Personal Statement The How to Guide on Conquering the Personal Statement.
Understanding the Power of the Personal Statement: Slides · The Virtual Advisor Personal...
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The Virtual Advisor
Understanding the Power of the Personal Statement
Greg J. Neimeyer, Ph.D.Director, Office of Continuing EducationThe American Psychological Association
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The Virtual Advisor
More Webinars about Graduate Study in Psychology
Finding Fit: Understanding the Power of Letters of Recommendation
q November 13th, 1 PM Eastern
q November 14th, 10 AM Eastern
Finding Fit: Interviewing for Graduate School
q Date - TBD
PSYCAS: Everything You Need to Know
q November 14th, 3 PM Eastern
q December 11th, 12 PM Eastern
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The Virtual Advisor
Personal Statement● Purpose: to present yourself effectively
and to make the connection between your interests and the program to which you are applying
-don’t depend on the reader to make this connection- do not stop with “I’m an excellent and interested person,” take the extra step: “why I would be a good fit for your program”
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The Virtual Advisor
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The Virtual Advisor
Personal Statement● Ordinarily only 1 to 2 pages and
no two are alike● start with broad statement,
usually with H.S. or college● Then focus on specific experiences,
events, and opportunities that have sharpened your focus and interests
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The Virtual Advisor
Personal Statements● Use “upbeat words” and expressions
-e.g., “excellent”, “terrific opportunity”, “very pleased to have been chosen”, “gratified to have been selected for…”, “surprised at how excited and interested I was in…”
Terrific
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The Virtual Advisor
Personal Statement● Identify current research interests (get tagged by
these) and faculty you might like to work with-natural if you have already emailed faculty-do not list everyone-check to make sure they are “core” faculty (every program has extensive affiliate faculty who would not ordinarily pick up students)
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The Virtual Advisor
Personal Statements: Style● Enthusiasm● Humility● Focus and dedication
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The Virtual Advisor
Personal Statement: Style● Do not stretch, modify, or enhance anything, including
your level of interest in research if that is not true-recipe for disappointment
● Do not try to sound “smart” or prove yourself- just be yourself
● Attribute flattering things about yourself to sources other than yourself, e.g., “A number of my faculty have noted the level of dedication and initiative that I have taken in my work, and I have been gratified to have been chosen to serve as the head of the research team.”
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The Virtual Advisor
Personal Statement● Read the statement out loud. Time it.● Give it to friends to read (does it sound like
you?). ● Give it to a faculty member to read and provide
feedback on. ● Ask him/her what overall impression it leaves?
“On a scale of 1 to 10, how would he/she view this statement?”- How could you improve it?
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The Virtual Advisor
Questions and Answers
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The Virtual Advisor
More Webinars about Graduate Study in Psychology
Finding Fit: Understanding the Power of Letters of Recommendation
q November 13th, 1 PM Eastern
q November 14th, 10 AM Eastern
Finding Fit: Interviewing for Graduate School
q Date - TBD
PSYCAS: Everything You Need to Know
q November 14th, 3 PM Eastern
q December 11th, 12 PM Eastern
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The Virtual Advisor
More Resources from APAFrequently Asked Questions About Graduate School
https://www.apa.org/education/grad/faqs.aspx
APA’s Graduate Study in Psychologyhttp://gradstudy.apa.org/
PSYCAS: The Psychology Centralized Application Servicehttps://psycas.liaisoncas.com
Graduate Education And Training Calendarhttps://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/events