good things to say about yourself in a personal statement

195 Positive Words to Describe Yourself [with Examples]

Describing yourself positively can make a significant impact on your personal and professional life. It not only improves your self-image but also helps you create a strong, favorable impression on others. As you explore the full list of adjectives in this article, take the time to reflect on your strengths and choose words that best encapsulate your personality. Remember, when describing yourself, being genuine and specific can go a long way in making a lasting, positive impression.

Related: Core Values List: 150+ Awesome Examples of Personal Values

Full List of Positive Words to Describe Yourself

1. Ambitious – “I have big dreams and am always striving to achieve them.” 2. Adventurous – “I love exploring new places and trying new things.” 3. Affable – “I enjoy meeting new people and making friends easily.” 4. Affectionate – “I am very loving and enjoy showing affection to those I care about.” 5. Agile – “I am quick and nimble, able to adapt to changing situations easily.” 6. Alert – “I am always aware of my surroundings and quick to react to any potential danger.” 7. Altruistic – “I am always looking for ways to help others and make a positive impact in the world.” 8. Amiable – “I am friendly and easy to get along with.” 9. Amusing – “I have a good sense of humor and enjoy making others laugh.” 10. Analytical – “I enjoy breaking down complex problems and finding solutions.” 11. Artistic – “I have a creative side and enjoy expressing myself through various forms of art.” 12. Assertive – “I am confident in my opinions and not afraid to speak up for myself.” 13. Attentive – “I pay close attention to details and am always listening to others.” 14. Authentic – “I am true to myself and don’t try to be someone I’m not.” 15. Balanced – “I strive to maintain a healthy balance in all aspects of my life.” 16. Beautiful – “I am confident in my own unique beauty and appreciate the beauty in others.” 17. Benevolent – “I have a kind and generous heart, always looking for ways to help others.” 18. Blissful – “I am content and happy with my life.” 19. Brave – “I am not afraid to face challenges and take risks.” 20. Bright – “I am intelligent and quick-witted.” 21. Brilliant – “I have a sharp mind and excel in many areas.” 22. Calm – “I am able to stay composed and level-headed in stressful situations.” 23. Capable – “I am competent and able to handle a wide range of tasks.” 24. Caring – “I have a nurturing nature and enjoy taking care of others.” 25. Charismatic – “I have a magnetic personality and am able to charm people easily.” 26. Charming – “I have a pleasant and attractive personality that draws people in.” 27. Cheerful – “I have a positive and upbeat attitude that lifts the spirits of those around me.” 28. Clean – “I am neat and tidy, and enjoy maintaining a clean and organized space.” 29. Clear-headed – “I am able to think clearly and make rational decisions even in difficult situations.” 30. Clever – “I have a sharp mind and am able to come up with creative solutions to problems.” 31. Compassionate – “I have a deep empathy for others and am always willing to lend a helping hand.” 32. Confident – “I believe in myself and my abilities, and am not easily shaken by challenges.” 33. Considerate – “I am thoughtful of others’ feelings and needs.” 34. Consistent – “I am reliable and consistent in my actions and behavior.” 35. Courageous – “I have a brave and fearless spirit, willing to take on challenges and face my fears.” 36. Creative – “I have a vivid imagination and enjoy expressing myself through various forms of creativity.” 37. Cultured – “I have a broad knowledge and appreciation of different cultures and ways of life.” 38. Curious – “I have a thirst for knowledge and enjoy learning new things.” 39. Daring – “I am bold and adventurous, unafraid to take risks and try new things.” 40. Decisive – “I am able to make quick and confident decisions even in high-pressure situations.” 41. Dedicated – “I am committed to my goals and work hard to achieve them.” 42. Delightful – “I have a charming and pleasant personality that brings joy to those around me.” 43. Dependable – “I am reliable and can be counted on to follow through on my commitments.” 44. Determined – “I have a strong will and am determined to succeed in all that I do.” 45. Diligent – “I am hardworking and thorough in my approach to tasks and responsibilities.” 46. Disciplined – “I have a strong sense of self-discipline and am able to stay focused and productive even in challenging circumstances.” 47. Dynamic – “I am full of energy and enthusiasm, always ready to take on new challenges and opportunities.” 48. Earnest – “I am sincere and genuine in my actions and intentions.” 49. Easygoing – “I have a relaxed and flexible personality that makes it easy for me to get along with others.” 50. Educated – “I have a strong educational background and am knowledgeable in many areas.” 51. Efficient – “I am able to complete tasks quickly and effectively, making the most of my time and resources.” 52. Elegant – “I have a graceful and refined manner that exudes sophistication and class.” 53. Empathetic – “I have a deep understanding and appreciation for the feelings and experiences of others.” 54. Energetic – “I am full of vitality and vigor, always ready to tackle new challenges and adventures.” 55. Enthusiastic – “I have a contagious enthusiasm and passion for life that inspires those around me.” 56. Ethical – “I have strong moral principles and always strive to do what is right.” 57. Excellent – “I am outstanding in my abilities and excel in many areas.” 58. Experienced – “I have a wealth of knowledge and experience in my field.” 59. Expressive – “I am able to convey my thoughts and emotions effectively through various forms of expression.” 60. Extravagant – “I have a bold and flamboyant personality, unafraid to stand out and make a statement.” 61. Fair – “I am just and impartial, treating everyone with equality and respect.” 62. Faithful – “I am loyal and committed to those I care about.” 63. Fearless – “I have a courageous and bold spirit, unafraid to take risks and face my fears.” 64. Focused – “I am able to concentrate and stay on task, even in distracting or challenging environments.” 65. Forgiving – “I have a compassionate and understanding nature, able to forgive others and move on from past conflicts.” 66. Friendly – “I am warm and welcoming, making it easy for others to feel comfortable around me.” 67. Fun-loving – “I have a lighthearted and playful personality, always looking for ways to have fun and enjoy life.” 68. Funny – “I have a great sense of humor and enjoy making others laugh with my wit and jokes.” 69. Generous – “I am giving and generous with my time, resources, and talents.” 70. Gentle – “I have a kind and gentle nature, treating others with compassion and care.” 71. Genuine – “I am sincere and authentic in my actions and words.” 72. Gifted – “I have a natural talent or ability in a particular area.” 73. Giving – “I enjoy giving to others and find joy in making a positive impact in their lives.” 74. Good-hearted – “I have a kind and caring heart, always looking for ways to help others.” 75. Gracious – “I am courteous and polite, showing gratitude and appreciation to those around me.” 76. Grateful – “I have a thankful and appreciative attitude, recognizing and acknowledging the blessings in my life.” 77. Grounded – “I have a stable and balanced perspective, able to stay grounded in the midst of life’s challenges and opportunities.” 78. Handsome – “I have an attractive and appealing physical appearance.” 79. Happy – “I have a positive and optimistic outlook on life, finding joy and happiness in everyday experiences.” 80. Hardworking – “I am diligent and dedicated, willing to put in the effort and time required to achieve my goals.” 81. Harmonious – “I have a peaceful and cooperative nature, able to work well with others and maintain positive relationships.” 82. Helpful – “I am always willing to lend a hand and offer assistance to those in need.” 83. Honest – “I have a strong sense of integrity and honesty, always telling the truth and being transparent in my actions and words.” 84. Honorable – “I have a strong sense of honor and integrity, always doing what is right and just.” 85. Humble – “I have a modest and unassuming nature, not seeking attention or praise for my accomplishments.” 86. Humorous – “I have a great sense of humor and enjoy making others laugh and smile.” 87. Imaginative – “I have a creative and imaginative mind, able to come up with innovative ideas and solutions.” 88. Impartial – “I am fair and impartial, treating everyone with equality and without bias.” 89. Independent – “I am self-reliant and able to take care of myself without relying on others.” 90. Industrious – “I am hardworking and diligent, always striving to be productive and efficient.” 91. Inquisitive – “I am curious and eager to learn, always asking questions and seeking new knowledge.” 92. Insightful – “I have a deep understanding and perception of people and situations, able to see beyond the surface level.” 93. Inspirational – “I have a motivating and inspiring presence, able to encourage and uplift those around me.” 94. Intelligent – “I have a high level of intelligence and am able to grasp complex concepts and ideas easily.” 95. Intuitive – “I have a strong intuition and am able to sense things beyond what is immediately apparent.” 96. Inventive – “I have a creative and innovative mind, able to come up with new and original ideas and solutions.” 97. Joyful – “I have a joyful and positive outlook on life, finding happiness and contentment in everyday experiences.” 98. Just – “I have a strong sense of justice and fairness, treating everyone with equality and without bias.” 99. Kind – “I have a compassionate and kind-hearted nature, always looking for ways to help and support others.” 100. Knowledgeable – “I am well-informed and knowledgeable in a wide range of areas.” 101. Leader – “I have strong leadership skills and am able to guide and inspire others to achieve their goals.” 102. Lively – “I have a lively and energetic personality, always ready to have fun and enjoy life to the fullest.” 103. Logical – “I have a logical and analytical mind, able to think critically and solve problems effectively.” 104. Loving – “I have a deep capacity for love and care for those around me.” 105. Loyal – “I am faithful and committed to those I care about, always standing by their side.” 106. Meticulous – “I am careful and precise in my work, paying close attention to details and ensuring accuracy.” 107. Modest – “I have a humble and modest nature, not seeking attention or praise for my accomplishments.” 108. Motivated – “I am driven and motivated to succeed in all that I do.” 109. Natural – “I have a natural talent or ability in a particular area.” 110. Neat – “I am organized and tidy, keeping my surroundings clean and orderly.” 111. Noble – “I have a strong sense of honor and nobility, always striving to do what is right and just.” 112. Nurturing – “I have a caring and nurturing personality, always looking out for the well-being of those around me.” 113. Observant – “I am attentive and observant, able to notice details and pick up on subtle cues.” 114. Optimistic – “I have a positive and optimistic outlook on life, always seeing the bright side of things.” 115. Organized – “I am well-organized and efficient, able to keep track of tasks and responsibilities with ease.” 116. Original – “I have a unique and original perspective, able to think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas.” 117. Outgoing – “I have an outgoing and sociable personality, enjoying meeting new people and making connections.” 118. Passionate – “I am passionate and enthusiastic about the things I care about, putting my heart and soul into everything I do.” 119. Patient – “I am patient and understanding, able to remain calm and composed in difficult situations.” 120. Peaceful – “I have a peaceful and serene nature, able to create a calming and harmonious environment.” 121. Perceptive – “I have a keen sense of perception, able to understand and empathize with the feelings and experiences of others.” 122. Persevering – “I am persistent and determined, never giving up on my goals and dreams.” 123. Persistent – “I am tenacious and persistent, able to overcome obstacles and challenges through sheer determination.” 124. Persuasive – “I have strong persuasion skills, able to influence and convince others to see things from my perspective.” 125. Playful – “I have a fun and playful personality, always looking for ways to bring joy and laughter to those around me.” 126. Pleasant – “I have a pleasant and friendly nature, making it easy for others to feel comfortable and at ease around me.” 127. Polite – “I am courteous and polite, showing respect and consideration to others in all situations.” 128. Popular – “I have a likable and charismatic personality, making me well-liked and admired by many.” 129. Positive – “I have a positive and optimistic outlook on life, always focusing on the good and finding solutions to problems.” 130. Powerful – “I have a strong and influential presence, able to make a significant impact in the world around me.” 131. Practical – “I have a practical and pragmatic approach to life, able to make sound decisions based on practical considerations.” 132. Precise – “I am precise and accurate in my work, paying close attention to details and ensuring high quality results.” 133. Productive – “I am productive and efficient, able to accomplish tasks and goals in a timely and effective manner.” 134. Professional – “I have a professional and polished demeanor, able to conduct myself with grace and professionalism in all situations.” 135. Punctual – “I am punctual and reliable, always arriving on time and keeping my commitments.” 136. Quick-witted – “I have a sharp and quick mind, able to think on my feet and respond quickly in challenging situations.” 137. Radiant – “I have a radiant and glowing personality, able to light up a room with my positive energy and presence.” 138. Rational – “I have a rational and logical mind, able to make sound decisions based on reason and evidence.” 139. Realistic – “I have a realistic and practical perspective, able to see things as they are and make sound decisions based on reality.” 140. Reflective – “I am reflective and introspective, taking time to think deeply about my experiences and learn from them.” 141. Reliable – “I am dependable and reliable, always following through on my commitments and delivering high-quality results.” 142. Resourceful – “I am resourceful and creative, able to find solutions to problems using the resources available to me.” 143. Respected – “I am respected and admired by others, earning their trust and admiration through my actions and words.” 144. Responsible – “I am responsible and accountable, taking ownership of my actions and making responsible decisions.” 145. Romantic – “I have a romantic and passionate nature, able to express my feelings and emotions in a heartfelt way.” 146. Self-assured – “I am self-assured and confident, believing in myself and my abilities.” 147. Self-confident – “I am self-confident and assured, able to face challenges and obstacles with a positive attitude and mindset.” 148. Self-disciplined – “I am self-disciplined and focused, able to stay on track and achieve my goals through hard work and dedication.” 149. Sensitive – “I have a sensitive and empathetic nature, able to understand and relate to the feelings and experiences of others.” 150. Serene – “I have a serene and peaceful presence, able to create a calming and harmonious environment.” 151. Sharp – “I have a sharp and quick mind, able to process information quickly and make sound decisions.” 152. Skillful – “I am skilled and talented in a particular area, able to perform tasks and achieve results with ease.” 153. Smart – “I have a high level of intelligence and mental ability, able to learn quickly and excel in various areas.” 154. Sociable – “I have a sociable and outgoing personality, enjoying spending time with others and making new connections.” 155. Sophisticated – “I have a sophisticated and refined taste, able to appreciate and enjoy the finer things in life.” 156. Spiritual – “I have a spiritual and philosophical outlook on life, seeking meaning and purpose beyond the material world.” 157. Spontaneous – “I have a spontaneous and adventurous nature, always ready for new experiences and opportunities.” 158. Stable – “I have a stable and consistent personality, able to maintain a sense of balance and calm in all situations.” 159. Strong – “I have a strong and resilient nature, able to overcome challenges and obstacles with determination and strength.” 160. Studious – “I am studious and dedicated to my education, always striving to learn and grow in my knowledge and understanding.” 161. Stylish – “I have a stylish and fashionable sense of dress and appearance, always looking my best.” 162. Successful – “I am successful and accomplished in my personal and professional life, achieving my goals and reaching my potential.” 163. Supportive – “I am supportive and encouraging to those around me, always willing to lend a helping hand and offer words of support.” 164. Sweet – “I have a sweet and kind nature, always treating others with kindness and compassion.” 165. Sympathetic – “I am sympathetic and understanding, able to empathize with the feelings and experiences of others.” 166. Systematic – “I have a systematic and organized approach to tasks and responsibilities, able to achieve results through careful planning and execution.” 167. Talented – “I am talented and skilled in a particular area, able to perform tasks and achieve results with ease and excellence.” 168. Tenacious – “I am tenacious and persistent, never giving up on my goals and dreams despite obstacles and challenges.” 169. Thoughtful – “I am thoughtful and considerate, always taking the time to think about others and their needs.” 170. Thrifty – “I am thrifty and resourceful, able to manage my finances and resources effectively.” 171. Tidy – “I am tidy and organized, keeping my surroundings clean and clutter-free.” 172. Tough – “I am tough and resilient, able to handle difficult situations and overcome challenges with strength and determination.” 173. Trusting – “I am trusting and open-minded, willing to give others the benefit of the doubt and trust in their intentions.” 174. Trustworthy – “I am trustworthy and reliable, always keeping my word and following through on my commitments.” 175. Understanding – “I am understanding and empathetic, able to see things from multiple perspectives and understand the feelings and experiences of others.” 176. Unique – “I am unique and original, possessing qualities and characteristics that set me apart from others.” 177. Upbeat – “I have an upbeat and positive attitude, able to lift the spirits of those around me and spread joy and happiness.” 178. Versatile – “I am versatile and adaptable, able to handle a variety of tasks and situations with ease and flexibility.” 179. Vibrant – “I have a vibrant and lively personality, able to bring energy and excitement to any situation.” 180. Visionary – “I have a visionary and forward-thinking mindset, able to see the big picture and think creatively about the future.” 181. Vital – “I am vital and full of life, possessing a strong and vibrant energy that inspires and motivates those around me.” 182. Warm – “I have a warm and welcoming personality, able to make others feel comfortable and at ease in my presence.” 183. Well-balanced – “I have a well-balanced and harmonious approach to life, able to find a sense of balance between work and play, and other aspects of my life.” 184. Well-behaved – “I am well-behaved and courteous, always conducting myself in a respectful and appropriate manner.” 185. Well-educated – “I am well-educated and knowledgeable, possessing a strong foundation of academic and intellectual understanding.” 186. Well-informed – “I am well-informed and up-to-date on current events and trends, able to stay informed and engaged with the world around me.” 187. Well-mannered – “I am well-mannered and polite, showing respect and consideration to others in all situations.” 188. Well-rounded – “I am well-rounded and versatile, possessing a range of skills and abilities in various areas.” 189. Wholesome – “I have a wholesome and pure nature, possessing a strong sense of morality and ethics.” 190. Wise – “I am wise and insightful, possessing a deep understanding of life and its complexities.” 191. Witty – “I have a quick and clever wit, able to make others laugh and enjoy themselves with my humorous remarks and observations.” 192. Wonderful – “I have a wonderful and delightful personality, able to bring joy and happiness to those around me.” 193. Worldly – “I am worldly and experienced, possessing a broad understanding of different cultures and ways of life.” 194. Youthful – “I have a youthful and energetic personality, possessing a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world.” 195. Zealous – “I am zealous and passionate about the things I care about, putting my heart and soul into everything I do.”

