THE PERSONAL STATEMENT
FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION
What should it look like?
How long should it be?
What do the different major public
universities in our state want when it comes
to the Personal Statement?
How important is it, really?
It can be the “tie breaker” for admissions!
It is an opportunity for the school to get
to know you and want you!
What about appeals?
Bonnie McGuire, Director, Secondary Education
Tacoma Public Schools
253.571.1143; bmcguir@tacoma.k12.wa.us
PERSONAL STATEMENT INFORMATION
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WA AND OTHER COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES
Personal Statement
Your Personal Statement, a critical part of your application for admission and for scholarships, is a required part of your
admission file.
When you write your Personal Statement, tell UW about those aspects of your life that are not apparent from information
provided on your application or high school transcript. Tell them about the experiences that don't show up on your
transcript: a character-defining moment, a personal challenge faced, a hardship overcome, or the cultural awareness
you've developed. Your Personal Statement is the best means UW has of getting to know you.
All applicants must write on topic #1. In addition, applicants who find topics #2 and/or #3 to be relevant to their life
experience are encouraged to write an additional page or two. When a college says “optional,” take advantage and DO
IT. Your first statement may not be enough to push you into the “accepted for admission” pile. Definitely do one or both
of the optional statements. Optional is really code for, “Do this if you really, really want in.”
Required Topic
1.
Describe an event in your life that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
(No more than two pages, double-spaced.)
Supplemental Topics
2.
Describe any personal hardships or barriers you've had to overcome and explain how they have
affected your education.
3.
In the context of your life experience, describe your understanding of cultural differences, how
this awareness was acquired, and how it has affected you.
Format
Online Applications
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Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are considered, AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT.
You may cut and paste text from a word processing program (such as Microsoft Word), but some formatting may be
lost. Paragraph and line breaks will remain, but boldface, italics, and underlining will not be seen. Do not worry about
this!! The UW will read your personal statement carefully.
The length of your response to topic #1—before you paste it into the application window—must not be more than two
pages, word-processed or typed, and double-spaced. Responses to topics #2 or #3 may use an additional page or two
(no more than two, total!).
Paper Applications
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Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are considered, AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT.
Word process or type your response to topic #1 on 8.5" x 11" white paper. Double-space your lines, and use only one
side of the paper. Your statement should be no more than two pages; additional pages will not be accepted. You are
strongly encouraged to word process or type your response. Avoid hand-written presentations.
If you are not real skilled on the computer, write your paper in longhand, and have someone else type it or word
process it for you. This is totally ok!
If you choose to write on topics #2 or #3, add an additional page or two (no more than two!).
Print your name, the date, and the words "Personal Statement" at the top of each page, and attach the pages to your
application.
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WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
How does WWU use the Personal Statement?
Western notes: “We believe potential is measured by more than grades and test scores. Help us get to know you—what you’re good
at, what inspires you, what you stand for, and why Western is the right place for you to continue your education. Please note: the
number of questions you respond to is up to you [read—do all of them!]. *What do you want to make sure the admissions Committee
knows about you (explanation of academic record, passions/ interests, memorable experiences, defining moments, etc.) * If you are
interested in a particular academic area, tell us why. Do you have a dream job in mind? If so, we’d love to hear about it. *Tell us
how culture—either your own or your experience with others—has affected your outlook on the world. How have you contributed to
a multicultural community and/or how will you promote multiculturalism at Western or in your career?
CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
How does CWU use the Personal Statement?
The following questions are required to be answered by: Freshmen applicants with a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or less, or
those who are missing any core high school courses
• How have your past experiences influenced your academic record?
• What are you presently doing to ensure your academic success?
• What are your academic goals and how will CWU help you accomplish these goals?
You are encouraged [means do this!]to include your involvement and leadership contributions, in your home, school, or community
in your essay. Please write your essay on a separate sheet(s) of paper and attach to the application. Include your first and last name
and date of birth on each sheet of paper. No length is noted, so two pages would be good. [Write a statement, even if not required.]
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
How does ESU use the Personal Statement?
Eastern does not require but encourages (read: DO IT) students to provide a Personal Statement, and it could focus on any one of the
following: educational goals, significant experiences, school and community activities, multicultural experience, and/or other
information which the student feels is relevant to the application review process. Eastern would like to see a name and address on
each page of the document.
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
How does WSU use the Personal Statement?
WSU has six categories of questions to which you’ll respond. Your answer to each category is limited to no more than 110 words.
Leadership/group contributions: Describe examples of your leadership experience and share how you have significantly influenced
others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time. Consider responsibilities you have taken for initiatives in or
out of school.
