Personal Statements: Personal to You, Personal to the School

So I took a crack at writing my first personal statement. Vermont College of Fine Arts sent me a rather large pamphlet about their program and some of application guidelines. One of the first things recommended: “a two to three page essay that addresses your background in writing, goals and writing strengths and weaknesses (as outlines on the application form).”

VCFA also requires that I send in a “three to four page critical essay that demonstrates my ability as a reader and critical thinker; this sample may be something formal that was previously written for another class or you may write a short essay on a literary work you read recently.”

                 

My point here: READ THE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS! Most schools require some letter to be written that is around two pages long. This is the requirement for VCFA. The personal statement that I drafted up last night, does not fulfill all their requirements, so I will have to do a separate draft for them. However, my point was to simply illustrate how you need to know what they want in the personal statement. Some schools do not specify. Caela Provost sent me her personal statement and it was a huge help in writing mine. I was able to see how she highlighted her strengths and how she explained why she wanted to continue her career in English.

               

Fairfield, the program I am MOST interest in, explained what they want in their personal statement: “Students should describe why they want to be a writer and emphasize their commitment to their craft. While students in the program can work in more than one genre, they should specify which of the three genres they are applying for in their personal statement.” This is alongside the 2 letters of recommendation and the 20-30 page portfolio of writing samples.

                 

Syracuse wants: “Describe in about 500 words your main academic interests, why you wish to study for the degree you've chosen, why you wish to study at Syracuse University, how you expect to finance your studies, and your plans for the future after you receive your degree. ” Again, for this one, I would need to tweak my basic personal statement.  Syracuse also asks for a teaching statement about why you want to teach at the program and afterward. That would be a separate draft.

               

I recommend writing up a basic personal statement and then re-writing for the programs so that you manage to say everything you want in the most concise way. Writing a first draft helps you organize your thoughts about what you want to say as well.

                 

Western Connecticut asks for: “In a five-page essay, address why this particular MFA program is better suited to your goals and needs than other MFA programs. In answering this question, touch on your interest in writing and your aspirations for a future in the writing profession.”

               

                 

They’re all similar, but some want different details added in. Pat Taylor gave me a sheet with tips on writing Personal Statements. One tip was to remember your audience. It said to stick to what you’re an expert in – your life and experiences. It also says to establish your voice (confident but not arrogant), answer the question, and turn weaknesses into strengths.

                 

She then has written five topics to help writing a personal statement. One topic was to answer the question, “how did you become interested in this field?” This part can open up the essay by drawing on past experiences, such as an enjoyable English class that sparked a continuing interest.

                 

One topic was to answer “what kind of activities or experiences have you had that have contributed toward your preparation for an understanding of this field?” This might be a section where you put in internships. She writes that you can group activities or write them chronologically. But she says to NOT write it out resume style. Talk about what you did, as well as what you learned.

                 

Next, “the type of graduate study you’re interested in and the objective.” If you want to teach, SAY SO! If you want to be a publisher, SAY SO! The objective needs to be clearly defined.  She also writes how you need to talk about “Research interests.” Knowing the program you’re applying to helps in this case. What you want to research should be something already in action in that program.

                

 Finally, write about why you are so attracted to the program you are applying to. Caela wrote in how she had already studied abroad at Limerick. This is a great example of carrying this out.

               

                 

The tip sheet ends with the comment that the reader can see “for the applicant, attending graduate school is the next logical step in the sequence toward a specific goal.”

Sample statement under the link
(note: this is the very first draft, obviously in need of work)

Caela Provost and her Application Tips to Live By

I had the pleasure of taking classes with Caela Provost. Currently studying at the University of Limerick in Ireland for graduate school, Caela graduated from Marist in 2010 with her BA in English. Caela was in my poetry class and also told how she had a wish to write some form of fiction when she graduated. She always had helpful comments for her workshopping peers, which made her an excellent person to turn to for advice.

Caela actually sent me a formatted, long letter of advice to future graduate students. I’ll abbreviate much of what she wrote, but all her advice was actually emphasized in my meeting with Pat Taylor and by many friends who had gone through the application process.

                

 Caela said her “main piece of advice is to STAY ORGANIZED” (I believe I highlighted this in a previous post). Interestingly enough, Caela took a year off to do volunteer work with AmeriCorps (Dr. Graham recommended taking time off to travel or just do what you want and take a short break. Then when you're come back to school, you're really ready). Upon hearing this, I relaxed a bit at the thought of considering waiting some time to apply. However, she definitely notes how you need to stay organized and on track even in this year off.

                 

My favorite piece of advice from her, which I will have to relay to my brother who leaves all things to the last minute, is to set dates earlier than applications are actually due. I really like the idea of being able to procrastinate, but you’re still early. It’s the best of both worlds really. Thanks, Caela! Caela wrote about how she was balancing grad applications, work and down time. So really, grad school should be something that works into life. Not something that you need to reinvent your life around.

