The following links are provided to give you tips on how to write an effective personal statement (as well as some tips if you really want to write a horrible personal statement), to offer you examples of personal statements that have worked and to direct you to ways you can assess your own personal statement essay(s).
Real Personal Statement Essays That Helped Students Get Accepted to College
"Essays That Worked" (Connecticut College in New London, CT)
Essays That Worked - Class of 2019 (Johns Hopkins University)
Advice on What To Do
1o Tips for Writing the College Application Essay (from U.S. News & World Report)
Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay (video)
Quiz: Should This Go in a College Application Essay? (from US News)
Advice on What Not To Do
The 7 Worst College Application Cliches & How to Avoid Them
The 7 Worst Types of College Admissions Essays
Eleven Essay Mistakes to Avoid Like the Plague
Five Ways to NOT Start Your College Application Essays
A Whole Folder with Resources?!?!
College Admissions Essay Resources Folder
Real Personal Statement Essays That Helped Students Get Accepted to College
"Essays That Worked" (Connecticut College in New London, CT)
- Make sure you also take a look at the "Why It Worked" comments below most of the essays at this link.
Essays That Worked - Class of 2019 (Johns Hopkins University)
Advice on What To Do
1o Tips for Writing the College Application Essay (from U.S. News & World Report)
Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay (video)
Quiz: Should This Go in a College Application Essay? (from US News)
- Don't forget to check out the links under each answer for more resources as you take this quiz.
Advice on What Not To Do
The 7 Worst College Application Cliches & How to Avoid Them
The 7 Worst Types of College Admissions Essays
Eleven Essay Mistakes to Avoid Like the Plague
Five Ways to NOT Start Your College Application Essays
A Whole Folder with Resources?!?!
College Admissions Essay Resources Folder
- This folder contains several great resources from Duke University (including a possible structure for a personal statement essay). It also contains real examples (some great, some pretty horrible) of students' personal statement essays. It might be a good idea to read and see which you think work and don't work. Once you've done that, check with me and we will see where we agree/disagree and can talk about why.