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8 do’s and don’ts of college admissions essays.

READ: Check out an updated essay-tips article here.

With deadlines fast approaching – scholarship (Dec. 1) and regular notification (Feb. 1) – College of Charleston admissions counselors have a few tips for your admissions essays:

Don’t: Let the essay overwhelm you

The admissions essay is an important part of your application, but it’s not going to make or break you. Don’t spend so much time and energy on your essay that you miss college application deadlines. Deadlines are pervasive in college and well beyond graduation. Admissions counselors want to see that you can meet them.

Do: Use spellcheck and grammar check

When essays are submitted with obvious errors it shows carelessness – not what you want to portray through your admissions portfolio.

Don’t: Submit an incorrectly formatted essay

Thoughtful experimentation is one thing, but your essay should reflect what you know; you should know how to properly format a formal essay.

 EXPLORE: Learn about the admissions process at the College of Charleston

Do: have a teacher proofread it.

Teacher or guidance counselor—it doesn’t really matter as long as they’re not related to you. Family members might infer subtleties outsiders won’t and you need to be sure any reader will understand your message.

Do: Make it personal

You’ll hear about subjects you should “never” write about, but we want to learn about you as a person and as a student. If one of those taboo subjects has impacted your development, write about it. If you feel like you can own the topic and justify its relevance then it’s appropriate to write about.

Don’t: Use gimmicks

Unless you’re getting at something that will jump off the page immediately, don’t use text messaging shorthand or send a blank piece of paper to represent the greatest risk you’ve ever taken. Let your story and your writing – not a clever ploy – speak for you.

READ: Explore the College in Spanish

Do: take advantage of the personal statement option (if offered).

Use the primary essay to talk about yourself, but write a secondary personal statement if there’s something you feel warrants further explanation – a poor grade or no higher-level language after junior year, for example.

Don’t: Make excuses

If you earned a bad grade or stopped taking language courses because you were lazy, don’t go out of your way to blame external factors. Conversely, if you discovered you have a learning disability or your school didn’t offer higher-level language courses, explain it in your personal statement.

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Office of Admissions

843.953.5670 [email protected] [email protected] https://admissions.cofc.edu

For non-degree students: https://admissions.cofc.edu/applyingtothecollege/non-degreeprograms/

The College of Charleston encourages applications from all academically qualified persons. There is no discrimination in the admission process based on the applicant’s gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veterans’ status, genetic information, or disability. Applicants who do not initially meet the College of Charleston’s admission requirements may be considered for admission when there is sufficient evidence to suggest the ability to do satisfactory work at College of Charleston.

The following policies and procedures are applicable to all degree-seeking applicants and matriculating students:

Final, official copies of all relevant transcripts from each institution attended must be filed prior to enrollment. Failure to provide information regarding each institution attended or to submit official transcripts may result in withdrawal of any offer of admission, restrictions on registration and/or dismissal from the College. For some applicants, we may require additional documentation specific to application questions.

Eligibility to return to prior institution

Applicants to the College must be eligible to return to the last institution attended and must not be serving academic suspension at that or any other institution. Students who are on disciplinary suspension or have other disciplinary or criminal violations, including pending charges, will be conditionally considered for admission in accordance with the College of Charleston policy 8.1.15 Admitting Applicants for Enrollment with a Criminal or Disciplinary History. These students as well as other applicants are required to provide disciplinary records to the College of Charleston and give written consent and FERPA waiver(s) to have College of Charleston officials discuss their disciplinary history and status with officials from their previous institution(s) and other relevant parties, in the sole discretion of the College.

Financial Aid

Federal financial aid is only available to students in a degree-seeking status.

Transfer Credit

Policies governing transfer credit and credit by exam (AP, CLEP, IB, etc.) and equivalencies are managed by the Transfer Resource Center. Detailed information can be found through the Transfer Resource Center ( https://transfer.cofc.edu/ ).

Distance Education

Students, who take courses via mixed modalities, including distance education and online courses, must meet all appropriate admission requirements. Admissions applications for all students, including those intending to access coursework online may be filed online.

Risk Management Assessment

All applicants are required to answer questions relating to their criminal and disciplinary history, as outlined in College of Charleston, Policy 8.1.5.

Privacy and Security Policies

Information on the privacy and security policies governing applicants’ personal information can be found online at the College’s policy website at https:// policy.cofc.edu .

Appeal of admissions decision

Every student that is not offered admission to the College has the right to appeal their decision. The committee only accepts student-written letters of appeal. An applicant should only appeal if there is substantial new information that the committee was not aware of at the time of the original decision. An applicant should not appeal just to request a second review of their application.

Special circumstances are considered and appeals are evaluated on a case by case basis by an admission professional.

Health Requirements

All students are required to complete a health form and show proof of immunization. Health forms may be downloaded from our website at https://studenthealth.cofc.edu . Physical exams are not required.

Admissions Procedures

Freshmen admission (degree seeking).

A freshman applicant is a person who has not attended a university, college, or technical school since time of high school graduation. Applicants who attended a post-secondary institution while still in high school are classified as freshmen.

Freshmen applicants must have earned either a high school diploma or its international equivalent, or the General Educational Development Test (GED) and submitted verification of this credential prior to enrolling (GED Diploma).  The minimum acceptable GED score for admission is the score used for awarding an equivalent secondary school diploma in the state where the test was taken. If a GED is submitted in place of a high school diploma, students must also provide their high school record complete through the most recent period of high school attendance. The results of the GED will normally be used in place of the high school diploma only if the applicant left secondary school at least two years before intended enrollment at the College of Charleston. Applicants must provide information about their activities during the time that were not enrolled in school.

Application requirements, deadlines, and detailed information can be found at https://admissions.cofc.edu/applyingtothecollege/freshmen . Options for fall admission include early decision, early action, and regular notification. Consideration of scholarship awards may require that application deadlines are met.

Decision-Making Process

The College of Charleston maintains a holistic review process involving both quantitative and qualitative components which guide the Office of Admissions in reaching their final decisions. The admissions committee carefully weighs the student’s academic preparation (which includes grades, rank in class, and rigor of courses taken), SAT/ACT results, personal statements and essays, leadership qualification, and special talents. Special circumstances are considered and each application is reviewed and evaluated individually by admissions professionals.

Applicants for freshmen admission must submit:

• A completed application form with a nonrefundable application fee, or application fee waiver.
• Official or unofficial high school records complete up to the time of application.
• Results of the SAT or ACT are not required for applicants for 2021, 2022 or 2023, but may be submitted and will be considered unless the applicant chooses to apply as test score optional. The College’s ACT code no. is 3846 and SAT code no. is 5113. Submission of the optional writing scores for either test is encouraged but not required.

Students who enroll must submit:

• Official final transcripts of secondary school work, including verification of graduation and receipt of a diploma, or GED results and diploma.
• Students who have completed post-secondary work, including dual-credit, while in high school must submit official final transcripts of their college work whether or not they expect to receive credit, and whether or not the coursework is posted to their high school transcript.

Some students must submit:

• Official SAT or ACT test results sent directly from the testing agency if applicable. Enrolling students must request that the results of the tests be sent to the College of Charleston directly from the testing agency prior to orientation.

South Carolina homeschooled students must be registered with a fully accredited and recognized homeschool organization. If it is not, we require a GED. College of Charleston will respect each state’s homeschool laws. If the state does not require an accredited homeschool curriculum, we will abide by those rules for admission consideration. For all homeschooled students, regardless of residency, we require the full academic history of all high school coursework and grades.

To be well prepared for the challenging academics at the College of Charleston, freshman applicants should take a rigorous secondary school program of study that includes a variety of subjects. The following curriculum shows the best preparation for enrollment at the College of Charleston. This curriculum will also ensure that students are in compliance with the course requirements from the SC Commission on Higher Education for entry into S.C. four-year colleges.

The College of Charleston admissions committee can consider applicants who have not taken all of these courses due to circumstances beyond their reasonable control.

A college preparatory course in computer science (programming, not keyboarding) is recommended. Other acceptable electives include college preparatory courses in English, fine arts, foreign languages, humanities, laboratory science, mathematics or social sciences.

Cougar Advantage Admissions Initiative

Public school students from South Carolina, applying for admission for the 2020 fall semester and thereafter, will be automatically admitted based on a rank in class that places them in the top ten percent. Additional information about qualifications is posted on the Cougar Advantage website.

First Year Impact Admission (Freshmen)

Some freshmen students are required to participate in the First-Year Impact program as a condition of their admission. These students are identified by the admissions staff during the admissions process. Upon matriculation, First-Year Impact students are assisted by special academic support services to ensure that they are given a solid foundation on which to build their academic success. The First Year Impact program is managed by the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence.

Transfer and Bridge Programs

Students participating in transfer and bridge programs must successfully complete program requirements and then complete an application before enrolling at the College of Charleston for the subsequent semester. Additional information about transfer and bridge programs is available from the Office of Admissions.

Charleston Bridge

Charleston Bridge is a one-semester, residential program that will give selected applicants admission to the College of Charleston, following a semester of work at Trident Technical College.

Charleston Bridge participants are identified and invited to participate through the College of Charleston’s admissions process.

At the end of the fall semester, students who have met bridge requirements will be eligible to transfer to the College of Charleston in the January immediately following the end of the fall semester and will be required to participate in the First Year Impact Program.

iCharleston

iCharleston is a one-semester, international, residential program that will give selected applicants admission to the College of Charleston following a semester of work at an international partner collegiate institution.

iCharleston participants are identified and invited to participate through the College of Charleston’s freshman admissions process.

Deferred Enrollment and Gap Year

Freshmen who have been admitted are eligible for deferred enrollment or a gap period up to one academic year. A gap semester or year typically consists of a program or period of non-credit bearing experiential activities that are undertaken after high school graduation. Scholarship awards will not be deferred but be based on the new entry term. Transfer students are not eligible for deferred enrollment or a gap period.

College Coursework Elsewhere during gap period

If a student takes college coursework during their gap period, freshman acceptance to the college will be voided and the student will be considered a transfer applicant.

Please note: a change in status from freshman to transfer will void any previously offered institutional scholarships and/or financial aid. Additionally, South Carolina residents should be aware of the state scholarship eligibility requirements once college coursework has begun.

Transfer Admission (degree seeking)

Students who have previously attended, or are currently attending, either a two-year or four-year college since their high school graduation should apply as transfer students and submit a separate transcript from each college or university attended. Prior to matriculation a final official transcript is required from each college or university attended, whether or not credit was earned or courses completed. Failure to provide information regarding each college or university attended or failure to submit transcripts may result in withdrawal of any offer of admission, restrictions on registration and/or dismissal from the college.

Students are considered in attendance at an institution if they are registered for classes after the end of the drop/add period. Academic and/or disciplinary information from previous collegiate institutions is required whether or not a student was considered in attendance at that institution. 

Transfer applicants must not be serving academic suspension at that or any other institution. Students who are on disciplinary suspension or have other disciplinary or criminal violations, including pending charges, will be conditionally considered for admission in accordance with the College of Charleston policy 8.1.5 Admitting Applicants for Enrollment with a Criminal or Disciplinary History. These students as well as other applicants may be required to provide disciplinary records to the College of Charleston and give written consent and FERPA waiver(s) to have College of Charleston officials discuss their disciplinary history and status with officials from their previous institution(s) and other relevant parties in the sole discretion of the College.

To be competitive for transfer admission, applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 2.600 from a regionally-accredited institution, calculated on a 4.000 scale. Special circumstances are considered and each application is reviewed and evaluated individually by admissions professionals. Freshman credentials are also evaluated unless a student has completed 12 credit hours or more.

Application requirements and deadlines can be found at https://admissions.cofc.edu/applyingtothecollege/transfers .

A link to the College of Charleston policy related to the statewide transfer articulation of coursework from South Carolina two-year colleges is located at https://transfer.cofc.edu/transfer-credit/transfer-from-sc-schools.php .

Readmit Students (degree seeking)

For undergraduate students returning after an absence from the College of Charleston, a cumulative College of Charleston GPA of a 2.000 or greater is required for admission. If a student has attended another college or university in the interim, official or unofficial transcripts must be submitted for review.

For students who left the College with less than a 2.000 overall GPA, the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence will individually evaluate and make a decision on the conditional readmission of the candidate based on their current potential for academic success. If a student has attended another college or university in the interim, official or unofficial transcripts must be submitted for review.

