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How to write a personal statement that sets you apart.
You know why you're pursuing an advanced degree, but sometimes it can be hard to put into words. You only have two or three pages to express all of your experience and passion, and you know your essay will be read critically. So how do you start writing a personal statement for grad school?
DO Tell a Story
Think of yourself as the hero in a Hollywood movie. Take the admissions committee on your journey, focusing on the moments that made you the hero that you are. Remember that good stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. For your story, think of the end as your admission to the graduate program of your choice. Now, think backward. How did you get to that point? Where did you first develop your interest in counseling or education? What made you decide to seek a master's degree? What brought your dream from fantasy to reality? What changed along the way? That's the story you need to tell in your personal statement for graduate school.
DO Research the Program
In a survey of Admissions Advisors, knowing nothing about the program you're applying to was seen as a grave misstep. 1 You should visit your program's website and research it thoroughly so you can demonstrate that your decision to apply is based on a thorough understanding of its merits. For example, do you fully comprehend the course content and delivery method? The admissions committee wants to be sure that you're making a decision that's suited to your life and learning needs. You should be clear that you understand the commitment you are making.
DO Be Specific
Your essay is a personal statement, so it's important to include your own experiences. However, it's also important to be judicious in selecting which stories you want to share. Keep in mind that the best statements aren't necessarily the longest. Be clear and concise. Think of your personal statement as a cover letter for a job, or even an initial written interview. Don't inflate your experience, but do be honest about the impact it had on you. Avoid the dramatic or overly self-aggrandizing. In other words, "I dream of saving the world" isn't a great start, even if that's your dream. Being overly broad suggests an unrealistic expectation. Keep the focus on your specific goals and skills.
DO Focus on the Fundamentals
Spelling and grammar count. Poor writing skills make your work seem less professional and distract from the story you're trying to tell. Reread your work carefully, and accept the fact that you'll probably have to go through a few drafts. Once you've read it and checked it carefully, have a friend or colleague read for clarity. It's always helpful to have a second set of eyes on your work. There are also plenty of apps and internet services that can help you keep your basic writing mechanics on point.
DON'T Overthink It
Charles "Rip" McAdams, professor and department chair for the Online Master of Education in Counseling at William & Mary , emphasizes that the personal statement is a chance for you to show a genuine commitment to and understanding of the task of becoming a professional counselor. He advises applicants that: "The goal…is to determine if an applicant's decision to pursue graduate education in counseling reflects a realistic understanding of the professional counselor's role as well as a genuine commitment to engaging in the rigorous academic and clinical preparation that will be required."
Pursue your graduate degree in a field that can equip you to transform lives and guide individuals toward their most extraordinary futures. Read through the admissions guidelines for our M.Ed. in Counseling program. Get your application underway today!
- Retrieved on March 23, 2018, from psychologytoday.com/blog/grad-school-guru/201012/kisses-death
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Counselling Personal Statement
Sample Counselling Personal Statement
Having always pursued study and work that allows me to make an impact on the lives of the vulnerable through a range of therapeutic approaches, Occupational Therapy Counselling is an obvious field through which I can continue to develop these skills and passions. What excites me most about the potential of Counselling & Occupational Therapy is the focus on the promotion of health and wellbeing rather than on mediating the negative effects of health-related problems. Learning more about this inspiring approach to changing the lives of clients through studying a postgraduate diploma at a prestigious university will allow me to achieve my ultimate goal of making a similar impact in my own career.
I have always been interested in the ways in which different therapies can be applied within different situations. After completing my high school studies in my native Croatia, achieving strong grades throughout, I pursued this interest through the study of Psychology at Thames Valley University. I found that I particularly enjoyed modules related to the practical application of psychological therapy within the field of healthcare, such as Health Psychology and Counselling Psychology. This ultimately led to me undertaking an MSc in Health Psychology, where I studied elements of healthcare promotion and communication, alongside the design and execution of healthcare research. Study in these areas has not only offered an excellent foundation of broader psychological knowledge but has also introduced me to principles which are fundamental to Occupational Therapy, including experience of communicating with clients to assess and respond to their individual needs.
I have gained experience of enacting these principles within the workplace through my work with the East London NHS trust. Starting out as a Social Therapist and now working as an Assistant Practitioner, I have been responsible for co-designing and implementing care plans for adults with a range of mental health difficulties. This includes using strong communication skills to talk to clients and colleagues about the best way to proceed in the case of each individual service user. We offer a range of solutions, based on the needs of our clients, which may include physical and psychological therapies, supervised activities and employment advice. I also work alongside nursing staff, psychologists and Occupational Therapists to improve their in-patient experience through facilitating therapeutic groups; including anxiety/anger management, problem solving, health promotion, relaxation and other ward based activities. I have found that the most rewarding element of the job, as you might expect, is the promotion of recovery and he focus on social inclusion. The ultimate goal of all therapies must surely be to allow the patient to live the fullest life possible, and it is the constant, dedicated work towards this goal that I have observed Occupational Therapists pursuing that inspires me to join their ranks.
In my spare time away from work, I have been keen to continue my studies for some years. To this end, I have gained a greater idea of current developments within the field of Occupation Therapy by reading books and journals dedicated to the subject. Combining this theoretical knowledge with my practical, professional relationship with the discipline, forged through my job, I believe I have gained a good idea of the challenges and rewards that the field offers and my suitability to pursue it.
Having worked hard to gain the knowledge and skill necessary to play a proactive and essential role in the lives of those in need, I am keen to continue improving on my ability to make an impact by completing a postgraduate diploma and, ultimately, registering with the Health Professional’s Council and applying for membership of the British Association of Occupational Therapists.
We hope this sample Counselling personal statement has been helpful
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Counselling Masters Personal Statement
With a strong educational background and extensive experience in counselling, I believe I am an ideal candidate to embark on a Masters in Counselling, practice route. I am a mature and responsible individual with strong communication skills who has a long standing and successful career in counselling. I wish to develop my understanding and skills in social care and counselling, in order to enhance my existing professional role.
The Counselling Masters will provide the next level of professionalism to enhance my clinical practice. Building on my experience, I can develop my competence to expand methods and problem solving skills of working as a professional counsellor. A counsellor’s role is constantly changing, not only with individual clients on a daily basis, but also with innovative research which help us understand and assist clients on an overall scale. I am keen to share my current knowledge and practice with peers, where we can reflect upon research findings and inform the development of care practice. This course will provide an exciting opportunity to plan and carry out research into chosen areas of counselling, such as therapeutic skills, to develop counselling theory and practice.
With over 20 years experience in adult, elderly and mental health client groups, I have gained a wealth of knowledge and practice of caring for others in a professional capacity. I wish to explore and further my current practices and assumptions, with humanistic psychology and counselling practice. I understand the course will enhance self reflection, awareness and knowledge.
I have gained experience in risk assessments, clinical assessments, devising care plans and reviews. I believe I have developed a strong foundation as a caring and supportive counsellor, who makes a marked difference to people’s lives. I am keen for professional critique and development in my professional approach in practical placements, where my theory, practice and care is challenged and pushed forward, to further assist those in vulnerable situations.
I am an enthusiastic, diligent and motivated individual who strives to achieve success in social care and counselling to each client I am assigned, and on an overall basis. Given that social care and counselling is part of an interconnected network of professional services focused on helping a variety of clients facing distress, trauma and complex situations, complications can arise at any stage of the therapy program. I wish to develop better ways to manage obstacles in counselling and evaluate the effectiveness of these plans.
Effective communication skills are an essential aspect of my role as a counsellor. High empathy, active listening skills and the ability to understand client issues are examples of skills I use to help people to navigate their way through their problems and find personal resolve. I use effective and adaptive communication skills to convey client medical and psychological needs, factual information and future goals to other professional agencies, such as housing, police and home treatment teams.
Working within the social care environment, I have developed and honed ways to care for others. I wish to expand and further my knowledge on the best practice, ethical codes and moral boundaries in counselling. Each client presents a new and complex case, whether it is psychological, developmental or environmental.
Being from a Muslim background and the ability to speak Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi, my goal is to provide a multi-cultural supportive service to those who are from Asian cultures and religions, and to those who are unable to communicate their feelings in English. A successful counsellor requires a constant need to learn and develop the self, in order to support and care for others. Counselling Masters will ensure I am well-informed and competent as possible, enabling me to give the best guidance possible to clients facing tough choices and situations.
Hopefully this example Counselling Masters Personal Statement will provide inspiration for your personal statement for your UCAS application to university.
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Gre prep online guides and tips, 3 successful graduate school personal statement examples.
