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Graduate School Personal Statement Guide

Editing Checklist
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Editing Checklist

Before you submit your application, use the following checklist to ensure that your personal statement is as powerful as it can be.

Content

• Are you answering the actual question given in the prompt?

• Have you been sincere and personal?

• Is your essay within the word limit?

• Will your reader find the essay interesting?

• Are you showing rather than telling?

• Does your introduction grab the reader's attention?

• Do you explore your experiences in sufficient depth?

• Does your essay contain a high level of detail and concrete evidence?

• Have you avoided unsubstantiated claims? 

• Do you offer specific, personal insights rather than trite generalizations and clichés?

• Does your essay reveal anything meaningful about your character?

• Do you avoid summarizing information that can be found elsewhere on your application?

• Will your essay make you stand out?

• Does your conclusion leave a lasting impression?

Structure

• Can you identify an overarching theme? Have you articulated that theme in the essay?

• Does your theme have multiple layers and genuine depth?

• Do you have a reason for placing every paragraph where it is?

• Do your paragraphs flow smoothly? Are there any gaps or jumps?

• Does each point build upon previous points, or does your essay sound like a list?

• Have you written insightful transitions and resolutions that highlight your key themes?

• Are your stories well integrated into your essay?

• Is the essay clear and coherent? Have you strengthened its impact by using the optimal structure?

Style

• Have you achieved a simple, straightforward style?

• Have you varied your sentence constructions?

• Have you avoided unnecessarily fancy vocabulary?

• Have you avoided passive voice?

• Have you achieved active writing through the use of strong verbs?

• Have you avoided overusing adjectives and adverbs?

• Is your tone conversational, rather than too casual or too formal?

• Have you conveyed confidence, enthusiasm, and passion?

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More Tutorials for Graduate School:

• Graduate School Statement Tips
• Graduate School Statement Samples