Application requirements and deadlines can be found at https://admissions.cofc.edu/applyingtothecollege/readmits/index.php . Readmit applicants with a College of Charleston GPA of less than 2.000 must meet specified application deadlines: Fall term - June 1; Spring term - Nov 1.

Prior to matriculation a final official transcript is required from each college or university attended, whether or not credit was earned or courses completed. Failure to provide information regarding each college or university attended or failure to submit transcripts may result in withdrawal of any offer of admission, restrictions on registration and/or dismissal from the college. 

Note: For additional details see the Readmission    section of the catalog.

Bachelor of Professional Studies 

The Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) program provides adult students with the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century. Students are reviewed for admission using transfer or readmit admission policies. To become a student in the Bachelor of Professional Studies one must be 21 years of age with an earned high school diploma (or equivalent) and at least 30 credit hours of completed coursework in the following:

Oral and Written Communication (6-7 credit hours)

• English 101 or English 110
• Public Speaking (COMM 104 or equivalent)

Humanities and Fine Arts (6 credit hours)

• Art History/Music App/Theatre/Philosophy/Religious Studies/Ethics/Literature (choose two courses from two different disciplines)

History (3 credit hours)

• History-U.S./European/World (choose one)

Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credit hours)

• Psychology/Sociology/Anthropology/Political Science/Economics or Geography (choose two courses from two different disciplines)

Natural Science/Mathematics (12 credit hours)

• Chemistry/Physics/Biology/Astronomy or Geology (choose one)
• Statistics (MATH 104 or MATH 250)
• One additional MATH course beyond developmental math
• An additional 3 credit hours to be fulfilled by either an additional math or natural science or logic course.

Veteran Admission

Students who have previously served active duty, in the reserves or in the national guard should apply as transfer students and submit an official or unofficial Joint Services Transcripts (JSTs) or Community College of the Air Force transcripts (CCAF) from their respective branch of service in addition to transcript(s) from each additional college or university attended. Prior to matriculation, a final official transcript is required from any college or university attended, whether or not credit was earned or courses completed. Failure to provide information regarding each college or university attended or failure to submit transcripts may result in withdrawal of any offer of admission, restrictions on registration and/or dismissal from the college.

Students are considered in attendance at an institution if they are registered for classes after the end of the drop/add period. Academic and/or disciplinary information on their service record or from previous collegiate institutions is required whether or not a student was considered in attendance at that institution. 

Applicants must not be serving academic suspension at that or any other institution. Students who are on disciplinary suspension or have other disciplinary or criminal violations, including pending charges, will be conditionally considered for admission in accordance with the College of Charleston policy 8.1.5 Admitting Applicants for Enrollment with a Criminal or Disciplinary History. These students as well as other applicants may be required to provide disciplinary records to the College of Charleston and give written consent and FERPA waiver(s) to have College of Charleston officials discuss their disciplinary history and status with officials from their previous institution(s) and other relevant parties in the sole discretion of the College.

To be competitive for transfer admission, applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 2.600 from a regionally-accredited institution, calculated on a 4.000 scale. Special circumstances are considered and each application is reviewed and evaluated individually by admissions professionals. Freshmen credentials (high school record and SAT or ACT scores) are not required for evaluation. A student’s service record and ACE credits obtained while in service will take the place of high school credential requirements.   

Second Degree Students (degree seeking)

Students interested in applying to the College of Charleston for a second degree of any kind should apply as transfer students . Candidates with prior Associates’ degrees should apply as transfer students .

International Applicants (degree seeking)

International applicants, being defined as anyone who is not a citizen of the United States or a U.S. permanent resident, are required to provide additional documentation. United States citizens who are applying with educational credentials from outside of the U.S. may need to submit international documentation and testing, but are not required to provide the financial certification information.  In addition to submitting freshman or transfer application materials, international students must provide proof of English proficiency, certification that they have adequate funds to meet their educational expenses and following documents: 

These documents include but are not limited to:

• A copy of their current passport ID page. Additional documentation regarding citizenship and citizenship status may be required. 
• An official copy of secondary and post-secondary transcripts with certified word for word English translations. 
• A course-by-course evaluation of post-secondary work (university-level course work or 13th year of secondary school) from any non-U.S. institution. For transfer credit to be evaluated an official evaluation must be submitted from a credential evaluation agency along with course descriptions/syllabi for each course. A current list of preferred evaluation services can be found on the website. 
• Demonstration of English proficiency via official submission of one of the following six English proficiency scores. For specific scores requirements and additional information, please reference the website. If English is the applicant’s native language, an English proficiency waiver may be granted upon international admissions professional review of documentation. 
• iBT TOEFL (code: 5113) minimum score of 80 
• IELTS minimum overall score of 6.5 
• iTEP Academic Plus minimum score of 3.8 
• SAT (code: 5113) minimum Evidence Based Reading & Writing (EBRW) score of 500 
• ACT (code: 3846) minimum Reading score of 18 and English score of 20 
• Duolingo English Test minimum total score of 105 

Special circumstances are considered and each application is reviewed and evaluated individually by admissions professionals. Application requirements and deadlines can be found online. Students should allow 2-4 months for completion of these requirements. 

Upon depositing and in order to receive their Form I-20, international applicants must provide a certificate of finances that gives specific information on their ability to meet the financial demands of tuition, fees and cost of living at the College of Charleston. Details about required financial certification documentation can be found on our website.

International Students (non-degree seeking and exchange)

International applicants seeking to enroll for credit courses without intent on earning a degree from the College of Charleston need to complete a non-degree application (please see https://admissions.cofc.edu/applyingtothecollege/non-degreeprograms/index.php for the application and additional information) and must provide proof of their English proficiency and certification that they have adequate funds to meet their educational expenses.

International students seeking to enroll into one of the College of Charleston formal bi-lateral exchange programs are required to complete the non-degree admissions application and submit it to the contact individual of the program. Please refer to  https://international.cofc.edu/study-abroad/bilateral.php  for information regarding the various offerings.

Non-Degree Admission

843.953.5670 https://admissions.cofc.edu/applyingtothecollege/non-degreeprograms/index.php

Access into many of the College of Charleston’s undergraduate courses is available to citizens of the South Carolina Lowcountry and others and facilitated through non-degree enrollment via the Office of Admissions and the Office of Summer Sessions.  Senior citizens , high school dual enrollment students ,  visiting students  from other post-secondary institutions as well as individuals who wish to obtain higher education for employment purposes, graduate school preparation or for personal interest are encouraged to participate. Non-degree students must submit credentials that are appropriate to demonstrate their ability to satisfactorily complete coursework at the College of Charleston. Guidelines recommend an evaluation of transcripts from high school or previous colleges and test scores where appropriate. Students may need to show proof that course prerequisites have been met.

Applicants for admission as non-degree students must submit:

• A completed non-degree application for admission.
• Non-degree applicants who have not attended college may be required to submit their secondary school transcript(s).
• Non-degree applicants who have attended college may be required to submit a transcript from each college attended, including coursework completed during a summer term.
• All applicants must also submit any additional items requested in the application materials or by the Office of Admissions.

Students who wish to take courses at the College prior to high school graduation should complete the application for dual enrollment located at https://admissions.cofc.edu/applyingtothecollege/non-degreeprograms/dualenrolledhighschoolstudents.php . All requested transcripts and official signatures are necessary before being considered for enrollment.

College of Charleston participates in Teacher Cadet coursework at selected local high schools. Participating high school students can receive college credit of six credit hours for EDFS 105 and EDFS 106 following successful completion of this course. Contact the School of Education at 843.953.5613 for additional information.

60+ Tuition Exemption Program

South Carolina residents who are at least 60 years old qualify for a tuition exemption under South Carolina State law (Section 59-111-320).  If you are 60 years old or older, and a resident of South Carolina you can apply as a degree or non-degree seeking student on a tuition-free basis.  While 60+ students do not pay tuition, there is a $50 registration fee.  Students are responsible for paying any fees. Books and fees (i.e. application, lab, course, program fees) are not exempt. 

• Students must apply and be admitted to the College of Charleston.
• Students must provide proof they have been an SC resident for at least 12 months.

Visit 60+ Tuition Exemption Program (Undergraduate) for admission application instructions. 

Verification of Lawful Presence

Section 59-101-430 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, as amended in 2008, requires that, to attend a public university in the state, a student must be a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States. College of Charleston is required to verify the status of all students prior to their enrollment. The Board of Trustees of the College has approved a verification process to comply with the law.

Procedures for U.S. Citizens

Every student must provide proof of U.S. citizenship before being allowed to register for coursework. Students may verify their lawful presence in one of the following ways:

• File a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal-Student Aid) to College of Charleston- our code number is 003428;
• Present a valid South Carolina driver’s license issued after January 1, 2002;
• Present a current U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport that has not been expired more than 10 years
• Present an original U.S. or U.S. Territory Birth Certificate (not hospital certificate), Certification of Naturalization, U.S. Government-issued Consular Report of Birth Abroad of Certificate of Citizenship.

Every student must provide proof of U.S. citizenship before being allowed to enroll.

Questions about the College’s policy and procedures regarding this matter may be sent to [email protected] .

Procedures for Non-U.S. Citizens

Your admissions officer will verify your lawful presence in the United States when you apply to and enroll in the College. When your document expires or your status changes you must provide a copy of your current or renewed document to the Center for International Education. Students are not allowed to attend classes unless their lawful presence proof documents are current.

Proof of Lawful Presence Documents for Non-U.S. Citizens:

• Current Permanent Resident Card
• Current Visa Documentation ( NOTE: If you are in F1 or J1 status, your lawful presence will be confirmed by the Center for International Education . )
• Any other appropriate document which verifies lawful presence in the United States in accordance with the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (“SAVE”) operated by USCIS.

Completion of a FAFSA or possession of a South Carolina driver’s license is not sufficient proof of lawful presence without one of the above documents.

NOTE: International students should contact the Center for International Education by phone at 843.953.7661 or by email at [email protected] .

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How to Write an Amazing Personal Statement (Includes Examples!)

Lisa Freedland is a Scholarships360 writer with personal experience in psychological research and content writing. She has written content for an online fact-checking organization and has conducted research at the University of Southern California as well as the University of California, Irvine. Lisa graduated from the University of Southern California in Fall 2021 with a degree in Psychology.

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Zach Skillings is the Scholarships360 Newsletter Editor. He specializes in college admissions and strives to answer important questions about higher education. When he’s not contributing to Scholarships360, Zach writes about travel, music, film, and culture. His work has been published in Our State Magazine, Ladygunn Magazine, The Nocturnal Times, and The Lexington Dispatch. Zach graduated from Elon University with a degree in Cinema and Television Arts.

Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

The personal statement. It’s one of the most important parts of the entire college application process. This essay is the perfect opportunity to show admissions officers who you are and what makes you stand out from the crowd. But writing a good personal statement isn’t exactly easy. That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate guide on how to nail your personal statement, complete with example essays . Each essay was reviewed and commented upon by admissions expert Bill Jack. Let’s dive in!

Related: How to write an essay about yourself  

What is a personal statement? 

A personal statement is a special type of essay that’s required when you’re applying to colleges and scholarship programs. In this essay, you’re expected to share something about who you are and what you bring to the table. Think of it as a chance to reveal a side of yourself not found in the rest of your application. Personal statements are typically around 400 – 600 words in length. 

What can I write about? 

Pretty much anything, as long as it’s about you . While this is liberating in the sense that your writing options are nearly unlimited, it’s also overwhelming for the same reason. The good news is that you’ll probably be responding to a specific prompt. Chances are you’re applying to a school that uses the Common App , which means you’ll have seven prompts to choose from . Reviewing these prompts can help generate some ideas, but so can asking yourself meaningful questions. 

Below you’ll find a list of questions to ask yourself during the brainstorming process. For each of the following questions, spend a few minutes jotting down whatever comes to mind. 

• What experiences have shaped who you are? 
• What’s special or unique about you or your life story? 
• Who or what has inspired you the most? 
• What accomplishments are you most proud of? 
• What are your goals for the future? How have you arrived at those goals? 
• If your life was a movie, what would be the most interesting scene? 
• What have been some of the biggest challenges in your life? How did you respond and what did you learn? 

The purpose of these questions is to prompt you to think about your life at a deeper level. Hopefully by reflecting on them, you’ll find an essay topic that is impactful and meaningful. In the next section, we’ll offer some advice on actually writing your essay. 

Also see:  How to write a 500 word essay

How do I write my personal statement? 

