[Enroutte]

I'm seventeen, and a senior in high school. I'm actually in the process of filling out my college apps right now. I know a lot of you guys on here are a little older and probably finished college or are in college. I needed some help on my personal statement. I'm not really sure what to write about that would make my personal statement "different." What did you guys write about for your personal statement on your college apps?? Help, please?

[NaTuReB0Y]

Originally Posted by Enroutte

I'm seventeen, and a senior in high school. I'm actually in the process of filling out my college apps right now. I know a lot of you guys on here are a little older and probably finished college or are in college. I needed some help on my personal statement. I'm not really sure what to write about that would make my personal statement "different." What did you guys write about for your personal statement on your college apps?? Help, please?

I was the president of the Science Club....hahaha!

Sorry....

[Enroutte]

you wrote about how you were the president of a club?

[longtran]

write this, i drive an e90. let me in, or i'll run you over with it....ok maybe not that, as you can see i never finish college. good luck though.

[Kurupt1811]

damn i dont remember ever having to write any personal statements for college. but if i were u id prolly write about notable things u did during high school and why you deserve to go to that college.
the things they make kids do these days!
luckily im almost done with school

[MCS]

Write something that makes you unique, and why the school would want to take you as a creative and unique individual who would contribute to their student body.

Write a little bit of your background, travel, ability to learn about the world and help those around you, etc on the personal side. Something worth mentioning is how you may of contributed time to a charity, fundraiser, club. As for scholastic achievements, enter that as well. Most schools don't want cookie cutter applicants. They're looking for diversity to bring to their college campus.

Good luck. I remember those days and it was sort of nerve racking, esp since if you're 17, how much real experience can you put to paper?!? One good thing to write about is if you learned some valuable character lesson in life.

[Nikki]

I don't remember having to write a personal statement. That's tough.

[shimshimhada]

Write about an experience you remember the most and work with that. Just start writing a few essays, and get other people to read them.

[UncleWede]

Depends a bit on your major (if any). Include some information about your hobbies, interests in life, where you plan to be in 5-10 years, and how going to the school will help you make the world a better place. Do it as a sort of life story. Begin with what you've done recently, then what you hope to accomplish at the school, and then to where it will lead you down the road of life.

BE SURE you have someone who really knows check your spelling and grammar. Nothing worse than a mispelled, grammatically incorrect, babbling 13 year old paragraph to get you barred from your college of choice. Write it, have them correct it, then leave it for a few days. When you come back and read it again, ask them what they read, and see if you both read the same thing. Good luck!!

[puck724]

afer high school i took one of my teachers advice and wrote about one of my flaws and how i have tried to use it to help me out rather than to use it as an excuse.

takes a good person to admit that there is something they can work on. takes an even better one to actually work on it.

[cosmosblau]

Explain what sets you apart, and how that makes you fit in to their school.

[scottz5]

keep on trucking

[Mark]

I just came off writing one.. ugh what a pain in the ass!

Basicly the rule of thumb I use when writing a personal statement is:

Take something you've done (a club, an activity, an award, a personal achievement-- acomlishing a goal set for ureself, etc etc etc) and then try to write about that event and how it shows that you are perfect for the school.

So for example you can write that you are a runner and in 2004 you got a silver medal in the 400mm. Then write a brief story about how you trained and ran and that shows you have unflicnhing dedication and you will never give up and how thats perfect for "xxx school" because you will be the best student, etc etc..

I've been doing the same crap my whole life and its worked so far, lets hope the one I just wrote for myself works too, lol ! But seriously, good luck its hell, but it'll get exciting when you are getting the letters for interviews/acceptances

[florinus]

I just blew off the statement and let my grades and scores get me in

[sunchild]

just be yourself.

[Squawks]

Originally Posted by florinus

I just blew off the statement and let my grades and scores get me in

On the other hand, I blew off other students with better grades/scores via a better statement back in the 'ol college days.

For your personal statement, you should focus on (as others have already said) what sets you apart from others as a better candidate for whatever you are applying to. For college, which I am assuming you're applying to, it's a little bit nebulous - focus on positive aspects...i.e. don't write about how you out-smoked everybody in the secret Mary Jane Club or how you perfected the art of making an efficient meth lab.

Everybody keeps mentioning writing about your pluses - what most folks fail to realize is the importance of mentioning any drawbacks you've had, whether that be economic, social, personal, etc. If you don't have any drawbacks, then that's too bad - because kids with cystic fibrosis who were raised in single-parent families surviving off of foodstamps will easily and single-handedly out-compete you assuming their grades/achievements are equivalent to yours. If you were raised in a rich, priveleged, high-class family, DO NOT mention that. Only goes against you relative to others who are less fortunate.

Who cares about the pluses, anyways? Unless you won a Nobel Prize or already have ten patents under your belt, everybody else will also have high achievements and goals. What is needed, then, to set you apart from the others is to convey your idiosyncracies in a manner which depicts your true drive and personalities for sucess.

Word.

[StewtheBassman]

Originally Posted by MarkE90M3

"how thats perfect for "xxx school"

I want to go to a XXX school!!!

[StewtheBassman]

Originally Posted by Squawks

On the other hand, I blew off other students

I NEVER blew off other students.

[StewtheBassman]

I went to schools with such low standards they were happy to have me pay some of their bills.

[Squawks]

Originally Posted by StewtheBassman

I NEVER blew off other students.

Hahahahah! You licentious fella!

[StewtheBassman]

I love it when you talk that way Squawks!

Enroutte, pardon me, I'm being a complete ass. All in good fun and bad taste. Canadian Schools never ask for that stuff,and UNCG in North Carolina was happy to have me! Good luck, there are others here giving excellent advice!!

Now I have to go back to work serving lattés!

[magmd]

Now I have to go back to work serving lattés