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• Film Production Personal Statement Examples

Learn how to write a good film personal statement from our examples. Our personal statement examples are free to use for inspiration and as a template for writing. 

Below are two film production personal statement examples you can check. 

Film Production Personal Statement Example

I have been captivated by the magic of film. Watching movies transported me to different worlds and sparked my imagination. This lifelong passion for film has fueled my ambition to become a film producer. Studying Film Production at university will equip me with the practical skills and knowledge to achieve this goal.

To prepare for university, I completed a BTEC in Media Production where I gained top marks in most courses, demonstrating my determination and ability to overcome obstacles to reach my objectives. I particularly excelled at the practical elements of production, and I look forward to continuing to strengthen these skills at university. While I had previously pursued traditional academic A-Levels in Theatre, English Literature and Law, I found that my true talents and interests lie in the practical and creative realms of film production.

Beyond the classroom, I have actively sought opportunities to gain valuable experience in the film industry. I spent a term teaching primary school children how to make stop-motion animations, utilizing techniques I had taught myself to help the students create their own short films. However, my most impactful experience was working as a runner for an actual production company, where I assisted in assembling and disassembling 3D cameras. This gave me an invaluable, hands-on understanding of camera equipment and functions. My weekend job as a sales assistant in the Sound and Vision department of Sainsbury’s has also provided insight into film marketing and distribution. Advising customers on what films to choose has honed my skills in effectively promoting creative works, which will be useful for networking within the industry.

In my spare time, I have taught myself various technical aspects of filmmaking by creating stop-motion animations and short films. My self-taught abilities were recognised when I was chosen to edit a company’s promotional video, providing my first paid work and lesson in balancing artistic vision with client demands. I also served as team leader for a student production where I edited a music video and managed a 16-person crew as floor manager, overseeing all cameras and equipment. My editing work received public acclaim when our student production was nominated for a prestigious award. As Technical Director and Chief Editor, I ensured my team executed all technical elements, gaining valuable experience directing others and strengthening my time management abilities.

Outside of film, I enjoy organising charity events for a local hospital’s special care baby unit. I am an avid swimmer and hope to join the university’s swim team. I aim to collaborate with other film students at the university on various projects. I am determined to seize every opportunity to progress towards my goal of becoming a film producer. The film is my passion, and I aspire to instil in others the sense of wonder it has given me.

Recommended for reading:

• How to Write a Personal Statement for a Master’s
• How to Write a Personal Statement That Stands Out
• UCAS Personal Statement: A Writing Guide And Tips For Success

Film and TV production personal statement

Fascinated by the film in all its complexity, from the collaborative creative process of production to its cultural impact and ability to influence society. Through previous study, I have built a strong foundation in both film theory and practice. I now aim to gain specialized knowledge that will allow me to play an integral role in the growing film industry.

From an early age, I have been imaginative and creative, enjoying various art forms and media. An avid dramatist and writer as a child, I often made short films and put on plays with friends and family, in addition to participating in school productions. Film uniquely combines my interests in storytelling, visual arts, and performance, explaining my lifelong dedication to the medium.

Eager to turn this passion into a career, I pursued an undergraduate degree in Media and Creative Industries to gain comprehensive exposure to media theory and practice. While focusing heavily on filmmaking modules and completing many projects, the broad, cross-media nature of the course has shaped me into a well-rounded creative talent. Nevertheless, the film remains the medium that inspires me the most. I took a directing course at the Met Film School in London to gain further practical experience exploring different aspects of filmmaking.

My filmmaking experiences during these courses have also led to amateur projects with friends and fellow students in various production roles, including Co-Producer and Assistant Director, using different cameras and editing software. My natural abilities in organization, working well under pressure, and communicating with my team indicate I am well-suited to such positions, which I hope to explore as potential career paths.

Fascinated by film’s power to convey complex ideas, I have also worked to thoroughly understand communication in general. Placements at DDB Advertising and in fashion marketing/design (including website design) have allowed me to demonstrate my creative approach to communication across media. I believe this has made me a stronger filmmaker by providing insight into how the film relates to and differs from other media.

I am convinced a strong film industry could address important social issues. Studying and working across film and other media has established a foundation for a meaningful creative career in this powerful medium. Gaining the skills and experience to fulfil this potential through postgraduate study at a prestigious university is the next step in achieving my goal of contributing to the growth of this exciting industry.

The film has captivated me from an early age with its ability to transport audiences to different times and places. I aspire to instil in others the sense of wonder film has given me by pursuing a career as a producer, and ultimately starting my own production company. With a diverse background spanning film, media, marketing, and beyond, I believe I would bring a unique multidisciplinary perspective to this role. Graduate study is crucial to acquiring the specialized knowledge and experience necessary to become an innovative leader in the next generation of filmmakers.

FAQ for Film Production Personal Statements

– Your lifelong interest in film and dedication to the medium – Relevant experience, e.g. making short films, internships, and media-related jobs – Transferable skills, e.g. communication, time management, creative thinking – Career ambitions, e.g. producer, director, starting your own production company – Reasons for applying to university and how their programme suits your needs

You can start with an anecdote showcasing your passion for film from an early age. For example: “From a young age, I have been captivated by the magic of film. Watching movies transported me to different worlds and sparked my imagination. This lifelong passion for film has fueled my ambition to become a film producer.” Or start with a more dramatic statement indicating your dedication and work ethic: “I live and breathe film. While my peers were participating in school sports or clubs, I could be found making short films or constructing plays to communicate stories in a visual medium. The film is my craft, my calling, and my ultimate aspiration.”

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Effective Guide: Film and Media Studies Personal Statement

Table of Contents

A successful application to a Film and Media Studies program requires a well-crafted personal statement that reflects your passion for the subject. You need to showcase your unique perspectives and experiences to stand out from the competition.

You must also demonstrate the specific knowledge and skills you can bring to the program. With an eye towards creativity and practicality, this article will provide guidance to craft an excellent film and media studies personal statement .

What Is a Film and Media Studies Personal Statement?

A Film and Media Studies personal statement is an essential document for anyone hoping to pursue a degree in film or media. This document helps admission officers gain insight into the applicant’s motivations, aspirations, skills, and experiences pertinent to their studies.

