A personal statement / Statement of purpose is an essential component of a scholarship application. It is an opportunity for the applicant to showcase their personality, background, achievements, and future goals in a way that goes beyond their academic transcript and resume. Here are tips you should put in mind.
- Read the instructions carefully: Before you start writing your personal statement, make sure you understand the guidelines and requirements of the scholarship/program.
- Brainstorm and outline: Take some time to reflect on your experiences, accomplishments, and aspirations. Jot down ideas and make an outline of the key points you want to cover in your personal statement. Consider how your personal story connects to the mission and values of the scholarship organization.
- Grab the reader’s attention: Your personal statement should begin with a strong opening that captures the reader’s attention and makes them want to keep reading. You can use a personal anecdote, a thought-provoking quote, or a rhetorical question to engage the reader.
- Highlight your strengths: Use specific examples to illustrate your strengths, such as leadership skills, academic achievements, community involvement, or work experience. Show how these experiences have shaped your character and prepared you for future success
- Be authentic and sincere: Your personal statement should reflect your unique voice and perspective. Avoid using clichés or overused phrases.
- Edit and proofread: Once you have written a draft of your personal statement, take the time to review and revise it. Look for grammatical errors, typos, and inconsistencies. Ask a friend or mentor to read it over and provide feedback. Make sure your final statement is polished and professional.
Here are some questions that can help you narrow down the content of your Statement of Purpose.
✔What do you want to study?
- Field
- Specialization
✔Why do you want to study that topic? (2 reasons)
- Goal - a job or interest or what is it?
✔How did you become interested in the above topic? (Establish with reasons)
✔What steps have you taken so far towards learning this topic?
- Any degrees, projects, courses, hackathons, or just anything specific.
✔How has your previous experience shaped your understanding of the subject?
- How have your previous choices helped you - specific outcomes
✔Why is a graduate degree the next step in your life?
- To learn the skill mentioned in the previous question
✔What specific things in our program
- Any specific professors in the college
- Any of the research labs/research interests of the professors that align with your interest
- Any courses that are offered that you think will help.
