Many of you already know that I feel very strongly that the personal statement should be substantive and crafted in a persuasive essay format… Yet, the introduction is a place where you can let your hair down (to a point) and write in a narrative fashion. It helps to start your essay with a “clincher,” something that will convince the reader your statement is worth reading: I found a short piece in an old Stanford Magazine to be an interesting reminder of what a dedicated writer can do with a personal statement intro. The author compiled a list of first lines from the application essays of Stanford’s newest college class at the time.

Some of my favorites:

Unlike many mathematicians, I live in an irrational world; I feel that my life is defined by a certain amount of irrationalities that bloom too frequently, such as my brief foray in front of 400 people without my pants.

When I was 8 years old, I shocked my family and a local archaeologist by discovering artifacts dating back almost 3,500 years.

As an Indian-American, I am forever bound to the hyphen.

Note that these introductions catch the reader’s attention, while also saying something about the writer’s qualities and/or sense of self. For help with your personal statement, contact me.

Make sure your candidacy is not hamstrung by bad writing. Avoid common personal statement errors that can bomb your application. Good writing takes a lot of time, so make sure to start early. AMCAS is opening on May 1, so medical school applicants should be completing their essays and experience descriptors. Residency applicants should be starting an outline for their personal statements and a draft of their experiences.

Contact me (soon) for help.