Personal Essay Examples: While applying for a scholarship, your personal essay plays a pivotal role. As such, the written expression of your qualities as an applicant is often very important for you to be accepted.
Thus, it is essential to take great care in preparing this part of your application. Because some schools make important selection decisions. And these decisions are partly based on what you say in your personal essay.
Are you now nervous? Never be.
Also, you will be given some personal essay examples to guide you. However, it is pertinent you understand what is personal essay before we go on. This article is here to guide me on how to write a good personal essay.
What is Personal Essay?
While anticipating some personal essay examples, please note. A personal is a short work of autobiographical nonfiction.
Also, it is characterized by a sense of intimacy and a conversational manner. And it is also called a personal statement.
Furthermore, the personal essay is one of the most common types of writing assignment. And not only in freshman composition courses.
Essential Ingredients of a Personal Essay
While anticipating some personal essay examples, please note. A personal essay is made up of essential ingredients. Thus, without the presence of these ingredients, it is not a personal essay. Here are some of the essential ingredients:
This is a critical part of your essay. Thus, make sure to start your introduction strong. Because it will set the tone and mood of your essay. Also, it usually gives the reader a teaser and a quick summary of what you are writing about.
This is where you will put the meat of your essay. Thus, always ensure to substantiate and elaborate the story or details about your chosen topic. However, for some, they divide it into several parts. This is in order to emphasize and organize the details.
This is where you will seal the deal. Thus, you have to ensure that you’ve answered and gave justice to the teaser you’ve provided in the introduction. Also, this ingredient should linger and leave a mark on the hearts and minds of the readers.
Important Questions to Ask When Preparing Your Personal Essay
While anticipating some personal essay examples, please note. To begin your personal essay, brainstorm using the following questions:
- What might help the evaluating committee better understand you? In other words, what sets you apart from other applicants?
- Also, who will be applying for the same program?
- Furthermore, why are you interested in this field?
- Also, what things have stimulated and reinforced your interest?
- Furthermore, how did you learn about this field (classes, seminars, work experience)?
- Also, what are your career aspirations?
- Additionally, are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that need to be explained?
- Also, what skills or personal characteristics do you possess that would enhance your chances for success in this field?
- Lastly, why should an admissions committee be interested in you?
Important Questions to Ask When Writing Your Personal Essay
While anticipating some personal essay examples, please note. While writing your personal essay, brainstorm using the following questions:
- Does the opening paragraph grab your attention?
- Also, is the statement interesting or does it put you to sleep?
- Furthermore, is it a positive portrayal? Or, is it upbeat and confident?
- Also, is it an honest portrayal?
- Additionally, have you answered all the questions thoroughly?
- Also, has anything relevant been omitted?
- Furthermore, does the statement provide insight into your character?
- Also, is it well-written?
- Furthermore, is the grammar, tone, and verb agreement perfect?
- Lastly, are there any typographical errors?
Some Personal Essay Examples
Below are some of the Personal Essay examples:
Example 1
Examples from the IES archive of Sample Student Essays
I have known in my heart since I was a little girl what I wanted to be when I grew up. It was not a stereotypical child’s dream such as a doctor or an astronaut; my vision was instead something that has shaped my actions and decisions throughout my life.
In the last few years, I have realized that my passion for conserving the environment is a natural calling that I am destined to follow. This intuitive notion solidified while visiting my mother in Maryland a few summers ago.
In my old bedroom, my mother has kept framed memorabilia from my childhood. One night before I went to sleep I looked on the bed-stand to find an old article that dated back to my third year of elementary school.
After rereading this article thirteen years later, with a smile, I recognized my destiny is and has always been devoting my career to the conservation and preservation of our ecosystems.
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In my third grade class, we attempted to introduce higher biodiversity along a creek by adding plants, which in turn attracts other organisms. Some of the older teenagers had rampaged through and stole our plants while trampling the beautiful ecosystem.
I wanted to send a message to stop such destruction and the following article ended up in our town newspaper. Although I was only in third grade, the destruction of the environment affected me more deeply than most of my fellow classmates and continues to do so today.
I wish to embark on an educational journey to beautiful Montverde, Costa Rica for the Tropical Ecology and Conservation Program in the Spring of 2009.
