1. personal statements
It’s Time to Boast!

2. I AM BEOWULF!

3. DEFINITION AN ESSAY THAT ACCOMPANIES YOUR APPLICATION TO COLLEGE
OPPORTUNITY TO SELL YOURSELF
TYPES
GENERAL
ALLOWS MAXIMUM FREEDOM IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU WRITE
RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
MOST SCHOOLS AS YOU TO RESPOND TO A SPECIFIC PROMPT

4. RULES
NARROW FOCUS TO ONE OR TWO KEY THEMES, IDEAS, EXPERIENCES (MOST HAVE WORD LIMITS)
PROVIDE READER WITH INSIGHT TO WHAT DRIVES YOU
BE YOURSELF
ADDRESS SCHOOL’S UNIQUE FEATURES THAT INTEREST YOU
FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE

5. RULES EVALUATE RATHER THAN DESCRIBE
PROOFREAD CAREFULLY FOR GRAMMAR, SYNTAX, PUNCTUATION, WORD USAGE, STYLE, SPELLING
USE READABLE FONTS AND CONVENTIONAL SPACING/MARGINS

6. DON’TS SUBMIT AN EXPOSITORY RESUME
COMPLAIN OR WHINE ABOUT CIRCUMSTANCES IN YOUR LIFE
PREACH TO THE READER
TALK ABOUT MONEY AS A MOTIVATOR
USE BORING, CLICHED INTROS OR CONCLUSIONS
“ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF”
“IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT YOU WILL GRANT ME TO OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND YOUR FINE SCHOOL”

7. DON’TS USE UNCONVENTIONAL AND GIMMICKY FORMATS/PACKAGES
SUBMIT SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS UNLESS REQUESTED
GET THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL WRONG
INCORPORATE TECHNICAL LANGUAGE OR UNCOMMON WORDS

8. ASSIGNMENT
Go to a website for a college that you may want to apply to (this must be a 4 year school)
Look under admissions requirements to find your personal statement assignment.
Print out requirements and write the personal statement
Your statement is due at the end of class Tuesday, 9/3

9. Universities in Illinois
ISU--
Western--
Eastern—
Northern—
U of I Champaign—
Southern Carbondale—
SIUE—
Millikin—
Eureka—
Bradley—