science communication personal statement

Personal Statement

By Michelle Zhang and Ignacio Martin Arzuaga Garcia

When applying to graduate school programs, you will need to provide a Statement of Purpose and a Resume/CV highlighting your interests in applying to a specific graduate program. Some graduate schools will also require a Personal Statement as part of your application package. This CommKit article will go over what a Personal Statement is and some strategies to approach writing one. Your Personal Statement can also be revised for future fellowships and scholarships beyond graduate school application.

Main takeaways

• Have an initial hook . The first paragraph of your statement is key to grabbing the attention of the reviewers.
• Tell a story about yourself . The Personal Statement is thought to be more informal and less structured than the Statement of Purpose. Although some formality in the writing should be preserved, in this statement you have the freedom to express yourself and show the reviewing committee who you really are.
• Be specific and avoid clichés . Reviewers will read a vast amount of Statements from different candidates. Thus, they are looking for concrete evidence of your personality, the culture of work, and the achievements that make you stand out from the pool of candidates. For this purpose, avoid vague sentences that don’t give any additional information to what you already explain in your other documents of the application package.

 “Statement of Purpose” vs. “Personal Statement”

As touched upon in our Statement of Purpose (SOP) CommKit article, many schools distinguish between the Statement of Purpose/Objective and the Personal Statement, providing different writing prompts for each. The main difference between these two types of essays is that the Statement of Purpose focuses on your professional background, goals and research interests, while the Personal Statement is more about your personal history and where your motivation for graduate school comes from. The table below summarizes key differences between the two documents.

While the Statement of Purpose primarily focuses on your academic and professional goals, the Personal Statement complements it by providing a more holistic understanding of you as a graduate school candidate. It allows you to go beyond your achievements and qualifications listed in your Resume, offering a narrative that reveals your character, values, and any transformative moments that have driven you to pursue higher education.

In the Personal Statement, you can share specific life experiences (e.g. being a first-generation college student, overcoming poverty, facing discrimination, or other challenges/opportunities) and explain how these have shaped your worldview and passion for your chosen field of study. By sharing these personal stories, you have the opportunity to highlight what is unique about yourself and how you will advance diversity within the institution.

It is worth noting that the Personal Statement may be referred to by different names depending on the institution or program. Some schools may use terms such as “Personal History Statement,” “Diversity Statement,” or other variations. Some schools may also provide specific prompts to write the Personal Statement on, or a list of questions to answer. Regardless of the name, the purpose remains the same—to provide you as an applicant with an opportunity to share your personal narrative and demonstrate your readiness for graduate-level studies.

Strategies and Common mistakes

Here we summarize a list of strategies and common mistakes to take into consideration when addressing your Personal Statement:

• Your statement should tell a story (a real one) about yourself, that shows the reader your personal journey upon this moment in your life and what are the next steps you are aiming to take.
• If you can’t find a personal story to tell, you can also share how a piece of news or a specific person (for example) impacts and/or inspires you.
• Make sure to align your story with the values and goals of the university or institution you are applying to.
• For grad school applications, your Personal Statement doesn’t need to list your skills or academic accomplishments, but to present a story that demonstrates those skills you possess. For example, your statement is a good place to prove your leadership skills through a real example.
• While in a Statement of Purpose the Admissions Committee will look for what you have done, in a Personal Statement they will prioritize how you addressed them. They will put attention on how you overcame the challenges you faced, what strategies you used to do it, and how you took advantage of the opportunities you were given.
• The Personal Statement can also be a good opportunity to “address the elephant in the room” if you haven’t done it in your Statement of Purpose. For example, if your grades at college are not as good as desired, or you don’t have experience in the field you are applying to, this document is a good place to explain the reasons for that. We all go through difficult times, make bad decisions, and want to make a change in our path. That’s not a problem. What we don’t have to do is to expect the reader will ignore that part. They won’t, and it is better to address those weak points in our application package rather than leave them without any explanation.
• Use concrete examples that speak for you. Be specific. Avoid vague statements that don’t give any piece of information about yourself, or to make statements about yourself without proving them.

Ultimately, the key is to offer an interesting piece of writing that the reader enjoys, and make them remember your profile when evaluating the pool of candidates.

Structure Diagram

The Personal Statement is more flexible than the Statement of Purpose and, initially, it doesn’t have a fixed structure you have to fit your content within. Everyone’s path and personal history are different, and that will frame your write-up. You are welcome to be creative and address this document as you feel more comfortable with it. However, here we suggest a tentative structure that you can use to help you organize your statement. We recommend 2 pages maximum, unless specified otherwise by the university.

