What is the best way to start off a Personal Statement?

Comments

• danielznelson Alum Inactive Sage Inactive ⭐

  December 2016 edited December 2016 4181 karma

  As a starting point, tell your story aloud. Whatever you start off with in your story, try using that to start off your personal statement.
• combsni Free Trial Member

  December 2016 652 karma

  @danielznelson should I format it like a cover letter or what?
• danielznelson Alum Inactive Sage Inactive ⭐

  December 2016 4181 karma

  No, I don't think so. Your personal statement is to illuminate who you are as an applicant, so being, for lack of a better term, more personable is your biggest aid.
  
  One thing David Busis taught me is to work towards creating a narrative, rather than a thesis. I was naturally doing the latter based off of my history with writing. Approaching at it with the former made everything much more telling and more memorable. It made things easier, as well.
• Stevie C Alum Member

  December 2016 edited December 2016 645 karma

  I would focus on what story you want to tell, how you will structure it, and what personal qualities you want to convey.
  
  The first sentence is not a dealbreaker. You don't necessarily have to "hook" them upfront like a news article --because the admissions officer is going to read and evaluate the whole essay
• combsni Free Trial Member

  December 2016 652 karma

  @"Stevie C" also should it be double spaced?
• Cant Get Right Yearly + Live Member Sage ⭐ 🍌 7Sage Tutor

  December 2016 27899 karma

  @danielznelson said:
  One thing David Busis taught me is to work towards creating a narrative, rather than a thesis.
  

  Yeah, this is the main thing. I think of the personal statement as a way to put a human face on your application which is otherwise just a bunch of hard data.
• Tinyosi1 Alum Member

  December 2016 235 karma

  @combsni said:
  also should it be double spaced?
  

  I am not who you asked, but the best answer to this would be to read the directions of each school you are applying. Some schools are pretty specific and others will let you decide. As a general rule many will probably prefer double-spaced, but you should always check what the school says about it.
• Alex Alum Member ⭐

  December 2016 23929 karma

  It really depends on how you are writing and structuring your PS. There's no rule book, but you want to make sure that is draws the reader in. Admissions officers are said to read these in the hundreds, so make sure you catch and hold their attention!