Feb 16 (edited) • 🎓 Strategy Posts
1️⃣ Personal Statement 101: What REALLY Matters?
Your personal statement isn’t just another essay—it’s your chance to show admissions officers who you are beyond your GPA, test scores, and activities. But what actually makes a great essay?
✅ What colleges WANT to see in your essay:
✔ A personal story – Not a list of achievements, but a moment that shaped you.
✔ Reflection & growth – Admissions officers don’t care what happened as much as what it meant to you and how you grew from it.
✔ Your natural voice – Forget formal, robotic writing. The best essays feel human and conversational.
✔ A clear takeaway – By the end of your essay, the reader should understand something meaningful about you, how it led you to who you are today and where you're heading
🚫 What to AVOID at all costs:
❌ Rewriting your resume – “I did this, then that, then this…” = forgettable.
❌ Forcing a dramatic story – You don’t need a life-changing tragedy to write a powerful essay, the best essays sometimes come from everyday moments.
❌ Being too vague – “I learned to work hard” isn’t compelling. Show how you learned it through vivid stories, events, emotions, and reflections.
❌ Trying to sound impressive – Big words don’t make a big impact. Your real, honest voice does.
💡 Here’s a quick test: If someone else could tell your story, it’s not unique enough yet. Your essay should only be yours—no one else could write it in the same way.
What’s your biggest struggle with writing your personal statement? Drop it in the comments & I’ll help! 👇
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1️⃣ Personal Statement 101: What REALLY Matters?
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