Looking for grad school personal statement examples? Look no further! In this total guide to graduate school personal statement examples, we’ll discuss why you need a personal statement for grad school and what makes a good one. Then we’ll provide three graduate school personal statement samples from our grad school experts. After that, we’ll do a deep dive on one of our personal statement for graduate school examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a list of other grad school personal statements you can find online.
Why Do You Need a Personal Statement?
A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program. You need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere on your application.
A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.
While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly relevant to your field of interest.
Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your academic/research experiences and goals.
However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes, especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.
When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions essay.
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What Makes a Good Grad School Personal Statement?
A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However, strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:
A Clear Narrative
Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).
You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this, make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and diligence than about providing excuses.
Specific Examples
A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about the relevant literature in your field.
Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better evidence.
A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are informed about and genuinely invested in the program.
Strong Writing
Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating clearly and that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.
Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way (i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.
Appropriate Boundaries
While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment. The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.
You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as inoffensive as possible.
Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.
Graduate School Personal Statement Examples
Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful.
Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 1
PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 – Japanese Studies
For this Japanese Studies master’s degree, the applicant had to provide a statement of purpose outlining her academic goals and experience with Japanese and a separate personal statement describing her personal relationship with Japanese Studies and what led her to pursue a master’s degree.
Here’s what’s successful about this personal statement:
- An attention-grabbing beginning: The applicant begins with the statement that Japanese has never come easily to her and that it’s a brutal language to learn. Seeing as how this is an application for a Japanese Studies program, this is an intriguing beginning that makes the reader want to keep going.
- A compelling narrative: From this attention-grabbing beginning, the applicant builds a well-structured and dramatic narrative tracking her engagement with the Japanese language over time. The clear turning point is her experience studying abroad, leading to a resolution in which she has clarity about her plans. Seeing as how the applicant wants to be a translator of Japanese literature, the tight narrative structure here is a great way to show her writing skills.
- Specific examples that show important traits: The applicant clearly communicates both a deep passion for Japanese through examples of her continued engagement with Japanese and her determination and work ethic by highlighting the challenges she’s faced (and overcome) in her study of the language. This gives the impression that she is an engaged and dedicated student.
Overall, this is a very strong statement both in terms of style and content. It flows well, is memorable, and communicates that the applicant would make the most of the graduate school experience.
Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 2
PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 2 – Musical Composition
This personal statement for a Music Composition master’s degree discusses the factors that motivate the applicant to pursue graduate study.
Here’s what works well in this statement:
- The applicant provides two clear reasons motivating the student to pursue graduate study: her experiences with music growing up, and her family’s musical history. She then supports those two reasons with examples and analysis.
- The description of her ancestors’ engagement with music is very compelling and memorable. The applicant paints her own involvement with music as almost inevitable based on her family’s long history with musical pursuits.
- The applicant gives thoughtful analysis of the advantages she has been afforded that have allowed her to study music so extensively. We get the sense that she is insightful and empathetic—qualities that would add greatly to any academic community.
This is a strong, serviceable personal statement. And in truth, given that this for a masters in music composition, other elements of the application (like work samples) are probably the most important. However, here are two small changes I would make to improve it:
- I would probably to split the massive second paragraph into 2-3 separate paragraphs. I might use one paragraph to orient the reader to the family’s musical history, one paragraph to discuss Giacomo and Antonio, and one paragraph to discuss how the family has influenced the applicant. As it stands, it’s a little unwieldy and the second paragraph doesn’t have a super-clear focus even though it’s all loosely related to the applicant’s family history with music.
- I would also slightly shorten the anecdote about the applicant’s ancestors and expand more on how this family history has motivated the applicant’s interest in music. In what specific ways has her ancestors’ perseverance inspired her? Did she think about them during hard practice sessions? Is she interested in composing music in a style they might have played? More specific examples here would lend greater depth and clarity to the statement.
Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3
PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 – Public Health
This is my successful personal statement for Columbia’s Master’s program in Public Health. We’ll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I’ll highlight a couple of things that work in this statement here:
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- This statement is clearly organized. Almost every paragraph has a distinct focus and message, and when I move on to a new idea, I move on to a new paragraph with a logical transitions.
- This statement covers a lot of ground in a pretty short space. I discuss my family history, my goals, my educational background, and my professional background. But because the paragraphs are organized and I use specific examples, it doesn’t feel too vague or scattered.
- In addition to including information about my personal motivations, like my family, I also include some analysis about tailoring health interventions with my example of the Zande. This is a good way to show off what kinds of insights I might bring to the program based on my academic background.
Grad School Personal Statement Example: Deep Dive
Now let’s do a deep dive, paragraph-by-paragraph, on one of these sample graduate school personal statements. We’ll use my personal statement that I used when I applied to Columbia’s public health program.
Paragraph One: For twenty-three years, my grandmother (a Veterinarian and an Epidemiologist) ran the Communicable Disease Department of a mid-sized urban public health department. The stories of Grandma Betty doggedly tracking down the named sexual partners of the infected are part of our family lore. Grandma Betty would persuade people to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, encourage safer sexual practices, document the spread of infection and strive to contain and prevent it. Indeed, due to the large gay population in the city where she worked, Grandma Betty was at the forefront of the AIDS crises, and her analysis contributed greatly towards understanding how the disease was contracted and spread. My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration to me, and the reason why a career in public health was always on my radar.
This is an attention-grabbing opening anecdote that avoids most of the usual cliches about childhood dreams and proclivities. This story also subtly shows that I have a sense of public health history, given the significance of the AIDs crisis for public health as a field.
It’s good that I connect this family history to my own interests. However, if I were to revise this paragraph again, I might cut down on some of the detail because when it comes down to it, this story isn’t really about me. It’s important that even (sparingly used) anecdotes about other people ultimately reveal something about you in a personal statement.
Paragraph Two: Recent years have cemented that interest. In January 2012, my parents adopted my little brother Fred from China. Doctors in America subsequently diagnosed Fred with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). My parents were told that if Fred’s condition had been discovered in China, the (very poor) orphanage in which he spent the first 8+ years of his life would have recognized his DMD as a death sentence and denied him sustenance to hasten his demise.
Here’s another compelling anecdote to help explain my interest in public health. This is an appropriately personal detail for a personal statement—it’s a serious thing about my immediate family, but it doesn’t disclose anything that the admissions committee might find concerning or inappropriate.
If I were to take another pass through this paragraph, the main thing I would change is the last phrase. “Denied him sustenance to hasten his demise” is a little flowery. “Denied him food to hasten his death” is actually more powerful because it’s clearer and more direct.
Paragraph Three: It is not right that some people have access to the best doctors and treatment while others have no medical care. I want to pursue an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia because studying social factors in health, with a particular focus on socio-health inequities, will prepare me to address these inequities. The interdisciplinary approach of the program appeals to me greatly as I believe interdisciplinary approaches are the most effective way to develop meaningful solutions to complex problems.
In this paragraph I make a neat and clear transition from discussing what sparked my interest in public health and health equity to what I am interested in about Columbia specifically: the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and how that focus will prepare me to solve complex health problems. This paragraph also serves as a good pivot point to start discussing my academic and professional background.
Paragraph Four: My undergraduate education has prepared me well for my chosen career. Understanding the underlying structure of a group’s culture is essential to successfully communicating with the group. In studying folklore and mythology, I’ve learned how to parse the unspoken structures of folk groups, and how those structures can be used to build bridges of understanding. For example, in a culture where most illnesses are believed to be caused by witchcraft, as is the case for the Zande people of central Africa, any successful health intervention or education program would of necessity take into account their very real belief in witchcraft.
In this paragraph, I link my undergraduate education and the skills I learned there to public health. The (very brief) analysis of tailoring health interventions to the Zande is a good way to show insight and show off the competencies I would bring to the program.
Paragraph Five: I now work in the healthcare industry for one of the largest providers of health benefits in the world. In addition to reigniting my passion for data and quantitative analytics, working for this company has immersed me in the business side of healthcare, a critical component of public health.
This brief paragraph highlights my relevant work experience in the healthcare industry. It also allows me to mention my work with data and quantitative analytics, which isn’t necessarily obvious from my academic background, which was primarily based in the social sciences.
Paragraph Six: I intend to pursue a PhD in order to become an expert in how social factors affect health, particularly as related to gender and sexuality. I intend to pursue a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Reproduction. Working together with other experts to create effective interventions across cultures and societies, I want to help transform health landscapes both in America and abroad.
This final paragraph is about my future plans and intentions. Unfortunately, it’s a little disjointed, primarily because I discuss goals of pursuing a PhD before I talk about what certificate I want to pursue within the MPH program! Switching those two sentences and discussing my certificate goals within the MPH and then mentioning my PhD plans would make a lot more sense.
I also start two sentences in a row with “I intend,” which is repetitive.
