Notes on Personal Statement Lecture by Ethan Sawyer

Introduction

• Speaker: Ethan Sawyer, College Essay Guy
• Author of "College Essay Essentials"
• Focus: Crash course on writing personal statements for college applications.

Objectives

• Help students brainstorm personal statement topics.
• Determine effective topics.
• Structure personal statements.
• Provide strategies for ending personal statements.
• Share resources for writing personal statements.

Brainstorming Exercises

1. Essence Objects Exercise

   • Identify objects that represent personal values, memories, or experiences.
   • Example: Mala beads symbolize spirituality and connection.
   • Aim: Create a list of essence objects and what they represent.

2. Values Exercise

   • Identify core values from a list of 75+ values.
   • Steps:
     • Identify top 10 values, then narrow down to top 5, then top 3, and finally, choose the number one value for today.
   • Purpose: Help connect personal values to essay themes and activities in applications.

3. 21 Details Exercise

   • Write down 21 random facts about yourself.
   • Connection: Some facts may reveal insights into personal values or experiences.
   • Goal: Identify themes that can emerge from the details listed.

Evaluating Topics

• Determine if a topic is likely to stand out by using elasticity and commonality:

  • Montage Essay Considerations:
    1. Elasticity: Can the topic connect to various aspects of your identity?
    2. Commonality: Is the topic common or uncommon?

• Narrative Essay Considerations:

  1. Are the challenges compelling?
  2. Is the insight drawn from the challenge significant?

Structures for Personal Statements

1. Montage Structure:

   • Non-challenge topics with a thematic thread.
   • Seven types of montage essays:
     • I love or I know path
     • Skill or superpower path
     • Essence objects path
     • Career path
     • Identities path
     • Home path
     • Uncommon extracurricular activity path

2. Narrative Structure:

   • Focuses on challenges faced.
   • Essential elements:
     1. Identify the challenge and its impact.
     2. Explain how you dealt with the challenge.
     3. Share what you learned from the experience.

Ending Techniques

1. Book Ending (Callback):

   • Refer back to an idea or theme established at the beginning for closure.
   • Example: Linking back to a humorous or significant moment.

2. Why Us Setup:

   • Craft an origin story that connects to why you want to attend a particular school.
   • This sets the stage for a subsequent "Why Us" essay.

3. Ending with Values:

   • Introduce values subtly in body paragraphs, then explicitly state them in the conclusion to create a surprise and connection.

Additional Resources

• More brainstorming exercises, sample essays, and application process guidance available at College Essay Guy's website.

Closing

• Call for questions and engagement through comments.
• Encourage likes and subscriptions for more content.