Writing a personal statement strategically- 7 insights from a director of a fellowship office

Overview: A well-written personal statement can help a review committee understand your motivation for attending graduate school, grasp how a graduate degree will launch you towards your career goals, and give them confidence in your ability thrive in the graduate school environment. Robyn Curtis, the director of the Clemson University Office of Major Fellowships, spoke with undergraduates in the Clemson engineering and science programs recently based on her 14 years’ experience helping students about how to develop a strong personal statement for graduate school and fellowship applications. Her office works with Clemson undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni on preparing their applications possible for fellowship opportunities such as the Truman Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, Barry Goldwater Scholarships, and the Rhodes Scholarship program. I listened in and below are the eight insights that I took away.

 

Post Contributor(s): Marian Kennedy and Robyn Curtis, the director of the Clemson University Office of Major Fellowships

 

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Photo by Robert Katzki on Unsplash

A personal statement should not be viewed as creative writing assignment. While authenticity of the content is of value, following a set format will make it easy for the member of the selection committee to find the vital information about your application. A reader on a fellowship review panel can be assigned between 20 to 40 application packets to review, and they may be reading very quickly. Thus, you should use a simple structure that includes a hook, transition to the statement body, the body and finally a conclusion.

 

• The hook is a literary device at the beginning meant to grab the reviewer's attention and compel them to actively read rather than scanning your statement. 
• The transition to substance should be smooth. Make sure your hook is well-suited to emphasize the key takeaways or highlights of your personal statement.
• The body is the bulk of your essay. It should include your motivation for graduate school, etc.)
• The conclusion includes goals and explicitly connects all the dots.

 

Very few students can write a convincing personal statement in a single draft. It is wise to get feedback from faculty, student program coordinators, staff helping coordinate major fellowships at your institution, peers, research mentors from your internships, and others to refine your drafts, which means that you have to be willing to let others see a draft you may see as rough. This is part of the process. Robyn suggests setting a deadline for yourself to give it to someone else to read well ahead of the deadline so that you are not tempted to hold off on sharing it until you think it is perfect. It will never be perfect, and the point of feedback is that your draft needs work. The work of writing a persuasive essay is like using a new muscle that you need to learn to flex to get better and you will not improve if a draft simply hibernates on your desktop.

 

Insight #1: Your mission and the funding agency’s must have some overlap for you to receive funding. So, before you start writing, learn about the funding agency by reading their mission statement and who has received funding previously.

 

Insight #2: Know your audience. Identify who sits on the funder’s review panels. Will this panel be made up of researchers from your discipline or an assortment of higher ed professionals?  If readers are not experts in your field, be careful about jargon and spelling out abbreviations, even those you consider very ordinary.

 

Insight # 3: A personal statement should trace your trajectory and point the reader to your desired future. Your résumé or transcript document your prior steps. Do not summarize them but only refer to them inasmuch as they relate to your plans for the future.

 

Insight # 3: Your readers will be more convinced when you include relevant data or examples, even if those are subjective or qualitative.  For example, explaining to the review committee experiences you have that lead to your choice to pursue a field are important.  If you chose to become a computational materials scientist because broke an optical microscope while image cells because you were thinking about how to code data, tell the reviewer!

 

Insight #4: Fellowship review panels are often selecting a cohort of scholars rather than an individual. In your personal statement, highlight any unique perspective that you might bring to that cohort that will enhance others’ experience.  

 

Insight #5:  When you ask a colleague, faculty advisor or mentor to review your essay, they will excel at deleting and cutting to refine your message.  So, during your initial drafts go ahead and write a little extra. Give yourself permission to overshoot the page limit. How far over will depend on how long the limit is, but it’s better to go over than risk leaving out something essential.

 

Insight #6: Successful personal statements involve feelings.  They should convey when you learned what parts of your field you have a passion for.  Consider showcasing a lab experience that did not go well or a changed major because it was not what you liked. This essay should also be evocative for the reader.  Be descriptive so that your reader can share (or at least notice) your feelings. 

 

Insight #7: Get comfortable with “I” instead of “we”. Part of your essay will talk about your research experience.  While research is often completed through collaboration, the reviewers are more interested I your role and experience than the accomplishments of your research team as a collective.  So, make sure to sprinkle some “I”s through your personal statement.  Just be warry of going to the other extreme and don’t  start too many sentences in a row with “I.”

