When I work with admissions essay coaching clients for graduate school admissions essays, we often talk about the two “Main Questions” a personal statement must address. These questions get at the heart of every different statement a school requires. In fact, I like to think of your answers to these two main questions as the “thesis” of your personal statement. Everything your statement says should point back to these questions in some way.
These are the two Main Questions a personal statement should address:
The two main questions your personal statement should address include:
- Why am I interested in this field or program?
- Why am I a perfect fit for this school and program?
These may sound like they’re the same question! And although they’re very similar, they’re not quite the same. Let’s unpack each question a little bit more.
Question 1: Why am I interested in this field or program?
This question places the emphasis on you and your story. What is your background? Why do you want to go into this field or career? What personal, professional, or educational events, experiences, or ideas are pushing you to take the challenging and exciting step of applying to graduate school?
In your essays, you need to make sure that the admissions readers know why this school is a perfect fit for your background and your interests. You also need to show them what you hope to do after you finish the program. Question 1 looks at your interests and background. A clearly written essay begins with your background to your interest in a field of study. Then, the essay shows your readers why this particular school is the best fit. Finally, the essay focuses on how attending that program will help your particular career goals and further the mission of the program. (I’ll have more to say about structuring your essay in my next blog post!).
Question 2: Why am I a perfect fit for this school and program?
The second question shifts the emphasis from you to the school and the program you’re interested in.
In the personal statement, your job is to show the admissions readers, whoever they are, that you’ve done your homework about their school and their program. Find out what sets their program apart from all the others in your intended field. You can talk about particular faculty, specific courses, or special programs, internships, or opportunities the school offers. Do the faculty’s interests or courses match with yours? Perhaps the school has a particular certification, internship opportunities, or other special programs. Maybe it’s their approach to cultural diversity, online or hybrid learning, or how they value the whole person. Talk about as much of this as you can within the length!
The answer to Question 2 will show, rather than just tell, an admissions committee that their school is the place for you to be. Yes, you could write, “I strongly believe that I am a perfect fit for your graduate program in communications” (or whatever it happens to be), but there’s another way. Instead, dovetail your background and interests with theirs. For example, you could say: “My research interest in the intersection of race and gender in the women’s rights movement would benefit from studying with Professor Firstname Lastname.” Then say a bit more about what interests you about the professor’s work, courses, or research interests. This approach shows the admissions committee that you’re familiar with the program’s offerings and faculty.
Still have questions about the personal statement’s two Main Questions?
Not studying race or gender? Or you’re applying to a more practice-based degree, like physical therapy or divinity school? The same two questions still apply: why is your background and interests the perfect fit for this school, program, or field? What makes that particular school or program a perfect fit for you?
If you are applying to more than one school, you can tweak your answers. You’ll have the same general reasons for being interested in occupational therapy, psychology, or history (etc., etc.!) no matter the school. Your personal, educational, and professional backstory applies across essays, with a few tweaks, of course.
Sometimes, it’s not always clear how your graduate school personal statement’s two Main Questions apply to your essays. It can help to have a writing coach talk through your background, goals, and fit with a school. I offer a 1/2 hour free consultation to see if personal statement coaching and editing would meet your needs. Send me a note to be in touch, and I look forward to talking with you!