Alternatives to the Personal Statement

Some universities are also exploring innovative approaches to evaluate applicants beyond traditional methods. These alternatives provide aspiring graduate students with unique opportunities to distinguish themselves and showcase a holistic view of their skills, experiences, and potential. Some examples of alternative documents to the Personal Statement include:

DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Statement:

• Graduate school applications are increasingly incorporating DEI essays as a means to evaluate applicants’ commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment and dedication to cultivating a diverse and inclusive community within their chosen field of study. These essays provide candidates with an opportunity to showcase their understanding, experiences, and actions related to promoting diversity and equity.
• Your personal statement can be adapted to help write your DEI statement by focusing on key elements such as contributions to Diversity, values/beliefs as related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and self-reflection/growth from experiences where you have actively engaged with diverse communities, challenged biases, or learned from different perspectives.

Video Essays:

• Some universities are incorporating video essays into their application process, allowing applicants to verbally express their motivations, goals, and academic passions.
• This alternative provides a platform for candidates to showcase their communication skills, confidence, and presentation abilities.
• When adapting this Personal Statement CommKit for video essays, you should focus on developing a concise script that conveys your key points effectively, following the flow suggested above.
• You should also aim to strike a balance between authenticity and professionalism while engaging the audience with a compelling narrative.

Portfolio Submissions:

• To evaluate practical skills and creative abilities, some graduate programs request applicants to submit portfolios showcasing their work. Whether this is in fields such as engineering, design, fine arts, or computer science, this alternative allows candidates to present tangible evidence of their talent and expertise.
• When adapting your personal statement for portfolio-based applications, you should provide context for your work, explaining the motivation behind your projects and highlighting the skills you have developed throughout your academic journey.

When is it time to submit?

The Personal Statement may appear more approachable at the beginning, given its flexibility and relaxed tone. However, finding a good story to tell, and a compelling narrative that effectively showcases your abilities and accomplishments can be hard. Seeking feedback from friends, family, and peers can be invaluable throughout the brainstorming and revision process. If you’re affiliated with MIT you can also make an appointment with a Comm Fellow. In addition to carefully proofreading your statement, don’t forget to check the program requirements to ensure your submission meets the audience’s expectations.

Helpful articles

Gotian, R. & Neill, U. S. (2023). How to Write a Strong Personal Statement . Harvard Business Review. Purdue Online Writing Lab. Writing the Personal Statement .

Resources and Annotated Examples

Personal statement for an mit application.

This annotated Personal Statement shows how the candidate attempts to address the specific prompts in a series of concise essays. 567 KB

Content Generation Worksheet

This worksheet contains a series of questions along with examples intended to help you start drafting your Personal Statement. 54 KB

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Writing Personal Statements for Graduate School

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Personal Statements

Preparing a well-written and effective personal statement (sometimes referred to as statements of purpose or personal essays) that clearly articulates your preparation, goals, and motivation for pursuing that specific graduate degree is critically important. You will need to spend a considerable amount of time and effort in crafting these statements. The focus, structure, and length of personal statements vary from program to program. Some will have prompts or questions you need to answer, while others will leave the topic open-ended. The length varies widely as well. Read instructions carefully and make sure to adhere to all parameters laid out in the application guidelines.

Clear writing is the result of clear thinking. The first and most important task is to decide on a message. Consider carefully which two or three points you wish to impress upon the reader, remembering that your audience is composed of academics who are experts in their fields. Your statement should show that you are able to think logically and express your thoughts in a clear and concise manner. Remember that the reader already has a record of your activities and your transcript; avoid simply restating your resume and transcript. Writing your statement will take time; start early and give yourself more than enough time for revisions. If no prompts are given, you can use the questions below to begin brainstorming content to include in your statement.

• What experiences and academic preparation do you have that are relevant to the degree you’re seeking?
• Why are you choosing to pursue a graduate degree at this time?
• Why do you want to pursue this particular degree and how will this degree and the specific program fit into your career plans and your long-term goals?
• What specific topics are you aiming to explore and what does the current literature say about those topics?

After you’ve written a first draft, start the work of editing, refining, simplifying, and polishing. Provide specific examples that will help illustrate your points and convey your interests, intentions, and motivations. Is any section, sentence, or word superfluous, ambiguous, apologetic, or awkward? Are your verbs strong and active? Have you removed most of the qualifiers? Are you sure that each activity or interest you mention supports one of your main ideas? Spelling and grammatical errors are inexcusable. Don’t rely on spell-check to catch all errors; read your statement aloud and have it reviewed by multiple people whose opinion you trust. If possible, have your statement reviewed by a writing tutor. For individual assistance with writing your personal statement, consult with the writing tutor in your residential college  or the Writing Center within the Yale Center for Teaching and Learning .

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• CAREER FEATURE
• 23 April 2021

Sell yourself and your science in a compelling personal statement

Andy Tay is a science writer in Singapore.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

You have full access to this article via your institution.

Credit: Getty

Personal statements — essays highlighting personal circumstances, qualities and achievements — are used extensively in science to evaluate candidates for jobs, awards and promotions. Five researchers offer tips for making yours stand out in a crowded and competitive market.

