personal statement for summer research program

Summer Boarding Courses

How to Write a Personal Statement for Summer School or University

Are you wondering how to write a personal statement for Summer School or University? Summer Boarding Courses HQ asked our fellow friends over at Dukes Education company,  Oxbridge Applications  for some personal statement advice!

How to write a personal statement for Summer School or University

So you want to know what things to write in a personal statement. Excellent! Oxbridge Applications have some brilliant advice on how you can get started if you want to  study in the UK  or elsewhere. They can certainly help with writing a personal statement.

We will show you how to start a personal statement about yourself, what the best personal statements include, what to avoid and how to leave that lasting impression on the tutor. As a result, you will have a really good personal statement in no time!

What is a personal statement?

You can create a personal statement to be an application to a University, college course or Summer School. It showcases your interests, passions and achievements, so that you can convince the establishment reading it to accept you onto their course.

When it comes to writing a personal statement, this is your chance to the reader a chance to meet the real you! You may be a little nervous about how to write a personal statement. Do not worry; we are going to guide you step by step.

How to start a personal statement, before you even start typing!

If you’re thinking about how to begin a personal statement, and are a little nervous about it, ask yourself this:

Why do I want to be a part of this course?

What are my strengths and passions?

Why should I be accepted?

Your personal statement application should demonstrate your interest in the course, showcase what you can bring to the University, college or Summer School, and convince the admissions tutors to offer you a place.

Express yourself with the limited words you have

You have limited space to express yourself, so every sentence in your personal statement counts. Bear in mind that you can only write one personal statement for all your choices if you are applying to University, so make sure that you are tailoring your statement as much as possible to each of the courses you are applying for.

Without this thoughtful approach, the reader might doubt your commitment to their course.

One thing’s for certain: you won’t come up with a polished personal statement overnight. It will take many drafts, a lot of editing and a few late-night flashes of inspiration. Yet, it will all be worth it when those Summer School or University offers start rolling in! To help you get started, we’ve got a few useful tips to point you in the right direction.

How do you start, once you’re ready to type?

Wondering how to write personal statements from the start? There are about a million ways to start a personal statement, and there is no one correct way to begin!

Some people start with a quote which encapsulates their interest. Others start with an anecdote that explains where their curiosity for their subject stems from.

Your opening should set the tone for the rest of the personal statement, show your enthusiasm and interest in your subject and introduce the admissions tutor to your personality. Don’t feel like you need to pretend to be someone else in your personal statement; just make sure you are your academic self!

Speak as you would to your headteacher; clearly, maturely, but retaining a sense of who you are.

What should you include in a personal statement?

What is in a personal statement? Although it’s called a personal statement, the idea is not just to give the school a short history of your life to date. You need to be expressing your academic self, your interest in the subject that you are applying for and your achievements in that area. Brainstorm your ideas below with the following pointers, so you can begin to see what to write in a personal statement:

Subject-related work experience

What have you done so far that is connected to the subject and course you are applying for? Maybe you have studied something particular in school, or have worked hard on a project in your spare time. Have you volunteered somewhere to add to your experience? Have you worked with and along someone who has experience and expertise in the subject you are applying for?

Courses or lectures you attended which have advanced your knowledge

What courses or lectures have you attended which have advanced your understanding and skills in the subject you are applying for? What did you study particularly? Is there anything that you have learned, which has improved your knowledge and understanding?

Relevant books or articles that you have read

What have you been reading that has made you even more enthusiastic and eager to learn more about the subject you are applying for? What did you learn by reading these books and articles? Are there particular authors you have enjoyed reading lately, that are making an impact on you?

Take your English to the next level!

Academic awards.

If you have won an academic award, and been recognised for your skills and achievements, make sure to mention them! Have you received any certificates or recognition? If so, what was the award?

Extra-curricular activities

You should mention your extra-curricular achievements as well, but the amount of space that you dedicate to this section should depend on the university or summer course to which you are applying. If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge , you should keep your extra-curricular activities to a minimum, as these universities are focused primarily on your academic achievements.

How do you finish a personal statement?

Do you need help writing a personal statement closing paragraph? Almost as hard as starting is finishing your University or Summer Program personal statement!

Your final paragraph doesn’t have to be long – just enough to round off your statement and reiterate your interest and dedication to your subject.

Be careful that you don’t come across as too arrogant or self-assured here; it can be easy after almost 4000 characters of blowing your own trumpet, to get a little carried away!

What not to include in a personal statement

Your personal statement is your space to sell your own subject interest. You haven’t got much room, so make sure that you’re not repeating anything that the admissions tutors could find out somewhere else on your application form. This can include listing your qualifications or grades: these go on the form in a different section.

Be positive in your personal statement!

How do you write your personal statement positively?

This is not the place to attempt to explain a lower predicted grade due to a disagreement with a teacher or the fact that you needed to miss school for an extended period due to illness.  If there is something in this vein that you feel the admissions tutors should know, ask the teacher writing your reference, whether he or she could include this in the reference section of your application form.

It’s more appropriate for your teacher to bring this to the admissions tutor’s attention. It means that you will not be wasting space trying to explain yourself. Instead you can just dazzle the course with your interests and achievements!

Our final advice on how to write a personal statement!

It’s a challenge but it’s worth it.

Writing the best personal statement may not be the most exciting activity for you. After days, weeks and even months of drafting and summoning up the motivation to proofread your statement, it can be a challenge. Yet it is absolutely essential!

Proof read again and again

You know that feeling you get when you spot a typo in an article? No matter how insignificant, it lowers your opinion of the content of the piece and the author. Admissions tutors are likely to be sticklers for accuracy, so make sure you get your teachers, friends and parents to proof-read it a couple of times. One tip is to begin with the last sentence and work your way through your personal statement backwards; it keeps you focused on individual sentences and not the full statement.

Good luck with writing the personal statement!

By now you should be very confident with how to write a good personal statement. You now know how to start your personal statement, what to include in it and how to finish it all on a high note! Look on it as a challenge, but also a very important opportunity to talk about a fascinating subject – you!

Do you need more help on writing a personal statement?

