bursting approval envelope.  If you are one of the many people who were not accepted to Stanford or if you decided against going to Stanford, you may want to read this article on reasons not to attend Stanford University.

The Farm: The good and the bad

As one of the most prestigious schools in the world, Stanford University has produced some of the most influential and most renowned world figures.  Aside from having educated some leading scholars, writers, and artists, Stanford also produced numerous political and legal figures.  Some of the most prestigious people to graduate from Stanford include US and foreign presidents, vice-presidents, prime ministers, members of the royalty, senators, and Supreme Court Justices.(1)  You can bet that not all of the Stanford graduates were perfect role models though.  A classic example would be the 1971 experiment of a Stanford professor of psychology and his students, who created a mock prison system.  The experiment led to the mock guards getting more sadistic, while the mock prisoners would show depression and passivity.  Some students were emotionally scarred by the experiment.(2, 3)

Berkeley’s better academic environment

One of the biggest problems with going to school at Stanford is that it can cost you more than your entire life savings.  At University of California, Berkeley, you can get a great education at a great value.  Berkeley has also produced numerous influential figures, including Pulitzer Prize winners and Nobel Laureates.  Berkeley even has a larger student body, which means a bigger and more diverse network of friends and social contacts.  Stanford even allows their students to drop classes before taking the finals without incurring any penalties to their grades.  What kind of education is that?  How can you forge character, virtues, and values if you allow students to just drop a class to save their GPA?  Talk about baby feeding.(4, 5)

A bunch of preppies with attitudes

Another problem with Stanford is that the students can be stuck-up and conceited, only worried about how good they look in their designer outfits.  If you aren’t the type to try and look like a goody-two-shoes preppy, then you’ll probably get annoyed as hell in Stanford.  Besides, all they have to talk about is their money and the people they “know.”  Whatever happened to real conversations?

Life over money

Finally, if you believe that there is more to life than just money, then Stanford isn’t the right place for you.  The people at Stanford tend to get caught-up in talking about their financial capabilities.  Who can blame them, though?  With the huge tuition that they pay, they must have money.  But you have to agree that there is much more to life than fattening your bank account, like getting a good education at a place other than Stanford University.

(1)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Stanford_University_people
(2)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Zimbardo
(3)  http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/02/ted_zimbardo
(4)  http://ual.stanford.edu/AP/academic_policies/AcPolicies.html
(5)  http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/04/us/stanford-u-decides-to-make-courses-harder-to-drop-but-easier-to-fail.html?pagewanted=all

As children, many people dream of becoming a doctor or they play doctor for fun.  As teenagers, students often think of becoming a doctor because of the prestige and wealth that is usually associated with the profession.  As adults, people often look up to doctors because of their vast knowledge and expertise.  It’s no wonder why so many people want to get into medical school.  The truth is, though, medical school isn’t as great as people fantasize it to be.  For those who have recently been rejected by a medical school or those who have decided not to pursue a medical education, here are some great reasons not to be in medical school:

Bodily secretions

The phrase alone, “bodily secretions,” makes some people squirm.  The thing with medical school is you’ll be dealing with all types of weird, gross, and downright disgusting bodily secretions, because it is part of the curriculum.(1)  The good part is, if you forgot what you had for breakfast, you’ll probably get a quick reminder when you puke after your professor carefully performs an autopsy before your eyes.  Not everyone is cut out for the putrid smells, weird textures, and horrifying sights that one is likely to see in medical school and throughout the medical career.

Round-the-clock stress

Another problem with medical school is that they work you like a dog.  Because your career as a physician may require 24/7-on-call duty,(2)  medical schools often train their students to be able to work around the clock.  The trouble with this is that it can get in the way of your relationships with other people, including friends, family, and loved ones.(3)  Aside from your relationships, you may just lose your sanity working such long hours under tremendous stress.

The “god” mentality

Every once in a while, you meet a medical student or doctor who has what’s called the “god” mentality.  These are the people who feel as though they have the “power” to extend people’s lives, heal them from sickness and injury, and cure them from diseases.  The problem is that, when this mentality gets into someone’s head, that person can end up being very arrogant and proud.(4)

Incurring debt

Going to medical school is a huge investment, which will likely have you borrowing money for your tuition, residency, and other student expenses.  With the number of years that medical school takes, you will probably incur a pretty big debt.  As a result, the first few years of your medical career will probably be about working insane hours at a low wage in order to pay your debts off.  And, once you start making your own money, you’ll be probably be buying the nicest cars, best gadgets, and biggest houses.  Whatever happened to that childhood dream of helping those in need?

(1)  http://www.deathreference.com/Bl-Ce/Cadaver-Experiences.html
(2)  http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/reporter/oct2000/well.htm
(3)  http://gradschool.about.com/od/medicalschool/a/should.htm
(4)  http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=479625

Perhaps the most intriguing part of being a student is being able to meet, talk to, and build relationships with other people from diverse backgrounds. Aside from making friends and engaging in the social scene, many students also get into romantic relationships while in college. There are numerous advantages of being in a relationship while in college, but, if students are not careful, they can easily get caught up in the relationship and begin to neglect their studies. For example, students may find it hard to decide whether they’re going to spend Saturday night watching a movie with a special someone or studying for Monday’s exams. Here are some tips on how to balance your academic life and your romantic life:

Prioritizing, planning, and time management

Three important steps towards balancing academic life and romantic life are prioritizing, planning, and time management. First, evaluate all of your tasks, schedules, and commitments to see which ones are of most importance to you. Once you know of all of the important events coming up, such as an anniversary dinner or a final exam, you will be able to make your plans depending on your priorities. When making your schedule and planning your events, you should try to allot enough time to each event. Trying to cram in all of your commitments into a short time frame will most likely lead to a decrease in academic performance or you neglecting your romantic relationship. Time management is the key to maximizing each moment, whether it is spent studying or on a date.

Getting more out of communication

One of the best ways to keep your relationship healthy and happy is to keep the lines of communication open. With all of the different ways to communicate to people these days, you can easily communicate in a matter of seconds or minutes. Whenever there are any changes in your plans or if you just want to check-up on your partner, try to take a few minutes to call or e-mail your partner. Taking that small amount of time out of your day to communicate with your partner will work wonders for your relationship.

Entering into college is one of the turning-points in a student’s life. Some people have to move out of the homes that they grew up in, others have to start making a living, but all have to get through the admissions process. Most institutions have the same or similar admissions processes, but not all schools look for the same credentials and almost all schools have different interview questions. To increase your chances of getting into a certain college or university, you should try seeking some advice and tips on their admissions processes.

Get admissions tips by talking to people

Perhaps the best and most personal admissions tips you can receive are those that come from friends or relatives who have attended the school. In fact, you can talk to anyone who has attended the school to ask for admissions tips. Ask about their experiences when they went through the school’s admissions process. You can even get important information from people who were rejected by the institution. By talking to those who have been rejected by the school, you can get a good idea of what mistakes to avoid when you apply. Try to gather as much information as you can from these people, because they have first-hand experience with applying to the school.

Get admissions tips by using the Internet

Aside from asking others about their experiences, you can also try to get information through the Internet. It is easy to find inside tips on admissions processes with the use of the Internet. There are many forums, blogs, and school websites that have information on admissions processes. You can look for previous articles, stories, and conversations on admissions processes or you can start a new topic to ask about your specific situation. Just be sure to confirm the information you receive with other sources or people as well, because the information you find may be false or outdated.