STEVE OH: Convey personal qualities beyond academic interests

Steve Oh is director of the Stem Cell Processing Group at the A*STAR Bioprocessing Technology Institute in Singapore.

As a principal investigator, I have read a good number of personal statements from students applying for science scholarships and jobs. The ones that stand out recount the applicant’s biography, bringing out their character as well as their professional qualities.Personal statements are often centred on academic and research achievements. But, in my opinion, a good scientist should also demonstrate social skills, be interested in making an impact on society through, for example, entrepreneurship, and have awareness of the world outside the country they live in. Memorable personal statements tend to bring out ‘soft’ skills, such as having macro-level thinking abilities and awareness of the impact that science can have on society.

Careers Collection: Publishing

To achieve this balance of professional and personal, consider two elements. First, explain your motivations to pursue a scientific career. These might include a family illness, an inspiring talk by a scientist, or great mentorship from a colleague. Second, describe how you have gone out of your way to get experience in science, such as proactively seeking opportunities for a laboratory internship, or what you have learnt from overcoming difficulties with your experiments. This information brings out qualities, such as curiosity and perseverance, that are crucial to being a good scientist.

I vividly remember the personal statement of one of my PhD students. He described his struggle with having only one healthy kidney — and how, despite this, he continued to do sports like rock climbing. He also wrote about how he did badly in his undergraduate studies: he had to take a year off to recharge before returning to school and excelling. His story shows resilience and honesty — traits that I love in a researcher.

SILVIA KARIUKI: Do not be afraid to defend your decisions

Silvia Kariuki is a postdoctoral fellow at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi.

When I was planning to return to Kenya, where I grew up, to start a postdoctoral project, fellow researchers, friends and family members all asked why I was choosing to go back. They felt my career would suffer because Kenya’s scientific infrastructure is not as advanced as that in the United States, where I spent 13 years working and completing my undergraduate and PhD degrees.

Two years into my return to Kenya, when writing my personal statement for the Wellcome International Training Fellowship to follow up on my postdoctoral project, I explained that the Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi could provide a good research environment for me. I would be able to study human genetic variants that confer protective effects against severe malaria infection, and my research would have a real-world impact by informing the production of malaria therapies. In my personal statement, I wrote that I wanted to pursue my scientific career in Kenya despite the scepticism I had faced — and it convinced the fellowship committee that I had thought deeply about my career move.

I also seek advice from mentors when writing a personal statement. I usually send mine to two to three senior scientists who have had more experience writing them and who have been on review committees for fellowship applications. One suggestion I usually get is to be ‘more human’. The judges would like to hear your personal voice and read about your motivation, even if these might be unconventional.

KELLY CLANCY: Use stories to show who you are

Kelly Clancy is a postdoctoral fellow in neuroscience at University College London.

Stories can make a personal statement stand out. It’s hard, of course — I’ve heard colleagues say it’s a trope for neuroscience-related personal statements to open with something like “I got interested in neuroscience after seeing my grandmother suffer from Alzheimer’s.” But I think that cynicism is unfair: it’s a beautiful impulse to get into science for a personal reason, and having a personal connection to science can drive important new insights.

I included the story that inspired the project I’d proposed in my application to the Branco Weiss postdoctoral fellowship. My best friend from high school had lost three limbs to an improvised explosive device while serving as a medic in Afghanistan. I described how this incident led to my interest in the field of neuroprosthetic devices that can restore motor capabilities, and the shortcomings I wanted to address with my work.

My advice for writing a personal statement is to not get bogged down in technical details. Don’t just focus on what you want to study — explain why. Demonstrate how you think. What led you to do the work or research you’ve undertaken so far? What are the questions that drive you and your science, and why are they important? Perhaps most importantly (and this is for all of us, not just those writing personal statements): ask, “What drives my science? Is it a reflection of my ego, wanting to be right or smart and to get high-profile publications? Or is it an extension of my will to do good in the world, my curiosity and my love of understanding?” The world is full of questions and problems to solve. Using stories in personal statements can help applicants to explain what scientific questions they care about, and why they matter.

Collection: the PhD

With the support from the Branco Weiss Fellowship, my colleagues and I have since developed neuroprosthetic techniques that were just published 1 and used these methods to explore interesting basic neuroscience questions and less-invasive neurosprosthetic interfaces.

WEI GAO: Demonstrate ambition and don’t exaggerate

Wei Gao is an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Wei Gao, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. Credit: Wei Gao

A personal statement should highlight your aspirations and dreams. A CV can list all your publications, but they won’t all be read thoroughly, and members of the selection committee might miss the significance of your work.

