A personal statement (also called a statement of purpose) is a brief written explanation of why a candidate is appropriate for a particular graduate program. In addition to outlining applicants’ goals and motivations, it also includes their academic background, accomplishments, and applicable experience.
We’ll provide useful tips for writing a successful personal statement.
Why Personal Statements Are Important
Your engineering personal statement is the first impression you make on an institution or graduate program. It’s your first opportunity to tout your achievements in engineering, present your strengths, and express your goals. Think of it as a written showcase where you are making your best pitch for why you’re a good fit for a Master’s in Engineering program.
Aside from making a positive initial impression, the act of writing a personal statement will also help you hone in on why you’re interested in the program. The process encourages you to organize the evidence for, and challenges you to clarify and refine your thinking to ensure you’re applying to the best engineering program for you.
How to Write a Personal Statement
You can approach an engineering personal statement much like a cover letter for your CV or résumé. Your task is to present a case for why you are well-suited for the chosen program.
Let’s break down the process step-by-step:
- Tell a story: If you have a unique narrative or a compelling angle to demonstrate this, make that the focus of your essay. The program you’re applying for will want to know what inspired you to become an engineer.
- Build your case: Cite your accomplishments at work and in school as the supporting evidence for your thesis. You should include your career goals, your strongest skills as an engineer, and any obstacles you’ve overcome.
- Be efficient with your words: It may be difficult to condense a lot of information into your personal statement. Start with what’s most relevant. Try distilling down your experience and background into the main points that best pertain to the master’s degree you plan to pursue.
- Make it personal: Feel free to draw upon formative life experiences if they are germane to the degree program being offered. The more personal and specific you can be, the more likely you are to stand out.
- Stay on topic: Summarize your core points, and construct them in a way that ultimately answers the questions, why should you be accepted into this university’s program? and why do you want to obtain this degree?
You should also ask yourself the following questions:
- What sparks your interest in this particular graduate program?
- Are you eager to work with certain mentors or faculty members in the School of Engineering and Applied Science or one of its departments?
- Are you especially passionate about a subject covered in the curriculum?
- How might the program you’re applying to benefit your career path and/or future academic goals?
The next section will address the writing process in greater depth. Even for an engineer or a professional in another STEM field, demonstrating the ability to clearly and directly articulate oneself is an important — and practical — exercise. Although a personal statement calls for a formal writing style, don’t hesitate to let your individuality shine through. Just be sure to avoid exaggeration or hyperbole.
Tips for Writing the Perfect Personal Statement
Here are key pieces of advice once you start writing:
- Keep it concise: Respect the time of the reader, who bear in mind must expeditiously filter through many applications. Personal statements should ideally be between 250 to 500 words, and probably never over 800 words. The entirety of the essay must be able to fit on one page. Make the most of your limited space by avoiding any filler or superfluous language.
- Craft a strong introduction: The first paragraph is crucial real estate given the limited space you have. Don’t “bury the lede” in an attempt to be needlessly creative or clever. Lead with your most compelling reason(s) for being accepted and make your case clear upfront.
- Be specific: Tailor your personal statement to your specific interest in the program. This could be the areas of specialization offered by the coursework, connections to your previous experience and future aspirations, and so on. Another best practice is to directly respond to the prompt or question the application may provide.
- Stay authentic: While some are tempted to embellish their accomplishments or level of interest to appear a more promising applicant, this would be a self-defeating choice. The entire purpose of a personal statement is to accurately match you with a program that is appropriate for you (and vice versa). Remaining true to yourself is the best way to maximize the odds of that outcome.
- Show humility: It can be difficult to strike a humble tone in a document that essentially asks you to brag about your scholastic and professional history. If you infuse some humility into your personal statement — perhaps by acknowledging the skills or knowledge you hope to improve upon — it will help you come across as well-rounded and circumspect.
- Highlight your expertise: On the other hand, there’s a difference between humility and modesty; this is not necessarily the time to be modest! Don’t hold back on emphasizing your biggest strengths and technical skills, past work, certifications, or other credentials.
- Proofread your writing: Clean up any confusing or overly elaborate sentences (if you tend to write that way) and, conversely, flesh out any ambiguous language (if you tend to be sparse with your words). Check carefully for mistakes in grammar or punctuation. Clarity is critical here. Even a highly qualified candidate could be overlooked if their writing is too difficult to understand, too cumbersome to read, or plagued by simple errors.
Next Steps
Follow the link to read more information about the application process.
You may also like to review the requirements for GW’s online Master’s in Engineering degree.
Once you’re ready to apply, follow the steps below.
- Complete the Online Application: Access and complete the application through the GW Online Application Portal, providing all necessary personal, academic, and program-specific details. Visit the GW Online Engineering Programs application portal to begin.
- Submit Official Transcripts: Upload official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions. Electronic submissions are encouraged for quicker processing.
- Submit a Resume/CV: Highlight your academic and professional experience, including relevant work, technical skills, certifications, and projects. This is in addition to the personal statement you will have prepared.
- Letters of Recommendation: Request two letters of recommendation from academic or professional contacts who can speak to your qualifications and readiness for graduate study.
- Application Fee: No application fee is required for GW's online engineering programs, removing financial barriers to applying.
- Application Deadlines: GW has rolling admissions with multiple start terms each year. Be sure to check program-specific deadlines to ensure timely submission. Early applications are encouraged.
- Check Application Status: Monitor your email for updates on your application status. Ensure all materials, including transcripts and recommendation letters, are submitted before deadlines.
If you have more questions, check our online engineering programs main page: George Washington University Online Graduate Engineering Programs