How to Prepare Personal Statement for Graduate School,安千里 浙江大学生物技术研究所 anzju.edu.cn 13645714976 (644976),要有的放矢，真实明白细致地讲述自己的理想、心路和特质。 要让自己心动才能打动别人，找到心动的蛛丝马迹，放大，洗脑，再愉悦地写出来。,Personal Statement,Personalize your statement Provide information and evidence of your achievements not available in the rest of your application materials (e. g. Do not simply restate what is on your CV) Be yourself; be specific; show how unique you are; distinguish yourself through your story Choosing something that you are passionate about and enjoy writing and talking about. Making the ordinary sound interesting, fresh, lively, and different,Personal Statement,If you have a straight-A GPA and a perfect GRE score, you dont have to worry about your personal statement. However, if you are in the borderline area, thats where the personal statement becomes very, very important. Read carefully and understand the instructions that each college program provides for the personal statement. Your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked by the graduate school. The questions are about extracurricular activities, motivation, challenges, commitment to the school.,Personal Statement for Graduate School,Personal Statement for Graduate School,State clearly why you want to be part of the program and give supporting information about your life and decision to enter the field. Focus on your specific interests and goals (short- and long-term goals) as they pertain to academics; link the interests to your long-term goals; how you developed them and how the graduate program matches your goals Include any academic achievements that distinguish you as a student Show the committee who you are as a person, not only how you perform academically,Personal Statement for Graduate School,Choose a few significant experiences from your life to discuss. Describe the actual experience briefly. Focus on discussing how each experience demonstrates important qualities such as curiosity, initiative, creativity, motivation, diligence and perseverance. Examples of valuable experiences include foreign travel, extra-curricular activities such as sports or volunteering and involvement in student union. Cover fewer experiences in depth; highlight how each experience that you describe has changed you. Focus on how it helped you to define goals, develop an appreciation or to identify a belief or value.,Write you life creatively to show intelligence,Whats special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story? Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school-and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants? What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you? What personal characteristics (e. g. integrity, persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?,Questions to ask yourself before you write,Stelzer 1997,What are your career goals? What experiences have shaped you or influenced your goals, and might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants? When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained? How have you learned about this field-through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?,Questions to ask yourself before you write,Stelzer 1997,If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (e. g. leadership, managerial skills), and how has that work contributed to your growth? What skills (e. g. leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess? Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (e. g. economic, familial, or physical) in your life? Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (e. g. great grades but mediocre GRE scores)?,Questions to ask yourself before you write,Stelzer 1997,Basic rules for effective personal statement,Clear Organized Special Professional Positive Substantive Creative Persuasive,Use phrases that simply and directly convey your meaning Do not sound sophisticated; do not over-elaborate; do not be too brief or superficial. Avoid overly common phrases and nonspecific information.,Clarity,You desire should be logical. The entire text should flow together in a logical order. Put the most important paragraph first; start with your motivations, give a creative and imaginative opening remark. Each paragraph convey a specific meaningful point. Put the most important sentences at the beginning and end of the paragraph. Relate Everything; use transitions between paragraphs,Organization,The middle section might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Evaluate experiences, rather than describe them; describe the actual experience briefly (summarize key points of your actual experience), focus on discussing how each experience demonstrates your qualities,