It’s true.

Your personal statement is one of the essential components you must prepare to successfully work through the application process for a Ph.D. in mathematics.

Writing an outstanding personal statement can significantly improve your application, and I’d like to offer some tips on how to do so!

ACADEMIC RECORD & MATHEMATICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

I would suggest beginning your personal statement with a summary of your academic background and significant mathematical accomplishments.

This section will provide context for your application and assist the admissions committee in understanding your mathematical foundation.

Include notable achievements, such as awards from math competitions or unique courses you’ve taken.

If you have any outstanding grades to GRE scores, you can mention them to strengthen your application.

EXPERIENCE IN RESEARCH OR PUBLICATIONS

Spend some time in this section of your personal statement discussing your previous research experience and any publications you have.

This will demonstrate your ability to conduct independent research, which is essential for a Ph.D. program.

Make sure to include the methodology and findings of each project, as well as the journals in which your work has been published.

LONG-TERM CAREER OBJECTIVES & REQUIRED SKILLS

Next, consider your long-term career goals and how the Math Ph.D. program at this institution will help you achieve them.

You demonstrate your dedication to the field and determination to succeed by providing a clear vision of your future.

Don’t forget to mention any relevant skills, such as programming languages, problem-solving abilities, or mathematical techniques, that will help you excel in the program and your future career in this section.

YOUR INTEREST IN & FIT WITH THE INSTITUTION

Finally, show your enthusiasm for the university by explaining why you want to join their Math Ph.D. program.

Investigate faculty members whose work piques your interest and highlight specific research areas that align with your academic and professional objectives. Explain how the institution’s resources and expertise can help you on your Ph.D. journey and why you think you’d be a good fit for their program.

Overall, I encourage you to be genuine in your personal statement and include personal anecdotes demonstrating your enthusiasm for mathematics.

Remember that the admissions committee receives a large number of applications, so making your statement engaging and unique will help you stand out.

I hope my answer has been of value to you!

While composing an individual assertion for a number related PhD program, there are a few significant elements to consider. Here are a few critical perspectives and themes you ought to address:

Scholastic Foundation: Examine your scholarly excursion, including your undergrad and any pertinent postgraduate coursework. Feature your assets, for example, specific areas of arithmetic you succeed in, important exploration projects, and any remarkable accomplishments.

Research Insight: Underscore any examination experience you have had in arithmetic or related fields. Portray your exploration ventures, approaches, and results. Feature any distributions, introductions, or gatherings you have partaken in, as well as the abilities and procedures you gained.

Inspiration and Interest: Obviously articulate your energy for math and your purposes behind chasing after a numerical PhD. Make sense of what inspires you mentally and scholastically, and how your inclinations line up with the program you are applying to. Examine powerful encounters, guides, or books that have formed your numerical reasoning.

Explicit Area of Interest: Demonstrate the particular subfield(s) of math you wish to investigate in your PhD studies. Exhibit information on latest things, ongoing headways, and potential exploration inquiries around there. Examine the reason why you are keen on this specific field and how it lines up with your drawn out objectives.

Future Objectives: Blueprint your vocation yearnings and how a PhD in math squeezes into your more extensive expert plans. Talk about potential examination headings you might want to seek after and how they add to the field. Address how the program you are applying to can assist you with accomplishing your objectives.

Applicable Abilities and Foundation: Feature any extra abilities, like programming dialects, computational strategies, or specific programming, that are pertinent to your proposed research region. Talk about any interdisciplinary experience or joint efforts that have enhanced your numerical viewpoint.

Initiative and Educating Experience: If pertinent, notice any positions of authority or showing encounters you have had, especially those connected with arithmetic. Examine what these encounters have meant for your relational abilities, capacity to tutor others, and your general development as a mathematician.

Fit with the Program: Show your knowledge of the number related PhD program you are applying to. Make sense of why you accept the program is ideal for your examination advantages and how you can add to the scholastic local area. Reference explicit employees whose examination lines up with your inclinations.

