UCLA Undergraduate Writing Center Writing Personal Statements
PERSONAL STATEMENTS and STATEMENTS OF PURPOSE
Personal statements and statements of purpose are ways for graduate admissions committees
(usually made up of program faculty and current graduate students) to learn more about you as
an applicant. It is your chance to “sell” your abilities and to tell your story.
Like the personal statement you wrote to get into UCLA, the graduate school personal
statement allows you to give a more complete picture of yourself than can be gleaned from
your transcript and CV or resume. However, unlike your UCLA personal statement, the personal
statement or statement of purpose for graduate or professional school should highlight what
interests you about the program AND what you will contribute to their program in terms of
research, seminar discussions, conferences and other collaborative opportunities.
Central questions you should answer in your graduate school personal statement or statement
of purpose:
• What interests and qualifications make you the ideal applicant for this program?
• Why are you pursuing a career in this field?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. HOW LONG SHOULD MY PERSONAL STATEMENT BE? Many personal statements for
professional schools have a character limit. Personal statements for graduate school, however,
are usually between 2-3 pages long 1.5 or double-spaced with regular margins and in easy to
read font (Calibri, Times New Roman, etc.).
2. CAN I USE THE SAME PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR EVERY INSTITUTION I AM APPLYING TO?
The personal statement needs to be targeted to each individual school, relating your
experiences and qualifications to each individual institution. Make sure the reader knows why
you are choosing their school and their program and that you have read and answering the
specific questions they have posed.
3. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PERSONAL STATEMENT AND THE STATEMENT OF
PURPOSE?
Personal Statement
Statement of Purpose
storytelling of experiences related to who
you are & how they shaped your interest in
the field
Focuses on your reasons for applying; include
professional & intellectual & research
interests and the expertise you have gained
UCLA Undergraduate Writing Center Writing Personal Statements
GENERAL GUIDELINES for
PERSONAL STATEMENTS
STATEMENTS of PURPOSE
TELL A STORY: For personal statements,
engage the reader, use a writing style that is
fresh and active. Don’t be afraid to use
dialogue and descriptive language. Back up
statements with examples and details.
SHOW THAT YOU KNOW SOMETHING: The
main section explains what you know and who
you are. Show knowledge of your field (e.g., a
specific research focus) or your profession.
Show how you will impact the field, or what
has impacted you in the pursuit of your field.
HAVE AN ANGLE: Even if your life has been
less than dramatic, you still have a story to
tell. The best approach to the “angle” is to find
a THEME that can unify all your paragraphs.
FOCUS ON YOUR SPECIFIC RESEARCH or
PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS WITHIN A
PARTICULAR FIELD: Detail how your academic
and professional experiences have developed
those research or professional interests and
prepared you to pursue them at a higher
academic level. Include courses, experts
whose work you admire or aligns with your
interests, and factors such as internship
opportunities or opportunities provided by the
school’s location
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO YOUR “LEAD”: In
the first paragraph, you will either grab
attention or you will lose it. Use the lead to set
the tone and direction for the statement.
Note: the lead can, but does not have to be an
attention grabbing story. The goal of the lead
is for the readers to know who you are and
what your goal is by the end of the first
paragraph.
YOUR RESEARCH INTERESTS & THE
PROGRAM: Explain how your research
interests can be pursued at this particular
institution in this particular program.
GENERAL GUIDELINES for BOTH PERSONAL STATEMENTS and STATEMENTS of
PURPOSE
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED: Lots of schools may ask for similar information,
but not all are the same. Use different statements for different schools, depending on the
requirements.
BE VERY WARY OF SOME TOPICS: Accomplishments that happened in high school are generally
irrelevant. Do not be controversial. Your content choice speaks volumes about your general
judgment.
AVOID CLICHÉS: Statements like, “I like science” or “I want to help people,” aren’t specific
enough reasons to pursue a graduate or professional degree.
UCLA Undergraduate Writing Center Writing Personal Statements
DO YOUR RESEARCH: What sets that particular program apart? Why does that program attract
you?
STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU CAN OFFER: What can you offer them?
PERFECTION IS A MUST: Be meticulous and thorough with your editing.
WATCH OUT FOR ‘I’ STATEMENTS: Be careful that every statement does not begin with ‘I’. Vary
the sentence beginnings – one way to do this is to focus on the program and the field.
AVOID:
Simply listing or telling stories about all the points that can be found in your resume or CV.
Sounding defensive or self-pitying. Instead, take responsibility for challenging or difficult life
circumstances and show how you have grown as a person and as a potential candidate.
Preaching to your reader or telling them information that they already know. E.g., don’t
summarize the research of a professor in the program you are applying to. They know what
they have done.
Talking about money as a motivating factor in your decision making process.
SAMPLE PERSONAL STATEMENT PROMPTS
Below are some sample prompts for personal statements from common fields of graduate
study. These prompts were adapted from actual prompts by programs in these fields. Notice
how some are purposefully vague while others are very specific. Do you notice any overarching
themes or commonalities in these prompts?
Medical School:
Use this section of the application to compose a personal essay explaining why you want to
study the field of medicine.
Law School:
Please provide a separate essay not to exceed two double-spaced typed pages using 12
point font. In this essay you may discuss any attributes, experiences, or interests that would
enable you to make a distinctive contribution to the law school and/or the legal profession.
Business School:
Essay #1: In 600 words or less, briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on
your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing an MBA.
Essay #2: Complete the following statement, ‘people may be surprised to learn that I…’
Essay #3: Tell us about an accomplishment you are proud of and how it relates to the
person you are.
PhD in Humanities:
Applicants should describe their research interests and professional objectives and how this
program is a good match for their interests. While there is no prescribed length, statements
are generally 1-2 pages single spaced.
UCLA Undergraduate Writing Center Writing Personal Statements
SOURCES:
DePaul University Career Center. (n.d.) Preparing personal statements for graduate school
and professional programs.
depaulcareercenterPreparing%20Personal%20Statements%205-31-12.pdf.
Ohio Wesleyan University Writing Center. (2011). Sample scholarship personal essays and
research proposals. Sample-Scholarship-Personal-Essays-and-Research-
Proposals.pdf.
University of Central Missouri Career Services. (n.d.) The personal statement.
PersonalStatementucmo%20(1).pdf
UCLA Undergraduate Writing Center Writing Personal Statements