A well-crafted personal statement will give candidates a competitive edge in pursuing higher education. The statement should be written with clarity, specificity, and emotion while also demonstrating knowledge of the field. By weaving together factual examples and creative language, applicants can showcase their unique talents as well as their commitment to this exciting industry.

Tips to Write a Good Film and Media Personal Statement

Emphasize your passion.

When writing a personal statement for film and media studies, it’s vital to demonstrate your passion for the field in an engaging way. Provide detailed examples of experiences that have nurtured your interest in the industry. It could be attending movie screenings or participating in relevant activities. Demonstrating a deep-seated enthusiasm and commitment to pursuing film and media studies will help showcase your drive and determination to admissions officers.

Highlight Relevant Experiences

Utilize your personal statement to emphasize any previous experiences you may have had related to filmmaking, media production, scriptwriting, or video editing. Even if these experiences are outside the classroom, they can still provide valuable insight into your skill set and capabilities within this field. Include any projects you’ve completed, awards or accolades you’ve earned, and internships or jobs you’ve held. And explain how each of these has strengthened your understanding of film and media studies.

Discuss Your Professional Goals

While discussing past experiences is important, make sure to also focus on your future ambitions for the field. Explain what professional aspirations you hope to achieve after graduating from the program. It could be working as a director, producer, cinematographer, editor, or writer. It provides admission officers with a clear vision of your career goal and why the specific program is ideal for you to get there.

Make It Personal

To craft a compelling personal statement for film and media studies, inject some personality! Include anecdotes or stories about yourself which offer insight into who you are as an individual. Showcasing your character traits and perspectives through thoughtful storytelling adds layers of dimension to your application. It lets the reader know the “real” you beyond just facts and figures.

Tailor It to the Program

Tailor your personal statement directly to the program you are applying to. Research the institution thoroughly and find ways to mention elements of its curriculum that resonate with you. Or mention areas of specialization offered by faculty members which excite you professionally.

Film and Media Studies Personal Statement Example

Below is an excellent example of a film and media studies personal statement to inspire you to write one for yourself:

Personal Statement Example

I have always been fascinated by the potential of media and film to incite change on a large scale. As an undergrad, I immersed myself in courses that explored these disciplines – from American cinema to global digital content. And I have since developed a comprehensive understanding of how different media platforms can be used to communicate powerful messages. My interest has led me to pursue further studies in Film and Media Studies. I am eager to use my passion for narrative-building and storytelling to shape conversations about important social issues like immigration, poverty, and gender inequality.

A graduate degree in Film and Media Studies will give me the essential skills to produce impactful films. It would increase my aptitude in online communication and challenge viewers to think critically about current events. In addition, it will open up opportunities to work on projects related to documentary filmmaking, advertising campaigns, and public service announcements. These are areas where I could apply my already-sophisticated knowledge of cinematography and production design. Moreover, collaborating with other professionals from diverse backgrounds would expand my skill set and bolster my capabilities as an independent producer.

Sustaining an active presence within this field is crucial for honing my craft. Therefore, I am committed to dedicating extra hours outside class for networking and professional development activities. I plan to leverage my previous experience teaching introductory film classes at two local universities to make meaningful contributions to departmental seminars. With all these elements combined, I am confident that I will not only grow as a practitioner but also empower others through my work.

Film and media studies is a unique field that requires understanding both creative elements and technical concepts. By crafting a personal statement that accurately reflects one’s experience and passion for the subject matter, potential students can stand out from the rest.

It’s essential to use clear language and structure, inject emotion into your writing, and utilize colloquialisms. By following the right approach and the tips and examples in this post, you can make their application shine.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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• Personal Statements
• Film personal statement

Film Personal Statement Example

Sample statement.

For most students the thought of doing a degree that involves breaking out the popcorn and sitting on the sofa watching films is pretty appealing, but studying Film is harder than you think and you have to get onto the course first.

If you’ve been having trouble writing an award winning personal statement here is an example of a personal statement for someone applying to study Film.

Ever since I was a young child I have been fascinated by films and how artists, directors, producers, and actors use film to convey their message to a wider audience. Whether they want to communicate comedy, tragedy, horror, drama, fictional or real life events it can all be captured by the magic of cinema.

As well as a strong interest in film I also have a passion for history and enjoyed combining these two things during school history lessons when we explored how film can be used for propaganda purposes during times of war.

In particular I am especially interested in how film was used during the Second World War by both the Allies and the Nazis to convey negative messages about the opposition and to raise morale.

During the lesson we were required to write a short film script for a propaganda film which first inspired me to start script writing in my spare time. Outside of school I attend writing workshops to further develop my skills and I hope to submit my scripts to an agency in the near future.

A work experience period with a local media company enabled me to gain a more in-depth insight into the industry and to develop my media production abilities. This period also helped me to develop my communication and teamwork skills. I gained a real sense of responsibility and achievement by completely this placement, as well as good references from my manager.

I hope that my time at university will give me a better understanding of the techniques used to create a successful film and to utilise my experience, skills, and knowledge for a future career.

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How to Write an Incredible Film Production Personal Statement

By Film Threat Staff | February 18, 2021

The film industry keeps growing and there are many careers in the industry. Every film school and course has its own unique application requirements. Your personal application statement plays an important part as it reveals your personal and professional goals.

You have an opportunity to express yourself and help the admission team understand why you want to pursue a career in film. It must be unique enough to capture attention, unlike a generic resume where you list your achievements.

Where to start

The most important place to start is by doing research to see what a school has to offer you. Think about which modules align with your interests.

Once you’ve found a course that interests you, think about any experience you have that’s relevant. What personal experiences have encouraged you to explore this subject? Was it seeing particular movie? Did you see a documentary that inspired you? Have you won any prizes or achieved any recognition for your interests?

The basic structure

A structure will keep you from rambling and make sure you put the right elements in the right place. Begin by introducing yourself and what course you’re applying for. Start off with a strong statement that makes the reader want to read further.

In the middle section, you can go into detail about your passion, education and experience. Have you volunteered on projects or had previous on-set experience? What did you learn from these experiences? Talk about what you plan to do after graduation and the career path you hope to follow.