The final sentence is a little bit generic; I might tailor it to specifically discuss a gender and sexual health issue, since that is the primary area of interest I’ve identified.
This was a successful personal statement; I got into (and attended!) the program. It has strong examples, clear organization, and outlines what interests me about the program (its interdisciplinary focus) and what competencies I would bring (a background in cultural analysis and experience with the business side of healthcare). However, a few slight tweaks would elevate this statement to the next level.
Graduate School Personal Statement Examples You Can Find Online
So you need more samples for your personal statement for graduate school? Examples are everywhere on the internet, but they aren’t all of equal quality.
Most of examples are posted as part of writing guides published online by educational institutions. We’ve rounded up some of the best ones here if you are looking for more personal statement examples for graduate school.
Penn State Personal Statement Examples for Graduate School
This selection of ten short personal statements for graduate school and fellowship programs offers an interesting mix of approaches. Some focus more on personal adversity while others focus more closely on professional work within the field.
The writing in some of these statements is a little dry, and most deploy at least a few cliches. However, these are generally strong, serviceable statements that communicate clearly why the student is interested in the field, their skills and competencies, and what about the specific program appeals to them.
Cal State Sample Graduate School Personal Statements
These are good examples of personal statements for graduate school where students deploy lots of very vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes of life experiences. There are also helpful comments about what works in each of these essays.
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However, all of these statements are definitely pushing the boundaries of acceptable length, as all are above 1000 and one is almost 1500 words! Many programs limit you to 500 words; if you don’t have a limit, you should try to keep it to two single-spaced pages at most (which is about 1000 words).
University of Chicago Personal Statement for Graduate School Examples
These examples of successful essays to the University of Chicago law school cover a wide range of life experiences and topics. The writing in all is very vivid, and all communicate clear messages about the students’ strengths and competencies.
Note, however, that these are all essays that specifically worked for University of Chicago law school. That does not mean that they would work everywhere. In fact, one major thing to note is that many of these responses, while well-written and vivid, barely address the students’ interest in law school at all! This is something that might not work well for most graduate programs.
Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 10
This successful essay for law school from a Wheaton College undergraduate does a great job tracking the student’s interest in the law in a compelling and personal way. Wheaton offers other graduate school personal statement examples, but this one offers the most persuasive case for the students’ competencies. The student accomplishes this by using clear, well-elaborated examples, showing strong and vivid writing, and highlighting positive qualities like an interest in justice and empathy without seeming grandiose or out of touch.
Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 1
Based on the background information provided at the bottom of the essay, this essay was apparently successful for this applicant. However, I’ve actually included this essay because it demonstrates an extremely risky approach. While this personal statement is strikingly written and the story is very memorable, it could definitely communicate the wrong message to some admissions committees. The student’s decision not to report the drill sergeant may read incredibly poorly to some admissions committees. They may wonder if the student’s failure to report the sergeant’s violence will ultimately expose more soldiers-in-training to the same kinds of abuses. This incident perhaps reads especially poorly in light of the fact that the military has such a notable problem with violence against women being covered up and otherwise mishandled
It’s actually hard to get a complete picture of the student’s true motivations from this essay, and what we have might raise real questions about the student’s character to some admissions committees. This student took a risk and it paid off, but it could have just as easily backfired spectacularly.
Key Takeaways: Graduate School Personal Statement Examples
In this guide, we discussed why you need a personal statement and how it differs from a statement of purpose. (It’s more personal!)
We also discussed what you’ll find in a strong sample personal statement for graduate school:
- A clear narrative about the applicant and why they are qualified for graduate study.
- Specific examples to support that narrative.
- Compelling reasons why the applicant and the program are a good fit for each other.
- Strong writing, including clear organization and error-free, cliche-free language.
- Appropriate boundaries—sharing without over-sharing.
Then, we provided three strong graduate school personal statement examples for different fields, along with analysis. We did a deep-dive on the third statement.
Finally, we provided a list of other sample grad school personal statements online.
What’s Next?
Want more advice on writing a personal statement ? See our guide.
Writing a graduate school statement of purpose? See our statement of purpose samples and a nine-step process for writing the best statement of purpose possible .
If you’re writing a graduate school CV or resume, see our how-to guide to writing a CV , a how-to guide to writing a resume , our list of sample resumes and CVs , resume and CV templates , and a special guide for writing resume objectives .
Need stellar graduate school recommendation letters ? See our guide.
See our 29 tips for successfully applying to graduate school .
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Author: Ellen McCammon
Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon
Tips for Writing a Personal Statement
Keep your writing straightforward and honest..
Posted October 16, 2019
Here are some situations that require writing a personal statement:
- Applying to college
- Applying to special camps or programs
- Applying to graduate school, law school, or medical school
- Applying to an internship program
- Applying for a job
- Applying for a promotion
- … and more!
Like it or not, you’ll be writing personal statements (sometimes referred to as a "statement of purpose") pretty much throughout your adult life. I bet that some retirement communities may even require personal statements in their application process!
As a college professor for over two decades, I’ve advised and edited hundreds—even thousands—of personal statements for students. I take this work seriously, as I know how these statements have the capacity to make or break an application.
Based on this experience (see my new book Own Your Psychology Major! A Guide to Student Success ), below are some tips for making your personal statement sing, along with some classic no-nos in the process.
Tips for Making Your Personal Statement Sing
First and foremost, realize this: A large but often-unstated purpose of this statement-of-purpose assignment is to allow folks to get a sense of your writing skills. Keep this point in mind the whole while. Here are some other tips:
1. Keep it short! Students often develop this idea that the longer their paper is, the better. As my mom would say, the opposite! All things being equal, you should use as few words as possible in trying to make your point. Think about the points you are trying to make and then make those points.
Efforts to add fluff are always pretty obvious. Further, the people reading your application may have dozens or even hundreds of applications to sift through. Do them a favor by keeping it short!
2. Avoid the big-word trap. Sometimes, students feel a need to use all kinds of fancy, multi-syllabic words in their writing. Try to avoid this trap at all costs! All things being equal, I suggest this approach: Write exactly as you speak (minus slang and, of course, any profanity!).
Sure, you may use some fancy words every now and again in your speech. But speech is all about communication—trying to get someone else to understand something. Writing is no different. Big words used for the sake of using big words are not doing anyone any favors.
3. Follow the guidelines. Whatever the details of the particular application process, know that there are going to be specific guidelines. This all may pertain to word count, specific questions that you are asked to address, etc.
Here is the simplest possible suggestion I can give you: Read those guidelines and follow them 100 percent in every single way. Doing so will make sure that you make it into the pile of applications to be even considered.
4. Proofread your work. Imagine this scenario: You are applying to a job at Southeast State University. After you have submitted the application, you reread your cover letter. Check it out:
“… I am thrilled to be considered for this position at Southeast State University. …. In conclusion, let me say that I am excited about this opportunity at Fresno Institute of Technology. …”
Given that you are applying to multiple positions and/or programs, it is very likely that you are writing statements that are “tailored” for each particular position and program. That is fine and is typical. But the second that you write the name of the incorrect institution in your letter due to a lack of detailed proofreading, you might as well be throwing your application into the recycling bin. Proofread your letter carefully before sending it.
5. Have an “expert” look things over. When I was a senior in college, I recall my advisor, the formidable Dr. Gwen Gustafson of the Psychology Department at UCONN, suggesting that I bring a draft of my personal statement for her to look over before applying to Ph.D. programs. So I did.
I was surprised by how much red ink she put on my paper. But I was also grateful . And I also learned a lot. Every suggestion that she had made sense. And, at the end of the day, I took those suggestions, worked hard, and got into a great Ph.D. program in psychology that shaped the rest of my life in positive ways.
Your professors and mentors have sat on admissions and hiring committees for years. Use their wisdom to your advantage. And pay things forward when you are older and wiser.
Personal Statement No-No’s
1. Don’t overemphasize personal details. A letter that focuses on your own personal traumas and history will only go so far. Sure, it is often the case that someone has a significant personal event or history that is influential in shaping his or her interests. Myself included.
But letters that over-emphasize one’s own adversities lose a bit when it comes to getting members of a committee to see the applicant in a professional setting. Sure, you may have baggage. And it may well ultimately have come to shape you in a positive manner. But unless the guidelines of the letter are asking about that in particular, don’t make that your headline.
2. Remember that you are not texting your friend. Be professional in your statement of purpose. Don’t use emojis. Don’t use acronyms. Use your most professional and respectful writing and communication skills. You can send all kinds of silly texts to the group chat about it after you’ve been accepted...
3. Seem like you care about them. A statement of purpose, or a personal statement, is largely about you. But the last thing you want to come across as is unempathetic and disinterested in the organization and/or program that you are applying to.