Think of a personal statement as a document that complements your CV. I use it to explain the big problems my research is tackling and its impact. In my application to be a World Economic Forum Young Scientist, I described my concerns about worsening mental health in our society and discussed how my research on wearable sensors can improve early diagnosis of mental illness by sensing metabolites such as cortisol, a stress-related hormone, in sweat. It would be difficult to explain my aspirations clearly in a short, typically list-based, CV. In a personal statement, I can demonstrate my ambition in greater detail.

A good personal statement should avoid exaggerating your contribution. This is especially true for a multi-author paper on which you didn’t have a leading role. Focus on the work that you led and to not overstate your contributions to your field. Even if your contribution was significant, being humble in a personal statement is a good quality. Research is a culmination of the efforts of many researchers, and is never attributable to just one person.

ABHIMANYU VEERAKUMARASIVAM: Break the essay down and tailor it to your audience

Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam is dean of the School of Medical and Life Sciences at Sunway University Subang Jaya in Malaysia.

Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam in the lab. Credit: Sunway University

One way to simplify the writing process is to break your personal statement down into several key elements, including who you are, what you have accomplished, why you are applying for a role or award and how you will contribute to the organization.

When I was organizing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Science Leadership Programme from 2017 to 2019, my committee and I divided the application statement into a few questions focused on the ‘who, what, why and how’, which would help applicants to better structure their essays. I found this format particularly useful because, in Asia, our default culture is to not stand out, and many qualified candidates might be too shy to share their personal stories or too humble to share their achievements.

I found that creating a more defined structure around the personal statement allowed applicants to reflect on the experience they have gained from working in the region, which has many low-income countries and little investment in science. I would not always get these details in an open-ended personal essay.

One candidate discussed the huge disparities in science in the ASEAN region and his desire to bridge the gaps. By doing so, the candidate demonstrated that he had a good awareness of his environment and the unique challenges of working in that setting while highlighting his willingness to take action to bridge the gaps.

Applicants should also tailor their personal statements to their audience. For instance, students applying to graduate schools and scholarships will often send generic personal statements with their applications. If applicants want an academic institution to invest in them, then their personal statements need to reflect a genuine interest in the organization they’re applying to. The candidates with better statements usually include details of labs they are interested in working in and specifics about research topics they find fascinating.

Nature 593 , 153-155 (2021)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-01101-z

These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

K. B. Clancy et al. Neuron 109 , 677–689 (2021).

Article   PubMed   Google Scholar  

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Gre prep online guides and tips, 3 successful graduate school personal statement examples.

Looking for grad school personal statement examples? Look no further! In this total guide to graduate school personal statement examples, we’ll discuss why you need a personal statement for grad school and what makes a good one. Then we’ll provide three graduate school personal statement samples from our grad school experts. After that, we’ll do a deep dive on one of our personal statement for graduate school examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a list of other grad school personal statements you can find online.

Why Do You Need a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program.  You need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere on your application.

A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.

While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly relevant to your field of interest.

Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your academic/research experiences and goals.

However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes, especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.

When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions essay.

Quick side note: we've created the world's leading online GRE prep program that adapts to you and your strengths and weaknesses. Not sure what to study? Confused by how to improve your score? We give you minute by minute guide.

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What Makes a Good Grad School Personal Statement?

A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However, strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:

A Clear Narrative

Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).

You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this, make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and diligence than about providing excuses.

Specific Examples

A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about the relevant literature in your field.

Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better evidence.

A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are informed about and genuinely invested in the program.

Strong Writing

Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating clearly and that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.

Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way (i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.

Appropriate Boundaries

While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment. The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.

You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as inoffensive as possible.

Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 1

PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 – Japanese Studies

For this Japanese Studies master’s degree, the applicant had to provide a statement of purpose outlining her academic goals and experience with Japanese and a separate personal statement describing her personal relationship with Japanese Studies and what led her to pursue a master’s degree.

Here’s what’s successful about this personal statement:

• An attention-grabbing beginning: The applicant begins with the statement that Japanese has never come easily to her and that it’s a brutal language to learn. Seeing as how this is an application for a Japanese Studies program, this is an intriguing beginning that makes the reader want to keep going.
• A compelling narrative: From this attention-grabbing beginning, the applicant builds a well-structured and dramatic narrative tracking her engagement with the Japanese language over time. The clear turning point is her experience studying abroad, leading to a resolution in which she has clarity about her plans. Seeing as how the applicant wants to be a translator of Japanese literature, the tight narrative structure here is a great way to show her writing skills.
• Specific examples that show important traits: The applicant clearly communicates both a deep passion for Japanese through examples of her continued engagement with Japanese and her determination and work ethic by highlighting the challenges she’s faced (and overcome) in her study of the language. This gives the impression that she is an engaged and dedicated student.

Overall, this is a very strong statement both in terms of style and content. It flows well, is memorable, and communicates that the applicant would make the most of the graduate school experience.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 2

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 2 – Musical Composition

This personal statement for a Music Composition master’s degree discusses the factors that motivate the applicant to pursue graduate study.

