personal statement plagiarism

Personal Statement Plagiarism: Avoid It In 5 Simple Steps

Plagiarism in personal statements isn’t common, but being accused of it is often a worry for applicants.

When readers detect plagiarism, it is likely that it will detrimentally affect the application, with rejection being a very real outcome .

With so much depending on a successful application, how can you avoid being accused of plagiarism in your personal statement?

Personal statement plagiarism can be avoided if you focus on writing original content and you acknowledge your sources and quotations throughout. By doing your own research, relating personal experiences to your application and writing your own statement, you will create original, unique content.

I’ve broken down the details of each of these elements below. They’ll give you a fuller understanding of how to avoid being accused of deliberate deception in your personal statement.

If you’re concerned about falling foul of the UCAS plagiarism checker, you can download the UCAS guidelines on fraud and content verification, along with other relevant documentation here .

Do not use Content Created by Other People

As you begin writing your personal statement, the chances are that you will be presented with a range of pre-existing examples, ‘model’ responses and extracts all designed to help you understand the kind of style and content you are aiming for.

There are numerous examples of model personal statement examples here .

When you have immediate access to a range of well-written content, the danger is that sometimes it seems better than anything you believe you can create for yourself.

This is where some applicants can be tempted to copy and paste unoriginal content into their personal statements.

Aside from the fact that this will almost certainly result in a weaker personal statement, as it doesn’t genuinely reflect your experiences and ambitions, there is a high chance that including already published material will flag your work to an online plagiarism checker.

It is also worth bearing in mind that if you are given unpublished examples of effective personal statement content at school or college, the chances are that previous applicants may have used similar content, and that your peers might use it too.

Levels of similar content from as little as 10% have flagged ucas plagarism software in the past, so writing content from scratch is the only way to be certain of creating an original personal statement that won’t flag any alarms.

If you want to search for a range of resources to help you develop your academic writing, check out the deals on these writing guides .

Acknowledge Your References and Quotes Throughout

Using quotations in your personal statement can be a highly effective way to convey authority, research and depth of knowledge. You can learn more about exactly the right ways to use quotes in personal statements in this post .

However, when it comes to beating a plagiarism checker, it is important that you make sure you acknowledge quotes or references that aren’t your own words.

Look at the quote below. It might be similar to something you have read in an industry publication or heard in a lecture. Let’s imagine that it encapsulates the way you feel about Economics as a field of study, and you think it would be a valuable piece of content for your personal statement.

Having a command of both programming and systems analysis is crucial when in pursuit of a higher level of understanding of international commerce. Sandra MacKenzie, Senior Investment Partner at Hoff Finance

A suitable way to incorporate this into your personal statement without plagiarising the content would be as follows:

A similar passage, but one which would be an example of plagiarism, might look like this:

Relate Personal Experiences to Your Application

Another important way to avoid trouble with a personal statement plagiarism checker is to make sure that you write from your own personal perspective. It is vital to link each point you make with clear, valid examples that illustrate to the reader that you are a unique applicant.

If you use pre-written formats or templates, or use generic phrases and examples, the chances are that your content will not only fail to help you stand out, but will match the content written by other applicants.

Admissions teams look for evidence of original perspectives and ambitions, and the more you can evidence the connections between your personal experiences, your skills and the specific demands of the course, the stronger your personal statement will be.

Equally, there is no chance of it containing content plagiarised from another source. This post shows you exactly how to come up with an original, compelling set of unique ideas for your personal statement .

Take Time to Write Your Personal Statement Yourself

There are two key elements here. Firstly, you should make sure that you plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to research and write your personal statement.

One reasons that applicants become tempted to use generic or plagiarised content is due to time pressure; a deadline looms, and in a panic, they mix their own content with a version they have found online. Inevitably, this will lead to charges of deception and unoriginality, and there is a high chance that your application will be rejected.

By facing the challenge positively, and following the advice here , you’ll avoid falling into this trap.

Getting someone else to write your personal statement for you is unethical. It’s a bit like copying someone else’s essays and handing it in with your name at the top. Lucy Parsons, Life More Extraordinary

The quote above, from Lucy Parsons , clearly justifies the requirement to write your own personal statement. Partly because to not do so is unethical and potentially fraudulent, but also because writing the personal statement successfully is a key indicator to a university (and to the applicant) that they are well suited to the demands of the course.

If you persuade or pay someone else to write it for you, you are unlikely to know whether that person is themselves committing an act of plagiarism. You might find that they have copied the content they send you from a previous application, and your application might be rejected on that basis.

Working alongside a reputable expert, and making use of the support services provided on this site can be valuable, because the aim is to get the best out of the applicant through guidance, advice and collaboration. Asking someone else to write your personal statement from scratch certainly ticks the plagiarism boxes.

Structure Your Story Clearly and Don’t Write Lists

Order your content in a way that seems appropriate to you, that takes the reader logically through your motivations, experiences and ambitions, and develops compelling arguments in a way that promotes your application. You can find out more about how to structure the paragraphs in your personal statement here .

Creating an original structure will help you avoid plagiarism as the form and content will all speak with your own original voice.

Quite a lot of plagiarised content available online and in hardcopy has been created to meet a range of imagined ‘tick boxes’ of the kind of content that is assumed to be required. As such, it can often read like a list of accomplishments, skills or opinions, without offering any personal connections or a sense of logical development.

To avoid writing in this way, use a wide range of sentence starters , content and ideas to keep your personal statement original and effective.

Good luck with your personal statement, and don’t forget to contact me if you’d like some 1-1 support.

You’ve got this! D

Research and content verified by Personal Statement Planet.

David Hallen

I've worked in the Further Education and University Admissions sector for nearly 20 years as a teacher, department head, Head of Sixth Form, UCAS Admissions Advisor, UK Centre Lead and freelance personal statement advisor, editor and writer. And now I'm here for you...

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Academic Personal Statement Guide + Examples for 2024

You have a bright future ahead of you in academia and you’ve already found the program of your dreams.

The only problem? 

You have to write an impressive academic personal statement that sets you apart from a sea of applicants.

We know that writing about yourself might not come naturally. And when the academic program you have your sights set on is on the line, it doesn’t make it any easier.

But there’s no need to worry!

We’ve prepared this guide to help you write your academic personal statement and secure your spot in your program of choice.

In this article, we’re going to cover:

• What Is An Academic Personal Statement?
• 7 Steps to Writing the Best Academic Personal Statement
• An Example of a Stellar Academic Personal Statement

Let’s dive in.

You’ll need an academic CV alongside your personal statement. Create one with ease with Novorésumé !

What Is an Academic Personal Statement?

A personal statement is an essential part of the academic application process.

Much like a motivation letter , your academic personal statement serves to demonstrate why you’re the right candidate for the course and sell yourself as a capable student.

Your goal is to show the admissions committee that they’ll benefit from having you in their university as much as you’ll benefit from joining the program.

Academic Vs CV Personal Statement

The term ‘personal statement’ can mean different things depending on your field.

In the world of job hunting, a personal statement usually refers to a few sentences that go at the top of your CV . This paragraph is meant to convey your top skills, relevant experiences, and professional goals to a hiring manager from the get-go and increase your chances of getting an interview.

