谢振礼: 留学文书(PS的重要性) Writing the Personal Statement that can help you stand out:
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#两类PS 各司其职
>The personal statement, which is your opportunity to tell your life story and sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories:
>1. The general, comprehensive personal statement--
This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.
>2. The response to very specific questions--
Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions.
#旗开得胜 逻辑发展
>In either type, you should concentrate on your opening paragraph because the lead is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. If you are like most people, your life story lacks drama, so you should figure out a way to make your introduction interesting, and not at all boring. So, finding an angle or "hook" is vital. If you are not able to catch the attention of the admissions tutors, who have hundreds of statements to assess, then it is highly unlikely that they will read through to the end.
>Of course, your introduction of the statement could start in a variety of ways, but the fundamental motive is to catch the reader's eyes, considering that the opening paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the personal statement in which your application should emerge as the logical development in your body paragraphs and a memorable conclusion to your story.
>Before writing, you should get your ideas in a mind-map first. When writing, you should use a formal tone, stay relevant and specific, and be positive.
#动笔之前 心知肚明
Questions to ask yourself before you write:
>What is special, unique, distinctive and impressive about you and your life story? Can you give evidence (reasons, examples and details) to support your claim?
>What details of your life might help the admissions committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
>When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
>How have you learned about this field--through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
>If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how have those extracurricular interests and achievements contributed to your growth?
>What are your career goals?
>Have you had to oversome any unusual obstacles or hardships in your life?
>What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession?
>What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
>What might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school--and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
>What are the most compelling reasons that you can give for the admissions committee to be particularly interested in you?
#Understanding the importance of "Personal Statement"
补充强调PS的重要性
>You are asked to write a personal statement or essay to accompany your application. This allows you an opportunity to be yourself and not somebody else, and to let the admissions committee know who you are as an individual. Write about your life experiences and what has shaped you into the person you are today. Tell about aspects of your background and personal attributes that may not be apparent from your academic record.
>
>Since academic records and test scores of applicants are often very similar, your essay allows the admissions tutors to gain insight into your unique achievements, character (for example, perseverance, motivation, leadership), and intellectual curiosity. Although these readers are not testing you on writing ability or English skills, a well-written essay will impress them when they learn more about you on a personal level in an effective way. So, you should invest time in working on a good essay that will make you distinct from many other applicants.