For more assistance with writing subject-specific personal statements, and to find out how Oxbridge Applications can help with personal statements, please click  here .

Undergraduate Research & Prestigious Scholarships

Developing a personal statement for summer research.

Before apply for summer research position, there are a few items that you should be reviewed.

• To share your interest and enthusiasm for the specific work you are applying to do
• To demonstrate what you can contribute to the program to which you are applying
• To state the specific lab you want to work in and why
• To state your professional goals and what or how you hope to contribute to this program

First Steps:

• Read the personal statement question carefully and analyze what it is asking for
• Visualize your audience: will this be read by a scientist? A physician? An administrator?
• Make yourself as desirable to the selector as possible while being honest about yourself

The Basics:

• Your research interests as they relate to the work you are applying for
• Year of study and current major, related academic and career goals, impressive academic credentials

Experience in the Field:

• Any special connection to this work such as prior experience or family background
• Something unique about your research interests or an idea that fuels your own research interests.

Your Proposed Contributions to the Program and Benefits of the Program to You:

• Personal qualities that would benefit the program, demonstrated through examples
• What you can do for them; what you seek to gain from the opportunity
• How this specific work fits into your academic and research goals

Writing and Mechanics: ~ The correct usage conveys your attention to detail

• Use strong word choices, particularly verbs and adjectives
• Use the more powerful “I am,” rather than “I have always been”
• Make positive statements: “I have experience in…” not “I don’t have experience in x, but do have…”
• Craft clear, engaging opening and closing sentences
• Check that the opening statement is supported in the body and consistent with the closing statement
• Organize the statement so it flows from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph
• Proofread for grammar, spelling, paragraph breaks, and correct punctuation

Ask Yourself:

• Does this statement show my interest in this specific program, or could it be sent to any program?
• Does this statement describe me specifically, or could any good student in my field use this?

Additional Suggestions:

• Reread the personal statement multiple times out loud for clarity, logic, and flow
• Have someone else read the statement. Visit the UMBC Writing Center .
• Share your finished personal statement with the faculty member writing your recommendations
• Limit the statement to one and a half to two pages with at least one and a half spacing
• Include a header with your name on each page, which will be numbered as well
• Restating the question / topic, Rewriting your transcript or resume
• Clichés such as “to make the world a better place”; instead, explain exactly how such a lofty goal will be achieved
• Providing unrelated information, e.g., explaining when you learned you were not interested in computers
• Using phrases like “this opportunity will be fun and interesting for me”; focus on what you can contribute
• Any background earlier than high school

How to write a Personal Statement

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How to Write a Personal Statement for Summer Research

Susanna campbell, career peer liaison to cnms, the purpose of a personal statement .

• Share your interests and enthusiasm for the specific work you are applying to do.
• Demonstrate what you can contribute to the program to which you are applying
• To state the specific lab/program you want to work in and why
• To state your professional goals and what or how you hope to contribute to the program

First Steps

• Read the personal statement question carefully and analyze what it is asking for.
• Visualize your audience: will this be read by a scientist? An administrator? A physician?
• Recite your research interests as they relate to the work you are applying for
• Write your year of study, major, related academic and career goals, and impressive academic credentials

Experience in the Field

• Mention any special connections to the work such as prior experience or family background (i.e. Name drop)
• Write something unique about your research interests or an idea that fuels your own research interests

Your Proposed Contributions to the Program

• List personal qualities and demonstrate these through examples
• State what you can do for them and what you seek to gain from the opportunity
• Explain how the work fits into your academic and research goals.
• Saying “I am” is more powerful than saying “I have always been.”
• Make positive statements. “I have experience in…” not “I don’t have experience in x, but do have…”
• Craft clear, engaging opening and closing sentences.
• Check that your opening statement is supported in the body and is consistent with your closing.
• Organize the statement so it flows from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph.
• Proofread for grammar, spelling, paragraph breaks, and correct punctuation.

When you have finished drafting your statement, ask yourself:

• Does this statement show my interests in the specific program or is it generic?
• Does this statement describe me specifically or could any good student in my field use this?

Some common mistakes to avoid:

• Restating the question/topic or rewriting your resume or transcript
• Clichés such as “to make the world a better place” instead, explain how such a lofty goal will be achieved
• Providing unrelated information
• Any background earlier than high school.

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What is the personal statement?

Many applications for research opportunities require a personal statement. This is an opportunity for you to show your critical thinking skills in a creative format. It is where you get to add your voice to the mix of materials that reviewers see when you apply for fellowships. Use the personal statement to highlight positive aspects about yourself that may not be apparent in other parts of your application.

The personal statement is your place to ask and answer questions about your past, present and future, including:

• What has brought you to this point in your life?
• What have you learned from your past experiences?
• What do you want to do with your studies?
• How will this fellowship help you pursue you goals?
• Why should this fellowship want to invest in you?

The personal statement should not be a simple list of your activities and accomplishments. Instead, try to craft a narrative that shows the review committee reader that you have the qualities the fellowship is looking for.

How to write a personal statement

You can approach the personal statement in many different ways. Some students like to start with an outline, while others start by brainstorming. The main points are: What are a few things you want people to know about you? Why is this fellowship right for you?

Writing improves with successive drafts. It is not unusual to write several drafts of the personal statement. As long as the fellowship rules allow it (and most do), you should bring your writing to the URF advisers. We can discuss your ideas at any stage and talk in-depth with you about your statement. We don't try to fit you into a mold. Instead, our goal is to help you write a statement that you feel best represents you!

Keep these ideas in mind as you write:

• Use specific examples from your life to highlight your positive qualities--the more concrete the better.
• Include stories from your life, your favorite quotes, or anecdotes that reveal how you define yourself and see the world
• Show your reader that the issues that move you are important. Get them to want to "fight the fight" with you.
• Describe the ways you want to make an impact in the world.

Once you have written your personal statement, invite friends and family to read it. Do they think it portrays the person they know? Selection committees value authenticity above all other qualities. Make sure your statement reflects your true values and aspirations.