Once you’ve found a topic, it’s time to start writing! Every personal statement is different, so there’s not really one formula that works for every student. That being said, the following tips should get you started in the right direction:  

1. Freewrite, then rewrite 

The blank page tends to get more intimidating the longer you stare at it, so it’s best to go ahead and jump right in! Don’t worry about making the first draft absolutely perfect. Instead, just get your ideas on the page and don’t spend too much time thinking about the finer details. Think of this initial writing session as a “brain dump”. Take 15-30 minutes to quickly empty all your thoughts onto the page without worrying about things like grammar, spelling, or sentence structure. You can even use bullet points if that helps. Once you have your ideas on the page, then you can go back and shape them exactly how you want. 

2. Establish your theme 

Now that you’ve got some basic ideas down on the page, it’s time to lock in on a theme. Your theme is a specific angle that reflects the central message of your essay. It can be summarized in a sentence or even a word. For example, let’s say you’re writing about how you had to establish a whole new group of friends when you moved to a new city. The theme for this type of essay would probably be something like “adaptation”. Having a theme will help you stay focused throughout your essay. Since you only have a limited number of words, you can’t afford to go off on tangents that don’t relate to your theme. 

3. Tell a story

A lot of great essays rely on a specific scene or story. Find the personal anecdote relevant to your theme and transfer it to the page. The best way to do this is by using descriptive language. Consult the five senses as you’re setting the scene. What did you see, hear, taste, touch, or smell? How were you feeling emotionally? Using descriptive language can really help your essay come to life. According to UPchieve , a nonprofit that supports low income students, focusing on a particular moment as a “ revised version of a memoir ” is one way to keep readers engaged. 

Related: College essay primer: show, don’t tell  

4. Focus on your opening paragraph

Your opening paragraph should grab your reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of your essay. In most cases, this is the best place to include your anecdote (if you have one). By leading with your personal story, you can hook your audience from the get-go. After telling your story, you can explain why it’s important to who you are. 

Related:  How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)

5. Use an authentic voice 

Your personal statement reflects who you are, so you should use a tone that represents you. That means you shouldn’t try to sound like someone else, and you shouldn’t use fancy words just to show off. This isn’t an academic paper, so you don’t have to adopt a super formal tone. Instead, write in a way that allows room for your personality to breathe. 

6. Edit, edit, edit…

Once you’re done writing, give yourself some time away from the essay. Try to allow a few days to pass before looking at the essay again with fresh eyes. This way, you’re more likely to pick up on spelling and grammatical errors. You may even get some new ideas and rethink the way you wrote some things. Once you’re satisfied, let someone else edit your essay. We recommend asking a teacher, parent, or sibling for their thoughts before submitting. 

Examples of personal statements 

Sometimes viewing someone else’s work is the best way to generate inspiration and get the creative juices flowing. The following essays are written in response to four different Common App prompts: 

Prompt 1: “Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

When I was eight years old, I wanted a GameCube very badly. For weeks I hounded my dad to buy me one and finally he agreed. But there was a catch. He’d only get me a GameCube if I promised to start reading. Every day I played video games, I would have to pick up a book and read for at least one hour. At that point in my life, reading was just something I had to suffer through for school assignments. To read for pleasure seemed ludicrous. Needless to say, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about this proposed agreement. But I figured anything was worth it to get my hands on that shiny new video game console, so I bit the bullet and shook my dad’s hand. Little did I know that I had just made a life-changing deal. 

At first, the required hour of reading was a chore — something I had to do so I could play Mario Kart. But it quickly turned into something more than that. To my complete and utter surprise, I discovered that I actually enjoyed reading. One hour turned into two, two turned into three, and after a while I was spending more time reading than I was playing video games. I found myself captivated by the written word, and I read everything I could get my hands on. Lord of the Rings , Percy Jackson , Goosebumps — you name it. I was falling in love with literature, while my GameCube was accumulating dust in the TV stand. 

Soon enough, reading led to writing. I was beginning to come up with my own stories, so I put pen to paper and let my imagination run wild. It started out small. My first effort was a rudimentary picture book about a friendly raccoon who went to the moon. But things progressed. My stories became more intricate, my characters more complex. I wrote a series of science fiction novellas. I tried my hand at poetry. I was amazed at the worlds I could create with the tip of my pen. I had dreams of becoming an author. 

Then somewhere along the way my family got a subscription to Netflix, and that completely changed the way I thought about storytelling. My nose had been buried in books up until then, so I hadn’t really seen a lot of movies. That quickly changed. It seemed like every other day a pair of new DVDs would arrive in the mail (this was the early days of Netflix). Dark Knight, The Truman Show, Inception, Memento — all these great films were coming in and out of the house. And I couldn’t get enough of them. Movies brought stories to life in a way that books could not. I was head over heels for visual storytelling. 

Suddenly I wasn’t writing novels and short stories anymore. I was writing scripts for movies. Now I wanted to transfer my ideas to the big screen, rather than the pages of a book. But I was still doing the same thing I had always done. I was writing, just in a different format. To help with this process, I read the screenplays of my favorite films and paid attention to the way they were crafted. I kept watching more and more movies. And I hadn’t forgotten about my first love, either. I still cherished books and looked to them for inspiration. By the end of my junior year of high school, I had completed two scripts for short films. 

So why am I telling you all this? Because I want to turn my love of storytelling into a career. I’m not totally sure how to do that yet, but I know I have options. Whether it’s film production, creative writing, or even journalism, I want to find a major that suits my ambitions. Writing has taken me a long way, and I know it can take me even further. As I step into this next chapter of my life, I couldn’t be more excited to see how my craft develops. In the meantime, I should probably get rid of that dusty old GameCube. 

Feedback from admissions professional Bill Jack

Essays don’t always have to reveal details about the student’s intended career path, but one thing I like about this essay is that it gives the reader a sense of the why. Why do they want to pursue storytelling. It also shows the reader that they are open to how they pursue their interest. Being open to exploration is such a vital part of college, so it’s also showing the reader that they likely will be open to new things in college. And, it’s always fun to learn a little bit more about the student’s family, especially if the reader can learn about how the students interacts with their family. 

Prompt 2: “The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

I remember my first impression of Irvine: weird. It was foggy, stock-full of greenery and eucalyptus trees, and reminded me of my 5th grade trip to a “science camp” which was located in the San Bernardino mountains. Besides Irvine, that was one of the few places in Southern California where you’d find so many non-palm trees. 

Of course, perhaps my initial impression of Irvine was biased, motivated by a desire to stay in my hometown and a fear of the unknown. While that was true to an extent, Irvine was certainly still a little peculiar. The city itself was based on a “master plan” of sorts, with the location of each of its schools, parks, shops, and arguably its trees having been logically “picked” before the foundation was poured. Even the homes all looked roughly the same, with their beige, stucco walls almost serving as a hallmark of the city itself.

Thus, this perfectly structured, perfectly safe city seemed like a paradise of sorts to many outsiders, my parents included. I was a little more hesitant to welcome this. As I saw it, this was a phony city – believing that its uniformity stood for a lack of personality. My hometown, although not as flawlessly safe nor clean as Irvine, was where most of my dearest memories had occurred. From the many sleepovers at Cindie’s house, to trying to avoid my school’s own version of the “infamous” cheese touch, to the many laughs shared with friends and family, I shed a tear at the prospect of leaving my home.

Moving into the foreign city, remnants of the hostility I held towards Irvine remained. Still dwelling in my memories of the past, I was initially unable to see Irvine as a “home.” So, as I walked into my first-ever Irvine class, being greeted by many kind, yet unfamiliar faces around me, I was unable to recognize that some of those new faces would later become some of my dearest friends. Such negative feelings about the city were further reinforced by newer, harder classes, and more complicated homework. Sitting in the discomfort of this unfamiliar environment, it started to seem that “change” was something not only inevitable, but insurmountable.

As the years went on, however, this idea seemed to fade. I got used to my classes and bike racing through Irvine neighborhoods with my friends, watching the trees that once seemed just a “weird” green blob soon transform into one of my favorite parts of the city. While I kept my old, beloved memories stored, I made space for new ones. From carefully making our way over the narrow creek path next to our school, to the laughs we shared during chemistry class, my new memories made with friends seemed to transform a city I once disliked into one I would miss. 

Through this transformation, I have come to recognize that change, although sometimes intimidating at first, can open the door to great times and meaningful connections. Although Irvine may have once seemed like a strange, “phony” place that I couldn’t wait to be rid of, the memories and laughs I had grown to share there were very real. As I move onto this next part of my life, I hope I can use this knowledge that I have gained from my time in Irvine to make the most of what’s to come. Even if the change may be frightening at first, I have learned to embrace what’s on the other side, whether green or not.

One huge plus to writing an essay that focuses on a place is that you might have it read by someone who has been there. Yet, what’s really helpful about this essay is that even if someone hasn’t been there, a picture is painted about what the place is like.  Admission officers have the hard task of really understanding what the student sees, so the use of adjectives and imagery can really help.  It’s also really clever to see that the green that’s mentioned at the beginning is mentioned at the end.  It’s a nice way to bookend the essay and tie it all together.

Prompt 6: “Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?”

I like getting lost. Not literally, of course, but figuratively. Whether it be in the story of a love song by Taylor Swift, or in the memories brought back by listening to my favorite childhood video game’s background music, I’ve always appreciated music’s ability to transport me to another place, another time, another feeling. 

Alas, I cannot sing, nor have I practiced an instrument since my middle school piano class days. So, perhaps Kurt Vonnegut was right. As he puts it, “Virtually every writer I know would rather be a musician.” While I cannot speak for others, I have certainly not debunked his theory. Writing allows many, including myself, to attempt to mimic the transformative power of music – even if our singing voices aren’t exactly “pleasant.” Just as you can get lost in music, you can do so in a story. Whether it is in George Orwell’s totalitarian Oceania, or Little Women’s Orchard House, the stories outlined in novels can provide an amazing look into the lives and worlds of others, and an escape from the worries and problems of those in your own.

While I am certainly not claiming to have the storytelling abilities of the Orwells or Alcotts before me, I’ve had fun trying to recreate such transformative feelings for others. When I was nine, I attempted to write a story about a little girl who had gotten lost in the woods, only managing to get a couple pages through. As I got older, whenever I was assigned a creative writing assignment in school, I wrote about the same pig, Phil. He was always angry: in my 8th grade science class, Phil was mad at some humans who had harbored his friend captive, and in my 9th grade English class, at a couple who robbed him. 

Thus, when I heard about a writing club being opened at my school in 11th grade, I knew I had to join. I wanted to discern whether writing was just a hobby I picked up now and then, or a true passion. If it was a passion, I wanted to learn as much as possible about how I could improve. Although my high school’s writing club certainly wasn’t going to transform me into Shakespeare, I knew I could learn a lot from it – and I did. The club challenged me to do many things, from writing on the spot, to writing poetry, to even writing about myself, something that’s hopefully coming in handy right now. 

From then on, I started to expand into different types of writing, storing short ideas, skits, and more in appropriately-labeled Google Drive folders. At around the same time, I became interested in classic literature, which largely stemmed from a project in English class. We had been required to choose and read a classic on our own, then present it to the class in an interesting way. While my book was certainly interesting and unique in its own right, nearly everyone else’s novels seemed more captivating to me. So, I took it upon myself to read as many classics as I could the following summer.

One of the books I read during the summer, funnily enough, was Animal Farm, which starred angry pigs, reminiscent of Phil. I had also started going over different ideas in my head, thinking about how I could translate them into words using the new skills I learned. While the writing club helped reaffirm my interest in writing and allowed me to develop new skills, my newfound affinity for classics gave me inspiration to write. Now, I am actually considering writing as part of my future. In this endeavor, I hope that Phil, and the music I inevitably listen to as I write, will accompany me every step of the way.

Admission officers might read 70 (or more!) essays in one day. It’s not uncommon for them to start to blend together and sound similar. This essay might not make you laugh out loud. But, it might make the reader chuckle while reading it thanks to the subtle humor and levity. Being able to incorporate a little humor into your essay (if it is natural for you to do… do not force it), can really be a great way to shed additional light into who you are. Remember, the essay isn’t merely about proving that you can write, but it should also reveal a little bit about your personality.

Prompt 5: “Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.”

I learned a lot of things during the summer I worked at Tropical Smoothie. I discovered the value of hard work. I figured out how to save money. I even mastered the art of the Mango Magic smoothie (the secret is lots of sugar). But most importantly, I learned the power of perspective. And I have Deja to thank for that. 

