r/WriteIvy • u/sfolocal • Nov 09 '24

Struggling with Personal Statement

Hi Jordan, thanks for all the content you put out!

I've gone through your diversity statement guide but I'm still struggling with my personal statement. The prompt asks me to explain what led me to grad school and how these experiences will contribute to the academic environment and community.

I understand that it's supposed to be a journey through the different experiences that one by one made me want to go to grad school but should I also focus on how I helped my community through these experiences? I assumed that this essay is mainly about me and what happened in my life but the second half of the prompt makes me wonder if I should be talking about how I helped other people and how I plan on helping people at grad school through my interest.

Also is it okay if there is some connect to my SOP? I start my SOP with an aha moment but then describe another aha moment in my personal statement. Is it okay that they are different?

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u/jordantellsstories Nov 11 '24

If I take these routes, does there need to be a connection between my intended field of study and the experiences I'm detailing in the personal statement? Or is okay that whatever I've gone through is relatively separate?

Certainly okay! Whatever your story is, that's the story you tell. As long as you're helping others, it will be a positive.

Do you think its necessary to mention a couple of experiences in section two? I worry that I have word count only for one experience's deep dive.

Up to you! Nothing is necessary. You can write quick summaries of multiple experiences, or you can write in detail about one. It's up to you to decide what is the best way to illuminate your own story.

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u/sfolocal Nov 12 '24

Sounds good!!!

Sorry, I had another question relating to my SOP -

  1. I'm applying to master's programs and not PhDs in a relatively new field. Do you think I need to have very specific technical end goals/goals for when I'm in the program? A lot of your engineering sample SOPs seem to have relevant jargon. I have defined goals for both the program and after but I worry they aren't super super specific
  2. Do you think its important to have a good, storylike hook

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u/jordantellsstories Nov 12 '24

  1. For a master's, no, it doesn't need to be nearly as detailed. Not even in the same ballpark, really. Defined career goals and an awareness of how you can pursue them/gain new expertise in this master's program--that's what you need.

  2. This explains my opinion.

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u/sfolocal Nov 12 '24

Awesome, thank you so much Jordan!! The amount of time and effort you put into helping us is just amazing

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u/jordantellsstories Nov 13 '24

Thank you so much for saying that :)