 

While I have advised students for years as they wrote their personal statements, listening to Robyn’s talk gave me a new perspective on the power of a well written personal statement.  I will be sure to utilize her insights and hope that you do too. If you are looking for a “Robyn Curtis” on your campus, you may find that her role is under a different unit. Not every school has a dedicated office for this function!

For example, workshops at Cornell are run through the Office of Academic and Student Affairs for graduate students and the Career Center for undergraduates. If you are having a hard time finding the right place or person, ask a faculty member or student services coordinator in your department. You can also check the membership list at the National Association of Fellowships Advisors to see if your institution has an affiliated advisor.

 

Finally, have fun with this if you can! As Robyn pointed out, the process of writing a personal statement often can help a student solidify or clarify their motivation for graduate school and career planning. Finding your passion will make the next few years of your life eminently better.

 

Acknowledgements: This blog post was edited by Kate Epstein of EpsteinWords. She specializes in editing and coaching for academics, and she can be reached at kate at epsteinwords.com.

8 tips to help your graduate school application stand out to the selection committee

 Overview: I had the pleasure of hearing a talk on graduate school applications given by Dr. Julia Brumaghim, a full professor within the Clemson Department of Chemistry. She has reached the terminal rank of a faculty member (‘full’ professor) due to the large impact she has made on the international scientific community through her technical work elucidating the interactions between DNA and metallic surfaces.  In addition to developing new insights, she also has spent a large amount of time teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.  During her talk, I sketched out 8 key insights to make your graduate applications stand out to review committees and potential research advisors.

 Post Contributor(s): Drs. Marian Kennedy and Julia Brumaghim, a full professor and graduate program coordinator in the Clemson University Department of Chemistry.

 

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Photo by Kier... in Sight on Unsplash

The application season is always an exciting time for university faculty.  We get to ‘meet’ the next generation of research scientists and engineers through their graduate school application.  In addition, we also get to find collaborators to work on research projects with us for the next 2-4+ years.  We fully expect that some of these applicants may even join us as faculty in 10 years. 

 

Congratulations!  By seeking out mentoring (reading about the application process for graduate school), you are becoming more competitive for acceptance.  Insight from mentors can help you learn the metarules (unwritten norms) that guide the selection process for graduate programs. 

 

 

Brumaghim Tip #1:  If you are applying to a research-based degree program (thesis-based MS or PhD), you should have some research experience. 

 

Prior research experience in her department has been a good predictor of graduate school success (much stronger than GRE scores).  Therefore, applicants stand out when they have previously participated in a research project.  I really liked this point.  You can highlight research that you did for academic credit, for pay (stipend, hourly, etc.) or as a volunteer.  It can take time to get through all the parts of the research process (from initiation to dissemination), so we always encourage students to start sooner than later.  However, any experience is better than none.  If you just started a position as a research assistant as your graduate school applications are being written – definitely go ahead and list it!  Just be careful to not exaggerate your contribution to the project. 

 

Brumaghim Tip #2:  Articulate your “why” for going to graduate school and be specific

 

It is vital that you know “why” you personally are applying to graduate school.  Selection committees want to see that you will be motivated to complete the process even as you face challenges or disappointments.  The process of conducting research can be difficult because we often spend time pursuing a lead that does not yield the results we were seeking.  As a graduate student, you will need to regroup and then move onward. 

 

Dr. Brumaghim suggested that one way to do this is to identify jobs that you would like to pursue after obtaining your advanced degree.  You can do this by scanning job boards posted by a professional society, a career center on your campus, etc. Once you find positions you are interested in, look at the position description to note the required degrees and experience.  You will want to be specific when describing your motivation in your application.  That is, go beyond “I need this degree to get the job I want.”

 

 

Brumaghim Tip #3:  Find a mentor in your field who has an advanced degree (ideally a PhD) and is engaged in research

 

A mentor is a trusted “guide” (Merriam-Webster).  A mentor can help guide you through the graduate school application process if you meet with this person on a regular basis, and you will gain knowledge and refine your thoughts.  It is important to select a mentor who you feel at ease with, has been through a similar program and understands your discipline today.  This person will help you refine your potential list of graduate programs with their insight, ensuring that you have at least 2-3 faculty at each one whose research you find interesting.  Since you will have been working iteratively with this person, they are also a great choice for writing a recommendation letter on your behalf. 

