Should you use first person in a personal statement?
Asked by: Stephanie Yundt | Last update: October 10, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (35 votes)
Like many rules, there are exceptions to avoiding first-person usage. For instance, personal statements, reflections, opinion pieces, or any assignment directions that explicitly state using first person can and should freely use “I” statements. Writing in a first-person voice is not an error.
Is it okay to use I in a personal statement?
Consider The “I” Problem: This letter is about you. It is okay to use first person; it keeps your writing more active and succinct. However, do not start every sentence with “I.”
Should a personal essay be in first person?
Either is fine. Use first person when you talk about your own experience, and use third person if you are explaining something academic or providing facts. Just write like how you would normally talk to somebody.
Can you use second person in a personal statement?
While the use of first and second person pronouns is discouraged in formal reports and essays, their use is appropriate in other models, and they can be strategically placed in some types of essays for emphasis or interest.
Can I write my personal statement in third person?
In your personal statement, you can use third-person or first-person narrative. I have highlighted in bold the differences between the two.
seriously, don't do these to your personal statement
Can I use first person in my personal statement?
Like many rules, there are exceptions to avoiding first-person usage. For instance, personal statements, reflections, opinion pieces, or any assignment directions that explicitly state using first person can and should freely use “I” statements.
Should a personal profile be in third person?
Your resume should never be written in third person. Use first person, but leave out the pronoun “I.” For example, if you're an administrative assistant, instead of saying “I coordinated travel for senior leadership,” simply say “Coordinated travel for senior leadership.”
How to avoid saying "I" in an essay?
Take a Third-Person Perspective
Changing the perspective is a good way to take first-person pronouns out of a sentence. A third-person point of view will not use any first-person pronouns because the information is not given from the speaker's perspective.
Is two pages too long for a personal statement?
Even if you don't include an anecdote in the statement, the topic that you choose should, in a sense, “tell a story” about you in a way that captures and keeps the reader's attention. Some schools set no limit for personal statements, but most suggest either 2–3 or 2–4 pages. Aim for two pages, double-spaced.
What characters are not allowed in a personal statement?
Common symbols not allowed are €, long dashes (–) and the special quote characters “ ' ' ” which will simply be removed from your statement. So remember to replace long dashes with - and quotes with “ and '.
Can I use I in my college essay?
Not only is it fine to make “I” statements in your application essays, but colleges expect your essays to sound like you, too!
How should you start a personal essay?
Write the introduction
The introduction highlights the main points of your story and the opening sentence should make an impact. Use an opening sentence that engages the reader so they want to keep reading to find out more. Consider opening with an inspirational or funny quote or observation to start your introduction.
Is it okay to use contractions in college essays?
Yes. The college application essay is less formal than other academic writing—though of course it's not mandatory to use contractions in your essay.
What are the don'ts of a personal statement?
Don't make unsupported claims. 'I am the best student you will see all year' doesn't go down too well, even if you think you can prove it! Don't copy someone else's UCAS personal statement or use something you have found on the internet.
How do I say "I believe" without using the first person?
Use third-person pronouns: Instead of saying "I think" or "I believe," use phrases like "one can argue," "some may argue," or "it can be argued." This allows you to express your opinion without directly stating it as your own.
Can my personal statement be sad?
Your personal statement is not the place to explore a newly traumatic or previously unresolved event. If you don't feel that you can approach a difficult past event with some closure, distance, and proper healing, then it might not be a good topic to proceed with.
What is the shortest a personal statement should be?
Remember, it can only be 4,000 characters, which is about two sides of A4. So, you'll need to use your words wisely to fit everything in. You can find a full guide on How to start a personal statement: the attention grabber, but here are the main things to think about. Don't overthink the opening.
Can you edit a personal statement after submitting eras?
Once you have submitted your MyERAS application, you will not be able to make any changes or updates outside of the information provided under the Personal Information section. There are no exceptions.
Is 2 months enough to write a personal statement?
Ideally, you want to leave yourself plenty of time – a few weeks or even months – to plan and write your personal statement. Try not to leave it to the last minute, as tempting as this may seem when you've got so many other things to think about.
How do I stop using I in first person?
Try recasting sentences that start with 'I' more objectively, so that the focus is on the what – the emotion, the object, the person, the action and so on – rather than the sense being used to experience it or the I-narrator doing the experience. Use the principles of free indirect speech to reduce your 'I' count.
Can I use I in a personal statement?
stylistic error is to start too many sentences with “I.” Try to vary this construction whenever possible by combining sentences and using introductory phrases. Being concise is of great significance when composing personal statements.
What can I replace i with?
There are a few creative, informal ways of referring to oneself. One common one is yours truly, which is often used as a way to end a letter before signing your name, but can also be used in place of me, myself, or I in certain cases, as in Guess what? Yours truly is the lucky winner.
Do you write a personal statement in first person?
Personal statements can be written in either the first or third person, but you'll need to maintain this voice throughout - don't switch between the two.
What is the silent first person?
What is the silent voice? When we use the silent voice (also called the implied voice or absent voice), we omit the pronoun (such as “I,” “she,” “Christina”) that tells us who is being spoken about. For example: Write comprehensive reports and analysis (silent first person)
Do you say "I" in a CV?
In your resume, you should employ a first-person narrative style, but leave off the personal pronoun "I." Given that a resume should be easily skimmed, excessive repetition of "I" may come across as self-centered or arrogant and distract from the professional image you aim to project.