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personal statements. It’s Time to Boast!. I AM BEOWULF!. 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
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personal statements It’s Time to Boast!
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
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
RULES • EVALUATE RATHER THAN DESCRIBE • PROOFREAD CAREFULLY FOR GRAMMAR, SYNTAX, PUNCTUATION, WORD USAGE, STYLE, SPELLING • USE READABLE FONTS AND CONVENTIONAL SPACING/MARGINS
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”
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
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
Universities in Illinois • ISU--www.ilstu.edu • Western--www.wiu.edu • Eastern—www.eiu.edu • Northern—www.niu.edu • U of I Champaign—www.uiuc.edu • Southern Carbondale—www.siu.edu • SIUE—www.siue.edu • Millikin—www.millikin.edu • Eureka—www.eureka.edu • Bradley—www.bradley.edu