If you are applying to the master’s program in mental health counseling at Western State College, learn about who they are. Care about who they are. And include something in your statement which demonstrates that you both know about them and care about who they are.
Bottom Line
Modern professional life these days includes writing personal statements/essays at various junctions. Pretty much forever. Don’t be daunted by this task. You should be proud of who you are and capable of describing yourself, your interests, and your goals in a clear, engaging, and powerful manner.
Write from your heart. Follow the guidelines. And follow the common-sense suggestions here. You’ll go far.
Geher, G. (2019). Own Your Psychology Major! A Guide to Student Success. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Glenn Geher, Ph.D. , is professor of psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz. He is founding director of the campus’ Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) program.
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Psychology and Counselling Personal Statement Example
'Nurture shapes nature' - Albert Bandura.
Does society determine who we are? Moving to a new country and experiencing such a culture shock made my future seem somewhat bleak, but it wasn't my demise.
Simply observing and comparing the practises in Nigeria to the practises in London made me think about several ethical issues with disciplining students and the factors that make students in Nigeria perform to such a high standard in private schools; whether it is genetic components or the nurturing they have received living in that environment? Or perhaps a different debate altogether; the unethical disciplinary methods might lead to final causal determinism.
Subsequently I began volunteering at Holy Cross Public Primary school in a village where practises seem to differ even more so; upon speaking with the children I realised that having the privilege to school in London, had clouded my judgement and I was essentially being Eurocentric; who is to say that discipline and teaching methods over in Nigeria are archaic?
Whilst in Nigeria, I became more enthusiastic about learning why people behave the way they do, what drives them? From that I developed a particular interest in Social Psychology.
As part of my experience in Nigeria, I took part in leadership training at Apapa Sea School Training Camp where essentials such as bathing water had to be earned through commitment and effort in gruelling tasks and then working at a rental company as a secretary gave me several transferable skills such as interpersonal and organisational skills before coming back to the UK.
Travelling to the Netherlands to conduct my own research enabled me to improve my research method skills; I made observations in forests, took samples of various plant life, used statistical tests in analysing my results, and wrote a report which I then presented to my fellow students and teachers which further strengthened my ability to engage an audience.
Similarly in my other A levels, I prepare presentations based on research I have conducted outside of college, such as how the English language is used differently by males and females and correlational analysis between self-confidence and income; this has further inspired me to read psychology at university level.
The concept of attending university excites me as I am eager to conquer all the challenges that await me both academically and socially and with the experience I have gained, pursue a career in counselling.
Being an active member of the college student council, I am involved in organising social and charity events; we conducted a 'help for Haiti' campaign where we raised more than GBP100 and collected clothes for donation.
Alongside this, as an active member of my church I have been conducting Sunday school for a year together with volunteering at a citizen advice bureau, all these positions demonstrate my ability to handle responsibility, my variety of interests and commitment.
My favourite novels belong to the Malorie Blackman Noughts and Crosses trilogy, a trilogy that centres on race and class discrimination; set in an environment similar to that of Martin Luther King's time where racism was at its peak in America. However, in these books roles are reversed and it is the black people oppressing the white people.
These remarkable books lead me to draw comparisons to the Zimbardo study; why do people act so atrociously when adapting to the role society has given them?
One can not deviate into the mind of an abusive or racist person to deduce the reasoning behind their behaviour, but I intend to continue my investigation into resolving as many enigmas that exist in everyday life all around us with my psychology and counselling degree just as the beginning.
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This personal statement was written by Niaokz for application in 2011.
Niaokz's Comments
Um.. well.. i think it's pretty unique, and it got me accepted in all 5 choices soo..
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For Therapists: How to Write a Professional Bio
During the process of marketing your practice, you may have discovered that written content is one of the most important elements of connecting with people searching for a mental health professional online. Whether you’re writing a bio for your profile in an online therapist directory or creating an “About Me” page on your professional website, you’ll want to make sure the information you include serves as a solid first impression for people seeking your services.
Below you’ll find tips for writing a good bio as well as a writing exercise to help you complete a first draft if you’re having trouble starting or if writing isn’t your forté. Remember, a good bio can be anywhere from 50 to upwards of 1,000 words, depending on the context. An ideal bio length for many GoodTherapy profiles or professional therapy websites, for example, might be around 500 to 600 words.
You’ll want to be succinct without omitting any important information. It’s always okay to start with a longer draft and then whittle it down into a solid bio.
Technical Aspects of Writing a Good Bio
Before you start the writing process, consider these guidelines. Once you understand the building blocks of a good bio and how to format it appropriately, you’ll be ready to begin.
- An engaging introduction, or "hook." The hook of your bio should be no more than two sentences and motivate your audience to keep reading.
- Grammatically polished. A good bio will be proofread and free of misspellings and other errors. If editing isn’t your strength, reach out to a colleague who can help. Errors will only erode any rapport you’re trying to build with your potential client.
- Easy on the eyes. Online searchers are not known for their attention spans. Keep your sentences to the point and your paragraphs relatively short. In some cases, a three- or even one-sentence paragraph is standard.
- A photo. A photograph isn't technically involved in the writing aspect of your professional bio, but a picture is worth one thousand words. Get the most mileage out of those words by following these guidelines for a professional headshot .
- A call-to-action (CTA). Increase your chances of connecting with a potential client reading your bio by including a call-to-action, or CTA, at the end. The CTA should invite readers to contact you to learn more about your services or schedule an appointment with you. This is most likely why you’re writing a bio in the first place, so don’t forget to include a strong CTA!
Bio Writing Exercise: Answer These Questions
It’s easy to feel stumped when it comes to writing a bio about yourself from scratch. If you’ve been staring at a blank screen for too long or can’t seem to find the right words, start by writing answers to any or all of the following questions. Then, take your answers and use them to craft a standout bio.
- How long have you been practicing?
- What education do you have?
- What certifications do you have?
- Do you have any areas of specialization, and what are they?
- How does your personality influence your approach to therapy?
- What issues do you have experience treating?
- Describe issues you work with in therapy and your approach to helping with those issues. (For example, “My approach to treating anxiety is typically x, y, and z.”)
- What therapeutic methods , approaches, or philosophies do you use/have experience using?
- Are there any recurring themes or issues you’ve noticed as you treat people in your area of specialization, and how has this insight guided your approach to helping?
- What do you view as a key component of the therapeutic alliance/relationship ?
- How do your life philosophy and treatment philosophy overlap?
- What’s the most profound, insightful, or interesting thing you’ve learned as a mental health professional?
- Which beliefs play a large role in your life?
- Which roles do you play in your own life?
- Why did you choose to become a mental health professional?
- What do you love most about being a mental health professional?
Use Your Bio to Connect with Your Reader
One final tip for writing good profile content is to address the reader’s needs in the second person (“you” language) versus speaking to the reader about yourself in the first person (“I” language).
For example, instead of writing, “I work with people who often struggle with feelings of anxiety and loneliness ,” you might start out with something like this: “Do you often feel weighed down by feelings of anxiety?” or, “If you find it difficult to make friends and experience loneliness regularly as a result, come talk to me. Together, we will work on strategies that allow you to address the root causes of your difficulties and build meaningful social connections.”
Addressing the reader (and potential client) directly can help them feel a more genuine connection with you from the beginning. Your professional bio is an opportunity to start building rapport early, so take advantage of it.
Writing a professional bio is a truly effective way to get found online , communicate which services you provide, and start building an authentic connection with individuals seeking your services. If you’re a GoodTherapy Member and need additional help crafting your profile text, our team is happy to help! Reach out to our customer support team at 1-888-563-2112 ext. 2 or click here .
If you don’t yet have a professional website, you could be missing referral opportunities. Find out how you can quickly create a beautiful and easy-to-use website for your therapy practice with BrighterVision
Kistler, P. (2018, October 1). 11 tips on how to write a personal biography + examples. Retrieved from https://brandyourself.com/blog/how-tos/8-tips-on-how-to-write-a-personal-biography
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Mental Health Counseling Personal Statement
My name is Medie Tonda and I am from Wilmington, MA. I am writing to apply for the Advanced Certificate program in Mental Health Counseling. I have a relevant educational background and extensive professional experience in counseling. However, I seek to advance my knowledge and skills to serve the community and my clients better. I am writing this personal statement with the optimism of pursuing an advanced Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Counseling offered at Cambridge College. Mental health counseling is indispensable for my future career growth and will assist me to achieve my passion to better serving patients, most of whom have mental health issues.
