Success Unlocked

Crafting a Personal Statement That’s More Than a CV

Dr. Adrienne Shnier Episode 111

Crafting a Personal Statement That’s More Than a CV

Many grad school applicants find writing their personal statement to be the trickiest part of the application process. While a student may excel at academic writing, crafting a clear and vibrant personal statement requires a different skill set and strategy!

Writing From the Inside: Centring Yourself in Your Own Experiences

When you’re writing an academic essay, you need to be thorough, balanced, critical, and objective. The most powerful personal statements, on the other hand, are energetic, distinctive, and full of spirit. After spending years being trained in academic writing, writing about your own experiences — and what they meant to you, emotionally or spiritually — can feel a little strange! In this episode, you’ll find tips and insights that will help you write an effective personal statement that feels like so much more than just a glorified CV.


In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • The differences between academic and personal writing, and why these skills are not fully transferable 
  • The mindset shift that will change the way that you approach your personal statement and allow you to reflect more easefully
  • Why you should start writing your personal statement long before you think you need to
  • The role that Starbucks played in the birth of Apply Yourself — and how the business was built almost accidentally! 

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Timestamps:‌ ‌

00:46  Intro

01:56  Academic writing

03:26  Client example

04:50  Starbucks dissertation story

10:56  Be the centre

14:40  Outro


Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself: The Advancement Spot! Email us at hello@applyyourselfglobal.com, or email me personally at adrienne@applyyourselfglobal.com. You can also DM us on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal — Let us know about your scheduling strategies!

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, advancement, studying for law school e

Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission is now open for you to complete your applications in 12-weeks! With live coaching, you develop your applications & gain insights into your applications processes like never before. Join us now using this link to enroll!

Connect with Adrienne!

Looking for support with your graduate or professional school applications? Connect with us at Apply Yourself: The Advancement Spot! Email us at hello@applyyourselfglobal.com, or email me personally at adrienne@applyyourselfglobal.com. You can also DM us on Instagram @applyyourselfglobal — Let us know about your scheduling strategies!

Ask the Expert

Have any questions on applications, advancement, studying for law school exams, and more? Send your questions to our above contacts, or you can submit an audio file via DM and we can feature you on the podcast!

Work with Adrienne

>>> Calling all applicants! Learn more about our signature course, Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission and how you can finish your applications — with clarity, support, structure, and strategy with Adrienne, an Admissions Committee Member. Check out Adrienne’s Calendar and book your Strategy Call HERE to learn more about if this program is right for you!

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