Personal Statements

Step 1. Clarifying your chosen field

Action steps. Ask yourself:

1. What experiences have led me to choose this degree path?
2. What other experiences would I like to gain before selecting a specific degree to pursue? (If I don't get into grad school this year, what is Plan B?)
3. What are my career goals? Are they clear and specific? Do they demand a graduate degree at this time, or are there ways I could work in my field without a degree for a few years? See the Idealist.org Career Center
4. Have my mentors in this field earned graduate degrees? Did they go to grad school directly after college? Do they advise that I do so now?