Related Articles

• Applying for a Research Opportunity
• Applying as an International Student
• Research Proposal
• Resume or CV
• Letters of Recommendation

Writing Your Personal Statements

Your personal statement must demonstrate to the admissions committee that you have considered graduate school and their specific program seriously. It’s your opportunity to summarize your academic and research experiences. You must also communicate how your experiences are relevant to preparing you for the graduate degree that you will be pursuing and explain why a given program is the right one for you.

The personal statement is where you highlight your strengths. Make your strengths absolutely clear to the reviewers, because they will often be reading many other statements. Your self-assessments and honest conversations with peers and advisors should have also revealed your strengths. But you must also address (not blame others for) weaknesses or unusual aspects of your application or academic background.

Your personal statement should focus on two main aspects: your competence and commitment.

1. Identify your strengths in terms of competence that indicate that you will succeed in the grad program and provide examples to support your claims. Start your statement by describing your strengths immediately. Because faculty will be reading many statements, it’s important to start off with your strengths and not “bury your lede.” Consider traits of successful graduate students from your informational interviews, and identify which of these traits you have. These traits could involve research skills and experiences, expertise in working with techniques or instruments, familiarity with professional networks and resources in your field, etc.

• Check your responses from the exercises in the self-assessment section. You may wish to consult notes from your informational interviews and your Seven Stories . Write concise summaries and stories that demonstrate your strengths, e.g. how your strengths helped you to achieve certain goals or overcome obstacles.
• Summarize your research experience(s). What were the main project goals and the “big picture” questions? What was your role in this project? What did you accomplish? What did you learn, and how did you grow as a result of the experience(s)?

My research examines the interplay between U.S. domestic politics and foreign policy during the Cold War. As a native New Yorker, I saw firsthand how dramatically my city changed after 9/11, which prompted my early interest in U.S. policy at home and abroad. As an undergraduate at the City College of New York, I planned to study international relations with a focus on U.S. foreign affairs. I also quickly became involved in student activist groups that focused on raising awareness about a wide range of human rights issues, from the Syrian refugee crisis to asylum seekers from Central America.

The more I learned about the crises in the present, the more I realized that I needed a deeper understanding of the past to fully grasp them. I decided to pursue a PhD in history in order to gain a clearer understanding of human rights issues in the present and to empower young student-activists like myself.

— Vannessa Velez, PhD candidate in History

Addressing weaknesses or unusual aspects

• Identify weaknesses or unusual aspects in your application—e.g., a significant drop in your GPA during a term; weak GRE scores; changes in your academic trajectory, etc. Don’t ignore them, because ignoring them might be interpreted as blind spots for you. If you’re unsure if a particular issue is significant enough to address, seek advice from faculty mentors.
• Explain how you’ll improve and strengthen those areas or work around your weakness. Determine how you will address them in a positive light, e.g., by discussing how you overcame obstacles through persistence, what you learned from challenges, and how you grew from failures. Focusing on a growth mindset  or grit  and this blog on weaknesses might also help.
• Deal with any significant unusual aspects later in the statement to allow a positive impression to develop first.
• Explain, rather than provide excuses—i.e., address the issue directly and don’t blame others (even if you believe someone else is responsible). Draft it and get feedback from others to see if the explanation is working as you want it to.
• Provide supporting empirical evidence if possible. For example, “Adjusting to college was a major step for me, coming from a small high school and as a first-generation college student. My freshman GPA was not up to par with my typical achievements, as demonstrated by my improved  GPA of 3.8 during my second and third years in college."
• Be concise (don’t dwell on the issues), but also be complete (don’t lead to other potentially unanswered questions). For example, if a drop in grades during a term was due to a health issue, explain whether the health issue is recurring, managed now with medication, resolved, etc.

2. Explain your commitment to research and their graduate program, including your motivation for why you are applying to this graduate program at this university. Be as specific as possible. Identify several faculty members with whom you are interested in working, and explain why their research interests you.

• Descriptions of your commitment should explain why you’re passionate about this particular academic field and provide demonstrations of your commitment with stories (e.g., working long hours to solve a problem, overcoming challenges in research, resilience in pursuing problems). Don’t merely assert your commitment.
• Explain why you are applying to graduate school, as opposed to seeking a professional degree or a job. Discuss your interest and motivation for grad school, along with your future career aspirations.

I am definitely not your traditional graduate student. As a biracial (Native American and white), first-generation PhD student from a military family, I had very limited guidance on how best to pursue my education, especially when I decided that graduate school was a good idea. I ended up coming to this PhD in a very circuitous manner, stopping first to get a JD and, later, an MFA in Young Adult Literature. With each degree, I took time to work and apply what I’d learned, as a lawyer and as an educator. Each time, I realized that I was circling around questions that I couldn’t let go of—not just because I found them to be fascinating, but because I did (and still do!) feel that my research could help to bridge a gap that desperately needs bridging. Because my work is quite interdisciplinary, I strongly feel that I wouldn’t have been able to pursue this line of research without the degrees and life experience I gained before coming to this program.

— Jamie Fine, PhD candidate in Modern Thought and Literature

Statement of Purpose: subtle aspects

• Think in terms of engaging faculty in a conversation rather than pleading with them that you should be admitted. Ask reviewers to read drafts with this concern in mind.
• With later drafts, try developing an overall narrative theme. See if one emerges as you work.
• Write at least 10 drafts and expect your thinking and the essay to change quite a bit over time.
• Read drafts out loud to help you catch errors.
• Expect the "you' that emerges in your essay to be incomplete. . . that’s OK.
• You’re sharing a professional/scholarly slice of "you."
• Avoid humor (do you really know what senior academics find funny?) and flashy openings and closings. Think of pitching the essay to an educated person in the field, but not necessarily in your specialty. Avoid emotionally laden words (such as "love" or "passion"). Remember, your audience is a group of professors! Overly emotional appeals might make them uncomfortable. They are looking for scholarly colleagues.

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Summer Research Programs, Personal Statement Example

Pages: 2

Words: 560

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You are free to use it as an inspiration or a source for your own work.

