1.1 The Basics
What is a personal statement?
A personal statement is a piece of writing that is required by many colleges and universities in the United States meant to demonstrate skills, qualities, values, and interests the author will contribute to a college community. It is typically one essay that is written in such a way that it may be reused for a number of colleges and universities.
What’s the difference between a “college essay,” a “personal statement,” a “Common App essay” and “personal essay”?
I’m using all these terms to mean the same thing in this guide. 🤝
How many words is it?
It depends. Your main Common App essay can be up to 650 words, while supplemental essays that are required by some (but not all!) universities will vary.
How many essays will I need to write besides this one?
If you’re applying to selective colleges and universities, expect to write anywhere from 5-15 additional/supplemental essays, depending on how many schools you’re applying to.
What should my essay be about?
In a word, you. ✨ In this guide, I’ll show you how to do that.
What are college admissions officers looking for?
They want to know who the author is besides what has already been shared elsewhere in the application. They are also looking for positive qualities, which we’ll discuss in the Picking a Topic chapter, such as intellectual curiosity, leadership or initiative, service to others, collaboration, and consistent engagement.
How much do essays matter? Can an essay “get me in”?
This depends on the college, but generally an essay will matter more for selective colleges and universities trying to differentiate you among other well-qualified applicants. Rarely will a single essay be the thing that gets you in, but in many cases it can help.
If my grades are bad, can I get into Harvard with a great essay?
Nope. 😬 Colleges and universities will first look at your grades, course rigor, and (at some selective colleges and universities) your test scores as the main reasons to admit or deny your application. But if they’re comparing you to a student with a similar academic profile, that’s when essays can matter more.
Can a bad college essay negatively affect my application?
Yes. 💀
Can’t I just use AI to write a great essay?
Colleges are clear that the work you submit must be your own. 🤖 For that reason, I don’t recommend copying and pasting AI-generated writing into your application. While some students choose to use AI for editing or generating questions, that’s not the focus of this guide. (Who knows, maybe I’ll write that guide one day.) That said, this guide is designed to help you brainstorm, outline, and write your essays yourself. For more on what I think about using AI in the writing process, check out the Treasure Trove.