Here’s what works well in this statement:

• The applicant provides two clear reasons motivating the student to pursue graduate study: her experiences with music growing up, and her family’s musical history. She then supports those two reasons with examples and analysis.
• The description of her ancestors’ engagement with music is very compelling and memorable. The applicant paints her own involvement with music as almost inevitable based on her family’s long history with musical pursuits.
• The applicant gives thoughtful analysis of the advantages she has been afforded that have allowed her to study music so extensively. We get the sense that she is insightful and empathetic—qualities that would add greatly to any academic community.

This is a strong, serviceable personal statement. And in truth, given that this for a masters in music composition, other elements of the application (like work samples) are probably the most important.  However, here are two small changes I would make to improve it:

• I would probably to split the massive second paragraph into 2-3 separate paragraphs. I might use one paragraph to orient the reader to the family’s musical history, one paragraph to discuss Giacomo and Antonio, and one paragraph to discuss how the family has influenced the applicant. As it stands, it’s a little unwieldy and the second paragraph doesn’t have a super-clear focus even though it’s all loosely related to the applicant’s family history with music.
• I would also slightly shorten the anecdote about the applicant’s ancestors and expand more on how this family history has motivated the applicant’s interest in music. In what specific ways has her ancestors’ perseverance inspired her? Did she think about them during hard practice sessions? Is she interested in composing music in a style they might have played? More specific examples here would lend greater depth and clarity to the statement.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 – Public Health

This is my successful personal statement for Columbia’s Master’s program in Public Health. We’ll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I’ll highlight a couple of things that work in this statement here:

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• This statement is clearly organized. Almost every paragraph has a distinct focus and message, and when I move on to a new idea, I move on to a new paragraph with a logical transitions.
• This statement covers a lot of ground in a pretty short space. I discuss my family history, my goals, my educational background, and my professional background. But because the paragraphs are organized and I use specific examples, it doesn’t feel too vague or scattered.
• In addition to including information about my personal motivations, like my family, I also include some analysis about tailoring health interventions with my example of the Zande. This is a good way to show off what kinds of insights I might bring to the program based on my academic background.

Grad School Personal Statement Example: Deep Dive

Now let’s do a deep dive, paragraph-by-paragraph, on one of these sample graduate school personal statements. We’ll use my personal statement that I used when I applied to Columbia’s public health program.

Paragraph One: For twenty-three years, my grandmother (a Veterinarian and an Epidemiologist) ran the Communicable Disease Department of a mid-sized urban public health department. The stories of Grandma Betty doggedly tracking down the named sexual partners of the infected are part of our family lore. Grandma Betty would persuade people to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, encourage safer sexual practices, document the spread of infection and strive to contain and prevent it. Indeed, due to the large gay population in the city where she worked, Grandma Betty was at the forefront of the AIDS crises, and her analysis contributed greatly towards understanding how the disease was contracted and spread. My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration to me, and the reason why a career in public health was always on my radar.

This is an attention-grabbing opening anecdote that avoids most of the usual cliches about childhood dreams and proclivities. This story also subtly shows that I have a sense of public health history, given the significance of the AIDs crisis for public health as a field.

It’s good that I connect this family history to my own interests. However, if I were to revise this paragraph again, I might cut down on some of the detail because when it comes down to it, this story isn’t really about me. It’s important that even (sparingly used) anecdotes about other people ultimately reveal something about you in a personal statement.

Paragraph Two: Recent years have cemented that interest. In January 2012, my parents adopted my little brother Fred from China. Doctors in America subsequently diagnosed Fred with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). My parents were told that if Fred’s condition had been discovered in China, the (very poor) orphanage in which he spent the first 8+ years of his life would have recognized his DMD as a death sentence and denied him sustenance to hasten his demise.

Here’s another compelling anecdote to help explain my interest in public health. This is an appropriately personal detail for a personal statement—it’s a serious thing about my immediate family, but it doesn’t disclose anything that the admissions committee might find concerning or inappropriate.

If I were to take another pass through this paragraph, the main thing I would change is the last phrase. “Denied him sustenance to hasten his demise” is a little flowery. “Denied him food to hasten his death” is actually more powerful because it’s clearer and more direct.

Paragraph Three: It is not right that some people have access to the best doctors and treatment while others have no medical care. I want to pursue an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia because studying social factors in health, with a particular focus on socio-health inequities, will prepare me to address these inequities. The interdisciplinary approach of the program appeals to me greatly as I believe interdisciplinary approaches are the most effective way to develop meaningful solutions to complex problems.

In this paragraph I make a neat and clear transition from discussing what sparked my interest in public health and health equity to what I am interested in about Columbia specifically: the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and how that focus will prepare me to solve complex health problems. This paragraph also serves as a good pivot point to start discussing my academic and professional background.