However, in the world of academia, a personal statement refers to a more in-depth description of you as a candidate. 

In a nutshell, an academic personal statement shows the admissions committee your academic achievements so far, as well as what motivated you to apply and pursue this position.

Personal statements are also often required when applying for certain jobs, much like writing a cover letter . If you’re looking at a position as a faculty member in a university or other academic institution, for example, you might be asked to provide an academic personal statement.

7 Steps to Write an Academic Personal Statement

Preparation is the key to success and this is exactly where our guide comes in handy.

So just follow these steps and you’re sure to secure your spot:

#1. Read the Brief (Carefully!)

Academic personal statements aren’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all piece of writing. 

Typically, every institution has its specific requirements on what candidates should include in their academic personal statement.

To make sure you’re on the right track with your academic personal statement, read the brief carefully. Consider taking notes and highlighting important points from your program’s brief as you go through it.

Pay attention to any specific question the university wants you to answer. If you don’t address everything the admissions board expects, your personal statement will look sloppy and you’ll be considered an inattentive candidate.

Be sure to re-read the brief after you’ve finished writing your academic personal statement, too. This way you can make sure you’ve answered everything adequately and you’ll have the opportunity to correct any slips.

#2. Research the Program

Make sure you do your homework on the academic program you’re applying to.

You can’t write a good academic personal statement without research, let alone a great one. Much like researching your employer , taking the time to learn more about your desired school and personalizing your application can make a huge difference.

For example, you can dive into how your values align with that of the school you’re applying to, and how your experience and interests relate to specific things about the program. The more you focus on how you’re the right fit for this specific position, in this specific program – the better.

Carefully read through the school and program’s official pages since everything you would need to know is probably on the school’s official website. You can also ask current and former students for help but remember that whatever they say should never replace official information when crafting your academic personal statement.

#3. Plan Your Statement

An academic personal statement is meant to explain your academic interests and shouldn’t contain irrelevant details about your personal life.

Focus on why you want to study the course you’ve chosen and provide any information about your achievements so far.

Ask yourself the following questions to get the ball rolling on what to write:

• Why do you want to study (or work) in this program? How will it benefit you?
• How do your skills match the position?
• What makes you stand out from other applicants?
• What are your exact career aspirations?
• How can you and your work benefit the institution you’re applying to?
• If you changed fields, how did you decide to apply in this direction?
• What insight can you bring thanks to your different experiences?
• How will this change of field help your future career?

Write down your answer to these questions in the first draft of your academic personal statement.

#4. Look at Example Statements

Don’t hesitate to read other people’s academic personal statements online. They’re a great source of inspiration and can help get rid of any remaining writer’s block.

If you’re struggling to understand how to meet the language and formatting requirements for your academic personal statement, seeing actual examples is the best way to learn.

But be careful – don’t copy any lines you read, no matter how impressive you think they are. 

Most universities run every academic personal statement through intensive plagiarism checking, and even a paraphrased sentence could lead to your application being rejected for plagiarism.

So pay more attention to the overall structure of the academic personal statements you read, rather than copying the exact wording.

#5. Structure the Contents

There should be a cohesive argument that your entire essay follows. Each sentence and paragraph should complement and build on the one that comes before it.

The structure of your personal statement should include:

An intriguing introduction to you as a candidate

The introductory paragraph should grab the admission committee’s attention and keep them engaged.

Here you should be sure to avoid cliches like saying how you’ve “always dreamt” of graduating from this university or of studying this exact program. Instead, give an example of what really influenced you to pursue this dream.

Here’s an example:

• I’ve always loved reading and since I was a child, it’s been my dream to graduate from Oxford University and contribute to the world of literary analysis. That’s why I spent the past year volunteering at my local writers’ society and giving constructive feedback during workshops and book discussions.
• It wasn’t until I failed my first essay assignment in secondary school that I realized the depth that lies beneath each sentence in a given text. I began to delve into the rich layers of literary texts and the intricacies of literary analysis became my passion. Although initially challenging, the depth of understanding that this field offers about human emotions, cultural contexts, and narrative structures enthralled me. I found myself questioning the narrative structures and character motivations that I had previously taken for granted, and I was eager to understand how the subtle and often overlooked elements within a text could have a profound impact on its overall interpretation. This need to fundamentally understand a given author’s work has stayed with me since and led me to pursue literary analysis as a postgraduate student.

An engaging body

The main part of your academic personal statement should detail your interests, experience, and knowledge, and how they make you suitable for the position.

This is where you should expand on your motivation and use the following tips:

• Why this university? Provide strong reasons for your choice, related to your future career or the institution’s reputation.
• Mention your relevant studies and experience. This includes projects, dissertations, essays, or work experience.
• Give evidence of key skills you have, such as research, critical thinking, communication, and time management, and explain how you can contribute to the department with them.
• Say what makes you unique as a candidate and provide an example.
• Explain who have been the main influences who put you on this path and why they’ve influenced you.
• Mention other relevant experiences, such as memberships in clubs related to the subject, awards you might have won, or impressive papers you’ve written.
• Talk about your career aspirations and how the program ties into your goal of achieving them.

Depending on the guidelines of the specific university, you could also divide your academic personal statement’s body with subheadings, such as:

• Academic background
• Research interests
• Methodological approaches
• Research experience
• Personal experience
• Extracurricular activities 
• Relevant skills
• Career aspirations

A logical conclusion

Your academic personal statement needs a conclusion that ends on an enthusiastic note.

Make sure the conclusion reiterates the main points from the body of your text.

Your relevant accomplishments and desire to attend this specific program should be clear to any reader.

#6. Pay Attention to the Language

When writing the first draft of your academic personal statement, pay attention to the language and tone you’re using.

An academic personal statement is also a formal text, so your writing should reflect that. Colloquialisms aren’t appropriate, as they would take away from the well-mannered impression you want to give the admissions committee.

However, you also want your personal statement to be straightforward and avoid any complex jargon from your field of study.

For example, your opening sentence shouldn’t be overly complicated. You should communicate everything as clearly as possible, and be inclusive to those outside of your field of study since they might be on the admissions board that’s reading your academic personal statement.

Make sure that the tone throughout your text is positive and conveys your enthusiasm for the program. Your academic personal statement should show the admissions committee that you really want to be there, and why that’s beneficial to everyone involved.

#7. Proofread Your Statement

This step probably isn’t surprising to you but it’s worth paying attention to.

Your academic personal statement is a very formal document and it should be spotless. 

So, make sure it adheres to academic writing conventions . For example, contractions like “I’m” instead of “I am” are informal, and should be avoided.

Mistakes like these are very common when writing about yourself, particularly when you’re used to describing yourself in informal environments.

Carefully proofread your academic personal statement, then run it through a grammar checker like Grammarly or Quillbot, then proofread it again.

The tiniest grammar mistake or typo could make the admissions board reject your application.

