WR 105 Writing for Scholarships

Assignment #1 - Personal Statement Essay


"This personal statement helps us become acquainted with you in ways different from courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. It will demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself. We are looking for an essay that will help us know you better as a person and as a student. Please write an essay (250-500 words) on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below.

  1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
  2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
  3. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
  4. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
  5. A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
  6. Topic of your choice.
    7. "


This is an actual essay requirement from the Common Application, a general admissions tool used by over 300 colleges nationwide.

Instructor Comments:

I will be evaluating this essay on effective content and presentation. While you will answer the question you choose, your answer should include clarification of your personal goals and an overview of your relevant strengths. The key will be to use "real-life" supports to back up a clear thesis. Formatting should be standard essay form as described on our Readings and Assignments page.