 

Brumaghim Tip #4:  Apply to departments who have expertise in your desired research area

 

STEM departments have different strengths and do not necessarily have faculty that work in all the respective subfields of a given discipline.  In fact, they tend to hire clusters of faculty who overlap expertise and each department is typically known for their strengths in those areas.  For example, the Clemson Department of Chemistry has strong expertise (and many faculty doing research) in areas related to materials, but has fewer faculty doing research in biological areas.  Check departmental websites, review faculty research areas, and ask your mentor if your selected graduate programs are strong in your areas of interest. 

 

Brumaghim Tip #5:  Understand each department’s process for reviewing applications. 

 

While not every graduate application goes through the exact same process, most programs have similar frameworks.  When an applicant starts an application, the application can be viewed by the coordinator(s) associated with that program. Until an application is complete, however, an official admission decision cannot be made – this includes recommendation letters, transcripts, and any required test scores, not just the completed application forms. Once all the components of an application are received, the application is released to the department, and a committee of 4-6 faculty from the department review it and decide together whether to admit the applicant.  They are typically checking to ensure that the applicant has the educational background for the department, that the applicant has demonstrated interest in the specific degree or program they are applying for, and that there is a match between the applicant’s research interests and research opportunities in that program that year.  The review committee often knows which faculty are going on sabbatical, joining the department, retiring, etc. that the applicants do not, and this might also factor into a final decision.  Dr. Brumaghim noted that her department accepts cohorts of graduate students with the expectation that they will match with a research mentor during the first semester, and many biologically oriented departments accept students that then do rotations in several faculty members’ groups before they make a decision on a group to join.  In my department, the current trend is to ensure that there is a research match for a PhD applicant prior to acceptance.  To do this, faculty are given access to the applications that have been marked for potential acceptance by the review committee.  Once a decision is made, acceptances are sent out with (or without) a funding offer from the department. 

 

Brumaghim Tip #6:  Get the attention of potential mentors by mentioning them and their research areas in your application.

 

Review committees are thrilled to see specific faculty mentors (and their research projects) mentioned by applicants in applications.  It helps them match applicants to potential mentors, especially if students mention multiple faculty in their statements.  A faculty member may not be able to take new students into their group every year for a range of reasons (too many competing commitments, lack of funding or space, sabbatical, etc.).  By identifying multiple potential faculty mentors and explaining how your interests intersect with the research several faculty are doing, you show the review committee how you will fit into their program. 

 

Brumaghim Tip #7:  Communicate your ability work on something over a long time.

If you have participated in an activity, cause, job, etc. for a long period, and especially if this experience demonstrates your perseverance, time management, and/or leadership skills, highlight this in your application.  Often it doesn’t matter whether the activity was STEM related or not, if you can show that you are committed to a process, can put energy into it, can get through difficulties, etc.  Demonstrating long-term commitment and dedication in your application helps a review committee gain confidence in your ability to complete a (sometimes difficult) graduate program. 

 

Brumaghim Tip #8:  Fill out the “Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®)”

Some graduate assistantships can only be awarded to students with financial need.   Examples of these would be fellowships awarded through the Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) and even fellowships offered in individual departments.   

 

For many students, their financial status changes when they transition to graduate school.  In almost all cases, graduate students are considered independent students when completing the FAFSA form and are not required to provide parent information. 

Remember, seeking out advice to improve your chances of submitting a winning application is the first step to a successful graduate career, so good luck!

Love research, but haven’t found the research area that sparks joy?

Overview: A question landed in my inbox last week: “What are some options for a \ prospective graduate student who doesn't quite know what research area they want to pursue, but is sure research is the path for them?” Since then, this question has been crawling around my brain, trying to find an answer. So, I went ahead and drafted a response. Then I sprinkled in more insight gleaned from colleagues.

 

Post Contributor(s): Dr. Marian Kennedy

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Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

Congratulations! It is a terrific thing to discover you like research.

 

Not knowing what specific research area to pursue long term is a normal challenge that graduate students face – and even other early career researchers. You might hear that aligning your personal passions with your chosen research area is critical on all projects (‘do what you love’), but I think many faculty would attest that they conduct research on some projects that they are not passionate about but see the utility for the work (impact it can make for society, the scientific community or their institution).