Difficulties and Development: Address any difficulties or obstructions you have looked in your scholar or individual life. Examine how you conquered them, what you gained from those encounters, and how they have added to your own and scholarly development.

Individual Characteristics: Feature individual characteristics that make you appropriate for a number related PhD, for example, interest, tirelessness, decisive reasoning, critical thinking abilities, and the capacity to work freely and cooperatively.

Make sure to edit your own assertion cautiously, look for criticism from guides or teachers, and designer your assertion to each program you are applying to. Best of luck with your application!

Your personal statement is a pretty important part of your application, so it's important to spend a lot of time and effort on it: don't bang one out in five minutes and say "that'll do". I went through five or six drafts of my personal statement, getting feedback from my teachers and my sister (who had been accepted to Oxford several years previous but turned their offer down), and I ended up getting 5/5 offers.

Here's my advice on how to write your statement:

1. You've chosen to study a subject at uni, and you want to do so at Oxbridge. That means that you love your subject. So you've got to tell them that. Why do you love your subject? What made you interested in it? Why do you want to study it more?

2. It's good to start your statement with an anecdote, but for the love of God, don't say that you've loved your subject "ever since I was little..." or "all my life...". Even if it's true, it's not what Oxbridge wants to see. I've heard stories about unis immediately throwing out applications that start like that (though whether those stories are true, I couldn't say). Make your anecdote interesting, unique; a friend of mine wrote a beautiful anecdote about finding his love of mechanics by accidentally breaking his dad's screwdriver. Oxbridge doesn't want to read a story they've read a thousand times, they want to see something they've never seen before.

3. Don't use the word passionate. Don't do it.

4. It's a good idea to talk about some of the books or essays you've read on your chosen subject, because they show engagement and true interest -- nobody who's only vaguely interested in a subject is going to trawl through a 300-page book about it. But, if you do talk about further reading, don't just name-drop. This may work for lesser unis, but Oxbridge want engagement. If you talk about books, you need to talk about the arguments or discussions they give, or why at the very least why you read them. In my statement, I talked about how I hadn't found my school education satisfying enough, and had gone on to read books about American and Chinese history (my subject is history) and made a point about how these countries have a similar history despite being so geographically distant, and this intrigued me and made me want to find out more.

5. Talk about things you have done that are relevant to your subject, outside of school. For example, I talked about projects I had been involved in about local history, and my volunteering work in museums. My sister, who is an engineer, talked about her visit to CERN and her work experience with an architect. If you haven't done anything yet, do. It shows involvement and excitement about your subject. Think about it this way: if you haven't put yourself out there in order to do your subject in the real world, they don't know if you'll actually want to dedicate your time to doing it at Oxbridge.

6. A personal statement that uses words like 'hence' and 'thus' isn't going to come across as smart, it's going to come across as pretentious, unless that's how you actually talk. Trust me, they can tell the difference between someone who's putting on airs and someone who genuinely speaks like that.

7. That being said, write intelligently. Don't use three words when you can use one. If your ideas aren't coming across clearly, then you need to rewrite. They want clarity, they want to see that you're interested and that you'll be capable of taking their course.

8. Lots of personal statement websites will say that your statement needs to be around 2/3 or 3/4 about the subject, and 1/3 or 1/4 of your personal interests and hobbies. Forget that: Oxbridge doesn't want that. They care purely about your passion for the subject. If you talk about your hobbies, you need to show how they relate to your chosen subject. Example: "Playing the piano has given me a new understanding of the beauty of maths, and how it can not only be used for problem solving, but also to create wonderful things." Or something like that.

9. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. Get other people's opinions. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.

10. Show your personality. Oxbridge doesn't just want to know if you're interested, they want to know if you're interesting. They're going to be spending the next 3-4 years with you. If they can't stand you, you're out. Show how you shine.

