A. No. If you feel there is something on your record that needs further explanation, you
should address this in a separate letter or addendum to your application. Your personal
statement should stick to the positives.
III. General Advice（一般建议）
· Answer the questions that are asked. Don’t be tempted to use the same statement for all
applications.
· Tell a Story. Show or demonstrate your points using concrete examples from your
experience.（用实实在在的例子）
· Be specific. Broad sweeping statements will not make you stand out as an individual.
Illustrate your points with personal examples or experiences
· Find an angle. An angle helps you to focus and make your statement interesting.
· Have a strong opening paragraph. Your first paragraph should state your thesis and
grab the reader’s attention
· Avoid cliches and quotes. This statement is about you and should not borrow from
other’s words
· Write well. Be meticulous about your writing style. Type and proofread your essay very
carefully.
· Don’t write a descriptive resume. This is a common mistake. Don’t restate your resume in prose. This information can be found in other parts of your application.
· Avoid writing about high school experiences. Professional schools will expect that you have had significant experiences while in college.（不要写高中经历）
· Be positive. Don’t badmouth the profession.（要积极乐观）
· Be honest.
· Everyone Fails. Writing about a failure can demonstrate that you have been able to learn and grow from your mistakes.（犯错并没有关系）
· Find a balance between creative and cautious. This can be tricky. There is a fine line
between creative and interesting and odd and gimmicky. Don’t write your personal statement as a legal brief or as a poem.