Help with a personal statement?

[Anonymous]

So I’m currently applying to grad school and I have no idea where to start on my personal statement. Do I do it in apa format? Am I supposed to set it up a certain way? I don't know. I’m stressing because things have been moving rather fast but I am completely prepared to study psych. I really want this and because I found out I was graduating last minute the amount of schools I have to apply to are super slim. Someone please help!! I am first generation to attend graduate school and I don't know what to do. Pointers please

[SnowedIn]

First, good for you for wanting to go to grad school! That's awesome.

Your first step needs to be to very clearly and focused read what they tell you do. I doubt it says only "write a personal statement." So read what they tell you and glean any information from it.

Then, it's a personal statement. Be authentic. Tell YOUR story. My guess is the school wants to learn about you, who you are, what makes you tick, and they want to use the personal statement to connect your previous academic achievements to the personal you and decide if you'll be a good fit for their school. So share who you are.

Then, write clearly and professionally. You don't have to be formal as if you were writing to the Supreme Court, but this isn't GaG or Insta or Snap or a Tik Tok short. It's academic. You can use your "voice" but use good grammar and check your spelling and your writing. This is where you go back to their instructions: unless they direct you to, you don't have to use APA or Chicago or any of the others. But, again, make it good writing.

Finally, be clear. Every great story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Great stories also have memorable characters. In this case the character is YOU. :)

In short, convince the school they can't live without you.

[Guy13]

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