Enthusiastic Words

One way to describe yourself is as a passionate person. Passionate people have a strong love or dedication towards something. For example, you can say, “I am passionate about helping others and volunteering in my community.” This shows that you care deeply about a cause and put in the necessary effort to make a difference.

If you’re someone who always has a high level of energy and can keep going throughout the day, energetic is a fitting description for you. By saying, “I bring an energetic spirit to everything I do,” you demonstrate that you’re not only enthusiastic about life but have the stamina to keep up with challenges and take on new tasks. This trait can be highly beneficial in both personal and professional situations.

When you’re full of energy and enthusiasm, you can also describe yourself as vibrant. A person with a vibrant personality has a zest for life that’s contagious to those around them. By saying, “My vibrant personality helps me connect with others and create enjoyable experiences,” you show that you’re not only present in the moment but can create a positive atmosphere.

Words Expressing Confidence

Being confident means you believe in your abilities and approach situations with self-assurance. Describe yourself as confident when you want to convey that you are secure in yourself, your skills, and your decisions. For instance, you can say, “I confidently led a team of ten members to complete an important project within its deadline.”

Self-Assured

Self-assured is another adjective that expresses confidence but also conveys a sense of inner calmness. When you describe yourself as self-assured, you tell others that you trust in your abilities, and you can remain composed even in challenging situations. An example of using self-assured could be, “I felt self-assured during the presentation, which helped me to clearly explain my ideas to the audience.”

Being assertive means you can stand up for your own rights and express your thoughts and feelings directly and respectfully. When you describe yourself as assertive, you express that you are well-equipped to handle different opinions and conflicts in various situations. For instance, let others know how assertive you are by saying, “I assertively negotiated with vendors to secure the best prices for our products, leading to higher profit margins.”

Describing Creativity

When you want to highlight your ability to come up with new ideas, you can use the word “innovative.” It shows that you can think outside the box and generate groundbreaking solutions. For example, you might say, “I am an innovative problem-solver who gets excited about tackling unique challenges.”

If you possess an artistic flair or the ability to create something from the ground up, you can describe yourself as “creative.” It emphasizes that you can bring a fresh perspective to your work. You might say, “I am a creative designer who loves crafting visually appealing graphics to engage audiences.”

Imaginative

Another way to describe your creative side is to use the word “imaginative.” It highlights your ability to envision new and interesting possibilities. For instance, you might say, “I am an imaginative writer who weaves captivating stories that transport readers to other worlds.”

Words For Leadership Qualities

You can use the word “Leader” to emphasize your ability to guide and direct others. For example, “I am a leader who always takes initiative and prioritizes the team’s success.”

Influential

Showcase your ability to have a significant impact on others by using the word “Influential.” An example phrase would be, “I am an influential individual who can persuade others to adopt new ideas and work toward common goals.”

The word “Inspiring” can illustrate your ability to motivate and uplift others. You might say, “I have an inspiring presence that encourages my team to reach their full potential and achieve great results.”

Words That Convey Honesty

Being honest means you tell the truth and are sincere in your actions and words. It’s essential to describe yourself as honest if you believe in transparency and straightforwardness. For example, you can say, “I am honest in my communication, even when the truth is challenging.”

Trustworthy

Trustworthiness is an essential part of being honest. It means others can rely on you and have confidence in your actions and words. A phrase to describe yourself as trustworthy might be, “You can rely on me because I am trustworthy, and I always keep my promises.”

Reliability goes hand-in-hand with trustworthiness and honesty. It emphasizes your ability to follow through on your commitments and be dependable. To show that you are reliable, you can say, “I take deadlines seriously and always complete my tasks on time, making me a reliable team member.”

Words For Strong Work Ethic

In this section, you’ll find positive words and adjectives to describe a strong work ethic. Use these terms to showcase your dedication, drive, and determination in your professional life.

You are diligent when you take the time and effort to perform tasks thoroughly and with accuracy. This level of commitment is critical for achieving success in any work environment. For example:

“I am diligent when it comes to meeting deadlines and double-checking my work before submitting it.”

Hardworking

The term hardworking is often used to describe a person who is willing to put in the necessary work to complete a task or project. By showing that you are hardworking, you demonstrate your determination to finish a task despite any obstacles. For example:

“I am hardworking and always go the extra mile to ensure our team’s success.”

Being dedicated means you are committed to a cause or responsibility. In the workplace, dedication implies that you are loyal and devoted to your job, coworkers, and company. For example:

“I am dedicated to my role and consistently strive for excellence in every project I take on.”

Words For Teamwork Abilities

Collaborative.

Being collaborative is about working together with others to achieve a common goal. You can demonstrate your collaborative skills by emphasizing how well you communicate with your teammates and contribute to shared projects. For example, you might say, “I am skilled at brainstorming ideas with my team and ensuring that everyone’s input is considered.”

Team-Player

A team-player is someone who puts the needs of the group before their own individual goals. They prioritize the success of the team and are willing to support their peers in achieving shared objectives. To showcase your ability as a team-player, you might mention, “I actively listen to my teammates’ opinions and help them whenever possible to ensure our team’s success.”

Cooperative

Being cooperative refers to your ability to adapt to different personalities and preferences within a group setting. You maintain a positive attitude and work well with others, even when faced with challenges or conflicts. To highlight your cooperative nature, try saying, “I am always happy to adjust my approach to accommodate my teammates’ needs and strive to create a harmonious work environment.” By focusing on these qualities, you will demonstrate your strong teamwork abilities and make a great impression.

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31 Positive And Motivating Things To Say About Yourself

If you took a snapshot of your thoughts about yourself on a given day, would most of them be positive or negative? 

We tend to focus on our negative qualities, letting them overshadow the good traits and behaviors we all possess.

The shaming voice in our heads can make us forget who we really are.

It’s high time, then, to find positive things to say about yourself.

You need some practice to change the way you see your true self.

We want to see you celebrating your wins because you have a right to be proud of yourself. 

So, how do you get there?

1. I treat people the way I want to be treated. 

2. i care about my health and prioritize good nutrition and exercise. , 3. i’m always learning. , 4. i care more about learning and growing than about being right. , 5. i know how it feels to be gut-wrenchingly, head-over-heels in love. , 6. i’m determined to be both independent and appreciative of others. , 7. i express gratitude every day and enjoy the beauty around me. , 8. i trust my instincts when something (or someone) doesn’t feel right. , 9. when someone needs my help, i’m there for them, and i do my best. , 10. i can always find something worthwhile to do or to explore. , 11. i don’t hesitate to stand up for the people i love. , 12. i also know how to correct beliefs that aren’t serving me. , 13. i take responsibility for my words and actions. , 14. i am loved by some of the best people in the world.  , 15. i’ve forgiven those who’ve hurt me. , 16. i am resilient (more than i thought i was)., 17. i love the way my mind works. , 18. when i feel like crying, i look for something to smile about. i can always find something. , 19. i give great hugs. , 20. i can handle anything—one step and one moment at a time. , 21. i have a vivid imagination. , 22. i forgive my younger self for not knowing what i know now. , 23. i can do hard (and scary) things. , 24. i know who my friends are. and i cherish them. , 25. i choose to focus on what i can control. , 26. i choose to see the good in others—and to want good things for them. , 27. i can make a positive difference wherever i go. , 28. my past doesn’t define me—or decide my future. , 29. i do my best in everything i do. , 30. i have the power to control my reactions to everything that happens. , 31. everything will work out. and i have my own part to play in that. , 31 positive things to say about yourself .

If you’re having difficulty identifying positive things about yourself (as we all sometimes do), look through the list below for ideas.

Make a shorter list of the ones that resonate with you. 

Everyone should be able to say this and mean it. But we’re a work in progress. For now, it’s enough that this is important to you—and that you do your best to honor it. 

You take good care of yourself, even when it’s hard. And that’s something to be proud of. In doing so, you can inspire others to take better care of themselves, too — examples matter. 

Every mistake is a learning opportunity, and you recognize that. You’re also motivated to learn more about things that matter to you. You’re teachable. And that’s a gift. 

You’re slow to assume you’re right — or more right — about something since you know you still have a lot to learn, and your perspective , while broadened, is still your own. You’d prefer to learn something useful than win an argument. 

It’s not quite the same as “better to have loved and lost,” but it’s close. You’ve been there, in the trenches, aching for someone who might never be yours. It’s excruciating, but they’re worth it. 

You’re not too proud to ask for help when you need it, but neither are you quick to ask for help when you can get something done yourself.

You value your independence and resourcefulness. 

You prioritize expressing gratitude for the people you love and for the good things in your life. You mindfully enjoy all the beauty you find and are happy to share it with others. 

You can’t explain it, but you don’t brush off those instincts simply because your conscious mind can’t keep up. You trust that inner voice, even if no one else does. 

When friends, families, or anyone you know needs your help with something, you do what you can for them without overextending yourself or sacrificing other commitments. 

You can always think of satisfying or beneficial ways to spend your time because you’re resourceful and open to trying new things. If you’re ever bored, it’s not for long. 

When someone you care about becomes a target for verbal abuse, and you know it’s uncalled for, you speak up, even at the risk of taking a few arrows yourself. 

When you learn better, you internalize the lesson and modify or discard beliefs holding you back or keeping you in the dark. You cherish those who challenge those beliefs. 

You don’t blame your mistakes or failures on other people. You own up to and make amends for your mistakes. And you learn from your failures so that you can do better next time.

None of us are perfect, but the people in your life bring you joy when you least expect it. The one you love most is the best person you’ve ever known. 

You’ve hurt people, too, and you’re quick to forgive those who’ve hurt you, especially when they ask your forgiveness. It’s tougher when someone doesn’t acknowledge the pain they’ve caused, but you try anyway. 

What you’ve been through has helped shape the person you are because you’ve learned to let go of the baggage you’ve been carrying—and to appreciate what you’ve learned. 

Your mind is unique, with its store of knowledge, its habits that influence your learning process, and its way of interpreting new discoveries.

It’s not perfect, but it’s come a long way, and you’re proud of it. 

You’ve found it helps to smile about something when you feel sad , lonely or overwhelmed. Being mindful of your surroundings makes it easier to find reasons to smile. 

You don’t give them indiscriminately (or without first gaining consent), but your hugs are first-rate—warm, comforting, and as long as they need to be. You’ve learned from the best.

You’re unsinkable. Nothing can keep you down for long. Whatever you’re struggling with, you trust that something good will come of it. So, you keep going. 

You can imagine scenes that have never happened — with enough detail, they fill your senses. It’s tempting to live in a world of your own making, but you’ve got enough to keep you anchored in reality. 

You’ve come a long way, but you know you still have a lot to learn. So, it makes no sense to beat yourself up for not being born with the knowledge you have now. 

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You’re driven forward, unwilling to live either in the past or in a comforting fantasy world. You’ve got a life to build, and the tools are all outside the comfort zone. 

You’ve learned to recognize what true friendship is, and when you find a friend you can trust, you hold onto them and spend time and energy nurturing the relationship. 

You’re not interested in spinning your wheels or working yourself into a frenzy over the stuff you can’t control. You focus on what you can do, and you do it as well as you can. 

You want to see good in others, so you look for it. You know not everyone will be a friend, but you want good things for everyone you meet. Hope is your default setting .  

You want to leave the world better than you found it, so you do what you can with the corner of the world you occupy. You also enjoy visiting others and helping however you can. 

Your past does not limit you, and you know it. You see the good in the present and take action toward building the life you want, one day at a time. 

You’ve made it your aim to always do your best, even in little things. And while your track record may not be perfect, you keep working at it. You’re proud of a job well done. 

You choose to see every challenge as an opportunity to grow. Often the most painful experiences carry the most significant lessons , and you don’t want to waste a single one. 

You know you’re responsible for making good use of your strengths and resources. You don’t take anything for granted (or at least you try not to). And you trust your life is taking shape as it should, as long as you’re doing your part. 

Now that you’ve looked through all 31 positive things to tell people about yourself (or things to tell yourself),  which ones stood out for you? And how will you use these positive words to change your mindset going forward?

71 Positive Self-Talk Examples to Use on Yourself

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We all talk to ourselves , whether we are aware of it or not. And the words we use when we consciously or subconsciously talk to ourselves matter . It matters a lot. 

When you use positive self-talk, you reap a lot of benefits . Take my bestie Anja as an example. 

Anja has shared that during her morning routine, she looks at herself in the mirror so she can be aware of how she speaks to herself first thing in the morning.

It’s a habit she’s built, and she acknowledged that it helps set her up for success (and more positive self-talk during the day). 

Healthy self-talk also helps Anja practice self-love , self-compassion, and self-kindness. With  positive self talk examples like “I messed up but I can learn from it,” “This looks challenging but I want to give it a go,” and “I tried my best.

Tomorrow is another day, and I’ll try again,” Anja has developed a healthy self-esteem, feels motivated, and thinks more positively. 

This can be you . What do you currently say to yourself in the morning?

Here’s everything you need to know about positive self-talk , how it benefits you, and even examples so you start practicing speaking healthy to yourself.    

Table of Contents

What Is Positive Self-Talk? 

Positive self-talk is about having a healthy inner voice , internal dialogue, inner monologue, or internal narrative that’s influenced by your subconsciousness.

This reveals your beliefs , thoughts, and ideas and makes you feel good about yourself, others, and the world around you. You use positive statements or sentences to talk about yourself. 

When you use self-talk, it can be silently or out loud and at any point during your day. It’s like a running commentary or self-commentary in the background that you are not always 100% aware of, but it is always there. 

People generally engage in self-talk as a pep talk , when they are about to face a challenge or obstacle, or when they are looking for motivation or comfort. 

This communication with yourself can be negative, positive, or even overly positive (which is just as toxic as negative self-talk since it sets you up for failure). 

Positive self-talk should be healthy since it has such a significant impact on you and how you see yourself.

Healthy self-talk is about practicing self-compassion , accepting yourself as you are, and showing yourself the type of kindness you’d show a best friend.

The Importance of Positive Self-Talk

Positive self-talk has power , and negative self-talk is dangerous. But first, let’s see what benefits talking to yourself positively has in store. 

Positive self-talk is important because: 

• Various studies indicate that it can improve your mental health . For example, this 2020 study found that people who used positive self-talk felt less anxious about death during the Covid-19 pandemic. The participants also developed effective strategies to help them cope with mental stress and their emotions. 
• It has a roll-on effect for how you behave. When you think positively , you feel better about yourself and your abilities, so you believe you can achieve more. The more successful you are, the more likely you are to set bigger goals , achieve success, and become self-confident. 
• It helps you reframe how you see stressful situations as you understand that you are going to do your best and that is enough. 
• You become a better problem-solver as an “I can do this” mindset helps you see opportunities and possibilities, much like an abundance or growth mindset does. 
• You become more resilien t as you believe that there are workarounds when a challenge arises. 
• Your relationships improve because you are a healthier and safer individual to be around. After all, who wants to be around a Debby Downer all day?    
• It helps you feel more positive about the future as you feel more upbeat, eager to chase your goals and dreams, and overcome challenges. You feel like you have a purpose in life because you believe you are enough.  
• You can also explore your self-potential as difficult situations don’t hold you back. You aren’t scared to try new things, so you can unlock your potential. 
• You’ll also feel better physically as you’ll help boost your immunity and feel more positive toward exercising and eating healthy. You may also experience less chronic pain as you have a positive outlook on life (and yourself). In the words of Edmond Mbiaka , “ Positive self-talk is to emotional pain as [a] pain pill is to physical pain. ”

The Dangers of Negative Self-Talk 

When you engage in negative self-talk , you are more likely to: 

• Feel anxious  
• Feel insecure  
• Lack self-belief and self-confidence 
• Have a low self-esteem 
• Feel like you aren’t enough or that you are worthless 
• Set yourself up for failure as negative self-talk leads to a vicious self-fulfilling prophecy cycle 
• Put less effort into doing stuff, thus failing more 
• Be depressed and prone to other mental health disorders

71 Positive Self Talk Examples 

Looking for positive self-talk examples so you can start practicing and benefiting? 

