How Writing a Master's Personal Statement Can Help You Build Confidence and Clarity, With Examples

Bonus: Links to Free Samples of Successful Personal Statements Below

Writing personal statements is a task most people dread. Let’s face it—it’s tedious and difficult, especially if you’re doing it in a language that isn’t your native one. On top of that, many people struggle with the idea of writing about themselves.

But what if I told you there’s a silver lining? Writing a personal statement can actually do a lot for you. It’s not just about impressing admissions committees; the process itself can lead to personal growth and self-discovery.

I know this because I’ve been there. While I enjoyed the creative challenge of writing my personal statements, I also found it torturous at times. There were so many moments when I wanted to give up, so I came up with an exercise to keep myself going: flipping the challenge on its head. Instead of focusing on how difficult it was, I started looking for the positive byproducts of the process.

What Writing a Personal Statement Did for Me

For me, the biggest takeaway was learning to acknowledge and value my own experiences. Before I started writing my personal statements, I hadn’t given much thought to the significance of my achievements or experiences. Sure, I could list them, but I had never processed them deeply or appreciated how they shaped who I am.

Writing forced me to reflect, and in doing so, I realized two things:

1. I had accomplished a lot more than I gave myself credit for.
2. I wanted to pursue a career in academia.

That clarity was transformative. It helped me design my future with intention and gave me confidence in presenting myself authentically to admissions committees.

What Other Applicants Say About the Process

I’m not alone in finding value in this process. According to insights from 50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays by Gen and Kelly Tanabe, here’s how writing a personal statement has helped other applicants:

• Gain clarity: “The essay made my life seem like it made a little more sense.”
• Understand identity: “I learned what makes me me.”
• Reflect on relationships: “It helped me appreciate the role of friendships and family.”
• Cherish previous experiences: I had never really thought about the many diverse experiences I had participated in and at the moment did not realize how they affected my ways of thinking."

• Discover passions: “I realized I have the power to create strong words and paragraphs.”
• Connect the dots: Writing allowed applicants to tie past activities to their future goals.
• Build confidence: “I’m not as boring as I thought—I’ve done a lot of small, cool things that made a difference.”

Why Reflection Matters

Writing a personal statement isn’t just about getting into a program; it’s about connecting with your own story. By reflecting on your past experiences and achievements, you’ll gain:

• A deeper appreciation for the path you’ve taken
• Clarity on your goals and motivations
• Confidence in your ability to succeed

Even if you haven’t achieved something on a global scale, your personal experiences matter. It’s these moments that shape who you are and what you bring to the table.

Free Resources to Get You Started

If you’re looking for inspiration, 50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays is available in the public domain. It’s a treasure trove of examples that can help you understand what works and why. You can read them here. I have also written a separate post with the online tools and resources that I found helpful during the application process.

Final Thoughts

If you'd like to learn more, I share my process writing the Harvard LL.M. personal statement in a three-part series here: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. Further, in this post I explain how I strategically chose what experiences to include and what to leave out. You can read about my philosophy on using personal stories, as opposed to professional, here (the overarching framework) and here (how I applied it to my Harvard essay).

I have also published a selection of my application essays and created a course, The Ultimate Guide to a Personal Statement That Gets You Admission, with a full roadmap for writing a winning personal statement, motivation letter, or statement of purpose.

Writing a personal statement may feel daunting, but it’s also an opportunity to grow and discover yourself. Embrace the process, and remember that your story is worth telling.

Good luck, and happy writing!