This document provides information about application essays, personal statements, and statements of purpose. Application essays are typically 100-1000 words and answer specific questions from schools. Personal statements are 500-1000 words and provide a broad overview of the applicant. Statements of purpose focus more narrowly on future plans for a given field of study and career goals. Both personal statements and statements of purpose aim to convey the applicant's motivation, qualities, and readiness for the program.

1. Application Essay,
Personal Statement, and
Statement of Purpose –
What Are They?

2. Application Essay
• Application Essay, Admissions Essay, and Admission
Essay (three interchangeable terms)
• Range from 100 to 1,000 words
• Have a very specific questions (vary wide depending
on the specific school)
- Why do you want attend our school?
- Write your autobiography
- Describe a time when you failed on something.
What did you learn?
- Questions may have multiple parts, and you
need to address everything in your response
• Commonly found on college and MBA applications.

3. Personal Statement
• The PS is a general type of admission essay mostly on
applications to medical schools, residencies, graduate
programs, and law schools
• Range from 500 to 1,000 words, line limit is 47
• It’s about You and shall cover a broad overview on:
- where the interest in the field of choice developed
- how skills and experience have been built in that field
- Goals/plans for the future
• Many universities don’t interview applicants, so the PS gives
the only information about you
• Avoid covering information that is included elsewhere in your
application such us: grades, employment history, test scores

4. Statement of Purpose
While the terms “personal statement” and “statement of purpose” are
sometimes used interchangeably, there is technically a difference between
these types of admissions writing.
A personal statement provides a broad overview of an applicant, covering
elements from the past, present, and future.
A statement of purpose is usually more tightly focused on the future. In a
statement of purpose, applicants have the chance to detail their plans for
study in a given field along with their short- and long-term career goals.
Range (like a personal statement) in the 500-1,000 word range.
Tip: When writing about goals, use language that emphasizes your readiness to accomplish those
things. Instead of saying, “I hope to do X” or “I plan to do X,” pick a specific skill that you have or
will earn and use it to present the goal: “With the finance abilities I build through my internship, I
will be ready to do X.”

5. Aim of the personal statement: many schools don’t have set GPA and standardized test scores
because they look beyond these numbers. They look for applicants who:
- can demonstrate that they have taken fullest advantage of opportunities
- care about their community
- have developed special talents in other fields beyond their academic studies.
Personal statement should reflect following qualities:
Motivation to enter particular field
Maturity and stability
Intellectual potential
Leadership qualities
Love of learning
Strength of character
Special abilities or talents
Achievements
Diligence and dedication
Integrity and honesty
Sense of fairness
Compassion

6. Structure of Your Personal
Statement
• Essay format, if you like
• Two parts: first part about the course and why you want to
take it; second- about yourself and your abilities
• Split into paragraphs:
P1: Introduction to the subject, the aspects you’re interested in and why
P2: What you have done related to the subject and is not in your
application
P3 and 4: Work experience placements and relevant activities at school
P5: Your interests outside of school (particularly the ones showing that
you are a responsible and reliable person)
P6: Your goal of attending university and memorable closing comment
Find a statement you like and use it as a template, not copy and
paste!
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7. What are admission people look for?
1. Do we want this student on this course?
2. Do we want this student at this university?
- Is the student suited to the course that they are applying for?
- Does the student have necessary qualifications and qualities for the course?
- Is the student conscientious, hardworking and unlikely to drop out?
- Will the student do their best and cope with the demands of the course?
- Can the student work under pressure?
- Will the student be able to adjust to their new environment at university?
- What are their communication skills like?
- Are they dedicated to this course and have they researched it well?
- Do they have a genuine interest in the subject and a desire to learn more
about it?
You need to answer these questions in your PS.