Here are the best examples of what you can say to yourself :  

1. I will treat myself as my own best friend. I love myself, and I’ll be compassionate and kind toward myself today. 

2. I haven’t done this before, but I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and try. 

3. I am proud of myself for achieving this degree. It was a lot of hard work, sweat, and tears, but I made it. 

4. I know that I can only control myself, my thoughts, and my actions. I can’t influence what others think of me, and that’s okay. I’m okay with me being me. 

5. Maybe my partner didn’t reply yet because they are busy. I’ll be patient and not make assumptions, thinking the worst. 

Maybe my partner didn’t reply yet because they are busy. I’ll be patient and not make assumptions, thinking the worst. “

6. I know I’m not the skinniest at work. But I’m working on my health, and I’m grateful to my body for what it can do. It’s enough. 

7. I am looking forward to going after my life goals. 

8. I have enough skills and resources to achieve my goals. 

9. I am ready for any task that needs doing. 

10. I’m thankful for everything in my life, from the little things to the bigger, momentous things.  

11. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by such caring people. 

12. I’m blessed to have a best friend who is part of my family. 

13. I’m grateful for all the opportunities that arise. 

14. I’m even grateful for all the obstacles and challenges as there’s always something for me to learn. And from that, I can grow as a person. 

15. I am intelligent, caring, and desirable. I am enough.

16. I am happy to be me and living an authentic life. 

17. I can do this again. I’ve done it before, even if it didn’t go as planned.  

18. I won’t let my anxieties and fears control me. I choose to be confident, and I’m in control. 

19. My limiting beliefs have no power over me. I’m working on eliminating them and I choose to believe in myself. 

20. I choose to live a healthy lifestyle. 

21. I am worthy of respect, love, and kindness. 

22. I’m proud to be me, a one-of-a-kind human. 

23. I’m confident in my body. 

24. I accept myself. My flaws and strengths make me who I am. 

25. I’m worthy of having a healthy mind, body, and spirit. I’m working to be healthier each day.

I’m worthy of having a healthy mind, body, and spirit. I’m working to be healthier each day.”

26. I’m letting go of everything that doesn’t serve me. 

27. I accept what I cannot change in my life. 

28. I am working on my self-development so I can be a better and more authentically me. 

29. I will be okay. I have everything I need to thrive.  

30. I can deal with this. I’ll take it one logical step at a time. 

31. I forgive myself. My past mistakes don’t define me. 

32. This wasn’t the result or outcome I wanted or planned on, but I learned a lot. And I’m still proud of myself for trying and giving it a chance. 

33. I can try again tomorrow. I can use the lessons from today to do better tomorrow. 

34. I am letting negativity go. It just holds me back and doesn’t help me grow and learn. 

35. I’m resilient. Nothing will keep me down. 

36. The power to be happy is within me, so I choose to be happy.  

37. I look on the bright side, no matter what’s happened or what will happen. 

38. I have plenty of reasons to smile, even when it’s a rainy day. 

39. I welcome an abundance of joy and everything that is good in my life. 

40. I am going to think healthily and positively today. 

41. I am a good mom (or father) to my kids. I do my very best each and every day. 

42. I am manifesting abundance, gratitude, happiness, love, and positivity. 

43. I continue to strive for progress, not perfection. 

44. I am loved. I am cared for. I am supported. 

45. My life is my gift, and I’m going to live it on my own terms and appreciate everything I have. 

My life is my gift, and I’m going to live it on my own terms and appreciate everything I have. “

46. I am my own biggest cheerleader. I believe in myself. 

47. I love myself unconditionally. This is the gift I give myself every day.  

48. I have a lot to offer to the people around me. I am worthy. 

49. I am exactly who I need to be right now. The past has prepared me for this moment; I’m ready. 

50. I radiate love and kindness wherever I go. 

51. My mind and my body are strong. I am more than capable of success. 

52. I am calm and at peace. 

53. My body is mine; therefore, I love my body. 

54. I’m looking forward to exercising today. I don’t see working out as punishment but rather as me-time to focus on my health.  

55. I am showing up for myself today by taking care of my needs.

56. I have nothing to prove to others. It’s me against me. 

57. Everything is okay and will be okay. I’m safe. 

58. I’m learning to better regulate my emotions. 

59. My fears don't get to decide for me. I do. I know what’s best for me.  

60. I don’t need to keep apologizing for every little thing. I choose to practice understanding and acceptance.  

61. What’s meant for me, will be. I accept that door didn’t open for me; something better is coming along. 

62. I forgive myself for sliding back into bad habits. I will honor myself and make better decisions going forward. 

63. I accept my anger. It’s okay to feel how I feel. 

64. I’m coping the best I can. It’s a challenging situation, but it, too, will pass. 

65. Every problem has a solution. I’m going to slow down, take a break, and then work on the solution, one step at a time.

Every problem has a solution. I’m going to slow down, take a break, and then work on the solution, one step at a time.”

66. I didn’t succeed today. But failure is part of growing, and I accept that. 

67. It’s more than okay to ask for help. I don’t have to do everything by myself. Asking for help doesn’t make me weak.

68. I trust my instincts. They guide me and help me make the right decision. 

69. I own my mistakes and take responsibility for my part in that messy situation. I’m not blaming myself for everything that went wrong. 

70. I trust myself. I have the tools needed to make this work. 

71. This relationship will work out. I’m going to work with my partner on our relationship and build a better foundation for trust, love, support, and respect to flourish.

Final Thoughts on Positive Self-Talk Examples

Armed with these positive self-talk examples , you can get started on loving yourself more today. Soon, you’ll notice how your perspective changes for the better, how much more you believe in yourself , and how better you feel overall. 

Identify when you use negative self-talk , stop, and reframe that so you can talk to yourself as you would with a loved one.

You are so worthy of loving yourself , being kind to yourself, and practicing understanding and acceptance with yourself.  

Having trouble engaging in positive self-talk ? Here’s a 14-step guide to help you stop negative self-talk so you can reap all the benefits that healthy self-talk has to offer.

And if you're looking for more articles on self-talk, be sure to check out these blog posts:

• How to Stop Negative Self-Talk: A 14-Step Guide
• 8 Printable Negative Self-Talk Worksheets
• 7 Positive Self-Talk Worksheets & Templates

680+ Positive Words To Describe Yourself

Words hold immense power; they shape our reality, guide our thoughts, and impact our emotions. When it comes to self-perception, the words we use to describe ourselves can significantly influence our self-esteem, confidence, and aspirations. In this article, we delve into a curated selection of positive words that you can use to describe yourself. From ‘adventurous’ and ‘resilient’, to ‘compassionate’ and ‘dedicated’, these empowering descriptors illuminate a variety of personal strengths and qualities.

Table of Contents

Positive Words to Describe Yourself, Your Skills, and Achievements

Self-perception is a critical component of personal identity and how we interact with the world around us. How we choose to describe ourselves can influence our confidence, self-esteem, and the way others perceive us. Using positive words to describe ourselves can empower us, improve our self-image, and help us to communicate our personal strengths and qualities effectively.

In this article, we will explore a long list of positive words you might consider when describing yourself, whether it’s in a job interview, a networking event, or just a casual conversation.

List Of Positive Words To Describe Yourself

In conclusion, using positive words to describe yourself can be an empowering exercise that helps to boost your self-esteem and reinforce your self-concept. It’s important to remember that we all have many positive qualities, and learning to articulate them helps us to recognize and affirm our individual worth. So, whether you’re describing yourself in a professional context, for a personal project, or just to boost your self-confidence, consider using some of the words from this extensive list. It’s a testament to the vast range of positive traits we as individuals can embody.

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355+ positive words to describe a job position, 130+ positive words to describe personality characteristics, 1050+ positive words to describe school.

Schools are much more than just institutions for academic learning.…  Read More » 1050+ Positive Words To Describe School

How To Write About Yourself: Personal Statement Tips

Knowing how to write about yourself is hard.

It can be difficult to know what the reader is looking for; you don’t want to seem boastful or exaggerate your qualities, but you don’t want to leave out important information or miss an opportunity by being modest.

Getting the tone and content right can take a long time, especially in a formal application or personal statement.

But whether you’re applying for a job, a scholarship or a university or college place, knowing how to write about yourself well is an essential skill that you must master.

So, what do you need to know when it comes to how to write about yourself?

To write about yourself effectively, especially in a personal statement, you need to consider three elements. First, use a range of prompts and questions to unlock your opinions and ambitions. Then, outline your relevant achievements and their value, and turn your weaknesses into strengths.

I’ve written about each of these valuable approaches in more detail below, and at the end of this post, you’ll find a free downloadable resource you can use to start writing about yourself with clarity and purpose.

If you want to find out more about the best way to start a personal statement, you can check out my post here .

1 Use Prompts To Write About Yourself Brilliantly

If someone asked you to write about yourself right now, the chances are that you’d start by thinking about what you do rather than who you are ; where you live, how you pass your time, and the people you share your days with.

However, these are very passive examples of what makes you who you are. Read the passage below – it’s factual but not very engaging…

This kind of information doesn’t tell us very much about the person that wrote it, and most of all isn’t compelling us to care about making them an offer .

A much better place to start is to use prompts to generate content that you might not have immediately thought about but that is engaging, vivid and reflects your personality.

1 Ask Unexpected Questions About Yourself

At the start of the personal statement writing process (or any time you need to write about yourself), begin by asking yourself some questions .

Try to answer them truthfully, fully and without censoring yourself. The answers might surprise you, but they’ll help you to write more formally about yourself later in the process.

Examples might be…

• How happy am I?
• What is most important to me?
• What do I like best in my life?
• What do I want to change in the world?
• How do I learn?
• How do I express myself?
• What am I afraid of?
• What motivates me?
• How do I choose friends?
• When do I make mistakes?
• Why do I feel lonely?

These might not seem relevant to a job application, but writing the answers to these and other questions that you can find in the free worksheet at the end of this post, can help you to put your choices into context.

You can find some specific details about writing for job applications here .

Here’s an example of a good response developed from an answer to the first question above…

2 Use Prompts To Inspire Your Answers

A different way to approach the challenge of writing about yourself is to start by using prompts to generate responses.

This is especially effective as it pushes you to make decisions about predefined topics, helping you to come up with ideas you hadn’t thought of before.

Again, don’t worry about relevancy in the early stages; just try to be as open and honest as you can.

Prompts are very active – they ask you to write about actions.

They also get you writing in the first person, which is exactly what you need to do when you are developing a personal statement, job application or other form of self-reference.

Some useful prompts are things like…

• I believe in…
• I argue against…
• I encourage…
• I dream about…
• I aspire to…
• I am challenged by…
• I hope for…

Once you’ve completed these and the other prompts in the free worksheet below, you can use the responses to inspire or develop the more formal content…

I aspire to make a difference to the ways in which companies integrate and develop green energies in the manufacturing process. Completing this degree will give me the tools I need to forge a meaningful a career as a renewable energy consultant in the automotive sector. Successful Applicant

2 Celebrate Your Achievements And Their Value

Admissions teams and employers actively want to read about your successes and the ways in which you’ve added value to your offer.

If they see that you’ve successfully used strategies to overcome challenges and apply learning, they’ll be confident that you’ll bring these skills to their organisation or community.

1 Illustrate Your Points With Important Achievements

When you’re learning how to write about yourself, a great tip is to reinforce each key point you make with an example of your own achievements.

If you do this instead of just listing those achievements, you give added depth to all of your accomplishments by connecting them with deeper evidence of knowledge.

Here’s an example of what that might look like in practice…

2 Outline the Value of Each Accomplishment

Every time you write about an accomplishment or achievement, identify the value of that experience , both for yourself and for the institution you are applying to.

By doing this, you’ll reveal the worth of that experience and show the reader that you’re a reflective, positive learner with a great deal to offer them.

Perhaps you came first in a test? The value could be that you know how to prepare effectively for challenges and are positive about success.

Maybe you completed a gruelling sponsored event? The value might be that you developed physical and emotional stamina and are confident about taking the lead when approaching a challenge.

Perhaps you led a debating team to victory in a contest? The value might be gaining confidence in public speaking, mediation and the ability to support your peers.

So, when you’re thinking about how to write about yourself, don’t do this…

But try this instead…

3 Transform Your Weaknesses Into Strengths

When it comes to how to write about yourself, you might find that others know you better than you do!

It can be incredibly valuable to ask your friends, peers, family and professional networks for their opinions and use their feedback to generate some original content .

1 Listen To What Others Say About You

You might need to be brave when asking others for their opinion.

Sometimes, fear of what they will say (or anxiety about being criticised) can stop us from seeing the benefit of their views, but it can be an exceptionally valuable process.

The worksheet available in this post goes into this in greater detail, but using a feedback framework is always a wise idea.

Rather than giving people free rein to comment as they like, you might want to ask targeted questions .

• What are my strengths?
• What are my best qualities?
• How ambitious am I?
• What do I prioritise?
• What are my goals?
• Who would play me in a movie of my life?
• How would you describe me?
• What are my weaknesses?
• How would I describe myself?
• Am I a positive or negative person?

You can use their feedback to help steer your writing, focusing on common positive responses.

You might not have thought of yourself as a positive person, for example, but if most people say that you are, then that would be a strong element to bring out in your writing.

Sometimes, their comments might surprise you, and that’s why this process is so useful.

It might make you think differently about your application or push you to make positive changes that will add value to your personal statement.

2 Develop a Growth Mindset

Carol Dweck famously popularised the concept of a growth mindset .

At its heart, this is an approach to challenges that looks for opportunities for growth rather than reasons for failure. In other words, it isn’t the case that you can’t do something; it’s just that you can’t do it yet .

Framing your weaknesses as strengths is a key technique when it comes to how to write about yourself.

There’s no point in including ‘failure’ in your personal statement, as the following example illustrates…

But this same situation could be reframed to show strength and suitability…

Start by making a list of all the things you’ve accomplished that you consider to be failures or unsuitable for inclusion in a personal statement.

Then, transform each point with a positive strength, just like in the example above.

You’ll be surprised how much value you can find in each of those experiences and how you can transform them into positives that show your commitment and potential.

• Low exam grades? Can you write about the self-knowledge you’ve since learned for academic success? Maybe you can balance this with very successful practical experiences?
• Struggling to find a job? Can you write about how you’ve used your available free time positively?
• Not given a scholarship? Can you write about the strengths you used to overcome this challenge and how this flexibility and courage will be of value in the future?

As promised, you can download a free worksheet that takes you through this process in detail by clicking here or hitting the banner below.

No sign-ups, just free, helpful resources.

Don’t forget, if you’d like to work with me 1:1 to write a perfect personal statement, click here or hit the banner below.

I’d love to hear from you!

Good luck with your personal statement, and don’t forget to contact me if you’d like some 1-1 support. You’ve got this! D

Research and content verified by Personal Statement Planet .

David Hallen

I've worked in the Further Education and University Admissions sector for nearly 20 years as a teacher, department head, Head of Sixth Form, UCAS Admissions Advisor, UK Centre Lead and freelance personal statement advisor, editor and writer. And now I'm here for you...

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The Uni Guide has a fresh new look

• Teacher training
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• University of Aberdeen
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• Clearing and results day
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• Choosing a course
• A-level results day: what to expect
• A guide to Btec results day
• How Ucas Hub works on results day
• What to say in a Clearing phone call
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By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 18 August 2023 | 22 min read

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Stand out from the crowd: here's how to write a good personal statement that will get you noticed

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Your personal statement forms a core part of your university application, and the sooner you get going, the better you can make it. You may think that your personal statement won’t matter as much to unis as your grades and experience but a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grades. Sure, your application might not reach that deal breaker stage. But is it something you want to leave to chance?  Here we’ll take you through the process of planning, writing and checking a good personal statement, so you end up with something you can submit with confidence. And to make sure the advice we're giving you is sound, we’ve spoken to admissions staff at loads of UK universities to get their view. Look out for video interviews and advice on applying for specific subjects throughout this piece or watch our personal statement playlist on YouTube .

• Are you looking for personal statement examples? Check our library of hundreds of real personal statements, on The Student Room

Personal statement deadlines

You'll need to make sure you've got your personal statement written well in advance of your application deadline. Below are the main university application deadline dates for 2024 entry.