Paragraph Four: My undergraduate education has prepared me well for my chosen career. Understanding the underlying structure of a group’s culture is essential to successfully communicating with the group. In studying folklore and mythology, I’ve learned how to parse the unspoken structures of folk groups, and how those structures can be used to build bridges of understanding. For example, in a culture where most illnesses are believed to be caused by witchcraft, as is the case for the Zande people of central Africa, any successful health intervention or education program would of necessity take into account their very real belief in witchcraft.

In this paragraph, I link my undergraduate education and the skills I learned there to public health. The (very brief) analysis of tailoring health interventions to the Zande is a good way to show insight and show off the competencies I would bring to the program.

Paragraph Five: I now work in the healthcare industry for one of the largest providers of health benefits in the world. In addition to reigniting my passion for data and quantitative analytics, working for this company has immersed me in the business side of healthcare, a critical component of public health.

This brief paragraph highlights my relevant work experience in the healthcare industry. It also allows me to mention my work with data and quantitative analytics, which isn’t necessarily obvious from my academic background, which was primarily based in the social sciences.

Paragraph Six: I intend to pursue a PhD in order to become an expert in how social factors affect health, particularly as related to gender and sexuality. I intend to pursue a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Reproduction. Working together with other experts to create effective interventions across cultures and societies, I want to help transform health landscapes both in America and abroad.

This final paragraph is about my future plans and intentions. Unfortunately, it’s a little disjointed, primarily because I discuss goals of pursuing a PhD before I talk about what certificate I want to pursue within the MPH program! Switching those two sentences and discussing my certificate goals within the MPH and then mentioning my PhD plans would make a lot more sense.

I also start two sentences in a row with “I intend,” which is repetitive.

The final sentence is a little bit generic; I might tailor it to specifically discuss a gender and sexual health issue, since that is the primary area of interest I’ve identified.

This was a successful personal statement; I got into (and attended!) the program. It has strong examples, clear organization, and outlines what interests me about the program (its interdisciplinary focus) and what competencies I would bring (a background in cultural analysis and experience with the business side of healthcare). However, a few slight tweaks would elevate this statement to the next level.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples You Can Find Online

So you need more samples for your personal statement for graduate school? Examples are everywhere on the internet, but they aren’t all of equal quality.

Most of examples are posted as part of writing guides published online by educational institutions. We’ve rounded up some of the best ones here if you are looking for more personal statement examples for graduate school.

Penn State Personal Statement Examples for Graduate School

This selection of ten short personal statements for graduate school and fellowship programs offers an interesting mix of approaches. Some focus more on personal adversity while others focus more closely on professional work within the field.

The writing in some of these statements is a little dry, and most deploy at least a few cliches. However, these are generally strong, serviceable statements that communicate clearly why the student is interested in the field, their skills and competencies, and what about the specific program appeals to them.

Cal State Sample Graduate School Personal Statements

These are good examples of personal statements for graduate school where students deploy lots of very vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes of life experiences. There are also helpful comments about what works in each of these essays.

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However, all of these statements are definitely pushing the boundaries of acceptable length, as all are above 1000 and one is almost 1500 words! Many programs limit you to 500 words; if you don’t have a limit, you should try to keep it to two single-spaced pages at most (which is about 1000 words).

University of Chicago Personal Statement for Graduate School Examples

These examples of successful essays to the University of Chicago law school cover a wide range of life experiences and topics. The writing in all is very vivid, and all communicate clear messages about the students’ strengths and competencies.

Note, however, that these are all essays that specifically worked for University of Chicago law school. That does not mean that they would work everywhere. In fact, one major thing to note is that many of these responses, while well-written and vivid, barely address the students’ interest in law school at all! This is something that might not work well for most graduate programs.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 10

This successful essay for law school from a Wheaton College undergraduate does a great job tracking the student’s interest in the law in a compelling and personal way. Wheaton offers other graduate school personal statement examples, but this one offers the most persuasive case for the students’ competencies. The student accomplishes this by using clear, well-elaborated examples, showing strong and vivid writing, and highlighting positive qualities like an interest in justice and empathy without seeming grandiose or out of touch.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 1

Based on the background information provided at the bottom of the essay, this essay was apparently successful for this applicant. However, I’ve actually included this essay because it demonstrates an extremely risky approach. While this personal statement is strikingly written and the story is very memorable, it could definitely communicate the wrong message to some admissions committees. The student’s decision not to report the drill sergeant may read incredibly poorly to some admissions committees. They may wonder if the student’s failure to report the sergeant’s violence will ultimately expose more soldiers-in-training to the same kinds of abuses. This incident perhaps reads especially poorly in light of the fact that the military has such a notable problem with violence against women being covered up and otherwise mishandled

It’s actually hard to get a complete picture of the student’s true motivations from this essay, and what we have might raise real questions about the student’s character to some admissions committees. This student took a risk and it paid off, but it could have just as easily backfired spectacularly.

