action checklist
- Get to the point -- Don't mince words or try for deep subtlety. Convey your main idea efficiently, if not elegantly. Be sure you have a main idea.
- Be unique -- Write about something unique to you. Write about it uniquely, if you can. In other words, get attention -- but in a good way.
- Be remembered -- Make a lasting impression. Make it easy for the admissions officer to talk about you ("the ice-cream girl!"). And make sure it's a good impression.
Understand your readers
Writing well means understanding your readers. Here are some ways to think about your potential readers.
Who are admissions officers?
Admissions officers are similar to most people you know, except that their job entails reading thousands of transcripts, recommendation letters, and personal statements. In other words, they are busy people who'd like to get to know you better, but don't have an awful lot of time to spend doing so. So, the two biggest obstacles you'll face when writing for them is: (1) conveying your idea, and (2) distinguishing yourself.
Don't second-guess your reader
Other than the fact that s/he is extremely busy, you know nothing about your future reading. Certainly an admissions officer reflects the values of her or his school, but pandering to presumed values can backfire. You might come off as insincere, or the individual reader might be looking for someone different than the school's stereotypical student. Besides, would you really want to go to a school whose values clashed with your own?