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什么是个人陈述
个人陈述是在申请过程中按照学校要求来写一篇有关申请人背景，学术成就和未来研究和职业目标的文章。一篇成功的个人陈述不但应该语言流畅,逻辑严谨，层次分明，更要充分显示申请人的才华并抓住审阅人的注意力。几乎所有学校都要求提交个人陈述。
个人陈述也有不同的名称，如Personal Statement, Statement of Purpose, Statement of Intent, Statement of Objectives, Academic Statement, Study Plan, Academic Objectives等。
个人陈述应当包含以下内容：
（一）申请者的学术或专业兴趣及背景；
（二）欲研究的方向；
（三）未来的职业目标。
美加金联留学专家提醒，如果个人陈述写作得当，可以很大程度地提高申请者获得录取和奖学金的机会。这对申请者来说是一个绝好的机会。可惜的是很多申请者对TOEFL、GRE可谓呕心沥血，而对个人陈述往往一蹴而就,敷衍了事，内容贫乏、语法错误连篇。而西方的大学并不单是通过传统的考试来考评其申请者的资格，这并不是说他们的录取标准不严格。外国教授在决定你是否正是他们想要的人时，首先希望听一听你对于你自己作何评价。当你通过申请文书来介绍你自己时，你会发现所面临的机遇和挑战同样之大。
要写出成功的申请文书仅仅有那些适用于任何类型写作的基本写作技巧（清晰、简洁）是远远不够的。一篇好的申请文书要求申请人能够用一种与其他申请人完全不同方式，巧妙地展现自己的独特个性和经验，这是一件要求比较高,通常非常繁累的工作。这不仅仅对中国人如此，以英语为母语的人在此类写作时也会感到十分的头疼，但是我们中国人还需克服语言的障碍。
美国留学申请如何写个人陈述
个人陈述的内容应包含下列三项资料：
（一）申请者的学术或专业兴趣及背景；
（二）欲研究的方向；
（三）未来的职业目标；
写作时，依以上三点将文章分为三个主要部分。不要像列清单，也不要重覆申请表格已有的资料。
注意事项：
（一）详读学校的写作说明并了解问题的重点，不赘言，不遗漏，且在要求的字数内完成。例如学校要求五百字内完成 (In 500 words or less discuss ...),则全文最好不要超过五百字。如果学校要求以问答方式来叙述 (Responses to essay questions, Please limit your response to on page.),即依其要求回答不长过一页。
（二）写作时应清楚明确。例如：
1. "I am interested in English literature" 这句话表达不够清楚，而I was concentrated on Milton and Shakespeare in college" 就明白的说出了申请人的志趣及研究范围。
2．"I received extensive training in physics" 这句话不够详细，"My training was in the area of particle physics"就具体多了。
3. "I was very active as a student representative" 最好说明曾经做过什么：组织活动，主办演讲，沟通学生与校方意见等。
4．"I am attracted to your department by its brilliant faculty."应说明对於教授的认知是从何而来，如在何处读到某教授的文章而愿受教于他,或某位教授正在从事一项重要研究，与自己欲攻读的研究领域相同等。表达对所申请之系的课程、教师和特性有些了解，依学校之不同而提及某位任教于该校的教授、新课程或该校的某个学位有兴趣。
（三）不要用语意模糊的句子，如 "Your esteemed school"应代以学校的名字。"I will return to serve my country"应明确的说出所要从事的到底是什么工作等。
（四）避免用深奥的词汇，尽量以简单容易的字来表达。
（五）不要离题，谈论一些不相干的事。
（六）态度诚恳认真，不卑不亢。不用为自己的弱点道歉，比如托福成绩不高等，也不要表现得过份自信。重要的是给学校一个专业，认真的印象。
（七）不要抄袭、改写书上的样本文章。应详读学校的介绍，了解其要求，再对自己的学业背景、计划加以考虑,写出自己的风格。
（八）检查英文的时态、性别及单多数等方面的错误。
Ten Dos for Personal Statement
1. Unite your essay and give it direction with a theme or thesis. The thesis is the main point you want to communicate.
2. Before you begin writing, choose what you want to discuss and the order in which you want to discuss it.
3. Use concrete examples from your life experience to support your thesis and distinguish yourself from other applicants.
4. Write about what interests you, excites you. That's what admissions staff wants to read.
5. Start your essay with an attention-grabbing lead -- an anecdote, quote, question, or engaging description of scene.
6. End your essay with a conclusion that refers back to lead and restates your thesis.
7. Revise your essay at least three times.
8. In addition to your editing, ask someone else to critique your personal statement for you.
9. Proofread your personal statement by reading it out loud or reading it into a tape recorder and playing back the tape.
10. Write clearly, succinctly.
Ten Don'ts for Personal Statement
1. Don't include information that doesn't support your thesis.
2. Don't start your essay with "I was born in…" or "My parents came from..."
3. Don't write an autobiography, itinerary, or resume in prose.
4. Don't try to be a clown (but gentle humor is ok).
5. Don't be afraid to start over if the essay just isn't working or doesn't answer the essay question.
6. Don't try to impress your reader with your vocabulary.
7. Don't rely exclusively on your computer to check your spelling.
8. Don't provide a collection of generic statements and platitudes.
9. Don't give mealy-mouthed, weak excuses for your GPA or test scores.
10. Don't make things up.
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