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Currently, I work with people having substance abuse complications and mental health issues. Namely, my work and the needs of my clients have prompted my decision to seek mental health counseling knowledge at your university. Aiming high and striving to achieve that target has been my goal since it is the just way of making a meaningful life. I have also worked as a full-time Case manager at Lahey Health Behavioral Services handling about 5-8 patients a day. Between January 2004 and August 2007, I worked as a Field Counselor in Uganda Health Empowerment Project. I was responsible for the initiation grant application for project funds, managed the project and human resources that were under my supervision. My work revolved around assisting people and the community. I believe attaining admission at your college will assist me further my ambition of making the world better by helping people with various mental health issues as well as patients suffering from substance abuse.
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My educational background was geared towards achieving a meaningful life through assisting substance abuse victims and helping the community and the world at large. I started my education in 2000 at the Markere University, Kampala, Uganda, and graduated with BA degree in Psychology, Economics, and Political Science in 2004. I proceeded with obtaining Graduate Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling from Cambridge College in 2012. In 2013, I finished Master’s program in education in counseling psychology and addictions offered at Cambridge College that I obtained in 2013.
I also have extensive experience in volunteering for the AIDS Support Organization (TASO) in Uganda, where I was a team leader in HIV/AIDS legal rights awareness campaign in 1996-1997. In addition, I was a volunteer of Uganda Health Empowerment Project (UHEP). These experiences assisted me to enhance my interpersonal skills and also relate better with the community. I believe that namely through volunteering I developed my desire and ambition to work with people who need certain counselor. In my belief, volunteering has a significant and constructive impact on every community and volunteers get to develop themselves, too. I came to learn that volunteering was the ideal vehicle to discover my individual capabilities and ambition to become a helpful member of the community as well as made me acquire new skills. Fundamentally, volunteering concerns devoting one’s energy, time and knowledge freely. As an unpaid helper, I made the choice to assist those in need of counseling help on my own accord. Volunteers mostly express a sense of accomplishment and inspiration, and this was the ultimate thing that provoked my desire and eagerness to help others. These values I discovered during my volunteering period and have been supportive in my personal and professional development.
I strongly believe that my educational, as well as volunteer and work experience, make me a perfect match for the Advanced Graduate Certificate program in Mental Health Counseling offered at Cambridge College. I am assured that I will become a valuable member of the learning community and make a significant contribution to solving mental health issues among community members.
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Personal Statement in Psychology and Mental Health Counselling
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- February 24, 2022
- Personal Statement , Sample Essay
Mental health counselling has become a core facet of public health and it has always been my ambition to participate in the mental wellness of people. I understand that your institution is one of the frontrunners in installing counseling skills for mental health. It is my desire to acquire the skills from the institution. I received my BA in communications while in Nigeria. After travelling to the United States in 2015, I enrolled for a degree in psychology aiming to focus more in humanity. This course will provide me with the requisite skills to handle clients and to adequately attend to their needs. I have held a long passion for mental health counselling since my younger days. Naturally, I am inclined at helping people and I sympathizes with those who are experiencing life challenges . I have always given an ear to people who are in pain and given them words of comfort and encouragement including strangers. I also have the ability to initiate talks and to make people feel comfortable to share without holding back on anything, a quality I believe would be helpful in practicing a career on mental health counselling.
My area of preference in mental counselling is rehab and treatment centers. There is a surge in addiction arising from substance and drugs abuse and it would be a thrill to help such people overcome their addiction. My preference to deal with concerning alcohols and substance abuse is because I have been exposed to the havocs wretched by alcoholism. Drug and substance abuse is linked to other challenges such as increased road accidents, family breakups, and increased crime rate as addicts without source of income seek ways to satisfy their urge, and other medical conditions which are calamitous. By helping people overcome addiction, the ripple effects will be experienced in many areas.
My degree in psychology gave me the basics required to embark on the journey of becoming a professional counselor. It opened me to what people think and how they react to different situations. It also helped me to understand the appropriate way of dealing with people and helping them without making them feel micromanaged. This course will guide my progress to another level making sure that I raise my standard in dealing with persons having mental health problems. A career that requires effective communication, my degree in BA Communications will come in handy. The success of any interaction with the clients is depended on the way we understand each other. Making sure that the client understands the problem properly and involving them while planning for a plan of action and making him feel like a party to those agreement is a goal which counsellors strive. With the foundation in communication, it will be easier for me to attain those goals.
A person in the career of counselling is required to be observant. I notice that in my conversations, I like to maintain eye contact and take note of the non-verbal cues. This attribute will be an asset in my career as I will be able to get most from my communication with clients. At all time, I have kept from anyone secrets that have been shared with me and I believe in my ability to maintain confidentiality, a key requirement of mental health counselling.
Furthermore, I enjoy interacting with people and am able to integrate with new communities. I understand that working as a mental health counselor will require me to work with individuals, groups and communities. Working with families is also inevitable. This I will manage since I am also able to forge new friendships within a short time and translate them to long term relationships which are defined by respect and trust.
Research indicate that about 50 percent of people globally experience mental health problems at least once in their lifetime. As at 2019, one in five adults in the United States had a mental problem, with their conditions ranging from mild, moderate to severe. Some of the common mental health problems in the United States are anxiety disorder, major depression, and bipolar disorder. This have been aggravated by the global pandemic which have led to massive loss of jobs and livelihood and loss of close friends and relatives. With the interruption of normal life, many people have been left depressed or suffering other mental health issues . During this times, my passion for mental health counselling have been rekindled. I have kept in touch with friends who have had their share of losses with the aim of ensuring that they are not mentally unwell. Looking at the needs of the America and the whole world, I feel there is a great need to have as many mental health counsellors as possible. My desire to pursue this course is informed by the need to add more knowledge that will help me deal better with mental health issues.
In regards to studying at your institution, I seek to combine all the knowledge I have combined over the years to deepen my understanding of mental health counselling. I have chosen this route to enable me fulfill my heart desire to become one of the best mental health counselor. This desire will be the driving force in my study for the time I will be in this institution.
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Psychology Personal Statement Advice
When applying for a psychology degree, you need to provide a persuasive psychology personal statement. Alongside your application form, your psychology UCAS personal statement is a description of your skills, ambitions and interests. Writing a personal statement for a psychology masters or undergraduate programme is a big deal: it’s a really popular discipline, so this is your chance to set yourself apart from the other candidates. Don’t worry about combing the internet for psychology quotes for personal statements. The course leaders are interested in you, not your ability to choose a punchy sound bite from Freud. Use your word count to show them who you are!Be honest, clear and specific. Sharing personal statement examples for university can be helpful; reading your friends’ drafts and giving each other feedback can help you pick up on mistakes. Check out our examples of personal statements for psychology for more ideas, and read on to discover how to start a personal statement… Your main goal is to summarise your subject-based strengths and evidence them. A top-notch psychology personal statement example would reference elements of the course and link them to personal qualities, goals and successes. E.g. your experience as a peer mentor at college supports your psychology / mental health personal statement. When applying to multiple universities, keep your comments broad enough to suit different joint honours choices. A psychology and sociology personal statement combined with a forensic psychology personal statement could, for example, mention an interest in criminal behaviour, as it complements both disciplines. Creating a postgraduate psychology personal statement can tough, so gaining clinical work experience can give your application the edge. The main difference between a psychology masters personal statement and undergraduate will be demonstrating expertise; really consider your achievements, experiences and interests in this narrowed field. For example, a psychology and law personal statement might highlight a legal internship, and a criminology and psychology personal statement could highlight voluntary work with the police.
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Army Counseling Examples
In order to make finding the counseling example you need easier, counseling examples are now organized into the three broad types of counseling: Performance Counseling, Event-Oriented Counseling, and Professional Growth.
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Dr. Joseph H. Hammer
Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology
Personal Statement of Purpose for Counseling Psychology PhD and PsyD Applications
All counseling psychology doctoral (PhD or PsyD) programs require applicants to submit one or more written essays about why the applicant is interested in and qualified to enter that graduate program.
Each program calls these essays by different names, including “Personal Statement”, “Statement of Interest”, “Statement of Purpose”, “Statement of Professional Goals”, “Career Goals Statement”, “Personal Essay”, and various combinations of those terms. Programs may have you write a single statement or multiple statements (e.g., Personal Statement plus a Diversity Statement).
Writing a good statement is one of the hardest parts of applying to counseling or clinical psychology graduate programs.
One of the things that makes it hard to apply is the ambiguity and mystery that surrounds statements: what should I talk about? How long should it be? Do I talk about my experiences and interests in research, applied psychology (e.g., helping others by being a supportive listener), working with diverse groups of people, or what?
To help prospective applicants to counseling psychology doctoral programs, members of the HAMMER Lab analyzed what programs told applicants they should write about in their statement.