Your final paragraph should sum up the statements you make in your middle section. On reading your statement, the reader should know more about you and feel that you are a good candidate for the course for which you’re applying.

Personal statement writing assistance

When students say, “write my personal statement for me, “they usually have ideas in mind and have written the first draft. A specialist writer is able to listen to what you want to say or take your first draft and perfect it. You need to know about writix.com, which offers a personal statement writing service for students wanting an education in film. The writers at Writix know how to showcase your skills and personality when offering writing help. They can make your personal statement stand out from other students applying to the same college or university and convince the admissions team that you belong there.

Write your first draft

Once you have decided on your basic structure, you need to get down your thoughts on paper. Don’t worry about word count or perfection at this stage. You can take the questions you thought about before beginning and address them.  

Start with your introduction and then include all your relevant experience, future career goals etc. Only then will you start the process of editing. There will be a big difference between your first draft and your final draft.

Tell a story about yourself

It may sound like a cliché but you need to be authentic. You shouldn’t try to write what you think admission committees are looking for because it will come across as fake.  

Avoid any stereotypical comments and make your personal statement sound like your own story – after all, being a great filmmaker is about telling a story. As long as you stay within the guidelines of the application with regard to the number of words or page limit, you are usually free to be as creative as you like.

Write clearly and consistently

There is often a clear distinction between the writing of someone who took the time on a personal statement and someone who didn’t.  

At this level of education, there is an expectation that the writing will be at a certain level, and students must take the responsibility to put effort into it. Try to use a concise, natural style and simple language rather than trying to impress by throwing in complex terms.

Check for errors  

It is certainly worth proofreading your personal statement and making sure it’s free of grammar or spelling mistakes. You could use a third party to read through it to pick up any errors you may have missed.

Remember, admissions committees are not looking for experts who already know it all. They are looking for committed, confident, enthusiastic students with a desire to learn who will add value to a school. Be sure to your personal statement focuses on the main reasons why you are a suitable applicant and your expectations of what you hope to achieve through taking the course. Honesty and truthfulness in describing yourself and your passion is the key.

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Oxford's MSt in Film Aesthetics: The Personal Statement

In this article, I go over how I approached the personal statement, one of the components required when applying to the MSt in Film Aesthetics at the University of Oxford.

Zachary Xavier

Hi, my name is Zach.

Back in 2020 I graduated from the University of Oxford with a MSt in Film Aesthetics, and I’ve recently made a few videos, and written a few articles, about that experience and the application process. In this article, I will be going over how I approached writing the personal statement when applying.

But, before I start, I should mention that this isn’t the only way to go about writing a personal statement, and I would definitely recommend searching for other examples if possible, even if it is for a different course. To get you started with that, I’ve included some links at the end of this article to some other helpful resources.

The Personal Statement

So, to begin with, if you look at the course webpage , you can see a brief description of what it is the admissions tutors want you to include in the personal statement.

There it says:

“ A maximum of 1,000 words

Your personal statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you.

You should think of the personal statement as also a statement of academic purpose. You should go beyond expressing an enthusiasm for film and be as specific as possible about studying film in an academic context. It is also important that you should be specific about why you wish to study film from an aesthetic point of view as distinct from other approaches to film study.

This will be assessed for your reasons for applying; evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study; the ability to present a reasoned case in English.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.”

From this brief description it is clear that the four main areas they want you to cover are:

• Your motivation for applying to the course at Oxford
• Your relevant experience and education
• The specific areas that interest you
• Why you wish to study film from an aesthetic point of view as distinct from other approaches in film studies

It goes without saying that you should touch on all of these topics. In my opinion, the final point is especially important because it will demonstrate that you are aware of the difference between the specific study of film aesthetics from other approaches in film studies.

When I began writing my personal statement I thought the best way I could demonstrate that was to weave it into my discussion about my relevant education. Therefore, I spent the majority of my words on the second point––my relevant experience and education (and its worth mentioning that I focused almost entirely on my education rather than experience)––and on the fourth point.

My personal statement consisted of 6 paragraphs over two pages. The overall structure of the personal statement followed an hourglass shape: starting general, honing in on the details, and then concluding on a general note once more. To expand on this, I began with a general overview of my motivation, then honed in on the specific details regarding my relevant education and reason for wanting to study film aesthetics for the main body, and concluded with a general overview of my areas of interest.

Below, I’ve broken down each section of my personal statement, and included a brief description of what I included:

Paragraph 1 (Introduction)

A succinct description of my motivation for applying to the course.

Paragraphs 2 – 5 (Body)

A detailed account of my relevant education and how this related to why I wanted to study film aesthetics in particular.

This section charted how I became interested in film aesthetics through studying specific modules as an undergraduate. As such, I was able to demonstrate point 2 and 4 simultaneously.

As I had studied film as an undergraduate, I mainly focused on my relevant education in this section. I did include 1-2 sentences on my experience with practical filmmaking, but I only mentioned this to relate it back to studying film in an academic context. If you want to discuss experience beyond your education, I would only do so if you can relate it back to studying film aesthetics in an academic context.

I also mentioned that I enjoyed reading the work of one of the professors that teach on the course, and discussed the reasons why I agreed with their approach to film. This is an example of how you can clarify why you wish to study film aesthetics specifically as opposed to other areas in film studies. Further to this, it also demonstrated that I was familiar with the work of one of Oxford’s professors, which also indicates that I’m aware of how film aesthetics has been approached at Oxford in particular. The latter point is an important one to consider because the admissions tutors will be interested to know not only why you want to study film aesthetics, but also why this subject at Oxford specifically.

Paragraph 6 (Conclusion)

A summary of the areas of the course that interested me most, and what I was hoping to get out of the course.

This would be a good time to mention your future plans, and how this course may help you pursue them, especially if you plan to continue with further academic research.

Course Links and Further Advice

Course Webpage

Further Course Information

Course Handbook (2020-2021)

Advice on Applying to a MSt at Oxford in the Humanities – Molly at Oxford (YouTube):

Writing a Master’s Personal Statement – Ibz Mo (YouTube):

Chapter 4: Sample Personal Statements and Application Essays

Easy writing makes hard reading.

