In this post, I'm going to share everything you need to go from zero to having a Personal Statement essay you can be proud of.
This guide will help you get started writing an engaging Personal Statement essay. Or if you already have one, how to make it even better.
What is a Personal Statement Essay?
A personal statement, also called a statement of purpose (SOP) or personal essay, is a piece of creative, personal writing.
The purpose of your personal statement is to express yourself and your ideas. Personal statements usually aren't piece of formal writing, but still should be thoughtful and planned out.
For undergraduate applications, your personal statement is often referred to as your Common App essay, because it is the main essay for your Common App.
21 Personal Statement Essays That Worked
It can be difficult to understand what makes a great essay without seeing some for yourself.
Here's 21 of our favorite personal statement essays that we've chosen for being unique and high-quality.
There essays were all accepted into some of the most selective schools. And while it isn't the only factor in admissions that matters, having outstanding essays can help tip the scales in your favor.
Table of Contents
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Prompt: Lessons from Obstacles
- 7. My Father
- 8. Self-Determination
- 9. Game Design Music
- 10. Speech and Debate
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Prompt: Questioned or Challenged a Belief
- 11. Finding Answers
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Prompt: Accomplishment, Event, or Realization
- 12. Connecting with Others
- 13. Summer Confidence
- 14. First Impressions
- 15. Law Career
- 16. Growing Up Asian
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Prompt: Engaging Topic, Idea, or Concept
- 17. Secrets of Riddles
- 18. Rubik's Cube
- 19. Narrative Diversity
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Prompt: Any Topic of Your Choice
- 20. Search for Dreams
- 21. Recipe for Success
Personal Statement Example #1: I Want To Be a Billionaire
Personal Statement Example #1: I Want To Be a Billionaire
This is an amazing, risk-taking personal statement that worked for Stanford last year. It is a stand-out essay for many reasons, but especially because of its creativity, passion, and authenticity.
This essay was written by Khoi Lam (@khoikimlam on Instagram) who is a Computer Science major.
Khoi is originally from Missouri, USA, and he had an impressive 1510 SAT, 34 ACT (superscore), and 3.932 unweighted GPA (4.581 weighted).
Khoi was heavily involved in extracurriculars, including placing 7th overall in the international ElevenLabs Online AI Hackathon and the National Winner of the Congressional App Challenge in 2023.
Khoi identifies as an Asian-American student, with no legacy or family connections to Stanford.
With that, let's read Khoi's amazing Common App essay that helped get him into Stanford.
The student who wrote this essay, Khoi Lam, also offered some powerful advice and insight into his successful Stanford application.
Here's what he said:
Why do you think your application was accepted?
Khoi: I try to have a voice in my writing, authenticity, provocative/bold, and focus on the academics as much as I can (ideas, books, etc.) to show my intellectual vitality.
How much do you think your essays were a factor?
Khoi: I believe they do play a big factor because I honestly didn't have great stats.
Was there anything you would've done differently (with your essays or application)?
Khoi: I would say to put more effort into the other schools because except for Stanford, I just lazily recycled my essays and didn't put in much effort for the other schools. I wish I could've put more effort into them :((
What do you want other students to know about applying to college?
Khoi: In my opinion:
Be bold in your essays. If you're an underdog (like me), then taking risks in your essays is worth it. It only takes 1 school to like your essays. If you write safely and mediocre, then you're not unique enough.
Do some research on interesting academic ideas that are related to your essays and put them in. Mentioning books (or any other ways you pursue your academic pursuits, like articles) is my fav way to show intellectual vitality. It's a great way to teach the Admission Officer something new.
Thanks to Khoi for showcasing his amazing work! If you enjoyed reading his essay and insights, consider checking out his website.
Now let's read some other amazing personal statements that worked for top colleges.
Personal Statement Example #2: Uncomfortable Truths
Personal Statement Example #2: Uncomfortable Truths
This is a personal statement that worked for Princeton. It is outstanding for many reasons, but most of all because of its ideas and the thoughtfulness put into organizing them.
This is one of my personal favorites because of how well-written and thought-provoking it is, while showcasing the student's achievements humbly.
I hope you found that essay as amazing as I did. It's a fantastic example of how to write successful college essays.
Personal Statement Example #3: Film and Theater
Personal Statement Example #3: Film and Theater
This student's essay was accepted to USC, among other top schools. It's topic is seemingly simple—taking walks—but the author brilliantly shows how even in the mundane there can be meaningful reflections.
Personal Statement Example #4: Romanian Heritage
Personal Statement Example #4: Romanian Heritage
This personal statement worked for UMichigan, among many other top schools like MIT, Rice, UNC at Chapel Hill, University of Pittsburgh, UW Madison, and more.
This author is able to vividly bring you into their world using cultural references and descriptive writing. You can practically taste and smell Buni's kitchen through her words.
Personal Statement Example #5: Person of the Woods
Personal Statement Example #5: Person of the Woods
This essay was accepted into Dartmouth College. It is a brilliant example of showing how any experience, even those which originally may have been unpleasant, can be the topic of meaningful reflection.