8. What do you want to study at
university and why
• Specific aspects of the courses that interest you
• Examples of coursework you have completed
• Practical work you have enjoyed
• Books, articles, etc. you have read related to the subject area
• Work experience or voluntary work in this area
• Conferences you have attended
• Personal experiences that lead to the decision to take this subject
• Where you hope a degree in this subject will take you in the future
• Experiences that show you are a reliable and responsible person
• Part-time job
• Business enterprise
• Community and charity work
• Helping out at school events and open days
• Student clubs, Awards, Debate Clubs, etc. and what you have gained from these experiences

9. Your Interests and Skills
• What you like to do in your free time
• Sport and leisure activities
• Subjects you study that are not examined
• Musical instrument(s) you play
• Languages you speak
• Prizes you have won or positions achieved in your interests

10. What is the most important part
of the personal statement
• A good first sentence will get the reader interested
and ensure they actually read your statement rather
than skim it.
• A good ending will ensure the reader remembers
your personal statement, though it also helps to
have a good middle section as well.
• The first line is generally the most important piece
of the statement.

11. The difference between the Personal
statement and Admission essay
• In the personal statement or admission essay, you are
required to provide information about yourself that is not
presented in your application form or recommendations
letters.
• An essays require you to answer a specific question and relate
a personal experience to gauge your opinion on a particular
matter. This is how the admission panel gets to know the
applicant. In this way, an admission essay is limiting.
• A PS doesn’t have a specified topics and it should provide all
the information the admission people needs in the
assessment and evaluation of your application. This gives you
more coverage in writing a statement as compared to
answering an admission essay

12. COVER LETTER

13. For Employment
Cover letter, covering letter, motivation letter, or letter of
motivation- it is a letter of introduction attached to another
document such as resume or CV. There are three categories of
cover letters:
- application letter
- prospecting letter
- networking letter
Application materials usually consist from:
• Cover Letter
• CV or Resume
• Employment Application
• Recommendation Letters

14. Structure of Cover Letter
• Usually one page
• Header. Cover letters use standard business letter style, with:
- Sender's address and other information
- Recipient's contact information
- Date sent after either the sender's or the recipient's address
- Optional- reference section (e.g. "RE: Internship Opportunity at Global Corporation")
- Optional transmission note (e.g. "Via Email to jobs@example.net").
- Salutation (e.g., "Dear Hiring Managers").
• Introduction. Brief statement on the specific position desired, and should be designed to catch the
employer's immediate interest.
• Body.
- Highlights material in the resume or job application
- Explains why the job seeker is interested in the job and would be of value to the employer
- Discussed skills, qualifications, and past experience.
- Special things to note such as availability date.
• Closing. A closing sums up the letter and indicates the next step the applicant expects to take:
- Contact the employer
- Look forward to hearing from or speaking with the employer
- A valediction (e.g. "Sincerely")
- Signature line
- Optionally, the abbreviation "ENCL" may be used to indicate that there are enclosures.

15. Cover Letter Template
Salutation
Dear [insert name of hiring manager],
Body
First paragraph: Mention the job you’re applying for and where you found the job listing.
Middle paragraphs: Discuss your qualifications. These paragraphs should be specifically tailored
to requirements posted in the job listing. You might also consider including why this specific
company interested you in the first place. Limit this section to two to three paragraphs.
Final paragraph: Discuss the next steps. If you are going to follow up in one to two weeks,
mention a specific date. If you would prefer to wait for their reply, say that you look forward to
discussing your qualifications further. Also provide your email address and phone number. Don’t
forget to thank them for their time.
Close
Sincerely,
[insert your name]

16. Recommendation Letters/
Reference Letters

17. Recommendation Letter versus
Reference Letter
A Recommendation Letter and a Reference Letter are primarily
used to introduce a person, his/her skills, abilities, integrity,
character, and interests, but there is a significant difference.
A recommendation letter is usually given to a person applying
for a job, entrance to college or university or scholarship. The
information is more specifically related to skills, abilities and
qualifications than it is to personal characteristics.
A reference letter is usually more general in nature and refers
more to the overall character of a person. The information is
more related to an individual’s personality and character than it
is to their skills and abilities.

