I have finished a version of my personal statement, but I am not very happy with it. I feel like it's just a written version of my resume and transcripts. Though it sounds like that's what they're asking for.

Quote :

"Describe your career goals and research interests, as well as your publications, work experience, and academic honors and organizations."

Should I try to work in stuff about "I didn't realize how much I wanted to pursue this career path until taking this class.....thanks to Professor so and so, I realized I wanted to do this"? It sounds like sentimental stuff that they wouldn't be interested in. A friend of my graduated from NC State econ grad program and he showed me his personal statement and it didn't include any of that.

But I go online and what examples I can find are very flowery and puffy. It ain't my style, but I'm more concerned with impressing the selection folk than following my own aesthetic sensibilities.

6/22/2008 8:02:10 PM

It's not sentimental, its showing that you know why you want to pursue that particular field of study. If you don't have any specific publications or work experience a statement of which professor got you interested in going to grad school illustrates that you've put some thought into your field goals beyond being someone going to grad school so they can wait to face reality. I'd go for it, but then again I can't remember what BS I put in my personal statement and now that I've gotten my master's degree I have a tendency to say whatever comes to mind whether its PC or not.

6/22/2008 11:29:36 PM

Straight and direct is fine. However, I might consider highlighting some professors you might want to work with/for while in graduate school.

Remember this is a very small part of the process so an average letter won't disqualify you. Especially with you having completed graduate levels courses, high gpa, and good test scores.

6/22/2008 11:39:46 PM

Yeah, just tell them what your plans are in life. Doesn't have to be anything too fancy. I told them about wanting to help my brother start a business and went into some of the details on that and how his work at NCSU got me into civil engineering. I got in, and my academic credentials are nowhere near as strong as yours, so you'll be fine.

6/22/2008 11:58:08 PM

Thanks for the help guys. I think I will add a little something extra, but y'alls advice has made worry less about what I write. Another quick question. Did anyone write the second "optional" statement about what traits you bring to diversify the university?

Quote :

"You may also include an optional statement of your achievements, talents, background, experiences, and traits that will contribute to the enrichment or diversity of the University or community, beyond your academic credentials."

Or did you just write the single statement?

6/23/2008 12:33:54 AM

I think I wrote out something about how I'm a diabetic or something.

Let me see, I have that long-winded bullshit around here somewhere (it's like my posts on TWW but worse)...

[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 1:11 AM. Reason : Oh jesus I had three pages of this shit.]

Ok, I just checked, I wrote out more about how my conversations with my brother (who is an architect) helped me see buildings and see my work from a different light which most engineers don't really see. And it's true, a lot of people (even the professors) in my department like to piss on architect's names just because they like to do weird frilly bullshit things that don't make economical sense on a building. Learning more about it and taking an interest in architecture as a side thing helped me understand what I'll be designing for as an engineer and what my clients will be looking for as I work my career path.

Basically if you have some sort of experience that somebody isn't going to have, or if you have done things and experienced things that other people in your department haven't (something that's important to you that isn't off-the-walls crazy, something that isn't virgin sacrifice or pagan offerings), then you can put that into your paper. Putting out the effort at least shows them that you care.

[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 1:15 AM. Reason : words]

6/23/2008 1:10:46 AM

Wow, 3 pages in addition to your other personal statement?

Hmmm I'll have to think of something tomorrow at work. Putting a few final tocuhes on my other personal statement now, then need sleep.

I wonder how many people actually do the optional statement. I wonder if there is a career counsler at NCSU this time of year that may have this info.


[Edited on June 23, 2008 at 1:41 AM. Reason : ``]

6/23/2008 1:37:28 AM

Oh no my personal statement in total was 3 whole pages.

I forgot how much crap I put in there.

6/23/2008 1:48:13 AM

Man i'm glad they didn't have that "optional" statement when I was applying.

6/23/2008 2:14:10 AM

Be sure to mention the Wolf Web.

I really wonder how many personal statements gets glossed over. Just be sure there are no punctuation errors etc... at the beginning and the end of the thing. Someone lazy like me might read it.

6/23/2008 10:44:12 AM

Crap. So it sounds like everyone filled out the optional personal statement?

6/23/2008 11:06:00 AM