<p>What exactly is a personal statement? I started writing one and I'm a little confused about the format. In the intro paragraph I should have a thesis statement, right? And then the following paragraphs are relating my ECs and work experience to that thesis. </p>
<p>Am I on the right track?</p>
<p>My teacher who helped me when i wrote my personal statement – who used to be an admissions counselor at UIUC – said that in your personal statement, it’s your chance to show the college how you set yourself apart from others. colleges really love personal stories, so throw in an anecdote that is well connected to the rest of your essay. he also said to write like you’re writing in a diary, not AP style. colleges want to know who you are as a person. leave them wanting to know more about you too. </p>
<p>what i did was i wrote about my strengths and my passions and how they made me into a hardworking and determined person. i threw in a lot of my personal experience with some difficulties i had to overcome.</p>
<p>My grades weren’t the best and my ACT score wasn’t the highest and i got accepted (to the college of fine and applied arts as an architecture major). i believe that my essay was what really swayed them to accept me. my teacher also told me stories of students he helped in the passed who got in to UIUC. he said that they were the kind of students you wouldn’t expect to get in, but with their killer essays, they managed to be accepted.</p>
<p>I’m sure if your grades and ACT score is really good plus this essay, you’ll most likely get accepted. good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! UIUC is actually my top school so I’m really glad you responded!</p>