Check out our Counseling Psychology PhD and PsyD Personal Statement of Purpose Questions google spreadsheet to see the detailed analysis. See the bottom of this page for how we went about collecting data.
Before we review the take-home points of our analysis below, a brief reminder: be sure to check out my other Psych Grad School resources using the menu above, such as Graduate School Advice , Counseling Psychology Faculty Research Interests List , Best Doctoral Programs in Counseling Psychology , and What the Ideal Graduate School Applicant Looks Like . I also recommend completing the Mental Health Professions Career Test , which will give you interest scores on 21 different mental health occupations, including counseling psychology and clinical psychology.
Take-Home Points
Below are the key results from our analysis, the take-home points that every applicant should keep in mind:
- Most programs provide provide a suggested or required statement page or word length in their instructions. The most common request is 2-3 single-spaced pages . On the shorter end, some programs restrict applicants to 500 words maximum.
- 90% of the counseling psychology doctoral programs we sampled (N=50) instruct applicants to talk about their professional goals and career aspirations. In other words, no matter what programs you apply to, you should discuss this in your statement. Specifically, you should talk about your professional goals and how getting the specific doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) at that specific program (given the unique strengths and opportunities afforded by that program) will facilitate these goals.
- 52% instruct applicants to talk about their background and relevant experiences but may not clearly specify the type of experiences the applicants should discuss. (Many programs do specify the type of experience to talk about; see bullet points below.) As a rule of thumb, when applying to PhD programs, you should be ready to discuss research, applied (i.e., helping, listening, counseling, clinical), and multicultural experiences. When applying to PsyD programs, you should prioritize discussing applied and multicultural experiences (you can mention research too, especially if that program specifically requests it).
- 52% instruct applicants to clearly indicate why they want a counseling psychology doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) specifically. In other words, why not a clinical psychology degree, counseling psychology master’s degree, or a master’s in social work degree instead? Some PhD programs often want to know why you are specifically interested in the PhD instead of a PsyD (and vice versa). Even when a program does not ask you to address this specifically, I recommend always discussing how that particular degree will help you work toward your career goals.
- 59% of PhD programs (13% of PsyD program) instruct applicants to talk about why they are interested in that program specifically (versus similar programs at other institutions across the country). As a faculty member at University of Kentucky’s counseling psychology PhD program, I understand that people who apply to our program are also applying to other programs. (I always advise students to apply to 7 to 10 programs across the country that fit their professional goals, since getting into a given doctoral program is hard and you need to apply to multiple programs to maximize your chances of being offered admission.) However, even if an applicants is applying elsewhere, I still want to know “why us?”. I want to know that the applicant has carefully considered the strengths and opportunities that our program has to offer and has applied because of those unique attributes. If an applicant does not mention specific aspects of our program, then I don’t know if they are truly interested in our program or are just treating us as a “safety school” or “backup plan”. Since finding the right graduate program is more about “fit” between applicant and program rather than “being the best applicant”, I want to hear how the applicant sees themselves uniquely fitting with our program. Thus, even when not asked explicitly to address this, I recommend always discussing what attracts you to that particular program.
- 41% of PhD programs (13% of PsyD programs) instruct applicants to talk about their research interests. This serves two purposes. First, because PhD programs train students to be both scientists and practitioners (and some also train people to be advocates), the doctoral admissions committee want to see that a student has thoughtful research interests (not too broad, not too specific, and sufficiently flexible given that students are still early in their professional development) and is serious about wanting to get additional research training as a doctoral student. Second, some PhD programs prefer to admit students whose research interests overlap with the research interests of one or more program faculty members. More on that in the next bullet point. I recommend always discussing your research interests when applying to PhD programs even if not explicitly asked to do so by the program’s application instructions.
- 27% of PhD programs (0% of PsyD programs) instruct applicants to talk about how their research interests fit with the research interests of specific program faculty members. These programs tend to use an “apprenticeship model of research mentorship”, meaning that doctoral students apply to work under a specific core faculty member in that program, who will work closely with them to train them in the theories and techniques used to do research on the topics of interest to that faculty member. The expectation usually is that the student will help that professor out with the professor’s program of research while the student is enrolled in the program (and that the professor will help the student start to build the student’s own line of research, which will usually be topically related to the professor’s line of research). Therefore, programs that use this apprenticeship model often value selecting an applicant for admission based, not only on that student’s fit with the wider program, but on how well that student fits with a particular professor’s research team. Our counseling psychology PhD program at the University of Kentucky uses this apprenticeship model and this is why we explicitly ask all applicants to pick one (two at the most) professors with whom they could fit research-interest-wise. However, while only 24% of programs explicitly instructed applicants to address research fit with a professor, some programs implicitly expect you to address this . This is part of the “hidden curriculum” of graduate school–sometimes people expect you to know certain things, but you won’t unless you have a mentor who clues you in to this insider knowledge (or you happened to read it on the internet or a how-to guide). The tricky part is that you won’t always know if a given program wants you to talk about research fit with a professor. When the program’s website or application instructions does not provide clear guidance, I recommend that you make a case in your statement for how your research interests fit well with the research interests of one (maybe 2) of the professors in that program. Bear in mind that some programs do not use an apprenticeship model and instead select students based on overall fit with the program rather than research fit (they will often make this clear on their website/instructions), in which case you don’t have to spend time in your statement articulating research fit.
- 24% of PhD programs (13% of PsyD programs) instruct applicants to talk about their research experiences and qualifications. Even if a given PhD program does not explicitly request this information, you should always talk about this, as it’s an implicit expectation. However, make sure you are not just restating the information you listed under the “research experiences” section of your CV.
- 16% instruct applicants to talk about their past experiences with diverse people or cultures. However, even when a program does not explicit ask for this, I do recommend that you talk about this when discussing past research/applied/professional experiences. My anecdotal experience suggests that most programs like to see evidence in your application that you have experience working and/or living alongside people who share both cultural similarities and differences from you in terms of race/ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, (dis)ability, religion, etc. However, because some people grew up in culturally homogeneous places (surrounded by people with similar cultural identities), what’s even more important than past experience with diversity is a genuine desire moving forward to (1) learn about yourself as a cultural being with multiple identities that may carry privilege and marginalization, (2) learn to work productively with colleagues and clients who are both similar and different from yourself, and (3) learn about how interlocking systems of power influence your life and the lives of others (e.g., racism, sexism).
- 16% instruct applicants to talk about their interests, beliefs, aspirations, and/or contributions to social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, etc. This is related but different from the “past experiences with diversity” aspect mentioned above. These pieces go beyond past experience and capture what you value and how you (plan to) contribute to making the world a more just place. This is increasingly at the heart of counseling psychology as a specialty. As with the prior bullet point, even though a minority of programs explicitly instruct applicants to address this in their statement, my anecdotal experience is that most programs want to see you incorporate this into how you talk about your experiences and goals related to both research and practice.
- 26% instruct applicants to talk about their past applied (i.e., helping, listening, counseling, clinical) experience. All counseling psychology doctoral programs train their graduate students to be talk therapists, which requires being a good listener, showing empathy, problem solving abilities, a willingness to tolerate ambiguity, an openness to both positive and constructive feedback, and demonstrating cultural humility and sensitivity. To determine which applicants show promise as future psychotherapists and would therefore be suitable for admission into the doctoral program, one thing we consider is your past applied experience. Faculty want to see that you have (1) some practice with basic helping skills, (2) at least one letter of recommendation from a supervisor of one of your helping experiences that states that your helping skills are good and that you show promise as a future talk therapist, and (3) a clear track record of wanting to further develop your helping skills by seeking out relevant opportunities. Talking about your past applied experience in your statement is one way we can gather evidence about #1 and #3.
- 25% of PsyD programs (6% of PhD programs) instruct applicants to talk about their theoretical orientation, their understanding of mental illness, and/or their understanding of how people heal and change. An applicant’s answer to these questions can provide hints to faculty about how sophisticated that applicant’s clinical abilities may be. These are hard questions to answer well without having taken graduate-level therapy coursework, and more sophistication will be expected of applicants who would be joining the doctoral program after having completed a talk-therapy-related master’s degree than would be expected of applicants who joined the doctoral program after having completed only a bachelor’s degree. Most programs do not ask about this topic and there is not an implicit expectation on behalf of programs that you address this in your statement.
- 16% instruct applicants to talk about their professional strengths and/or weaknesses. Most programs do not ask about this topic and there is not an implicit expectation on behalf of programs that you address this in your statement. For those programs that do, remember that you need to strike a balance between “selling yourself” appropriately in terms of strengths and not sounding arrogant when doing so. Likewise, some weaknesses are going to be socially acceptable (e.g., typical areas of growth for new graduate students like managing mild perfectionism) whereas others will cast a shadow on your application (e.g., poor interpersonal skills, cultural insensitivity, difficulty with time management, difficult with autonomous functioning), even if they are true. While you might not need to talk about strengths and weaknesses in your statement, it’s likely you’ll have to talk about this during interviews, so make sure to put some thought into this before going on interviews.