That's all of my tips. Some good examples of statements can be found here:

Category:Oxford Personal Statements - The Student Room

A personal statement alone will not be enough to lock an offer, no matter how well-written it is. On the other hand, one single sentence in your personal statement can ruin the whole application. This could be:

• Specify your research interest to one area that nobody in the department is doing;
• Say something which shows that you actually know very little about the field;
• Explain some weakness in you cv/transcript in a wrong way. For example, telling the reader that you quitted your last Ph.D. program because your former advisor is an idiot.
• Claim that you plan to go to industry after graduation. This may depend on your field and the person who reads the statement, but many pure mathematicians don’t like this idea.

Otherwise, I would argue that the personal statement is not that important, in the sense that I won’t read it unless I have seen an impressive GPA/research experience/reference letter at the first place.

They matter a great deal, but they are very different from the undergraduate personal statement. The undergraduate personal statement is basically “I’m a great and smart person that has a lot of interests and a great personality.”

With a science/mathematics Ph.D., the community doesn’t care about your personality or what you do outside of the topic of interest. What they want to see is that you have an idea for a program of research, and in coming up with an idea for a program of research that you understand the basic concepts of the field that you are in.

If as a non-technical person, you can’t see that he is describing his proposed research well, and he can’t explain why he is going to a particular school, then it’s a bad personal statement, and he needs to rewrite.

One of the first things that you should do is to look up the names of the professors at the school you are applying to, figure out what they are researching, and imagine what you would do if you were accepted into that university.

Unlike with undergraduate admissions, the personal statement portion of a graduate school application isn’t about impressing the committee. So, there’s really no need to find a cool or snazzy intro to your statement.

Rather, the statement should convey, as clearly as possible, what you want to accomplish in grad school and why. Part of this will involve discussing past experiences in context of how they shape your future goals. To start your statement, just give a very brief explanation of why you care about the field and what you want to accomplish, which you will elaborate on in the rest of your statement.

As an example, the first paragraph of my own statement of purpose read:

With an astronomical growth in the quantity of health data available, it is increasingly important for researchers to have tools to efficiently analyze and characterize large data sets in a biological context. My objective is to pursue a PhD in Biostatistics with a focus on developing statistical methods and software for studying large or complex health data.

I want to start with the question you: do you understand what is a personal statement and why is it necessary for admissions? I ask all my clients to answer it. Quite often, the solution lies on the surface.

After you define what it means for you, your next step is to get acquainted with the school’s requirements. There’s no point in starting writing when you don’t know what admission officers expect of you. Spend time checking institutions’ resources for applicants and writing down the main nuances.

The final step is checking samples. I recommend all applicants to practice this activity, no matter how it sounds to you. Samples help you not to plagiarize thoughts but to train ‘watchfulness.’

If you feel you’re ready to start working on it, make sure you have enough time to research, outline, and draft. Select what you’ll describe in your paper. Remember that it must fit the context and be relevant to the topic/prompts specified in the requirements. Follow the recommendations below to make your statement stand out:

• Be honest with admissions officers. Don’t try to seem better than you are: studying will let your professors understand who you are and your skills. Write a story as it was happening in real life. Forget about any possible condemnation. No one will judge you for sincerity.
• Create a strong introduction. You aim to catch your readers’ attention from the first sentence. Introduction and thesis statement within it serves this purpose. Therefore, it’s given the utmost attention in all guides. Think of any detail that could attract your readers and include it.
• Exclude passive voice. There’s nothing wrong with it in real life, but academic writing looks better without a passive voice. Using an active voice shows the engagement, drive, and motivation the admissions board seeks.
• Demonstrate your interest in this program. The personal statement is a perfect paper to let a person describe their interest in studying, explain why they are an ideal fit for this school, etc. Use each word and each sentence consciously. Everything in your paper should demonstrate the strengths of your personality.
• Don’t skip editing. I’m an experienced proofreader, so I know what I’m talking about. Students often prioritize writing over editing. It’s a huge mistake. Both these stages are critical, and no one can replace another.