2024 entry deadlines

16 October 2023: Deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities, along with most medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses.   31 January 2024: Deadline for applications to the majority of undergraduate courses. After this date, universities will start allocating places on these courses –   but you can still apply after the 31 January deadline , as this article explains . 30 June 2024:  Students who apply after this date will be entered into Clearing .

• Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a central part of your Ucas application, where you explain why you’ve chosen a particular course and why you’ll be good at it. It's your chance to stand out against other candidates and hopefully get that all-important offer. You only write one personal statement which is then read by each university you apply to, so if you are applying for more than one subject (or it's a combined course) it's crucial that you include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects. Personal statements are especially important if you’re trying to get on a very competitive course, where you need to do anything you can to stand out to admissions tutors. Courteney Sheppard, senior customer experience manager at Ucas, advises that your personal statement is "the only part of the application that you have direct control over. Do lots of research to demonstrate your passion, curiosity and drive to pursue your chosen subject." There’s a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. This may appear generous (read: long) but once you've got going you may find yourself having to edit heavily.

• Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

1. Plan what you want to cover

The first thing you need to do is make a plan. Writing a personal statement off the top of your head is difficult. Start by making some notes, answering the following questions:

• What do you want to study?
• Why do you want to study it?
• What is there about you that shows you’re suited to studying this subject at university? Think about your personality, as well as your experiences.
• What are your other interests and skills?

These few points are going to form the spine of your personal statement, so write them in a way that makes sense to you. You might want to make a simple bulleted list or you might want to get all arty and use a mindmap. Whatever you choose, your aim is the same. You want to get it clear in your own head why a university should offer you a place on its course. Getting those details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. You might try carrying a notebook with you or set up a memo on your phone. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down. Inspiration sometimes comes more easily when you’re thinking about something else entirely. It might help to take a look at The Student Room for some sample personal statements by university and sample personal statements by subjects , to give you an idea of the kind of thing you want to include. 

• Read more: personal statement FAQs

2. Show off your experience

Some things are worth adding to your personal statement, some things are not. Firmly in the second camp are your qualifications. You don’t need to mention these as there’s a whole other section of your personal statement where you get to detail them very precisely. Don’t waste a single character going on about how great your GCSE grades are – it’s not what the admissions tutor wants to read. What they do want to see is: what have you done? OK, so you’ve got some good grades, but so do a lot of other applicants. What have you done that’s different, that shows you off as someone who really loves the subject you’re applying for? Spend some time thinking about all the experience you have in that subject. If you’re lucky, this might be direct work experience. That’s going to be particularly appropriate if you’re applying for one of the more vocational subjects such as medicine or journalism . But uni staff realise getting plum work experience placements is easier for some people than others, so cast your net wider when you’re thinking about what you’ve done. How about after-school clubs? Debating societies? Are you running a blog or vlog? What key skills and experience have you picked up elsewhere (eg from hobbies) that could be tied in with your course choice? Remember, you’re looking for experience that shows why you want to study your chosen subject. You’re not just writing an essay about what you're doing in your A-level syllabus. Use this checklist as a guide for what to include:

• Your interest in the course. Why do you want to spend three years studying this subject at university?
• What have you done outside school or college that demonstrates this interest? Think about things like fairs/exhibitions, public lectures or voluntary work that is relevant to your subject.
• Relevant work experience (essential for the likes of medicine, not required for non-vocational courses such as English )
• Skills and qualities required for that career if appropriate (medicine, nursing and law as obvious examples)
• Interest in your current studies – what particular topics have made an impression on you?
• Any other interests/hobbies/experiences you wish to mention that are relevant either to the subject or 'going to uni'. Don't just list your hobbies, you need to be very selective and state clearly what difference doing these things has made to you.
• Plans for a gap year if you’re deferring entry.

Read more: 6 steps you need to take to apply to university

3. Be bold about your achievements

Don't be bashful about your achievements; that’s not going to help you get into uni. It's time to unleash your inner Muhammed Ali and get all “I am the greatest” with your writing. Do keep it focused and accurate. Do keep your language professional. But don’t hide your qualities beneath a layer of false modesty. Your personal statement is a sell – you are selling yourself as a brilliant student and you need to show the reader why that is true. This doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and if you’re finding it difficult to write about how great you are it’s time to enlist some help. Round up a friend or two, a family member, a teacher, whoever and get them to write down your qualities. Getting someone else’s view here can help you get some perspective. Don’t be shy. You are selling your skills, your experience and your enthusiasm – make sure they all leap off the screen with the way you have described them.

• Read more: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement  

4. How to start your personal statement

Type your personal statement in a cloud-based word processing program, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word and don’t copy and paste it into Ucas Hub until it’s finished.  One of the benefits of doing it this way is that you can run spell check easily. (Please note, though, that Word adds "curly" quotation marks and other characters (like é or ü) that won't show up on your Ucas form, so do proofread it on Ucas Hub before submitting it to ensure it is how you typed it.)  Another big benefit is that you'll always have a backup of what you've written. If you're being super careful, you could always save your statement in another place as well. Bear in mind that extra spaces (eg adding spaces to the beginnings of paragraphs as indentation) are removed on Ucas. In your first sentence, cut to the chase. Why do you want to do the course? Don’t waste any time rambling on about the daydreams you had when you were five. Just be clear and concise – describe in one line why this course is so important to you. Then, in the rest of your intro, go into more detail in demonstrating your enthusiasm for the course and explaining how you decided this is what you want to do for the next three or more years. However you choose to start your statement, just avoid the following hoary old chestnuts. These have been some of the most used lines in personal statements over the years – they are beyond cliche, so don’t even think about it.

• From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
• For as long as I can remember, I have…
• I am applying for this course because… 
• I have always been interested in… 
• Throughout my life I have always enjoyed… 
• Reflecting on my educational experiences… 
• [Subject] is a very challenging and demanding [career/profession/course]… 
• Academically, I have always been… 
• I have always wanted to pursue a career in… 
• I have always been passionate about…   

5. Focus your writing on why you've chosen that subject

So you’ve got your intro done – time to nail the rest of it. Bear in mind that you’ve got to be a little bit careful when following a personal statement template. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying someone else’s style, and in the process lose all of your own voice and personality from your writing. But there is a rough order that you can follow, which should help keep you in your flow. After your opening paragraph or two, get into any work experience (if you’ve got it). Talk about extracurriculars: anything you've done which is relevant to the subject can go here – hobbies, interests, volunteering. Touch on your career aspirations – where do you want this course to take you? Next, show your enthusiasm for your current studies. Cite some specific examples of current work that you enjoyed. Show off your relevant skills and qualities by explaining how you’ve used these in the past. Make sure you’re giving real-world examples here, not just vague assertions like “I’m really organised and motivated”. Try to use examples that are relevant.   Follow this up with something about you as a person. Talk about non-academic stuff that you like to do, but link it in some way with the course, or with how it shows your maturity for dealing with uni life. Round it all off by bringing your main points together, including a final emphasis of your commitment to studying this particular course.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement in an evening  

6. How long should a personal statement be?

You've got to work to a very specific limit when writing your personal statement. In theory you could use up to 4,000 characters – but you’re probably more likely to be limited by the line count. That's because it's a good idea to put line breaks in between your paragraphs (to make it more readable) and you only get a maximum of 47 lines. With this in mind, 3,500 characters is a more realistic limit. But when you’re getting started you should ignore these limits completely. At first, you just want to get down everything that you feel is important. You'll probably end up with something that is far too long, but that's fine. This is where you get to do some polishing and pruning. Keep the focus of your piece on the course you’re applying for, why you want to do it and why you’re perfectly suited to it. Look through what you’ve written so far – have you got the balance right? Chop out anything that goes on a bit, as you want each point to be snappy and succinct.

• Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements  

7. Keep it simple

8. Smart ways to end your personal statement

Writing a closing line that you’re happy with can feel as tricky as coming up with your opener. What you’re looking for here is a sign-off that is bold and memorable. The final couple of sentences in your statement give you the opportunity to emphasise all the good stuff you’ve already covered. Use this space to leave the reader in no doubt as to what an excellent addition you would be to their university. Pull together all your key points and – most importantly – address the central question that your personal statement should answer: why should you get a place on the course?

• Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang  

9. Make sure your personal statement has no mistakes

Now you’ve got a personal statement you’re happy with, you need to make sure there are no mistakes. Check it, check it a second time, then check it again. Once you’ve done that, get someone else to check it, too. You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you send through a personal statement with spelling and/or grammatical errors. You’ve got months to put this together so there really is no excuse for sending through something that looks like a rush job. Ask your teachers to look at it, and be prepared to accept their feedback without getting defensive. They will have seen many personal statements before; use what they tell you to make yours even better. You’ve also got another chance here to look through the content of your personal statement, so you can make sure the balance is right. Make sure your focus is very clearly on the subject you are applying for and why you want to study it. Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or social media where anyone can see it. You will get picked up by the Ucas plagiarism checker. Similarly, don't copy any that you find online. Instead, now is a good time to make your parents feel useful. Read your personal statement out to them and get them to give you feedback. Or try printing it out and mixing it up with a few others (you can find sample personal statements on The Student Room). Get them to read them all and then try to pick yours out. If they can't, perhaps there's not enough of your personality in there.  

10. Don't think about your personal statement for a whole week

If you followed the advice at the very start of this guide, you’ve started your personal statement early. Good job! There are months before you need to submit it. Use one of these weeks to forget about your personal statement completely. Get on with other things – anything you like. Just don’t go near your statement. Give it a whole week and then open up the document again and read through it with fresh eyes. You’ll gain a whole new perspective on what you’ve written and will be well placed to make more changes, if needed.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say  

10 steps to your ideal personal statement

In summary, here are the ten steps you should follow to create the perfect personal statement.  

Personal statement dos and don'ts

• Remember that your personal statement is your personal statement, not an article written about your intended field of study. It should tell the reader about you, not about the subject.
• Only put in things that you’re prepared to talk about at the interviews.
• Give convincing reasons for why you want to study the course – more than just "enjoying the subject" (this should be a given).
• For very competitive courses, find out as much as you can about the nature of the course and try to make your personal statement relevant to this.
• Be reflective. If you make a point like 'I like reading', 'I travelled abroad', say what you got from it.
• Go through the whole thing checking your grammar and your spelling. Do this at least twice. It doesn’t matter if you’re not applying to an essay-based course – a personal statement riddled with spelling mistakes is just going to irritate the reader, which is the last thing you want to do. If this is something you find difficult then have someone look over it for you.
• Leave blank lines between your paragraphs. It’s easier for the reader to get through your personal statement when it’s broken into easily digestible chunks. Remember that they’re going to be reading a lot of these! Make yours easy to get through.
• Get someone else's opinion on your statement. Read it out to family or friends. Share it with your teacher. Look for feedback wherever you can find it, then act upon it.
• Don’t write it like a letter. Kicking off with a greeting such as "Dear Sir/Madam" not only looks weird, it also wastes precious space.
• Don’t make jokes. This is simply not the time – save them for your first night in the union.
• Don’t criticise your current school or college or try to blame teachers for any disappointing grades you might have got.
• Be afraid of details – if you want your PS to be personal to you that means explaining exactly which bits of work or topics or activities you've taken part in/enjoyed. It's much more compelling to read about one or two detailed examples than a paragraph that brushes over five or six.
• Just list what you're doing now. You should pull out the experiences that are relevant to the courses which you're applying to.
• Mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated by you or what you learnt from them. Anyone can write "I have great leadership skills" in a PS, actually using a sentence to explain when you demonstrated good leadership skills is much rarer and more valuable.
• Refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs (or equivalent).
• Give explanations about medical or mental health problems. These should be explained in your reference, not your PS.
• Apply for too many different courses, making it difficult to write a convincing personal statement which supports the application.
• Write a statement specific to just one institution, unless you're only applying to that one choice.
• Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else! This means do not plagiarise. All statements are automatically checked for plagiarism by Ucas. Those that are highlighted by the computer system are checked manually by Ucas staff. If you’re found to have plagiarised parts of your statement, the universities you apply to will be informed and it could jeopardise your applications.
• Use ChatGPT or another AI program to write your personal statement for you. Or, if you do, make sure you thoroughly edit and personalise the text so it's truly yours. Otherwise you're very much at risk of the plagiarism point above.

You may want to look at these...

How to write your university application.

Tips for writing your university application, including deadlines and personal statements

The Ucas personal statement is changing in 2025

A question-based personal statement will be required as part of university applications from autumn 2025 onwards

How long does it take for universities to reply to your application?

It might feel like it's taking forever for your uni offers to come through. Find out what's going on, and when you should hear back

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How to Write a Personal Statement (with Tips and Examples)

By Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

What is a personal statement, 6 tips on how to write a personal statement, personal statement examples (for college and university), faqs about writing personal statements, conclusion on how to write a personal statement.

How do you tell someone who you are in just a few hundred words?

It’s certainly no easy task, but it’s one almost every college applicant must do. The personal statement is a crucial part of any college or university application.

So, how do you write a compelling personal statement?

In this article, we’ll give you all the tools, tips, and examples you need to write an effective personal statement.

A personal statement is a short essay that reveals something important about who you are. It can talk about your background, your interests, your values, your goals in life, or all of the above.

Personal statements are required by many college admission offices and scholarship selection committees. They’re a key part of your application, alongside your academic transcript, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities.

The reason application committees ask you to write a personal statement is so they can get to know who you are. 

Some personal statements have specific prompts, such as “Discuss a period of personal growth in your life” or “Tell us about a challenge or failure you’ve faced.” Others are more open-ended with prompts that essentially boil down to “Tell us about yourself.”

No matter what the prompt is, your goal is the same: to make yourself stand out to the selection committee as a strong candidate for their program.

Here are some things a personal statement can be:

It can be funny. If you have a great sense of humor, your personal statement is a great place to let that shine.  

It can be vulnerable. Don’t be afraid to open up about hardships in your life or failures you’ve experienced. Showing vulnerability can make you sound more like a real person rather than just a collection of application materials.  

It can be creative. Candidates have got into top schools with personal statements that take the form of “a day in the life” descriptions, third-person short stories, and even cooking recipes.

Now we’ve talked about what a personal statement is, let’s quickly look at what a personal statement isn’t:

It isn’t a formal academic paper. You should write the personal statement in your natural voice, using first-person pronouns like “I” and “me,” not in the formal, objective language you would use to write an academic paper.

It isn’t a five-paragraph essay. You should use as many paragraphs as you need to tell your story instead of sticking to the essay structure you learned in school.

It isn’t a resumé. You should try to describe yourself by telling a clear and cohesive story rather than providing a jumbled list of all of your accomplishments and ambitions.

Here are our top six tips for writing a strong personal statement.

Tip 1: Do Some Serious Self-Reflection

The hardest part of writing a personal statement isn’t the actual process of writing it.

Before you start typing, you have to figure out what to write about. And that means taking some time to reflect on who you are and what’s important in your life.

Here are some useful questions you can use to start your self-reflection. You can either answer these on your own by writing down your answers, or you can ask a trusted friend to listen as you talk about them together.

What were the key moments that shaped your life? (e.g. an important friendship, a travel experience, an illness or injury)

What are you proud of? (e.g. you’re a good listener, you always keep your promises, you’re a talented musician)

How do you choose to spend your time? (e.g. reading, practicing soccer, spending time with your friends)

What inspires you? (e.g. your grandmother, a celebrity, your favorite song)

Doing this self-reflection is crucial for figuring out the perfect topics and anecdotes you can use to describe who you are.

Tip 2: Try to Avoid Cliché Topics

College application committees read thousands of personal statements a year. That means there are some personal statement topics they see over and over again.

Here are a few examples of common personal statement topics that have become cliché:

Winning a tournament or sports game

Volunteering in a foreign country

Moving to a new home

Becoming an older sibling

Being an immigrant or having immigrant parents

If you want to make a strong impression in the application process, you need to make your personal statement stand out from the crowd.

But if your chosen personal statement topic falls into one of these categories, that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t use it. Just make sure to put a unique spin on it so it still delivers something the committee hasn’t seen before.

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Tip 3: Show, Don’t Tell

One common mistake you might make in your personal statement is to simply tell the reader what you want them to know about you, such as by stating “I have a fear of public speaking” or “I love to cook.”

Instead of simply stating these facts, you should show the committee what you’re talking about through a story or scene, which will make your essay much more immersive and memorable.

For example, let’s say you want the committee to know you overcame your fear of public speaking. Instead of writing “I overcame my fear of public speaking,” show them what it was like to be onstage in front of a microphone. Did your palms get clammy? Did you feel light-headed? Did you forget your words?

