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Whether you are writing a Personal Statement, Letter of Intent, Biographical Sketch, or other type of application for a graduate program, professional school, fellowship/scholarship/award, or employment opportunity, CaPS can assist you.
Before taking advantage of the resources below, we strongly recommend you write the first draft on your own, according to the specifications provided by the institution or organization. Your style of writing in the letter is a reflection of your character and personality, and you would not want that tainted by following a textbook format.
Once you have given your letter a first attempt (and there will be many to follow), take advantage of the following resources to ensure it is at its best upon submission.
To have your personal statements reviewed, please make an appointment: 514-398-3304.
Personal Statement Samples
- Writing the Personal Statement | Examples (Perdue Online Writing Lab)
- Sample personals statements, by subject (Studential.com)
- Personal Statement Books (available in the McGill Library)
Graduate School Research Statements
- McGill - Tips for writing a research proposal
- Graduate school applications: writing a research statement (Purdue OWL)
Graduate School Interviews
Consult the following websites for pre-selection interview questions and answers.
- University interviews: Top answers & insider tips (This book is available at CaPS)
- Grad school interview preparation and answers to questions (MastersDegree.net)
- Top 10 graduate school interview questions (GradSchools.com)
Please note that CaPS and McGill do not endorse any particular websites/services; the listing is for your information only.
Department and university information, career planning service - downtown campus, career planning service - macdonald campus.
- Column 1 - Quick Links
- Faculty of Engineering - Engineering Career Centre
- Faculty of Management Career Services
- Faculty of Law Career Development Office
- Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office
- Internship Offices Network
- Student Wellness Hub
- International Student Services
- McGill Writing Centre
- Scholarships and Student Aid
- Student Accessibility & Achievement
- Student Services
COMMENTS
to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School, to get an idea about what a personal statement could look like. This booklet also includes examples of several different types of personal statements.
Writing a Personal Statement for a Canadian University involves crafting a compelling essay that showcases your academic achievements, career goals, personal experiences, and reasons for choosing the specific program and university.
Personal Statement Example #1. After I graduated high school, I had no idea what careers appealed to me. For my first two years of university, I searched for a calling, a class that would change my life and direct my studies. I enrolled in a wide variety of courses in a wide variety of departments.
We suggest taking time and explore these elements as you write by following this order: Talk about the primary reasons why you are choosing the university and the course. Discuss your current studies (if relevant) and discuss how your academic or personal experience relates to your choice.
Whether you are writing a Personal Statement, Letter of Intent, Biographical Sketch, or other type of application for a graduate program, professional school, fellowship/scholarship/award, or employment opportunity, CaPS can assist you.
Before you begin your essay, write a letter to a friend or one of your professors, explaining why you should be in the program. This will help you develop an appropriate frame of mind