Would you let the world read anything less?
It's not easy to summarize your life and your goals into a short personal statement for college, graduate school, an MBA program, or law school. But that's exactly what the admissions committee asks for! Or maybe you're on the other end, trying to condense your incomprehensible—except to you—PhD dissertation into an article that will gain you recognition. It's time for some professional editing assistance.
The personal statement or thesis you write can easily be the most important essay of your career. Selection committees choose only the best. I can help you accomplish drastic edits and put those significant final touches on your personal writing. I also specialize in helping foreign-language students overcome the challenges of writing an American-style application essay.
Count on experience. I've helped dozens of candidates get into medical school, law school, MBA programs, and advanced graduate research fellowships. It's your future. Let's make sure you are putting your best foot forward.
| « Send me your essay! | Getting Started » |
How to Write a Good Personal Statement
Before you type a single word, it's a good idea to make sure you know all the keys to a great admissions essay.
Start off right. Get to your main goals or theme right from the start. Take special care that the first few sentences are compelling and reflect your personality—but don't resort to gimmicks.
Be honest and reflective. The best essays I read are always frank and honest. They demonstrate that the applicant has really thought over past experiences—both good and bad—and knows how to use those experiences to plan for a bright future.
Use illustrative examples. Make certain you give firm examples of steps you've already taken to reach your career goals. If you're applying to law school and your essay leaves out the fact that you obtained a paralegal certificate, something's wrong. Selection committees want to know why you fit into their school. Tell them!
Set the record straight. Are there any sore spots on your record that you need to explain? Mention a negative briefly, but make certain you talk about how you have rectified the situation, "triumphed over adversity" or used it as a springboard for a later project. Perseverance and overcoming obstacles are good qualities!
Read the question. Follow the rules. It should probably go without saying, but make sure your essay answers the question. Many times applicants read so many essay prompts that they get them mixed up or try to throw in a one-answer-fits-all response. As you write, constantly refer to the question. And always make sure your essay is written with proper grammar, impeccable spelling, and follows all the guidelines.
| « Write now | The Editing Process » |
Revising and the Editing Process
Even the best writers (especially the best writers) revise. Make sure your language is vivid. Delete anything that doesn't sound right, doesn't fit with your theme, or is just too long. Get feedback; if you don't hire a professional you should at least have a parent, teacher or colleague review your draft.
| what applicants are saying...
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Here's how I help you write a winning admissions essay:
- Step 1: First, I professionally edit your essay—correcting grammar, fixing punctuation, cutting out repetitions, reorganizing for clarity, and adding style and character.
- Step 2: I'll send it back for your approval. Just as important, along with your revamped essay I will include suggestions for points you should add, portions that might be expanded or clarified, as well as sections that you may want to remove entirely. I'll ask you pointed questions (the same kind the selection committee asks) so that you can improve your personal statement tenfold.
- Step 3: Take my advice or not. That's your choice. But when you're done adding those final bits, send it back to me for the final edits and proofreading.
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Common Questions
My essay has some particularly difficult added requirements. Can you help with that too?
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| « Getting Started | More Tips » |
Tips for your Personal Statement &
University Application Essays
The following tips are based upon work with many candidates on their application essays. Reading them will also give you an idea of the kinds of questions I'll be asking you to ensure your essay says all it should.
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Find connections between your life & experience
and the desire to attend this particular program.
Applicants love to talk about their home life or childhood dreams. Is this
appropriate for an application essay? It can be—but only if you make the
right connections. Did growing up in Saudi Arabia spark an interest in
domestic violence prevention or social work? Did injustice in your home town
or country inspire you to study law? Did your science fair project in 7th
grade become a multi-million dollar business idea for someone else?
• Always insert your career goals.
What kind of business do you plan to open? What kind of lawyer do you
want to be? What are your research goals? Why does this motivate you? Even
if you aren’t sure (this isn’t a commitment, it’s only your current goal),
you need to sound reasonably specific.
• Tailor your application essays to the particular
school.
It is in your best interest to identify a specific program, club, or professor
on campus that you are particularly interested in working with for each
school you apply to.
— Example: “One of the reasons I have focused on the School of Social
Work at Columbia, beyond its recognized academic reputation, is the Community
Access Forum that it hosts each month. As a student at Columbia, I plan to
actively participate in these meetings and hope to volunteer as a community
activist. I believe my experience with domestic violence cases will be valuable
for the Community Access Forum, as well as for the community at large.”
• Is there a word limit? Then eliminate things that
have nothing to do with your application.
You may enjoy surfing and yoga, but unless that's your career path, it may
not belong here.
| « The Editing Process | Example Essays » |
Learn by example
Graduate Studies
View Personal Statement |
What's good about this essay?
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What's good about this essay?
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Law school Admissions Essay Revising
View Side-by-Side Comparison |
| Fellowship Application
View Statement of Purpose |
What's good about this essay?
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| « Tips & Advice | Send me your essay! » |
Use the form below to send me your essay and I'll get back to you with my assessment, usually in less than one day. We'll discuss how I can improve your essay and how long it will take.
 Attach your essay:
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Word, PDF, text, RTF, etc.)
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| « Example Essays | Essay Writing » |