Or let’s say you want the committee to know you love to cook. Instead of writing “I love to cook,” show them why you love to cook. What’s your favorite dish to cook? What does the air smell like when you’re cooking it? What kitchen appliances do you use to make it?

Tip 4: Connect the Story to Why You’re Applying

Don’t forget that the purpose of your personal statement isn’t simply to tell the admissions committee who you are. That’s an important part of it, of course, but your ultimate goal is to convince them to choose you as a candidate.

That means it’s important to tie your personal story to your reasons for applying to this specific school or scholarship. Finish your essay with a strong thesis.

For example, if your story is about overcoming your fear of public speaking, you might connect that story to your ambition of becoming a politician. You can then tie that to your application by saying, “I want to apply to this school because of its fantastic politics program, which will give me a perfect opportunity to use my voice.”

Tip 5: Write in Your Own Voice

The personal statement isn’t supposed to be written in a formal tone. That’s why they’re called “personal” statements because you have to shape it to fit your own voice and style.

Don’t use complicated or overwrought language. You don’t need to fill your essay with semicolons and big words, unless that’s how you sound in real life.

One way to write in your own voice is by speaking your personal statement out loud. If it doesn’t feel natural, it may need changing. 

Tip 6: Edit, Edit, Edit!

It’s important to revise your personal statement multiple times in order to make sure it’s as close to perfect as possible.

A single typo won’t kill your application, but if your personal statement contains multiple spelling errors or egregious grammar mistakes, you won’t be putting your best foot forward.

ProWritingAid can help you make sure your personal statement is as clean as possible. In addition to catching your grammar errors, typos, and punctuation mistakes, it will also help you improve weaknesses in your writing, such as passive voice, unnecessary repetition, and more.

Let’s look at some of the best personal statements that have worked for successful candidates in the real world. 

Harvard Personal Statement Example

Love. For a word describing such a powerful emotion, it is always in the air. The word “love” has become so pervasive in everyday conversation that it hardly retains its roots in blazing passion and deep adoration. In fact, the word is thrown about so much that it becomes difficult to believe society isn’t just one huge, smitten party, with everyone holding hands and singing “Kumbaya.” In films, it’s the teenage boy’s grudging response to a doting mother. At school, it’s a habitual farewell between friends. But in my Chinese home, it’s never uttered. Watching my grandmother lie unconscious on the hospital bed, waiting for her body to shut down, was excruciatingly painful. Her final quavering breaths formed a discordant rhythm with the steady beep of hospital equipment and the unsympathetic tapping hands of the clock. That evening, I whispered—into unhearing ears—the first, and only, “I love you” I ever said to her, my rankling guilt haunting me relentlessly for weeks after her passing. My warm confession seemed anticlimactic, met with only the coldness of my surroundings—the blank room, impassive doctors, and empty silence. I struggled to understand why the “love” that so easily rolled off my tongue when bantering with friends dissipated from my vocabulary when I spoke to my family. Do Chinese people simply love less than Americans do?

This is an excerpt from a personal statement that got the applicant admitted to Harvard University. The applicant discusses her background as a Chinese-American by musing on the word “love” and what that means within her family.

The writer uses vulnerable details about her relationship with her grandmother to give the reader an understanding of where she comes from and how her family has shaped her.  

You can read the full personal statement on the Harvard Crimson website.

Tufts Personal Statement Example

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry’s “Cars and Trucks and Things That Go,” and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon. Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration. Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear. I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

This is the beginning of a personal statement by Renner Kwittken, who was admitted into Tufts University as a pre-medical student.

Renner uses a humorous anecdote about being a pickle truck driver to describe his love for nanomedicine and how he got involved in his field. You can feel his passion for medicine throughout his personal statement.

You can find Renner’s full essay on the Tufts Admissions page.

Law School Personal Statement Essay Example

For most people, the slap on the face that turns their life around is figurative. Mine was literal. Actually, it was a punch delivered by a drill sergeant at Fort Dix, New Jersey, while I was in basic training. That day’s activity, just a few weeks into the program, included instruction in “low-crawling,” a sensible method of moving from one place to another on a battlefield. I felt rather clever for having discovered that, by looking right rather than down, I eliminated my helmet’s unfortunate tendency to dig into the ground and slow my progress. I could thus advance more easily, but I also exposed my unprotected face to hostile fire. Drill sergeants are typically very good at detecting this type of laziness, and mine was an excellent drill sergeant. So, after his repeated suggestions that I correct my performance went unheeded, he drove home his point with a fist to my face. We were both stunned. This was, after all, the New Army, and striking a trainee was a career-ending move for a drill sergeant, as we were both aware. I could have reported him; arguably, I should have. I didn’t. It didn’t seem right for this good sergeant, who had not slept for almost four days, to lose his career for losing his temper with my laziness. Choosing not to report him was the first decision I remember making that made me proud.

These are the first three paragraphs of an anonymous personal statement by a Wheaton College graduate, who used this personal statement to get into a top-25 law school.

This statement describes a time the applicant faced a challenging decision while in the army. He ended up making a decision he was proud of, and as a result, the personal statement gives us a sense of his character.

You can find the full essay on the Wheaton Academics website.

Here are some common questions about how to write a personal statement.

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be?

The length of your personal statement depends on the specific program you’re applying to. The application guidelines usually specify a maximum word count or an ideal word count.  

Most personal statements are between 500–800 words. That’s a good general range to aim for if you don’t have more specific guidelines.  

Should Personal Statements Be Different for Scholarships?

Many scholarship applications will ask for personal statements with similar prompts to those of college applications.

However, the purpose of a personal statement you’d write for a scholarship application is different from the purpose of one you’d write for a college application.

For a scholarship application, your goal is to showcase why you deserve the scholarship. To do that, you need to understand the mission of the organization offering that scholarship.

For example, some scholarships are meant to help first-generation college students get their degree, while others are meant to help women break into STEM.

Consider the following questions:

Why is this organization offering scholarships?

What would their ideal scholarship candidate look like?

How do your experiences and goals overlap with those of their ideal scholarship candidate?

You can use the same personal anecdotes you’d use for any other personal statement, but you’ll have a better chance of winning the scholarship if you tailor your essay to match their specific mission.

How to Start a Personal Statement

You should start your personal statement with a “hook” that pulls the reader in. The sooner you catch the reader’s attention, the more likely they’ll want to read the entire essay.

Here are some examples of hooks you can use:

A story (e.g. When the spotlight hit my face, I tried to remind myself to breathe. )

A setting description (e.g. My bedroom floor is covered with dirty laundry, candy wrappers, and crumpled sheet music. )

A funny anecdote (e.g. When I was a little kid, my friends nicknamed me Mowgli because of my haircut. )

A surprising fact (e.g. I've lived in 37 countries .)

There you have it—our complete guide to writing a personal statement that will make you stand out to the application committee.

Here’s a quick recap: 

A personal statement is a short essay that shows an application committee who you are

Start with a strong hook that pulls the reader in

Tell a story to engage the reader 

Write in your own voice, not in a formal tone

Good luck, and happy writing!

Hannah Yang

Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

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10 Personal Statement Essay Examples That Worked

What’s covered:, what is a personal statement.

• Essay 1: Summer Program
• Essay 2: Being Bangladeshi-American
• Essay 3: Why Medicine
• Essay 4: Love of Writing
• Essay 5: Starting a Fire
• Essay 6: Dedicating a Track
• Essay 7: Body Image and Eating Disorders
• Essay 8: Becoming a Coach
• Essay 9: Eritrea
• Essay 10: Journaling
• Is Your Personal Statement Strong Enough?

Your personal statement is any essay that you must write for your main application, such as the Common App Essay , University of California Essays , or Coalition Application Essay . This type of essay focuses on your unique experiences, ideas, or beliefs that may not be discussed throughout the rest of your application. This essay should be an opportunity for the admissions officers to get to know you better and give them a glimpse into who you really are.

In this post, we will share 10 different personal statements that were all written by real students. We will also provide commentary on what each essay did well and where there is room for improvement, so you can make your personal statement as strong as possible!

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Personal Statement Examples

Essay example #1: exchange program.

The twisting roads, ornate mosaics, and fragrant scent of freshly ground spices had been so foreign at first. Now in my fifth week of the SNYI-L summer exchange program in Morocco, I felt more comfortable in the city. With a bag full of pastries from the market, I navigated to a bus stop, paid the fare, and began the trip back to my host family’s house. It was hard to believe that only a few years earlier my mom was worried about letting me travel around my home city on my own, let alone a place that I had only lived in for a few weeks. While I had been on a journey towards self-sufficiency and independence for a few years now, it was Morocco that pushed me to become the confident, self-reflective person that I am today.

As a child, my parents pressured me to achieve perfect grades, master my swim strokes, and discover interesting hobbies like playing the oboe and learning to pick locks. I felt compelled to live my life according to their wishes. Of course, this pressure was not a wholly negative factor in my life –– you might even call it support. However, the constant presence of my parents’ hopes for me overcame my own sense of desire and led me to become quite dependent on them. I pushed myself to get straight A’s, complied with years of oboe lessons, and dutifully attended hours of swim practice after school. Despite all these achievements, I felt like I had no sense of self beyond my drive for success. I had always been expected to succeed on the path they had defined. However, this path was interrupted seven years after my parents’ divorce when my dad moved across the country to Oregon.

I missed my dad’s close presence, but I loved my new sense of freedom. My parents’ separation allowed me the space to explore my own strengths and interests as each of them became individually busier. As early as middle school, I was riding the light rail train by myself, reading maps to get myself home, and applying to special academic programs without urging from my parents. Even as I took more initiatives on my own, my parents both continued to see me as somewhat immature. All of that changed three years ago, when I applied and was accepted to the SNYI-L summer exchange program in Morocco. I would be studying Arabic and learning my way around the city of Marrakesh. Although I think my parents were a little surprised when I told them my news, the addition of a fully-funded scholarship convinced them to let me go.

I lived with a host family in Marrakesh and learned that they, too, had high expectations for me. I didn’t know a word of Arabic, and although my host parents and one brother spoke good English, they knew I was there to learn. If I messed up, they patiently corrected me but refused to let me fall into the easy pattern of speaking English just as I did at home. Just as I had when I was younger, I felt pressured and stressed about meeting their expectations. However, one day, as I strolled through the bustling market square after successfully bargaining with one of the street vendors, I realized my mistake. My host family wasn’t being unfair by making me fumble through Arabic. I had applied for this trip, and I had committed to the intensive language study. My host family’s rules about speaking Arabic at home had not been to fulfill their expectations for me, but to help me fulfill my expectations for myself. Similarly, the pressure my parents had put on me as a child had come out of love and their hopes for me, not out of a desire to crush my individuality.

As my bus drove through the still-bustling market square and past the medieval Ben-Youssef madrasa, I realized that becoming independent was a process, not an event. I thought that my parents’ separation when I was ten had been the one experience that would transform me into a self-motivated and autonomous person. It did, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t still have room to grow. Now, although I am even more self-sufficient than I was three years ago, I try to approach every experience with the expectation that it will change me. It’s still difficult, but I understand that just because growth can be uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s not important.

What the Essay Did Well

This is a nice essay because it delves into particular character trait of the student and how it has been shaped and matured over time. Although it doesn’t focus the essay around a specific anecdote, the essay is still successful because it is centered around this student’s independence. This is a nice approach for a personal statement: highlight a particular trait of yours and explore how it has grown with you.

The ideas in this essay are universal to growing up—living up to parents’ expectations, yearning for freedom, and coming to terms with reality—but it feels unique to the student because of the inclusion of details specific to them. Including their oboe lessons, the experience of riding the light rail by themselves, and the negotiations with a street vendor helps show the reader what these common tropes of growing up looked like for them personally. 

Another strength of the essay is the level of self-reflection included throughout the piece. Since there is no central anecdote tying everything together, an essay about a character trait is only successful when you deeply reflect on how you felt, where you made mistakes, and how that trait impacts your life. The author includes reflection in sentences like “ I felt like I had no sense of self beyond my drive for success, ” and “ I understand that just because growth can be uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s not important. ” These sentences help us see how the student was impacted and what their point of view is.

What Could Be Improved

The largest change this essay would benefit from is to show not tell. The platitude you have heard a million times no doubt, but for good reason. This essay heavily relies on telling the reader what occurred, making us less engaged as the entire reading experience feels more passive. If the student had shown us what happens though, it keeps the reader tied to the action and makes them feel like they are there with the student, making it much more enjoyable to read. 

For example, they tell us about the pressure to succeed their parents placed on them: “ I pushed myself to get straight A’s, complied with years of oboe lessons, and dutifully attended hours of swim practice after school.”  They could have shown us what that pressure looked like with a sentence like this: “ My stomach turned somersaults as my rattling knee thumped against the desk before every test, scared to get anything less than a 95. For five years the painful squawk of the oboe only reminded me of my parents’ claps and whistles at my concerts. I mastered the butterfly, backstroke, and freestyle, fighting against the anchor of their expectations threatening to pull me down.”

If the student had gone through their essay and applied this exercise of bringing more detail and colorful language to sentences that tell the reader what happened, the essay would be really great. 

Table of Contents

Essay Example #2: Being Bangladeshi-American

Life before was good: verdant forests, sumptuous curries, and a devoted family.

Then, my family abandoned our comfortable life in Bangladesh for a chance at the American dream in Los Angeles. Within our first year, my father was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He lost his battle three weeks before my sixth birthday. Facing a new country without the steady presence of my father, we were vulnerable — prisoners of hardship in the land of the free. We resettled in the Bronx, in my uncle’s renovated basement. It was meant to be our refuge, but I felt more displaced than ever. Gone were the high-rise condos of West L.A.; instead, government projects towered over the neighborhood. Pedestrians no longer smiled and greeted me; the atmosphere was hostile, even toxic. Schoolkids were quick to pick on those they saw as weak or foreign, hurling harsh words I’d never heard before.

Meanwhile, my family began integrating into the local Bangladeshi community. I struggled to understand those who shared my heritage. Bangladeshi mothers stayed home while fathers drove cabs and sold fruit by the roadside — painful societal positions. Riding on crosstown buses or walking home from school, I began to internalize these disparities. During my fleeting encounters with affluent Upper East Siders, I saw kids my age with nannies, parents who wore suits to work, and luxurious apartments with spectacular views. Most took cabs to their destinations: cabs that Bangladeshis drove. I watched the mundane moments of their lives with longing, aching to plant myself in their shoes. Shame prickled down my spine. I distanced myself from my heritage, rejecting the traditional panjabis worn on Eid and refusing the torkari we ate for dinner every day. 

As I grappled with my relationship with the Bangladeshi community, I turned my attention to helping my Bronx community by pursuing an internship with Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda. I handled desk work and took calls, spending the bulk of my time actively listening to the hardships constituents faced — everything from a veteran stripped of his benefits to a grandmother unable to support her bedridden grandchild.

I’d never exposed myself to stories like these, and now I was the first to hear them. As an intern, I could only assist in what felt like the small ways — pointing out local job offerings, printing information on free ESL classes, reaching out to non-profits. But to a community facing an onslaught of intense struggles, I realized that something as small as these actions could have vast impacts. Seeing the immediate consequences of my actions inspired me. Throughout that summer, I internalized my community’s daily challenges in a new light. I began to stop seeing the prevalent underemployment and cramped living quarters less as sources of shame. Instead, I saw them as realities that had to be acknowledged, but could ultimately be remedied. I also realized the benefits of the Bangladeshi culture I had been so ashamed of. My Bangla language skills were an asset to the office, and my understanding of Bangladeshi etiquette allowed for smooth communication between office staff and its constituents. As I helped my neighbors navigate city services, I saw my heritage with pride — a perspective I never expected to have.

I can now appreciate the value of my unique culture and background, and of living with less. This perspective offers room for progress, community integration, and a future worth fighting for. My time with Assemblyman Sepulveda’s office taught me that I can be a change agent in enabling this progression. Far from being ashamed of my community, I want to someday return to local politics in the Bronx to continue helping others access the American Dream. I hope to help my community appreciate the opportunity to make progress together. By embracing reality, I learned to live it. Along the way, I discovered one thing: life is good, but we can make it better.

This student’s passion for social justice and civic duty shines through in this essay because of how honest it is. Sharing their personal experience with immigrating, moving around, being an outsider, and finding a community allows us to see the hardships this student has faced and builds empathy towards their situation. However, what really makes it strong is that they go beyond describing the difficulties they faced and explain the mental impact it had on them as a child: Shame prickled down my spine. I distanced myself from my heritage, rejecting the traditional panjabis worn on Eid and refusing the torkari we ate for dinner every day. 