I wish to have achieved several goals by the time I successfully complete my Ph.D. in immunology research. I have honors in bachelors of Science in Natural Sciences and Economics, with Minors in Sociology and chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. After its completion, I fully developed a refined set of personal, academic, and professional goals, which I believe will assist me with my research program. I have volunteered in various institutions, one in an oncology and rehabilitation department and as a surgical intern. I got the chance to interact closely with patients and observed what the physicians were doing to ensure they received quality care. Though I achieved a handful of knowledge, I feel that I need to undergo a research summer program to achieve my goals.

I have a specific interest in the application of technology to the field of infectious diseases. I believe with the program, I will have achieved my goals of preventing the adversity of contagious diseases by creating models of the causes, spread, and their appropriate immune responses. I have an outstanding research interest. I am currently studying agent-based models, tracking the spread of COVID-19. My main focus is microbiology, and the impact of frequent sanitation on the virus spread in a small classroom setting. My study is not restricted to a small study population, and therefore in the future, any researcher can study a larger gathering. Ideally, I wish to undertake the summer research program to acquire or gain the skills and experiences necessary for me to become a professional immunology researcher.

My interest in this research field emerged after seeing my brother suffer Lyme disease; a bacterial infection one gets after a bite from a tick. It went unnoticed for a couple of years, affecting his joints, heart, and nervous system. As a result, his lifestyle has entirely changed since the period he was infected and even beyond. With the summer research program, I believe that I will be in a better position to understand Lyme disease better by carrying out studies and analysis. This will allow me to acquire the knowledge required to treat the disease and how to involve the affected immunes’ system effectively. This, I believe, will be of help to many people in their recovery journey from Lyme and other adverse contagious diseases.

My participation in the summer research program will help me achieve my goal, reduce the chances and capabilities of infectious diseases, ultimately affecting the lives of those affected. This is because I will receive mentorship from highly experienced clinician-researchers through the eight weeks intensive program, attend weekly professional development seminars, and cover didactic course works. Additionally, through the program, I will have the golden opportunity to work alongside experienced researchers and work full-time in a research team. This will be of great significance since I will be better positioned to gain increased insight into the various research infrastructure. Additionally, I will witness and share techniques with other participants, learn new endeavors to include in my research, and witness successful outcomes for various research studies. With these privileges offered, I would like to be part of the summer program to realize and achieve my goals. Most importantly, I hope to have a place in the program to acquire knowledge that will formally and uniquely prepare me to help those affected by infectious diseases in the most appropriate ways possible.

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Personal Statement

General advice.

Think of the personal statement as a chance for you to introduce yourself – your background, experiences, knowledge of the field, goals and personality – to the selection committee.  It also affords you the opportunity to explain any irregularities or shortcomings of your candidacy. The personal statement can mean the difference between rejection and acceptance.  A well-crafted statement can tip the admission scale in your favor; a poorly written one can leave you out of the running.

Some programs will ask you to write one statement covering a number of areas.  Others require a brief response to a series of essay questions. Your best writing comes when you have an actual audience in mind and specific questions.

Advice for writing the personal statement:

• It might be tempting to write a generic statement, but it actually creates more work for you as each school will have different requirements for their statement
• On the other hand, once you have some major sections written for one program, they can be borrowed for other programs that ask the same question.
• Take care to answer each question in the prompt
• Show your strengths by telling stories of your life that are appropriate to the prompt
• Be sure to include some sense of why that particular program will be a good place for you to be, whether that is because they have a research focus that matches yours, a particular member of the faculty that you would want to work with, or because of resources available at the institution or nearby.

WRITING THE STATEMENT

by Carla Trujillo, Ph.D., Director, Graduate Opportunity Program, University of California Berkeley

• Remember that they read between the lines: motivation, competence, potential as a graduate student, knowledge of the field or subfield and fit with the department should all be apparent.
• Emphasize everything from a positive perspective and write in an active, not a passive, voice.
• Tailor your response to the particular question being asked, the specific department and program.  Avoid sending generic statements.
• Demonstrate everything by example. Don’t say directly, for example, that you’re a persistent person; you must demonstrate it.
• You don’t want to make excuses, but you can talk about the mistakes you’ve made as a learning experience.
• If there is something important that happened which affected your grades (poverty, illness, excessive work, etc.) go ahead and state it, but write it affirmatively, that is, in a way that shows your perseverance.
• Write with authority like a fellow colleague.
• Stick to the word limit guidelines.
• Single space statement, unless told otherwise.
• Understand that writing an effective, flawless statement takes considerable time and several sets of eyes.

GENERAL OUTLINE

How you arrange your statement and what you include ultimately will be up to you.  The following outline, based on one written by Carla Trujilo, provides a clear sense of the kinds of things to cover and a logical means of organizing that information.

Part 1: Introduction

This is where you tell them what you want to study.  For example, “I wish to pursue an MS degree in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in controls”.  Some applicants begin with a personal story.  Make your opening sufficiently interesting, enticing the committee to read on.  One Augsburg student applying to grad school in physics started his statement, “When I first enrolled in college I wanted to study Asian religions.”   This path is probably atypical for doctoral candidates in physics and thus draws the reader in.  Another began, “I was eighteen years old when I saw my first computer.  Five years later I am applying to the doctoral program in Computer Science at….”  These lines astound the reader while opening the door for the student to talk about being an immigrant, how his interest and aptitude in computer science developed and what goals he has for the future.

Part 2: Summarize what you did as an undergraduate

• Important class or classes you took which stimulated your desire for graduate study, such as a specific project for a class.  Maybe conversations with a professor or a study abroad experience piqued your interest for graduate study.
• Research you might have done.  Indicate with whom, the title of the project, what your responsibilities were, the outcome and any poster or oral presentations you might have given.  Again, it’s important not to simply list what you did but the impact it had on you:  what you learned about the field, yourself or the research process, how the experience shaped your decision to pursue graduate work in this particular field, etc.  Write technically; professors are the people who read these statements.
• Work experience if it relates to your field of study or more generally, demonstrates preparation for graduate school.  Tutoring or classroom teaching experience, for example, is often relevant, since it shows a more firm grasp of subject matter, and that you might be a good candidate for a teaching assistantship.  Similarly, describe any kind of responsibility you’ve had for testing, designing, researching, extensive writing, etc.

