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In our new series, Inside the Personal Statement Process, we’re taking you behind the scenes with Alisha, a current high school senior working through applications right now. If you've ever wondered what it's like working with Ethan in a session, this is the podcast for you!
You might remember a similar series last season with Cassidy, where we got to see her whole application process. Rather than focus on the whole application, I wanted to just dive specifically into working with Alisha through the personal statement process.
In Part 1, Alisha and I get into:
How did Alisha approach brainstorming and outlining for her personal statement?
What brainstorming activities helped Alisha to pick her topic?
Reading through Alisha’s first draft of her personal statement
Creating a reverse outline of Alisha’s first draft to set her up for writing the second draft
And more!
Alisha is a current high school senior going through the application process who loves science, movies, and discovering new places. When she’s not studying the brain, she’s mentoring younger students through her program Running Start or planning her next adventure.
We hope you enjoy our session!
Play-by-play
1:55 – Getting to know Alisha through her brainstorming materials
2:17 – Values
3:18 – “I love, I know” exercise
5:40 – Superpowers
6:40 – Career interests
12:07 – “Roles and Identities” exercise
15:17 – “Essence Objects” exercise
17:45 – Alisha’s personal statement topic
20:26 – Alisha walks through her essay outline and examples
33:34 – Alisha reads the first draft of her personal statement
37:51 – Alisha shares her thoughts on her draft
40:34 – Ethan gives feedback
44:12 – Ethan walks through the process of creating a “reverse outline” for draft
