I’m sure many of you have heard the term ‘personal statement’ but what is it and how important is it to your university admissions? Today I hope to clear up some of the ambiguities regarding personal statements and shine some light on the steps that play a key role in crafting them.
After completing intermediate or A levels, students aspire to be accepted by their dream universities. Some universities in Pakistan and the majority of international universities require personal statements from their applicants. This document lets them get to know you and gauge your interest in pursuing education in your preferred field.
Significance of this document
Your personal statement plays a pivotal role in ensuring your admission. It lets the admission officer get to know you and understand how your interests and abilities could be invaluable to the education you aim to pursue. It is important to be thorough and honest in your personal statement to avoid giving a negative impression to the admission officer.
Points to consider
The key element of writing a personal statement is honesty. Lying about your abilities or getting a friend to write it for you is not going to work. No one can articulate your own qualities and interests like you can. Therefore, it is essential that you write this on your own. Be upfront with your qualifications and experiences and relate them to your future ambitions.
If you lie on your personal statement in a misguided attempt to impress the admission department it is very likely that during an interview your lie will be caught, leaving you in a very embarrassing situation. In order to avoid these types of circumstances, you need to be sincere with yourself.
So, take this seriously as it can have a direct correlation to your future education and ultimately your career. I hope that I have made the importance of your personal statement clear. Now, here is a few pointers on how to write it effectively.
Suggestions assisting in writing your personal statement
- Have a strong belief in yourself
- Be loyal to your interests
- Mention your key interests
- Be articulate when expressing yourself
- Highlight your skills and be convincing with your abilities
- Proofread your document
Writing on your own gives you confidence
I would like to leave you with a quote from Rebel thriver that goes “When writing the story of your life, don’t let anyone else hold the pen”. Similarly, this personal statement is a story of your education, abilities, skills, and everything else connected to it. When you pen down your interests with your future qualification in mind, believe me, this will fill you with a lot of self-confidence because it is your own self that struggles and tries its hardest to reach the destination.
I think by now you have a fair idea of what writing a personal statement entails. If you are a college student, start thinking about it. Best of luck in your future endeavors!
Happy Reading!
Written By: Minahil Afzal
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Previously a Cambridge student and now pursuing business education from University of Punjab. Loves to read and write. She likes to do poetry and also a blogger on Instagram. Here is her Instagram blog link. https://instagram.com/minahil_afzal456?igshid=aa8mtftm1slk