Knowledge or creativity in a field: Describe any of your special interests and how you have developed knowledge in these areas.
Give examples of your creativity: the ability to see alternatives; take diverse perspectives; come up with many, varied, or original
ideas; or willingness to try new things.
Dealing with adversity: Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to address this
challenge. Include whether you turned to anyone in facing that challenge, the role that person played, and what you learned bout
yourself.
Community service: Explain what you have done to make your community a better place to live. Give examples of specific projects
in which you have been involved over time.
Handling system challenges: Describe your experiences facing or witnessing discrimination. Tell us how you responded and what
you learned from those experiences and how they prepared you to contribute to the WSU community.
Goals/task commitment: Articulate the goals you have established for yourself and your efforts to accomplish them. Give at least
one specific example that demonstrates your work ethic/diligence.
So, even if a school doesn’t require a Personal Statement, it’s a wise, wise idea to submit one with the application. If a student does an
on-line application and there’s no place for a Personal Statement to be submitted, then the Personal Statement
can be sent separately via regular mail. The student’s name and other identifying information should be on each page unless there
are other directions given by the college/university. Know the system; make sure the school knows your ethnicity and
how your culture and heritage contributes in positive ways to your life!
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HOW SHOULD YOU SOUND IN YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT?
You want your voice to be heard. While this is a formal application process, the UW and other colleges want to
get to know you on a personal level, and your personal statement gives them this opportunity.
Unlike most formal papers, the personal statement for college/university admission uses first person point of
view—I, me, we, us. Your statement becomes personalized through this point of view. Let your voice come
through. Take a look at the following opening paragraphs, and decide which one is more personal, where you
feel like you are getting to know the reader a little bit more.
A.
Losing one’s mother is a frightening and painful experience. When a parent is lost, sometimes hope and
strength seem to be lost as well. There are times when a person might feel he or she cannot go on
another day. Every day can be frightening and lonely, and this is especially true if there is only one
parent in the home when all of this hits. It is a lot like drowning in an unforgiving sea, and it is not
something most people have endured when they are sixteen. It is not something anyone that age should
have to experience. This type of experience can shape one’s character and one’s view of the future.
B.
When my mom died, I thought I would die, too. I was sixteen, and she had been diagnosed with breast
cancer the year before. Every day, I took care of her. My dad left us years and years ago, so it was just
the two of us. Every day when I woke up, I felt we were being pulled into the ocean to drown. Each
day, though, she gave me a reason to breathe. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing her, of missing her,
of not being able to talk to her. I couldn’t stand the thought of being alone. I was just a teenager, and it
was so unfair, and it was so wrong. She was only thirty-eight. How can any good come from this? I
asked myself this all the time. It has been two years since my mom died, and some good did come from
it. Taking care of her, loving her, and being part of her life while she was dying awakened something
inside me I didn’t know I had. I’ll explain.
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES OF THE PERSONAL STATEMENT?
a.
YOUR VOICE, WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. Your personal statement must sound like you, and it
must reflect your personality, sense of humor, and values.
b.
SPEAK TO THE TOPIC. Some applicants have made the mistake of describing someone else’s
experiences. For example: “My grandfather’s war experiences taught me unforgettable lessons.” Nope,
nope, nope. The question asks for an event in YOUR life. It is YOUR experience that must be
described, and it is YOUR experience that shaped or helped to develop YOUR character. Avoid talking
about how your character was shaped by someone else’s event, moment, or experience. Describe
YOURS.
c.
DO NOT STRAY FROM THE TOPIC. This is extremely important. Everything you write must be
directly related to the statement which is being requested. If you stray, you’re not following directions.
The direction is: “Describe an event in your life that either demonstrates your character or helped to
shape it.” Don’t go into other areas of discussion. When you are finished with your statement, have
others read it to see if you stuck to the topic. If you don’t follow the directions—writing about the
assigned topic—then this becomes an issue for admissions: Can a person be successful in college if he
or she does not follow this simple direction?
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d.
PERFECT, PERFECT, PERFECT WHEN IT COMES TO SPELLING, PUNCTUATION, AND
GRAMMAR. You must submit a personal statement that is error-free. You are asking a college or university to
accept you. You must show that you are ready for college. Sending in a statement that confuses pronouns,
doesn’t have correct subject-verb agreement, contains spelling errors, etc., will send the message that you don’t
really care about “details.” Well, colleges, universities, and employers care quite a bit about details, and it can be
a real deal-breaker. Have at least five people who are skilled in writing check your paper. Do NOT depend on
your peers. Depend on English teachers. Depend on school counselors who tell you they are good in writing.