—Ernest Hemingway

As a graduate student taking fiction writing workshops many moons ago, I recall what was most motivating to me as a creative writer. It wasn’t the reading of published or award-winning work, and it wasn’t the classroom critique given on high from the professor nor the scribble from my classmates on my manuscripts. All these things were helpful and valuable, but nothing motivated me more than comparing my fiction to the work of my peers. As I read their work carefully, both objectively and subjectively, I found myself thinking at times that I was sure I could write better than the others around me at the seminar table—then I’d read an artful, poignant story that made me wonder whether I could ever even compete.

Perhaps somewhere between these two attitudes is the most profitable approach when studying the work of your peers. In critiquing the work of others who essentially represent your competition, you should take a respectful stance both critical and kind, just as selection committee members are likely to do. The sample essays in this chapter represent personal stories that are intriguing, diverse, complex, honest, and humanizing. These samples present opportunities for you to study, admire, question, emulate, reject, and—most importantly—consider how to present the best, truest, most effective picture of yourself, carefully refined for the eyes of others.

Websites with sample personal statements abound. Here are two:

Sample personal statements categorized by major at eduers.com

Sample personal statements including reader comments from studential.com

Short Essay Samples

Below is a pdf link to personal statements and application essays representing strong efforts by students applying for both undergraduate and graduate opportunities. These ten essays have one thing in common: They were all written by students under the constraint of the essay being 1-2 pages due to the target program’s explicit instructions. In such circumstances, writers must attend carefully to the essay prompt (sometimes as simple as “Write a one-page summary of your reasons for wanting to pursue graduate study”) and recognize that evaluators tend to judge these essays on the same fundamental principles, as follows:

• First, you are typically expected to provide a window into your personal motivations, offer a summary of your field, your research, or your background, set some long-term goals, and note specific interest in the program to which you are applying.
• Second, you are expected to provide some personal detail and to communicate effectively and efficiently. Failure to do so can greatly limit your chances of acceptance.

Good writers accomplish these tasks by immediately establishing each paragraph’s topic and maintaining paragraph unity, by using concrete, personal examples to demonstrate their points, and by not prolonging the ending of the essay needlessly. Also, good writers study the target opportunity as carefully as they can, seeking to become an “insider,” perhaps even communicating with a professor they would like to work with at the target program, and tailoring the material accordingly so that evaluators can gauge the sincerity of their interest

Overview of Short Essay Samples

Geological sciences samples.

In the pdf link below, the first two one-page statements written by students in the geological sciences are interesting to compare to each other. Despite their different areas of research specialization within the same field, both writers demonstrate a good deal of scientific fluency and kinship with their target programs.

Geography Student Sample

The short essay by a geography student applying to an internship program opens with the writer admitting that she previously had a limited view of geography, then describing how a course changed her way of thinking so that she came to understand geography as a “balance of physical, social, and cultural studies.” Despite her limited experience, she shows that she has aspirations of joining the Peace Corps or obtaining a law degree, and her final paragraph links her interests directly to the internship program to which she is applying.

Materials Sciences Student Sample

For the sample from materials sciences, directed at an internal fellowship, the one-page essay has an especially difficult task: The writer must persuade those who already know him (and thus know both his strengths and limitations) that he is worthy of internal funds to help him continue his graduate education. He attempts this by first citing the specific goal of his research group, followed by a brief summary of the literature related to this topic, then ending with a summary of his own research and lab experience.

Teach for America Student Sample

The student applying for the Teach for America program, which recruits recent college graduates to teach for two years in underprivileged urban and rural public schools, knows that she must convince readers of her suitability to such a demanding commitment, and she has just two short essays with which to do so. She successfully achieves this through examples related to service mission work that she completed in Ecuador before entering college.

Neuroscience Student Sample

The sample essay by a neuroscience student opens with narrative technique, telling an affecting story about working in a lab at the University of Pittsburgh. Thus we are introduced to one of the motivating forces behind her interest in neuroscience. Later paragraphs cite three undergraduate research experiences and her interest in the linked sciences of disease: immunology, biochemistry, genetics, and pathology.

Medieval Literature Student Sample

This sample essay immerses us in detail about medieval literature throughout, eventually citing several Irish medieval manuscripts. With these examples and others, we are convinced that this student truly does see medieval literature as a “passion,” as she claims in her first sentence. Later, the writer repeatedly cites two professors and “mentors” whom she has already met, noting how they have shaped her highly specific academic goals, and tying her almost headlong approach directly to the National University of Ireland at Maynooth, where she will have flexibility in designing her own program.

Beinecke Scholarship Student Sample

The Beinecke Scholarship essay is written by a junior faced with stiff competition from a program that awards $34,000 towards senior year and graduate school. This student takes an interesting theme-based approach and projects forward toward graduate school with confidence. This writer’s sense of self-definition is particularly strong, and her personal story compelling. Having witnessed repeated instances of injustice in her own life, the writer describes in her final paragraphs how these experiences have led to her proposed senior thesis research and her goal of becoming a policy analyst for the government’s Department of Education.

Online Education Student Sample

Written during a height of US involvement in Iraq, this essay manages the intriguing challenge of how a member of the military can make an effective case for on-line graduate study. The obvious need here, especially for an Air Force pilot of seven years, is to keep the focus on academic interests rather than, say, battle successes and the number of missions flown. An additional challenge is to use military experience and vocabulary in a way that is not obscure nor off-putting to academic selection committee members. To address these challenges, this writer intertwines his literacy in matters both military and academic, keeping focus on applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), his chosen field of graduate study.

Engineer Applying to a Master’s Program Sample

This example shows that even for an engineer with years of experience in the field, the fundamentals of personal essay writing remain the same. This statement opens with the engineer describing a formative experience—visiting a meat packaging plant as a teenager—that influenced the writer to work in the health and safety field.  Now, as the writer prepares to advance his education while remaining a full-time safety engineer, he proves that he is capable by detailing examples that show his record of personal and professional success. Especially noteworthy is his partnering with a government agency to help protect workers from dust exposures, and he ties his extensive work experience directly to his goal of becoming a Certified Industrial Hygienist.