Deja was my shift supervisor, and one of Tropical Smoothie’s best employees. She was punctual, friendly, and always willing to lend a helping hand. She knew the store from top to bottom, and could handle pretty much any situation thrown her way. She made everyone around her better. On top of all that, she was four months pregnant! I was always impressed by Deja’s work ethic, but I gained an entirely new level of respect for her one day.

It was a Friday night, and Deja and I were working the closing shift together. It was very busy, and Deja and I were the only ones on shift. We managed to get by, but we were exhausted by the end of the evening. After wiping down the counters and mopping the floors, we closed up shop and went our separate ways. I was eager to get home. 

I walked a couple blocks to where I had parked my car. Well, it wasn’t my car actually. It was my dad’s ‘98 Chevy pickup truck, and it was in rough shape. It had no heat or A/C, the leather seats were cracked beyond repair, and the driver’s side door was jammed shut. I sighed as I got in through the passenger side and scooted over to the driver’s seat. The whole reason I was working at Tropical Smoothie was to save up enough money to buy my own car. I was hoping to have something more respectable to drive during my senior year of high school. 

I cranked the old thing up and started on my way home. But soon enough, I spotted Deja walking on the side of the road. There was no sidewalk here, the light was low, and she was dangerously close to the passing cars. I pulled over and offered her a ride. She got in and explained that she was on her way home. Apparently she didn’t have a car and had been walking to work every day. I couldn’t believe it. Here I was complaining about my set of wheels, while Deja didn’t have any to begin with.

We got to talking, and she confessed that she had been having a tough time. You would never know from the way she was so cheerful at work, but Deja had a lot on her plate. She was taking care of her mother, her boyfriend had just lost his job, and she was worried about making ends meet. And of course, she was expecting a baby in five months. On top of all that, she had been walking nearly a mile to and from work every day. The whole thing was a real eye opener, and made me reconsider some things in my own life. 

For one, I didn’t mind driving my dad’s truck anymore. It was banged up, sure, but it was a lot better than nothing. My mindset had changed. I appreciated the truck now. I began to think about other things differently, too. I started making mental notes of all the things in my life I was thankful for — my family, my friends, my health. I became grateful for what I had, instead of obsessing over the things I didn’t. 

I also gained more awareness of the world outside my own little bubble. My encounter with Deja had shown me first-hand that everyone is dealing with their own problems, some worse than others. So I started paying more attention to my friends, family members, and coworkers. I started listening more and asking how I could help. I also gave Deja a ride home for the rest of the summer. 

These are all small things, of course, but I think they make a difference. I realized I’m at my best when I’m not fixated on my own life, but when I’m considerate of the lives around me. I want to keep this in mind as I continue to grow and develop as a person. I want to continue to search for ways to support the people around me. And most importantly, I want to keep things in perspective.

Too often we can be focused on our own problems that we fail to realize that everyone has their own things going on in their lives, too.  This essay showcases how it’s important to put things in perspective, a skill that certainly will prove invaluable in college… and not just in the classroom.  Another reason I like this essay is because it provides deeper insight into the student’s life.  Sure, you might have mentioned in your activities list that you have a job.  But as this essay does, you can show why you have the job in the first place, what your responsibilities are, and more.

A few last tips

We hope these essay examples gave you a bit of inspiration of what to include in your own. However, before you go, we’d like to send you off with a few (personal statement) writing tips to help you make your essays as lovely as the memories and anecdotes they’re based off of. Without further ado, here are some of our best tips for writing your personal statements:

1. Open strong

College admissions officers read many, many essays (think 50+) a day, which can sometimes cause them to start blending together and sounding alike. One way to avoid your essay from simply fading into the background is to start strong. This means opening your essay with something memorable, whether an interesting personal anecdote, a descriptive setting, or anything else that you think would catch a reader’s attention (so long as it’s not inappropriate). Not only might this help college admissions officers better remember your essay, but it will also make them curious about what the rest of your essay will entail.

2. Be authentic

Perhaps most important when it comes to writing personal statement essays is to maintain your authenticity. Ultimately, your essays should reflect your unique stories and quirks that make you who you are, and should help college admissions officers determine whether you’d truly be a good fit for their school or not. So, don’t stress trying to figure out what colleges are looking for. Be yourself, and let the colleges come to you!

3. Strong writing

This one may seem a little obvious, but strong writing will certainly appeal to colleges. Not only will it make your essay more compelling, but it may show colleges that you’re ready for college-level essay writing (that you’ll likely have to do a lot of). Just remember that good writing is not limited to grammar. Using captivating detail and descriptions are a huge part of making your essay seem more like a story than a lecture.

4. Proofread

Last but not least, remember to proofread! Make sure your essay contains no errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. When you’re done proofreading your essay yourself, we would also recommend that you ask a teacher, parent, or other grammatically savvy person to proofread your essay as well.

Final thoughts 

With those in hand, we hope you now have a better sense of how to write your personal statement. While your grades and test scores are important when it comes to college admissions, it’s really your essays that can “make” or “break” your application. 

Although this may make it seem like a daunting task, writing an amazing personal statement essay is all about effort. Thus, so long as you start early, follow the advice listed above, and dedicate your time and effort to it, it’s entirely possible to write an essay that perfectly encapsulates you. Good luck, and happy writing!

Also see:  Scholarships360’s free scholarships search tool

Key Takeaways

• It may take some people longer than others to know what they want to write about, but remember that everyone, including you, has something unique to write about!
• Personal statements should be personal, which means you should avoid being too general and really strive to show off what makes you “you”
• Time and effort are two of the most important things you can put into your personal statement to ensure that it is the best representation of yourself
• Don’t forget to ask people who know you to read your work before you submit; they should be able to tell you better than anyone if you are truly shining through!

Frequently asked questions about writing personal statements 

How do you write a powerful personal statement, what makes an amazing personal statement, how do you start an amazing personal statement, scholarships360 recommended.

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College of Charleston Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are College of Charleston's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into College of Charleston and build a strong application.

School location: Charleston, SC

This school is also known as: C of C

Admissions Rate: 75.7%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at College of Charleston is 75.7% . For every 100 applicants, 76 are admitted.

This means the school is lightly selective . The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet College of Charleston's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

College of Charleston GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 4

The average GPA at College of Charleston is 4 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 4, College of Charleston requires you to be at the top of your class . You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

College of Charleston hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to College of Charleston will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

College of Charleston SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1214

The average SAT score composite at College of Charleston is a 1214 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes College of Charleston Competitive for SAT test scores.

College of Charleston SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1140, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1290. In other words, a 1140 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1290 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

College of Charleston has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."

This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit .

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, College of Charleston will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and College of Charleston forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1140, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

College of Charleston ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, College of Charleston likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 25

The average ACT score at College of Charleston is 25. This score makes College of Charleston Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 30.

Even though College of Charleston likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 24 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 24 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to College of Charleston, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 24.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

College of Charleston considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average . Aim for a 1140 SAT or a 24 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.

But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of College of Charleston here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $60
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes Letters of recommendation for Honors College recommended for some freshmen

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office March 1

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 3
• Social Studies 2
• Electives 3

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes January 15 March 1
• Yes November 1 December 15
• Yes October 15 December 1

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 66 Charleston, SC 29424
• Phone: (843) 805-5507 x5507
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in College of Charleston, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to College of Charleston.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than College of Charleston. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for College of Charleston, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for College of Charleston, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If College of Charleston is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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Résumé and Personal Statement

Law school applications typically require a résumé and a personal statement.

The résumé should list all your work experience, but you should remember that you are not applying for a job. The purpose of the résumé is to account for your time outside the classroom, to illustrate things that you done that are not listed on your transcript. Volunteer work, extracurricular activities, study-abroad experiences and even significant hobbies can all be appropriate content. At the same time, keep your résumé brief. If you go over a page, admissions officers will suspect that you are exaggerating what you could have accomplished at this early stage of your adult life. 

The personal statement is meant to reveal something about who you are as an individual. Think of it as a substitute for a direct interview that allows admissions officers to put a kind of face on the information included in your application. Though the personal statement may suggest why you want to go to law school, it is not a statement of purpose of the sort required by Ph.D. programs. The directors of such programs want to know what you want to study, to see if your work will be coherent with theirs. Law school administrators already know what you want to study, and what they want to teach you. What they want to know is why you are the kind of person they would like to have there.

Most personal statements tell a story: they describe an experience you have had and explain how it has shaped you into the person you are today, the person who now wants to go to law school. The experience does not have to be exotic or even especially interesting. The key is to make your description of the experience and the lesson you draw from it as compelling and possible.

While you want to appear interesting as a person, you should also remember that you are applying to be a law student, not a dinner guest. What matters most of all is that your statement is well-written , and that you make a coherent connection between your experience and the lessons you draw from it. Though nearly all applicants worry about sounding boring or cliche in their personal statements, the real dangers are ungrammatical or garbled prose, misspellings, poor organization or reasoning, and boastfulness. As with a job interview, a great performance in a personal statement is seldom enough to get you in, but a poor performance is often enough to keep you out. The personal statement needs to be about you, but what really matters is that you write it well. Plan to spend several weeks to a month on the personal statement and to write 5 or more drafts before final submission. 

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How to Write a Personal Statement That Wows Colleges

← What Is an Application Theme and Why Is It Important?

10 Personal Statement Examples That Work →

  Most of the college applications process is fairly cut and dry. You’ll submit information about your classes and grades, standardized test scores, and various other accomplishments and honors. On much of the application, your accomplishments must speak for themselves. 

The personal statement is different though, and it’s your chance to let your voice be heard. To learn more about the personal statement, how to choose a topic, and how to write one that wows colleges, don’t miss this post.

What is the Personal Statement?

Personal statements are used in both undergraduate and graduate admissions. For undergrad admissions, personal statements are any essays students must write to submit their main application. For example, the Common App Essay and Coalition Application Essay are examples of personal statements. Similarly, the ApplyTexas Essays and University of California Essays are also good examples .

Personal statements in college admissions are generally not school-specific (those are called “supplemental essays”). Instead, they’re sent to a wide range of schools, usually every school you apply to. 

What is the Purpose of the Personal Statement?

The personal statement is generally your opportunity to speak to your unique experiences, qualities, or beliefs that aren’t elsewhere represented on the application. It is a chance to break away from the data that defines you on paper, and provide a glimpse into who you really are. In short, it’s the admissions committee’s chance to get to know the real you.

So, what are colleges looking for in your personal statement? They are looking for something that sets you apart. They are asking themselves: do you write about something truly unique? Do you write about something common, in a new and interesting way? Do you write about an aspect of your application that needed further explanation? All of these are great ways to impress with your personal statement.

Beyond getting to know you, admissions committees are also evaluating your writing skills. Are you able to write clearly and succinctly? Can you tell an engaging story? Writing effectively is an important skill in both college and life, so be sure to also fine-tune your actual writing (grammar and syntax), not just the content of your essay.

Is your personal statement strong enough? Get a free review of your personal statement with CollegeVine’s Peer Essay Review.

How To a Choose A Topic For Your Personal Statement

Most of the time, you’re given a handful of prompts to choose from. Common personal statement prompts include:

• Central aspect of your identity (activity, interest, talent, background)
• Overcoming a failure
• Time you rose to a challenge or showed leadership
• Experience that changed your beliefs
• Problem you’d like to solve
• Subject or idea that captivates you

One of the questions that we hear most often about the personal statement is, “How do I choose what to write about?” For some students, the personal statement prompt triggers an immediate and strong idea. For many more, there is at least initially some uncertainty.

We often encourage students to think less about the exact prompt and more about what aspects of themselves they think are most worthy of highlighting. This is especially helpful if you’re offered a “topic of your choice” prompt, as the best essay topic for you might actually be one you make up!

For students with an interesting story or a defining background, these can serve as the perfect catalyst to shape your approach. For students with a unique voice or different perspective, simple topics written in a new way can be engaging and insightful.

Finally, you need to consider the rest of your application when you choose a topic for your personal statement. If you are returning from a gap year, failed a single class during sophomore year, or participated extensively in something you’re passionate about that isn’t elsewhere on your application, you might attempt to address one of these topics in your statement. After all, the admissions committee wants to get to know you and understand who you really are, and these are all things that will give them a deeper understanding of that.

Still, tons of students have a decent amount of writer’s block when it comes to choosing a topic. This is understandable since the personal statement tends to be considered rather high stakes. To help you get the ball rolling, we recommend the post What If I Don’t Have Anything Interesting To Write About In My College Essay?

Tips for Writing a Personal Statement for College

1. approach this as a creative writing assignment..