Some counselors might say, “You know what, this is not my strong suit. Have Mr. or Mrs. So-and-So take a look
at this.” Listen to this advice. Your principal or assistant principal may be a great writer and may know exactly
what to look for. You may have a math teacher who is a cracker jack writer. You may have a science teacher
who has a minor in English. Find someone who really, really knows about the mechanics of writing to take a look
at your paper. Your peers are not college grads, and while they might be good at writing, they are not going to be
the best proofreaders when it comes to your college personal statement.
Give your proofreaders a lot of lead time to look at your paper, at least two weeks. Tell them by what day
you need it back. Make sure they have a clean, double-spaced copy, and let them know it’s ok for them to write
on the copy. (Be sure and send them a thank you note for doing this for you.)
WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU SHOULD DO?
Use first-person point of view.
Use a “voice” which is distinctly yours, one which shows your personality and insights.
Be on time with your paperwork.
Turn in a paper which is completely error-free.
Stick exactly to what the directions tell you to do.
Don’t be afraid of what you might want to say—sometimes the most interesting themes are those you might not
think of right away.
Be original and thoughtful.
Approach this paper with insight.
Show depth and maturity. Focus on what you think and feel deep inside.
Write a paper that sounds like you, not like someone else. (Admissions officers can tell pretty quickly if someone
other than the student wrote the paper.)
If you are part of an under-represented group, somehow include this in your Personal Statement! Public colleges
and universities in Washington cannot “add points” or ask for race or ethnicity when it comes to admission, but
they do want under-represented students to be accepted. If you are African-American, Islander, Latino, or if you
are from another under-represented group, somehow, let the school know this through your Personal Statement!
WHAT ARE THE DO-NOTS?
Do not have any errors in your paper.
Do not use any profanity.
Do not stray from the topic.
Do not turn in your paperwork late.
Do not stray from the directions.
Do not exceed the page limitation—if the directions say two pages, don’t go over two pages.
Do not have your friends proofread your paper—have qualified professionals do this for you.
Do not assume what you think the admissions folks want to hear. They want to hear you.
And if you really need someone to look over your paper, let your Guidance Counselor know.
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Appeal Process—from UW, Seattle
Who can petition for appeal?
Any denied applicant may appeal. Generally, applicants petition if they believe their academic or personal circumstances
would not be considered adequately through the standard admission review process or that an error occurred in the
application review.
Waitlisted applicants
Some waitlisted freshmen may wish to appeal. UW does not encourage a petition at this time because no final decision
has been made on the application.
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If you do appeal, and the request is denied, you will remain on the waitlist until a final decision is made. If you are later
denied from the waitlist, you may not appeal again.
How does an applicant petition for appeal?
The applicant must submit his/her appeal in writing, preferably typed and no longer than three pages. You may send it by
postal mail or fax; you can also hand-deliver in person.
—A petition sent by postal mail or fax should bear your signature.
—UW does not interview petitioners, but applicant may speak with an admission counselor if there are questions.
—The committee does not review artwork or writing samples.
The body of appeal
The body of appeal should explain the applicant’s reason for seeking reconsideration.
—Petition should be clear and concise in presenting case for admission.
—Keep in mind that the admission committee has already reviewed the applicant’s entire file and expected
applicant to present everything of significance in the initial application.
—If applicant believes the committee missed something of importance, applicant may direct committee’s
attention to it again.
Where does petition go?
—Send petition with the words “Attn: AC Petition” in the lower left corner of the envelope or “Letter of petition” as the
title in a fax.
—List the following info for identification: Applicant name, address, quarter/year of application and type of application
(typically, this is “freshman application).
—Mailing address:
University of Washington
Office of Admissions
1410 NE Campus Parkway; Box 355852
Seattle, WA 98195-5852
Attn: AC Petition (lower left corner of the envelope)
—Fax: 206.685.3655
—In person: 1410 NE Campus Parkway, Room 320. Mon. through Fri., 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.
What factors are considered?
Applicant can include any information he/she thinks is important, but usually petitions address relevant items
from the list below:
—Why do you think you are an excellent candidate for the UW, Seattle?
—Why do you believe you need to be at the UW, Seattle? Why, at this time?
—If your overall academic record is not as strong as it could be, why do you think it is a poor predictor of
your future performance? Explain your academic record fully and tell us how you plan to be a successful student
at the UW. Your explanation might include (but is not limited to) a discussion of circumstances
and hardships, such as personal or family illness, factors related to a disability, or familial or cultural
barriers that may have affected your academic performance and record.
—If you are inadmissible because you have not completed all core subject requirements (as explained in your
denial letter), why were you unable to satisfy these requirements? How do you plan to complete this course
work once enrolled at the UW?
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