Academic Personal Statement Example

Ever since my first encounter with the enchanting worlds spun by Flaubert, Balzac, and Proust, my intellectual pursuits have gravitated toward French literature. With an undergraduate degree focused on French Language and Literature, I have been fortunate to explore my passions both theoretically and empirically, embedding them within broader themes of cultural theory and comparative literature. It is with great excitement that I apply for the postgraduate research position in the French Literature program at Kent University, with the aim of contributing novel scholarly perspectives to this captivating field.

Academic Background and Research Interests

During my undergraduate studies, I delved deeply into the realms of 19th-century Realism and Naturalism. My senior thesis, which examined the dialectics of morality and social structures in Balzac's "La Comédie Humaine," was not merely an academic exercise; it served as a crucible where my theoretical understandings were rigorously tested. This research experience intensified my interest in the complex interplay between literature and societal norms, a theme I am eager to further explore in my postgraduate work.

Methodological Approaches

My academic approach is fundamentally interdisciplinary. I strongly believe that literature should not be studied in a vacuum; rather, it should be contextualized within historical, sociological, and psychological paradigms. During a semester abroad in Paris, I took courses in cultural anthropology and French history, an enriching experience that complemented my literature-focused studies. This holistic approach will enable me to contribute a multifaceted perspective to the research endeavors at Kent University.

Previous Research and Scholarly Engagements

My scholarly activities have also extended beyond the classroom. Last summer, I participated in an international conference on French Literature and Post-Colonial Theory, presenting a paper on the depictions of colonial landscapes in Dumas' adventure novels. The opportunity to engage with academics from various disciplines provided me with fresh insights and underscored the importance of collaborative research. Further, I've had the honor of having a review article published in the Sheffield Journal of Contemporary Literary Explorations, where I critiqued a groundbreaking new translation of Verne's works.

Extracurricular Contributions and Skills

In addition to my academic achievements, I have sought to enrich my department’s intellectual community. I served as the editor of our departmental journal and organized a series of seminars featuring guest speakers from the worlds of academia and publishing. My strong organizational skills, combined with proficiency in both written and spoken French and English, make me a versatile candidate capable of adding value to the French Literature program’s broader objectives.

To summarize, my deep-rooted passion for French literature, fortified by rigorous academic training and interdisciplinary methodologies, makes me an ideal candidate for the postgraduate research position in your esteemed program. The prospect of contributing to academic discourse at Kent University is an opportunity I find deeply compelling. I am especially excited about the potential for collaborative research and interdisciplinary inquiries, which aligns perfectly with my academic philosophy. I am fully committed to leveraging my skills, experiences, and enthusiasm to make a substantive scholarly contribution to the study of French Literature. Thank you for considering my application; I am keenly looking forward to the possibility of furthering my academic journey in this vibrant intellectual community.

FAQs on Academic Personal Statements

If you’re wondering anything else about academic personal statements, check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions related to them here:

#1. How do you start a personal statement for an academic job?

Applying for an academic job is different from applying for a position as a student. First, you need to establish your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role immediately.

Start by explaining your current status, for example, as a postdoctoral researcher or an experienced member of the faculty, and specify the position you are applying for. Then follow up with your research interests or personal philosophy towards teaching.

You can add a personal anecdote or compelling fact that summarizes your academic journey so far, or your passion for the field. After that, your academic personal statement can go deeper into the qualifications from your academic CV and how you’re a great fit for the position.

#2. How do I introduce myself in an academic personal statement?

The introduction of your academic personal statement is the key to grabbing the attention of the admissions committee.

Start by stating the field or subject that interests you, and why. You can share a specific personal anecdote or observation that led you to this academic pursuit and set the stage for the detailed explanation in your main body.

The goal of your introduction is to give the reader a sense of who you are, what drives you, and why you would be a valuable addition to their department.

#3. Is an academic personal statement like an essay?

Yes, an academic personal statement can be considered a type of essay.

Both essays and academic personal statements are structured forms of writing that are meant to deliver a coherent argument and are divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion. They provide supporting evidence to prove the point and maintain a logical flow to guide the reader to the final conclusion.

However, essays tend to be objective and explore a specific topic or question in depth. Academic personal statements use similar techniques but they present the candidate’s qualifications, experiences, and aspirations in a way that’s meant to persuade the admissions committee.

#4. How long is an academic personal statement?

Typically, an academic personal statement is between 500 and 1000 words long.

The exact length of the text varies depending on the university and program you’re applying to. You should always check the specific requirements for your desired program, and stick to the guidelines you find.

However, if the university you’re applying to doesn’t specify a word count, you should aim for one to two pages.

#5. What do I avoid in an academic personal statement?

Since your personal statement is a crucial part of your academic application, it’s important to avoid any common mistakes.

Make sure the content of your academic personal statement isn’t too generic. Its goal is to give insight into you as an individual, beyond what can be read in your CV . 

You should also avoid cramming too many points in your text. Your academic personal statement should follow a logical flow, and focus on the relevance of what you’re sharing about yourself and how it relates to the academic program you’re pursuing.

Key Takeaways

And that concludes our guide to writing an academic personal statement!

We hope you feel more confident when crafting your application for that academic program or faculty position you have your sights set on.

Now let’s recap what we talked about so far:

• Academic personal statements are very different from CV personal statements. While CV personal statements are brief paragraphs at the top of the page, an academic personal statement is an in-depth text that details why you’re interested in a given position, and what makes you a good candidate.
• The guidelines on academic personal statements vary according to the institution you’re applying to. Read the brief very carefully, and pay attention to what it says about word count and questions your personal statement should answer. Any mistakes here could result in rejection.
• There are differences between applying for a postgraduate program and applying for a faculty position. But in both cases, you should research the exact place you want to apply to and adjust your application accordingly to match the institution’s values.
• Always proofread your academic personal statement before sending it, even if you’re sure there are no errors.

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How to write a personal statement

Finding the right words to include in your personal statement can be tricky, but we're here to guide you through it.

Writing a first-class statement

You know we’re a good match, now all you’ve got to do is tell us why. Your personal statement is an opportunity to tell us everything about you and how special you are but finding the right words can be tricky. If you’re tired of sitting in front of a blank page for hours on end, searching for the best way to describe yourself, you’ve come to the right place. Here are our top tips for writing a personal statement.

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement forms part of your application to study at university. It’s your chance to articulate why you’d like to study a particular course or subject, and what skills and experience you possess that demonstrate your passion for your chosen field. Your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter.

What to write about in your personal statement

You! No one knows you better than you know yourself. You need to tell us why you’re the perfect candidate for the course and what makes you stand out from the crowd.

A helpful way of ensuring you strike the right balance is by splitting your statement into sections:

• At least 75% of your personal statement should be related to what you want to study, and why you want to study that subject. Be genuine and refer to topics you've already studied and your wider interests in the area. It's also worth reflecting on any reading that you’ve done on the subject or relevant work experience.
• The remaining 25% of your statement should cover any other achievements. This is where you show us that you’ve taken full advantage of the opportunities presented to you. Are you on a school sports team? Have you conducted any charity work? Do you have a part-time job? Include relevant examples that demonstrate you have the skills needed during your time at university. It’s time to boast about how brilliant you are! 