- 38% of PsyD programs (10% of PhD programs) instruct applicants to address how the program will benefit them. This question is a combined way of asking the 3 questions of “What are your professional goals?” and “Why do you want a _____ degree specifically” and “Why are you interested in our program specifically?”. Regardless of whether a program explicitly asks this or not, there is an implicit expectation that your statement always address how your completing this chosen program will bring you closer to achieving your career goals.
In regard to our data collection strategy, our team used APA’s list of accredited counseling psychology doctoral programs (both PhD and PsyD, both counseling psychology and “combined” programs, N=84 at the time of data collection in September of 2019). We navigated to each program’s “how to apply” page to look at what instructions they provided regarding what the student should talk about in their statement(s). We copied and pasted this information into in the Counseling Psychology PhD and PsyD Personal Statement of Purpose Questions google spreadsheet. You’ll notice that we de-identified what instructions come from which program, as the point of this analysis is to get an overall snapshot, rather than to learn about a specific program (you’ll want to see the program website for that info). Some programs did not provide this information on their website but required applicants to create an account in the application portal in order to access the instructions; for our purposes, we did not include these programs in the analysis. Thus, readers should bear in mind that our analysis is based on a subset of programs that is not guaranteed to be representative of all programs. Our final sample was N=50, of which n=42 were PhDs and n=8 were PsyDs. We analyzed the set of instructions to look for topical themes (e.g., career goals), which we then coded for across programs so that counts and percentages could be created. We also calculated descriptive statistics broken down by program type (PhD vs PsyD).
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Applying to Graduate Programs
- Writing Statements of Purpose and Other Application Essays
As noted in the application qualifications and admissions criteria section of this website, the statement of purpose (in other words, the primary application essay; sometimes also called personal statement , background statement , and other names) can play a major role in determining whether an applicant is invited to interview and in final selection decisions. Specifically, the statement can be used to assess the applicant’s fit with the program, match with faculty members, writing ability, and more. Thus, spending the time to craft a well-written statement of purpose or other types of application essays is necessary in order for your application to have a chance of succeeding. To help with this process, here we provide an overview of the process of writing such statements and other application essays.
Types of Statements of Purpose and Other Application Essays
Depending on the program, you may be required to provide a statement of purpose , application essay , autobiographical essay , personal statement , career goal statement, background statement , or other similarly named piece of writing. Each of these commonly is your opportunity to provide information about yourself beyond that communicated in the rest of your application materials. You may also be asked to provide supplementary essays such as a diversity statement.
Typically, graduate applications provide an essay prompt which includes specific questions or themes that you should address in the essay. Common themes include: 1,2
- Your long-term career plans
- Your research interests or areas of interest in psychology
- Your reasons for choosing the program that you are applying to
- Your prior research experiences
- Your academic background or objectives
- Your motivation for pursuing your field of study
It is common for programs to specify how the essay should be formatted, or at a minimum, its maximum length. For instance, an application essay may be stated to be “no longer than 2 double-spaced pages” or no more than 500 words. It is important to follow all directions and not exceed that limit.
Using the same exact essay for each application is not advised . 1,3 Each program typically has specific information that they are seeking, and if you do not directly address those details in your essay, your application will suffer. You may be able to reuse different parts of your application essays, but you should expect to have to write new material for each application.
Are there example statements of purpose that I should examine? A variety of online sources do contain example statements, and you can find links to example statements at the bottom of this page. However, application essays in general are unique to each individual – each person has a different set of experiences and different aspects that they may wish to emphasize. Moreover, writing an application essay that resembles someone else’s can result in that essay appearing derivative – and given the highly competitive application process, that is something you should avoid. Thus, examples are for reference only.
How to Write a Statement of Purpose and Other Application Essays
When writing an application essay, it can be helpful to rely on the following steps. Please note that these procedures represent a common approach for writing application essays; you may wish to adapt some of the steps, or use/add others, for best results. 1,3
1. Brainstorming/clustering
At this first stage, jot down your thoughts as you think of answers to the essay prompt. Try to think of themes that you wish to emphasize, as well as concrete examples that you may wish to describe in the essay. You can organize them into clusters (for example, write ideas in circles and draw connecting lines). Remember that the overall goal of the essay is to convince the admissions committee that you are an attractive candidate and a good fit for their program.
2. Outlining
This is an optional step. Take your brainstorming/clustering notes and organize them into an outline of how the essay will be structured. You might have a chronological structure that begins with your earlier experiences and advances towards your more recent activities. Alternatively, you may organize your essay around themes (for example, research topics). A common outline involves an opening paragraph, then discussion of academic accomplishments, research experience, other experiences, future plans and suitability for the program of interest, and a concluding paragraph. 4
3. Freewriting/initial draft
Often one of the biggest hurdles is just getting words on the page. The key here is to not worry about having your words sound perfectly the first time around. Try drafting several sentences, a paragraph or two, and see whether your thoughts translate well into prose. It is common at this stage to discard whole sections of text in favor of new material. At this conclusion of this process, you should aim to have a completed first draft.
4. Revising
It is easy to get burned out on writing, so after you have completed that first draft, set it aside for a while. Then, return with fresh eyes and read through it carefully. You are likely to find areas that need improvement – be sure to take notes or highlight them. It can help to read the essay out loud; a general rule is that if it sounds unusual when spoken aloud, it should be rewritten. Then, revise the essay.
5. Solicit feedback
Have another individual or individuals read your essays critically and provide feedback. Your mentor can be an ideal person to provide that feedback; alternatively, you might try a university writing center or your peers.
6. Revise and finalize your essay
Using the feedback and your own thoughts while reading the essay, edit it further until it is a polished product. Be sure to proofread, check formatting, and make sure that all aspects of the essay prompt are clearly and thoroughly addressed.
Statement of Purpose Do’s and Don’ts
Here are some recommended elements to include, strategies to try, and recommended elements or strategies to avoid. 1,3
- Do emphasize your individual strengths
- Do customize each statement to the program that you are submitting it to
- Do provide specific examples of relevant experiences (such as research, coursework, etc.)
- Do thoroughly address all aspects of the essay prompt
- Do use clear topic sentences, connective words or phrases, and paragraph transitions (for more information, please see the improving scientific writing section of this website)
- Do consider emphasizing your fit to the program that you are applying to
- Do consider discussing faculty mentors of interest
Dont’s
- Don’t use jokes, humor, or try to be funny
- Don’t excessively self-disclose personal problems
- Don’t be very general or vague in your research interests
- Don’t include complaints and criticisms
- Don’t use clichés such as “since my childhood I have always been interested in” or “I just want to help everyone”, unless you can genuinely and convincingly use them
Financial Aid, Fellowships, and Scholarship Application Essays
As you complete your graduate applications, you might also consider applying for financial aid or some sort of graduate research fellowship such as the Ford Foundation Fellowship or the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship . Such fellowships typically require a background statement that is similar in some aspects to the statement of purpose.
Workshops and Downloadable Resources
- For in-person discussion of the process of applying to graduate programs in psychology, neuroscience, and related fields, please consider attending this department’s “Paths to PhDs” workshop and other related events (for dates and times, please check the undergraduate workshops calendar).
- Tips for Applying to Graduate Programs in Psychology (a brief summary) [ PDF ]
Further Resources
How-To Videos
- Applying to Grad School Videos
Recommended Reading
- American Psychological Association (2007). Getting in: a step-by-step plan for gaining admission to graduate school in psychology . Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
- Keith-Spiegel, P., & Wiederman, M. W. (2000). The complete guide to graduate school admission: psychology, counseling, and related professions . Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
- Slideshow guide to writing winning statements of purpose from UCLA
- Guide to writing statements of purpose from Purdue Online Writing Lab
- Tips for writing the statement of purpose from UC Berkeley
- 10 tips for writing statements of purpose from USC
- 11 tips for writing powerful statements of purpose from CrunchPrep.com
- Choosing a graduate program from the Association for Psychological Science
- Smart shopping for psychology doctoral programs [PDF]
APA Videos on Graduate Applications
- Preparing and applying for graduate school in psychology [12-part video series]
- Preparing and applying for graduate school in psychology [video slides in PDF format]
- UCSD Graduate Division Statement of Purpose Prompt
- UCSD Career Center Graduate Application Process
- UCSD OASIS Language and Writing Program
- UCSD Writing Programs and Resources
- UCSD Muir College Writing Hub
- UCSD Writing Hub
1 American Psychological Association (2007). Getting in: a step-by-step plan for gaining admission to graduate school in psychology .
