College Application Series - Part 7: COMMON APP PERSONAL STATEMENT
By Karen Treon
When students and families talk about the work of college applications, they are often referring to “the essays.” Here are some no nonsense reminders about “the essays” and the reality of submitting applications:
The “essay” we all hear so much about is the Personal Statement on the Common App. The maximum length of this Personal Statement is 650 words. That’s a little bit over one page, single-spaced. It is not War and Peace. That said, it is important and very deserving of focused attention.
There are seven Common App prompts from which students can choose. The prompts cover a lot of ground, and many college counselors and advisors suggest that students don’t worry about the prompts as much as the idea – students will find that their ideas fit into one of the prompts pretty easily.
A student’s goal in writing the Personal Statement is not to repeat what is already included elsewhere in the Common App or reiterate the strength of their academic record, but rather to show the readers who they are and what they would bring to a college community. If your student is struggling with this, encourage them to start with a “What? . . . So What? . . . Now What?” format. Sometimes students worry too much about the “what” – but it is really the “so what” and the “now what” that show growth and character.
Personal Statements can be creatively written, but they don’t have to be. They are very different from a five paragraph essay. If your student asks you to edit their Personal Statement, keep in mind that it is not an academic essay. The role of the editor is to point out grammar and syntax issues, identify areas that need clarified or developed, and MOST of all, to make sure that the Personal Statement truly sounds like your student. Authenticity is vital. An editor should also be checking that the Personal Statement is giving insight into the person writing it - not a person who inspired or motivated the student but who isn’t currently applying to college.
Some of our favorite resources on writing and essays are listed below. Four of the five sites listed offer consulting services for a fee, but they all provide high-quality, reliable free resources for applicants as well.
Pro Tip: Believe it or not, many seniors say (in hindsight) that they enjoyed the essay writing process and that they learned a lot about themselves. It doesn’t have to be miserable. Encourage your student to find blocks of writing time on a weekend, without distraction, and without other homework pressures weighing on them.
