Here are some words you should remove from your personal statement: “Passionate.” Possibly the most overused word when it comes to personal statements, “passionate” doesn’t tell admissions committees anything new or interesting about you. Instead, focus on conveying your unique experiences and qualities.
2. “Team player.” You’re a team player and can also work well individually? Great! But there’s no need to state the obvious in your personal statement.
3. “Watching TV.” We all like to relax with a good TV show sometimes, but this is not the place to mention it. Your personal statement should be about your experiences and goals, not your leisure activities.
4. “Extensive.” This word is often used redundantly, as in “I have an extensive knowledge of history.” Instead, simply state what you know: “I know a lot about history.”
5. “Also.” This word is unnecessary and can be safely removed from your sentence. For example, “I am also interested in art” can be rewritten as “I am interested in art.”
6. “Jokes and puns.” A sense of humor is great, but save the jokes for later. Your personal statement should be serious and professional.
7. “Expert.” Unless you are actually an expert in something, it’s best to avoid this word. It’s better to show than to tell, so focus on describing your experiences and accomplishments in detail.
8. “Overly long words.” Avoid using unnecessarily long or complicated words in your personal statement. Stick to clear, concise language that everyone can understand.
What should you not write your personal statement about?
Don’t use up valuable words with obvious statements. Write succinctly and explain points without repeating yourself.
2. Don’t tell the admissions tutor what they already know – instead, expand on how you’ve acquired certain skills and why they’re important.
How do you write a strong personal statement?
Read the instructions carefully. This will ensure that you are aware of what the admissions committee is looking for in your personal statement.
2. Focus on yourself. This is your opportunity to tell your story, so make sure that you are the main character.
3. Demonstrate your genuine interest and enthusiasm. The admissions committee wants to see that you are excited about the program and that you would be a dedicated student.
4. Start early. This will give you time to brainstorm, write, and edit your personal statement.
5. Explain any discrepancies in your application in your personal statement. This is your chance to address any concerns that the admissions committee may have.
6. Review good sentence and paragraph structure. This will help you to organize your thoughts and to present your argument in a clear and concise way.
7. Use the active voice. This will make your writing more engaging and will allow you to tell your story in a more personal way.
How do you avoid I in a personal statement?
Using the third-person or “it” constructions can help replace personal pronouns like “you” and “I”.
2. Such words also help reduce the word count of your essay and make it short and precise.
3. For example, if you write “I conclude that”, replace those words with “it could be concluded that”.
What activities look good on a personal statement?
You’ll want to include experiences like volunteering in a care home, hospice, or with charities.
2. Schemes like Young Enterprise are great to mention.
3. Hobbies like sports and music are great examples to include.
I Leon Thompson am a Human Resources Expert. I have worked in the field for over 15 years, and during that time I have gained invaluable experience and knowledge.
I am also a CV expert and Resume Expert, so I know what employers are looking for when they review applications. This gives me an advantage when helping clients to create resumes and CVs that will stand out from the crowd.