However, getting these details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. Carrying a notebook with you or setting up a memo on your phone can be useful. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down.

Top Tip: It’s important to remember that you only write one personal statement – it remains the same for each course you apply for. So, avoid mentioning any universities by name. If you’re applying for more than one subject (or it’s a combined course) it’s crucial to include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects.

How to write your personal statement

Just like you, your personal statement should be unique, so there’s no specific format to follow when it comes to putting pen to paper. That said, we have compiled some general guidelines for you to follow:

• Write simply and naturally – don’t use complex language to impress, it often doesn’t read well 
• Be enthusiastic and excited – we want to see your genuine passion (and enjoy reading about it) 
• Structure your personal statement to reflect the skills and qualities universities value most – read the course descriptions for inspiration 
• Read it aloud – this can help you spot any potential mistakes and provides an opportunity to edit the text to make the statement sound more natural 
• Don’t copy – UCAS runs your personal statement through plagiarism software to make sure your statement is original 
• Overwrite then edit – when working on your first draft it’s important to get down as much information as you can, you can refine the copy to suit the character count later 
• Don’t settle on draft one – come back to your statement a few days after completing your first draft, you’ll likely want to redraft certain sections after coming back with ‘fresh eyes’ 
• Ask for advice – get your teachers, advisors and family to take a look and don’t be offended if they offer suggestions or changes, they want to help you succeed 
• Run your statement through a spell-checking programme – then double-check the spelling, punctuation and grammar and correct

We recommend you write your personal statement first, then copy and paste it into your online application once you're happy with it. Make sure you save it regularly, as it times out after 35 minutes of inactivity.

Need more application tips?

Life is full of opportunities and studying at the University of Nottingham could be your biggest yet! If you’re looking for more application guidance, head over to our 'Applying' hub.

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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.

Good writing = better grades

ProWritingAid will help you improve the style, strength, and clarity of all your assignments.

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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This handout provides information about writing personal statements for academic and other positions.

The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories:

1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:

This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.

2. The response to very specific questions:

Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions.

Questions to ask yourself before you write:

• What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
• What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
• When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
• How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
• If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
• What are your career goals?
• Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?
• Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?
• What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
• What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
• Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school—and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
• What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

General advice

Answer the questions that are asked

• If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar.
• Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked.

Tell a story

• Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.

Be specific

• Don't, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, or whatever should be logical, the result of specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.

Find an angle

• If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.

Concentrate on your opening paragraph

• The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.

Tell what you know

• The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Too many people graduate with little or no knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the profession or field they hope to enter. Be as specific as you can in relating what you know about the field and use the language professionals use in conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other source of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited to it. Since you will have to select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your judgment.

Don't include some subjects

• There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).

Do some research, if needed

• If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.

Write well and correctly

• Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.

Avoid clichés

• A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.

For more information on writing a personal statement, see the personal statement vidcast .

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Crafting Compelling Personal Statements

• 'Down to Earth' Academic Skills Column
• Published: 04 November 2020
• Volume 44 , pages 785–788, ( 2020 )

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• Latha Chandran   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7538-4331 1 ,
• Arathy S. Chandran 2 &
• Janet E. Fischel 2  

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Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

A personal statement is a professional essay about the writer, trying to persuade the reader to positively consider one’s qualifications, key traits, experiences, and aspirations. The goal of the personal statement is to inform the reader about the writer in a way that promotes the writer for selection or further consideration. Our combined experience with reviewing personal statements for admissions, awards, and promotion committees is seven decades long. This article discusses the writing and use of personal statements in the context of both that experience and information in the literature. We focus predominantly on guidance for personal statements prepared by trainees for entrance to their next step, such as acceptance to medical school or graduate medical education. However, even those preparing materials for a competitive award or faculty promotion might find the information relevant. Particularly in psychiatry, but important to any health sciences field, the ability to communicate effectively and demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism in attitudes and behaviors is paramount; the personal statement provides a forum to display those characteristics. If one is seeking admission to medical school, well-described experiences that effectively communicate the reasons to do so would be valuable to include. If applying for residency or fellowship, the goal may shift toward affirmation of one’s motivation, experiences, and skills to pursue this particular field. All this, without simple factual repetition of one’s curriculum vitae (CV), and without exaggeration or arrogance.

An excellent personal statement for medical school entrance, in our experience, was one starting with a brief scenario drawn from working in health care in a developing country; another identified the characteristics of an ancient scholar and physician, elaborating on the qualities the writer emulated, and clarifying why he chose further studies to gain similar skills. A third described a particularly devastating illness in a family member. These were impressive when coupled with insight into the writer’s motivation to pursue a health professions career. The reader could glean the writer’s observational, analytical, and reflective skills. A brief scenario such as these need not launch the essay, but is a popular approach.

What differentiates a memorable personal statement from the rest is that the writer is genuine, the information is clear and interesting, the writing is disciplined, and the writer is able to thread the theme of an opening vignette or experience further than simply reporting on it. Thus, the rest of the statement and a review of the accompanying CV each show some accomplishments or next choices in education or activities supporting the claim that the experience described was seminal in pursuing this next step in the writer’s career. In contrast, stories of single patient care experiences with minimal connection to other parts of the narrative often feel inauthentic in their impact on the author’s career journey.

In the context of an interesting discipline known as genre analysis, experts in English pedagogy have looked at a variety of genres to glean patterns in the narrative and expectations about content. In that regard, Ding points out two interesting challenges about personal statements in academic medicine: first, the writer is not yet part of that culture or community, and so is unfamiliar with the expectations of how the essay will be judged; secondly, the personal statement provides “allowance for creativity and individuality … space for narratives and stories, and its goal [is] both to inform and to persuade.” [ 1 ] Thus, we should not underestimate the value of both mentorship and guidance from informed sources for crafting a compelling personal statement.

What are the dos and don’ts of writing personal statements in academic medicine? How does one craft a compelling personal statement? In truth, there is no singular right approach to the personal statement, and success cannot be assured, because the personal statement is typically one of several sources of information provided to reviewers. The National Residency Matching Program’s 2018 survey of residency program directors across all specialties showed that 78% of 1233 programs cited the personal statement as a consideration for selection for interview, and 56% of 1208 programs included it in ranking consideration [ 2 ]. In psychiatry, those figures are 90% of 58 programs for interview selection and 74% of 58 programs for ranking decisions [ 2 ]. The internet provides information from consulting agencies, numerous tips, topics to write about, samples, and possible “hooks” to gain reader attention. There are websites that offer ghostwriting of personal statements for purchase [ 3 ]. Such resources are not unique to academic medicine or guided by research evidence. In fact, there is limited literature with supporting research on best practices surrounding the writing of personal statements in academic medicine. Nonetheless, what is currently available allows us to glean some helpful findings.

