GUIDELINES FOR THE PERSONAL STATEMENT

A statement such as this asks you to provide the reader with a summary of your qualifications while you communicate more about who you are as a person. It offers insight into your individual concerns, values and character by touching upon the life context in which your studies evolved. This is a wonderful opportunity to highlight all the applicable aspects of your personal and scholastic experience.

NOTE: Careful consideration will be given to statements that address all the guidelines listed below:

  1. THE PERSONAL STATEMENT SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN 1,500 WORDS

  2. THE TEXT SHOULD BE DOUBLE SPACED, CHECKED FOR SPELLING, AND PROOFREAD

  3. AND THE TEXT SHOULD ADDRESS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
    1. Why you, as an individual, are interested in your field,
      Recommended approach: You don't have to tell your entire life story, but do tell the story of what drew you into your field.

      2.
    2. Why you are interested in pursuing a Ph.D.,
      Recommended approach: Recount one or two incidents that led you deeply enough into your field to consider a Ph.D. Those "small steps," such as a particular course or a summer job or a discussion with peers, etc., count.

      3.
    3. What your research interests are,
      Recommended approach: Tell us, as specifically as you can, what your research interests are at this point in your career and make sure that the above stories give us a strong sense of why you've chosen to pursue those interests. Don't be shy about telling us how your research interests are important in the world.

      4.
    4. And, finally, how you see yourself in relation to TRIO students in general and fellow participants in the CU Boulder McNair program in particular
      Recommended approach: Tell us not only what McNair can do for you, but what you can do for TRIO students in general and your fellow McNair scholars in particular. Would you be willing to mentor TRIO students? Do you have technical skills to share? Have you ever tutored or taught? Have you learned something that would be particularly useful for first generation college students to know? Do share with TRIO and McNair students a perspective that is underrepresented in the classes you attend? Etc.)

APPENDIX: Account for any grades of B- or below
Recommended approach: Tell us what prevented you from getting a higher grade. . . especially in courses in your major or in courses required for your major.