Personal Statement Example #6: Beautiful Walks
Personal Statement Example #6: Beautiful Walks
Personal Statement Example #7: My Father's Death
Personal Statement Example #7: My Father's Death
This personal statement was admitted to Michigan in recent years. It is an outstanding example of how you can write about topics that are often cliché if done poorly, such as the death of a family member.
But unlike other essays, this one works because it has a unique take and genuine approach to the topic that makes it come off as heartfelt.
Personal Statement Example #8: Self-Determination
Personal Statement Example #8: Self-Determination
Personal Statement Example #9: Game Design Music
Personal Statement Example #9: Game Design Music
This essay was admitted into Cornell University. It discusses a common conflict of ideology that comes with pursuing the arts. What the author does brilliantly is show how that conflict was reconciled, as well as how it changed their perspective.
Personal Statement Example #10: Speech and Debate
Personal Statement Example #10: Speech and Debate
Personal Statement Example #11: Finding Answers
Personal Statement Example #11: Finding Answers
Personal Statement Example #12: Connecting with Others
Personal Statement Example #12: Connecting with Others
Personal Statement Example #13: Summer Confidence
Personal Statement Example #13: Summer Confidence
Personal Statement Example #14: First Impressions
Personal Statement Example #14: First Impressions
Personal Statement Example #15: Law Career
Personal Statement Example #15: Law Career
Personal Statement Example #16: My Asian Experience
Personal Statement Example #16: My Asian Experience
Personal Statement Example #17: Secrets of Riddles
Personal Statement Example #17: Secrets of Riddles
Personal Statement Example #18: Rubik's Cube
Personal Statement Example #18: Rubik's Cube
Personal Statement Example #19: Narrative Diversity
Personal Statement Example #19: Narrative Diversity
Personal Statement Example #20: Search for Dreams
Personal Statement Example #20: Search for Dreams
Personal Statement Example #21: Recipe for Success
Personal Statement Example #21: Recipe for Success
How to Write a Personal Statement Essay
While there are no rules or guidelines for writing a personal statement, the best ones often have these in common:
Have Strong Ideas:
Having compelling and interesting ideas shows you are a strong thinker.
It isn't necessarily about having all the answers, but asking the right questions.
For personal statement essays, the quality of your ideas matters more than your writing level. Writing interestingly is more important than writing beautifully.
I’ve stopped tripping over my own feet, and it’s led to me not being afraid to connect and interact with patients and customers or present in front of large crowds. Life is just one long Carioca – you might stumble at first, but if you keep pushing, the right feet will find themselves in the right place.From an accepted essay to UNC at Chapel Hill→
Be Authentic
Writing authentic essays means writing from the heart.
The best personal statements tend to come naturally, because the writer is excited about the topic.
Choose an idea that makes you feel excited to write about and start writing.
As you begin drafting, ideas will naturally arise related to your original idea. Exploring these tangential ideas is what leads to even better reflections for your essay.
That's why it's so important to be genuinely passionate about your subject. You can't just have an interest "in the topic," but there has to be something deeper you're writing about that moves you.
Use Narratives and Story-Telling:
Humans are naturally drawn to stories.
And often the best insights and ideas come from real life experiences.
Telling a story, or many, is the basis for developing your analysis and ideas. Remember, all stories need conflict in order to work.
It can help to think about the different types of conflict.
- Character vs. Self
- Character vs. Character
- Character vs. Nature
- Character vs. Society
And so on...
Once you've written a meaningful story, getting insights is as simple as answering the question: What did your experiences teach you?
The sounds of my knife striking kale unnerves my cat asleep in the corner. He quickly runs over to examine the situation but becomes instantly uninterested when he sees green and smells bitterness. Unfortunately, my family has this same reaction every day of every week.From an accepted essay to University of Southern California→
Showcase Your Values and Identity:
The purpose of a personal statement is to tell about who you are.
Personal statements are your opportunity to showcase what your values are, and how you would contribute to the school, scholarship opportunity, etc.
Good writers are those who write authentically. Write about your unique ideas and ask interesting questions, even if you don't know the answers.
How Long Should a Personal Statement Be?
A typical personal statement can range in length from 500 to 650 words or more.
For applying to colleges, the Common Application essay personal statement has a word limit of 650 words.
For graduate school programs, the application essay will vary in length, but most schools require a personal statement essay of at least 500 words.
What You Can Learn From These Personal Statement Examples
With these 21 Personal Statement examples, you can get inspired and improve your own essays. If you want to get accepted into selective colleges this year, your essays need to make you stand out.
These 21 examples show how real students got into highly selective schools and teach us several lessons for writing your own successful Personal Statement essay:
- Write a compelling first sentence that grabs the reader
- Be specific and reference things by name
- Tell a meaningful story
- Reflect on your life and identity. Be self-aware.
If you enjoyed these personal statement examples, check out some of our top Common App Essays, which are also personal statements essays, but for the Common Application.
Which of these personal statement examples was your favorite?
Meet the Author
I'm Ryan Chiang and I created EssaysThatWorked.com - a website dedicated to helping students and their families apply to college with confidence & ease. We publish the best college admissions essays from successful applicants every year to inspire and teach future students.
