Happy Friday, Reader.
Before we jump in, today marks 25 years since September 11th, 2001. Today holds memories and meaning for many of us in the United States. Wherever you are, take care of yourself and the people around you.
This week, we’re covering personal statement stories.
Admit it: You’ve seen 30-second movie trailers and thought “got it, I’ve basically seen the whole thing.”
A reviewer often sees the same three or four personal statement openings multiple times a week. (The worst culprit is “I have always been passionate about…”)
Which is where the movie trailer situation strikes.
AI and Google say applicants need to tell a story, but they’ve never been the decision-makers reading hundreds of stories each year.
Here’s the truth.
It's likely reviewers have read a story like yours before.
Each applicant is unique, and most tend to reach for the same types of stories.
For young professionals, it might be a volunteer experience that opened their eyes, a college course that lit the spark, or a challenging project early in their career. I’ve even seen a list of accolades to prove their “worth” to the reviewer.
For seasoned professionals, it could be what triggered a forthcoming career change, or the realization they hit a “paper ceiling” and need this degree to get to where they're going.
These can all have their place when approached with a little creativity.
What the best statements have in common isn’t a more impressive story. It’s a more specific story.
The first paragraph – and especially the first line – signals to reviewers whether to skim or settle in for a solid read.
The best application essays I’ve ever read transported me to a different time and place, just like any great book or movie. A solid story pulls the reader in to feel like an invisible observer to a moment in the writer’s life.
Why is this so important?
A good story creates a personal connection with the reader – who then wants to see you succeed as the main character. In the case of graduate admissions, they’re an integral part of the next chapter, too.
When it’s time to write a (traditional) personal statement, here are a few action steps to choose your story:
Action Step 1: Pick a moment, not a whole experience.
Instead of “my two years serving with AmeriCorps,” choose one afternoon.
A specific scene with a beginning, middle, and an end.
This gives the reviewer something to watch unfold and get invested. In contrast, an overarching summary of those two years puts them in skim-mode.
Action Step 2: Choose a story only you can tell.
Resist reaching for the most “impressive” thing you’ve done unless it very clearly connects to why you’re applying to the program now.
Choose a moment that highlights who you actually are.
Maybe it’s:
- A decision you made that others wouldn’t have
- Something you witnessed that changed your course
- A problem you constantly think about and feel compelled to solve
If the takeaway is obvious after the first line, consider a different story or opening angle.
Action Step 3: Make the story a thread.
The strongest statements use the story to open and explain why they’re applying, then reference it again to close the loop.
To leave a good impression with reviewers, make it clear how the story started, what happened, and how it changed you.
Most importantly, this story should connect where you’ve been to what you’ll do in – and after – this specific program.
Story time.
Out of the thousands of applications and stories I’ve read, I still vividly remember one from early in my career.
The applicant opened with a scene from a volunteer experience in an assisted living facility, working with a single, elderly resident. One day, they shared uncommon wisdom that was oddly specific and related to what the applicant was considering for their future. The resident passed soon after. The experience solidified why the applicant wanted to pursue their field.
This structure easily could have fallen into the movie-trailer trap with a deathbed and final life lesson.
Instead, it drew me in through a common human experience – being with someone in their final days – then used that connection to jump into why they were applying.
It worked. I was thrilled to accept them.
What I'm working on ✍
This week I caught up with someone preparing to leave for Oxford.
I reviewed their personal statement last fall so it was an amazing, full-circle moment to hear what’s happened between their acceptance and preparing for what will be a life-changing experience.
We talked about how grueling of a process applying can be, especially when you’re working full-time. They also shared how it was 100% worth every late night preparing to go back to school at this point in their career.
I completely understand. Higher education, especially graduate school, changed everything for me. It’s now a privilege to help impact-driven professionals go from a blank page to the most exciting packing experience of their lives.
Before you write your personal statement, know this:
By approaching the story selection process with a clear strategy at the start, you’ll be way ahead of most applicants.
So few people take the time to reflect and choose the right moment that the effort alone will set you apart.
You can do this.
Thanks for being here,
Dr. Jena
P.S. Working on your personal statement and feeling like you have to mine every moment of your life to find the right one for a story? I’m here to help. As a thought partner, I can help you distill which of your life experiences best fit your specific application prompts, and also be a set of expert eyes through a personal statement review.