Personal Statement for Studying Abroad

If you’re planning on a study abroad program at an undergraduate or postgraduate level, you will be required to write a statement of purpose. Personal statements are one of the most crucial parts of your study abroad application; it demonstrates your ability to effectively write and communicate in English and plays a significant role in the admissions decision making process.

When writing your personal statement, it is extremely important that you do not include anything that isn’t true, rather discuss what is important to you and the ambitions that you have. Remember this is your chance to stand out from the other applicants.

Every admissions office will have certain instructions when it comes to writing one, however, before you begin, it is important to note what these instructions are.

Mentioned below are some important points to keep in mind when drafting an essay.

Take Your Time

When writing your personal statement, ensure that you take your time. Create a draft of what you wish to include, this will help you organize your thoughts. Rushing the process can lead to errors, your best ideas will come to you with time.

Paragraphs

While writing, be sure to structure your paragraphs. Writing your personal statement in paragraph form makes it more readable. The strategy here is to have a powerful introduction so the reviewers take notice. The admissions committee wants to hear your story and this is your chance to make it a compelling one. Your goal here is to make yourself memorable.

Focus On Your Strengths

When drafting your statement of purpose, focus on your strengths. In addition to writing about your passions, you can also discuss how past experiences have helped you grow into the person you are today. Be sure to also include why you should be accepted and what you will bring to the program. Your positive attitude will be highly regarded by university admissions.

Mention What You’ve Done Outside The Classroom.

Write about any extracurricular activities you may have actively been involved in. For eg, be sure to include any volunteer work or work experience in your statement. This shows how relevant your experiences are to the ambitions you now have.

Proof Read

It is very important that you set aside time to proof read your essay before you submit it. This way you can check for any grammatical errors you may have made while writing. You can also have your friends and family read it; they will be able to provide you with some valuable feedback.

Cost of Studying Abroad

This is an area which most students would like to have detailed information first, before they plan their education abroad. In fact, knowledge about the costs involved is a ‘must’ before one venture into this not-so-cheap process.

Here is a comparison of education costs: (All amounts indicated are in US $)

Comparative costs undergraduate courses