A prospective study of an entering class of 176 medical students in the UK found that the information in the personal statements (in a detailed coding scheme for such things as motivation and hobbies) as well as “conscientiousness” in the personality assessments of the students predicted clinical aspects of their training while the letters of references from teachers had no predictive value [ 4 ]. In applications to psychiatry residency programs, advice includes using the personal statement to “bring to light information about the applicant not found elsewhere in the application.” [ 5 ] Other advices include information on how and why the applicant selected the field, brief explanation of academic difficulty, if any, and what was learned from it, and perhaps information on future plans [ 5 ]. Furthermore, 131 US program directors in anesthesiology were surveyed about how they used personal statements; with 70 respondents, although only 41% considered it very or somewhat important for selecting interview candidates, and the vast majority “always” or “sometimes” used the essay for interview selection and during actual interviews [ 6 ]. Those same researchers evaluated ratings by four reviewers of 670 de-identified personal statements in applications to their institution’s anesthesiology program. Quality of the essays was rated on a 5-point scale from poor to superior for eight characteristics, such as grammar, compelling, and original/personal. Graduation from a US or Canadian medical school, female gender, and younger age were associated with what the reviewers rated as “higher quality” personal statements [ 6 ]. In a study of over 2000 internal medicine residency applicants’ personal statements, female applicants focused more on team membership and emotional aspects of doctoring, while male applicants wrote more frequently about personal qualities and skills [ 7 ].

Although a different graduate education pathway, virtually all doctoral programs in psychology and counseling require the submission of a personal statement. It is consistently rated as the most important document when selecting doctoral students [ 8 ]. In these situations, discussion of the candidate’s research interests and understanding of the field were considered paramount in being selected [ 8 ]. With 97 respondents from the 367 polled (26% response rate), factors viewed positively included discussion of one’s strengths and eagerness to learn more in the field as well as better alignment between one’s interest and the program goals, while factors such as unprofessional tone, exaggerated altruism, poor writing, and lack of awareness of the program’s goals were deemed damaging [ 8 ]. In a 2006 study polling the chairs of graduate admissions committees in psychology, four areas of concern emerged as damaging: excessive altruism, excessive self-disclosure, being professionally inappropriate, and a focus on personal mental health. While interesting, the work should be interpreted with caution, as just 19% of surveys were returned. Furthermore, in the category of personal mental health, reviewers gave examples of statements showing “emotional instability” that precluded consideration for selection [ 9 ].

The disclosure of mental health–related issues in personal statements is a complex consideration. As reported by Pheister et al., survey results of residency program directors indicate that applicants with a disclosure of depression were at higher odds of not receiving an interview invitation and ranking for match than those who had no such disclosure [ 10 ]. However, even with a disclosed illness, a strong applicant would fare better than an average applicant without such disclosure. The authors conclude that disclosure of mental illness puts the applicant at a disadvantage that could be overcome by the strength of the rest of the application [ 10 ]. A study of medical students from the University of New Mexico (51% response rate for 349 students) indicated that the majority of students who had a mental health diagnosis would not disclose it for a board license application or for a residency application through ERAS [ 11 ]. The most common reason cited for such reluctance was the fear of being stigmatized and of not matching. In sum, this is a personal decision that deserves careful and deliberate thought. Applicants should be aware that confidentiality of information is not assured, and applications are often reviewed by multiple committee members. From another perspective, one can argue that experience with an illness might enhance insight and compassion. Based on the available research evidence and on our collective experience, we would recommend such disclosure only when the applicant has (a) an excellent reason to offer it, (b) managed the difficulties effectively, and (c) demonstrated skills to continue training successfully.

When Does One Use a Personal Statement?

Personal statements are used for diverse purposes. The important point here is that, if a personal statement is requested, it is to your benefit to provide one. It is an opportunity to present information about oneself that provides the reader a rich context for understanding your preparation and competitiveness for selection from a pool of very likely well qualified applicants. A quick aside here. We find it fairly easy to identify the occasional personal statement that was probably “recycled” for residency or fellowship applications after it was initially prepared for college or medical school applications. Why? The cut-and-paste substitutions typically do not demonstrate the intimate connection to the current purpose.

The submission of your CV does not preclude the importance of a personal statement. These two documents serve different functions. The CV is usually structured for the detailed facts of your academic life in each domain of your work. It is provided in a format that is often highly organized by headings (e.g., education, licensures, committee work) but without page limit. The personal statement is preferably 1–2 single-spaced pages, and invites you to illuminate aspects of your education or experience. While organized, the narrative is not structured by a pre-existing format. Thus, you can be subjective or objective, in places, about the impact of your activities and possible future plans.

Questions to Consider When Writing Your Personal Statement

Consider the following questions as you begin to craft your personal statement.

Why do you want to join this field or educational program? Why now?

What is noteworthy about you, your work or life experiences, and how do those experiences link to this next career step?

What characteristics and experiences qualify you for this?

What are your future goals after completing this training?

Keeping those questions in mind, the personal statement should demonstrate evidence of self-reflection and learning through experience. As a succinct representation of your personal qualities, your journey so far, your accomplishments, lessons learned and your anticipated path forward, the essay might include your vision for yourself professionally as well as traits such as perseverance, integrity, commitment, or enthusiasm. Consider indicating how your vision for yourself aligns with the institution’s or program’s vision. A compelling personal statement often has evidence of reflection on your career path thus far and how your thinking has evolved along that journey. Evidence of a growth mindset and brief, careful self-analysis helps the reader learn about your strengths. Carefully select specific examples to illustrate your qualities as highly desirable for the purpose of the application.

How Does One Organize a Personal Statement?

Before starting to write your personal statement, be clear about its intended purpose. What is it for? Who will read it? Why do you merit selection? This will help hone what you want to include. Thus, the first step is to start with both the reader and your goal in mind. Which activities have the highest potential to influence the reader to favor selecting you? Remain truthful, without exaggeration.

We suggest three sections to the personal statement: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The introduction should engage the reader. The body of the personal statement typically has 3–4 paragraphs in a logical order. For example, if it is created for a residency application, these paragraphs might describe experiences that influenced your selection of this field, or address research you have done that captured your interest in this field. Emphasize your personal skills that may be highly valued in the field, thereby distinguishing yourself from others. The conclusion should be a synthesis of your successes, a reflection on your career so far, perhaps key lessons learned along the way. This is where you would likely demonstrate your vision, sense of purpose, and alignment with priorities the reader is seeking. A compelling personal statement leaves the reader inspired about you.

We consider it ideal to write your personal statement in the first person and in an active voice. Having the draft of your personal statement reviewed by trusted colleagues and advisors is strongly recommended as they can be extremely helpful in identifying gaps or areas of ambiguity.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Personal statements and application materials can be dishonest in several ways. We felt it was important to include a discussion of plagiarism, ghost writers, purchasing an essay, or including false information. Each is a highly unethical practice. Feller reviews an array of deceptions in studies of medical student, residency and fellowship applications, with false claims of honorary society memberships, manuscript authorship or acceptance, roles in extracurricular activities, falsified official documents, and plagiarism in the personal statement [ 3 ]. He points out that inadequate training about plagiarism or inadvertent deceit might be in play, but the frequency of occurrence is sobering, and speaks to the importance of mentorship and guidance. Using other people’s work without appropriate attribution is academic dishonesty and is extremely unprofessional.

