What is a Personal Statement?

The Personal Statement is the main essay you will send to all colleges you apply to through the Common App. The word limit is 650 words, and it's an essay where you convey your unique qualities, interests and values, providing colleges with insight into who you are and your potential impact on their community. It's a non-traditional essay that, instead of simply describing your accomplishments, should be reflective, creative and actually personal.

Why is Personal Statement Important?

US universities practice holistic admissions, which means they aim to get to know the whole you and understand your needs, values, and interests. Numbers don't reflect who you are as a person. Most applicants at top universities would have perfect GPAs, perfect SAT scores, perfect everything. However, universities are not looking for perfection; they are looking for someone who is a great fit. They want you to stand out, and the way to do so is by writing a unique essay. It's not about how perfect your English skills are but whether it comes from your heart!

🗣️ veronica says...

“Your Personal Statement is your best opportunity to stand out among thousands of other applicants. It's what the admissions committee will remember about you. While numbers aren't memorable, stories are.”

Personal Statement Essay Prompts

Most of the prompts are open-ended; therefore, you can choose any topic and frame it within one of the prompts below. Prompts do not change from year to year, which means you should start writing as soon as possible.

Common App announces 2024–2025 Common App essay prompts

  1. 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, then please share your story.
  2. 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?
  3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
  4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
  5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
  6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that 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?
  7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

5 elements of a successful Personal Statement

Even though every Personal Statement is highly individual and there is no "one size fits all" formula, there are some elements that most good essays have:

5 things to avoid in your Personal Statement

The following topics and elements will come across as red flags in your essay, so make sure to avoid them:

Examples of successful essays

🗣️ veronica says...

“While it's great to read other students' successful essays as they can give you an idea of what works and inspire you, it's also important to resist the temptation to copy. Instead, focus on your own ideas, thoughts, and reflections."

Two Essay Structures

Narrative Structure

Narrative structure in a college essay organizes thoughts and experiences in a chronological or logical sequence, typically with an introduction, body, and conclusion. As College Essay Guy explains, this structure works well for essays describing overcoming a challenge, following a format of: the challenge + what I did about it + what I learned. This approach guides the reader through a coherent journey, making it easy to follow.

Montage Structure

Montage structure describes a series of seemingly disconnected scenes, memories, or ideas that collectively create a unified theme. It’s a non-linear approach that jumps between different time periods, experiences, or perspectives, focusing on thematic connections rather than chronological order.

🗣️ veronica says...

“Neither structure is fundamentally better than the other. However, narrative structures can be easier to write, especially for international students who may not be as comfortable writing in English. The clear, chronological format of narrative essays can provide a helpful framework for organizing thoughts and expressing ideas coherently.”

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