If you graduated and worked for a while and are returning to grad school, indicate what you’ve been doing while working: company, work/design team, responsibilities, what you learned.  You can also indicate here how this helped you focus your intent to do graduate studies.

Here you indicate what you want to study in graduate school in greater detail.  This is a greater elaboration of your opening paragraph.

• Indicate area of interest, then state questions you might have which are associated with the topic, i.e., what you might be interested in studying or researching.  You should have an area of emphasis selected before you write the statement.  If you have no idea, talk to a professor about possible areas of interest or current questions in the field.
• Look on the web for information about the professors and their research.  Are there professors whose interests match yours?  If so, indicate this, as it shows that you have done your homework and are highly motivated.  (Be sincere, however; don’t make up something bogus just to impress people.)  Ideally you have read some of the professors’ work and have been in contact with them prior to making application and can make reference to that exchange.  Having a faculty member pulling for you from the inside is a winning strategy.
• Talk about what draws you to this particular program.  Show that you are familiar with the unique features, focus, field experiences, or faculty, etc. of this program.
• End your statement in a positive and confident manner with a readiness for the challenges of graduate study.

HOW TO WRITE A PERSONAL STATEMENT

by Dal Liddle, Augsburg University English Department

Everything that follows is an elaboration of this one main issue: graduate school is specific career training and apprenticeship for the the profession of academic teaching and scholarship. If you are the sort of person who should be a professional academic. and can say honestly and clearly how you know that your essay will probably succeed. If you aren’t your essay will probably reveal that-saving you and your readers much wasted time and needless sorrow. either way, everybody wins.

• Although the application process seems cold and impersonal, the human readers who pick up your essay and read it will probably feel hopeful, not hostile, as they start to read. Their goal is to build a good graduate class out of the stack of apps before them, and to bring in students who will enrich their own intellectual lives and lives of their classmates. Despite its high-stakes nature, the, the personal statements should be written sincerely and openly, not defensively.
• While a personal statement is written  to an admissions committee-a group of future colleagues who ideally will like you and want to meet you-it is not really written for the committee. The committee should never have the sense that you are saying what you think they want to hear. The writing should therefore start with the most specified information that you can nail down about yourself, your reason to believe that your vocation and fitness lie in this area, and your choice of this particular school.
• Qualifications (of intellect, will, and intestinal fortitude)
• Commitment (motivation and sense of vocation-this is really what you want to do)
• Personality and Backstory (those part relevant to this choice of career)
• Comprehension (of what grad school is and does; what the life and duties of a grad student are; what this particular school-teachers, library-offers you.)
• The statements need not do any of these four things exhaustively-it can suggest some while developing others. It need not separate them in the arbitrary way I have, or invoke them in my arbitrary order. But none of them can e obviously missing of inadequate.
• “Should this person be in grad school at all (or has he/she perhaps been placed on this earth for some other good and noble purpose)?”
• “Has this person chosen the right grad school for the right reasons? Do we have what he she wants-not just reputation, but resources? A bad fit to our program will drop out,transfer,or be miserable and spread misery.”
• “Will this person be an asset to our program-will he/she add diversity, collegiality, and intelligent ideas to our classes? Will he/she finish course work on time, write a good dissertation, get a good job, and ass to our reputation in the profession and among our peer colleges?”
• “Will this person be interesting and enjoyable to work with and even mentor?”
• Lack of basic necessary skill to succeed in the field (to write coherently, to do research)
• Lack of sophistication in the specialty field
• Mainly negative rather than positive motives for choosing grad school (e.g., wanting to escape the “real world” or an unpleasant job, wanting to stay in college)
• Emotional instability and/or security

OTHER RESOURCES FOR WRITING THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) for general writing guidelines and advice

MIT Communication Lab  for statement of purpose guidelines

Writing the Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose by Dixie Shafer, Director of URGO

How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School

by Richard J. Stelzer

Graduate Admissions Essays:  Write Your Way Into the Graduate School of Your Choice

by Donald Asher

University of Missouri

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Undergraduate Research

How to write personal statements, what is the purpose of the personal statement.

Admissions committees review a lot of applications. The personal statement (like a cover letter for a job application) is your time to take your experience and personality and draw a direct line from their program to you! Use the personal statement to fill in any gaps in your resume or other information and pull disconnected pieces of your story together. You do not want to make your application reviewers do more work than necessary. It is not always as easy to connect the dots about someone else as we think it is. Present your story in your own words and reference other things in your application packet (for example: “as you will see on my resume I…”). Be careful, however, to not simply rehash your resume. A personal statement should provide a new and interesting take on what you have in your resume. This is your first (and possibly only) chance to show reviewers who you are and why they should care about you.

What will an admissions committee care about?

• Leadership, People skills
• Clubs and activities, Volunteer work, and Hobbies
• Teaching experience
• Research experience and application of knowledge and skills learned in the classroom or through firsthand experience
• Communication skills — no typos or grammatical errors
• How you became interested in the field
• Genuine interest in the field, and your career plans/ideas
• Brevity — if you can be straightforward and to the point, you will impress the reader more than if you take 10 pages to get around to the same idea.
• That you answered any questions that were asked of you
• Unique and interesting individuals who will be a pleasure to work with

Before you begin, you must determine what any given committee is looking for and tailor your statement — and entire application — to that particular school, program, or job’s needs. Review the application requirements and any other information available to you and put yourself in the reviewer’s shoes. Then, ask yourself these questions:

• What are you applying for?
• How will the personal statement be used?
• What are you trying to accomplish with the essay?
• How competitive is the process?

Once you know what reviewers are looking for, take some time to think about your story. What makes you unique, what are your interests and influences, etc.

Take some time to think about what makes you unique. Make a list of ten things that someone else may find interesting — get help from family, friends, professors, or your mentor if needed.

• Do you have any interesting experiences or talents?
• Was there anything special or unusual about where/how you grew up or where you went to college?
• Did you take an unusual journey to where you are now? (Did you start college as a theater major and change to biochemistry? Why? What happened?)
• Does your family history give you a different perspective than the average applicant?

