Writing a personal statement can be one of the most intimidating steps in an application process. It requires effort and creativity, but it’s worth it because an effective essay can help you stand out from your peers.  

If you’re feeling stressed or lost, here are some tips to help you write a college essay that will be sure to impress your admission counselors.   

Why is a personal statement important?

Admission teams learn about you through your test scores, classes and transcripts. But these documents do not always tell the full story. Your personal statement allows universities to learn more about you. It’s the perfect opportunity to share your interests and passions as well as challenges you’ve overcome, to stand out from other applicants.  

Before you start writing your entire life story, consider these personal statement tips from Pacific’s director of first-year admission, Vivian Chan Rendon: “Focus on one topic, organize your essay, be concise and value quality over quantity.”  

FACT: If you think no one will read your personal statement, think twice. Pacific’s admission counselors read every applicant’s personal statement.  

What are admission counselors looking for in a personal statement?

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact criteria you need to include to write a personal statement that will stand out. Admission counselors are subject to their own opinions and biases, so the best strategy to grab their attention is to be authentic and impactful.   

“A strong opening makes us curious to read further,” Rendon said. “Sharing true feelings or thoughts and heartfelt stories will make your essay stand out more.”  

Here’s what to leave out:  

• Avoid discussing topics that can be found on your application and transcript like extracurricular activities and grades. It’s unnecessary and does not allow the counselors to learn more about you. 
• Rather than waste space in your personal statement, if you want to explain pandemic impacts and/or other circumstances or qualifications not addressed in your application, you can type your responses in the essay spaces provided in the “additional information” section on the Common App. If you’re applying with Pacific’s application, you can type “additional information” at the end of your personal statement to create a separate section and then upload your essay and responses together. 

Getting started on your personal statement

If you’re looking for topic ideas or guidance, here are four Common App essay prompts to help you get started: 

• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you? 
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?  
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.   
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?  

FICTION: I’m only allowed to write about one of the university’s prompts.   

You have the freedom to choose what you write about in your personal statement. Start a brainstorming session to get your ideas flowing. Use these prompts as a starting point or create your own.  

The U.S. Supreme Court ended Affirmative Action in admission decisions last year, so all colleges in the country are prohibited from using race as a consideration in admission. Colleges in California have been barred from asking about race in the admission process since 1998. However, if you believe your experiences due to your race and/or ethnicity are worth mentioning, you are free to use your personal statement to address them.   

Vivian provided advice for students who choose to write about their backgrounds: “Admission counselors are more interested to see how you overcome your personal challenges. Focus on your perseverance, personal strengths, persistence and pride in your personal identity – and how your personal qualities can contribute to the Pacific community.” 

Structuring a good personal statement

Because good personal statements are concise and impactful, organization and structure are important factors to consider when crafting your essay. 

To make sure readers are immediately drawn to your theme, start off with a strong opening or “hook” to grab their attention.   

It can be difficult to keep your essay short (between 250 and 650 words), especially when you have a lot to say. Outlining your personal statement can help you determine the key points you want to mention and in what order.  

The traditional five-paragraph format is not required. Choose the number of paragraphs that will do the best job of showcasing your ideas, and ensure each paragraph contributes to the theme of your story.   

Before submitting your personal statement

There are a few final steps you should take before submitting your personal statement. As I’m sure you’ve heard from your numerous English teachers over the years, you should proofread and get feedback on your essay:  

• You can use proofreading tools like Grammarly to help catch any grammar, usage, punctuation or spelling mistakes you have made.   
• Once you think you’re done with your essay, send it to a trusted source for feedback. They may offer suggestions you might not have considered to improve your writing.  
• Finally, after revising and reviewing your personal statement, submit it!   

Pacific allows you to submit your personal statement at the same time as your application or later if you need more time. 

If you have any additional questions about applying to Pacific, reach out to our admission team at 209.946.2211 or admission@pacific.edu.  

Megan Nishimura

Megan Nishimura is a fourth-year marketing major from Honolulu, Hawai’i. You can find her in Burns Tower as Enrollment Marketing’s student copywriter, in the stands as an athletics event staff worker or on the court as a member of Pacific’s Division 1 volleyball team.

You’ve filled out your application. You’ve written, proofread and submitted your personal statement. Now, it’s time to send in your letter of recommendation. If you’re stuck on how to get started, you’ve come to the right place.  

We reached out to Vivian Chan Rendon, Pacific’s director of first-year admission, to learn everything to know about getting a letter of recommendation for college, from what admission counselors are looking for to how to reach out to your teacher or counselor for a letter.  

We also know that sometimes words fail, so we’ve even included an email template that you can send to your potential recommender. Just copy, paste, personalize and send! 

Why are letters of recommendation so important?  

Before we get started, you might be wondering why letters of recommendation are needed in the first place. After all, can’t admission counselors learn everything they need to know from your transcripts, application and essay?  