Sample Resumes

Frequently, graduate school or scholarship applications provide an option or requirement for you to submit a resume to complement your other written material. The two sample resumes provided in the link below offer good examples of what graduate schools and scholarship committees look for in a resume (or “curriculum vitae,” which is typically a lengthier resume with an academic and research focus).

Overview of Short Sample Resume

The writer of the short sample resume in the pdf below wisely excludes the usual “Objective” section (needless for a graduate application) and focuses instead on his education. Note how he briefly discusses his thesis research and lists his key courses—information he hopes will be of special interest to the selection committee. With little meaningful work experience in the field, the writer simply summarizes his experience briefly and lists activities, some of which relate to his field of study. Standing alone, this resume will not help the student rise above other applicants, some of whom are bound to have paid work experience in the field. However, it will be helpful to the application, particularly when joined with the student’s corresponding personal statement.

Overview of Lengthy Sample Resume (Curriculum Vitae)

With curriculum vitae tailored to graduate school or scholarships, the category headings can be determined both by the writer’s strengths and by the selectors’ needs. Thus, the sample three-page curriculum vitae in the pdf below focuses on languages, international experience, and leadership positions. Note how the writer effectively uses subcategories to underscore a diversity of experience, ranging from political involvement to research. She describes volunteer positions as thoroughly as one would describe a job. Also, she uses various formatting strategies, including ample white space, selective indentation, and boldface of parallel headings to allow for easy visual scanning of her credentials. Clearly, this student has a lot of offer in her chosen field of political science.

Lengthy Essay Samples

The lengthy sample essays in the pdf link below showcase writers who, to varying degrees, took chances or simply reached higher. Not only did these writers compose lengthy essays (still within prescribed word-count limits), but in many cases they did something bold with content, form, or personality.

In these samples, length can readily be justified by the fact that these are writers who don’t necessarily fall into “typical” student categories but nevertheless are applying to graduate programs or for scholarships. To be competitive, these writers decided to stand out by telling their stories in a way that they hoped would set them apart from, and above, the crowd. A common thread linking these diverse writers is their obvious confidence that:

• their essays matter to the selection committee, and
• their essays will be both noticeable and noticed.

Overview of Lengthy Essay Samples

Mechanical engineering student sample.

In the first sample essay from mechanical engineering, what stands out immediately are the length and the photographs. In this case, the student was applying for an engineering scholarship, so he was given room to flesh out technical material as well as address issues such as personal motivations one would expect to read in a personal statement. Much of the essay is given to a discussion of his thesis work, which involves the examination of “the propagation of a flame in a small glass tube.” The figures depict the experimental work and represent the success of preliminary thesis results, visually indicating the likely point at which the flame reached detonation.

Liberal Arts Student Sample

The three-page personal statement by the liberal arts student is interesting in that it is often intentionally abstract and a bit philosophical. This student attended a small liberal arts school that promotes a “Think, Evolve, Act” theme to its students, and this student reflects on this theme and embraces it in his own life from the beginning of the essay. In his curriculum, he has taken a course on Gandhi and Nonviolence, studied abroad in Belgium, and self-designed a program of “Peace and Conflict Studies with an emphasis in Technological Revolution.” He has also taken a ten-day service learning trip to Costa Rica, studied at the Institute of Gandhian Studies in India, served part-time as an assistant to a member of the European Parliament, and written a paper entitled “A Knowledge-Based Society and the Digital Divide.” Meanwhile, he plans to graduate with distinction in both of his majors. In jazz terms, this student certainly does seem to have the chops.

Film Student Sample

One way to get a sense of the daring of this personal statement, written by a student who aims to study film at Columbia University, is simply to consider the allusions he makes throughout his statement. With neither apology nor obvious humility, this writer makes references to Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, Jean-Luc Godard, Jean Vigo, Terrence Malick, and David Gordon Green. Further, this writer takes the unusual step of using section headings in his personal statement, including, on his first page “Poetry,” “Plastics,” and “Children.” But no matter how creative this writer is, of course, we must ultimately judge him on his evidenced ability as a filmmaker. In that regard, he showcases his ease with talking about films and directors, posits an analogy about student filmmaking (“directing your own material is like parenting”), and discusses the success of his nineteen-minute senior project, “Burying Dvorak”—a film he promoted by taking a year off after graduation, successfully landing it in more than 20 film festivals. As he closes his essay, he makes a specific pitch for Columbia University, where he hopes to continue “to discover my own voice, my own poetry.”

Biological Science Student Sample

For the lengthy sample essay from the student in biological science, the extensive length and scientific depth are necessary because the student is applying for the highly competitive STAR Fellowship. The STAR (Science to Achieve Results) program offers graduate fellowships through the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), funding several years of study. Given the competitiveness of the process and the EPA’s mission of environmental protection, it is vital that this student presents a viable, environmentally important project in a persuasive, professional manner. To achieve this, the writer successfully approaches the essay as she would a thesis proposal, using science-related section heads, providing original figures and data, focusing heavily on future research goals, and essentially performing a literature review, citing 19 sources ranging from basic textbooks to refereed journals. The result is a powerful essay with scientific depth.

Professional Essay Samples

Sample essays for professional school—written by students applying for business, law, or medical school—are abundant online, and they also can be highly specialized. Many medical schools require two separate applications: one directly to the target school itself and one through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) , both of which usually require essays. Both law and business schools also often require multiple essays of their applicants, with questions ranging from details about your personal background to questions asking you to write an essay exploring a controversial issue. Therefore, I provide just a few samples of professional essays here in the pdf link below, referring you to online sites in the “Self-Study” box below for further study and targeted samples.

For students applying to professional schools who desire further advice and samples, I do recommend three books throughout this manual, all available for purchase online:

• Mark Alan Stewart’s How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement .
• Donald Asher’s Graduate Admissions Essays .
• Richard Stelzer’s How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School .

In addition to these books all having a well-established and positive reputation, they offer insights from the admissions officers themselves at professional programs, thus giving readers an inside track as to what will be expected of them in both the application essays and the overall application process. With each of these books costing less than the price of most professional school application fees, they’re all well worth the investment.