 

I think it’s normal for your first project not to be one you fall in love with. During your first research project you are learning what research is, how to navigate the research process, etc. In conversation, I have heard other researchers light up when recalling an “ideal” project that both captured their technical interest and aligned with an area that really harnessed their personal passions. In most cases, it was not their first or second research project. This happened to me too. I worked on three projects as an undergraduate and one as a master’s student before I found that “ideal” research project. I recognized during this project that I would spontaneously start to think about it (the design, data, etc.) while working out or driving in the car to get groceries on the weekend. I would want to ‘look at one more thing’ related to the project before closing my laptop a lazy Saturday evening. While this fifth project was my “ideal”, I grew significantly as a researcher (and general scholar) through my participation on my first four research projects. My advisor patiently showed me how to cultivate new knowledge through focused thinking and actions. I learned invaluable skills and got to work with several researchers who I still look up to.

 

Here’s the thing. While the starting point for your research career begins with the project you pick to pursue during graduate school, it is most likely not the topical area you will be working on in five to ten years.

 

At the same time, the earlier you fall in love with your research topic during graduate school, the happier you will probably be and the easier it will be to overcome any challenges that arise during your program. So here are some tips for undergraduates trying to triangulate the right research area for them:

• Make a list of the things that interest you in your discipline and personal life. For example, a materials engineering major might list “physical metallurgy” as topical area they enjoy and the identify “sustainability” as an area they have been committing free time to. Think about possible connection between items in this list. Great researchers are often known for bringing together disparate topics in ways others have not previously done. On this topic, one colleague contributed the following example.  A student who enjoys materials science and video games might pursue a new sensor materials that could enable a completely new gaming experience or how to integrate materials into the game to make it more realistic.  By bringing together different interests in their life, they will probably find a completely new set of ideas to explore.
• Go to your department’s website (or a department where you think you might like to study) and look at each faculty member’s site. Read their research interests to get a bird’s eye view of the broad research landscape in your field. See if any of the listed topics spark your interest. If one or more do, ask the faculty member if you can meet with them to discuss their research.
• Stop into office hours for any class in your discipline. Those instructors have set aside time to talk with you and are typically thrilled you walk through their door even if the topic is graduate school instead of the most recent course notes. Ask for their help in triangulating a research area.
• Look at your lecture notes or flip through your old textbooks to see what sparks joy. Perhaps you really relished the days your class went over diffusion mechanisms in ceramics or the topic that enticed you to show up ten minutes early to claim a seat was a talk on identity intersectionality for design project participants. As you go through, write down your observations.
• Talk to your friends, classmates, instructors, teaching assistants and anyone else you trust with expertise about research ideas and see if they can help you identify some potential research areas for you.
• Reach out to graduate students in your program and ask if you can chat with them about how their research developed. See if they have suggestions of what research field might be a good match for you.
• Read through conference programs.  For example, in my field I might look through the program for the TMS annual meeting.  

 

If you are not making progress on finding your research area, but you need to decide about accepting graduate school offers and are confident in your interest in conducting research, I would suggest you go to graduate school to pursue a thesis MS and try a research area that you like but are necessarily passionate about. Spend the time learning how to critically analyze the knowledge of your field, define research questions or hypothesis, etc. Working with a research team is typically a fun experience as you are all working shoulder to shoulder to find something new. A terminal MS program (rather than a project that embeds a MS on the way to the PhD) makes it easier to switch your research focus before you start your PhD work. Note that this switch may come with a minor time delay to your final graduation date, but that is relatively small compared to the length of your career.

 

Some programs are set up to accept students who do not quite know where their interests lay. In these programs, the graduate students rotate through research groups for the first one or two semesters in a set rotation. Go ahead and ask the graduate school coordinator how graduate students are matched with the mentors in each program.

 

On the other hand, consider working in industry until you find an area that you are passionate about. Through this pathway you will continue to evolve and learn while working with engineering or science practitioners. Some companies will even pay for you to pursue your graduate degree while working, which will mean you are more financially secure than a research assistant or teaching assistant.

 

Other articles related to this topic that you might want to read (I really appreciated the work by Emily Elia).

• Grad School 101: Discover your research interests!  (written by Emily Elia) 
•  8 Practical Ways to Find Research Topics for Grad School Applications (written by Maryleen Ndubuaku).

 

Acknowledgements: This blog post was edited by Kate Epstein of EpsteinWords. She specializes in editing and coaching for academics, and she can be reached at kate at epsteinwords.com.