It is prudent to avoid lengthy descriptions of failures, and if failures are important to the story, avoid externalizing blame. Additionally, vignettes that include patients or their family members must remove any specific identifying information. In a personal statement draft, a trainee had written that general pediatrics would be monotonous, with mostly managing middle ear infections. Imagine if the reader’s expertise included career-long research involving childhood ear infections! Sarcasm is not recommended. Humor can be risky in written narrative. If used, it needs to be carefully presented. As an example, a well-constructed essay, organized in the structure of a SOAP note with brief expressions of humor, was well-received, in our experience.

Preparing a compelling personal statement can seem like a daunting task. While it deserves time, thought, and careful attention, it might best be approached as an opportunity to showcase yourself. Armed with information about how to select what you wish to share, ways to illustrate your unique and genuine competencies, how to organize the essay, and what the reader might be seeking from your essay, the preparation of a clear and compelling personal statement can be well within your grasp.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to gratefully acknowledge the support provided by Dr. Jeff Swain.

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Chandran, L., Chandran, A.S. & Fischel, J.E. Crafting Compelling Personal Statements. Acad Psychiatry 44 , 785–788 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-020-01344-4

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The personal statement for residency application: review and guidance

Affiliation.

• 1 Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency Program and Harvard Medical School, Office for Multicultural Careers Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. [email protected]
• PMID: 21809794
• DOI: 10.1016/s0027-9684(15)30341-2

All applicants to US residency programs are required to write a personal statement. Recent reports of plagiarism and homogeneity in these freeform essays suggest the need for better guidance in this process. The authors review the historical and current role of the personal statement and provide a practical framework for writing a unique and effective personal statement, which will help both applicants and residency directors to maximize their chances of a successful match.

• Career Choice
• Internship and Residency*
• School Admission Criteria*
• United States

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But what about accidental plagiarism ? It’s more common than you think! Maybe you paraphrased a little too closely, or forgot that last citation or set of quotation marks.

Even if you did it by accident, plagiarism is still a serious offense. You may fail your course, or be placed on academic probation. The risks just aren’t worth it.

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Does UCAS Check for Plagiarism?

In University by Think Student Editor October 22, 2023 Leave a Comment

The UCAS application is the main part of the application process to university in the UK. It takes a lot of time, effort and thought to make the best application you can. This includes everything from carefully filling out personal details, to researching and deciding on the best course and universities for you, to the dreaded personal statement. It can be really daunting to try and show universities why they should accept you in so few lines.

Many students read example personal statements, perhaps from school or older siblings, to help them get an idea of what to write. However, it is really important that your own personal statement is original – both to stand out to universities, and to avoid plagiarism. But what exactly counts as plagiarism? And what is the UCAS policy on it?

UCAS does indeed scan every single personal statement for plagiarism using a service known as Copycatch. The Copycatch software works by scanning every personal statement against previous personal statements that have been submitted, to check for similarities. If more than 30% of a personal statement is regarded as similar, this would be flagged as a potential plagiarism issue. This may even result in the whole application being withdrawn.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about plagiarism in a UCAS application, including how it is checked and what happens if you are found to have plagiarised.

Table of Contents

Does UCAS check for plagiarism?

Yes, UCAS does check your application for plagiarism, specifically, the personal statement.

Plagiarism involves copying someone else’s work and passing it off as your own. The personal statement is intended so you can tell universities about your unique skills and experiences which make you as an individual suitable for this course.

Therefore, plagiarism, as well as being morally wrong, defeats the purpose of the personal statement in the first place! This is why UCAS has a strict policy to make sure any plagiarism is detected.

UCAS uses a service called Copycatch to scan personal statements, comparing them to previous personal statements from their archive. You can read more about how, exactly, this process works in this document from the UCAS website.

It is worth being aware that, as of 2023, there is discussion about replacing the personal statement with a set of questions for future application cycles. You can read more about this on this page of the UCAS website.

However, it is likely that whatever form the personal statement takes, it will still be scanned for plagiarism. It is really important that UCAS makes sure students don’t get an unfair advantage by copying good personal statements or using other people’s words as their own.

What does UCAS check for plagiarism?

There are lots of different parts to the UCAS application. However, it is only the personal statement that is scanned for plagiarism.

Of course, they don’t need to scan things like your name and course choice for plagiarism – you can’t steal these and pass them off as your own! The other part of the application that people sometimes wonder about is the teacher reference.

The reference is often a lesser-known part of the application, as students are not really involved in it. It is generally written by your teacher and is less important to universities than your personal statement. In fact, most students never see their references – have a look at this article from Think Student for more.

In short, UCAS does not scan the teacher reference for plagiarism. There are a few reasons for this. For instance, teachers are generally writing similar things about the majority of students. Additionally, the universities already know this isn’t the student talking about their own experiences – they don’t need a plagiarism checker to confirm.

What counts as plagiarism in a UCAS application?

It can be hard for software to tell between someone who is actually copying another personal statement, and someone who is just using common words and phrases.

UCAS regards 30% or more of a personal statement being flagged up as similar as a potential plagiarism issue, according to this document from their website. This is a relatively high percentage, so it is likely that anything showing up on these checks is intentional, rather than a few similar words.

Additionally, the software does not include common words like ‘and’ or ‘the’ in their checks, as well as common personal statement phrases like ‘Duke of Edinburgh’. This makes it even more likely that the statements that are flagged up are actually cause for concern, not just accidental.

Another worry that some people may have is if they have applied through UCAS before. Generally speaking, you can reuse your personal statement – which you can read more about in this article from Think Student.

This isn’t something to worry about. If you are applying with the same name, you won’t be checked against your previous applications , so you won’t be pulled up for plagiarism – you can’t plagiarise from yourself.

If you have changed your name since your last application and are using the same or a similar personal statement, it is worth getting in contact with UCAS to make sure they are aware of this.

Ideally, do this before you send off your application. You don’t want to wait until you have been flagged for plagiarism, because the software doesn’t know it is the same person applying as before.

How do you make sure you don’t accidentally plagiarise in your UCAS application?

Some students get worried that they will accidentally plagiarise, by using common phrases, or unconsciously copying a nice sentence they read in a friend’s statement.

This isn’t something to be concerned about. As we’ve discussed, it is highly unlikely that the service will flag up anything that is just due to accidental similarity.

You won’t get ‘caught’ for plagiarism just by using common phrases such as ‘I am extremely interested in’, or ‘I want to study this course because’. That being said, it can be good to branch away from these widely used openings – just because it makes you stand out to universities more! Check out this article from Times Higher Education for advice on writing an original personal statement.

If you are pulled up for plagiarism, and know it was not intentional, it is worth checking over the similarity report you will be sent to see what exactly has caused this. There is more information about this report in the FAQs from UCAS, linked here .

If you are still worried about accidental plagiarism, there are plenty more tips for avoiding it in this article from The Uni Guide.

What happens if you are pulled up for plagiarism on your UCAS application?

If the software detects your personal statement as potentially plagiarised, you will be notified and sent a similarity report, and your university choices will also be told.

At this stage, it is a good idea to contact the universities and get their advice for next options. It may be that they don’t use the personal statement as much in their admissions process – perhaps they use interviews instead.