Personal statements are difficult for many students because they’ve never had to do this type of writing. High schoolers are used to writing academic reports or analytical papers, but not creative storytelling pieces.

The point of creative writing is to have fun with it, and to share a meaningful story. Choose a topic that inspires you so that you’ll enjoy writing your essay. It doesn’t have to be intellectual or impressive at all. You have your transcript and test scores to prove your academic skills, so the point of the personal statement is to give you free rein to showcase your personality. This will result in a more engaging essay and reading experience for admissions officers. 

As you’re writing, there’s no need to follow the traditional five-paragraph format with an explicit thesis. Your story should have an overarching message, but it doesn’t need to be explicitly stated—it should shine through organically. 

Your writing should also feel natural. While it will be more refined than a conversation with your best friend, it shouldn’t feel stuffy or contrived when it comes off your tongue. This balance can be difficult to strike, but a tone that would feel natural when talking with an admired teacher or a longtime mentor is usually a good fit.

2. Show, don’t tell.

One of the biggest mistakes students make is to simply state everything that happened, instead of actually bringing the reader to the moment it happened, and telling a story. It’s boring to read: “I was overjoyed and felt empowered when I finished my first half marathon.” It’s much more interesting when the writing actually shows you what happened and what the writer felt in that moment: “As I rounded the final bend before the finish line, my heart fluttered in excitement. The adrenaline drowned out my burning legs and gasping lungs. I was going to finish my first half marathon! This was almost incomprehensible to me, as someone who could barely run a mile just a year ago.”

If you find yourself starting to write your essay like a report, and are having trouble going beyond “telling,” envision yourself in the moment you want to write about. What did you feel, emotionally and physically? Why was this moment meaningful? What did you see or hear? What were your thoughts?

For inspiration, read some memoirs or personal essays, like The New York Times Modern Love Column . You could also listen to podcasts of personal stories, like The Moth . What do these writers and storytellers do that make their stories engaging? If you didn’t enjoy a particular story, what was it that you didn’t like? Analyzing real stories can help you identify techniques that you personally resonate with.

3. Use dialogue.

A great way to keep your writing engaging is to include some dialogue. Instead of writing: “My brothers taunted me,” consider sharing what they actually said. It’s more powerful to read something like:

“Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” they taunted. “Having some trouble?” They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame. 

Having dialogue can break up longer paragraphs of text, and bring some action and immediacy to your story. That being said, don’t overdo it. It’s important to strike a balance between relying too much on dialogue, and using it occasionally as an effective writing tool. You don’t want your essay to read like a script for a movie (unless, of course, that’s intentional and you want to showcase your screenwriting skills!).

Want free essay feedback? Submit your essay to CollegeVine’s Peer Essay Review and get fast, actionable edits on your essay. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Personal Statements

1. giving a recap or report of all the events..

Your essay isn’t a play-by-play of everything that happened in that time frame. Only include relevant details that enrich the story, instead of making your personal statement a report of the events. Remember that the goal is to share your voice, what’s important to you, and who you are. 

2. Writing about too many events or experiences. 

Similarly, another common mistake is to make your personal statement a resume or recap of all your high school accomplishments. The Activities Section of the Common App is the place for listing out your achievements, not your personal statement. Focus on one specific experience or a few related experiences, and go into detail on those. 

3. Using cliche language.

Try to avoid overdone quotes from famous people like Gandhi or Thoreau. Better yet, try to avoid quotes from other people in general, unless it’s a message from someone you personally know. Adding these famous quotes won’t make your essay unique, and it takes up valuable space for you to share your voice.

You should also steer away from broad language or lavish claims like “It was the best day of my life.” Since they’re so cliche, these statements also obscure your message, and it’s hard to understand what you actually mean. If it was actually the best day of your life, show us why, rather than just telling us.

If you want to learn more about personal statements, see our post of 11 Common App Essay Examples .

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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College of Charleston

4 year • Charleston, SC

College of Charleston is a public institution that was founded in 1770. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 9,972 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 95 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. College of Charleston's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities South, #9. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,978; out-of-state tuition and fees are $36,858.

The College of Charleston’s location in South Carolina positions students for both downtown and beach living. No student is required to live on campus; freshmen may apply to live either in a residence hall or in a university-owned historic home in downtown Charleston, though the latter is typically reserved for upperclassmen. The area is a scenic place to live, as the campus has made appearances in feature films including "The Notebook," "Dear John" and "The Patriot."

The College of Charleston’s sports teams, known as the Cougars, compete in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association and have been traditionally dominant in baseball, women’s volleyball and sailing. The school does not have a football team. The student body is more than 60 percent female, and about 20 percent of students are active in Greek life. The College of Charleston offers more than 30 graduate degree and certificate programs through The Graduate School of the University of Charleston, South Carolina. Notable alumni of the College of Charleston include actor Matt Czuchry, who has played lead roles on the television shows "Gilmore Girls" and "The Good Wife," and novelist Padgett Powell, author of "Edisto."

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From the School

Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston is a nationally recognized, public liberal arts and sciences university. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. Its beautiful and historic campus, combined with contemporary facilities , cutting-edge programs and accessible faculty attracts students from across the U.S. and around the world.

Nearly 10,000 undergraduates and approximately 1,000 graduate students at the College enjoy a small-college feel blended with the advantages and diversity of a mid-sized, urban university. They work closely with a committed faculty, made up of more than 800 distinguished teacher-scholars. And the city of Charleston – world-renowned for its history, architecture, culture and coastal environment – serves as a living and learning laboratory for experiences in business, science, technology, teaching, the humanities, languages, and the arts.

A College of Charleston education is a personalized education. We offer 67 majors and 81 minors. In addition, you can pursue undergraduate certificates in three areas of specialty, including project management. At the College, you'll have the freedom to mix and match your academic interests to create a unique, intellectually stimulating course of study.

We've given you a head start with our 25 interdisciplinary minors such as Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Crime, Law and Society and Data Science, the first undergraduate program of its kind in the nation. These programs draw resources from several different schools and departments in order to approach each topic from all academic angles.

No matter which major or minor you choose, you'll be taught by exceptional professors whose top priority is your success.

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Small class sizes, excellent professors, plenty of clubs and activities, phenomenal basketball team and spirited home games in a fun diverse city with a pleasant climate filled with history, culture and art. Oh and gorgeous beaches 20 mins away.

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How to Write a Personal Statement

A personal statement can be a key part of your college application, and you can really make yours shine by following a few tips.

When you're applying to college—either to an undergraduate or graduate program—you may be asked to submit a personal statement. It's an essay that gives you the chance to share more about who you are and why you'd like to attend the university you're applying to.  

The information you provide in your personal statement can help build on your other application materials, like your transcripts and letters of recommendation, and build a more cohesive picture to help the admissions committee understand your goals.

In this article, we'll go over more about personal statements, including why they're important, what to include in one, and tips for strengthening yours.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement—sometimes known as a college essay —is a brief written essay you submit with other materials when applying to college or university. Personal statements tend to be most common for undergraduate applications, and they're a great opportunity for an admissions committee to hear your voice directly.

Many colleges and universities in the US, especially those using Common App , provide prompts for you to use. For example, "Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea" or "Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time" [ 1 ]. If the school you're interested in attending doesn't require prompts, you will likely want to craft a response that touches on your story, your values, and your goals if possible.

In grad school, personal statements are sometimes known as letters of intent , and go into more detail about your academic and professional background, while expressing interest in attending the particular program you're applying to.

Why is a personal statement important?

Personal statements are important for a number of reasons. Whereas other materials you submit in an application can address your academic abilities (like your transcripts) or how you perform as a student (like your letters of recommendation), a personal statement is a chance to do exactly that: get more personal.

Personal statements typically:

Permit you to share things that don't fit on your resume, such as personal stories, motivations, and values

Offer schools a chance to see why you're interested in a particular field of study and what you hope to accomplish after you graduate 

Provide an opportunity for you to talk about past employment, volunteer experiences, or skills you have that complement your studies 

Allow colleges to evaluate your writing skills 

Bring life to a college application package otherwise filled with facts and figures 

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How to write a personal statement.

As we mentioned earlier, you may have to respond to a prompt when drafting your personal statement—or a college or university may invite you to respond however you'd like. In either case, use the steps below to begin building your response.

Create a solid hook .

To capture the attention of an admissions committee member, start your personal statement with a hook that relates to the topic of your essay. A hook tends to be a colorful sentence or two at the very beginning that compels the reader to continue reading.

To create a captivating hook, try one of these methods:

Pose a rhetorical question. 

Provide an interesting statistic. 

Insert a quote from a well-known person.

Challenge the reader with a common misconception. 

Use an anecdote, which is a short story that can be true or imaginary. 

Credibility is crucial when writing a personal statement as part of your college application process. If you choose a statistic, quote, or misconception for your hook, make sure it comes from a reliable source.

Follow a narrative.

The best personal statements typically read like a story: they have a common theme, as well as a beginning, middle, and end. This type of format also helps keep your thoughts organized and improves the flow of your essay.

Common themes to consider for your personal statement include:

Special role models from your past

Life-altering events you've experienced

Unusual challenges you've faced

Accomplishments you're especially proud of

Service to others and why you enjoy it

What you've learned from traveling to a particular place

Unique ways you stand out from other candidates

Be specific.

Admissions committees read thousands of personal statements every year, which is why being specific on yours is important. Back up your statements with examples or anecdotes.

For instance, avoid vague assertions like, "I'm interested in your school counseling program because I care about children." Instead, point out experiences you've had with children that emphasize how much you care. For instance, you might mention your summer job as a day camp counselor or your volunteer experience mentoring younger children.

Don't forget to include detail and vibrancy to keep your statement interesting. The use of detail shows how your unique voice and experiences can add value to the college or university you're applying to.

Stay on topic.

It's natural to want to impress the members of the admissions committee who will read your personal statement. The best way to do this is to lead your readers through a cohesive, informative, and descriptive essay.

If you feel you might be going astray, ensure each paragraph in your essay's body supports your introduction. Here are a few more strategies that can help keep you on track:

Know what you want to say and do research if needed. 

Create an outline listing the key points you want to share.

Read your outline aloud to confirm it makes logical sense before proceeding. 

Read your essay aloud while you're writing to confirm you're staying on topic.

Ask a trusted friend or family member to read your essay and make suggestions.

Be true to your own voice.

Because of the importance of your personal statement, you could be tempted to be very formal with structure and language. However, using a more relaxed tone is better than you would for a classroom writing assignment. 

Remember: admissions committees really want to hear from you . Writing in your own voice will help accomplish this. To ensure your tone isn't too relaxed, write your statement as if you were speaking to an older relative or trusted teacher. This way, you'll come across as respectful, confident, and honest.

Tips for drafting an effective personal statement.

Now that you've learned a little about personal statements and how to craft them, here are a few more tips you can follow to strengthen your essay:

1. Customize your statement.

You don't have to completely rewrite your personal statement every time you apply to a new college, but you want to make sure you tailor it as much as possible. For instance, if you talk about wanting to take a certain class or study a certain subject, make sure you adjust any specifics for each application.

2. Avoid cliches.

Admissions committees are ultimately looking for students who will fit the school, and who the school can help guide toward their larger goals. In that case, cliches can get in the way of a reviewer understanding what it is you want from a college education. Watch out for cliches like "making a difference," "broadening my horizons," or "the best thing that ever happened to me."

3. Stay focused.

Try to avoid getting off-track or including tangents in your personal statement. Stay focused by writing a first draft and then re-reading what you've written. Does every paragraph flow from one point to the next? Are the ideas you're presenting cohesive?

4. Stick to topics that aren't controversial.

It's best not to discuss political beliefs or inappropriate topics in your essay. These can be controversial; ideally, you want to share something goals- or values-driven with an admissions committee.

Polish your writing skills on Coursera.

A stellar personal statement starts with stellar writing skills. Enhance your writing ability with a writing course from a top university, like Good with Words: Writing and Editing from the University of Michigan or Writing a Personal Essay from Wesleyan University. Get started for free to level up your writing.

Article sources

1. Common App. " 2022-2023 Common App Essay Prompts , https://www.commonapp.org/blog/2022-2023-common-app-essay-prompts." Accessed January 9, 2024.

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

Ready to Apply to law school? Visit LSAC.org.

Application tips.

The admission process for law school often seems daunting, but it does not have to be that way. The Office of Admission is here to help you and to walk you through the process. We want you to be the best candidate possible when your file is reviewed by the admission committee. If you have questions, concerns or just need to talk to an admission representative, please contact the Office of Admission by phone, 843.377.2143, or email,  [email protected] .

All applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) sponsored by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for the purpose of assessing the applicant’s capability of satisfactorily completing the educational program.

LSAC has partnered with  Khan Academy  to offer free LSAT prep .

LSAT score are valid for five years. Many law schools, including Charleston School of Law, only consider your high LSAT score, so do not be afraid to take the test more than once. If you do not think your score reflects your abilities, be sure to include an addendum with your application explaining why you feel this way. Let the admission committee know the steps you took to prepare for the LSAT. The more information they have, the better!

In an effort to increase the accessibility of law school, the Charleston School of Law will accept the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) beginning with the application for fall 2023 admission under the following conditions:

1. An applicant does not have a reportable LSAT score.

A. If an applicant has a reportable LSAT score on file at any time during the admissions process, the GRE score will not be considered.

B. If an applicant has been admitted with a GRE score, receipt of a subsequent LSAT score will result in a reevaluation of the applicant’s file and admission decision by the Admission Committee.

2. Applicants must submit all GRE scores from the past five years.  Both total and individual section scores are required. The Admission Committee will evaluate scores from all sections of the GRE. 

3. Applicants who choose to apply with only a GRE must submit an explanation for why they have chosen to take the GRE over the LSAT.

We encourage all applicants to take the LSAT; while some merit scholarships will be available for GRE applicants, the majority will be for those with an LSAT score. 

Personal Statement

The personal statement is your opportunity to provide a candid evaluation of yourself and to make the admission committee feel your passion and desire to study the law. If you find yourself struggling to talk about how great you are, ask someone close to you – mother, father, friend, etc. – why they think you are great. The personal statement is your opportunity to tell the admission committee something about yourself that they would not otherwise know from reading the rest of your application or résumé.

Here are a few things to consider including in your personal statement:

• Evidence of your abilities and strengths
• Motivation to study law
• Examples of leadership abilities
• Evidence of your maturity
• Evidence of your organizational skills
• Information regarding any educational or financial obstacles you have overcome
• Disabilities that may have affected your academic performance

Please remember that the personal statement is a writing sample; there should be no typos. If you begin or end with a quote, make sure that it is relevant to the rest of your statement.

Tips to Remember when Writing a Personal Statement   from Michele DeMary of Susquehanna University

Tips for Your Personal Statement   from The Princeton Review

What Not to Do in a Law School Personal Statement from U.S. News & World Report

Letters of Recommendation

What you need to know about letters of recommendation:.

• Two letters of recommendation are required, and at least one should be written in the past year
• You may submit no more than four letters
• Ask for a recommendation from someone who will write a great letter about you
• If you ask someone and they are hesitant, it is likely a sign that you should ask someone else
• One letter should be from someone in academia if you are in college or recently graduated
• One letter should be from an employer if you have been in the workforce for several years
• The second letter may be from a colleague, friend, co-worker, etc.
• Recommender should speak to your work-ethic and/or classroom ethics

Be sure to tailor your resume to law school admission. You should expand on and provide more details than the application allows in regards to leadership roles, community service and work/internship experience.

Personal Statement?

Hi Is the personal statement on the CofC application actually optional? Thanks

This is how it is worded "The College of Charleston does not require a personal statement for your application to be complete. If you have not shared something that you want the admissions committee to know about you, this is your opportunity to do so. (Maximum 750 words.)

Note: We highly recommend that you complete the personal statement. Although this section is optional for most students, if you have taken a GAP semester/year, or you are completing a post-graduate year - it is necessary for you to explain your activities over that period of time."

While not required, it might be fun to submit one of 752 words.

Our guidance counselors stressed that it is important to do these optional essays. Not completing it could be viewed as a lack of real interest in the school.

OP: If you are serious about the College of Charleston, it would be wise to complete the optional essay–and adhere to the 750 word maximum limit.

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A Few Facts About the Nursing Profession

• Registered nurses constitute the largest health care occupation, with 2.4 million jobs.
• About 3 out of 5 jobs are in hospitals.
• The three major educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, and a diploma from an approved nursing program.
• Registered nurses are projected to create the second largest number of new jobs among all occupations; job opportunities in most specialties and employment settings are expected to be excellent, with some employers reporting difficulty in attracting and retaining enough RNs.

The Nature of the Work

Nursing is a challenging profession that offers a wide range of career opportunities including, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) a Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Anesthestist, the new DNP Degree and a PhD programs in nursing.

Undergraduate Preparation   ▼

Preparing for nursing school.

The College of Charleston does not offer a formal major in "Pre=Nursing" nor do we grant undergraduate degrees in nursing, however, students at C of C can complete 60 SH of transfer credits, or an undergraduate degree in their chosen major, and apply to professional schools of nursing. The undergraduate prerequisite courses required for nursing schools are similar for most professional programs, but additional courses may be required by individual schools.

IMPORTANT: Students are urged to plan their schedules with a specific major and general degree requirements at the College of Charleston in mind, in addition to meeting the Allied Health prerequisites. Students interested in all programs should select a major and work toward a degree at the College. If you are admitted into a program before you graduate, you have not "lost" anything, but if you stay here another year, you will be further along toward a degree. You should be aware that having a Baccalaureate degree weighs favorably in applying to many programs, even if it is not required. Plan your college curriculum as though you have two equal goals---(1st) meeting the allied health requirements and (2nd) earning a degree in a College of Charleston major.

Due to the rigor of our science curriculum, the College of Charleston has specific internal prerequisite requirements in order to complete some of the required courses for nursing schools, such as microbiology and anatomy and physiology. The rigor of our science courses, together with a well-developed advising process prepare our pre-nursing students to be competitive applicants.

The College of Charleston enjoys a long standing relationship with the College of Nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina, which is located only a few city blocks from the College of Charleston.  Students can apply to the College of Nursing at MUSC after having completed a minimum of 60 SH of coursework in specific categories or an undergraduate degree.

Undergraduate Pre-requisite Courses

College of Charleston students who are interested in applying to professional nursing programs should complete the following coursework. Additional courses may be required depending on their planned track of study and the professional nursing program to which they apply.

PREREQUISITES REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS APPLYING TO THE ACCELERATED BSN NURSING PROGRAM AT THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA (MUSC)

* Even though MUSC does not specifically state that you must have one year of Chemistry, one year of Biology (BIOL 111 - 112 with labs), and a semester of General Psychology , the College of Charleston requires these courses as prerequisites . Nursing schools, other than MUSC, frequently require that applicants have a basic knowledge of chemistry. These "excess" hours can be counted in the elective (for nursing) category. College of Charleston students who are interested in applying to the Nursing Program at the Medical University of South Carolina must complete the prerequisites listed above, plus additional courses depending on their planned track of study.    

Prerequisite requirements may vary for other Nursing programs throughout the US, please check the admission requirements for each school of interest.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE

Students are urged to do VOLUNTEER SERVICE in a healthcare setting. You may volunteer only a few (e.g. 3) hours per week, but you must be dependable and your activities should extend over a significant period of time. Diverse clinical experiences are encouraged and certifications such as EMT or C.N.A give added value to your application. The experience component of your applicant profile is increasingly important for some programs, so you should make the most of this opportunity. Also, you should ensure that someone familiar with your performance can serve as a reference.

Dual Degree Programs    ▼

Dual degree programs.

1. Dual Degree Program for Nursing with MUSC The Medical University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston have a partnership that will allow selected students at the College to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from CofC and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from MUSC in only 4.5 years. Under the program, MUSC’s College of Nursing will hold seats for up to six College of Charleston biology-seeking students each year into MUSC’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science Nursing program. Beginning in Fall 2021, CofC biology students will be allowed to apply for the program during their freshmen year. Accepted students will be required to follow a structured semester-by-semester schedule of coursework at the College of Charleston and maintain a minimum cumulative and pre-requisite science GPA of 3.5. All degree and prerequisite requirements must be satisfied by the end of their junior year at which time accepted students will take a Leave of Absence from CofC to enter the MUSC program. After completing the first year of the Accelerated BSN program at MUSC students are eligible to participate in commencement exercises at CofC and then return to MUSC to complete the last semester of nursing classes and graduate from MUSC with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

2. Dual Degree Program for Nursing with USC Upstate CofC recently entered into a dual degree program with the University of South Carolina Upstate Mary Black School of Nursing that will be an option for entering freshmen in Fall 2020. This new program will offer a small number of seats for interested pre-nursing students. Students must declare a BA in Biology to qualify for this program and complete a separate application during summer orientation. This partnership will allow a student to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from CofC and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from USC Upstate in 5 years. Students who are accepted to this program and satisfy all the course requirements will be guaranteed a spot at Mary Black. Students accepted to this program will be required to relocate to Spartanburg SC for the last 2 years in order to complete the clinical portion of their nursing degree.

Tests and Application   ▼

Graduate record examination (gre).

The GRE is usually only required for advanced nursing degrees beyond undergraduate BSN programs. The general portion GRE is a computer based exam that is given year-round at the Prometrics Testing Centers. Information about the GRE can be obtained at the GRE website .

The results from the GRE are available to the student on the test date, but it takes approximately 3 weeks for the test results to reach the professional schools, so make sure to plan appropriately

Timetable   ▼

Design an academic plan, it is important to know your timetable and plan accordingly..

Fall Semester

Declare a major and get an advisor. Make sure to identify that you are a pre-health student on the major declaration form Make an appointment with your major advisor to layout an academic plan. Meet with your Pre-health advisor to discuss professional goals and determine an academic plan to ensure  all courses needed the completion of all prerequiste courses and clinical/volunteer experiences.

Spring Semester

Discuss your academic progress with your advisor. Search for summer jobs and volunteer opportunities in your field of interest.

First Summer

Work/volunteer to gain insight of your career choice.

SECOND YEAR

Meet with your advisor to discuss your Spring schedule. Establish a list of potential schools to which you will apply and identify all prerequisite courses to discuss with your advisor. Pre-nursing students(if you are on the 2-year plan) visit the Center for Student Learning and begin learning about the GRE Continue volunteer work in your field to whatever degree manageable during the academic year.

Discuss your academic progress with your advisor and adjust your academic plan, as needed. Explore career options and alternatives, if your GPA is not adequate or your career interests have changed. Take the GRE (to be competitive you will want to score a minimum of 500 on both the quantitative and verbal portions of the exam). If you don't score a 500 on the verbal, plan on retaking it. If you are on the 2-year plan, the applications for nursing school at MUSC are accepted for both fall and spring semesters (check the website at www.musc.edu/nursing) for deadlines. You will want to apply as early as possible to enhance your chances for acceptance.

Second Summer

Work/volunteer to gain insight of your career choice. Get involved in the community

For students on the 2-year plan, if you are offered a position at a professional nursing school, you can leave the College of Charleston and complete your BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) degree at a professional school. If for some reason, you are not offered a position, you can work towards completion of your undergraduate degree at C of C and apply again later. When applying to competitive academic programs, you should always have a "Plan B".

Meet with your advisor to discuss Spring schedule. Get organized, order review booklets and practice tests to prepare for standardized exams. Explore various professional schools and determine to which ones you will apply.

Discuss your academic progress with your advisor.  Meet with your Pre-health advisor to determine if your GPA is competitive and whether or not this is the year you should apply to professional school.

Start worksheets for on-line centralized application services and/or request applications from schools that do not participate in the centralized application process. Collect materials needed to fill in application and start working on application essay.

Apply and study for standardized admissions tests.  Check the deadlines and do not miss them . Practice, practice, practice taking the standardized admissions test.

Take the standardized admissions test and request that scores be released to the College of Charleston, schools to which you are applying and the application service (if appropriate). Request letters of evaluation from faculty and health professionals who know you well . Make sure to provide each of them with a signed Faculty evaluation form .

Third Summer

Continue to work/volunteer in your field of interest and community outreach projects. Complete your applications and submit early.  Early decision program applications must be submitted to the schools by August 1st. Complete your file for the Health Professions Committee.  Supply the committee with a copy of your personal statement from your application. Retake standardized admissions tests, if necessary.

FOURTH YEAR

Meet with your advisor.  Get a degree audit and apply for graduation. Make sure your Health Professions Committee File is complete and all your letters of evaluation have been submitted. Respond promptly to requests for secondary applications from each professional school. Prepare for interviews. Interview and then wait. Search for sources of financial aid.

Send updated transcripts directly to the professional schools to which you have applied. Wait for decisions.  Be sure to let the chair of the Health Professions Committee know the final outcome. Discuss alternatives with your advisor.  Meet with the chair of the Health Professions Committee to develop a strategy for reapplying, if necessary.