And the last thing I would like to tell you is — never refuse to get help. If you feel that any writing stage is beyond your capabilities, ask for help. Submitting a strong personal statement is great, but your mental health is much more critical.

If you need clarification, don’t hesitate to ask me. I’m always ready to help you.

A PhD personal statement should include the following elements:

1. Introduction: Begin by introducing yourself, stating your name, educational background, and your interest in pursuing a PhD. Explain why you are applying to this specific program and institution.

2. Research experience: Highlight your previous research experience, both in academic and professional settings. Describe any projects you have worked on, your contributions, and the outcomes or results achieved. Discuss any publications or presentations related to your research.

3. Academic achievements: Mention any academic awards, scholarships, or honors you have received. Include your undergraduate and graduate degrees, along with your GPA or any relevant coursework.

4. Motivation and purpose: Explain why you are interested in pursuing a PhD in your chosen field. Discuss your passion for the subject, the specific research questions you want to explore, and the potential impact your research could have. Demonstrate that you have a clear understanding of the field and the current state of research.

5. Fit with the program: Describe how the PhD program aligns with your research interests and career goals. Discuss specific faculty members, research centers, or resources at the institution that attracted you. Show that you have done your research and are genuinely interested in contributing to the program.

6. Skills and qualifications: Highlight any relevant skills, such as laboratory techniques, data analysis, programming languages, or statistical methods. Discuss any teaching or mentoring experience you have, as well as your ability to work independently and collaboratively.

7. Future plans: Discuss your long-term career goals and how a PhD will help you achieve them. Explain how the program will contribute to your professional development and how you plan to contribute to the field after completing your doctorate.

8. Personal qualities: Mention any personal traits or experiences that make you a strong candidate, such as perseverance, problem-solving abilities, adaptability, or leadership skills. Discuss any challenges you have overcome or unique perspectives you bring to your research.

9. Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate your enthusiasm for the program. Thank the admissions committee for considering your application and express your eagerness to contribute to the field.

Remember to tailor your personal statement to the specific requirements and expectations of the PhD program you are applying to.

In order to strengthen a goal, we must first understand that what is a goal.

What is a goal? A desire to achieve something. Isn’t?

If you don't desire something, you'll not set that thing as a target to achieve.

It evidently signifies the connection between a goal and desire. You must have a burning desire in your heart to attain that stated thing.

That burning desire will strengthen your goal statement.

The deeper your desire, the more successful you become in achieving your objectives.

Now the question is how can you develop that burning desire in you.

Well, in my favorite book ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill, there is a story that I'd like to share with you.

A long while ago, a great warrior faced a situation which made it necessary for him to make a decision which insured his success on the battlefield. He was about to send his armies against a powerful foe, whose men outnumbered his own. He loaded his soldiers into boats, sailed to the enemy’s country, unloaded soldiers and equipment, then gave the order to burn the ships that had carried them. Addressing his men before the first battle, he said, “You see the boats going up in smoke. That means that we cannot leave these shores alive unless we win! We now have no choice—we win, or we perish! They won. Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to burn his ships and cut all sources of retreat. Only by so doing can one be sure of maintaining that state of mind known as a BURNING DESIRE TO WIN, essential to success. “

This burn your ships story has some vital lessons for all of us. As the saying goes ‘Necessity is the mother of invention‘ and it is such a powerful statement.

“If you can’t you must, and if you must you can.” Tony Robbins.

So, just give yourself to your goals. You will never lose.

Make a specific plan to strengthen it.

What do you want to achieve? What are those skills that you possess and what are those new skills that you must learn to successfully attain your aim? And the most important thing is to set a specific time limit. For example, you'll start reading a new book today (15-03-2018) at 4:10 pm and will finish its 20 pages at 4:45 pm and will finish the entire book at 4:45 pm on 25th of March, 2018.

