通常申请国外的高中、大学和研究生都是需要写PS的，虽然内容根据你申请的学校会有所不同，但是写作技巧上有很多相近之处我们可以学习一下。Personal Statement绝对算是留学生需要完成的重头戏。

维基百科上对“Personal Statement”的定义是这么说的：

“An admissions or application essay,sometimes also called a personal statement or a statement of purpose,is an essay or other written statement written by an applicant,often a prospective student applying to some college,university,or graduate school.The application essay is a common part of the university and college admissions process.”

招生或申请论文，有时也称为个人陈述或目的陈述，是由申请人撰写的论文或其他书面陈述，通常是用于申请大学，大学或研究生院。申请文章是大学和大学录取过程的一个共同部分。

根据学校录取程序的不同，PS的侧重点也不太一样。

如果学校没有面试，只能提供PS和成绩的话，PS就变成了唯一一个可以让招生官了解你对学科的热情和你能力的材料，重要性自然不言而喻。

如果申请程序中有面试，PS也相当的重要，因为里面会给面试官提供问题的素材，在PS里写到的内容非常有可能会在面试中被问到。剑桥大学的官网就这么写道：“Personal Statements are often used as a basis for discussion at interview.”

“Personal Statement需要写什么内容”

申请的学科内容

写自己为什么想要申请现在这个学科，课程内容中具体的那个话题让你感兴趣，为什么让你感兴趣。然后为了显示自己有能力读这个课程，一定要把学这个课程需要的技能和自己现在拥有的能力联系起来，通过具体的实例来证明自己拥有相应的能力。这里需要注意的是，如果PS里面提到的课程内容和实际提供的课程相差甚远的话，招生官肯定会觉得内容都能搞错就说明你想要申请这个课程的诚意不够。所以在申请的时候一定要做好最基础的研究，知道自己申请的课程有什么内容，教学方式以及最后的考试方针。

证明自己的能力和热情

这里需要通过自己过去的经历来证明自己有招生官想要的学习能力、领导能力、交流能力等等。过去的经历可以包括

自己在学习中的经历。比如通过改善自己的学习方法成功把自己的成绩提高到了多少分。

自己参加的实习。比如自己参加了什么项目，什么会议，达到了什么成绩。

自己平时的兴趣活动。可以是自己通过参加的社团活动，志愿者活动等等培养了什么技能。

总之就是通过各种具体的事例来证明自己拥有招生官想要看到的能力。

如果不知道自己该从哪里下手的话，可以利用UCAS提供的这个worksheet，通过问自己问题来寻找可以写的素材。

Why are you applying for your chosen course(s)?

Why does this subject interest you?Include evidence that you understand what’s required to study the course,e.g.if applying for psychology courses,show that you know how scientific the subject is.

Why do you think you’re suitable for the course(s)?Do you have any particular skills and experience that will help you to succeed on the course(s)?

Do your current or previous studies relate to the course(s)that you have chosen?If so,how?

Have you taken part in any other activities that demonstrate your interest in the course(s)?

Universities like to know the skills you have that will help you on the course,or generally with life at university,such as any accredited or non-accredited achievements.

Make a list of your hobbies,interests and social activities.Then think about how they demonstrate your personality,skills and abilities.Try to link them to the skills and experience required for your course(s).

Include details of jobs,placements,work experience or voluntary work,particularly if it’s relevant to your chosen course(s).Try to link any experience to skills or qualities related to the course.

(针对非应届的申请生)Explain what you’ve been doing since leaving education,and provide additional evidence to support your application.If you’re not in full-time education you should give details of any relevant work experience,paid or unpaid,and information about your current or previous employment.

(针对国际学生)Tell universities why you want to study in the UK and why you think you can successfully complete a course that is taught in English.Say if some of your studies have been taught or examined in English and if you have taken part in any activities where you have used English outside of your studies.If you know what you’d like to achieve after completing the course,explain how you want to use the knowledge and experience that you gain.How does the course relate to what you want to do in the future?

“Personal Statement具体怎么写?”

虽然内容大概可以划分成上面两块，但是如果你的 Personal Statement 就只有两个段落的话，招生官看起来会非常烦操，毕竟没有人想要看wallof text。而且加上字数限制(英国本科申请字符数最多4000)，内容的选择也相当重要。接下来我们就结合英国曼彻斯特大学的结构例子来学习一下怎么分段，以及每个段落怎么写。

开头

你为什么想要申请这个课程?

这个课程的什么地方吸引了你?

这里一定要切记千万要慎用passionate这个被万千招生官讨厌的词，也不能说I have always been interested in/passionate about，这两个都是非常烂大街的表达，招生官第一眼看到这个印象分肯定就下降很多。要通过自己具体的经历来说明，不能假大空。

另外需要注意的是要精简，毕竟大块的内容是后面两段。

例子：The subject of economics,which I seek to study in the coming years,was first introduced tome through the United States Academic Decathlon,a ten-subject team competition for high schools.Over the past two years I have devoted hundreds of hours to independent preparation for this competition.Consequently,I took third place in my division at the national level for an eloquent performance while interviewing.However,the greatest benefit has been developing a fascination with economics.I now see it as an elegant,mathematical approach to studying the consequences of human nature in action.

第二段

学业方面的能力和兴趣。

这里要写的是自己最近在学习上的成就，包括学习能力，学习成绩和在具体的学科上发展的兴趣。需要注意的是要联系起来大学需要的技能，以此来表现自己能适应大学的学习生活，是个理想的申请者。

第三段

在学习之外培养的能力。

这里就可以写自己做的实习，参加的社团，平常的兴趣等等。可以通过ABC法则来写。

Activity:What have you done?你参加的活动

Benefit:What skills have you gained?通过这个活动培养的技能

Course:How will this prepare you for the course?这个技能和你申请的课程的联系。

如果申请的课程是像医学这样需要实际经历的课程，这个部分就要着重多写。

写自己做了什么时候，一定要多用各种行动词。

第四段

课外活动

这里可以简短地写写自己其他的课外活动和兴趣，不用像上一段那么具体，但同样的，这个部分的内容是和申请的课程没有非常大关联的。

结尾

总结自己申请的理由，自己具备的相应能力，为什么自己应该被录取的理由。

例子：

The recent economic turmoil has reinforced my belief in how economics is truly an integral part of our lives.University will provide the ideal environment in which to strengthen and test my understanding of such a discipline,whilst being a place where I can formulate and contribute my own theories to the subject.After receiving full marks in AS-level Economics,I have set myself a high standard,and I wish to continue my ambitions in the finance industry.However,I recognise that my passion for economics will lead me to many more career horizons.

总的来说，申请研究生的PS基本可以沿用这个结构，但是需要注意的是，研究生需要写到更多和自己专业相关的内容。包括自己具体对什么论文感兴趣，对哪些论点保持怀疑态度，以后自己想要研究的方向等等。

And papers such as Belief sand actions in the trust game:Creating instrumental variables to estimate the causal effect(Miguel A.Costa-Gomesa,Steffen Huck,Georg Weizsäcker 2014)demonstrated ways to in corporate statistical tools such as OLS and IV estimators to explain causal effects in behaviour patterns.

需要像这个例子一样引用具体的论文和里面具体的内容。

写Personal Statement不是一天就可以完成的，大家一定要尽早开始搜集素材，写完之后也要多次修改，检查好语法和拼写。解决好基础的问题才可以保证招生官能把精力放在你想要表现的内容里呀。