Five steps to writing your personal statement Writing the personal statement can be one of the most challenging tasks among those required for graduate school admission. This task requires you to reflect upon your life and determine the experiences leading to your desire for further study in your chosen field. Step 1 What is special, unique, distinctive or impressive about you or your life? When did you originally become interested in this field of study? What are your career goals? Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record you should explain? Have you overcome any unusual obstacles? What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you? Step 2 Do you notice a repeated positive theme in your answers? If not, you might ask a trustworthy reader to peruse your answers and offer thematic suggestions. Keep in mind that the format for your personal statement will likely be that of a story and you will not only want to catch but also maintain reader interest. Step 3: In Donald Asher's 1991 edition of Graduate Admissions Essays - What Works, What Doesn't, and Why he cautions writers against entering the Essay Hall of Shame: Errors and sloppiness, misspellings, even an occasional handwritten essay. You have to wonder how they made the grades on transcripts. Spelling errors, poor English. Anything that starts out, "I've always wanted to be a ___________." We ask for dates on activities. It's a red flag if all the activities are brand new. A whole essay on deep personal problems or excuses for past performance. It's amazing how common that is. The essay should be upbeat, convincing and persuasive. Too long. It shows no discipline. Don't tell me what ___________is. I know what my own discipline is! What can they be thinking? Tell me what____________means to you. Source: Richard J. Stelzer's How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School, 3rd Edition, published by Peterson's, 1997.