WE'RE OPEN! CALL NOW1. Every Struggle Must Correspond with a Strength
A huge challenge in writing the perfect PS is not knowing how much to go in detail about personal matters. Well, the key here is to keep in mind that you are only supposed to mention hardships that have positive outcomes. In other words, you are supposed to set yourself up as you mention the difficult things you have gone through. You might be wondering, what exactly do I mean by this?
Here is a summarized example from my own PS:
"As a first-generation college student and immigrant, I have faced many challenges which tested my strength and determination in various ways. For instance, I have had to work full-time while simultaneously being a full-time student until my Senior year in college. This prevented me from having much time left for personal joys, and even homework, at times. However, such extreme circumstances have benefited me by teaching me to build resilience. Due to remaining highly determined to continue my education, I have managed to excel in college despite any difficulties I have experienced. Past challenges have taught me that I must not set limits on my performance, which is a lesson that I am beyond grateful I have learned."
Notice how I do not just state that I had to work full-time and that it was a very difficult time for me. Instead, I tie that struggle into the reason behind why I am so resilient now.
2. Do Not Get Too Emotional
Considering that an PS is theoretically supposed to be about our struggles and such, it is so easy to get caught up in the details. The sad part is that application reviewers tend to reject statements that are too emotionally detailed or in other words "too sad". I know this bit of helpful information due to my long-term assistantship with a faculty member who used to be an application review at University of California, Irvine. Keep it in mind that this statement is supposed to still remain extremely professional after all. Here is an example of how you could re-word the same instance:
"I watched my mother pass away at the hospital. Cancer took my mother away and I was forced to have incomplete classes that semester." (Bad Example)
"I believe that losing a parent to cancer made me stronger in my determination to achieve my degree, knowing that it would make her proud. This experience has also equipped me with the necessary skills to be able to mentor future students who may be undergoing similar losses." (Good Example)
Notice how in the second example, you also mention the same story regarding losing a parent to cancer. Yet, the way it is articulated sets you up as a determined and potentially good future mentor as an applicant. This is the game that we have to play when writing PSs. There is almost a formula to the process that with practice you will be able to identify and utilize to your benefit.
3. Revise, Revise, and Revise Again
Writing a strong PS is not something that can be achieved in one or two drafts. This is a process and you have to treat it as such. It can take several drafts to even be ready to begin showing it to others for feedback. Please remind yourself to be patient and do not be overly critical of your first few drafts. I recommend that you first write every single detail that you feel is necessary for you to include. Just write, with no worries in mind regarding the formatting or sentence structure. This is a helpful way to ensure you are covering everything that requires covering. Then, you go through your draft and begin editing. This time though, only move sentences and sections around. Do not begin editing sentence structure and grammatical fixes yet. Just make sure that the story flows the way you like it and the way you feel will make the most sense. After all these steps, you are finally ready to fix grammatical errors, punctuations and such. I recommend doing five full revisions before you send it out to well-trusted individuals (e.g., your mentors, a professor you trust, a parent or even a friend with good writing skills).
4. Allow Comments From Multiple Sources
As previously mentioned, it is recommended to receive feedback on your statement from several other individuals. This is an essential step because oftentimes we do not notice certain issues with our own writing that others can notice. It is oftentimes common for others who are very similar to us to also not notice such issues. Thus, it is good practice to get feedback from different people in order to maximize your chances of catching any potential issues left remaining in your statement.
5. Last But Not Least: Check the Requirements
Writing a PS is not a one-size-fits-all. Different organizations and programs have distinct requirements that may significantly differ from others. It is your job to carefully read and assess what exactly they need of you in your PS. I recommend creating a document where you copy paste the exact requirements on your desired program's official page. Afterwards, do a bit of digging. You may do your own personal search on the internet; looking to find any examples they may have on their website or any examples of PSs you can find on your desired university's current student's CV's and such. LinkedIn can be a good platform to find such information. You can search and find students who currently go to your desired university and try to find their CV or statements through their accounts. Sometimes students link such information on their social accounts. Another method is to ask around. This method is a bit more intimidating, seeing as you have to reach out to individuals you do not know. But if you are really determined to get into your dream program, you can reach out to other students who have already gotten into said program and ask them if they would be kind enough to share any tips with you on how to create a strong statement.
That is all I had for you all this time. If you are still reading, I thank you for taking the time. I hope that this information helps in any way possible.
Good luck!
