Many students who are writing their application statement for admissions often choose a theme to serve as a focal point in their essays. One of the most common and most effective themes to use in a personal essay is "overcoming hardships," or that of a survivor. This theme is useful in sharing the difficulties you have encountered in your academic and personal life, and how you have been able to rise above the challenges to become the individual that you are today.

As much as this theme can result in a compelling and interesting essay, there are some things you need to remember when writing about the hardships and challenges you've been through. Here are some useful tips when writing a personal statement centered on your stories of survival.

Choosing which information to share

It is common knowledge how a lot of people, if not all, go through hardships at least once in their lives. As much as you might want to talk all day about your difficulties, choosing the ones that really stand out will result in a more organized and more honest essay. Furthermore, the selections board is not merely interested in the kinds of difficulties you had to go through. They are more intent on reading about what you did to rise above these occasions and which valuable lessons you have learned along the way.

Check your attitude

Your attitude speaks volumes about who you are; and this includes your attitude during trying instances. Some individuals end up talking mainly about their resentments and regrets, or how they may have done better if things had been different. The selections committee is trying to look into your character, and if all they read in your personal essay are pent-up anger and bitterness, all these will place you in a less favorable light. If you still have some negative feelings about these experiences, you don't have to include them in your essay. Instead, you can focus on your realizations as well as how the challenges have made you a better individual.

Proofreading and editing your application letter for admissions

As a final tip, proofreading your essay to achieve the desired effect should always be done before turning it in to the college or university of your choice. Writing about how you have overcome hardships can get confusing and overly-emotional. If overdone, your essay will no longer be interesting, and this can easily bore the reader. You need to make sure that your application statement has the right tone and style.

An application statement that speaks about survival will almost always catch the attention of the reader, however there are right and wrong ways to do this. By understanding what you can do to improve your application statement for admissions, you are essentially securing a slot for yourself at the college or university you plan on attending.