On the other hand, they may have a very strict policy, and reject your application. This decision is up to the university that you have applied to and so it is best to look at their policies on their website or to contact them directly to learn more.

Ultimately, it is never worth trying to pass off someone else’s work as your own.

You have plenty of experiences and talents to help convince universities you are right for their course. Use your own words to talk about these, and you will not have to worry about UCAS’s plagiarism checks. Best of luck with your application!

Personal Statement

Personal statements may be used to customize the application to a specific program or to different specialties. 

In This Section:

Creating the personal statement, formatting the personal statement, previewing the personal statement, reviewing/editing the personal statement, assigning the personal statement.

You create your own personal statements in the MyERAS portal from the Personal Statements section listed under Documents. 

• Each personal statement must contain a Personal Statement Title and the Personal Statement Content. The title will be visible only to you to help you correctly assign it to programs, and the content will be visible to both you and the programs it is assigned to. 
• The personal statement is limited to 28,000 characters, which include letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation marks. 
• There is not a limit to how many personal statements applicants can create. 
• Personal statements created outside the MyERAS application should be done in a plain text word processing application such as Notepad (for Windows users) or SimpleText (for Mac users). The statement should reflect your personal perspective and experiences accurately and must be your own work and not the work of another author or the product of artificial intelligence. 
• Personal statements created in word processing applications not using plain text may contain hidden and invalid formatting. 
• Note: A number of websites provide examples of personal statements. Do not copy any information from these sites and use it in your personal statements without giving credit to the author. Such use is considered plagiarism. 
• The ERAS program will investigate any suspected acts of plagiarism. 
• Any substantiated findings of plagiarism may result in the reporting of such findings to the programs to which you apply now and in subsequent ERAS seasons. 

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When creating a personal statement in the MyERAS application, the following formatting options will be available: 

• Bold. 
• Italic. 
• Underline. 
• Strikethrough. 
• Bullets. 
• Numbering. 
• Align left. 
• Center. 
• Align right. 
• Increase indent. 
• Decrease indent. 
• Insert hyperlink. 

After entering the personal statement title and content, you will have the opportunity to preview your personal statement before saving it. This preview allows you to view your personal statement just as the programs will view it, including the number of pages.  

You are responsible for reviewing your personal statements before assigning them to programs. 

The Preview/Print option under the Actions column will allow you to view and/or print your personal statement. 

Personal statements can be edited at any point during the application season — even when assigned to programs that have been applied to. 

Personal statements that have been edited will be reflected on the programs’ side by an updated status containing the date of the updated version, but programs are not guaranteed to view or review updated versions of personal statements. 

You may designate the assignment of one personal statement for each program. 

• Personal statements can be assigned to any saved or applied to programs from the Personal Statements page by selecting “Assign” under the Actions column of the intended personal statement. 
• When assigning by personal statement, programs listed with a disabled checkbox already have the selected personal statement currently assigned. 
• When assigning by personal statement, you should review any personal statements that are listed under the Assigned Personal Statement column before making selections or changes. 
• Personal statements can be assigned by program using the Assign option under the Actions column on both the Saved Programs and Programs Applied To pages. 
• Changes to personal statement assignments can be made throughout the application season, but programs are not guaranteed to view or review newly assigned personal statements. 
• A personal statement cannot be assigned to programs that are closed. 
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• Knowledge Base

What Is Plagiarism? | Definition & Examples

Plagiarism means using someone else’s work without giving them proper credit. In academic writing, plagiarizing involves using words, ideas, or information from a source without citing it correctly. In practice, this can mean a few different things.

Table of contents

Common questions about plagiarism, more tools and resources for avoiding plagiarism, frequently asked questions about plagiarism.

It’s easy to understand why you shouldn’t buy essays, but students often struggle with the details of quoting , paraphrasing , and citing sources . Below, we address some questions and misconceptions students often have about plagiarism.

I need to quote and paraphrase a lot. Won’t my paper be full of distracting citations?

It’s true that some papers do feature a lot of citations. There are ways to reduce clutter by citing more efficiently, such as:

• Combining multiple citations into one set of parentheses (usually separated by semicolons )
• Not repeating the full citation when you cite the same source multiple times in a row
• Using “ ibid. ” to indicate a repeated citation (in certain styles)
• Omitting citations for information that is common knowledge

Do I need to cite a certain number of sources? Can citing too much be a bad thing?

There’s no fixed number of sources you should cite. Your use of sources should be based on strengthening your argument, not meeting a quota. A high number of citations isn’t inherently a good or bad thing. Some types of academic text (e.g., a literature review ) are more likely to cite a lot of sources than others.

When you do think you’ve cited too much, it’s worth considering whether you need all the information you’ve included. All information should directly contribute to your argument, not just be tangentially related.

One thing you should avoid is quoting too much. If large portions of your text consist of someone else’s words, it distracts from your own arguments. It’s usually better to paraphrase unless you’re specifically analyzing the language of the source (e.g., in literary analysis ).

Is it better to just avoid using sources so I don’t risk accidental plagiarism?

No, using sources is an essential part of academic writing . Academic research is an ongoing conversation between researchers. Drawing on other sources, and positioning your own ideas in relation to them, is not optional.

But it’s understandable to be concerned about plagiarism. If you’re worried about the possibility of accidental plagiarism, make sure to:

• Quote and paraphrase sources correctly
• Manage and cite your sources using a citation generator
• Use a plagiarism checker before submitting your work to detect any problems
• Use generative AI tools responsibly (outputs may be detected by an AI detector )

Is paraphrasing a kind of plagiarism?

No, paraphrasing is just a way of incorporating information from a source into your text by putting it into your own words. As long as you cite the source correctly, paraphrasing is the best way to incorporate information in most cases.

However, paraphrasing can be considered plagiarism if you:

• Don’t cite the source of the information, or cite it incorrectly
• Phrase the information in a way that’s too close to the original (e.g., just swapping out a couple of words instead of reformulating the sentence)

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Scribbr offers a variety of tools and services designed to help you with citations and plagiarism checking, including the best plagiarism checker available.

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And you can check out the in-depth articles below to learn more about the different kinds of plagiarism, its consequences, and how to avoid it:

• Types of plagiarism
• Self-plagiarism
• How to avoid plagiarism
• Consequences of plagiarism
• Academic integrity vs. academic dishonesty
• Common knowledge
• How plagiarism checkers work
• Examples of plagiarism
• Plagiarism resources for educators

The consequences of plagiarism vary depending on the type of plagiarism and the context in which it occurs. For example, submitting a whole paper by someone else will have the most severe consequences, while accidental citation errors are considered less serious.

If you’re a student, then you might fail the course, be suspended or expelled, or be obligated to attend a workshop on plagiarism. It depends on whether it’s your first offense or you’ve done it before.

As an academic or professional, plagiarizing seriously damages your reputation. You might also lose your research funding or your job, and you could even face legal consequences for copyright infringement.

Paraphrasing without crediting the original author is a form of plagiarism , because you’re presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own.

However, paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you correctly cite the source . This means including an in-text citation and a full reference, formatted according to your required citation style .

