As an enrollment advisor, I receive many questions regarding the personal statement component of UOnline applications. The first time I speak to a prospective student on the phone, I ask them to tell me about their background and what has them interested in our online degree programs. This simple question reveals a lot about who they are and how they feel the UOnline program will help them meet their professional goals.
During the application process, students typically call me back as they are writing their personal statement for admission. Many individuals have trouble deciding what to write about. I remind them of our initial conversation which encapsulates what they should explain in their personal statement: Who they are, why they’re interested in UM’s program, and how they will commit time to complete it.
What should you include in your personal statement? Here, I offer a few tips to guide you:
We purposefully don’t offer length or style requirements.
We recommend writing a one-or two-page personal statement (single or double spaced, in professional font — no Windings, please!). This gives you enough space to share a personal story and explain why you believe UM’s programs will help you meet your goals.
Start with an interesting personal anecdote.
Faculty read these statements. Grab their attention from the start. Begin with a short, professional story about yourself that illustrates why it’s so important for you to pursue this degree.
Share your professional interests.
Tell us what you’ve accomplished, what you’re doing now, and where you plan to go in your career. Remember to state the obvious. You know yourself well and your colleagues are familiar with your work, but this is our introduction to you, so remember to include all the important details.
Explain why our UOnline program matches your professional goals and lifestyle.
Demonstrate that you have researched the degree and share how the program’s coursework will help you meet your professional aspirations. Our programs require significant self-motivation.
You should also be comfortable connecting with faculty and classmates online. Even if you haven’t completed an online program before we need to know why you think our program matches your current work-life balance.
Connect the dots between your résuméand transcript.
If someone were to review your résumé and transcript, would they have questions? One applicant who was interested in pursuing our accounting program had a bachelor’s in biology. She explained her professional pivot in her personal statement. It’s a powerful component of your application and it is your opportunity to explain why your professional interests have changed or how you’ve grown throughout your career.
Explain how you can meet the time commitments our coursework requires.
You may spend as many as 20 or 30 hours a week on your coursework once you enroll. Your personal statement should address how this fits into your life.
If you still have questions as you’re writing—call your enrollment advisor.
We’re here to answer any questions you may have. Make sure you have all the answers before writing this statement.
Write an essay that is easy to read and proof it carefully.
Ask a colleague or a family member to read it. Do they feel it’s well written and compelling? Listen carefully to their feedback and make edits. Take care that what you submit is well written and free of grammatical errors.
Don’t stress out about it.
Applicants have shared that they’ve spent weeks on their personal statement. While I appreciate that level of dedication, your personal statement should be completed in a few hours over a few days. This timeline will allow someone else to review it for you and give you time to make final edits.
Remember, you know what to write—this is about you. Be confident in what you write. It doesn’t have to be perfect but needs to be personal and professional. We look forward to reading your professional statements!
