writing a personal statement for grad school

Successful Graduate School Personal Statement Examples
7 pro tips how to write a personal statement for grad schools
How long should a grad school personal statement be?
Example 1 – Personal statement that perfectly fits a psychology grad school
Example 2 – Great personal statement for an MBA or math grad school
Example 3 – Ideal brief personal statement for an engineering grad school
Can't find what you need in these personal statement examples?

Writing your graduate school personal statement may seem like a waste of your free time if you aren't familiar with this type of academic paper or admissions essay format. It's important because it sets the tone of your application. Although all personal statements are different, looking at some examples will help you brainstorm interesting ideas and show you what to avoid.

If you don't have an affinity for writing, but need a powerful personal statement, you'll need some professional help to win over the committee. Why not have experienced writers help you apply with just the right essay and save yourself the time and effort? Click below to order a sample – it's quick and easy.

7 pro tips how to write a personal statement for grad schools

Writing an essay, or motivation letter, can be a daunting task for the common student who wants to apply for grad school. That's usually because the student doesn't have any plan, structure, or purpose for the essay. If you want to impress the admissions committee and avoid any blunders, check out these easy tips.

Make your essays really unique and give them a purpose;
Get more information about specific requirements before you start;
Answer your prompt accurately;
Choose a central point for the essay and stick to it;
Explain why you're the best candidate;
Describe your excellent qualities and skills as a student;
Proofread and edit your essays.

How long should a grad school personal statement be?

When you apply for graduate programs, in time, you'll learn that the purpose of an admission essay is to focus on quality. Graduate school personal statement writing is an art form, and even those with lots of experience can only give you an average estimate – keep the essay around half a page long.

The writing process for the school application will depend on the student. Your essay needs to answer some crucial questions, and as you'll see in the grad school personal statement examples below, the most common essay is several paragraphs long. However, they can be as short as a single paragraph and still serve their purpose.

Example 1 – Personal statement that perfectly fits a psychology grad school

While I can't make a statement of knowing my entire life plan at this time, I'm sure that it will involve books and a university degree in one of your graduate programs. I started attending my college for undergraduate studies. After entering it as the English and Theater double major, I became interested in the first option very soon.

I liked the critical theory, and I have much to learn still. With my professor's encouragement, I could explore a deep analysis of the classical essay form and such non-classic works as romance novels, fan-authored fiction, and graphic novels. This course kept me constantly busy and my mind in check. The following year will be a final stroke. I was lucky enough to have a few odd jobs as a student:

Cast member;

Bartender;

Facility assistance in a local banking firm.

There were some jobs that stood out, including my editing position, blogging experiences in a non-profit theater, and freelance. Why were they special to me? They all dealt with something I liked, which is getting to the core of things and dissecting different texts. Creating a new world with my words was something great.

It took me one year to realize that a graduate school is a good choice for me to continue my journey and earn a degree. It's a unique chance to improve my writing skills and dive back into the literature and its countless intricacies.

I didn't think about where my adulthood would take me all those years ago. My sincere hope is that graduate education at this university can set me on the right path toward my future academic and career pursuits. At the moment, I consider a few possible directions for my studies:

Professional teaching career;

Future application to Ph.D. programs;

A career in book publishing.

What is my personal goal; my passion? I want to exhibit future and current work in conferences to become a part of the important literary discussion. I'm sure that the university addresses my needs and aspirations, and thank you for accepting my school application.

Example 2 – Great personal statement for an MBA or math grad school

Since I was a teen, I've always wanted to improve access to assistive technologies in all underserved communities. That's why my passion is developing accessible and affordable adaptive technology for children with special needs in educational settings in the years to come. The Engineering program is a leader in this field. Its focus on different needs of disadvantaged communities and the use of technology to improve the lives of people in need align with my interest in using skills to help others.

I'm good at science, technology, and mathematics. It wasn't until reaching high school that I felt free to dedicate myself to improving and developing assistive technology. The support of my mentors helped me to succeed. My brother needed the support of specific educational programs. His teachers and school administration did their best to assist him, but the lack of funding made it very hard to access the technology he needed.

My brother was lucky. The determination of our parents and dedicated school support enabled him to get the resources and assistance that he required to earn a degree. Many other children aren't lucky. If the expenses of developing essential technology are passed down to their families, they're left without any help at all. It's something that I want to change with my dedication to helping others, a flair for creativity, and technical expertise. That's why I decided to study engineering at this university.

By making important assistive technology accessible and affordable, more schools will be able to provide each student with the necessary services and ensure that children can thrive. I graduated at the top of my class and assisted the engineering department head in a research project on improving physical mobility in patients with functional movement disorders. I'm requesting admission to this engineering program. With its rigorous studies and support, I can earn an advanced degree and contribute to assistive technology development and make it more cost-efficient as a member of the community.

Example 3 – Ideal brief personal statement for an engineering grad school

A highly motivated and hardworking individual, who has recently completed their A-Levels, achieving excellent grades in both Maths and Science. Seeking an apprenticeship in the engineering industry to build upon a keen scientific interest and start a career as a maintenance engineer. The eventual career goal is to become a fully-qualified and experienced maintenance or electrical engineer, with the longer-term aspiration of moving into project management.

Can't find what you need in these personal statement examples?

There are certain things that make a winning grad school personal statement, or motivation letter, including:

Clear essay narrative;
Specific examples;
Good fit;
Strong writing;
Appropriate boundaries.

You can look at a sample and some tips for writing an impressive personal statement and impressing the admissions committee with a strong essay thesis.

However, if you feel that your talents lie elsewhere and you can't write a good admission essay yourself, feel free to get expert assistance. Hire qualified online writers who will provide you a professional writing sample in record time, and ask any questions you want, by clicking on the link below.