Can you and should use the same personal statement for all of the graduate programs to which you apply?

Asked by: Tito Rolfson  |  Last update: July 21, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (15 votes)

If you're applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application. Some applications provide a prompt or question.

Can you use the same personal statement for different masters?

carefully read the information required of you. research the course you are applying for, so that you can explain why you want to study it. If you are applying for more than one course, do not use the same statement for all applications.

Is it okay to use the same personal statement?

You shouldn't submit the same personal statement to multiple different schools, just changing the school and program names. Even though the application committee won't know this for sure, they'll get a sense that the whole statement is just a little too generic.

Are you allowed to use the same personal statement twice?

You should contact your choices for further advice about your personal statement and provide any further information directly to them. I applied last year and I want to use my old statement – is this OK? It's OK to reuse your previous statement if you have applied before.

Do you need a different personal statement for each university?

It is important that you personalize statements to individual schools. In doing so, be sure to remove all references to other schools. Law schools are fully aware that applicants apply to multiple programs; but schools want to feel as if you have a “special” interest in their program.

Graduate School Personal Statement | My #1 Tip as an Admissions Reader

44 related questions found

Can you use the same personal statement for multiple colleges?

Can I use the same essay for all my college applications? You can use the same personal statement and additional information essays for all of your college applications. The supplemental essay is a bit different as it tends to be more specific school focused.

Can I use the same personal statement for different courses?

If there are big differences between your course choices... It might be possible to blend your statement in such a way that everything you write provides appropriate evidence of your skills, academic interests, and the way you think that's relevant to all of the courses you've chosen.

Can you use the same personal statement as you did 3 years ago?

It's OK to reuse your previous statement if you have applied before. However, if you are now applying in a different name, make sure you fill in the 'Previous Name' box when completing your application.

What happens if you copy a personal statement?

Applicants will be advised to ensure that they understand what plagiarism is and how to consult sources of information when they become students. 2.4 In cases where the statement contains over 80% of plagiarised matter, it may lead to a rejection decision.

Can I copy and paste personal statement?

No matter how similar the essay questions are, never simply cut and paste an entire essay. As we noted earlier, no two questions will ever be exactly alike. As you write or edit from a different essay, keep the image of the school you are writing for in mind. Try to individualize each essay as much as possible.

What should you not start your personal statement with?

Avoid overused opening sentences, quotes and clichés like 'when I was young…' They want to know about you now, not your childhood or Shakespeare!

What words should you avoid in a personal statement?

Here are some words you should remove if they feature in your personal statement.
  • Passionate. Possibly the most overused word when it comes to personal statements. ...
  • Team player. You're a team player and can also work well individually? ...
  • Watching TV. ...
  • Extensive. ...
  • Also. ...
  • Jokes and puns. ...
  • Expert. ...
  • Overly long words.

Should you avoid using I in a personal statement?

Consider The "I" Problem: This is a personal statement; using the first person pronoun "I" is acceptable. Writers often feel rather self-conscious about using first person excessively, either because they are modest or because they have learned to avoid first and second person ("you") in any type of formal writing.

Can I reuse personal statements for grad school?

If you're applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application. Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

Can you reuse statement of purpose?

Finally, don't just reuse the same statement of purpose for each school to which you apply. You can recycle the same information, but make sure you change the presentation to fit each individual program.

How long should a personal statement be for Masters degree?

How long should a postgraduate personal statement be? A Masters personal statement should be around 500 words. This equates to one side of A4. However, some universities require more, often two sides.

How many times can you change your personal statement?

You are allowed unlimited edits to the essay after your first application submission. To edit your personal essay, go back into the Common App tab and click on the Writing section. Simply click within the text box and make any changes that are needed.

Can you change your personal statement after submitting?

While you can't edit your personal statement after submitting it to a college, you can edit it between submitting applications. So if you pressed submit there is something you can do to avoid that sinking feeling in your stomach next time.

Can you rewrite your personal statement?

You can't change your personal statement, so if you're applying for a course that's different from your initial choices, it's a good idea to contact the university or college.

How many times should you use I in a personal statement?

I'm a creative writer, but I try to avoid starting any sentence the same way more than twice in a paragraph. That said, you have to go with what sounds best and most natural. You can avoid starting all your sentences with "I" by adding an intro clause before it.

How long does a personal statement last?

Your personal statement length can be up to 4,000 characters long. This may sound a lot, but it's a word limit of around 550–1000 words with spaces and only about 1 side of typed A4 paper.

Is 2 months enough to write a personal statement?

It may take you a month or two to write your personal statement. And that's perfectly fine! Remember, you will need to distance yourself from it for a few days to get a fresh perspective. So start early and take your time!

Can you send a different personal statement?

They might accept a separate personal statement for that specific course, sent directly to them. It quite often happens that admissions staff will agree to this if you contact the university directly and simply ask (just don't assume they'll accept this - check first).

Should I indent paragraphs in my personal statement?

Allow for ample enough margins that the reader isn't distracted by cramped-looking text. Margins of at least one inch are standard. Single space your text, skipping a line between paragraphs. You can indent paragraph beginnings or not, as long as you're consistent.

How do I make my personal statement different?

  1. Add your transferable skills to your personal statement. Everyone writing a personal statement will have no doubt heard of the term 'transferable skills. ...
  2. Include some anecdotes. ...
  3. Don't leave out your difficulties. ...
  4. Vary your language. ...
  5. Make a list of all your achievements.