Personal Statements- (OWL)

All of the following subjects should be avoided in a PERSONAL STATEMENT EXCEPT:

• religious

• academic

• political

• controversial

Cliches ________ be avoided. Chiches are ________

• should not, often-repeated or tired statements.

• should, often-repeated or over-used statements.

• should not, common expressions that everyone uses

• should , common expressions that everyone uses

All of the following are suggestions to writing a great personal statement EXCEPT:

• be specific

• tell a story

• find an angle

• be ambiguous

• use sensory language

Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, workshops you have attended in the _______ of personal statement

• introdudction

• body

• conclusion

• none of the above

The personal statement....

• demonstrates how personal qualities are compatible with a college/university

• does not have a clear focus

• will only be seen by one admissions officer

• may focus on more than one prompts

The personal statement is a _______ of your personal and educational experiences, values, and perspectives.

• thesis statement

• rhetorical analysis

• narrative essay

• argumentative essay

It is better to ____________ what your knowledge is rather than_______

• tell, show

• show, tell

• analyze, show

• show, analyze

An ________________________ tells a short, brief story and is highly recommended in starting of a personal statement

• synechdoche

• paradox

• dogma

• anecdote

A strong personal statement has a nice balance of __________, _________, and _____________experiences.

• past, present, future

• academic, personal, and social

• social, political, economic

• personal, reflective, global

All of the following are DO's during the writing of the personal statement EXCEPT:

• Narrow focus to one or two key themes, ideas or experiences

• Provide the reader with insight into what drives you

• Use sensory language like imagery, similes, metaphors

• Discuss negative experiences