According to Vivian, letters of recommendation are an important part of evaluating your qualities and potential because they offer additional perspectives and insights.  

“We like letters of recommendation because they offer information from a third-person perspective and from a credible source,” Vivian explains. “For example, if you’re applying as a biology major, a glowing recommendation from your biology teacher will help you stand out. Or a counselor can discuss how they observed your perseverance overcoming challenges in your life.”  

Vivian says this kind of information isn’t usually included in a student’s transcripts or personal essay, so including a letter of recommendation from someone who is familiar with your personal qualities can be a crucial addition to your application.  

Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation? How many do I need? 

Guidelines about who to ask for letters of recommendation and how many to send differ from university to university. At Pacific, we require just one letter of recommendation. We prefer letters to come from teachers or counselors, but other people can send in letters under certain circumstances.  

“If students cannot obtain a letter from a counselor or teacher, they can ask their mentor, coach, supervisor, community leader, someone from their faith community or someone they have volunteered with,” Vivian explains. “But not family and friends.”  

When narrowing down whom to ask for a letter of recommendation, think about who is most familiar with you as a person and can attest to your abilities. For example, if you dedicated long hours in high school to a student volunteer club, you might want to ask your teacher or staff supervisor to write about your leadership skills and desire to serve your community.  

You might also consider asking someone who can speak to your ability to succeed in your academic goals. As Vivian explained before, if you’re applying for a science program, for instance, your science teachers could most accurately assess your skills and preparation in that field. 

How should I ask for a letter of recommendation?  

Now that you’ve determined who you want to ask for a letter of recommendation, it’s time to get organized. Here are a few things to do and know before you make your ask.   

1. Make a brag sheet to help your recommender out. You’ll want to give your recommender your resume and/or list of accomplishments/achievements to give them inspiration for what to include in your letter. While you are ideally choosing someone who is familiar with your strengths and accomplishments, it’s always helpful for the recommender to have information to reference as they write.  

2. Make sure your recommender knows deadlines and other relevant information. Along with your brag sheet, make sure to send your recommender the date your letter needs to be submitted. You should also inform them of any special instructions for submitting the letter (you can find more information about Pacific’s process in the “How to submit and final steps” section of this blog post).  

3. Give your recommender plenty of time. Don’t wait until the last minute to request a letter of recommendation. We recommend reaching out at least two weeks before your letter is due—even earlier if you have time. At Pacific, you can submit your letter after you’ve already submitted your application if you need more time, but you should still aim to get your letter in as soon as possible so your decision is not delayed.  

4. Be polite and sincere in your request. It’s always best to ask for a letter of recommendation in person, face-to-face. But if that’s not possible, a polite email is also a great option. You can also ask in person and follow up with details over email. Whichever method you choose, be gracious and considerate of your recommender’s time and energy.

5. Be prepared to write the letter yourself. If your recommender is extremely busy, they might ask you to write the letter of recommendation yourself and let them sign off on it. Or they might ask you to write a draft so they can add to it instead of writing the full letter themselves. Be prepared to go this route, especially if you are asking for a letter with a quick turnaround.  

Letter of recommendation request: email template  

If you’re stuck on what to say, here’s an email template you can use to get started. Just make sure to add your own flair—include why you wanted to ask this specific person and what you hope they can discuss in the letter. If you are close with your recommender, you might also share the impact they have had on your life and why a letter from them would be impactful.  

Dear (Recommender name),  

I hope you’re doing well! I’m reaching out because I am in the process of applying to colleges, and I wanted to ask if you would be willing to write a letter of recommendation on my behalf.  

As my (teacher, counselor, etc.) I was hoping you could attest to my (academic, volunteer, personal) skills and abilities. As your (student, mentee, etc.) I have learned so much from you and would be honored to receive a recommendation from you as I take the next step in my academic career.  

I have attached an updated copy of my resume and details on how to submit to this email. I am hoping to submit my application materials by (date). Thank you for considering my request! If you have any questions, please let me know.  

Best regards, 

(Your name) 

How to submit and final steps 

When you’re ready to submit your letter to Pacific, the easiest way to submit is by emailing it as an attachment to admission@pacific.edu, or emailing it to your assigned admission counselor (you can find your admission counselor based on your location on our website). You can have your recommender send the letter back to you to submit, or they can email it to us directly.  

Finally, after you submit, don’t forget to write your recommender a thank you note! Show your recommender that you appreciate the time and effort they put in to help you shine in your application.   

This article is part of the Before You Submit series, where we offer tips to help guide you through the application process. Check out part one to learn more about filling out your application or part two for tips on writing your personal statement.  

If you have any additional questions about applying to Pacific, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 209.946.2211 or admission@pacific.edu. Ready to take the next step? Apply today!