How to Write a Personal Statement for Summer Research
Personal statements are often required to apply for research internships and graduate schools. Personal statements ask you to highlight your goals and interests.
It can be difficult to talk about yourself this way, but here are some tips:
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?
The Basics
- 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.
The above mentioned tips are great to include in your personal statement. Here are some tips on writing and mechanics to make your personal statement strong.
- 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.
Personal statements can be difficult, but at the career center we can help you so that your personal statement is professional and effective. Set up an appointment through UMBCworks, by stopping by our office on the second floor of Math/Psych, or by calling 410-455-2216.