                 

Caela supplied me with a “Top Application Rules to Live By”. Some of the things she mentioned, have already been brought up, which made me feel as though I was doing something right in my ongoing search. However, she had some great advice as well. I’ve shortened some of these and added in what I’ve picked up from meetings around campus and other people.

1.)    Stay organized and make lists (just as she mentioned first thing)- Calendars are vitally important! I like to make lists, as does Caela. And while many people hate lists or find them tedious, I like being able to cross things off and they help me stay on task. AND BE AWARE OF DUE DATES!

2.)    Study for and Take the GRE – Caela sent me a list of important vocab, which was extremely helpful. The GRE can be daunting. My housemate just took it and wanted to rip her hair out by the time she got home. I don’t blame her. The calculus and other math sections would be enough to send me home.  However, Pat Taylor recommended getting a practice book and disc. Caela recommends the same. Practice, Practice, Practice. They are pricey, but “being prepared for the GRE is far better than going into the test center having looked nothing up about the test,” Caela said.

3.)    Letter of Recommendation – Before speaking to Caela, I was really fretting over who to ask. She notes that you need to think about who to ask BEFORE you even fill out the applications. Caela’s advice: “ask a person who knows you as being the ‘total package.’” Usually, schools just ask for two or three letters and don’t add any specifications. Students are required to research the program and see how they would fit and choose their recommendation writers off what they will be studying. Also, students should look to teachers who taught their classes that pushed them toward considering grad work. Caela warns against asking a teacher just because you got good grades. Ask because they saw you as that dedicated student with your hand up and constantly involved in discussion. Again, do not leave this to the last minute.

4.)    Writing samples and the personal statement – The dreaded personal statement. Caela confirmed what I already knew. “No matter what program you’re applying to, you need a STELLAR personal statement,” Caela said. What is a personal statement? Well, Caela finally gave me a great way of looking at this. She explained that the personal statement should tell the reader what you’ve done and what you hope to accomplish someday. Readers want to see that you will be utilizing the program to succeed in the future. She noted that naming a laundry list of all the honors and awards you received will not get you into that graduate program. As for the writing samples, take the time to pick out the right ones. Caela’s was picked out a month and a half beforehand. I also want to add that whichever one you DO pick out, go through it and revise. Show it to a professor and get some feedback. Show it to a friend or classmate. GET feedback. Some revision work on a piece you may not have looked at in a while will always help.

5.)    Picking a program: Look at NOW and the future – Caela states, “you need to pick a school that’s a) what you want to study and b) what will help you later when you’re looking for jobs.” She also notes that you shouldn’t “let people sway you.” Caela had a desire to study in Ireland. After applying to six schools, three of the four she was accepted into were in Ireland. She chose Limerick because she felt it would make her the “most marketable.” The program also included all the aspects she hoped to study – editing, writing, publishing, comparative literature, and theory. She looked for exactly what she wanted. It helps to have a clear idea of where you want to go with your graduate studies.

6.)    Do you need financial aid? – If you are me, then yes. Caela needed financial aid and knew this from the start. And it’s just like being back in high school! Remember the FAFSA form? Well, fill it out again for all you financial aid needing individuals. And a vital piece of advice from Caela – go to the .gov site because the .com is not secure. Once it’s filled out, you receive a PDF form and this NEEDS to be sent to the graduate studies office for the programs you’re looking into. No FAFSA, no aid.

7.)    Accommodations and Endurance – Check out living quarters ahead of time. Caela has the privilege of having her own room, bathroom  and shower. Her friends are not so lucky. They waited until a month after receiving their acceptance and have to share everything. So check out the area early. In my case, I’m looking into Low-Res. But if I decide to move, it’s good advice to heed. In terms of Endurance of the program, Caela’s MA will take exactly one year. That sounds great to me in terms of saving money. However, her summer will be spent writing her dissertation. A lot of work all at once. That doesn’t work for all people. SO BE AWARE OF YOUR STUDY HABITS and pick a program that meets when you’re comfortable working. It may be a traditional college setting.

8.)    Caela’s Final words – STAY CALM! “Stressing out doesn’t help you,” she said. She recommends down time with friends and working out 3-4 times a week. That’s an easy one for me! X-Country and Track keeps me well-exercised. I also have a great group of friends. Sorry you guys for all my outward thoughts about the future!

Caela was a GREAT person to talk to. Unfortunately, I could only speak to her through Facebook and e-mail, but everything she sent me was wicked helpful. She’s currently searching out jobs early to get a head start. She’s a great example to all potential grad students. She’s a really sweet person and if anyone wants more advice, she left her e-mail for people to get in touch. Despite being super busy, she still took the time to help me compose this blog post of helpful tips and include her own experiences with the process.

Caela’s e-mail:

Caela.Provost1@marist.edu

Side note: Thank you to Caela, again! I wanted to post everything she sent me, but the post would have been miles long. I will be posting her sample GRE vocab list in the next post.