Suggestions for writing a captivating personal statement for Grad School?

Question

I am applying to a Grad program for Communications and I just graduated with a BA in English - I am having a hard time writing my personal statment which must express my future career goals and how a graduate degree would help me obtain those goals. Any serious suggestions would be very helpful - Thanks to all!

Answer 1

A successful personal statement is a literate, elegantly written essay in which the student highlights her strong preparation for her intended area of study, articulates her planned area of study and her goals after completing this study, and demonstrates her facility with current theory and practice in this area.

In other words, why do you want to go to grad school? How have you prepared for graduate study thus far? What will you study when you are there? What theories and methods do you find most congenial in terms of your area of study? With whom do you want to study, and why? (Name the scholars you've found most inspirational or influential. You've chosen the schools to which you're applying on that basis, anyway, aren't you? But don't gush, or "suck up." Just state your reasons for wanting to attend THAT particular graduate program.) And finally, what do you plan to do with this degree once you earn it?

Be sure to tailor each essay to each program, and to revise each essay for clarity and style. All those writing skills you've been developing over the last three or four years should be put to use now, when it really counts. :)

Best wishes to you!

Answer 2

It would be best to demonstrate that you have a career plan, do a little research into the communication program and the specialties it may provide, see if there are any other people who went on from that program and met with great success, don't pander to faculty, just be clear and honest. Show that you have objectives and goals that go beyond getting your masters degree and then integrate how the program would be of benefit to you, and your personal flair, skills and talents you could bring to the program. Hope it helps.