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How to Write a Personal Statement That Sounds Like You, Not a Bot
In a world full of AI-generated essays, the one thing that will make yours stand out is simple. It has to sound like you.
Not the version of you you think colleges want. Not the polished, resume-loaded version that feels like a LinkedIn post. Just you. Your voice. Your story. The way you actually think and speak and see the world.
That’s what admissions officers are listening for. They are not looking for perfect. They are looking for personal.
Here’s how to make sure your personal statement actually sounds like you.
Start by Talking, Not Typing
If staring at a blank Google Doc makes you freeze, stop typing. Open your phone, hit record, and talk.
Tell the story you were thinking about using in your essay. Walk through it like you’re explaining it to a friend. Be messy. Interrupt yourself. Ramble a little. Then go back and listen. Somewhere in there, your real voice is hiding in plain sight.
Transcribe the best parts. That is where your essay begins.
Try a 10-Minute Freewrite
Grab a notebook. Pick a question that matters. Something like:
- What moment changed how I see the world?
- When did I feel most proud of myself?
- What’s a story only I could tell?
Set a timer for 10 minutes. Then write. No editing. No fixing. Just write whatever comes out.
What shows up might be unexpected. But chances are, it will sound more like you than anything you’ve written before.
Read It Out Loud
This step is not optional.
Once you’ve written something that feels close to done, read it out loud. Not in your head. Out loud.
If it feels like you’re reading a school essay, you still have work to do. But if it sounds like something you might say in a real conversation—if it makes you nod or smile or cringe a little because it’s just that honest—you’re getting close.
Go from Vague to Real
AI essays love vague phrases like:
- I learned valuable lessons
- This experience shaped who I am
- It was a turning point in my life
But real people talk in details. Real people say things like:
- I realized I loved science when I couldn’t stop thinking about the dead armadillo we found in biology
- That one chess match taught me more than any win ever did
- After that phone call, I never saw my grandma the same way again
The more specific your language, the more human it feels. And that is what the reader is looking for.
Ask: “Does This Sound Like Me?”
Before you hit submit, ask someone who knows you well to read it. Tell them you do not want grammar feedback. Just one question:
Does this sound like me?
If they say yes, great. If they squint or hesitate or say it feels a little stiff, go back in and loosen it up. Cut the robotic parts. Bring your natural phrasing back in. Use the words you actually use.
Let Your Weird Show Up
If you are funny, be funny. If you think in metaphors, go there. If you have a slightly chaotic storytelling style, lean in.
You do not need to write the most structured essay in the stack. You need to write the most you.
That might mean opening with an unexpected image. Or talking about your obsession with old maps. Or describing how you overthink everything and are still learning when to stop.
Authenticity beats perfection. Every time.