How to Write an Engaging Personal Statement for Your Master’s Application

What to Include in your Personal Statement?

What to include in personal statement will mostly rely on the course requirements, and you should customize it according to the course you're applying for. However, generally, you should write about the following:

1. Your arguments for applying to a certain school and why you should be chosen above other applicants. Write about the parts of the course you find most intriguing, such as modules or work experience chances, and describe your academic interests, professional objectives, and the university's and department's reputation. By showcasing your enthusiasm, expertise, and experience, you may prove that you are up to the challenges of postgraduate life.
2. Describe your preparedness for a postgraduate course by highlighting your independent work (such as your dissertation) and the subjects that most interest you from your undergraduate studies.
3. Evidence of your skill set: Emphasize your skills and abilities in the fundamental areas of IT, mathematics, management, communication, multitasking, and critical thinking to influence the department. Include any grades, honours, employment, books, or conferences you've been to, along with how they helped you prepare for your master's studies.
4. Your objectives – describe your career goals and how the training will assist you in achieving them. Explain how taking your selected course fits in with your long-term goals and professional path.

Address any obvious flaws, such as gaps in your educational background or less-than-expected undergraduate degree module achievement. The institution will require this information, so be sure to present it favourably. Describe the issues and how your intended postgraduate study would be different.

Tips to Follow while Writing a Personal Statement

1.      Know the Requirements

Every school has different requirements for their personal statements, so it's important that you know what yours are before you start writing.

• What is the word limit?
• Are there any specific prompts you need to address?

Ensure you have all the necessary information to hit all the crucial points.

2.      Start Early

Don't wait until the last minute to start writing your personal statement—you'll be much more likely to produce a well-written, compelling piece if you give yourself enough time. Aim to start at least a month or two before the deadline so that you have plenty of time to brainstorm your ideas, write, revise, and edit.

3.      Start by Brainstorming your Goals and Experiences

Before you start writing, it’s important to take some time to reflect on your experiences and accomplishments.

• What experiences helped you grow as a person or professional?
• What are your long-term goals?

Answering these questions will help you begin to formulate your personal statement.

4.      Keep it Concise and Focus on One or Two Main Points

Your personal statement should be no more than two pages double-spaced, so it's important to focus on one or two main points. After completing the draft of your personal statement, read through it, and cut out any information that is not essential to your story.

Remember, the admissions committee will be reading through hundreds of applications, so you want to ensure your personal statement is easy to read and gets straight to the point.

5.      Make it Unique to you

Your personal statement should be about YOU! This is not the time to regurgitate information from your resume or CV; instead, use this opportunity to share something about yourself that is not already apparent from the rest of your application materials.

• Are there any unique experiences or interests you can share to help the admissions committee get to know you better?

Remember, the goal of your personal statement is to stand out from the rest of the applicants, so make sure what you write is specific to YOU and conveys who you are as an individual.

6.      Write Several Drafts

Once you have a general idea of what you want to include in your statement, it's time to start writing—and don't be afraid to write several drafts! The first draft is usually just for getting your thoughts down on paper (or screen). From there, you can start refining and revising until you have a strong, well-written final draft that hits all the key points.

7.      Edit, Edit, Edit!

After drafting of your personal statement, put it away for a day or two and then come back to it with fresh eyes.

• Are there any areas where you can clarify or expand upon what you’ve written?
• Is there anything that can be cut out?

Ask someone else read through your personal statement and give you their feedback – another set of eyes can help catch errors or make suggestions for improvements. Once you're satisfied with your final draft, proofread it one last time (or have someone else do it) before hitting "submit."

What to Avoid while Crafting A Personal Statement

Avoiding these will result in a more engaging and effective personal statement.

1. Restating your undergrad UCAS application for a master's plan
2. Observing online examples very closely
3. Being negative
4. Exaggerating situations or skills
5. Utilizing gimmicks, clichés, and humour.
6. Overusing phrases like "passion" or "Americanism."
7. Using motivational statements
8. Employ excessively long words
9. Including unrelated academic modules, personal information, or extracurricular activities
10. Making
11. Unduly flattering the organization.
12. Repeating material that is already present in other parts of your application.

Conclusion

Writing a personal statement for a master's can seem daunting, but following these tips can produce a strong, compelling piece that will increase your chances of getting accepted into the program of your choice!