Brainstorm about what excites you and what motivates you to continue on your educational or professional journey. Admissions officials want to know that you will be a good investment for their institution. Think about times you showed grit or tenacity.

Make a list of your intellectual influences.

• What scientists and articles have influenced your thinking?
• Who were your favorite professors/mentors? Why?
• What is the best paper/exam you have had and what made it good?
• What do you think is the most important “work” in your field?
• What is the most important concept you have learned in college?
• Other educational milestones or guideposts.

Make a list of your “light bulb moments”.

• Where were you/what were you doing when it crystallized in your mind that you wanted to pursue this particular field at a graduate/professional level?
• How has your interest evolved? What were the turning points?
• What experiences have led you to believe you would LIKE to do “this”?
• What experiences have led you to believe you would be GOOD at doing “this”?

Clearly define your career goal or path. List what attracts you to this path and why you think you would be successful in this career.

Explore your educational and research background.

• How have you prepared yourself for success in graduate school?
• What body of relevant knowledge will you take with you?
• What skills are you proficient in? What skills are developing?
• What personal attributes make you likely to succeed in your field of choice?
• List your major projects (when, what) and what your role was What did you really learn?
• Who did you work with? Where?
• Was your research published or presented? (or will in the future?)
• Ramifications of your project…’who cares? so what?’ (important to put your work in the bigger context!)
• What has been your biggest accomplishment/ what are you most proud of? Don’t limit this to just research
• What encouraging words others have said to you?   Write down the “actual words” and when they were said to you (and by whom).

Opening Paragraph/Lines

This is your first (and potentially only) chance to grab the reader and excite them about your application.

• Interesting info about you
• Unusual experiences
• Epiphany experience
• Be vivid in your description
• Career statement
• Phrases such as “ever since I was a little girl/boy” and “my grandfather/grandmother taught me” tend to be over used. You can tell a story from your childhood, but find a more interesting way to introduce it.

This is the time to sine and show the reviewers that you are mature, experienced, and dedicated but not without personality.

The body should answer these questions:

• Why are you here?
• How did you get here? What was your journey?
• What is inside of you that makes you want to do this?
• What comes next?
• What will you spend your time doing between now and graduate school, starting the program, or beginning the job in question?

Successful Essays Offer :

• Specific academic preparation and knowledge
• Demonstration of an understanding of what the student is “getting into”
• Sense of maturity, compassion, stamina, teamwork skills, leadership (indirectly)
• Names of specific potential mentors and aspects about the program that show a good fit
• How the applicant will use the advance degree in a career
• Demonstration of an understanding of the student’s role in the “big picture”

Tell the reviewers what conclusions they should make about you based on your experience, uniqueness, and personality. Politely let them know that you look forward to working with them.

Please remember that you can seek assistance with any of your writing needs at the  MU Writing Center . Their tutors work with students from all disciplines on a wide variety of documents.

Career mentorship, clinical and technology skills

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APPLICATION GUIDE Clinical Science, Technology and Medicine Summer Internship

Applications Now Open

Applications open for the 2020 Clinical Science, Technology and Medicine Summer Internship program. Program application deadline is February 14, 2020.

Tips on writing a 500-word personal statement essay

By Prostock-Studio via EnvatoElements

By Sylvie Diane Dobrota

Brainstorm themes or stories you want to focus on. Start by brainstorming different themes in your life (volunteering, arts, interest in storytelling, etc) Choose 1 or 2 themes you want to focus on.

It should be personal.  It can feel a little risky to write, and reveal yourself. Remember, we want to get to know you!

Answer the prompt. Make sure that you essay addresses all aspects of the question(s).

Show don’t tell. Rather than saying that you are passionate about health care, share a story about an important or impactful moment that furthered your interests in health care.

Just start writing. Set aside 20 minutes to begin writing. Sometimes getting past a blank page can get ideas flowing.

Have someone who knows you well read the draft. They can let you know if they think it sounds like you or not.

The views expressed here are the authors and they do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Stanford University School of Medicine. External websites are shared as a courtesy. They are not endorsed by the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Sylvie Diane Dobrota, BS Stanford Masters Candidate, Epidemiology

• Career Development
• Find Internship or Research Experience
• Getting started with research

How to Develop a Personal Statement for Research

• To share your interest and enthusiasm for the specific work you are applying to do
• To demonstrate what you can contribute to the program to which you are applying
• To state the specific lab you want to work in and why
• To state your professional goals and what or how you hope to contribute to this program

First Steps

• Read the personal statement question carefully and analyze what it is asking for
• Visualize your audience: will this be read by a scientist? A physician? An administrator?
• Make yourself as desirable to the selector as possible while being honest about yourself
• Your research interests as they relate to the work you are applying for
• Year of study and current major, related academic and career goals, impressive academic credentials

Experience in the Field

• Any special connection to this work such as prior experience or family background
• Something unique about your research interests or an idea that fuels your own research interests.

Your Proposed Contributions to the Program and Benefits of the Program to You

• Personal qualities that would benefit the program, demonstrated through examples
• What you can do for them; what you seek to gain from the opportunity
• How this specific work fits into your academic and research goals

Writing and Mechanics

Correct usage conveys your attention to detail

• Use strong word choices, particularly verbs and adjectives
• Use the more powerful "I am," rather than "I have always been"
• Make positive statements: "I have experience in…" not "I don't have experience in x, but do have…”
• Craft clear, engaging opening and closing sentences
• Check that the opening statement is supported in the body and consistent with the closing statement
• Organize the statement so it flows from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph
• Proofread for grammar, spelling, paragraph breaks, and correct punctuation

Ask Yourself

• Does this statement show my interest in this specific program , or could it be sent to any program?
• Does this statement describe me specifically, or could any good student in my field use this?