Key Takeaways: Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

In this guide, we discussed why you need a personal statement and how it differs from a statement of purpose. (It’s more personal!)

We also discussed what you’ll find in a strong sample personal statement for graduate school:

• A clear narrative about the applicant and why they are qualified for graduate study.
• Specific examples to support that narrative.
• Compelling reasons why the applicant and the program are a good fit for each other.
• Strong writing, including clear organization and error-free, cliche-free language.
• Appropriate boundaries—sharing without over-sharing.

Then, we provided three strong graduate school personal statement examples for different fields, along with analysis. We did a deep-dive on the third statement.

Finally, we provided a list of other sample grad school personal statements online.

What’s Next?

Want more advice on writing a personal statement ? See our guide.

Writing a graduate school statement of purpose? See our statement of purpose samples  and a nine-step process for writing the best statement of purpose possible .

If you’re writing a graduate school CV or resume, see our how-to guide to writing a CV , a how-to guide to writing a resume , our list of sample resumes and CVs , resume and CV templates , and a special guide for writing resume objectives .

Need stellar graduate school recommendation letters ? See our guide.

See our 29 tips for successfully applying to graduate school .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

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Science Communication

Prepare for a range of science communication careers through academic and practical experience.

Prepare for a range of science communication careers through academic and practical experience – from journalism to policy

Develop your technical skills in our in-house TV and radio facilities

Gain industry insights on a work placement with a media company or science communication organisation

Course key facts

Qualification, 1 year, 2 years, september 2024, full-time, part-time, full-time: £12,600 part-time: £6,300 per year home, full-time: £28,600 part-time: £14,300 per year overseas, delivered by, science communication unit, south kensington, minimum entry standard, 2:1 in a scientific or science-related subject, course overview.

Develop an informed, critical and creative approach to communicating science to professional media standards on this Master's course.

You'll study a combination of academic and practical modules in order to prepare you for a range of careers in science communication.

This course will further your critical understanding of communicating scientific ideas to the public.

You'll also advance your technical and conceptual skills by working in a range of media, and gain direct industry experience on a work placement or internship.

A significant component of the course will be an academic dissertation, where you'll apply your knowledge from the course to an element of investigative work.

If you wish to focus solely on broadcast media and filmmaking, we also offer an MSc in Science Media Production .

This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.

Find out more about potential course changes .

Please note:  it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.

Core modules

Optional modules.

• Work Placement
• Dissertation

You’ll take all core modules.

Science and its Social Contexts

Explore the contemporary debates surrounding science and its place in the world, and consider how scientific expertise in the public domain becomes controversial and contested.

Media Representation of Science

Assess how media texts are constructed in the coverage of science and the journalistic norms and practices that lead to this coverage.

Science Communication Practical Projects

In addition to an introduction to core skills and a term-long creative project, y ou will choose two strands in this module, which may include: Digital Media Campaigning; Exhibitions; Radio; Television; and Writing for Journalism. In each strand, you will work on practical projects that replicate professional output in that medium.

You’ll choose three optional academic modules. Please note, exact modules may vary from year to year.

Documentary Film

Engage with seminal works in the history of documentary film and develop a critical eye to recent developments in factual TV.

Museums, Heritage and Science

Explore issues surrounding the construction of meaning in visual and spatial media and examine the problems of presenting complex and controversial science in museums.

Examine key concepts from narrative theory to inform your narrative writing and consider important theoretical issues from a range of genres and media.

Science and Fiction

This module looks at the role of fiction in science communication, and the ways science and fiction have shaped each other over the centuries, covering literature, film, theatre, and games.

Science Communication and Global Justice

Critically examine perspectives on international development and the issues these raise for science communication.

Science Policy

Analyse the relationship between communication, science and policymaking and discover how public policy is determined.

Sound, Sign, Meaning in Radio

Consider influential works of radio documentary and drama to examine how audio media create visual images in listeners’ minds and the implications this has for the truth-telling power of the medium.

You'll carry out an attachment or internship with a science communication organisation, typically lasting three or four weeks.

This will enable you to gain experience of the real world of science communication and put in practice the knowledge gained on the course.

You’ll benefit from the supervision and guidance of professional science communicators and widen your range of contacts both in the media industry and in the world of science communication.

You’ll undertake a substantial piece of academic research that engages critically with the relevant scholarly literature and involves some element of investigative work.

The research must be written up in the form of a 10,000-word dissertation.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching and learning methods, assessment methods, entry requirements.

We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.

• Minimum academic requirements
• English language requirement
• International qualifications

2:1  in a scientific or science-related subject.

All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to Imperial.

For admission to this course, you must achieve the  higher university requirement  in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the  English language requirements .

We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications.

The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.

For guidance see our accepted qualifications  though please note that the standards listed are the  minimum for entry to Imperial , and  not specifically this Department .

If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team .

How to apply

Applications are now closed for 2024 entry., application fee.

