Personal Essay Checklist

Stick to what you know and your true personality will shine through.

Review what you've written and make sure it still makes sense and conveys what you want it to. Sometimes you need to write a couple of drafts to get your essay right where you want it. No matter how good your essay, if people can't read your handwriting they won't appreciate the work. You want to make sure you've used proper spelling, grammar and punctuation, so ask an expert to proofread your essay. Ask your friends and family to read your essay and tell you what they think.

Be open to suggestions and ways to improve it, even if this means going back to the drawing board. You want to edit your essay down to what is important.

It gave me an enormous sense of achievement to watch families move back into their homes from the temporary camps they had been living in since the earthquake.

Our seven days of manual labor had achieved much more than simply giving people a roof over their heads, it had given the families a sense of comfort, peace, and security.

The college essay offers you an opportunity to tell admissions officers a bit about you and demonstrate why you'd be a good fit for their student body. If you need to pick the topic, be focused and specific.

It can seem daunting to get your essay off the ground, but take it step by step with these tips. Your college essay is all about showcasing yourself. Writing about a single experience is usually a good idea; your essay should prove a single point or message.

We have reviewed thousands of personal statements and know what it takes to get into the top programs.

Get your hands on the very same statement of purpose checklist we use so you know EXACTLY how to write a personal statement that gets you into grad school.

Admitting shortcomings is a sign of maturity and intelligence, so there is no need to portray yourself as a superhero; they will see through it. Self-exploration can be fun, but don't procrastinate on the actual writing.

You don't want to rush or be up against a tight deadline; it will affect your work. Sometimes creating an outline for your essay can help you get started.