2 norcross, j. c., & hogan, t. p. (2016). preparing and applying for graduate school in psychology: 12 modules. american psychological association [video workshop]., 3 keith-spiegel, p., & wiederman, m. w. (2000). the complete guide to graduate school admission: psychology, counseling, and related professions . psychology press., 4 rutgers university camden college of arts and sciences. writing a personal statement ., prepared by s. c. pan for ucsd psychology, graphic adapted with permission from leoncastro under creative commons attribution-share alike 4.0 international license..
- Finding and Choosing Graduate Programs of Interest
- Timelines for the Graduate Application Process
- Applicant Qualifications, Admissions Criteria, and Acceptance Rates
- Requesting Letters of Recommendation
- Preparing for the Graduate Record Examination
- Graduate Admissions Interviews
- Applying to Clinical Psychology Programs
- Applying to Medical School and Professional Health Programs
- Accepting Graduate Admissions Offers
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Letter of Recommendation
Application Resume/CV
Waiver Request Letter
Statement of Purpose
Personal Statement
Admission Essay
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Importance of Personal Statement for Counselling Psychology
One of the most difficult parts of a graduate school application is the personal statement. When you’re getting ready to apply, you know that a counseling person al statement is the only part of your personality that the admissions personnel will see. It’s your one chance to make an impact and convince them you’re the right fit.
However, we all know that writing about yourself can be the hardest task since you’re walking on a thin line here. You can either be too self-criticizing and lower yourself in the eyes of the committee or you’ll end up bragging about yourself too much. Both of these outcomes seem horrible, don’t they? So how do write a perfectly balanced personal statement for counseling psychology doctorate? Well, check out these tips and find out.
Counseling Personal Statement Tips
- Check for clichés: Before you write, look up info about starting a personal statement and some writing cliches in general. Avoiding these can give you a good heads-up!
- Answer the whys: Ask yourself three things. Firstly, why graduate school? Secondly, why counseling? Thirdly, why this program?
- Answer the hows: How did your previous experiences prepare you for graduate school? How will you contribute to the program you’re planning on applying to?
- Create an outline: Once you’ve answered your questions to yourself, put the answers in a rough outline that you can later edit.
- Leave out the irrelevant stuff: At the graduate school level, your hobbies and your jobs should only be mentioned if they’re directly related to your area of study.
- Fill in your outline: Now that you know what should and shouldn’t be in your paper, fill in the edges of your outline.
- Edit: The final stage will be editing and proofreading. You want to present your best face to the person reading your letter, so make sure you have an error-free letter. Ask someone to look over it for you or, if you can’t find someone, read it backwards or out loud.
The biggest advice here, though, is to stay true to yourself. Let your personality shine through the words you’re writing. Showing your individuality is the best strategy in this situation. Alan Bullock from Which? University says:
Universities with Postgraduate Psychological Counselling Program
Write personal statement for counseling graduate school.
With all the pressure put on you to write a great personal statement, it’s easy to be incredibly intimidated. Don’t let yourself drown in it, however. Our best personal statement writers service will allow you to create a great statement that propels you into the next phase of your career. Whether it’s just a nudge in the right direction or a whole statement, we can help you wherever you are. Don’t wait up and start your personal statement counselling course.
Our help doesn’t end on tips, we have a team of writer who can help you write a flawless counselling personal statement. Just give us a call!
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Think of yourself as the hero in a Hollywood movie. Take the admissions committee on your journey, focusing on the moments that made you the hero that you are. Remember that good stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. For your story, think of the end as your admission to the graduate program of your choice. Now, think backward.
Psychotherapy and Counselling: Practices and Principles Personal Statement Submitted by Chloe I have always desired to understand feelings, behaviour and the human mind; always been driven toward solving the questions that start with why.
Sample Counselling Personal Statement Having always pursued study and work that allows me to make an impact on the lives of the vulnerable through a range of therapeutic approaches, Occupational Therapy Counselling is an obvious field through which I can continue to develop these skills and passions.
Personal statement example for psychology Here's a sample personal statement for psychology: As a recent graduate from Clinical Health College of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in psychology, I am thrilled to apply for admission to the graduate program for clinical psychologists at the College of Professional Psychology at Nashville.
Counselling Psychology Personal Statement Example As I sit here at my desk, trying to figure out how to write a brilliant essay to be better recognized throughout this application process, I have come to realise that this is what life is about. We are all given a blank sheet in the beginning.
A Sample Personal Statement (This statement was written by a student applying to a clinical psychology doctoral program.) ... I witnessed counseling of both clients and their families, and I learned to administer and score several psychological tests used in clinical assessment (e.g., the Wechsler Memory Scale and the MMPI). My work experience has
Becoming a professional counselor here in my adopted land means fulfilling my heart's desire, quenching my intellectual curiosity and reconstructing my profession on a new level all at the same...
16 personal statement examples. Here are 16 personal statement examples—both school and career—to help you create your own: 1. Personal statement example for graduate school. A personal statement for graduate school differs greatly from one to further your professional career. It is usually an essay, rather than a brief paragraph.
I wish to explore and further my current practices and assumptions, with humanistic psychology and counselling practice. I understand the course will enhance self reflection, awareness and knowledge. I have gained experience in risk assessments, clinical assessments, devising care plans and reviews.
Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We'll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful. Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 1. PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 - Japanese Studies
I am applying in response to what I see as a great need in our society for mental health practitioners. Your program will also prepare me for further study towards a doctoral degree. I feel...
Personal Statement No-No's 1. Don't overemphasize personal details. A letter that focuses on your own personal traumas and history will only go so far. Sure, it is often the case that...
Psychology and Counselling Personal Statement Example 'Nurture shapes nature' - Albert Bandura. Does society determine who we are? Moving to a new country and experiencing such a culture shock made my future seem somewhat bleak, but it wasn't my demise.
Keep your sentences to the point and your paragraphs relatively short. In some cases, a three- or even one-sentence paragraph is standard. A photo. A photograph isn't technically involved in the ...
24.12.2018 in Personal Statement My name is Medie Tonda and I am from Wilmington, MA. I am writing to apply for the Advanced Certificate program in Mental Health Counseling. I have a relevant educational background and extensive professional experience in counseling.
Counseling Mission statement examples. 01. If you are seeking to change your life's direction, improve your career, or enhance your relationships, I can teach you how to have better insight into your own life to accomplish these above goals and more. See also: 20+ Counseling Feedback Examples. See also: 30+ Persuasive Closing Statement Examples.
Example: UNC-CH Personal Statement Prompt § On a separate page, write a personal statement that includes the following: • a. Description of any work experience relevant to psychology and research (bibliographic, laboratory or other) that you may have done (or are doing) either as part of employment or to complete your present program.
Personal Statement, Sample Essay; Mental health counselling has become a core facet of public health and it has always been my ambition to participate in the mental wellness of people. I understand that your institution is one of the frontrunners in installing counseling skills for mental health. It is my desire to acquire the skills from the ...
Your main goal is to summarise your subject-based strengths and evidence them. A top-notch psychology personal statement example would reference elements of the course and link them to personal qualities, goals and successes. E.g. your experience as a peer mentor at college supports your psychology / mental health personal statement.
In order to make finding the counseling example you need easier, counseling examples are now organized into the three broad types of counseling: Performance Counseling, Event-Oriented Counseling, and Professional Growth. Magic bullet statements, Privacy Act statements, forms and regulations are listed under References. Performance Counseling
90% of the counseling psychology doctoral programs we sampled (N=50) instruct applicants to talk about their professional goals and career aspirations. In other words, no matter what programs you apply to, you should discuss this in your statement.
Professional Disclosure Statement Example Benny Rosen, Masters-level Intern Happy Tails Counseling Front Desk: ((999) 999-9999 . This information is intended to inform you about my professional background . and to describe certain aspects of our therapeutic relationship. Please read it carefully and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Types of Statements of Purpose and Other Application Essays. Depending on the program, you may be required to provide a statement of purpose, application essay, autobiographical essay, personal statement, career goal statement, background statement, or other similarly named piece of writing. Each of these commonly is your opportunity to provide ...
Fill in your outline: Now that you know what should and shouldn't be in your paper, fill in the edges of your outline. Edit: The final stage will be editing and proofreading. You want to present your best face to the person reading your letter, so make sure you have an error-free letter.
The Statement of Purpose for is a personal essay that gives a brief description of the candidates personal and professional background, experiences and accomplishments. A well written and drafted SOP might increase your chances of getting accepted in the university. ... Given below is a SOP for Counselling sample for a student applying to ...