Letters of Recommendation   ▼

Letters of Reference are an important part of the application process to professional schools of nursing. Letters frequently come from professors, supervisors, or licensed nurses who know you well. Individual nursing schools will almost always provide specific forms that should be used by your evaluators and letters will be submitted electronically as part of the application process. Failing to use the proper form when submitting your reference letters, may delay processing of your application.

Online Resources   ▼

Useful websites for nursing.

MUSC College of Nursing Academic Programs: http://www.musc.edu/nursing/programs/programs.htm

National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission: http://www.nlnac.org/ Provides a very complete list of accredited programs, searchable by state, type, etc.

National Student Nurses Association: http://www.nsna.org/

National League for Nursing: http://www.nln.org/      

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Lists only CCNE ccredited nursing programs---incomplete   http://www.aacn.nche.edu/

Nursing Net (web links to nursing programs worldwide) http://www. http.nursingnet.org

Peterson’s Guide to Nursing Programs         http://iiswinprd03.petersons.com/nursing/code/search.asp

Students interested in Nursing may sign up for the College of Charleston AlliedHealth Listserver to receive announcements and notices. 

Frequently Asked Questions   ▼

Have a question you think should be addressed here? Contact Us

Do I have to be a science major to go to nursing school?

No. Your major is not important as long as you complete the pre-requisite course work to satisfy the admissions requirements and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Will majoring in science give me an advantage in applying to nursing school?

Not necessarily. Most nursing schools are looking for well rounded students who have an aptitude for science. They do not give preference to science majors.

Should I minor or take a double major?

Only if you are truly interested in another field of study. There is no evidence that those students who have a second major or minor have a better chance of acceptance into nursing school than those who do not.

Should I take a commercial prep course before taking the GRE (if required)?

There is no hard evidence that commercial courses produce significant gains in test scores. These courses may benefit students who need the extra motivation to buckle down and study. They do provide the opportunity to take multiple full length practice test in real time situations. However, motivated students can do the same on their own or in a study group. The Director of the Center for Student Learning here at C of C works with students to prepare for standardized tests, both individually and in groups. Go to GRE.org and explore all the possibilities for practice.

Can I take required courses in the summer and/or at another institution?

In general, it is best to take your required courses at your primary academic institution and during the regular school session. Professional schools want to know that a student can handle science courses while taking a normal academic load. If you have a compelling reason, for taking a course during the summer, for example to be able to get the proper course sequence, then do so. You should try, at least, to take the course at your primary institution or one with equivalent academic rigor. You should also check with the appropriate department to see that the credits from another institution will transfer.

Can I get into nursing school in less than 4 years?

Yes, students at C of C can complete 60 SH of transfer credits, or an undergraduate degree in their chosen major, and apply to professional schools of nursing.

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Why did i receive a 1098-t.

Educational institutions are required by law to report payments received for Qualified Education Expenses within the calendar year.  

Beginning in 2018, the IRS regulations changed to require that all schools report payments received instead of eligible charges billed.

Prior to 2018, College of Charleston reported the amount of qualified tuition and related expenses that had been billed to a student within a calendar year, and not payments received.

What is a Qualified Education Expense?

Examples of Qualified Education Expenses include tuition charges, Library Fees, Technology Fees, and any Lab Fees.

Charges for Room and Board are NOT considered a Qualified Education Expense by the IRS, even if paid directly to College of Charleston. 

For what the IRS considers a Qualified Education Expense, please see the following link https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/qualified-ed-expenses

What information is on the 1098-T?

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Box 2 is intentionally left blank.

Box 3 is intentionally left blank.

Box 4 will reflect any adjustments made to payments in the prior year. 

Box 5 will reflect the total scholarships and grants posted to the student account in the calendar year 2023.

Box 6 will reflect any adjustments made to scholarships or grants for the prior year.  This reflects any reduction in scholarships and grants made on a prior year’s 1098-T.

How do I use the 1098-T for tax purposes?

The 1098-T form should not be considered as tax opinion or advice. Please refer to relevant IRS forms and publications or consult a tax advisor.   

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Prior to 2018, 1098-Ts were only sent to students that have more eligible tuition charges than scholarships/grants (free money).  In other words, if scholarships/grants exceeds qualified tuition charges than a 1098-T is NOT issued.

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Your 1098T is available by accessing the form at ECSI's web site https://heartland.ecsi.net/index.main.html#/access/lookup   or by calling ECSI at 866.428.1098. Our school code is Q7.

Type "College of Charleston" and click "Submit".   You will be asked for sign into ECSI or register to create a profile.  Once a profile has been created, you will then be asked to connect an ECSI account number to your profile. To connect an ECSI account number to your profile, please call ECSI directly at 866.428.1098.

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College of Charleston, in conjunction with ECSI, is offering you the opportunity to receive your 1098T Tuition Statement Tax Form electronically this year. If you would like to receive your 1098T form electronically, please give your consent by following the link provided below and following the step by step instructions.    If you choose to receive a paper copy of your 1098-T form, simply do nothing. The benefits to receiving electronic notification are: • Online delivery provides access to the form 1098-T earlier than the traditional mailing process. • Online delivery eliminates the chance that the 1098-T will get lost, misdirected or delayed during delivery, or misplaced once the student receives it. • Signing up for online delivery is easy and secure. • Students can receive their 1098-T form even while traveling or on assignment away from their home address. To give consent to receive your 1098-T form electronically, click on the link below and follow the simple instructions to sign up! Step 1: Website:   https://heartland.ecsi.net/index.main.html#/access/signIn Step 2: Register with ECSI and link with College of Charleston using your SSN.  Once you have registered, click "Update Delivery Method". Step 3: Read information, check box and click submit. If you have any questions, please visit http:// www.ecsi.net/taxinfo.html for information regarding your tax documents and to obtain contact information for ECSI.

It is the policy of the College not to fax 1098-Ts as they have personal information regarding our students. Please make use of the two web sites for additional copies of the tax form.

I am an International Student.  Why did I receive a from 1098-T, and what do I do with it?

College of Charleston is required by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to report payments received for qualified tuition and related expenses for the tax year ending on December 31 of the preceding calendar year. The Form 1098-T is the tax document used to report these payments. Students who file income taxes in the United States can use the Form 1098-T as an informational tax document used to determine eligibility for income tax credits.

College of Charleston cannot determine which international students are residents for tax purposes and cannot provide personal tax advice to students. It is each student’s responsibility to determine if they should file taxes and/or if they are eligible for a tax credit.  For more information, please refer to the Internal Revenue Service’s website at:  https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/determining-alien-tax-status  or consult your personal tax adviser. 

Where can I obtain additional information about this form?

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South Carolina Tax Credit Information 

To help ease the financial burden for South Carolina college students and their families, the South Carolina General Assembly has recently increased its income tax credit for eligible students for tuition paid to South Carolina colleges and universities. To claim up to $1,500 in tuition tax credits, a Form SC 1040 must be filed. When preparing the South Carolina income tax return, Form I-319 Tuition Tax Credit must be completed. This form is included with all state individual income tax booklets. To determine if you are eligible, and for more information about the tax credit, please visit the South Carolina Department of Revenue Tuition Tax Credit website .

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How to Write a Personal Statement (with Tips and Examples)

Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

What is a personal statement, 6 tips on how to write a personal statement, personal statement examples (for college and university), faqs about writing personal statements, conclusion on how to write a personal statement.

How do you tell someone who you are in just a few hundred words?

It’s certainly no easy task, but it’s one almost every college applicant must do. The personal statement is a crucial part of any college or university application.

So, how do you write a compelling personal statement?

In this article, we’ll give you all the tools, tips, and examples you need to write an effective personal statement.

A personal statement is a short essay that reveals something important about who you are. It can talk about your background, your interests, your values, your goals in life, or all of the above.

Personal statements are required by many college admission offices and scholarship selection committees. They’re a key part of your application, alongside your academic transcript, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities.

The reason application committees ask you to write a personal statement is so they can get to know who you are. 

Some personal statements have specific prompts, such as “Discuss a period of personal growth in your life” or “Tell us about a challenge or failure you’ve faced.” Others are more open-ended with prompts that essentially boil down to “Tell us about yourself.”

No matter what the prompt is, your goal is the same: to make yourself stand out to the selection committee as a strong candidate for their program.

Here are some things a personal statement can be:

It can be funny. If you have a great sense of humor, your personal statement is a great place to let that shine.  

It can be vulnerable. Don’t be afraid to open up about hardships in your life or failures you’ve experienced. Showing vulnerability can make you sound more like a real person rather than just a collection of application materials.  

It can be creative. Candidates have got into top schools with personal statements that take the form of “a day in the life” descriptions, third-person short stories, and even cooking recipes.

Now we’ve talked about what a personal statement is, let’s quickly look at what a personal statement isn’t:

It isn’t a formal academic paper. You should write the personal statement in your natural voice, using first-person pronouns like “I” and “me,” not in the formal, objective language you would use to write an academic paper.

It isn’t a five-paragraph essay. You should use as many paragraphs as you need to tell your story instead of sticking to the essay structure you learned in school.

It isn’t a resumé. You should try to describe yourself by telling a clear and cohesive story rather than providing a jumbled list of all of your accomplishments and ambitions.

Here are our top six tips for writing a strong personal statement.

Tip 1: Do Some Serious Self-Reflection

The hardest part of writing a personal statement isn’t the actual process of writing it.

Before you start typing, you have to figure out what to write about. And that means taking some time to reflect on who you are and what’s important in your life.

Here are some useful questions you can use to start your self-reflection. You can either answer these on your own by writing down your answers, or you can ask a trusted friend to listen as you talk about them together.

What were the key moments that shaped your life? (e.g. an important friendship, a travel experience, an illness or injury)

What are you proud of? (e.g. you’re a good listener, you always keep your promises, you’re a talented musician)

How do you choose to spend your time? (e.g. reading, practicing soccer, spending time with your friends)

What inspires you? (e.g. your grandmother, a celebrity, your favorite song)

Doing this self-reflection is crucial for figuring out the perfect topics and anecdotes you can use to describe who you are.

Tip 2: Try to Avoid Cliché Topics

College application committees read thousands of personal statements a year. That means there are some personal statement topics they see over and over again.

Here are a few examples of common personal statement topics that have become cliché:

Winning a tournament or sports game

Volunteering in a foreign country

Moving to a new home

Becoming an older sibling

Being an immigrant or having immigrant parents

If you want to make a strong impression in the application process, you need to make your personal statement stand out from the crowd.

But if your chosen personal statement topic falls into one of these categories, that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t use it. Just make sure to put a unique spin on it so it still delivers something the committee hasn’t seen before.

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Tip 3: Show, Don’t Tell

One common mistake you might make in your personal statement is to simply tell the reader what you want them to know about you, such as by stating “I have a fear of public speaking” or “I love to cook.”

Instead of simply stating these facts, you should show the committee what you’re talking about through a story or scene, which will make your essay much more immersive and memorable.

For example, let’s say you want the committee to know you overcame your fear of public speaking. Instead of writing “I overcame my fear of public speaking,” show them what it was like to be onstage in front of a microphone. Did your palms get clammy? Did you feel light-headed? Did you forget your words?

Or let’s say you want the committee to know you love to cook. Instead of writing “I love to cook,” show them why you love to cook. What’s your favorite dish to cook? What does the air smell like when you’re cooking it? What kitchen appliances do you use to make it?

Tip 4: Connect the Story to Why You’re Applying

Don’t forget that the purpose of your personal statement isn’t simply to tell the admissions committee who you are. That’s an important part of it, of course, but your ultimate goal is to convince them to choose you as a candidate.

That means it’s important to tie your personal story to your reasons for applying to this specific school or scholarship. Finish your essay with a strong thesis.

For example, if your story is about overcoming your fear of public speaking, you might connect that story to your ambition of becoming a politician. You can then tie that to your application by saying, “I want to apply to this school because of its fantastic politics program, which will give me a perfect opportunity to use my voice.”

Tip 5: Write in Your Own Voice

The personal statement isn’t supposed to be written in a formal tone. That’s why they’re called “personal” statements because you have to shape it to fit your own voice and style.

Don’t use complicated or overwrought language. You don’t need to fill your essay with semicolons and big words, unless that’s how you sound in real life.

One way to write in your own voice is by speaking your personal statement out loud. If it doesn’t feel natural, it may need changing. 

Tip 6: Edit, Edit, Edit!

