Brainstorming for the personal statement

One of the most challenging things about writing is sitting down to a “new” Word document or to a lined piece of paper. If the white page were to have eyes, chances are it would stare blankly at you, waiting for you to make the first move. It may even snicker at your inability to come up with an idea. Thankfully, this horrifying scene is 0% likely, since a piece of paper or a Word document is simply a surface that allows us to transform our thoughts into something concrete by recording them in written words.

Although the process of starting something from scratch can be exciting, it can also be quite overwhelming. Luckily, writing is an expressive and creative medium that allows one to engage in stream of thought (writing down the first things that come to mind) or brainstorming (literally thinking in order to come up with ideas and solutions) in a way that feels safe. This sense of safety exists because you, the writer, have the freedom to think about and write down whatever you’d like without fear of being judged.

Insider tip: The first step in any good writing practice is to brainstorm, whether it be to address a research question, write a personal narrative, or develop an expository essay.

When faced with the task of starting the personal statement, you may be caught up in self-doubt as to whether your story is worth telling. For this reason, jotting down life events and experiences that are important or memorable to you is the perfect place to begin. By engaging in this type of activity, you give form to your thoughts, which can give way to a really great personal narrative that can later be transformed into your final personal statement!

Guiding questions

Here are some key questions and guiding statements that you can use when faced with the initial step of getting some ideas down on paper. Feel free to write shorthand notes or an extensive paragraph. Remember that this process is about you and you only. So, have fun with it!

• What is my favorite academic subject and why? What was one of the key memories that sparked my interest in this subject area?
• What has been my greatest success to date? What were the steps I took to achieve success? How did I feel when I accomplished what I set out to do?
• What has been my greatest challenge to date? How did I overcome it, or what steps am I taking to overcome it?
• What is one of my most unique and special talents? How did I discover that I have this talent?
• The extracurricular activity that I pursue with passion is… I do this because…
• What are my best three character traits and why?
• How would I describe my family life? How has my family life shaped who I am?
• How has my background, religion, culture, or country of origin shaped who I am?
• The three things (people, places, things, or animals) in my life that have had the most impact on me are… because…
• One of the biggest life lessons that I have learned thus far has been… I learned this lesson by… It has made me more…

When you’re done with this activity, check out these strategies for topic selection.

Working on your applications this year? Talk to Andrea or get the free essay guide.