Writing Your Personal Statement

Shayne & Katharine

Dr. Laura LyonsGuest Speaker

Agenda for Tonight

• What is a Personal Statement?

• Writing Your Personal Statement

• Timeline and Process

• Who would you admit?

What is a Personal Statement?

• Introduce Yourself

• Understand and Explain Yourself

• Set Yourself Apart

• Evaluation

Prompts are Specific to the Application

• William S. Richardson School of Law: Compose a personal statement on a subject of your choice. Many applicants write about their goals, achievements, influences, and their interest in our law school.

• AMCAS (Allopathic Medicine): Explain why you want to go to medical school. Some questions you may want to consider:

• Why have you selected the field of medicine?• What motivates you to learn more about medicine?• What do you want medical schools to know about you that

hasn't been disclosed in another section of the application?

Prompts are Specific to the Application

• PTCAS (Physical Therapy) - Describe your decision making process inchoosing physical therapy as a career choice versus other health care careers.

• PharmCAS (Pharmacy) - Your personal essay should address why you selected pharmacy as a career and how the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals.

Prompts are Specific to the ApplicationUHM MEPN Program (Nursing) - In your goal statement, please address the following:

• What you believe your previous academic and life experience will bring to: a) The nursing profession b) The specialty you have chosen to apply for

• Relevant personal qualities and experiences that have shaped your beliefs • Your immediate and long-term goals upon completion of the program

UHM Public Health Graduate Program: Include in your personal statement the following:(1) Your professional interests in the selected area of specialization (i.e., epidemiology, health

policy and management, or social and behavioral health sciences),(2) the public health relevance of your past and present academic / employment background and

its applicability to your career goals, (3) your reasons for seeking enrollment at the University of Hawai‘i public health program, and (4) your future career plans.

How Should I Write?

• Tell a STORY.• be honest• facts• show, don’t tell

•Write with YOUR voice.•reflection•professional

Brainstorming Activity!

Brainstorming Activity!

Pick one of the bullet points from one of the six boxes. Share your answers

to the following questions with the person next to you.

• What did you do?

• Why did you choose to do it?

• What have you learned from your experience?

• How has it changed you? How will you use it?

Important to Have a Plan!

12

3

4

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Write first draft of P.S.

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Write first draft of P.S.

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

4

First:

Warm Up! By…• Attending tonight’s workshop!

• Ways:• Online

• Books

• Other Resources• e.g. Writing center, Manoa

Career Center, etc.

• Look for strong, clear examples

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Write first draft of P.S.

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

4

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Write first draft of P.S.

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

4

Rewrite C.V. in Paragraph Form

RésuméCurriculum Vitae (C.V.)

Rewrite C.V. in Paragraph Form

Curriculum Vitae (C.V.)

Everything You’ve Done

Résumé

Targeted

Rewrite C.V. in Paragraph Form

Curriculum Vitae (C.V.)

Everything You’ve Done

Résumé

Targeted

Why Paragraphs on C.V.?

Reflect on Experiences Helps You Start

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Write first draft of P.S.

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

4

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Write first draft of P.S.

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

4

Revisit Paragraphs and Structure P.S.

Go back and see main points.• Recurring themes

• Especially important events

• Relevant events

Say your outline in 50 words or less!

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

Write first draft of P.S.

4

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

Write first draft of P.S.

4

Tip: Just write – Ignore Word Limit! Write what you have to write!

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

Write first draft of P.S.

4

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

Write first draft of P.S.

4

Get Feedback and Integrate

Letter Writers

Editors(e.g. Writing

Center)

Professionals;Advisors

Friends &Family

Yourself

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

Write first draft of P.S.

4

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

Write first draft of P.S.

4

Tip: Condense without losing any information!Make every word count!

C o n d e n s e T h i s:

Joe was an honest and hard working man. Basically, he never gave much consideration to sitting idly about, doing nothing constructive. (21 words)

Honest and hard working, Joe was never idle. (8 words)

Condensed!

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

Write first draft of P.S.

4

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Submit P.S.

Review mechanics

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

Write first draft of P.S.

4

Review Mechanics

• Professional & easy to read.

• Examples:• Grammar mistakes are very common, they’re hard to find.

• Every one of these mistakes appear unnoticed by many.

• Where are they at?

• Don’t try to fix this as you write! Just write the way you talk!

Review Mechanics

• Make it professional and easy to read.

• Examples:• Grammar mistakes are very common, so they’re hard to find.

• Every one of these mistakes appear unnoticed by many.

• Where are they at?

• Don’t try to fix this as you write! Just write the way you talk!

Commas need conjunctions!

(FANBOYS)

Review Mechanics

• Make it professional and easy to read.

• Examples:• Grammar mistakes are very common, so they’re hard to find.

• Every one of these mistakes appears unnoticed by many.

• Where are they at?

• Don’t try to fix this as you write! Just write the way you talk!

Subject & verb must agree!

Review Mechanics

• Make it professional and easy to read.

• Examples:• Grammar mistakes are very common, so they’re hard to find.

• Every one of these mistakes appears unnoticed by many.

• Where are they? (Delete at)

• Don’t try to fix this as you write! Just write the way you talk!

Avoid slang!

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Review mechanics

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

Write first draft of P.S.

Submit P.S.

4

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Review mechanics

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

Write first draft of P.S.

Submit P.S.

4

Tip: Type your P.S. in! Don’t copy + paste.

Tip: Read the FAQs!

From AMCAS (Allopathic Medicine):

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Review mechanics

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

Write first draft of P.S.

Submit P.S.

4

12

3

56

7

Rewrite C.V. in paragraph

form

Revisit paragraphs,

structure P.S.

Review mechanics

Condense P.S.

Timeline and Process

Integrate feedback

Get feedback

First:Learn what a

P.S. is and how to write a strong

one.

Write first draft of P.S.

Submit P.S.

4

Questions?

Admission Committee

Upcoming WorkshopsPractice for Your Interview!

WorkshopSeptember 26, QLC 412

@ 5:30pm-7:00pm

Researching Schools Workshop

October 2, QLC 412 @ 5:30pm-6:30pm

Thank You!Please turn in your

evaluations in the basket!