Additional Suggestions:

• Reread the personal statement multiple times out loud for clarity, logic, and flow
• Have someone else read the statement. Ask someone at the Center for Career Opportunities .
• Share your finished personal statement with the faculty member writing your recommendations
• Limit the statement to one and a half to two pages with at least one and a half spacing
• Include a header with your name on each page, which will be numbered as well
• Restating the question/topic
• Rewriting your transcript or resume
• Clichés such as "to make the world a better place"; instead, explain exactly how such a lofty goal will be achieved
• Providing unrelated information, e.g., explaining when you learned you were not interested in computers
• Using phrases like "this opportunity will be fun and interesting for me"; focus on what you can contribute
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OUR Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program provides undergraduate students with up to $1,500 towards their summer research projects.

Eligibility, Application Process, and Requirements

Eligibility & consideration, application process & deadline.

The application for the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship is due on Monday, May 27th at 5:00PM (pacific time).

Students are required to submit the following as part of their application package:

• One-page personal statement detailing the applicant’s research project and activities they plan to undertake during the summer period. For instructions, please peruse OUR’s one-page personal statement sample .
• Curriculum Vitae (CV). For instructions, please view the following samples:
• Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHS) CV sample
• Health and Natural Sciences and Engineering (HNSE) CV sample

3. Institutional Review Board (IRB) / Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) (if applicable)

UNLV faculty research mentors are required to submit a letter of support to [email protected] .

Submit your application

Program Requirements

Awardees are expected to meet the requirements listed below:

• Attend 4 OUR Research Skills Academy Webinars.
• Present at OUR’s Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium.
• Submit a final research summary document to [email protected] prior to October 1 of the SURF-awarded year.
• Awardees in the advanced stages of their research are strongly encouraged to submit a manuscript to Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal .

Past Awardees

• Alexandra Acosta
• Brandon Agcopra
• Parsa Azaei
• Ali Balooch
• Tristan Benally
• Safiyya Bintalli
• Alireza Bolourian
• Vanessa Booth
• Madeline Carroll
• Rosalie Chaleunsouck
• Chinglan Chang
• Xu (Ethan) Chi
• Allison Cook
• Joan Cue Montes de Oca
• Melika Cummings
• Emily Cummins
• Nastasija Damjanovic
• Getiye Dubale
• Tiffany Familara
• Stephen Faussett
• Daniel Fisher
• Anayeli Flores-Garibay
• Ericka Marielle Garces
• Moonis Ghani
• Bernardo Gutierrez
• Efren Heredia
• Acacia Herndon
• Natalie Hsiao
• Emily Huerta
• Katlyn Hurley
• Jose Yani Itorralba
• Bryan Jacome
• Drake Joseph
• Willaine Kahano
• Nathan Kassai
• Nicolas Kosanovic
• Cali Larrison
• Nallely Lozoya
• Alexandra (Alex) Lungu
• Petar Matejic
• Ryan Murray
• Nader Nabeh
• Kevin Navarrete
• Matheu Nazareno
• Devon O'Sullivan
• Cierra Paaaina-Daquioag
• Alexis Rice
• Santiago Ricoy
• Isabella Romero Yusti
• Christina Saliba
• Vergil Schreiber
• Erick Serrano
• Kristi Sexton-Rodriguez
• Rylee Smith
• Ashlie Swainston
• Austin Tang
• Faria Tavacoli
• Nicole Torosian
• Diego Valdivia
• Fritz Vanderford
• Jourdin Wilson
• Lydia Wolfe
• Heather Zepeda
• Kloey Zhang
• Kendra Beach
• Estefany Merino Rojas
• Lauren Patterson
• Andrea Rangelova
• Chanelle Salomon
• Geovany Uranda
• Mark Adriatico
• Carlos Ernesto Arias Cardona
• Mayra Arzate
• Kevin Ayala Pineda
• Ayla Babakitis
• Antonio Bernardino
• Mary Blankenship
• Emily Carter
• Aaron Cheng
• Bridgette Choi
• Kayla De Soto
• Zachary FitzHugh
• Jaimi Garlington
• Nabih Ghani
• Peter Grema
• Mey Mey Heng
• Raisa Kabir
• Cameron Kirk
• Nicholas Kolch
• Victoria Limon
• Luke Maietta
• Nathalie Martinez
• Brittny Mikhaiel
• Emmanuel Munoz
• Amanda Perez
• Abdullah Sattar
• Kristen Tagaytayan
• Zykeya Webb
• David Zagaceta

Frequently Asked Questions

I am graduating this (spring) semester. can i apply for surf.

SURF applicants must be undergraduate students during the summer period in which they will receive funding.

I am graduating during the summer semester. Can I apply for SURF?

Students graduating during the summer are eligible to apply for SURF.

I am currently not taking any courses, can I apply for SURF?

To apply for SURF, the applicant must be an enrolled UNLV undergraduate student.

I am a non-degree seeking UNLV undergraduate student. Can I apply for SURF?

To apply for SURF, the applicant must have a declared major at the time of application.

I am an “exploring” UNLV undergraduate student. Can I apply for SURF?

Can i apply for surf if i do not intend to be enrolled in courses during the summer.

Yes. SURF does not require applicants to be enrolled in summer courses. However, the applicant must be enrolled as a UNLV undergraduate student with a declared major.

Can I apply for SURF if I currently do not have a faculty research mentor?

Since the SURF application requires a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s faculty research mentor, students who wish to apply to SURF must be working (or intend to work) with a faculty research mentor.

Can I be considered for both types of SURF fellowships (general and college specific)?

All applicants will be considered for both the general SURF fellowship or college-specific SURF fellowships. However, applicants will only be awarded one fellowship per proposed project.

I am working on two separate research projects with the same FRM. Can I apply for two fellowships?

Students can submit two applications but the second application won’t be prioritized and will only be considered after all applications have been reviewed.

I am working on two separate research projects with two different FRMs. Can I apply for two fellowships?

I have already presented at our’s undergraduate symposium. if i apply for surf, do i have to present again.

If you are granted SURF funding, presenting at OUR’s undergraduate research symposium is a condition of accepting the funds. It is common for undergraduate researchers to present different research projects at OUR’s undergraduate research symposium. If you are currently working on the same research project that you have presented prior, it is also common for students to present on any progress made since.

How will I receive my funds?

