Summer is the time to take a deep breath, kick back and regroup. For rising high school seniors, it’s also the time to think about college applications, campus visits, and personal statements (also known as the college application essay). That doesn’t have to be an ordeal or even inspire anxiety; planning ahead and tackling the personal statement during the summer is actually a great way to reduce stress and anxiety in the fall. How terrific would it be to start senior year with at least a solid draft of your personal statement.
The personal statement (essentially writing about oneself) can feel daunting, but once started, it can feel liberating. After all, you are not writing a research paper or literary analysis. You are writing about the subject you know best—you! If you feel that you have no idea what to say, start with a few simple questions that might help you to know yourself better. For example, what do you like to read and why? What are two or three virtues that you most admire and respect in others? Are these qualities that you possess? That you aspire to? What three or four adjectives might your family or friends use to describe you and why? If you could tell an admissions officer three things about yourself, what would they be?
In other words, college admissions officers read thousands of applications, and if you are applying to schools for which you are qualified, they are undoubtedly looking at applicants with similar sets of scores, grades, and extracurriculars. How can you make an impression? How can you jump out of the pile? One way is to let the admissions committee know something about who you are that they have not already learned from your application. Authenticity is essential. Be yourself and be honest. Look into yourself and consider your unique qualities. What stories can you tell about your life, experiences, observations that would convey those qualities.
One more thing…the personal statement is never written in one sitting. It is a process, as is all good writing. So, have fun this summer, but also plan ahead so that you can start senior year with a flourish!