And don't forget to write down your goals.

Remember: “Success dwells in mindset and transpires through actions. Thus the one, who controls his mind, controls his destiny.” Nikhil NG

To be absurd to make the point – think about an admissions committee reviewing two applications, both candidates having top grades, and high GRE scores:

The Jeff Spicoli applicant:

Hey dudes, I am really in to advanced mathematics, you know real deep thinking, and all that figuring it out stuff.

The applicant who conveys direction:

My application to this university was in part motivated by the Department’s strong emphasis in Computational Topology as evidenced by the numerous researchers having joint appointments to the Math Department and the Computer Science Department. My Master’s in Mathematics focused on the new research in 3- manifold theory and the reduction in computational time for integer linear programming.

So Dude what sounds most bodacious? I end by referring to Roxanna Mindru’s answer – a Phd is about cogently articulating your original research, if you cannot even powerfully articulate your reasons for wanting to be in a program it: “is a bit of a bad start.”

When writing a personal statement for a PhD program, it is important to include the following elements:

1. Introduction: Begin by introducing yourself and explaining your motivation for pursuing a PhD. Discuss your academic background, research interests, and previous experiences that have led you to this point.

2. Research interests: Clearly articulate your research interests and explain why you are passionate about this particular field of study. Discuss any relevant research projects you have worked on or any publications or conference presentations you have made.

3. Fit with the program: Explain why you believe the specific PhD program you are applying to is the right fit for you. Discuss the faculty members, research centers, or resources that align with your research interests and how you plan to contribute to the program.

4. Academic achievements: Highlight any academic achievements or awards you have received, such as scholarships, fellowships, or honors. Discuss any relevant coursework or independent research projects that have prepared you for the PhD program.

5. Professional experiences: Discuss any professional experiences, such as internships, work placements, or industry collaborations, that have provided you with valuable skills and knowledge related to your research interests.

6. Leadership and extracurricular activities: Mention any leadership roles or involvement in extracurricular activities that showcase your ability to work in teams, communicate effectively, and demonstrate leadership qualities.

7. Future goals: Explain your long-term goals and how obtaining a PhD will help you achieve them. Discuss any potential career paths you are considering and how the PhD program will prepare you for those opportunities.

8. Personal qualities: Highlight any personal qualities or characteristics that make you a strong candidate for the PhD program. These may include perseverance, creativity, critical thinking skills, or a passion for learning.

9. Conclusion: Summarize your main points and reiterate your enthusiasm and commitment to pursuing a PhD. Thank the admissions committee for considering your application.

Remember to tailor your personal statement to each specific PhD program you are applying to, and proofread carefully for grammar and spelling errors.

I’m assuming this is for an academic purpose (college especially). What you want to convey through your personal statement is your story. You want to talk about an experience that really represents/has shown who you are as a person. So take a seat and get an empty writing pad and just think about what you’ve gone through in your life. Think of anything that might be a significant event (ex: overcoming a certain challenge) at any point in your life. Once you have a sufficient list, start going through each one and thinking about whether or not it truly shows who you are: if someone only heard this story, would they understand you as a person? The better this story helps people understand you, the better it’ll be for your personal statement.

So tldr; just do a lot of brainstorming and deep insightful thinking about your life.

It is the answer to the basic request for you to "tell us something about yourself."

This is generally written for “nationally competitive scholarships, for graduate school, or for a number of post-graduate service or employment opportunities.”

You are being asked to provide some information about yourself that will make you stand out from other applicants. This can be how you overcame challenges in your life, what drives you, or something unique about you. The purpose is to introduce yourself to the committee who makes the decisions in 1000 words or less.

Tell a story that demonstrates your abilities and your personality.

A PhD personal statement should include the following elements:

1. Introduction: Start with a strong opening that grabs the readers attention and clearly states your research interests and goals.

