Personal Statement ideas.

College personal Statement ideas?

• I want a really uniqueeeeee way to write it... IDEAS?

• Answer:

  I remember when I was looking at colleges, a very prestigious (and snotty) New England school told us at their information session not to write our personal statement in crayon. They'd seen it before and they were not amused. Apparently it was not unique. I rolled my eyes and didn't bother applying. My point is that it's nearly impossible to be "really" unique without pissing someone in admissions off now a days. They've pretty much seen everything. The key, as I see it, is to be interesting, engaging, and genuine. Pull something from your life that is memorable (and flattering) and draw it together in a format that paints a great picture for the reader. It will give you personality and make you jump off the page for them, which will help encourage an admissions officer to give you a coveted spot at that school. I still remember the essay I used for my #1 choice (where I ended up going) -- the first sentence was "'I'm a daddy! I'm a daddy!' The exuberant father jumped up and down in the maternity ward, completely oblivious to the teenager in the crisp pink and white striped uniform at the nurses' station. But for me, watching this stranger rejoice at the new life he helped create was a moment from my years candystriping at the hospital that I would never forget." I went on in the essay to discuss how unexpected things can touch peoples' minds in ways the acting individual may not even realize, using both moments that meant a lot to me, and moments I may have reached out to others as examples. When you find a topic that really interests you and means something personally, expanding that and drawing on it should come naturally. That should make your statement unique in a positive way. I'd leave the crayolas at home. :) Good luck and happy writing!