Summarizing your life, your experiences thus far and your goals moving forward is no easy feat. Especially doing it in a manner that catches college recruiters eyes and is a brief, accurate reflection of you can leave some applicants scratching their heads. The key to writing a fighting personal statement is being transparent first and foremost.

Recognizing that even your setbacks are a part of your story is a great way to get more ideas. Embracing the fullness of your life in all dimensions is a powerful tool when looking to get into an institute where learning is the priority. Expressing that you have learned, and will continue to learn, from your environment and your lessons is a fantastic way to prove that you will be an asset to a universities’ community.

Show your range in terms of your interests and be honest about what you value. Not only is a university meant to enrich your life, you are also meant to be a productive member of a campus’s society. If you’ve been in a camp, summer school or university setting before, this would be a good stage to bring it up in.

This is an opportunity to be able to show a university rather than just tell them. Showing that you’ve been able to maneuver in a similar setting is really important in building leverage in your introduction to a university. Including any clubs or associations you belong to is a great way to show commitment and the persistence needed to overcome any hurdles you may face in your university. Take the time to think about what it is that makes you sustainable- your achievements in the classroom, in the workplace, or in your community. And perhaps the biggest possible reason is explaining yours why. Why are you applying to this university, why to that particular program and why do you think you’ll be a great fit for them? Why is never absolute, so answering this in an appropriate manner is a great, subjective way to show why you want to be a part of the university.

Have a close friend, relative or a good writer look over your statement and practice reading it aloud. Does it reinforce the message you wish to get across? Make sure to double-check for grammatical blunders and if it reads appropriately, let it be a great introduction to the rest of your application.