The rejection of their culture presented at the beginning of the essay creates a nice juxtaposition with the student’s view in the latter half of the essay and helps demonstrate how they have matured. They use their experience interning as a way to delve into a change in their thought process about their culture and show how their passion for social justice began. Using this experience as a mechanism to explore their thoughts and feelings is an excellent example of how items that are included elsewhere on your application should be incorporated into your essay.

This essay prioritizes emotions and personal views over specific anecdotes. Although there are details and certain moments incorporated throughout to emphasize the author’s points, the main focus remains on the student and how they grapple with their culture and identity.  

One area for improvement is the conclusion. Although the forward-looking approach is a nice way to end an essay focused on social justice, it would be nice to include more details and imagery in the conclusion. How does the student want to help their community? What government position do they see themselves holding one day? 

A more impactful ending might look like the student walking into their office at the New York City Housing Authority in 15 years and looking at the plans to build a new development in the Bronx just blocks away from where the grew up that would provide quality housing to people in their Bangladeshi community. They would smile while thinking about how far they have come from that young kid who used to be ashamed of their culture. 

Essay Example #3: Why Medicine

I took my first trip to China to visit my cousin Anna in July of 2014. Distance had kept us apart, but when we were together, we fell into all of our old inside jokes and caught up on each other’s lives. Her sparkling personality and optimistic attitude always brought a smile to my face. This time, however, my heart broke when I saw the effects of her brain cancer; she had suffered from a stroke that paralyzed her left side. She was still herself in many ways, but I could see that the damage to her brain made things difficult for her. I stayed by her every day, providing the support she needed, whether assisting her with eating and drinking, reading to her, or just watching “Friends.” During my flight back home, sorrow and helplessness overwhelmed me. Would I ever see Anna again? Could I have done more to make Anna comfortable? I wished I could stay in China longer to care for her. As I deplaned, I wondered if I could transform my grief to help other children and teenagers in the US who suffered as Anna did.

The day after I got home, as jet lag dragged me awake a few minutes after midnight, I remembered hearing about the Family Reach Foundation (FRF) and its work with children going through treatments at the local hospital and their families. I began volunteering in the FRF’s Children’s Activity Room, where I play with children battling cancer. Volunteering has both made me appreciate my own health and also cherish the new relationships I build with the children and families. We play sports, make figures out of playdoh, and dress up. When they take on the roles of firefighters or fairies, we all get caught up in the game; for that time, they forget the sanitized, stark, impersonal walls of the pediatric oncology ward. Building close relationships with them and seeing them giggle and laugh is so rewarding — I love watching them grow and get better throughout their course of treatment.

Hearing from the parents about their children’s condition and seeing the children recover inspired me to consider medical research. To get started, I enrolled in a summer collegelevel course in Abnormal Psychology. There I worked with Catelyn, a rising college senior, on a data analysis project regarding Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Together, we examined the neurological etiology of DID by studying four fMRI and PET cases. I fell in love with gathering data and analyzing the results and was amazed by our final product: several stunning brain images showcasing the areas of hyper and hypoactivity in brains affected by DID. Desire quickly followed my amazement — I want to continue this project and study more brains. Their complexity, delicacy, and importance to every aspect of life fascinate me. Successfully completing this research project gave me a sense of hope; I know I am capable of participating in a large scale research project and potentially making a difference in someone else’s life through my research.

Anna’s diagnosis inspired me to begin volunteering at FRF; from there, I discovered my desire to help people further by contributing to medical research. As my research interest blossomed, I realized that it’s no coincidence that I want to study brains—after all, Anna suffered from brain cancer. Reflecting on these experiences this past year and a half, I see that everything I’ve done is connected. Sadly, a few months after I returned from China, Anna passed away. I am still sad, but as I run a toy truck across the floor and watch one of the little patients’ eyes light up, I imagine that she would be proud of my commitment to pursue medicine and study the brain.

This essay has a very strong emotional core that tugs at the heart strings and makes the reader feel invested. Writing about sickness can be difficult and doesn’t always belong in a personal statement, but in this case it works well because the focus is on how this student cared for her cousin and dealt with the grief and emotions surrounding her condition. Writing about the compassion she showed and the doubts and concerns that filled her mind keeps the focus on the author and her personality. 

This continues when she again discusses the activities she did with the kids at FRF and the personal reflection this experience allowed her to have. For example, she writes: Volunteering has both made me appreciate my own health and also cherish the new relationships I build with the children and families. We play sports, make figures out of playdoh, and dress up.

Concluding the essay with the sad story of her cousin’s passing brings the essay full circle and returns to the emotional heart of the piece to once again build a connection with the reader. However, it finishes on a hopeful note and demonstrates how this student has been able to turn a tragic experience into a source of lifelong inspiration. 

One thing this essay should be cognizant of is that personal statements should not read as summaries of your extracurricular resume. Although this essay doesn’t fully fall into that trap, it does describe two key extracurriculars the student participated in. However, the inclusion of such a strong emotional core running throughout the essay helps keep the focus on the student and her thoughts and feelings during these activities.

To avoid making this mistake, make sure you have a common thread running through your essay and the extracurriculars provide support to the story you are trying to tell, rather than crafting a story around your activities. And, as this essay does, make sure there is lots of personal reflection and feelings weaved throughout to focus attention to you rather than your extracurriculars. 

Essay Example #4: Love of Writing

“I want to be a writer.” This had been my answer to every youthful discussion with the adults in my life about what I would do when I grew up. As early as elementary school, I remember reading my writing pieces aloud to an audience at “Author of the Month” ceremonies. Bearing this goal in mind, and hoping to gain some valuable experience, I signed up for a journalism class during my freshman year. Despite my love for writing, I initially found myself uninterested in the subject and I struggled to enjoy the class. When I thought of writing, I imagined lyrical prose, profound poetry, and thrilling plot lines. Journalism required a laconic style and orderly structure, and I found my teacher’s assignments formulaic and dull. That class shook my confidence as a writer. I was uncertain if I should continue in it for the rest of my high school career.

Despite my misgivings, I decided that I couldn’t make a final decision on whether to quit journalism until I had some experience working for a paper outside of the classroom. The following year, I applied to be a staff reporter on our school newspaper. I hoped this would help me become more self-driven and creative, rather than merely writing articles that my teacher assigned. To my surprise, my time on staff was worlds away from what I experienced in the journalism class. Although I was unaccustomed to working in a fast-paced environment and initially found it burdensome to research and complete high-quality stories in a relatively short amount of time, I also found it exciting. I enjoyed learning more about topics and events on campus that I did not know much about; some of my stories that I covered in my first semester concerned a chess tournament, a food drive, and a Spanish immersion party. I relished in the freedom I had to explore and learn, and to write more independently than I could in a classroom.

Although I enjoyed many aspects of working for the paper immediately, reporting also pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I am a shy person, and speaking with people I did not know intimidated me. During my first interview, I met with the basketball coach to prepare for a story about the team’s winning streak. As I approached his office, I felt everything from my toes to my tongue freeze into a solid block, and I could hardly get out my opening questions. Fortunately, the coach was very kind and helped me through the conversation. Encouraged, I prepared for my next interview with more confidence. After a few weeks of practice, I even started to look forward to interviewing people on campus. That first journalism class may have bored me, but even if journalism in practice was challenging, it was anything but tedious.

Over the course of that year, I grew to love writing for our school newspaper. Reporting made me aware of my surroundings, and made me want to know more about current events on campus and in the town where I grew up. By interacting with people all over campus, I came to understand the breadth of individuals and communities that make up my high school. I felt far more connected to diverse parts of my school through my work as a journalist, and I realized that journalism gave me a window into seeing beyond my own experiences. The style of news writing may be different from what I used to think “writing” meant, but I learned that I can still derive exciting plots from events that may have gone unnoticed if not for my stories. I no longer struggle to approach others, and truly enjoy getting to know people and recognizing their accomplishments through my writing. Becoming a writer may be a difficult path, but it is as rewarding as I hoped when I was young.

This essay is clearly structured in a manner that makes it flow very nicely and contributes to its success. It starts with a quote to draw in the reader and show this student’s life-long passion for writing. Then it addresses the challenges of facing new, unfamiliar territory and how this student overcame it. Finally, it concludes by reflecting on this eye-opening experience and a nod to their younger self from the introduction. Having a well-thought out and sequential structure with clear transitions makes it extremely easy for the reader to follow along and take away the main idea.

Another positive aspect of the essay is the use of strong and expressive language. Sentences like “ When I thought of writing, I imagined lyrical prose, profound poetry, and thrilling plot lines ” stand out because of the intentional use of words like “lyrical”, “profound”, and “thrilling” to convey the student’s love of writing. The author also uses an active voice to capture the readers’ attention and keep us engaged. They rely on their language and diction to reveal details to the reader, for instance saying “ I felt everything from my toes to my tongue freeze into a solid block ” to describe feeling nervous.

This essay is already very strong, so there isn’t much that needs to be changed. One thing that could take the essay from great to outstanding would be to throw in more quotes, internal dialogue, and sensory descriptors.

It would be nice to see the nerves they felt interviewing the coach by including dialogue like “ Um…I want to interview you about…uh…”.  They could have shown their original distaste for journalism by narrating the thoughts running through their head. The fast-paced environment of their newspaper could have come to life with descriptions about the clacking of keyboards and the whirl of people running around laying out articles.

Essay Example #5: Starting a Fire

Was I no longer the beloved daughter of nature, whisperer of trees? Knee-high rubber boots, camouflage, bug spray—I wore the garb and perfume of a proud wild woman, yet there I was, hunched over the pathetic pile of stubborn sticks, utterly stumped, on the verge of tears. As a child, I had considered myself a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free. I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms. Yet here I was, ten years later, incapable of performing the most fundamental outdoor task: I could not, for the life of me, start a fire. 

Furiously I rubbed the twigs together—rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers. No smoke. The twigs were too young, too sticky-green; I tossed them away with a shower of curses, and began tearing through the underbrush in search of a more flammable collection. My efforts were fruitless. Livid, I bit a rejected twig, determined to prove that the forest had spurned me, offering only young, wet bones that would never burn. But the wood cracked like carrots between my teeth—old, brittle, and bitter. Roaring and nursing my aching palms, I retreated to the tent, where I sulked and awaited the jeers of my family. 

Rattling their empty worm cans and reeking of fat fish, my brother and cousins swaggered into the campsite. Immediately, they noticed the minor stick massacre by the fire pit and called to me, their deep voices already sharp with contempt. 

“Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” they taunted. “Having some trouble?” They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame. 

In the tent, I pondered my failure. Was I so dainty? Was I that incapable? I thought of my hands, how calloused and capable they had been, how tender and smooth they had become. It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive. And I’d gotten glasses, having grown horrifically nearsighted; long nights of dim lighting and thick books had done this. I couldn’t remember the last time I had lain down on a hill, barefaced, and seen the stars without having to squint. Crawling along the edge of the tent, a spider confirmed my transformation—he disgusted me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to squash him. 

Yet, I realized I hadn’t really changed—I had only shifted perspective. I still eagerly explored new worlds, but through poems and prose rather than pastures and puddles. I’d grown to prefer the boom of a bass over that of a bullfrog, learned to coax a different kind of fire from wood, having developed a burn for writing rhymes and scrawling hypotheses. 

That night, I stayed up late with my journal and wrote about the spider I had decided not to kill. I had tolerated him just barely, only shrieking when he jumped—it helped to watch him decorate the corners of the tent with his delicate webs, knowing that he couldn’t start fires, either. When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.

This student is an excellent writer, which allows a simple story to be outstandingly compelling. The author articulates her points beautifully and creatively through her immense use of details and figurative language. Lines like “a rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees,” and “rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers,” create vivid images that draw the reader in. 

The flowery and descriptive prose also contributes to the nice juxtaposition between the old Clara and the new Clara. The latter half of the essay contrasts elements of nature with music and writing to demonstrate how natural these interests are for her now. This sentence perfectly encapsulates the contrast she is trying to build: “It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive.”

In addition to being well-written, this essay is thematically cohesive. It begins with the simple introduction “Fire!” and ends with the following image: “When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.” This full-circle approach leaves readers satisfied and impressed.

There is very little this essay should change, however one thing to be cautious about is having an essay that is overly-descriptive. We know from the essay that this student likes to read and write, and depending on other elements of her application, it might make total sense to have such a flowery and ornate writing style. However, your personal statement needs to reflect your voice as well as your personality. If you would never use language like this in conversation or your writing, don’t put it in your personal statement. Make sure there is a balance between eloquence and your personal voice.

Essay Example #6: Dedicating a Track

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite. 

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin. 

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

This essay effectively conveys this student’s compassion for others, initiative, and determination—all great qualities to exemplify in a personal statement!

Although they rely on telling us a lot of what happened up until the board meeting, the use of running a race (their passion) as a metaphor for public speaking provides a lot of insight into the fear that this student overcame to work towards something bigger than themself. Comparing a podium to the starting line, the audience to the track, and silence to the gunshot is a nice way of demonstrating this student’s passion for cross country running without making that the focus of the story.

The essay does a nice job of coming full circle at the end by explaining what the quote from the beginning meant to them after this experience. Without explicitly saying “ I now know that what Stark actually meant is…” they rely on the strength of their argument above to make it obvious to the reader what it means to get beat but not lose. 

One of the biggest areas of improvement in the intro, however, is how the essay tells us Stark’s impact rather than showing us: His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The writer could’ve helped us feel a stronger emotional connection to Stark if they had included examples of Stark’s qualities, rather than explicitly stating them. For example, they could’ve written something like: Stark was the kind of person who would give you gas money if you told him your parents couldn’t afford to pick you up from practice. And he actually did that—several times. At track meets, alumni regularly would come talk to him and tell him how he’d changed their lives. Before Stark, I was ambivalent about running and was on the JV team, but his encouragement motivated me to run longer and harder and eventually make varsity. Because of him, I approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

Essay Example #7: Body Image and Eating Disorders

I press the “discover” button on my Instagram app, hoping to find enticing pictures to satisfy my boredom. Scrolling through, I see funny videos and mouth-watering pictures of food. However, one image stops me immediately. A fit teenage girl with a “perfect body” relaxes in a bikini on a beach. Beneath it, I see a slew of flattering comments. I shake with disapproval over the image’s unrealistic quality. However, part of me still wants to have a body like hers so that others will make similar comments to me.

I would like to resolve a silent issue that harms many teenagers and adults: negative self image and low self-esteem in a world where social media shapes how people view each other. When people see the façades others wear to create an “ideal” image, they can develop poor thought patterns rooted in negative self-talk. The constant comparisons to “perfect” others make people feel small. In this new digital age, it is hard to distinguish authentic from artificial representations.

When I was 11, I developed anorexia nervosa. Though I was already thin, I wanted to be skinny like the models that I saw on the magazine covers on the grocery store stands. Little did I know that those models probably also suffered from disorders, and that photoshop erased their flaws. I preferred being underweight to being healthy. No matter how little I ate or how thin I was, I always thought that I was too fat. I became obsessed with the number on the scale and would try to eat the least that I could without my parents urging me to take more. Fortunately, I stopped engaging in anorexic behaviors before middle school. However, my underlying mental habits did not change. The images that had provoked my disorder in the first place were still a constant presence in my life.

By age 15, I was in recovery from anorexia, but suffered from depression. While I used to only compare myself to models, the growth of social media meant I also compared myself to my friends and acquaintances. I felt left out when I saw my friends’ excitement about lake trips they had taken without me. As I scrolled past endless photos of my flawless, thin classmates with hundreds of likes and affirming comments, I felt my jealousy spiral. I wanted to be admired and loved by other people too. However, I felt that I could never be enough. I began to hate the way that I looked, and felt nothing in my life was good enough. I wanted to be called “perfect” and “body goals,” so I tried to only post at certain times of day to maximize my “likes.” When that didn’t work, I started to feel too anxious to post anything at all.  

Body image insecurities and social media comparisons affect thousands of people – men, women, children, and adults – every day. I am lucky – after a few months of my destructive social media habits, I came across a video that pointed out the illusory nature of social media; many Instagram posts only show off good things while people hide their flaws. I began going to therapy, and recovered from my depression. To address the problem of self-image and social media, we can all focus on what matters on the inside and not what is on the surface. As an effort to become healthy internally, I started a club at my school to promote clean eating and radiating beauty from within. It has helped me grow in my confidence, and today I’m not afraid to show others my struggles by sharing my experience with eating disorders. Someday, I hope to make this club a national organization to help teenagers and adults across the country. I support the idea of body positivity and embracing difference, not “perfection.” After all, how can we be ourselves if we all look the same?

This essay covers the difficult topics of eating disorders and mental health. If you’re thinking about covering similar topics in your essay, we recommend reading our post Should You Talk About Mental Health in College Essays?

