How to Start Your Personal Statement

Writing a personal statement can give you immense pressure and writer’s block, with the blank page staring at you and the big question of where and how to start? The key is to simply get started. Here’s how:

1.     Break It Down into Tiny Steps

Procrastination is often the result of feeling completely overwhelmed with an enormous task ahead. Instead of feeling paralyzed with fear, break the tasks down into manageable parts:

• Day 1: Brainstorm 3 key moments that shaped your passion

• Day 2: Write a rough draft of your opening paragraph

• Day 3: Outline the main topics you want to cover

2.     Set a Timer and Just Write

Starting is the hardest part. Set a timer for 10 minutes and just write out all your ideas without stopping. Let your thoughts flow freely and don’t worry about being perfect or making total sense. It is only a first draft which will go through many rounds of edits before the final product.

3.     Silence your Inner Critic

Often, the hardest person to please is yourself. Silence your inner critic! Listen to positivity podcasts, read about changing your mindset, meditate and go on long, gentle walks. You’ll be surprised once you infuse your life with positive voices how far you can go!

4.     Change Your Environment

Staring at the same wall for hours with your mind as blank as the piece of paper in front of you? Try having a change of scenery. Head to a coffee shop, park, or library. New surroundings with a new colour palette and vibe can spark creativity and give you fresh ideas.

5.     Use Prompts to Get Started

If you’re still stuck, try answering these prompts to get started:

• What’s a moment that made you fall in love with your chosen field?

• How have your experiences shaped your goals?

• What’s a challenge you’ve overcome, and what did you learn from it?

Pro Tip

Edit ruthlessly. Cut out fluff, keep it concise. Take breaks between drafts, print hard copies and read with fresh eyes. Your personal statement is your story that could be your golden ticket to the university of your dreams.

If you have any questions about writing a personal statement, please contact our experts.

A peaceful university library environment

如何开始撰写个人陈述

撰写个人陈述可能会让你感到巨大的压力和写作障碍，面对空白的页面，你可能会不知所措，不知道从哪里开始以及如何开始。关键是要简单地开始。以下是具体方法：

1. 将任务分解成小步骤

拖延症通常是因为面对庞大的任务而感到不知所措。与其被恐惧压垮，不如将任务分解成可管理的部分：

• 第1天：头脑风暴，列出3个塑造你热情的关键时刻。

• 第2天：撰写开头段的初稿。

• 第3天：列出你想要涵盖的主要话题。

通过将任务分解，你可以逐步建立信心，而不会感到压力过大。

2. 设定计时器，开始写作

开始是最难的部分。设定一个10分钟的计时器，然后不加停顿地写下所有想法。让你的思维自由流动，不要担心是否完美或是否完全合理。这只是初稿，最终版本会经过多次修改。

3. 屏蔽内心的批评声音

通常，最难取悦的人是自己。屏蔽内心的批评声音！听听积极向上的播客，阅读关于改变思维方式的文章，冥想或进行长时间的轻松散步。你会惊讶地发现，当你用积极的声音充实生活时，你能走得更远！

4. 改变环境

盯着同一面墙几个小时，大脑却像面前的纸一样空白？尝试换个环境。去咖啡店、公园或图书馆。新的环境、色彩和氛围可以激发创造力，给你带来新的灵感。

5. 使用提示问题来启动写作

如果你仍然卡住，可以尝试回答以下问题来启动写作：

• 是什么让你爱上了你选择的领域？

• 你的经历如何塑造了你的目标？

• 你克服了什么挑战，从中学到了什么？

专业建议：无情地编辑 

删除冗余内容，保持简洁。在草稿之间休息一下，打印出纸质版，用全新的视角阅读。你的个人陈述是你的故事，它可能是通往梦想大学的黄金门票。

如果你对撰写个人陈述有任何疑问，请联系我们的专家。

How to overcome writer’s block