18. Recommendation Letter
A “Recommendation Letter” or “Letter of Recommendation” has
an assessment of qualifications, skills, abilities, interests, and
capabilities of the person being recommended in terms of that
individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function.
“Recommendation Letters” are usually requested by someone,
and are therefore addressed to that particular requester.
Recommendation letters are typically related to employment,
college admissions, or scholarship eligibility.
Letter of recommendation - (especially American English) a
formal letter or statement saying that someone would be a
suitable person to do a job, take a course of study and etc.

19. Reference Letter
A “Reference Letter” or “Letter of Reference” has a general
assessment of the qualities, interests, attitude, integrity,
community involvement, and personal characteristics of a
person.
Reference letter also is used to assess an individual’s character
and confirms details about an individual’s situation or
circumstances.
Reference letters are general in nature and usually addressed to
“Whom It May Concern”. If the name of the recipient is known,
you should address the letter to that person specifically.

20. Requesting a Reference Letter
• Ask for a reference letter from people who know you and your
capabilities, such as former employers, teachers, coaches, community or
corporate leaders, influential friends who have known you a long time.
• Be sure to give the people you ask enough time to write the reference
letter—a week to 10 days should be sufficient.
• Tell them about your goals and what they could write that would help you
to achieve those goals. Don't be shy, it is time to present your
accomplishments!
• If you don't receive your reference letters within 10 days of your
conversations with the prospective writers, you may need to contact them
to confirm that each is aware of your deadlines.
• Once you receive your reference letters, send the writers thank-you notes.
You should also let each writer know about your subsequent success and
how much their letters helped you to attain your goal.

21. How to Write a Reference Letter
• Explain how you know the applicant and how long you have known
him/her.
• List the applicant's exceptional qualities and skills, especially those that are
related to the applicant's field of interest or job search. Give specific
examples.
• List the requester's competency in a specific field and/or prior experience,
organizational and communication skills, academic or other achievements,
interaction with others, sound judgment, reliability, analytical ability, etc.
• Omit weaknesses. If you can't write a positive letter of reference, you
should diplomatically decline at the first request.
• State your own qualifications. Why should the reader be impressed with
your reference letter?

22. How to Write a Reference Letter (continued)
• Emphasize key points that you want the reader to take note of on the
resume or application (don't simply restate what he/she has already
written).
• Do not refer to the applicant's race, religion, national origin, age, disability,
gender, or marital status.
• Make every word count: a letter of reference for employment should be
one page; a letter of reference for school admission should be one to two
pages.
• List your own contact information if you are willing to receive follow-up
correspondence or answer questions.
• Make the ending strong without overdoing it (don’t be biased or
insincere).
• Proofread! The letter of reference represents both you and the applicant.

23. Reference Letter Tips
• Appearance
• Specifics: be specific when you refer to his/her skills, attitude, personal
attributes, contributions, performance, growth, etc. during the time
period you have known the candidate.
• Word usage: positive adjectives: honest, articulate, effective,
sophisticated, intelligent, observant, significant, expressive, creative,
efficient, cooperative, imaginative, dependable, reliable, mature, and
innovative.
• Avoid adjectives and adverbs such as: nice, good, fair, fairly, adequate,
reasonable, decent, and satisfactory.

24. Reference Letter Tips (continues)
• Attributes (by the National Association of Colleges and
Employers):
ability to communicate flexibility
intelligence interpersonal skills
self-confidence self-knowledge
willingness to accept responsibility ability to handle conflict
Initiative goal achievement
Leadership competitiveness
energy level direction
Imagination appropriate vocational skills

25. Intangible Qualities
List of following intangible qualities important when evaluating
job applicants:
• empathy
• native intelligence
• a divergent, abstract thinking style
• a high level of commitment
• the ability to be a "self-starter"
• a high energy level
• the potential ability to lead

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