In order to take this step in my educational career, I am applying for financial aid through the John E. Bowman Travel Grants, CIEE International Study Programs Scholarships, and the Jennifer Ritzmann Scholarship for studies in Tropical Biology.
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Throughout my life, I have always been passionate about contributing to the conservation of our earth. It became clear to me upon entering my college career that my focus should be on wildlife conservation. When I learned about this program I became ecstatic.
Partaking in this unique opportunity will prepare me for my future career goals and aid my growth as a conservationist and a young woman. While participating in this program I will apply the knowledge and resources learned during the courses that I take in Costa Rica to real-world situations.
I will be working in the field amongst other scientists and gaining hands-on experience, which will enrich my current education and my future career.
Furthermore, I will be able to contribute to the conservation of the tropical forest through my education as well as gain a b
etter cultural understanding of the world around me. I come from a broken home and was raised by my mother on a very low income.
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Thus I do not receive any financial support from my family and little from the federal government to fund my college education. Therefore my financial needs are very high. Throughout my life, I have strived to achieve my goals solely on hard work and determination.
For example, the last five years that I have attended school I have struggled to receive enough federal loans to pay my tuition and have been working at night while attending school in order to barely scrape by.
However, I feel like this makes me a stronger person and gives me a greater passion for what I am trying to achieve. At this moment in time, my situation is even more extreme than ever.
Instead of working full time all summer to save money, I have been going to summer school in order to complete the required courses before I depart for this program in the spring. The demands of summer school leave me no time for part-time employment.
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Consequently, in order for me to embark on this incredible opportunity, I am extremely reliant on grants and scholarships to see this experience come to fruition. These scholarships and grants will assist me in achieving my goals by supporting my trip expenses in Costa Rica.
In essence, they will allow me to receive an excellent education in an amazing country as well as apply this knowledge to help conserve our precious ecosystems that are in danger of ultimate destruction and demise.
Likewise, by supporting my education these funds will enable me to spread my newfound insight and knowledge to further educate the people around me as I plan to teach in conservation programs such as the Student Conservation Corps. I thank you so much for your consideration.
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Example 2
Short Application Essay for Law School
My first personal introduction to the profusion of environmental laws in our country came while working for my father. I worked for over eleven years at my father’s business, and Exxon Service Center.
While there, I performed every job, task, and duty associated with the operation of a service station. One duty involved the maintenance of records for the underground storage tank field on the site.
I was amazed at the amount of paperwork required to comply with the laws governing underground tanks. My two years of full-time work after high school taught me much about myself, but I realized that I needed a different environment to continue growing.
Therefore, from 20xx to 20xx, I attended classes at Mythic County Community College while continuing to work at my father’s Exxon station. I was certain I would eventually choose a science-related major, but an event in 20xx showed me that geology was what I wanted to pursue.
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In 20xx, during the installation of a new, larger underground field tank at the station, an environmental consulting firm tested our soil and found hydrocarbon levels well above the allowable limits. Seventy tons of soil had to be removed from the site and incinerated, at great expense to my father’s business.
These environmental regulation problems that my father had as a small business owner made me realize that eventually, I wanted to use my science background to make it easier for other small business owners to comply with environmental laws.
I transferred to Mythic College as an undergraduate in geology in 20xx, tailoring my courses to environmental geology and hydrogeology. My senior thesis directly reflects my career goals.
I am working with the United States Department of Agriculture on a study of riparian zones and their favorable effects on elevated nitrate levels in groundwater due to farm fertilization practices.
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Meanwhile, I am developing a shallow subsurface geologic map of a riparian zone using seismic refraction techniques. This map will allow the first-order approximation of groundwater flow at the field site and also guide the installation of hydrogeologic equipment by the USDA.
I now understand more fully how geophysical methods serve an important role in environmental work, and my senior thesis is a good introduction to this field.
I had initially intended to acquire a position with an environmental consulting firm upon graduation, but discussions with several of my professors confirmed my interest in studying environmental law, which will help me combine my dual interests in science and law and better prepare me for a position with a consulting firm.
Thus, I am ready to become a dynamic participant in the University of Pittsburgh Law School this fall, motivated by personal experience, a highly evolved work ethic, and a strong education. Please do give my application every consideration.
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All you need to do is to follow the tips and scholarship essay examples given above. GOOD LUCK.
StudentsandScholarship Team.
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