Applying to college can be a daunting task, and one of the most important parts of the application is the personal statement.
This is your opportunity to show the admissions committee who you are and why you’d be a great addition to their college.
So how do you make your own personal statement shine and write a great college essay?
By using college personal statement examples as a guide!
College personal statement examples should guide the reader to the compelling style, concise content, and logical structure of their own document. Examples should illustrate academic referencing and transferable skills and bring out some of the writer’s personality.
In this post, I’ll give you three complete examples of personal statements for college applications from different students. That way, you’ll be able to judge the quality and effectiveness of your own application.
So whether you’re looking for sixth-form personal statement examples, college essays or university application ideas, this is the place to start.
Before we get to the college personal statement examples and unpick college admissions, let’s start with my three top tips on how to write a personal statement for college…
How to Write a Personal Statement for College
There’s lots of advice on this website about writing personal statements and making sure you get the help you need.
However, if I had to summarise how to write a personal statement for college, I would say the following three elements are the most important.
If you’re looking for success, follow these tips step by step…
Don’t List Qualifications – Explain the Value Of What You Know
When you’re writing a personal statement for college (or even a personal statement essay),
it’s important to remember that the admissions committee is looking for students who will add value to their community.
So what does that mean?
It doesn’t mean listing all of your qualifications and academic achievements. They’ll appear elsewhere in your application.
Instead, it means explaining the value of what you know. That’s how to impress a college admissions committee.
For example, if you’re a maths whiz, don’t just say, “I’m good at maths.” Explain how you use your maths skills to solve problems or help others.
Be specific about the value of the skills you have in relation to the course you’re applying for.
When you’re writing your personal statement, be specific about your experiences and accomplishments.
Don’t just say that you volunteer for a local organization.
Tell the admissions committee about a specific project you worked on and how it made a difference.
By being specific, you’ll not only capture the attention of the admissions committee, but you’ll also show them that you’re a well-rounded individual with a lot to offer their college.
Your Transferable Skills Are Key To Your Success
Transferable skills are important because they are the skills that will follow you no matter what college or career you choose.
They’re the skills that employers value, and they are the skills that will make you successful in any field.
They’re also the skills that will ensure that you survive and thrive at college. Showing an admissions committee you’ve got them already is a powerful strategy for success.
Some of the most common transferable skills include communication, problem-solving and teamwork.
These skills can be learned in a variety of ways, such as through coursework, extracurricular activities, and work experiences.
When writing your college application personal statement, be sure to highlight the transferable skills that you’ve acquired and how they’ve helped you in your academic and professional life.
Let Your Personality Shine Through!
When writing a personal statement for college, be sure to let your personality shine through. This is your chance to show the admissions committee who you are and why you would be a great addition to their college.
So how do you do that?
By being yourself!
Don’t try to be someone you’re not – the admissions committee will see right through it. Instead, write about the things that make you unique and tell your story in a way that’s true to you.
Your personal statement is an opportunity to tell a story about yourself. And the best stories are usually ones that illustrate a point or provide insight into your character.
For example, if you’re writing about an experience that shaped who you are today, tell the story of what happened and why it was important to you.
Above all, explain how it makes you a suitable candidate for the course.
By telling a story, you’ll not only engage the admissions committee, but you’ll also give them a better understanding of who you are and what you’re capable of.
It’s worth mentioning that a personal statement can get too personal, so don’t blur the boundaries between self-expression and keeping some formality in your application. Using software like Grammarly can help you keep your writing concise and compelling as well as accurate (just in case you get a little carried away).
Just hit the banner above to find out how Grammarly can help your college application.
Simple Ways to Begin And End A College Statement
When you’re writing a personal statement for college, getting the beginning and end right can be a challenge.
Don’t ever start writing your personal statement at the beginning, by the way. You can find lots of free advice on how to get going in my post about how to start a personal statement.
Here are some sample college personal statement examples for ways to begin and end your application…
Personal Statement for College Start and Finish 1
Personal Statement for College Start and Finish 2
Personal Statement for College Start and Finish 3
You can check out my full, free guide to writing compelling opening paragraphs here, or check out the link to my post on fantastic final paragraphs below.
College Personal Statement Examples to Download
Now that you know how to write a personal statement for college, it’s time to give you some college personal statement examples.
These examples will show you what other students have done and how they approached their personal statements. They’re great personal statement examples!
Use them as a guide, but don’t copy them – your personal statement should be unique to you.
College Personal Statement: Mechanical Engineering
Here’s a complete college personal statement example for Mechanical Engineering. It’s a valuable illustration of a writer who has made excellent connections between their academic experience and ambitions.
It’s worth reading if you’re considering writing a personal statement for college that covers design, innovation or practical subjects.
It’s also a clear example of how ambitions can be used to structure a college personal statement.
College Personal Statement: Environmental Geoscience
This example of how to write a personal statement for college does an excellent job of combining technical vocabulary and research. It has a substantial academic authenticity and balances arguments whilst keeping the writer’s achievements clear.
It’s worth reading if you’re writing a personal statement for college that revolves around the sciences. It’s also a fantastic model for any formal academic course.
There’s also a focus here on mining the value of previous experiences to look ahead to potential areas of future study.
That’s a great way to reassure an admissions team that you’re deserving of an offer.
College Personal Statement: Midwifery
The last of these college personal statement examples exemplifies the content needed if you’re looking at medicine, healthcare, or social services courses. The writer has focused on their own practical experiences, with enough reference to their academic background.
There’s lots of evidence of the value of transferable skills, including empathy, resilience and stamina. That’s vital for courses that require physical and emotional engagement.
As personal statement examples for college go, it’s also rich with examples of the writer’s practical experience of volunteering and working in allied fields.
Give it a read if you want to understand how to write a personal statement for college that combines practical skills, life experiences and academic value.
A Word About Sixth-Form Applications
The kind of personal statement you need if you’re applying for a sixth-form place is a little bit different. An institution like a sixth-form college or a boarding school often wants to know less about your career options and more about your co-curricular ideas.
A particular sixth form might be keen to hear about your future plans if it relates to the courses you’re planning on choosing, but sixth forms are more likely to want to hear about your study skills, extra courses you’ve completed and what you can contribute to the college.
You’ll need to think about how your educational ambitions connect with the college’s facilities and what the ethos and teaching style is. Then make sure you refer to them in your application.
If you need to see personal statement for sixth-form examples, there are plenty around, or you can check out my college examples on this page as a starting point.
Or discover how to use a personal statement template for college…
Write A Successful Personal Statement Today!
I hope this overview has helped you get started writing a personal statement for college. Just remember to enjoy the process, take your time and get as much feedback as possible.
Good luck with your college personal statement, and don’t forget to contact me if you’d like some 1-1 support.
You’ve got this! D
Research and content verified by Personal Statement Planet.