There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.

If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.

The fee applies per application and not per course.

• £80 for all taught Master's applications, excluding those to the Imperial College Business School.
• £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School.
• £150 for all MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School.

If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.

Read full details about the application fee and waiver

Application deadline

Applications are closed for 2024 entry.

If you have any questions, please contact the SCU Administrator  [email protected] . 

Aptitude assignment

When you apply online, you must complete an aptitude assignment for your chosen course.

This should be attached along with your personal statement, under the 'personal statement' section of the online application form.

Visit this page to access the compulsory aptitude assignment .

Application process and aptitude assignment

Find out more about how to apply for a Master course , including references and personal statements and the aptitude assignment.

After you apply you may be invited for an interview with members of our staff.

We interview all shortlisted applicants, these interviews will be held online.

ATAS certificate

An ATAS certificate  is not  required for students applying for this course.

Tuition fees

Overseas fee, £6,300 per year, inflationary increases.

You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.

Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.

Find out more about our  tuition fees payment terms , including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.

Which fee you pay

Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out  how we assess your fee status .

Postgraduate Master's Loan

If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a  Postgraduate Master’s Loan  from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.

For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs. 

The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.

£14,300 per year

How will studying at imperial help my career.

Develop the skills needed to pursue a diverse range of careers in science communication.

During your time with the Science Communication Unit, you'll work alongside industry leaders and network with science communication experts

With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.

Graduates are prepared for careers in journalism, public engagement, and press relations.

Other potential career paths include science policy, broadcasting, digital campaigning, museums and academia.

Further links

Contact the department.

• Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7594 8753
• Email:  [email protected]

Visit the Science Communication Unit website .

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There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.

Read our terms and conditions

You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.

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Biology personal statements

On this page you'll find a collection of real personal statements written by students applying to study biology and related courses at university.

These personal statements are written by real students - don't expect them all to be perfect! But by reading through a few of these samples, you'll be able to get some ideas and inspiration for your own personal statement. 

Biology personal statement examples

More help with your personal statement.

You can find personal statement examples for other courses by using this subject list, or by returning to our personal statements by subject page.

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Communications, media and culture personal statement example.

I am hoping to read for a communications, media and culture degree. I find it remarkable, inspiring and a little bit frightening how the media exercise control over our lives, whilst offering rich cultural rewards. I am fascinated by the action and effects of human communications of all kinds and am keen to extend the insight I have gained so far. My interest in the subject began through my GCSE Media Studies and my knowledge of the subject area has expanded at A-level where I am acquiring analytical skills, helping me unpack and contextualise a wider variety of media forms. My other A-levels are English Language, Sociology, Critical Thinking and Philosophy &Ethics, and these are giving me a broad overview of life and human communications and culture. An example of how these subjects support each other would be studying the marxist concept of hegemony and applying it to religion, media ownership, the high culture/low culture debate in sociology and even the bourgeois emphasis on Standard English. I've slowly been gaining practical experience alongside my academic learning. Two years ago, I was lucky enough to get work experience with a television crew on location as a runner. I learnt the value of working as a member of the team in a stressful environment and I gained an understanding of the processes of TV production. I have also been involved in several other media projects, some as coursework and others undertaken independently. Coursework projects have included a magazine for young male teenagers; designing a product and advertising campaign; and producing, directing and presenting a documentary for sixth formers and their parents on the EMA system. As extra-curricular activities, I designed a poster and Internet campaign for one of the school plays and in the absence of any existing school publication, I launched a bimonthly newsletter, aimed at Angley's students. These projects have provided great learning experiences, enabling me to develop print software skills in a creative way. Other school activities have included, the lead male role in 'South Pacific' and significant roles in 'Oliver' and 'West Side Story' as well as assisting the Performing Arts A-level group perform their comedy show. By playing roles on stage, my confidence has increased and I have learnt to appreciate and learn from the talents of others. I am also a school prefect, which I find satisfying and a great privilege. In my leisure time I enjoy making films - mostly parodies of various genres. I then edit the films using a programme called Magix Movie Edit Pro. I have also edited on Final Cut Express, which has made an interesting comparison. My next project is to learn Final Cut Pro, and to develop a more effects-driven style. I also like to read, for example, I was inspired by Naomi Klein's book No Logo on the effects of globalization, the commoditisation of our culture and public spaces and how powerful brands have become. I am currently reading Graeme Burton's Media & Society to gain some additional perspective on my A2 media and to prepare myself for my degree. So far I have enjoyed myself in my studies and hopefully have developed some of the skills and qualities for success in degree-level communications, media and culture studies.

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This personal statement was written by Superboy for application in 2008.

Superboy's Comments

It's okay i guess, it pretty much describes me not trying to sound big headed, i tried to show what i wanted to gain from going to university and what skills i have and how they can become much better by going to the right university. The key was 'Show don't tell'.

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