Elevate Your Storytelling by Showing, Not Telling
“Show, Don’t Tell” is common advice for writing a personal statement. Here’s one way to check that you are showing, not telling:
After writing your first draft, take a minute to review your word choices. Are you overusing “resume lingo”? Double check for trite words that you can replace, like these:
- “experience”
- “leadership”
- “analytical skills”
- “determination”
- “responsibility”
- “work ethic”
You don’t have to directly tell the reader what you have accomplished; instead, adjust your writing to show your strengths through storytelling. Put simply, your writing should paint a picture that reflects your skills without needing to overtly state each of these traits.
Support Your Claims with Details
Interesting details make a Personal Statement more dynamic! For example:
- If you share that you are a team player, give an example and tell the reader why.
- If you mention that you went to an EMT school, give the official name of the program and share what you learned from this experience.
- If you volunteered at a clinic, add specifics like where, when, and how you got connected.
These small tweaks can give the reader more details into why you are a great fit for their dental school.
