At EssayRep, we aim to discuss all about essay writing, no matter the type or length. So, it really should not be surprising that we’re talking about the Personal Statement - one of the most important essays you will probably write in your life. But shockingly, there are quite a number of students or ex-students that do not consider the Personal Statement as an essay. Instead, they consider it as a compilation of sorts - a compilation of your personal details, activities or achievements. This mentality can only hamper the overall feel of your Personal Statement.

By first treating the Personal Statement as an essay, you will be taking the first step in “transcending” the general listing format of mediocre Personal Statements. As an essay, the Personal Statement then becomes a vehicle through which you can actually express you think and what you feel. But treating the Personal Statement as an essay alone is insufficient today. There are many other factors that can contribute towards a good Personal Statement.

In the early years, much could be gained by adding the “ooomph” factor to your Personal Statements - style, elegance and deep insight. However, today, too much style and too polished an essay could end up causing readers to dismiss the essay as an aided one - especially if the writer’s educational background does not seem to match the quality of the essay. And they probably would not be wrong given the large number of consultants and pay-per-essay repositories available on the internet.

So, what is the solution? Honing your essay writing skills naturally, spending substantial time on the Personal Statement, sticking to real experiences, keeping to essay writing techniques that you have mastered and adhering to common essay writing rules are among the steps you can take. Selecting the right type of Personal Statement is equally, if not more important. Not everybody has the necessary background and ability to write a deeply reflective or highly insightful essay after all.

There is nothing to fear though if you cannot write what people call the ideal Personal Statement. Do not forget that all your prospective readers want from your Personal Statement is a good look at your character and your potential. You do not need a perfect Personal Statement to do that.

With all the admissions consultants and pay-for-essay websites floating around these days, it is not surprising to hear that university admissions officers are paying more attention on substance rather than style. What they want from a personal essay is deep insight into the character of the writer. Today, too slick a package, and admissions officers start getting suspicious.

Of course, this is the same whether we are talking about undergraduate or graduate admissions, but it seems we’re seeing more of such “unnecessary” resources being used in graduate admissions - a stage where applicants generally have more money at their disposal.

So, their (admissions officers) advice is to stick to your own writing skills, spend lots of time on the essay, and get someone close to proofread it for you. In my humble opinion, that kind of generalised advice is precisely why so many well-to-do applicants turn to admissions consultants, but I suppose there is really no way around the problem. Worse still, as universities become more discriminating (academically and essay-wise), more and more students will turn to “help” - no matter where they have to get it from.

[News via The Ticker]

While most people consider essays to contain either mere fantasies (in the case of fiction), or cold, hard facts (in the case of non-fiction), the content of essays can also be an indicator of the writer’s mental and emotional state. This fact has long been used by test graders across the United States to check for signs of child abuse, depression or even threats of violence.

But it seems that only recently (i.e. since the 1999 Columbine High School incident) has more stress and sensitivity been placed on this kind of “mental and emotional screening”. In fact, since the September 11 terrorist attacks, more and more of these “crisis papers” are appearing.

The interesting thing about this is that not only can you see the mental and emotional state of the writer from essays, but also from any form of written response, such as math or science questions - though the conclusions drawn are far more limited.

So, perk up when you’re writing your essays. After all, you never know when you’ll be recommended for counseling for writing an angst-filled essay in your exams.

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