Overview of Professional Essay Samples

Pharmacy student sample.

The sample essay from a pharmacy student was written during the student’s sophomore year and before she had experience in the field. Therefore, she chose to highlight her attitude towards and seriousness about her future path of study.  She also discusses pre-pharmacy courses she has already completed and stresses her academic success.

Law School Student Sample

The student applying to law school to study environmental law immediately persuades readers of his commitment by telling a personal story of how environmental law affected his family business. He also traces his educational path from community college to a bachelor’s program, where he completed a technical senior thesis with ties to a government agency. With law schools just as interested in recruiting students with a diverse background and life experience as they are with seeking pre-law majors, this student builds a strong case for himself as a candidate in just one page.

Business School Student Sample

The two business application essays, written by the same applicant, are in response to questions posed by an MBA program, which is especially interested in how candidates take risks and overcome challenges. The writer handles the first question, which allows for one page to describe a personal risk and its impact, by vividly recounting a life-changing 3500-mile bike trip he took across the US with his brother at the age of 21. The second essay gives applicants two pages to describe a challenging team experience and their contributions to its success. Here, the writer has the advantage of having already worked in business for a few years after completing his bachelor’s degree, so he wisely turns to his most successful team experience at his company, where he was a project leader.

Short Medical School Student Sample

With medical school applications sometimes asking very focused questions with short answer responses, this student uses the small amount of space allotted to explain why she’s applying to med school by describing how she applied creative thinking to working with a disabled patient in a clinic. Here we recognize that the writer has the sensibility to respond individually to her future patients with respect.

For advice specific to writing essays for professional school, turn to targeted websites such as these:

The website thedoctorjob.com, which includes blog articles on writing personal essays for medical school

“Law School Personal Statements Advice” article from top-law-schools.com

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How to Write a Personal Statement for a Scholarship + Examples

What’s covered:, what is the purpose of the scholarship personal statement, what to include in your personal statement, personal statement example: breakdown + analysis, how to make sure your writing is effective.

Either before or after you’ve gotten into your dream school, you’ll have to figure out how to pay for it. For most students, this involves a combination of financial aid, parent contributions, self-contributions, student loans, and scholarships/grants. Because scholarships are money out of someone else’s pocket that you never have to pay back, they are a great place to start!

Scholarships come in two forms: merit-based and need-based. Need-based scholarships are also often called grants. These designations tell you whether an organization looks at your financial situation when deciding about your scholarship.

Additionally, different scholarships fall under different categories based on the mission of the organization or person providing the scholarship’s financing. These missions typically emphasize different things like academic achievement, specific career goals, community service, leadership, family background, skill in the arts, or having overcome hardship. As you select scholarships to apply for and complete your applications, you should keep these missions in mind.

No matter what type of scholarship you are applying for, you will be asked to provide the review committee with standard materials. This includes your transcript, GPA, and resume/extracurriculars, but also, importantly, your personal statement. A scholarship personal statement is a bit different from your normal college essay, so we’ve put together this guide and some examples to help you get started!

The purpose of your personal statement is to help a review committee learn more about your personality, values, goals, and what makes you special. Ultimately, like with your college essays, you are trying to humanize your profile beyond your transcript, GPA, and test scores.

College essays all have one goal in mind (which is why you can apply to multiple schools at once through applications like the Common App or Coalition App): convince admissions officers that you would be a valuable addition to the university environment. The goal of your scholarship personal statement is different and differs more from one scholarship to the next. Rather than convincing various review committees that you are a generally good candidate for extra funding for college, you need to convince each review committee that your values have historically aligned with their organization’s mission and will continue to align with their organization’s mission.

Common missions amongst those who give scholarships include:

• Providing opportunities for students with career ambitions in a particular field
• Helping students who have experienced unexpected hardship
• Supporting students who show outstanding academic achievement
• Funding the arts through investing in young artists with strong technical skill
• Supporting the development of civic-minded community service leaders of the future
• Providing opportunities for historically underrepresented ethnic communities 

If a specific mission like this is outlined on an organization’s website or in the promotional material for its scholarship, the purpose of your personal statement is to show how you exemplify that mission.

Some scholarships ask for your personal statement to be guided by a prompt, while others leave things open for interpretation. When you are provided a prompt, it is obvious what you must do: answer the prompt. When you are not provided a prompt, you want to write a personal statement that is essentially a small-scale autobiography where you position yourself as a good investment. In either case, you should identify a focus or theme for what you are trying to say about yourself so that your application does not get lost in the shuffle.

Prompts include questions like:

• Why do you deserve this scholarship?
• How have you shown your commitment to (leadership/community service/diversity) in your community?
• When did you overcome adversity?
• Why is attending college important to you?

If you are provided a prompt, develop a theme for your response that showcases both your values and your achievements. This will help your essay feel focused and will subsequently help the review committee to remember which candidate you were as they deliberate.

Themes include things like:

• I deserve this community service scholarship because my compassion for intergenerational trauma has inspired me to volunteer with a local after-school program. I didn’t just sympathize. I did something about my sympathy because that’s the type of person I am. Within the program, I have identified avenues for improvement and worked alongside full-time staff to develop new strategies for increasing attendance.
• I overcame adversity when my mother had to have a major surgery two months after giving birth to my younger brother. I was just a kid but was thrown into a situation where I had to raise another kid. It was hard, but I’m the kind of person who tries to grow from hard times and, through my experience taking care of a baby, I learned the importance of listening to body language and nonverbal cues to understand the needs of others (baby and nonbaby, alike).

Without a prompt, clarity can be harder to achieve. That said, it is of the utmost importance that you find a focus. First, think about both your goals and your values.

Types of goals include:

• Career goals
• Goals for personal growth
• The type of friend you want to be
• The change you want to make in the world

Values could include:

• Authenticity
• And many more!

After you write out your goals/values, write out your achievements to see what goals/values you have “proof” of your commitment to. Your essay will ultimately be an exploration of your goal/value, what you have done about your goal/value in the past, and what you aspire to in the future.

You might be tempted to reflect on areas for improvement, but scholarships care about you living out your values. It is not enough to aspire to be exemplary in leadership, community service, or your academic field. For scholarships, you have to already be exemplary.

