You may not be familiar with the American practice of writing a personal essay to submit with your university application. Here are some tips on how to write an awesome essay!
Think of a great topic. Your essay topic should have personal meaning for you. It should reveal something about who you are, your values or interests, and how you are different from any other applicant. Write something about yourself that cannot be reflected by your grades, the list of classes that you’ve taken, or in any other part of your application. There are several questions you can ask yourself that will help you think of ideas: (1) what are you like? (2) What have you done? (3) What are your goals?
Write your essay. Good writing takes time. Don’t rush or expect to finish your essay in one afternoon. Pay special attention to the introduction. Draw in the reader so that he or she is interested in finding what the rest of your essay will reveal. Use simple words to express your ideas; you don’t have to use complex vocabulary words to show how much English you know. Use the language to express yourself, not to prove how smart you are. If you make a statement, give an example to demonstrate your point.
Take your time and ask for help. Leave yourself enough time so that you can stop working on your essay for a few days—even a week—and then come back to it. This will allow you to read your essay with a fresh perspective. Also, have your friends and family read your essay—they will be able to see things you’ve missed or neglected to mention. Have fun, take your time, be yourself and tell your story well!
Most applications will request the following information:
- Personal information—Include your name, age, address, family background, birthplace, citizenship, and so on.
- Activities—make a list of club memberships, awards earned, team sports experience, or leadership roles you have held.
- Education plan—Write a short essay explaining why you want to attend this school, what course of study you want to pursue, your career goals, and research plans.
- Essay—some schools require a personal essay on a topic of your choosing. See sidebar.
- Letters of recommendation—the application form will include several blank pages for your letters of recommendation. Ask several of your teachers to compose and mail these letters directly to the admissions office of each school you choose.
We hope our collection of personal statements provides inspiration for writing your own. Please do not copy them in any way, or University will penalise your application. Our Personal Statement Editing & Review Services are available if you feel you need a little extra help.
Download a sample essay
“Most schools require similar application materials from international students—the application, fee, official transcripts, a bank statement, and a copy of the student’s passport. Many schools also ask for essays from the applicant; it is important that students make these essays personal, and about themselves (not their accomplishments and or an elaborated CV). Have your essay proofread by a native English speaker.”
—Mary Meulblok, Manager, International Student Services, at Pierce College in Washington State