As well as citing, make sure that any paraphrased text is completely rewritten in your own words.

Accidental plagiarism is one of the most common examples of plagiarism . Perhaps you forgot to cite a source, or paraphrased something a bit too closely. Maybe you can’t remember where you got an idea from, and aren’t totally sure if it’s original or not.

These all count as plagiarism, even though you didn’t do it on purpose. When in doubt, make sure you’re citing your sources . Also consider running your work through a plagiarism checker tool prior to submission, which work by using advanced database software to scan for matches between your text and existing texts.

Scribbr’s Plagiarism Checker takes less than 10 minutes and can help you turn in your paper with confidence.

Plagiarism can be detected by your professor or readers if the tone, formatting, or style of your text is different in different parts of your paper, or if they’re familiar with the plagiarized source.

Many universities also use plagiarism detection software like Turnitin’s, which compares your text to a large database of other sources, flagging any similarities that come up.

It can be easier than you think to commit plagiarism by accident. Consider using a plagiarism checker prior to submitting your paper to ensure you haven’t missed any citations.

The accuracy depends on the plagiarism checker you use. Per our in-depth research , Scribbr is the most accurate plagiarism checker. Many free plagiarism checkers fail to detect all plagiarism or falsely flag text as plagiarism.

Plagiarism checkers work by using advanced database software to scan for matches between your text and existing texts. Their accuracy is determined by two factors: the algorithm (which recognizes the plagiarism) and the size of the database (with which your document is compared).

Is this article helpful?

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• Comparing Plagiarism Checker Tools | Methods & Results
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• Examples of Plagiarism & Tips for Avoiding It
• How Do Plagiarism Checkers Work?
• What Is Common Knowledge? | Definition & Examples

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Everything depends on the policies of your school and requirements from professor. Usually, it is not accepted at any percentage. However, some teachers tolerate the plagiarism level in the text if it is not higher than 15%. But it cannot be a whole passage copied and pasted in your essay.

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Our free online plagiarism checker with percentage provides a report that shows the level of similarity in text. If sentences are highlighted in red, it means they are plagiarized. Text matches section shows the sources that have text similar to yours. It gives an opportunity to edit the needed parts and reduce similarity.

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All university students risk getting plagiarism issues when conducting research or even summarizing an already existing article for a paper.

Plagiarism is a severe violation of copyright and academic dishonesty.

However, aiming for scientific research, it’s not always easy to achieve a healthy balance between personal ideas and obligatory references. Plagiarism checker allows students to check the content of their essays, research papers and find out if there’s an issue. This text scanner offers not only a detailed analysis of similarities but also helps students shape their style, focusing on writing mechanics.

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• Insert Essay or Upload Your Document. Check for plagiarism by simply pasting a text or dropping your document. Acceptable file formats are Adobe Acrobat (.pdf), Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), basic .txt format, .rtf or .odt.
• Submit Your Writing. Once ready, click on “Check my essay” button to let our system start with the analysis. It takes a few minutes, especially when there are many pages of text. As the progress bar reaches the end, uniqueness percentage result appears. If there is any trouble, you’ll see text matches that will include the sources (web links) and similarity index. Clicking on “View in the Text” link will show similarities highlighted in red. If there are more matches, clicking “Show All Matches” will reveal all sources that contain copied text. At this stage, one can do essay editing or check another assignment.

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FREE plagiarism checker for students. There is no need to register or make payments of any kind while working with our scanner. Moreover, it does not include ads or distracting pop-up windows of any kind. As your paper is scanned through databases, it isn’t stored anywhere. Yet, what is even more crucial is an unlimited number of tries, which means that you can copy and paste as much as necessary. Edit risky content right away, make relevant changes, and click Check button again!

Detailed evaluation. No plagiarism analysis would be complete without a result, which is exactly what we offer. Due to high-quality scanning, we rely upon the final result by highlighting not only particular sentences or word combinations but also providing links to related sources . It helps reveal possible citation errors.

Internal access to specific databases. Priding ourselves as the best plagiarism checker we have access to scientific journals, databases, publishing archives, and web entries that are specific to subject papers. It ensures high-quality of similarity analysis!

Can Plagiarism Be Avoided?

Plagiarism has always been an issue among students and teachers. this problem influenced the appearance of many services that provide plagiarism checkers, like Turnitin, Grammarly or PlagScan. These were the first plagiarism tools that emerged on the Internet and that is why they are so famous. But are they as good? We may not know it, but we can for sure say that our plagiarism checker was developed and launched by a team of the best computational linguists and subject matter experts. It is the most updated and innovative tool you can find.

There are always possible risks of being accused of copyright violation. Using our free plagiarism checker students may paste or upload their papers and scan them through our best service, which won’t take more than a minute. Just like editing or structuring the title or bibliography page, every student must go through plagiarism scan since it is fast, free, and easy. Guard your academic future and nerves, confidence in a good grade is just a few clicks away!

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Try Our Personal Statement Plagiarism Checker

Do you want to check personal statement for plagiarism, may be psychiatry residency personal statement or any kind of admission paper in general ? If so, then you might want to use the plagiarism checker to help you detect issues. As you may know, checking your paper against duplication, something unacceptable for the screening committee and in turn might ruin your application.

As you know the personal statement is the autobiographical essay, which many universities and colleges require you to submit for the admission process. To ensure you’re not committing the mistake of plagiarizing, check out the following for help you could get from a personal statement plagiarism checker, thesis plagiarism checker or  online plagiarism checker for research papers .

Check Personal Statement for Plagiarism Using the Best Tool

• Open your document and find the “Select All” option.
• Copy and paste your texts into the personal statement plagiarism checker.
• Press “Check Text” so it could begin checking for plagiarism.
• See the results, and find out if you have committed plagiarism.
• If you did, revise the sections where plagiarism is revealed.
• When done, check it once more to ensure it is 100% original.

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Check Personal Statement for Plagiarism by Yourself

Aside from using the checker tool, you can also make use of a trusted reword generator to make changes in your paper in case some part of it seems weird or directly copies someone else’s words.  your paper. Your own discretion and your knowledge of the tricks on how to spot duplication errors will come in handy. If you don’t possess such skills yet, check out the following tips.

Make sure that the sections you have borrowed from a source or a set of sources are properly cited. For instance, you are quoting someone and would like to use his exact words. What to do is to mention who this person is after or before the quotation to ensure you properly credit him.

Paraphrasing as Your Way out

If you want to own the ideas, you can also paraphrase and use your own words so that you can avoid plagiarism. This is one way of avoiding the problem and making sure you are submitting a thorough and well-written personal statement provided the source you used is related to your topic.

There you have the simple ways on how to check for plagiarism in your personal statement with the help of  thesis plagiarism checker . However, you might also want to know if you have committed grammar and spelling errors. Worry not! The tool for checking plagiarism can also spot the mistakes you have made in English language usage. If you couldn’t check for your grammar and revise its flow and all, you can ask help from the pros, too! Even if you need help with  writing a lit review , or just check the finished on grammar and spelling errors there is free tools and professional services you can rely on!

Use the personal statement plagiarism checker today!

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