The Personal Statement Applying to Hogwarts Whoops, I meant high school.

Step 1: Brainstorm What do you want in a high school? Consider Academics Athletics Extracurricular Activities Etc.

Step 2: Brainstorm Think about YOU! What about you is special? What about you is unique? What about you is distinctive? What about your experience is special, unique, or distinctive? What will YOU bring to a high school?

Personal Statement What do you hope to gain from a _________ education? To answer this prompt: List things for which you look in a school. Choose 3 from the list. Use these three things for the opening sentence (thesis statement) “…I hope to gain x, y, and z from a __________ education.” Blanchet, Holy Names, Seattle Prep, O’Dea, etc.

Personal Statement Then write two-three sentences to support each point…include your contributions! What do you have to offer? Conclude by creatively restating thesis statement. Think green, yellow, red, but in this case you’ve got three yellows instead of two.

Personal Statement The idea is that you will have a well-written statement that can then be adjusted slightly for each school to which you apply. Be honest. Mechanics and good writing COUNT!! N.B.: Use formal language. No contractions!

Back to Step 1: Brainstorm What do you want in a high school? Social Studies/History Basketball Student government Foreign Languages College prep Service opportunities New friends An excellent potions teacher

Brainstorming Again What is special, unique, distinctive, about you or your experience? What will YOU bring to a high school? Humor Leadership Habits of Mind Aptitude for languages

Example I hope to gain a solid academic foundation, an opportunity to participate in athletics, and access to advanced placement classes from a _________ education. To begin with, geography greatly interests me. ___________has an excellent social studies curriculum. Additionally, I love to play basketball. Being team captain for the last two years has helped me develop my leadership skills. I hope to bring these skills to your team. Finally, __________ offers a rigorous curriculum and excellent Advanced Placement classes. I will be well prepared for college. __________ will help me achieve my goals of academic and personal success.

Your Turn Use your notes to choose three things you are looking for in a high school and write your thesis statement. Use more general words in your thesis statement (i.e. sports or athletics instead of basketball, academic challenge instead of advanced placement courses, etc.)

Add the Body After the thesis, state your reasons as separate sentences, followed by a connection between what you want in a high school to what you can bring to the high school. Remember the example.

Example I hope to gain a solid academic foundation, an opportunity to participate in athletics, and access to advanced placement classes from a _________ education. To begin with, geography greatly interests me. ___________has an excellent social studies curriculum. Additionally, I love to play basketball. Being team captain for the last two years has helped me develop my leadership skills. I hope to bring these skills to your team. Finally, __________ offers a rigorous curriculum and excellent Advanced Placement classes. I will be well prepared for college. __________ will help me achieve my goals of academic and personal success.

Conclusion Add a sentence as a conclusion that restates your thesis in a creative way.

Example I hope to gain a solid academic foundation, an opportunity to participate in athletics, and access to advanced placement classes from a _________ education. To begin with, geography greatly interests me. ___________has an excellent social studies curriculum. Additionally, I love to play basketball. Being team captain for the last two years has helped me develop my leadership skills. I hope to bring these skills to your team. Finally, __________ offers a rigorous curriculum and excellent Advanced Placement classes. I will be well prepared for college. __________ will help me achieve my goals of academic and personal success.

Revise and Edit Revise—is your statement easy to read aloud? Have you paid attention to word choice? Transitions? Edit—Does your statement contain any errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling? You will want to tweak this basic format for each school to which you are applying.