The short answer is that, yes, you can talk about mental health, but it can be risky. If you do go that route, it’s important to focus on what you learned from the experience.

The strength of this essay is the student’s vulnerability, in excerpts such as this: I wanted to be admired and loved by other people too. However, I felt that I could never be enough. I began to hate the way that I looked, and felt nothing in my life was good enough. I wanted to be called “perfect” and “body goals,” so I tried to only post at certain times of day to maximize my “likes.”

The student goes on to share how they recovered from their depression through an eye-opening video and therapy sessions, and they’re now helping others find their self-worth as well. It’s great that this essay looks towards the future and shares the writer’s goals of making their club a national organization; we can see their ambition and compassion.

The main weakness of this essay is that it doesn’t focus enough on their recovery process, which is arguably the most important part. They could’ve told us more about the video they watched or the process of starting their club and the interactions they’ve had with other members. Especially when sharing such a vulnerable topic, there should be vulnerability in the recovery process too. That way, the reader can fully appreciate all that this student has overcome.

Essay Example #8: Becoming a Coach

”Advanced females ages 13 to 14 please proceed to staging with your coaches at this time.” Skittering around the room, eyes wide and pleading, I frantically explained my situation to nearby coaches. The seconds ticked away in my head; every polite refusal increased my desperation.

Despair weighed me down. I sank to my knees as a stream of competitors, coaches, and officials flowed around me. My dojang had no coach, and the tournament rules prohibited me from competing without one.

Although I wanted to remain strong, doubts began to cloud my mind. I could not help wondering: what was the point of perfecting my skills if I would never even compete? The other members of my team, who had found coaches minutes earlier, attempted to comfort me, but I barely heard their words. They couldn’t understand my despair at being left on the outside, and I never wanted them to understand.

Since my first lesson 12 years ago, the members of my dojang have become family. I have watched them grow up, finding my own happiness in theirs. Together, we have honed our kicks, blocks, and strikes. We have pushed one another to aim higher and become better martial artists. Although my dojang had searched for a reliable coach for years, we had not found one. When we attended competitions in the past, my teammates and I had always gotten lucky and found a sympathetic coach. Now, I knew this practice was unsustainable. It would devastate me to see the other members of my dojang in my situation, unable to compete and losing hope as a result. My dojang needed a coach, and I decided it was up to me to find one.

I first approached the adults in the dojang – both instructors and members’ parents. However, these attempts only reacquainted me with polite refusals. Everyone I asked told me they couldn’t devote multiple weekends per year to competitions. I soon realized that I would have become the coach myself.

At first, the inner workings of tournaments were a mystery to me. To prepare myself for success as a coach, I spent the next year as an official and took coaching classes on the side. I learned everything from motivational strategies to technical, behind-the-scenes components of Taekwondo competitions. Though I emerged with new knowledge and confidence in my capabilities, others did not share this faith.

Parents threw me disbelieving looks when they learned that their children’s coach was only a child herself. My self-confidence was my armor, deflecting their surly glances. Every armor is penetrable, however, and as the relentless barrage of doubts pounded my resilience, it began to wear down. I grew unsure of my own abilities.

Despite the attack, I refused to give up. When I saw the shining eyes of the youngest students preparing for their first competition, I knew I couldn’t let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was. The knowledge that I could solve my dojang’s longtime problem motivated me to overcome my apprehension.

Now that my dojang flourishes at competitions, the attacks on me have weakened, but not ended. I may never win the approval of every parent; at times, I am still tormented by doubts, but I find solace in the fact that members of my dojang now only worry about competing to the best of their abilities.

Now, as I arrive at a tournament with my students, I close my eyes and remember the past. I visualize the frantic search for a coach and the chaos amongst my teammates as we competed with one another to find coaches before the staging calls for our respective divisions. I open my eyes to the exact opposite scene. Lacking a coach hurt my ability to compete, but I am proud to know that no member of my dojang will have to face that problem again.

This essay begins with an in-the-moment narrative that really illustrates the chaos of looking for a coach last-minute. We feel the writer’s emotions, particularly her dejectedness, at not being able to compete. Starting an essay in media res  is a great way to capture the attention of your readers and build anticipation for what comes next.

Through this essay, we can see how gutsy and determined the student is in deciding to become a coach themselves. She shows us these characteristics through their actions, rather than explicitly telling us: To prepare myself for success as a coach, I spent the next year as an official and took coaching classes on the side.  Also, by discussing the opposition she faced and how it affected her, the student is open and vulnerable about the reality of the situation.

The essay comes full circle as the author recalls the frantic situations in seeking out a coach, but this is no longer a concern for them and their team. Overall, this essay is extremely effective in painting this student as mature, bold, and compassionate.

The biggest thing this essay needs to work on is showing not telling. Throughout the essay, the student tells us that she “emerged with new knowledge and confidence,” she “grew unsure of her own abilities,” and she “refused to give up”. What we really want to know is what this looks like.

Instead of saying she “emerged with new knowledge and confidence” she should have shared how she taught a new move to a fellow team-member without hesitation. Rather than telling us she “grew unsure of her own abilities” she should have shown what that looked like by including her internal dialogue and rhetorical questions that ran through her mind. She could have demonstrated what “refusing to give up” looks like by explaining how she kept learning coaching techniques on her own, turned to a mentor for advice, or devised a plan to win over the trust of parents. 

Essay Example #9: Eritrea

No one knows where Eritrea is.

On the first day of school, for the past nine years, I would pensively stand in front of a class, a teacher, a stranger  waiting for the inevitable question: Where are you from?

I smile politely, my dimples accentuating my ambiguous features. “Eritrea,” I answer promptly and proudly. But I  am always prepared. Before their expression can deepen into confusion, ready to ask “where is that,” I elaborate,  perhaps with a fleeting hint of exasperation, “East Africa, near Ethiopia.”

Sometimes, I single out the key-shaped hermit nation on a map, stunning teachers who have “never had a student  from there!” Grinning, I resist the urge to remark, “You didn’t even know it existed until two minutes ago!”

Eritrea is to the East of Ethiopia, its arid coastline clutches the lucrative Red Sea. Battle scars litter the ancient  streets – the colonial Italian architecture lathered with bullet holes, the mosques mangled with mortar shells.  Originally part of the world’s first Christian kingdom, Eritrea passed through the hands of colonial Italy, Britain, and  Ethiopia for over a century, until a bloody thirty year war of Independence liberated us.

But these are facts that anyone can know with a quick Google search. These are facts that I have memorised and compounded, first from my Grandmother and now from pristine books  borrowed from the library.

No historical narrative, however, can adequately capture what Eritrea is.  No one knows the aroma of bushels of potatoes, tomatoes, and garlic – still covered in dirt – that leads you to the open-air market. No one knows the poignant scent of spices, arranged in orange piles reminiscent of compacted  dunes.  No one knows how to haggle stubborn herders for sheep and roosters for Christmas celebrations as deliberately as my mother. No one can replicate the perfect balance of spices in dorho and tsebhi as well as my grandmother,  her gnarly hands stirring the pot with ancient precision (chastising my clumsy knife work with the potatoes).  It’s impossible to learn when the injera is ready – the exact moment you have to lift the lid of the mogogo. Do it too  early (or too late) and the flatbread becomes mangled and gross. It is a sixth sense passed through matriarchal  lineages.

There are no sources that catalogue the scent of incense that wafts through the sunlit porch on St. Michael’s; no  films that can capture the luminescence of hundreds of flaming bonfires that fluoresce the sidewalks on Kudus  Yohannes, as excited children chant Ge’ez proverbs whose origin has been lost to time.  You cannot learn the familiarity of walking beneath the towering Gothic figure of the Enda Mariam Cathedral, the  crowds undulating to the ringing of the archaic bells.  I have memorized the sound of the rains hounding the metal roof during kiremti , the heat of the sun pounding  against the Toyota’s window as we sped down towards Ghinda , the opulent brilliance of the stars twinkling in a  sky untainted by light pollution, the scent of warm rolls of bani wafting through the streets at precisely 6 o’clock each day…

I fill my flimsy sketchbook with pictures from my memory. My hand remembers the shapes of the hibiscus drifting  in the wind, the outline of my grandmother (affectionately nicknamed a’abaye ) leaning over the garden, the bizarre architecture of the Fiat Tagliero .  I dice the vegetables with movements handed down from generations. My nose remembers the scent of frying garlic, the sourness of the warm tayta , the sharpness of the mit’mt’a …

This knowledge is intrinsic.  “I am Eritrean,” I repeat. “I am proud.”  Within me is an encyclopedia of history, culture, and idealism.

Eritrea is the coffee made from scratch, the spices drying in the sun, the priests and nuns. Eritrea is wise, filled with ambition, and unseen potential.  Eritrea isn’t a place, it’s an identity.

This is an exceptional essay that provides a window into this student’s culture that really makes their love for their country and heritage leap off the page. The sheer level of details and sensory descriptors this student is able to fit in this space makes the essay stand out. From the smells, to the traditions, sounds, and sights, the author encapsulates all the glory of Eritrea for the reader. 

The vivid images this student is able to create for the reader, whether it is having the tedious conversation with every teacher or cooking in their grandmother’s kitchen, transports us into the story and makes us feel like we are there in the moment with the student. This is a prime example of an essay that shows , not tells.

Besides the amazing imagery, the use of shorter paragraphs also contributes to how engaging this essay is. Employing this tactic helps break up the text to make it more readable and it isolates ideas so they stick out more than if they were enveloped in a large paragraph.

Overall, this is a really strong essay that brings to life this student’s heritage through its use of vivid imagery. This essay exemplifies what it means to show not tell in your writing, and it is a great example of how you can write an intimate personal statement without making yourself the primary focus of your essay. 

There is very little this essay should improve upon, but one thing the student might consider would be to inject more personal reflection into their response. Although we can clearly take away their deep love and passion for their homeland and culture, the essay would be a bit more personal if they included the emotions and feelings they associate with the various aspects of Eritrea. For example, the way their heart swells with pride when their grandmother praises their ability to cook a flatbread or the feeling of serenity when they hear the bells ring out from the cathedral. Including personal details as well as sensory ones would create a wonderful balance of imagery and reflection.

Essay Example #10: Journaling

Flipping past dozens of colorful entries in my journal, I arrive at the final blank sheet. I press my pen lightly to the page, barely scratching its surface to create a series of loops stringing together into sentences. Emotions spill out, and with their release, I feel lightness in my chest. The stream of thoughts slows as I reach the bottom of the page, and I gently close the cover of the worn book: another journal finished.

I add the journal to the stack of eleven books on my nightstand. Struck by the bittersweet sensation of closing a chapter of my life, I grab the notebook at the bottom of the pile to reminisce.

“I want to make a flying mushen to fly in space and your in it” – October 2008

Pulling back the cover of my first Tinkerbell-themed diary, the prompt “My Hopes and Dreams” captures my attention. Though “machine” is misspelled in my scribbled response, I see the beginnings of my past obsession with outer space. At the age of five, I tore through novels about the solar system, experimented with rockets built from plastic straws, and rented Space Shuttle films from Blockbuster to satisfy my curiosities. While I chased down answers to questions as limitless as the universe, I fell in love with learning. Eight journals later, the same relentless curiosity brought me to an airplane descending on San Francisco Bay.

“I wish I had infinite sunsets” – July 2019

I reach for the charcoal notepad near the top of the pile and open to the first page: my flight to the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes. While I was excited to explore bioengineering, anxiety twisted in my stomach as I imagined my destination, unsure of whether I could overcome my shyness and connect with others.

With each new conversation, the sweat on my palms became less noticeable, and I met students from 23 different countries. Many of the moments where I challenged myself socially revolved around the third story deck of the Jerry house. A strange medley of English, Arabic, and Mandarin filled the summer air as my friends and I gathered there every evening, and dialogues at sunset soon became moments of bliss. In our conversations about cultural differences, the possibility of an afterlife, and the plausibility of far-fetched conspiracy theories, I learned to voice my opinion. As I was introduced to different viewpoints, these moments challenged my understanding of the world around me. In my final entries from California, I find excitement to learn from others and increased confidence, a tool that would later allow me to impact my community.

“The beauty in a tower of cans” – June 2020

Returning my gaze to the stack of journals, I stretch to take the floral-patterned book sitting on top. I flip through, eventually finding the beginnings of the organization I created during the outbreak of COVID-19. Since then, Door-to-Door Deliveries has woven its way through my entries and into reality, allowing me to aid high-risk populations through free grocery delivery.

With the confidence I gained the summer before, I took action when seeing others in need rather than letting my shyness hold me back. I reached out to local churches and senior centers to spread word of our services and interacted with customers through our website and social media pages. To further expand our impact, we held two food drives, and I mustered the courage to ask for donations door-to-door. In a tower of canned donations, I saw the value of reaching out to help others and realized my own potential to impact the world around me.

I delicately close the journal in my hands, smiling softly as the memories reappear, one after another. Reaching under my bed, I pull out a fresh notebook and open to its first sheet. I lightly press my pen to the page, “And so begins the next chapter…”

The structuring of this essay makes it easy and enjoyable to read. The student effectively organizes their various life experiences around their tower of journals, which centers the reader and makes the different stories easy to follow. Additionally, the student engages quotes from their journals—and unique formatting of the quotes—to signal that they are moving in time and show us which memory we should follow them to.

Thematically, the student uses the idea of shyness to connect the different memories they draw out of their journals. As the student describes their experiences overcoming shyness at the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes and Door-to-Door Deliveries, this essay can be read as an Overcoming Obstacles essay.

At the end of this essay, readers are fully convinced that this student is dedicated (they have committed to journaling every day), thoughtful (journaling is a thoughtful process and, in the essay, the student reflects thoughtfully on the past), and motivated (they flew across the country for a summer program and started a business). These are definitely qualities admissions officers are looking for in applicants!

Although this essay is already exceptionally strong as it’s written, the first journal entry feels out of place compared to the other two entries that discuss the author’s shyness and determination. It works well for the essay to have an entry from when the student was younger to add some humor (with misspelled words) and nostalgia, but if the student had either connected the quote they chose to the idea of overcoming a fear present in the other two anecdotes or if they had picked a different quote all together related to their shyness, it would have made the entire essay feel more cohesive.

Where to Get Your Personal Statement Edited

Do you want feedback on your personal statement? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Next Step: Supplemental Essays

Essay Guides for Each School

How to Write a Stellar Extracurricular Activity College Essay

4 Tips for Writing a Diversity College Essay

How to Write the “Why This College” Essay

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15 Things You Should Be Able to Say About Yourself

Your life is your voice, and what you say about yourself reflects who you are..

What can you say about yourself?

We can say many things--good and bad--but we all want to be able to say things that will make us feel good about ourselves and our influence on others.

If you want to be successful, if you want to be happy, if you want to be healthy, the way to cultivate that life is to know you are living a life that is meaningful.

Here are a few things you should be able to say to let your life be your voice.

1. I followed my heart.

Life is short and everyone has something that they are passionate about. Be able to say that you didn't let fear hold you back. The cost of not following your heart is spending the rest of your life wishing you had.

2. I believe in myself.

Even if you fail, it doesn't mean you will continue to fail. Be able to say you believed in yourself and kept trying. Everything that is successful will begin with you believing in yourself.

3. I live by high standards.

Never apologize for high standards; people who really want to be in your life will rise up to meet them. The quality of who you are is reflected in the standards you set for yourself; position yourself to live up to the rise of your own expectations. 

4. I treat others the way I want to be treated.

Talk to people the way you want to be spoken to; respect people as you wish to be respected. Your status, religion, race, political views, or culture don't matter--being a good person really is as simple as following the golden rule and treating others as you would like them to treat you.

5. I understand how precious time is.

Be able to say that you didn't waste time. Remember that time is free but priceless, that you can't own it but you can spend it--wisely or unwisely. Treat time as a resource to be invested carefully.

6. I look for positivity in all things.

Instead of thinking of all the things that can go wrong, become one of the people who look on how they go right. Your mind is powerful, and when you fill it with positivity your life naturally becomes positive. When you think positive thoughts, positive things will happen.

7. I trust my intuition.

Don't let anyone talk you out of what you know to be true. Trust your inner voice and allow yourself to be led by your intuition. The  more empowered you become, the stronger you become and the happier you become. Avoid going against your better judgment or getting talked into things that don't feel right.

8. I speak up.

When you don't speak up for the things that matter to you, you are not being true to yourself. When you speak your mind, you stand with confidence and gain courage.

9. I am a tough person who has made it through tough times.

The times when life is toughest are often the times that lead you to the most meaningful discoveries. When times are tough, dare to be tougher. Anyone can run away, but facing problems and working through them makes you strong.