It’s important to revise your personal statement multiple times in order to make sure it’s as close to perfect as possible.

A single typo won’t kill your application, but if your personal statement contains multiple spelling errors or egregious grammar mistakes, you won’t be putting your best foot forward.

ProWritingAid can help you make sure your personal statement is as clean as possible. In addition to catching your grammar errors, typos, and punctuation mistakes, it will also help you improve weaknesses in your writing, such as passive voice, unnecessary repetition, and more.

Let’s look at some of the best personal statements that have worked for successful candidates in the real world. 

Harvard Personal Statement Example

Love. For a word describing such a powerful emotion, it is always in the air. The word “love” has become so pervasive in everyday conversation that it hardly retains its roots in blazing passion and deep adoration. In fact, the word is thrown about so much that it becomes difficult to believe society isn’t just one huge, smitten party, with everyone holding hands and singing “Kumbaya.” In films, it’s the teenage boy’s grudging response to a doting mother. At school, it’s a habitual farewell between friends. But in my Chinese home, it’s never uttered. Watching my grandmother lie unconscious on the hospital bed, waiting for her body to shut down, was excruciatingly painful. Her final quavering breaths formed a discordant rhythm with the steady beep of hospital equipment and the unsympathetic tapping hands of the clock. That evening, I whispered—into unhearing ears—the first, and only, “I love you” I ever said to her, my rankling guilt haunting me relentlessly for weeks after her passing. My warm confession seemed anticlimactic, met with only the coldness of my surroundings—the blank room, impassive doctors, and empty silence. I struggled to understand why the “love” that so easily rolled off my tongue when bantering with friends dissipated from my vocabulary when I spoke to my family. Do Chinese people simply love less than Americans do?

This is an excerpt from a personal statement that got the applicant admitted to Harvard University. The applicant discusses her background as a Chinese-American by musing on the word “love” and what that means within her family.

The writer uses vulnerable details about her relationship with her grandmother to give the reader an understanding of where she comes from and how her family has shaped her.  

You can read the full personal statement on the Harvard Crimson website.

Tufts Personal Statement Example

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry’s “Cars and Trucks and Things That Go,” and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon. Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration. Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear. I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

This is the beginning of a personal statement by Renner Kwittken, who was admitted into Tufts University as a pre-medical student.

Renner uses a humorous anecdote about being a pickle truck driver to describe his love for nanomedicine and how he got involved in his field. You can feel his passion for medicine throughout his personal statement.

You can find Renner’s full essay on the Tufts Admissions page.

Law School Personal Statement Essay Example

For most people, the slap on the face that turns their life around is figurative. Mine was literal. Actually, it was a punch delivered by a drill sergeant at Fort Dix, New Jersey, while I was in basic training. That day’s activity, just a few weeks into the program, included instruction in “low-crawling,” a sensible method of moving from one place to another on a battlefield. I felt rather clever for having discovered that, by looking right rather than down, I eliminated my helmet’s unfortunate tendency to dig into the ground and slow my progress. I could thus advance more easily, but I also exposed my unprotected face to hostile fire. Drill sergeants are typically very good at detecting this type of laziness, and mine was an excellent drill sergeant. So, after his repeated suggestions that I correct my performance went unheeded, he drove home his point with a fist to my face. We were both stunned. This was, after all, the New Army, and striking a trainee was a career-ending move for a drill sergeant, as we were both aware. I could have reported him; arguably, I should have. I didn’t. It didn’t seem right for this good sergeant, who had not slept for almost four days, to lose his career for losing his temper with my laziness. Choosing not to report him was the first decision I remember making that made me proud.

These are the first three paragraphs of an anonymous personal statement by a Wheaton College graduate, who used this personal statement to get into a top-25 law school.

This statement describes a time the applicant faced a challenging decision while in the army. He ended up making a decision he was proud of, and as a result, the personal statement gives us a sense of his character.

You can find the full essay on the Wheaton Academics website.

Here are some common questions about how to write a personal statement.

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be?

The length of your personal statement depends on the specific program you’re applying to. The application guidelines usually specify a maximum word count or an ideal word count.  

Most personal statements are between 500–800 words. That’s a good general range to aim for if you don’t have more specific guidelines.  

Should Personal Statements Be Different for Scholarships?

Many scholarship applications will ask for personal statements with similar prompts to those of college applications.

However, the purpose of a personal statement you’d write for a scholarship application is different from the purpose of one you’d write for a college application.

For a scholarship application, your goal is to showcase why you deserve the scholarship. To do that, you need to understand the mission of the organization offering that scholarship.

For example, some scholarships are meant to help first-generation college students get their degree, while others are meant to help women break into STEM.

Consider the following questions:

Why is this organization offering scholarships?

What would their ideal scholarship candidate look like?

How do your experiences and goals overlap with those of their ideal scholarship candidate?

You can use the same personal anecdotes you’d use for any other personal statement, but you’ll have a better chance of winning the scholarship if you tailor your essay to match their specific mission.

How to Start a Personal Statement

You should start your personal statement with a “hook” that pulls the reader in. The sooner you catch the reader’s attention, the more likely they’ll want to read the entire essay.

Here are some examples of hooks you can use:

A story (e.g. When the spotlight hit my face, I tried to remind myself to breathe. )

A setting description (e.g. My bedroom floor is covered with dirty laundry, candy wrappers, and crumpled sheet music. )

A funny anecdote (e.g. When I was a little kid, my friends nicknamed me Mowgli because of my haircut. )

A surprising fact (e.g. I've lived in 37 countries .)

There you have it—our complete guide to writing a personal statement that will make you stand out to the application committee.

Here’s a quick recap: 

A personal statement is a short essay that shows an application committee who you are

Start with a strong hook that pulls the reader in

Tell a story to engage the reader 

Write in your own voice, not in a formal tone

Good luck, and happy writing!

Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

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How to write a stellar personal statement

During college admissions season, hundreds of thousands of students across the globe scramble to get their applications in order. Apart from meticulously curating the dreaded activities list, begging teachers for recommendation letters, and fervently praying that your transcripts are submitted on time, perhaps the biggest hurdle is writing that personal statement—understandably so, given it requires you to squeeze every meaningful aspect of your identity and personal narrative within 650 words or so.

Let's get started.

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Much like any other piece of writing, the first step is brainstorming. Start by deciding whether you want to write a narrative or a montage essay. A narrative essay could be anything from a challenge you overcame, meaningful relationships you've had, to perhaps a retelling of how you designed an automated feeding system so hungry birds do not interrupt your morning slumber – an actual, famously successful essay.

Here, it's important to maintain a good problem-to-solution ratio. Dedicate less space to

elaborating on your challenges, and more space to talk about the creative ways in which you overcame those challenges and the unique lessons you learned. While colleges can empathise with the difficulties you faced, they care far more about your problem-solving skills and ability to self-reflect.

Alternatively, you could write a montage essay which is essentially a compilation of snapshots of different parts of your personality, interests, and lived experiences. Montage essays uniquely allow you to get creative with how you structure your response. For instance, a particular student used the different stickers on their laptop to talk about their passions and values. Another talked about the many families they've lived with and how each of them taught them a different lesson. Using objects, dates, and people as hooks to tie in different elements of your identity is a very effective technique to write a montage essay.

Being memorable is a hallmark of a good personal statement. If your essay is unique from the fifty other applications an admission officer (AO) has read that day, this automatically gives you an edge.

So, how could you stand out? The devil is in the details. It is highly likely your story will intersect with thousands of others'. The key to standing out is to be specific. Very specific. Name-drop people, places, dates. Use visceral language to describe exactly how you felt, involving all five senses. Make it so that even if you blur out your name, a friend reading it will instantly know it's you. Having a catchy intro and compelling outro are also effective hacks to remain memorable. After all, you're more likely to want to read further if the essay begins with, "I've been pooped on many times," instead of "I like to take care of animals." Yes, the former is a real essay.

The magic ingredient that can make or break your personal statement, regardless of format, is

insight. Your essay should be a window through which the AOs can peek into your soul. As such, you need to let your personality shine through your essays. If you're witty, try incorporating your effortless dry humour into your writing. If you're a big fat nerd about everything astrophysics, then, by all means, geek out about black holes and quasars. Be unapologetically you.

Then, surprise with your insight. Say you're writing about climate change advocacy. Lots of fellow applicants will also be climate change activists. But amongst a sea of optimistic green campaigners, are you a cynic who doesn't believe much change is likely? That's your hook. But do you also choose to set aside your pessimism to protest for climate reform anyway? Now that's the unique insight AOs will be excited to hear about. This may look a bit like deliberate attention-seeking, but that's the nature of the game.

Finally, accept that your college essay will never be flawless. There are so many potential values you can express within an essay: vulnerability, empathy, intellectual vitality, etc; it's impossible to cover them all. That's where you need to look at your essay holistically alongside the rest of your application. Maybe your personal statement misses out on your selfless nature, but you can always highlight that quality in your supplemental essays or activities. Even if you can't, that's okay. You don't need to win a Pulitzer or be a jack-of-all-trades to get into college. You just need to ensure your personal statement is well-polished, thoughtful, memorable, and honest about who you really are. It might not be perfect, but a little imperfection won't get in the way of that coveted acceptance letter.

Robiah is a former A-Levels student at Mastermind English Medium School

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NCAA allows transfers to be immediately eligible, no matter how many times they’ve switched schools

FILE - Wachovia Center operations manager Jim McDonald, left, and carpenter foreman Tim Allen remove the protective film covering the NCAA logo at mid-court on the center’s basketball court, Wednesday, March 15, 2006, in Philadelphia. NCAA athletes will be immediately eligible to play no matter how many times they transfer — as long as they meet academic requirements — after the association fast-tracked legislation Wednesday, April 17, 2024, to fall in line with a recent court order. (Ed Hille/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, FIie)

FILE - South Carolina players work out during a practice at the Women’s Final Four NCAA college college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Minneapolis. NCAA athletes will be immediately eligible to play no matter how many times they transfer — as long as they meet academic requirements — after the association fast-tracked legislation Wednesday, April 17, 2024, to fall in line with a recent court order. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

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NCAA athletes will be immediately eligible to play no matter how many times they transfer — as long as they meet academic requirements — after the association fast-tracked legislation Wednesday to fall in line with a recent court order.

The NCAA announced the Division I Council’s decision becomes official Thursday when its meeting adjourns. The change still needs to be ratified by the DI Board next week, but that is expected.

The new rules will go into effect immediately, though in reality they have already been enacted through a lawsuit filed late last year.

Transfer windows, which are sport-specific, remain in place and require undergraduate athletes to enter their names into the portal at certain times to be immediately eligible at a new school. Graduate students can already transfer multiple times and enter the portal outside the windows while maintaining immediate eligibility.

A coalition of state attorneys general late last year sued the NCAA, challenging rules that forced athletes that wanted to transfer multiple-times as undergraduates to sit out a season with their new school.

A judge in West Virginia granted the plaintiffs a temporary injunction, lifting requirements for multiple-time transfers to request a waiver from the NCAA to be immediately eligible to compete.

The NCAA quickly requested the injunction be kept in place throughout the remaining school year to clear up any ambiguity for athletes and schools. The association has had to issue guidance to its members to clarify what that means for next season. Now the rules match the court ruling.

By eliminating the so-called year-in-residence for transfers, an athlete must be academically eligible at the previous school and not subject to any disciplinary suspension or dismissal to compete immediately at a new school. Transferring athletes must also meet progress-toward-degree requirements before competing.

“We hope that this practical approach to transfer eligibility requirements will encourage student-athletes to make well-informed decisions about transferring and the impacts such a move could have on their ability to graduate on time in their degree of choice, particularly as it relates to transferable credits,” Florida deputy athletic director and council chairwoman Lynda Tealer said in a statement.

The board will ask the committee on academics to explore creating a new metric — similar to the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rating — that would hold schools accountable for graduating the transfers they accept.

The portal windows are currently open for both football and basketball, and the lifting of restrictions on multiple-time transfers has led to an uptick in athletes looking to switch schools.

In a notable move that would not have been permissible without a waiver under previous rules, Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor entered the portal in January after Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban retired, committed to Iowa, but then changed his mind during the spring and has reentered the portal with the intention to reenroll at Alabama.

The DI Council also moved forward on legislation that would allow schools to be more actively involved in securing sponsorship deals for their athletes. Schools could still not directly pay athletes, but they could facilitate NIL opportunities between third parties and athletes.

AP Sports Writer John Raby in Charleston, West Virginia, contributed to this report.

Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com

AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football