The personal statement is the key component of your application for a research internship or graduate school. It should be written well, so you must leave yourself plenty of time to write, edit, and re-write it. Remember to use your University resources, including the Writing Center or Career Center, peer editors, and advice from your mentors.
A particularly good resource for advice on writing personal statements for applications to science internships and graduate school can be found in the following article from ScienceCareers:
Sell Yourself–Refining the Personal Statement
Here are a few pieces of advice, from my experience with reading and writing applications for scientific positions:
- The statement is the chance to show your personality, but it should still be concise. Don’t bore the reader with too much detail and remember to remain professional.
- Before you begin, do your homework. Be sure you know the strengths of the program or institution to which you are applying. Does this program have any values or research priorities that align with your interests? If you are applying to a scholarship that honors an individual, it does not hurt to understand what that individual’s legacy is.
- Be sure to address ALL PARTS of the application question. Don’t be afraid to divide your statement into sections, if that helps you.
- State your career goals. If you are still unsure of your exact career goals, it is okay to say so while explaining what you think you might be interested in.
- Be sure to address how the SPECIFIC program to which you are applying will help you reach your goals. Want to be a research oceanographer? Tell Super-Awesome Oceanographic Institute that you are eager to learn about fluid dynamics their world-class oceanographers. Not sure what your career goals are? Tell Introductory Marine Biology Program that you are excited for the marine science short courses and career development workshops they offer.
- You may wish to tell the reviewers why you are qualified. Even if you do not have prior research experience, it is ok to list skills you have learned in class or leadership skills you gained through jobs or extracurriculars.
- Be specific throughout your essay; cite specific examples whenever you can.