10. I am good at letting people know they matter.

No matter how busy you are, make time to let people know they matter. Be there for them, make plans with them, set aside time for relationships.

11. I am a responsible person.

Don't be the person who blames others or makes excuses. One of the most important keys to success is having the discipline to do what you know you should do even when you don't feel like doing it--and those daily decisions often involve taking responsibility for your own choices and actions. Remember that your actions do affect other people, so always be careful with what you say and do.

12. I am grateful.

Gratitude will always make you happy. If you have a hard time finding something to be grateful for, look around you and watch how other people are struggling. Be grateful you have it better, then go out and help others. At the end of the day, it's not that happy people are thankful but that thankful people are happy.

13. I have forgiven those who have hurt me.

Forgiveness takes great strength, but few things are more worth the effort. Life becomes easier and business becomes more manageable when you learn to forgive. The alternative is an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation that strips your energy and humanity.

14. I have no regrets.

Be able to say you took chances, you told the truth, you wronged a right, you spent time with those you love, you followed your heart and lived your passion, you forgave and moved forward with fortitude. The worst form of regret is regret for the chances we didn't take.

15. I am making a difference.

Don't tire of doing little things for others, because sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their heart. In life we cannot always do great things, but, as Mother Teresa said,  we can always do small things with great love. At the end it is not only about making a living, it is about making a difference.

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How to Write a Strong Personal Statement

• Ruth Gotian
• Ushma S. Neill

A few adjustments can get your application noticed.

Whether applying for a summer internship, a professional development opportunity, such as a Fulbright, an executive MBA program, or a senior leadership development course, a personal statement threads the ideas of your CV, and is longer and has a different tone and purpose than a traditional cover letter. A few adjustments to your personal statement can get your application noticed by the reviewer.

• Make sure you’re writing what they want to hear. Most organizations that offer a fellowship or internship are using the experience as a pipeline: It’s smart to spend 10 weeks and $15,000 on someone before committing five years and $300,000. Rarely are the organizations being charitable or altruistic, so align your stated goals with theirs
• Know when to bury the lead, and when to get to the point. It’s hard to paint a picture and explain your motivations in 200 words, but if you have two pages, give the reader a story arc or ease into your point by setting the scene.
• Recognize that the reviewer will be reading your statement subjectively, meaning you’re being assessed on unknowable criteria. Most people on evaluation committees are reading for whether or not you’re interesting. Stated differently, do they want to go out to dinner with you to hear more? Write it so that the person reading it wants to hear more.
• Address the elephant in the room (if there is one). Maybe your grades weren’t great in core courses, or perhaps you’ve never worked in the field you’re applying to. Make sure to address the deficiency rather than hoping the reader ignores it because they won’t. A few sentences suffice. Deficiencies do not need to be the cornerstone of the application.

At multiple points in your life, you will need to take action to transition from where you are to where you want to be. This process is layered and time-consuming, and getting yourself to stand out among the masses is an arduous but not impossible task. Having a polished resume that explains what you’ve done is the common first step. But, when an application asks for it, a personal statement can add color and depth to your list of accomplishments. It moves you from a one-dimensional indistinguishable candidate to someone with drive, interest, and nuance.

• Ruth Gotian is the chief learning officer and associate professor of education in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and the author of The Success Factor and Financial Times Guide to Mentoring . She was named the #1 emerging management thinker by Thinkers50. You can access her free list of conversation starters and test your mentoring impact . RuthGotian
• Ushma S. Neill is the Vice President, Scientific Education & Training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She runs several summer internships and is involved with the NYC Marshall Scholar Selection Committee. ushmaneill

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Interview Questions

Comprehensive Interview Guide: 60+ Professions Explored in Detail

8 Examples of How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”

By Biron Clark

Published: November 16, 2023

In this article, I’m going to walk you through steps and examples of how to answer the “Tell me about yourself” interview question to impress employers and get more job offers . We’ll also cover the  costly mistakes you NEED to avoid if you want to pass this question. 

Here’s exactly what you’re going to get:

• The most-recommended method of how to answer “tell me about yourself”
• 8 examples of good answers to “tell me about yourself” for various industries
• A shorter, newer method for experienced candidates
• How to practice your answer to make sure you’re 100% ready for the interview

Let’s get started…

Why Do Interviewers Ask “Tell Me About Yourself”

“Can you tell me about yourself ?” is a common interview question that’s generally delivered as an icebreaker or pathfinder question, right at the start of an interview. It can catch you off your guard because it may seem vague, broad, and somewhat tricky. Honestly though, understanding a bit more about why interviewers ask this question (which is often framed as a command) will give you a clear insight into how to answer.

Interviewers ask this question to ease you out of those introductory jitters (that you both feel) and into the nitty-gritty of why you’re there. It’s their way of establishing a direction for the interview because it shows them how you summarize your experience and show its relevance to the job you’re applying for, which in turn tells them what to ask next. Trust me though, your answer needs to be relevant, the interviewer is likely not asking whether you’re a dog or a cat person but rather what background, skills, qualifications and experiences brought you to this interview today. 

Watch: How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself?”

Different ways of asking the same question.

I mentioned how this question can sometimes be framed as a command, i.e: “tell me about yourself,” and so on. There are numerous ways this question might be framed, but all express the same intention on the part of the interviewer, so they should all be answered the same way. Common variants include:

• “Take me through your resume.”
• “Tell me about your background”
• “Describe yourself.”
•   “Can you tell me more about why you’re here?”
• “What brings you here today?”

When it comes to describing yourself, you may wonder where to start, how personal to be, and how far to get into it. “Describe yourself” certainly feels a little more personal than the rest. For insight into how to answer that variant, Read This Article .

How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in an Interview:

1. choose the right starting point for your story (important).

Your goal when answering, “tell me about yourself,” is to give a brief, concise walkthrough of your career story that will show off relevant pieces of experience. You want to start at a point in the past (like how you began working in this field), and end up in your current situation. So the first thing to decide is where you’ll begin the story… If you’re a recent graduate: Start with the fact that you just graduated, and explain why you chose this career path or field of area of study.  

For example, you might start your answer like this:

“I graduated with my degree in Economics two months ago. I chose that field of study because I’ve always been interested in finance and money, and a couple of family members told me it leads to great career options, too.”

If you have 1-8 years of experience, start with the moment you graduated and walk them through your employment experience since then.

Here’s an example of how you’d start your interview answer in this situation:

“I graduated with my degree in Industrial Engineering six years ago and immediately went to work for a small design firm in Chicago. Since then, I’ve…”

And if you have 8-20+ years of experience, you can start with a mid-point in your career. This will keep your answer from getting too long.

For example, if you’re a manager, you could start with how you first became a manager. If you’ve been working for 25 years but have only been a sales professional for 12 years, you could begin with how you got started in sales.

Here is an example of how to begin your answer to “tell me about yourself” as a very experienced candidate:

“I first started managing people twelve years ago, when I was promoted from Customer Service Associate to Customer Service Supervisor. Since then, I’ve…”

2. Highlight Impressive Experience and Accomplishments

As you tell your career story, explain key accomplishments you’ve achieved, work you’ve done, skills you’ve learned, and key career moves you’ve made.

• Were you promoted? That’s always a great sign and worth mentioning.
• Did you accomplish something significant like solving a big problem for your last employer?  That’s great to mention, too.
• Did you build new skills or overcome challenges? Get specific! Tell details.

But random impressive facts aren’t enough. You should be thinking about how this ties in with the company you’re talking to.

• You should always research the company before going into the interview . Study their job description in particular so you know what skills THEY care most about.
• What does this particular job involve? Is there a lot of leadership? Talk about your experiences leading (no matter how small!), how it went, and what you learned.
• Does the job involve a high level of technical skill? Talk about how you learned and advanced in that area through each step of your career!
• You need to “tailor” your answer for, “tell me about yourself,” for their job description and their needs. Try to talk about experiences and qualifications that are relevant to this job you’ve applied for.

3. Conclude by Explaining Your Current Situation

Finally, the best way to finish your story is to bring them up to speed on your current situation. Why you wanted to apply for their job , what you’re looking to do next, etc.

For example you might end your answer by saying:

“…and that’s why I wanted to interview with your firm. This position seems like a great opportunity to advance those skills I just talked about, and continue building my career and challenging myself”.

4. Keep Your Answer Work-Related

When employers ask, “tell me about yourself,” in an interview, they usually want to hear about you as a professional. So the safest approach is to keep your answer work-related and share your career story, rather than personal details. You can show more personality as the interview goes on, but it’s risky to share too much personal info when answering, “tell me about yourself.” It could lead to your answer getting too long, or it could cause you to leave out important professional information that the interviewer was looking to know!

5. Be Concise When Answering (2 Minutes or Less!)

When they say “tell me about yourself,” it’s going to be tempting to give a long-winded answer. It’s such an open-ended question. And we covered a lot above, but there’s something just as important as any of that. You need to be concise.  Your communication and ability to stay on track with your answer are two things they are watching closely. The interviewer wants to see that you can tell your story from Point A (the beginning) to Point B (the end) without getting sidetracked, distracted, or scattered. Because it tells them how you’ll communicate as an employee… when there’s a problem, when there’s a disagreement, or when you simply need to share your knowledge or opinion. If you take this answer beyond 2 minutes you are shooting yourself in the foot. In fact, below 90 seconds is ideal. Practice at home with a timer! That’s why I recommend choosing a starting point based on your experience (Step 1 above)… because if you have 25 years of experience and you start at the moment you graduated from college, your answer will be too long.

“Tell Me About Yourself” Example Answers:

Now that we’ve covered the key steps to answering, “tell me about yourself,” let’s look at some full answer examples to this interview question .

Example Answer for Experienced Candidates:

“I graduated with a Business degree in 2010, and was offered an account management position at a telecommunications company I had interned with. I loved working with customers and managing and growing my accounts, but the industry we were in just wasn’t very appealing to me. After that, I stayed a full year and learned a ton about how to build and manage accounts successfully and  I ended up becoming a top performer in my group before leaving. I left at the 1-year-mark to pursue a very similar position within an industry I’m much more excited about- healthcare. I’ve been at this healthcare startup space for 2 years with this company and I feel ready to take my career to the next level so that’s why I’m currently looking for a new opportunity.”

That first example showed you how to answer “tell me about yourself” for experienced job seekers (at least a few years of experience). Now let’s look at an example for entry-level job seekers and job seekers with no experience .

Example Answer With No Experience:

“I graduated with a degree in Engineering two months ago. I chose that field of study because I’ve always been interested in math and physics , and a couple of family members told me it leads to great career options. One of my key accomplishments during my academic career was speaking at a conference on the topic of energy-efficient window design, based on research I had done for one of my senior-level classes. This led to an internship that I just wrapped up, so I’m actively looking for a full-time position now.”

Stand Out by “Tailoring” Your Answer to the Company

The end of your interview answer is a big opportunity to customize your answer for the company and job you’re interviewing for. When you talk about what you’re looking to do next in your career, try to mention whatever you see this company providing for your career (leadership, technical challenges, exposure to new areas, etc.) That shows them why you’re excited about their job, which will help you get hired! (I explain more about why this is true here ). Before we move on to more tips and a HUGE mistake to avoid, here’s one more example interview answer for this question.

Shorter Method for How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” (For Experienced Candidates Only)

The method I gave you above is the standard way most recruiters recommend answering “tell me about yourself.”  It’s how I coached job seekers to answer this question for years. There’s another way you can answer, though… and it has some benefits. I’ll explain…Many experts have pointed out that if the interviewer wanted your career story, they could have looked at your resume or your LinkedIn , or asked a question like, “can you walk me through your background?” So there’s another approach for answering, “tell me about yourself,” that skips the career story and just cuts right to the chase: Why you’re awesome and why they should hire you !

Let’s look at 2 word-for-word templates that accomplish this.

After this, you’ll have two proven methods for answering, “tell me about yourself” in interviews, and in the next section, I’ll reveal how to decide which method is best for YOU.

Example answer if you’re job searching while employed:

“Well, I’m currently working at XYZ Company and I specialize in doing ___. The reason I applied for this job is I saw ___ on the job description and I think I would be able to help you ___ and ___. One of my key accomplishments in my current role was helping my employer do ___, and I’m confident I can help your team get similar results here.”

Example answer template if unemployed:

“In my most recent position at XYZ Company, I specialized in doing ___. The reason I applied for this job is I saw ___ on the job description and I think I would be able to help you ___ and ___. One of my key accomplishments in my last role for XYZ Company was helping them  ___, and I’m confident I can help your team get similar results here.”

Which Method Should You Use for Your Answer?

If you have work experience, both options we’ve covered are very good, and it really depends on what you feel most comfortable with. Choose the one you like best. They’re both excellent ways to answer the question, so don’t stress over it! However, if you are entry-level and have no work experience… or internships at the very least…  then I would go back to the top of this article and use the first, 5-step method for answering, “tell me about yourself.”

This second method we just covered is really best if you want to give a unique, concise answer and you have some relevant work experience to share in the interview!

“Tell Me About Yourself” Example Answers For Different Industries:

Healthcare:.

“After being licensed six years ago, I immediately entered a busy E.R. setting where I progressed to the point of triaging as many as 50 patients a shift. I’m skilled in patient record-keeping, stabilizing incoming patients, diagnosing injuries, administering meds, doing stitches, starting I.V.s, setting bones and offering emotional support to family members behind the scenes. I’ve adapted to the pressure but feel that, in the long term, I’d be better suited to a slower-paced environment with more focus on establishing lasting patient relationships. I’m ready to take on this post in your busy day clinic and believe that my advanced patient triage skills, along with my empathic nature, would be a great benefit to your team.”

This works because:   This answer outlines your qualifications and extensive background in incoming patient care, triage, diagnosing and record-keeping. Your honesty about long term goals is appreciated. The answer shows how your skills have progressed since you were licensed, and it inspires confidence in your ability to handle a hands-on post at a busy clinic.

Service Industry:

“Having spent eight years in the food and beverage industry, I progressed from head waiter to front of house manager four years ago. I’ve held so many posts in the industry, from runner to waiter to head waiter to manager, but my dedication to quality service has never changed. I believe in knowing my product and process inside and out, uplifting my team members and demonstrating focused positivity throughout. It’s easy to fall into the temper trap when things get busy, but I prefer to knuckle down, smile and get it done. I want my customers to come back for more!”

This works because: This answer makes an impact because of how your personality shines through. The service industry is incredibly stressful, but it’s refreshing to know that you have a proactive, positive attitude to stressful situations, backed up with strong product knowledge and professionalism.

“I’m an accredited software engineer and systems integrator with more than ten years of active development experience. I’m proficient in Ruby, Python, Java, C++ and a wide range of associated languages and frameworks. I’m a team player, and I love bouncing ideas off my colleagues and engaging with diverse perspectives. I like to stay abreast of the latest tech and I’m wildly competitive when it comes to troubleshooting. I’ve also got an eye for detail and clean design and I’m dedicated to delivering a seamless, streamlined experience to the end-user.”

This works because: From this answer, it’s clear that you’re accredited and boast a diversified programming portfolio with plenty of experience in the field. It’s noted that you’re a team player, as teamwork is essential when developing and managing systems for a busy tech enterprise. And your attitude to problem solving , as being competitive will help you find fast and effective solutions.

“I’ve been a retail cosmetic artist and sales assistant for six years and I’m passionate about making clients feel utterly gorgeous! I have a strong knowledge of retail processes, including stock-take, merchandising and sales targeting. If I have to describe my stand-out quality it’s that I love to build up the team, make my colleagues smile and get them motivated to break targets for our department. Above all though, the customer comes first and I’m dedicated to building brand and store loyalty in the customer.”

  This works because: From this answer, it’s obvious you know retail like the back of your hand and that you take pride in breaking targets and boosting the team morale. Your positivity shines through, and you highlight your passion for making clients feel special.

Practice Your Answer Before the Interview

As a final tip – make sure you go practice everything you plan on saying when the interviewer asks, “what can you tell me about yourself?” Nothing comes out perfect the first time, and you don’t want to appear nervous and stumble when they ask.  So I’d recommend grabbing a piece of paper and writing down the key points you want to talk about in your answer. I like to write them in bullet format. Then, use your smartphone’s voice recorder app to record a few practice answers and see how you sound. Don’t look at your notes as you give your answer. The idea is to try to remember what you want to talk about without reading off the paper. Then glance at the paper AFTER to make sure you covered everything. Keep practicing until you can give a smooth answer without forgetting anything important.

Note: If you’re having a phone interview , you can use notes/bullet points to help guide you through your answer. Nobody can see you on the phone, so take advantage!

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