How to write Personal Statement for Scholarship
There is nothing which can guarantee you to avail or win scholarship but there are a lot of documents which can cause you to lose your scholarship opportunity. Statement of purpose is one of those. A well crafted personal statement can distinguish you from thousands of other applicants and showcase your unique qualities and characteristics, which make you ahead of them. Check out our personal statement sample below.
Personal Statement Format: Outline
Your personal statement should be well structured and written to make you stand out from the rest of the applicants. The statement should present a picture of you as a person, a student and a potential scholarship recipient. It is an opportunity to share your story.
It must be crafted in 4-6 paragraphs under the main headings
Add one paragraph only under this heading. Tell about yourself
Add two paragraphs under this heading and connect with your reader here.
Add two paragraphs under this heading. Try to persuade him/her and convince him that you are a best fit.
How to write a Personal Statement outline
Introduction
Be engaging, Adopt captivating style of writing, tell who you are ? Where are you based? Your background. Tell some incident associated with your life or state the circumstances affecting your financial needs.
Body
Write why you are the best candidate for the scholarship? What have you done so far? Why did you choose to attend this college? What is your major? How did you choose your major? What are your positive qualities, accomplishments, work experience, internships, volunteer work, leadership experience, extracurricular activities, personal problems you have overcome, etc.?
Connect your goals with the opportunities receiving the scholarship will provide. What are your future plans? Be specific about your plans for pursuing your goals. Where do you plan to transfer? What is the highest degree that you plan to achieve? i.e. Associate, Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D. What are your career goals? How do you plan to use your education to achieve your career goals? Explain the importance of your major in today’s society
Conclusion
This is now your last chance to persuade or convince the reader that only you are the best fit for this scholarship opportunity. Recap all your characteristics to make sure the reader gets convinced.
Tips For Personal Statement
Tips for Personal Statement are following. Follow all Tips as they seem lighten but they effect heavily in your personal statement
Strategies
2- it should be less than 200 words or below 600 words
3- Must take experienced writer’s proofread
4- Strike a balance between personal and professional life while writing personal statement
5- Be Accurate
6- Be Engaging
7- Follow Rules , Sometimes the college you are applying into, has shared guidelines to follow for personal statements
Personal Statement Sample: Example
Introduction
In the bustling city of Sialkot, I, Fakhra Aslam, find myself standing at the crossroads of aspiration and opportunity. Hailing from a modest background, my journey has been shaped by persistence and a passionate desire for education. An incident engraved in my memory involves overcoming financial hurdles that threatened to crash my academic pursuits. I was in the middle of these circumstances then i discovered that i have to get out of it and avail opportunity with burning determination and passion of mine.
Body
As I vie for this scholarship, I embody a candidate driven not just by academic excellence but a profound passion for Data Science. Throughout my academic journey, I have demonstrated my commitment through active participation in open seminars about the said field, showcasing leadership in projects and exhibitions, and contributing meaningfully to my community through volunteer work at DataCorps. My choice to attend MIT Sloan School of Management is a result of its stellar reputation in Data Science and its commitment to fostering innovative thinkers.
My major in Data Science was a deliberate choice, rooted in my fascination with Machine Learning Algorithms. This fascination transformed into a dedication to harness the knowledge and skills offered by Data Science to address contemporary societal challenges. My positive qualities, including adaptability, perseverance, and a collaborative spirit, have been honed through internship projects, affirming my suitability for this scholarship.
Connect Your Goals with Opportunities:
This scholarship is not just financial support; it’s a gateway to my future aspirations. With a meticulous plan, I intend to transfer to MIT Sloan School of Management to pursue a Masters in Data Sciences. Armed with this education, I aim to become a data scientist, contributing meaningfully to society. The relevance of my major in today’s society is underscored by its potential to health care, urban planning and criminal investigation etc.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I stand before you as evidence of resilience, dedication, and the resolute pursuit of knowledge. This scholarship is not merely a financial aid opportunity, it’s an investment in a vision. As I embark on this transformative educational path, I am not just seeking financial support; I am seeking a partnership in realizing dreams and leaving a lasting mark on the world. I am confident that, given the chance, I will not only meet but exceed the expectations associated with this scholarship, and in doing so, make both the scholarship committee and myself proud.
Final Advice
Writing a personal statement for graduate school is only one piece of the application puzzle. But it’s more than that. It’s an opportunity to show your chosen school your writing expertise, your passion for your subject, and who you are as a person. Keep in mind what the application is asking you for and what you’re trying to tell them. Take time to edit carefully, and your essay could potentially set your application apart.
