Writing your personal statement (aka the Common App essay) is ultimately… well, personal. Your college essay should be a distinctive reflection of your personality and values, and as such, it won’t necessarily work in the same way as someone else’s.

But with that said, there is one key objective that is shared by every personal statement: to make an impact on the admissions officers who read it. And just like admissions officers, each of our essay coaches has their own sense of which kinds of essays tend to stick with them and leave a powerful impression year to year. 

For this blog, we asked some of our team members to share their opinions on what makes a personal statement memorable and impactful. Their answers are below; we hope they inspire you!

Jordan Holmes

My favorite kinds of personal statements showcase the student’s ability to be introspective and answer the question “So, what?” You went to the place, you did the thing; what did you take away from this experience? How has it or will it play out in other places in your life? Answering these questions takes a personal statement to the next level and allows me to get to know students on a deeper level than just recounting a story would. Learning how to thoughtfully reflect is key to the college experience. Showcasing your ability to do this in high school will only help you be more successful in the admission process and in college. 

Teddy Allor

A great personal statement is like putting on a VR headset. Essays that create a personal connection by transporting me into a student’s experience or allowing me to see a situation from their perspective are the ones that stay with me. Sensory details, emotions, and specific memories make a writer feel relatable and real. For me, a personal statement succeeds when it makes me root for the writer and believe in their journey.

Alyssa Coltrain

I’ve said before that so much of a student’s college experience is what they make of it and how they engage with the other people and resources that they have on campus. In some ways, my favorite personal statements are the ones that do exactly that. I love essays that allow me to see who a student is going to be on campus. What kind of roommate are they going to be? What kind of lab partner, friend, and study group member? Essays that show a student engaging with the world around them in high school allow me to picture them doing the same in college. 

Eric Karlan

“Change how I see the world.” It sounds so grandiose, but it’s really not. I have had a student write an essay about her obsession with pink; another student wrote about their snow globe collection; another wrote about why they microwave waffles for a specific amount of time. Needless to say, I don’t look at the color pink or snow globes the same way, and I am much more intentional about how much time I input into the microwave. Any student can change how I see the world because even the smallest things can be profound. And when I see the world through a student’s eyes, a personal connection is made. That, ultimately, is the goal. After all: Admissions officers are people. People accept other people. 

Angelica Wekwete

My favorite personal statements tell me how a student nurtures what is most important to them. I don’t want to just know what is most important to a student. I love understanding how students interact with the people, places, or things that mean the most to them. Who a student is, what makes them unique, and what they will contribute, shows in what they give their time to and pour their hearts into.

Karan Shah

My favorite personal statements are when students are able to show passion for projects that are completely outside of the scope of their normal activities. Whether their project covers art or science, students who go really in-depth about how they embarked on their projects and the results of their projects end up with amazing personal statements. The reader really gets to learn about their interests, skills, and passion. Even if the project is one that the reader would never pursue, the reader can appreciate the love and hard work the student put in. ‘Nerd out’ about the projects that you love!

Lech Harris

I love a personal statement that gets specific. Why? Because your individuality lives in the specifics. Take any meaningful story from your life and summarize it in a general way: guaranteed, there are lots of other people who could tell that same basic story about themselves. But if you dial up the resolution, and tell that story in a way that gives me all of the detail, the particularity, the texture of that experience… that’s a story that no one could tell but you.

Taralyn Torrini

I love it when students put their hearts and souls to paper. The essays that move me the most are ones in which students show exactly who they are and what makes them distinct. It could be their life circumstances, a passion or hobby, or a driving goal that defines them and their future. Whatever it is, seeing that conviction and determination is inspiring.

 

If you’re currently wrapping up your junior year, then this summer is the perfect time to start YOUR personal statement. Ready to get started with us? Let’s go!