Personal statements, in short, support your university application and is part of international student university admission requirements. A personal statement is unique to each student and should include the purpose of studying your chosen course.
Here are some frequently asked questions:
- Do all colleges/universities require personal statements?
- No. Certain college/university omits this document to ease the application process. However, most schools (USA, UK, AUS, CA) require a personal statement. Alternatively, a personal statement can act as a supporting document to showcase a student’s personality.
- What to include in a personal statement and structure?
- Think of it as an essay with an opening statement, body, and closing statement. Points to include but are not limited to: reasons to study, how are you more suitable than other candidates, related skills and hobbies, skills and achievements, etc. Check out this blog for more info! Additionally, the general rule of thumb for the length of a personal statement is 2-3 pages, double spaced, 12-pt, Times New Roman font.
- However, certain schools may have their own criteria in terms of what to include in a personal statement, length, etc. Do kindly check with your education counselors or check out the university’s course admission requirements for details.
- Can I submit one personal statement to multiple schools?
- You can, however, a personal statement should be tailored to each university/course. Writing a general personal statement is acceptable but may not be able to fully showcase your suitability as a candidate for the university/course.
Do note that it can be overwhelming to write a personal statement as you try to include as much information as you can. But be mindful that the university admissions team has to review multiple personal statements. Make sure it is not too lengthy, not too short, and be as truthful as you can. That said, sourcing another person to write on your behalf or paraphrasing other personal statements on the web is a strict no. You can get a second opinion from another person after completing your personal statement.
If you have further questions regarding personal statements, feel free to reach out to us for clarification. Happy writing!