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Tips to Craft a Killer Personal Statement for Fulbright Scholarship

Today I am going to write about the things that were common in all successful Fulbright personal statements. Along with that I am also going to write about the common flaws in the unsuccessful personal statements.

SEE ALSO: Here is a Sample Personal Statement which has used quotes effectively.

For those of you who don’t know yet, you will have to write a 700-750 words long personal statement. In order to write a personal statement, you must first understand the real purpose and value of a ‘Personal Statement’. The basic idea behind a personal statement is to get a piece of original writing and a peak into the mind of the applicant.

Writing a personal statement could be a very daunting task for students in Pakistan, many a times, as they don’t have any prior experience in writing something like this. Also, this could be one of the best chances that you will get to impress the Fulbright committee, who will be reading your personal statement. I personally believe that a personal statement is a kind of a quick interview of a Fulbright applicant – except that you don’t have to answer the interviewer in person but on a piece of paper.

Fulbright personal statement or the Fulbright statement of purpose is not like any other ordinary type of essay writing we do in Pakistan. If your writing matches to a typical essay, it won’t stick to the minds of the Fulbright admissions committee and you will most likely lose any chance of getting in. An impressive personal statement will most likely increase your chances of getting a recommendation for Fulbright interview initiation.

To help students write a personal statement, here are some do’s & don’ts of a Fulbright Personal statement:

What to Write in a Fulbright Personal Statement

Mention Important Points: Never forget to mention the important points in brief. For e.g., give your top reasons to pursue the course that you did in the past etc. While your Curriculum Vitae or Resume would give details about the courses you have done, this is the best chance for you to explain why you chose that course and your passion for it. Fulbright would love to know why you made such a decision in the past.

Don’t Choose Redundant Opening Lines: Whenever Fulbright applicants come to me seeking assistance with their personal statements I always tell them not to write something like: “I want to help the Pakistani society” or “I want to help the poor in Pakistan” or “I want to make a difference to Pakistani people”. Well! This line does look impressive, but when hundreds of Pakistani Fulbright applicants write the same lines, your first impression at the Fulbright officer will be lost.

Give Real life Examples: A personal statement for Fulbright application is the perfect time to think outside the box and to think about different aspects of your life. You can review your life and add important points to your essay. Don’t include your whole life story; present it in an impressive way which highlights your strengths, skills and talents. Portray everything using examples rather than just listing your strengths.

Follow Instructions given by Fulbright Scholarship: It is always advisable to follow the instructions provided. If they have asked for 700-750 words, then provide your content for 700-750 words only. Just follow the instructions.

Write About Yourself: Everyone has their own stories and experiences to share with the Fulbright people. If you have an exciting story about yourself, don’t forget to mention it in your personal statement. Don’t write your story just for the sake of impressing the officers; present it in a sincere manner.

SEE ALSO:

How to explain a low GPA in your personal statement?

What Not to Write in a Fulbright Personal Statement

Don’t Write to Impress: Whenever you write a personal statement, it is a human tendency to think of those points that would impress others. However, this will get you go off the track. Try to be genuine and give only those points which you really feel are important.

Don’t submit Resume: It is okay to pick a couple of things from your resume and elaborate on them; but if you are thinking of writing everything what is already there in your resume, it would definitely kill the chances of your personal statement being the most impressive one.

Don’t submit without checking with a third person: If you are thinking of submitting your personal statement without checking with a third person, think again. There are possibilities of grammatical errors, spelling mistakes etc., which may not be visible to your eyes. Only a third person can identify all those. Moreover only a third person can tell you whether or not he/she was impressed after reading your statement.

Present small negatives in a positive way: If you think that some of your past records may become a cause concern to the admission committee, like a gap in studies, a low GPA, or even a tough semester, present them in a positive way. Personal statement is a great chance where you can address these issues, by mentioning all the good things which you have learnt during the bad time. You can also explain the good reasons behind such small negative things.

Always write a Fulbright personal statement, keeping all the above given points in mind. This will definitely help you to get the best impression from the officers.