Finally, keep in mind that the review committee likely already has a copy of your extracurricular activities and involvement. Pick one or two accomplishments, then strive for depth, not breadth as you explore them.

My interest in the field of neuroscience began at a young age.  When I was twelve years old, my sister developed a condition called Pseudotumor Cerebri following multiple concussions during a basketball game.  It took the doctors over six months to make a proper diagnosis, followed by three years of treatment before she recovered.  During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions.  Later, my love of neuroscience was amplified when my mother began to suffer from brain-related health issues.  My mother had been a practicing attorney in Dallas for over twenty years.  She was a determined litigator who relentlessly tried difficult cases that changed people’s lives.  Now, she suffers from a cognitive impairment and is no longer able to practice law.  Oftentimes, she has headaches, she gets “cloudy,” her executive functioning slows down, she feels overwhelmed, and she forgets things.  My mother has gone from being the strong, confident, emotional and financial caretaker of our family to needing significant help on a daily basis. Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.

Due to my experiences with my mother and sister when I was in middle school, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the field of neuroscience.  I also knew that, to obtain this goal, I needed to maintain superior grades in school while also pursuing opportunities outside of school to further my education.  In school, I was able to maintain superior grades to the point where I am currently valedictorian in a class of 567 students.  In addition, in school, I challenged myself by taking 16 Advanced Placement classes and 19 Honors classes.  Two of the most beneficial classes were AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research.  AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research are research-oriented classes where students are given the opportunity to pursue whatever track their research takes them down.  As a junior in AP Capstone Seminar, I researched the effects of harmful pesticide use on the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children.  This year, as a senior in AP Capstone Research, I am learning about the effects of medical marijuana on the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  

Outside of school, I furthered my education through taking advantage of the Duke TiP summer program. Duke TiP is a summer program run by Duke University where students who score extremely well on the SAT as middle schoolers are able to take college classes at different universities throughout the summers of their middle school and high school years.  I took advantage of this opportunity twice.  First, I went to Trinity University in San Antonio to expand my horizons and learn more about debate.  However, once I was done exploring, I decided I wanted to go into neuroscience.  This led me to take an Abnormal Psychology class at Duke University’s West Campus.  This class opened my eyes to the interaction between neuroscience and mental health, mental illness, and personality.  Years later, I am currently continuing my education outside of school as an intern at the University of Texas Dallas Center for Brain Health.  Through this internship, I have been able to see different aspects of neuroscience including brain pattern testing, virtual reality therapy, and longitudinal research studies.  With this background, I have positioned myself to be accepted by top neuroscience programs throughout the nation.  So far, I have been accepted to the neuroscience department of University of Southern California, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas, and Southern Methodist University, as well as the chemistry department at University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.  

It is with this passion for neuroscience driven by my family and passion for education driven by internal motivation that I will set out to conquer my career objectives.  My educational aspirations consist of acquiring a bachelor’s degree in a biological or health science that would assist me in pursuing a medical career as a neuroscience researcher.  I decided to attain a career as a researcher since my passion has always been assisting others and trying to improve their quality of life.  After obtaining my Masters and my PhD, I plan to become a professor at a prestigious university and continue performing lab research on cognitive disorders.  I am particularly interested in disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  In the lab, I hope to find different therapies and medications to help treat the 3.5 million people around the world suffering from ASD.  Furthermore, I want to contribute back to underserved populations that struggle because they do not have as much access to medical assistance as other privileged groups.  As such, I hope to do a part of my research in less developed or developing Spanish-speaking countries. This will also allow me to pursue my love of Spanish while pursuing my love of neuroscience.  I think that following such a career path will provide me the opportunity to learn about the medical needs of the autistic community and improve their quality of health.  Furthermore, I hope to train a new generation of students to strive to research and make comparable discoveries.  Whether it be through virtual reality labs or new drug discoveries, I believe that research leads to innovation which leads to a brighter future. 

This student does a great job of making themself appear competent and dedicated to the field of neuroscience. This is primarily because they provided tangible evidence of how they have pursued their dedication in the past—through their AP Capstone courses, their Abnormal Psychology class at Duke TiP, and their internship at UTD. There is no doubt in the mind of a reader that this student is high-achieving. 

This student also engages successfully with a past-future trajectory, where they end with a vision of how they will continue to use neuroscience in the future. This helps the review committee see what they are investing in and the ways that their money will go to good use.

This student has two major areas for improvement. As we have said, the purpose of a personal statement is for a student to humanize themself to a review committee. This student struggles to depict themself separately from their academic achievements. A solution to this would be for the student to establish a theme towards the beginning of their essay that relates to both their values as a human and their achievements.

At the beginning of the essay, the student explores how their interest in neuroscience began. They explain their interest through the following sentences: “During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions” and “Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.” The student made the great decision to tell the backstory of their interest, but they described their research in very mundane and redundant terms. Instead, they could have focused on their value of intellectual curiosity as a magnetic force that encouraged them to research their mother and sister’s ailments. Curiosity, then, could serve as a value-related thematic throughline to taking AP Capstone classes, taking college courses during the summer that weren’t required, and interning before even graduating high school.

A second area for improvement would be avoiding statistics. As the student identifies their valedictorian status and the number of AP classes they have taken, they might turn away certain personalities on a review committee by appearing braggy. Even further, these statistics are a waste of space. The review committee already has access to this information. These words distract from the major theme of the essay and would have been better used to humanize the student.

Throughout my academic career, I have been an avid scholar, constantly pushing myself towards ambitious goals. I held and continue to hold myself to a high standard, enrolling myself in rigorous curriculum, including Honors and Advanced Placement courses to stretch my mental potential. During my junior year of high school, I took four AP tests, two on the same day, and earned the AP Scholar with Honor Award. Additionally, I received the Letter of Commendation for the PSAT/NMSQT, and qualified for Rotary Top 100 Students both my freshman and senior year, a sign of my commitment to my studies. However, school has not been all about having the best GPA for me; beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem. I always give each class my best effort and try my hardest on every assignment. My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result. It is a major goal of mine to continue to aspire towards a high level of achievement regarding future educational and occupational endeavors; I plan on continuing this level of dedication throughout my educational career and implementing the skills I have learned and will learn into my college experience and beyond.

