Writing your MBA personal statement can be challenging, especially if you are writing for a prestigious school. The admission committee read thousands of statements. Hence, standing out amongst them is very important.
However, many students not aware of personal statement writing techniques make mistakes. It leads to their work being disliked. Well, there goes your opportunity of getting your dream school down the drain.
You should create a fine balance between adding all the vital points while making it unique according to your traits.
Today, I will teach you the common pitfalls to avoid while writing a personal statement. Moreover, you can find tricks for dodging the bullets. So, come on! Continue reading the blog, as you will learn so much.
MBA Personal Statement: Avoid These Mistakes And Stand Out
The importance of avoiding common personal statement mistakes can’t be overstated. If you want to stand out among other students, then staying aware of these pitfalls is vital. Are you clueless about what they are? No problem! Just continue reading the blog. It will help you a lot. The common pitfalls that you need to avoid are:
Common Pitfall 1: Telling a Life Story
Personal statements are not for storytelling. Many students make the mistake of writing about their whole life instead of answering the questions asked. Well, it is one of the biggest red flags you must avoid. Otherwise, you might ruin your chances of getting into your dream job.
While it is okay to give a little background information, avoid adding personal details. Instead, focus on recent studies, experiences, and achievements. Remember, don’t go deeper and mention them if they are within your context.
Common Pitfall 2: Being Generic
Another common pitfall you should avoid while writing a personal statement is being generic. For example, opening the statement with this sentence: I opted for an MBA in Marketing because it intrigues me. Well, nope! It’s too generic.
Remember your statement reflects your experiences, goals, and personal growth. While writing, you must paint how the experiences shaped you into who you are today.
Furthermore, the admission committee is always looking for those applicants who can make a big difference. Thus, being generic in your statement is a big no!
Since it’s not an option, reflect on your passions and goals. Tell them why you think you are the best fit for your program. It will make a memorable impact.
Common Pitfall 3: Repeating the Information
Your statement is only 4,000 characters long. That means you have to fit everything in 500 to 1000 words. Well, it seems impossible, especially if you repeat the same information mentioned in your application.
Your admission committee has already read your application, which includes your education. Now, they want something unique and distinct. Hence, it’s better not to repeat the information. Instead, mention the things that are not already in the application.
Common Pitfall 4: Discussing Personal Issues
The personal statement is not a place to discuss your issues. While something is related to your studying, it disinterests the readers as this shows that you are whining to them about the problems. Hence, it’s better to avoid discussing personal issues.
Even if you feel like it’s something worth mentioning, make sure to do it in one or two lines.
Common Pitfall 5: Writing Long Sentences
No one wants to read lengthy sentences, especially your admission committee. Check out the following sentences:
- I always got 80% to 95% in high school which shows how dedicated I am towards my studies and also I got decent grades in my graduation in Business, showing my inclination towards the field.
Now, the second one.
- My marksheet resonates with the commitment I have in my studies. After getting 95% in secondary education, I graduated with decent marks.
The second one sounds better, right? It’s because I broke one lengthy sentence into two small ones. Readers will remember this information. So always keep your sentences short. We would suggest keeping the word limit to 25 words per sentence. It will make your statement unique.
A pro tip: If you are struggling to complete your statement, you can look for professionals and ask them to Write My MBA Personal Statement. They have expertise in writing. Thus, with their help, you have a higher chance of standing out.
Common Pitfall 6: Lying on Your Statement
Lying is a big no-no. While we know it gets tough to include information in your statement. And that’s why many students choose to fabricate the truth. But the admission committee is an expert in this. Hence, they can detect your lies in one go.
Saying you did something while you didn’t, or lying about your interests, which you probably don’t have, might later come back to haunt you. So, it’s better to stay on track and say what you truly believe, have, or did.
Common Pitfall 7: Not Structuring the Personal Statement
Imagine you have included every little piece of information, from experiences to passions. However, the personal statement lacks the proper structure. Will the readers be able to understand what you are saying? Nope! They won’t even give it a second look. You don’t want this.
Hence, always structure your statement. It helps show your dedication towards the field and enhance the quality of work.
Common Pitfall 8: Neglecting Proofreading
Many students don’t even give their statement a second thought before hitting that submission button. That’s where they are wrong. No matter how much of an expert writer you are, neglecting proofreading will get you nowhere. Also, the admission committee hates reading work filled with grammatical errors. So here goes your chance of impressing them.
Thus, once you are done with your statement, take time to edit and proofread. Read through the content and see how it will sound to the readers. For this, you can even seek help from personal statements writing services. This way, you will be able to save your time. Furthermore, getting a second opinion on your work can help you improvise.
Conclusion
You have reached the end of the guide! In a nutshell, writing an MBA personal statement can be challenging. There are several red flags you need to avoid in your application if you want to leave a lasting impression. Hopefully, through this guide, you are aware of what they are. So, when writing the statement, do make sure to avoid them at any cost.