2. Research experience: Discuss your previous research experience, including any projects, publications, or presentations you have been involved in. Highlight the skills and expertise you have developed through these experiences.

3. Academic background: Provide an overview of your academic background, including your undergraduate and/or masters degree(s), relevant coursework, and any honors or awards you have received.

4. Motivation and passion: Explain why you are interested in pursuing a PhD and why you are passionate about your chosen field of study. Discuss how your previous experiences have shaped your research interests and what you hope to achieve through your doctoral studies.

5. Fit with the program: Demonstrate your knowledge of the specific PhD program you are applying to and explain why it is a good fit for your research interests and career goals. Discuss any faculty members or research projects within the program that align with your interests and explain how you could contribute to the program.

6. Future goals: Outline your long-term career goals and how obtaining a PhD will help you achieve them. Discuss any specific research questions or problems you hope to address during your doctoral studies.

7. Skills and qualifications: Highlight your relevant skills, such as research methodology, data analysis, technical expertise, or any other skills that are important for your field of study. Provide specific examples of how you have used these skills in previous research or academic projects.

8. Personal qualities: Discuss any personal qualities or experiences that make you a strong candidate for a PhD program, such as perseverance, creativity, teamwork, or leadership skills. Provide examples of how you have demonstrated these qualities in previous situations.

9. Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate your enthusiasm for the PhD program. End with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Remember to tailor your personal statement to the specific PhD program you are applying to, and always proofread and edit your statement for clarity and coherence.

Mathematics, contrary to the received view, is just the technology of the natural numbers. No more logical or ‘fundamental’ than any other practical technology.

We memorize a set of sounds, composed like an endless poem, rather like an Iliad which we could extend indefinitely.

So we sing the poem with gestures that point to members of a set of things and see what number we get to. Ballet, a dance. Then likewise for another set and finally sing the song for the sets together. Think of Wittgenstein and the blocks. Or, set the sets one under the other to see which is longer and by how much … ‘counting upon’ the song. Etc. Turns out to be really useful and amazingly interesting, surprising, like chess! But it’s a practice, with a finite use and easy to misuse. Geometry turned out all wrong when bent space was added in -that made nothing ‘count’ right. But four dimensions worked! Etc..

It is very much like poetry and, like poetry, there’s nothing in particular about its logic. It’s most promising analogy would be (we love analogies for no good reason) to a menu, given food, how to make really interesting, edible (useful) food. That’s all. I think, for the moment.

Mathematical statements are statements that mathematicians recognize as mathematical.

I’m not entirely joking. Obviously there are things that what we call mathematical statements tend to have in common. For example: a high degree of abstraction; “content” that doesn’t presuppose anything about the physical world; concern with abstract structure… Many (not all) mathematical statements can be given formal proofs or disproofs. But in saying those things (and an actual mathematician could add lots to the list) I’m not trying to give a definition. Mathematics is an activity practiced by people, with some of those people having a more central place in the practice than others. Those people are the mathematicians. Over the centuries mathematics has changed, and there’s no need to think that as our conception of mathematics changes, it’s a matter of getting at the pre-existing essence of what mathematics “really” is. If there are controversial or borderline cases, the views of mathematicians are the ones that matter most in settling which way the cases are counted.

Writing a personal statement is one of the most important and time-consuming tasks. Personal statement's size must not exceed 4000 characters (including spaces) and 47 lines (including blank lines). To write a perfect paper, try to:

• Start with your strengths, talk positively about yourself and focus on your enthusiasm for the chosen course.
• Explain the reasons for choosing a particular course. Mention how your interest developed, and how you’ve drawn inspiration from your current studies.
• Tell what you’ve done outside the classroom. For instance, describe any further reading you’ve done on the subject and give your critical views about it. This could be from books, websites, quality newspapers, scientific journals or films, blogs, podcasts, attending public lectures, etc.
• Prove that you’re a critical thinker. Higher education is all about being able to think analytically. Due to this, showing that you can work like this is a big plus point.
• Make sure that your essay is flawless, without any grammatical and punctuation errors. You can ask a friend or family member to read your paper and check it for mistakes.
• Remember that plagiarism is not acceptable in any percentage. Each essay is verified on plagiarism checkers, so don’t even try to cheat.