This fall, I will begin attending the University of California Los Angeles as an English major. I chose this major because I am fascinated by written language, especially its ability to convey powerful messages and emotions. I also enjoy delving into the works of other authors to analyze specific components of their writing to discover the meaning behind their words. In particular, I cannot wait to begin in-depth literary criticism and learn new stylistic techniques to add more depth to my writing. Furthermore, I recently went to UCLA’s Bruin Day, an event for incoming freshmen, where I was exposed to many different extracurriculars, some of which really piqued my interest. I plan on joining the Writing Success Program, where I can help students receive free writing help, and Mock Trial, where I can debate issues with peers in front of a real judge. The latter, combined with a strong writing background from my undergraduate English studies will be extremely beneficial because I plan to apply to law school after my undergraduate degree. As of now, my career goal is to become a civil rights lawyer, to stand up for those who are discriminated against and protect minority groups to proliferate equality.

As a lawyer, I wish to utilize legislation to ameliorate the plight of the millions of Americans who feel prejudice and help them receive equity in the workplace, society, and so on. Though this seems a daunting task, I feel that my work ethic and past experience will give me the jumpstart I need to establish myself as a successful lawyer and give a voice to those who are often unheard in today’s legal system. I have been a Girl Scout for over a decade and continually participate in community service for the homeless, elderly, veterans, and more. My most recent project was the Gold Award, which I conducted in the Fullerton School District. I facilitated over ten workshops where junior high students taught elementary pupils STEM principles such as density and aerodynamics via creative activities like building aluminum boats and paper airplanes. I also work at Kumon, a tutoring center, where I teach students to advance their academic success. I love my job, and helping students from local schools reach their potential fills me with much pride.

Both being a Girl Scout and working at Kumon have inspired me to help those in need, contributing significantly to my desire to become a lawyer and aid others. My extracurriculars have allowed me to gain a new perspective on both learning and teaching, and have solidified my will to help the less fortunate. In college, I hope to continue to gain knowledge and further develop my leadership skills, amassing qualities that will help me assist others. I plan to join multiple community service clubs, such as UCLA’s local outreach programs that directly aid residents of Los Angeles. I want to help my fellow pupils as well, and plan on volunteering at peer tutoring and peer editing programs on campus. After college, during my career, I want to use legal tactics to assist the underdog and take a chance on those who are often overlooked for opportunities. I wish to represent those that are scared to seek out help or cannot afford it. Rather than battling conflict with additional conflict, I want to implement peaceful but strong, efficient tactics that will help make my state, country, and eventually the world more welcoming to people of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These goals are close to my heart and therefore I will be as diligent as I am passionate about them. My perseverance and love for learning and community service drive my ambition in both education and life as a whole, and the drive to make the world a better place is one that I will carry with me for my entire life.

This student emphasizes two values in this essay: hard work and community service. These are values that go together nicely, and definitely make sense with this student’s end goal of becoming a civil rights lawyer! That said, some changes could be made to the way the student presents their values that would make their personal statement more convincing and engaging.

Structurally, instead of using a past-future trajectory, this student starts by explaining their academic achievements, then explains their career goals, then explains their history of community service, then explains their future desires for community service. This structure loses the reader. Instead, the student should have started with either the past or the future. 

This could look like 1) identifying their career goals, 2) explaining that hard work and a commitment to community service are necessary to get there, and 3) explaining that they aren’t worried because of their past commitment to hard work and community service. Or it could look like 1) providing examples of their hard work and community service in the past, then 2) explaining how those values will help them achieve their career goals.

Additionally, like with our other example, this student shows a heavy investment in statistics and spouting off accomplishments. This can be unappealing. Unfortunately, even when the student recognizes that they are doing this, writing “beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem,” they continue on to cite their achievements, writing “My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result.” They say they are going beyond the numbers, but they don’t go beyond the awards. They don’t look inward. One way to fix this would be to make community service the theme around which the essay operates, supplementing with statistics in ways that advance the image of the student as dedicated to community service.

Finally, this student would be more successful if they varied their sentence structure. While a small-scale autobiography can be good, if organized, every sentence should not begin with ‘I.’ The essay still needs to be engaging or the review committee might stop reading.

Feedback is ultimately any writer’s best source of improvement! To get your personal statement edited for free, use our Peer Review Essay Tool . With this tool, other students can tell you if your scholarship essay is effective and help you improve your essay so that you can have the best chances of gaining those extra funds!

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Film studies personal statement example 7.

The reason as to why I would like to study film is because the way it has influenced trends, social movements and internet culture is very intriguing. My love for film has stemmed from photography and this is because I like to see film as photography in motion. We often come across the quote "A picture is worth a thousand words" which is very true because, without context, a picture could mean anything. Film adds that context and with this, we see how ideas from film have affected the way people perceive social and political issues, comedy and even love.

Teaching myself photography has taught me discipline because the only person with expectations is myself. I did not have any deadlines or pressure and without these things, procrastination affected my artistic development. I acknowledged this and decided to look at other peoples work and gathered inspiration and skills from them. This lead to me teaching myself how to use Lightroom and Photoshop to achieve a certain look for a photo and how to fix any mistakes without relying on others.

I have always been interested in writing, whether that be short story writing or screenwriting. I won a 50-word short story competition which lead to my story being published in a book with many other short stories within the country. Writing stories from a young age has made want to pursue a career in screenwriting as well as filmmaking.

The element of the course I am looking forward to studying the most is screenwriting in film and this is because the script is essentially the core of it all and I would like to use my creativity and ability to learn from others and myself to create something important and influential. I believe I will contribute positively to any university community I am accepted into because I am very active in issues to do with discrimination and prejudice which is what I spent the majority of year 12 doing and making sure I spread awareness to do those who were ignorant to it.

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Author's Comments

Hi, I was just wondering if this personal statement is good enough to submit to a university.

I also still have some characters left because I was conflicted on whether to add my work experience which I did in a nursery therefore I thought it wouldn't be very relevant. If you think I should please let me know!!

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