Personal statement/letter of intent checklist

Use the following points to check your statement:

1. Will the committee get a sense of my dedication to and suitability for the program and profession? Was I specific in relating what I know about this field or profession (e.g., knowledge gained through research about the field, academics, job shadowing, conference attendance, as well as volunteer, work, and research experience)?
2. Do my responses include proof of my relevant skills and characteristics as they align with the competencies of the profession or graduate program I am applying to?
3. Is my statement personal, or have I used generic statements? (e.g., do not fall back on statements such as “I have always wanted to help people, and this is why I will make a good doctor”; “Bringing a smile to someone’s face is enough reward for me, and this is why I want to be a doctor.”)
4. Did I provide all the information requested? (Missing or incomplete information is one of the most common shortcomings of unsuccessful applications.)
5. Is my statement tailored to the institution to which I am applying? Have I given the admission committee information on the type of applicant I am in relation to the program’s admission statement, Dean’s message, or mission statement?
6. Did I repeat information about the program or school that the admission committee already knows?
7. Have I provided information as to why I’m applying under a category other than “regular”?
8. Did I address any concerns a committee may have about other parts of my application (e.g., low marks)?
9. Have I included statements that are not true (e.g., “I have always wanted to be a doctor/lawyer/dentist”)?
10. Do I rely too much on stories that do not provide enough information about me (e.g., telling a story about a patient you saw in a hospital without explaining what you learned from the experience)?
11. Have I focused too much on my future plans? These can change with the introduction of new ideas/concepts.
12. Have I omitted relevant information because of space limitations? If so, is there other information that could be removed that does not add to the statement?
13. Is my statement the required length? Did I include irrelevant information only to meet this requirement?
14. Is the statement interesting?
15. Is it clear, concise, and well written?
    1. Is the introduction interesting? Does it put the reader in the right frame of mind to want to read the statement thoroughly?
    2. Does the introduction or conclusion seem like an afterthought?
    3. Are the paragraphs too long?
    4. Are there any typographical or grammatical errors?
    5. Is punctuation used properly?
    6. Have I overused the word “I”?
    7. Have I used clichés or too many quotations?
    8. Do paragraphs flow naturally from one to the next?
    9. Will the evaluator need to reread any sentences to understand their meaning?
    10. Is the conclusion a good summary? Did I conclude with the theme I used in the opening paragraph?