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For scholarships, college/universities, and/or vocational school admissions you are often required to write an essay(s). This is often the most stress inducing part of a student’s senior year yet, if you use some of the following strategies listed you will help yourself formulate an essay that conveys information about who you are, and where you want to go.
The goal of a personal essay/statement is to show the admissions committee who you are, and the goals you are planning to accomplish. Your transcript already lists your grades and test scores so schools will see your academic accomplishments. Your job is to share how you think; to reveal something about your character, values, interests and life.
Some topics that are being used by university/college programs are the following:
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, please share your story.
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
Discuss an accomplishment, event or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Finally, make sure your essay is original and speaks to your life and, make sure you have someone you trust proofread your essay-MORE THAN ONCE before you submit.