I think it’s important to understand that Cambridge is not like other universities. They have made it very clear that they are interested in academic ability only. They don’t care about extra-curricular activities.

This is especially true in maths. Cambridge is one of the best universities in the world to study mathematics; arguably it’s the best. To maintain that status they are looking for outstanding mathematicians.

The first thing they will look at in detail on your UCAS form are your exam results. They will ask you to submit a breakdown of individual module scores. You could get Shakespeare to write your personal statement, but if your module scores aren’t all in the very high 90s, then forget it.

The interview will focus exclusively on how you operate as a mathematician. They will give you difficult problems to solve and they will be interested in how you approach them: they want to know how you think.

As a courtesy, I guess they might read your personal statement. You might score 0.1% extra if it evidences sincere passion for the subject.

But essentially Cambridge admission is about academic ability.

Hey there!

Your personal statement is essentially an essay about WHO YOU ARE as an individual rather than your achievements and scores, which form bulk of your application. You have only 4000 characters generally wherein you must be able to show the reader/admissions officer the kind of person you are. These are the five things are a big NO in personal statements:

1. Pointless lists about your interests and hobbies. Eg: “I like singing, dancing, cricket, …” Instead, focus on one or two things you are most passionate about and write in length about them. Mention how they’ve impacted your life and shaped you.
2. Scores and achievements. These are highly unnecessary as you’ve already mentioned them in other parts of your application.
3. Exaggerating things/lies. Admissions officers are experienced individuals. They’ve read through dozens of applications. Figuring out a lie or exaggeration is a piece of cake for them and your personal statement could easily end up in the trash can.
4. Grammatical, spelling mistakes and poor language. The best of schools look for the best essays. Use good language with well-structured sentences and make sure to proof-read your statement at least thrice before submission.
5. Humour. Personal statement isn’t a place to showcase your sense of humour. You might use witty lines once or twice but try avoiding them as much as possible.

This is a very risky strategy for two reasons. First, you don't know if Prof X has plans to take students. Also, it is possible that Prof X will leave in the following year. Second, anywhere you go there is politics, there is chance that the PhD coordinator or the chair might not particularly like Prof X. In the first case, you will definitely be handicapped a bit. Second case, well, it depends. Hence, it is good practice to write your SOP in a vary general manner. Writing the areas you would like to research because honestly you never know. Most people change areas after entering PhD by the way.

So I suggest that you write your SOP very broadly mentioning some potential research areas rather than professors unless you have some insider information.

Also, most of the times, SOP are read but are not given so much weight compared to the recommendation letter and your ability/ experiences. SOP is an area where you just want to write it well enough that the person looking at it doesn't see any red flags. So please do not spend so much time on your SOPs.

Finally, remember that PhD decisions are quite random if you are an average student. Best students always get the offers and the worst rarely get any offers but the between group, which is most of us is welll....really a lot of luck.

Professors have far more urgent and important decisions to make including who to give tenure, which faculty to hire and other university level administrative functions. PhD Admission is not the top priority so please do not spend so much time on your SOPs.

Just make sure that your SOP is clean, organized and FREE OF GRAMMATICAL ERRORS! If your SOP has grammar issues, then you will definitely be handicapped. Also, remember to write the school name properly. It happens more than you think. Good luck!

The content of your personal statement fellowship and the way you arrange it are the pivotal things that the candidates often find hard to proceed with. Add a tad of anxiety with the burden of responsibility, and this task becomes a real ordeal. Despite this, an apt approach and a decent level of awareness make it less challenging.

