Brainstorming the Personal Statement Barbara Gorka, Director Scholar Development and Fellowships Advising Tuttleman 201

A personal statement is…* A picture An invitation An indication of your priorities and interests A story, your story An intellectual autobiography * Adapted from Definition of a Personal Statement, Mary TolarDefinition of a Personal Statement

What is a personal statement? Fulbright example: –This 1-page narrative is designed to give the reviewers a picture of you as an individual. It is an opportunity to tell the committee more about the trajectory that you have followed and what plans you have for the future. Whereas the Statement of Grant Purpose focuses on what you will be doing in the host country, the Personal Statement concentrates on how your background has influenced your development and how that relates to the Fulbright opportunity. –The statement can deal with your personal history, family background, intellectual development, and the educational, professional, or cultural opportunities to which you have or have not been exposed; explain their impact. This should not be a reiteration of facts already listed in the Biographical Data sections or an elaboration of the Statement of Grant Purpose.

What is a personal statement? Rhodes example: –The Rhodes Scholarship application asks you to provide a short Personal Statement describing your academic and other interests. This statement should describe the specific area of proposed study and your reasons for wishing to study at Oxford

What is a personal statement? Or, “Tell us something about yourself!” In a nutshell: “Compose an essay that reveals who you are, what you care about, and what you intend to do in this life. Tell this story in a compelling manner, and do so in less than 1000 words.”* * From Definition of a Personal Statement, Mary TolarDefinition of a Personal Statement

Telling Your Story Show, don’t tell Set you and your examples apart from other likely candidates Know the funding organization’s mission. What do they care about? Know your audience

Telling Your Story Exercise 1 Think of the characteristics or actions that make you distinctive. How would your friends describe what's important about you to someone who doesn't know you? Think about an incident from your life that illustrates one of these characteristics.

Telling Your Story Exercise 2 Think of one of the most significant learning experiences in your life -- an Aha! moment -- when you finally understood something for the first time. Write about this experience and relate it to your development and your aspirations.

Telling Your Story Exercise 3 Where do you want to be in years? What do you envision accomplishing in the world? Where and how? What have you done so far that prepares or informs you for the short term and the long term? What are you studying or practicing in jobs, internships, research, extra-curriculars?

Other Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Begin to Write What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story? What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants? When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained? If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth? What are your career goals? Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life? What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics? (Remember: show, don’t tell!) What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these skills? (Remember: show, don’t tell!)

A Few Additional Recommendations Be prepared to write multiple drafts Seek feedback from others Discipline-specific jargon or not? Find an angle, a hook, a theme that connects the multiple pieces of your life Do your research Avoid cliché (like being passionate about X, or wanting to help others)

Internal Fulbright Application Timeline March 31, 2016: Fulbright competition opens for As soon as possible, create an account on the Fulbright Embark platform.Fulbright Embark platform June 30, 2016: Submit official or unofficial transcripts to the Fulbright Embark platform. You must upload one academic transcript from each post-secondary institution from which you received a degree. Additional transcripts should be uploaded for coursework and grades not reflected on degree-granting transcripts. If submitting unofficial transcripts, they must be easy to read and include your name and the name of the institution.Fulbright Embark platform August 22, 2016: Preliminary deadline. Submit the following application materials by the preliminary deadline and receive feedback on your application’s strengths and weaknesses. You will then have the opportunity to revise your application before the official campus deadline. – Abstract of the Statement of Grant Purpose – Brief explanation of your future plans upon returning to the U.S. – Statement of Grant Purpose – Personal Statement September 9, 2016: Official campus deadline for Temple applicants. The application, including all supporting documents, must be in the Fulbright Embark on-line application system. Be sure to give your references this deadline, not the national deadline. September/October 2016: Campus Interviews. The campus committee will evaluate your application based on a review of your materials and a brief 20 minute interview. The committee completes a campus evaluation, which is submitted with your application.

Next Steps for Fulbright Applicants Don’t wait until you hear the outcome of your Fulbright application to consider alternatives! You can find several options here.here Check the Fellowships Advising website for additional information sessions.Fellowships Advising website Start brainstorming your personal statement. Consider who you will ask for a letter of reference. Schedule an advising session in advance of the mid-August to early-September rush.Schedule an advising session

General questions – (Director: Barbara Gorka) –Walk-In Hours in Spring 2016: Every Friday from 1:00-4:00 One-on-one Advising (for specific scholarships and personal statement review) –Can be scheduled onlineonline Fellowships Blackboard siteFellowships Blackboard LinkedIn Fellowships Advising Group Questions? Follow-up?

Scholar Development and Fellowships Advising