Graduate School Personal Statement (or Statement of Interest)

While your GRE test scores are important for getting into graduate school, the other parts of your graduate application such as your GPA, letters of recommendation, and personal statement are also crucial in earning admission into the graduate school of your choice.

What is a Personal Statement?

Your graduate school personal statement, also known as statement of interest, is your chance to convince graduate admissions committees that you have potential to do well and contribute in their program. It's usually about one page at size 11pt and single-spaced.

The good news about the personal statement is that you have the freedom to write whatever you want. The bad news about a personal statement is that you have the freedom to write whatever you want. On one hand you have the chance to put in a good word for yourself while on the other hand, you might make yourself look bad if your statement is poorly written! Be careful.

What to Write in a Personal Statement

When you're writing your personal statement, keep in mind what admissions committees are looking for--potential and an eagerness to learn. Include in your personal statement why you are qualified as well as what you intend to do as a student.

What area do you intend to specialize in? Have you had any work experience in your field of study? What research topics would you like to pursue? These are all good questions you can answer in your statement. Be sincere. Admissions committess can tell if you're just blowing steam.

What not to Include in a Personal Statement

One last thing to remember is that graduate schools will have the rest of your application in front of them when they're reading your statement of interest. Hence, you don't need to repeat things that can be found elsewhere in your application (like your GPA or courses you've taken).

Your personal statement is for everything else about you that can't be described just by filling in a blank.