1. Why is your fellowship personal statement a significant part of the admission process?

Writing a fellowship personal statement that will reflect your personality to the max is compulsory. Your PS is your only opportunity to present yourself in a detailed and properly structured text.

Given this, it is also the only thing in your admission process that you can fully supervise. Thus, the committee will assess not only your goals, wishes, and motivations but also your writing skills, way of thinking, and ability to convey your message effectually.

2. How do you write your fellowship personal statement in a proper way?

To find out how to write a fellowship personal statement, you first need to identify the purpose of this document. To do that, proceed with the answers to these simple questions:

• ‘What do I want to tell the committee about myself?’;
• ‘What emotion do I aim to evoke?’;
• ‘What facts about me do I want to highlight?’.

Writing a good fellowship personal statement demands proper planning:

● A perfectly organized table of contents is the essential factor in success.

● Catchy intro and smooth transitions between paragraphs.

● Get supported by modern technology – utilize Grammarly, Reedsy, Thesaurus, Hemingway App, etc.

● Build a story around the prompts provided.

Plus, it would be useful to glance through a few outstanding samples.

3. What should you include in your fellowship PS?

Thousands of applicants get stunned, thinking about what to write in a fellowship application personal statement. Incorporating all the ideas in a text that is just 4,000 characters in length cannot be effortless. Use this list to get a head start:

● Reasonable arguments for picking this specialization.

● Any experience that deals with the chosen field.

● Available know-how you can successfully utilize.

● The advantage you can bring.

Note, these are just the fundamentals. Adding your personal opinion is what will make your PS a worthy one. Knowledge of what to include in a personal statement for fellowship is the main ingredient of success!

4. Where can you find the best fellowship personal statement examples and some expert help as well?

Looking for a professional fellowship personal statement writing service? Dental School Personal Statement and Peachy Essay can lend you a hand! Besides, they can also share their fellowship personal statement examples for your convenience.

A recipe for an immaculate PS consists of several things. First, you have to plan out your time and preparation. Second, you have to identify the message you wish to communicate. Third, you need to get assistance!

The personal statement is where you market yourself to the medical school’s admissions team and show them why they should choose you from the rest of the applicants.

1. Medical schools look for people with a genuine motivation in becoming a doctor and they also want you to demonstrate that you have the relevant skills and traits that will allow you to excel at medical school and your medical career. Examples of traits they look for include teamwork, communication skills, problem-solving skills, empathy and appreciation of ethical values. You should mention how your relevant work experience allowed you to develop and demonstrate those skills, rather than just writing a list of things that you have done without reflecting on the set of skills and experience that you have gained from them.
2. Being well-rounded. Top applicants for medical schools are usually those that participate in other interests and hobbies. This may include playing guitar for 5 years, being part of a sport team or participating in competitions e.g. marathons/cooking. Such hobbies can be attractive to the admissions team as they show traits such as discipline and determination. Admission teams read hundreds of similar personal statements which can be very similar, so mentioning your hobbies is what can make you unique as an individual. Put yourself in the position of an admission officer, you would be more engaged in reading about someone who participates in hobbies and interests! More importantly, hobbies can demonstrate your priority in your own well-being. Medical school can be overwhelming at times which requires you to adopt your own stress-relief methods, meaning that it is important to not sacrifice your own interests and wellbeing.
3. Clarity in language and structure, perfect grammar and a smooth flow of writing. Medical school admission teams read thousands of personal statements, so try to be straightforward and use a concise language that flows smoothly. Ensure that you have a clear structure in your personal statement, for example start with your motivation to becoming a doctor, mention your relevant experience and skills, your interests and hobbies and end it with a conclusion. A clear structure makes a significant difference to your application!

Me and a team of other current medical students provide a personal statement review service, if you would like to have your personal statement reviewed by us then visit us on www.medschoolers.com