Scholarships are disbursed by the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships through your student account.

When will I receive my funds?

Students will receive their funds, under the description “OUR SURF General Scholarship”, in their student account approximately 10-14 days from the date Financial Aid and Scholarships receives the funding request. View  Financial Aid Disbursement information .

What if I haven’t received my funds?

If after 14 days from notification you have not received your funds please contact us at  [email protected]  or 702-895-4771.

Who do I contact in Financial Aid & Scholarships?

Please visit  their website  or call 702-895-3424

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Application Process

Each year, approximately 180 undergraduate students from around the U.S. come to Mayo Clinic's campuses to work beside both young and established scientists on a broad range of biomedical research questions.

Fellowships are available at the Mayo Clinic campuses in Jacksonville, Florida; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Rochester, Minnesota. Applicants can select the campus they prefer.

Admission requirements

Prerequisites.

Applicants to the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) must at time of application opening:

• Be a current second- or third-year college undergraduate student at a U.S. college or university who will be a continuing student in the subsequent fall semester
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale)
• Be seriously considering a biomedical research career as a Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D. (as opposed to practicing as a physician).

*Please note, first-year college undergraduate students (defined as students who are in their first year of college after high school graduation) do not meet eligibility requirements. Also, students who have graduated with their first bachelor's degree do not meet eligibility requirements.

Non-U.S. citizen applicants

International students who are attending a U.S. college or university as full-time students are eligible to apply.

How to apply

Application timeline.

Your application and all supporting documentation must be received by Feb. 1, 2024. The 2024 program is scheduled to run from Tuesday, May 28, 2024 through Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.

You can only submit one application per application season.

Application instructions

Complete the following steps to apply:

• Create an account to begin the online  Application for Admission
• Select – Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
• Select – Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
• Complete each section of the application and submit
• After submission, view the required Supplemental Items and Documents
• Upload each required item in the Supplemental Items section 
• Complete the Recommendation Request section 

Additional required items

• Personal statement to include a one to two page description of your career goals, and the steps you have already taken to achieve those goals.
• Unofficial transcripts of courses from all colleges or universities attended must be uploaded in the Supplemental Items area for application purposes. Competitive applicants will upload their most recent transcript with fall semester grades.
• Two letters of recommendation (from research mentors and science instructors) are required. Within the Recommendation Request section, you will provide contact information for each letter writer. Each recommender will receive an email with a link to complete a rating form and upload a letter.

Application review

If you are selected as a SURF fellow, you will be matched with a mentor in the research area you have selected.

Offers of acceptance will go out by email on a rolling basis from mid-February through mid-March. After the acceptance process is complete, the remaining applicants will be notified by email.

Application window

Application window:  Nov. 1, 2023 - Feb. 1, 2024 Program dates: May 28 - Aug. 2, 2024

Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences 200 First St. SW Rochester, MN 55905

MIT Summer Research Program - MIT Office of Graduate Education

The MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) seeks to promote the value of graduate education; to improve the research enterprise through increased diversity; and to prepare and recruit the best and brightest for graduate education at MIT.

Students who participate in this program will be better prepared and motivated to pursue advanced degrees, thereby helping to sustain a rich talent pool in critical areas of research and innovation..

2022 MSRP Highlight Reel

Watch a video of the 2022 MSRP Cohort

Learn more about MSRP from those who have participated in last year’s cohort.

Program Features

• Weekly seminars on issues directly related to the academic, personal, and professional growth of interns
• Social outings (boat cruise, visits to Boston area)
• Preparation of an abstract, research paper, and graduate school statement of purpose
• Poster presentation at the end of the program

More Information

Learn about faculty, research groups, and potential research projects for summer 2023 here!

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5 documents to work on this summer for your academic job search

The academic hiring season is fast approaching. As you prepare for your academic job search, here are five crucial documents you can begin to draft. 

Make sure your CV is up to date and well organized according to the academic triad of research, teaching and service. It should emphasize research and the qualifications that make you an excellent candidate for faculty or postdoc positions in your field. 

2. Your job letter

Write a basic job letter draft, including the appropriate information about your research trajectory and your teaching experience. You will need to write an additional paragraph to tailor your letter for each job you apply for and frame your research and teaching history according to the needs of each specific department. However, if you write the basic elements now, you will have a draft that only needs edits, saving you time and energy later. 

3. Your research statement

Remember that your research statement is an explanation of your research past, present and future. Work on a detailed research plan for your next project and make sure that you can articulate it for the hiring committee. Your research statement shows that you have engaged in productive, quality research and that you have a well-developed, detailed plan for your next research endeavor, including plans for publication and obtaining funding. 

4. Your teaching statement

Your teaching statement should begin by making a claim about the good that can be brought about by education in your field. It can then explain, with real-life examples, the pedagogical methods you use to achieve that good. Your statement should also offer quantitative proof (FCQs) of the benefits you have contributed, and then finish with a strong conclusion about the value of education in your field. 

The teaching statement will need to be tailored to the specific population and pedagogical concerns of the department to which you are applying, but you can save time by writing the methods, examples and quantitative proof sections now. 

5. Your diversity statement

Your diversity statement will explain your values and goals around diversity and equitable access to education. It will share how you exemplify those values and achieve those goals in your research, teaching and service. The diversity statement is highly individual—for example, a diversity statement for an institution focused predominantly on teaching and serving a population comprising mainly first-in-family Spanish-speaking students might look very different from one intended for an R1 institution with a majority-white student body. It will be helpful to draft a basic diversity statement now that contains information about your diversity and equity efforts to date and establishes your personal values and goals. 

Preparing now for the academic hiring cycle will take some pressure off later. Drafting your documents in advance allows you to polish them well before they’re needed. Once the postings in your field go out, you can then devote your time and effort to researching your target institutions and tailoring your documents. Review our CV guide and academic statements guide to learn more. 

Career Services is here to help

For more tips, plan to attend the upcoming Academic Job Search Seminar Series for graduate students. Beginning June 3, this free seminar series will lay out the basics of an academic job search. 

You can also meet virtually with a graduate career development advisor . Learn more about getting started with Career Services .