通常申請國外的高中、大學和研究生都是需要寫 PS 的，雖然內容根據你申請的學校會有所不同，但是寫作技巧上有很多相近之處我們可以學習一下。
維基百科上對「Personalstatement」的定義是這麼說的：
「An admissions or application essay, sometimes also called apersonal statement or a statement of purpose, is an essay or other writtenstatement written by an applicant, often a prospective student applying to somecollege, university, or graduate school. The application essay is a common partof the university and college admissions process.」
招生或申請論文，有時也稱為個人陳述或目的陳述，是由申請人撰寫的論文或其他書面陳述，通常是用於申請大學，大學或研究生院。申請文章是大學和大學錄取過程的一個共同部分。
根據學校錄取程序的不同，PS 的側重點也不太一樣。
如果學校沒有面試，只能提供 PS 和成績的話，PS 就變成了唯一一個可以讓招生官了解你對學科的熱情和你能力的材料，重要性自然不言而喻。
如果申請程序中有面試，PS 也相當的重要，因為裡面會給面試官提供問題的素材，在 PS 裡寫到的內容非常有可能會在面試中被問到。劍橋大學的官網就這麼寫道：「Personalstatements are often used as a basis for discussion at interview. 」
1「個人陳述需要寫什麼內容」
申請的學科內容寫自己為什麼想要申請現在這個學科，課程內容中具體的那個話題讓你感興趣，為什麼讓你感興趣。然後為了顯示自己有能力讀這個課程，一定要把學這個課程需要的技能和自己現在擁有的能力聯繫起來，通過具體的實例來證明自己擁有相應的能力。這裡需要注意的是，如果 PS 裡面提到的課程內容和實際提供的課程相差甚遠的話，招生官肯定會覺得內容都能搞錯就說明你想要申請這個課程的誠意不夠。所以在申請的時候一定要做好最基礎的研究，知道自己申請的課程有什麼內容，教學方式以及最後的考試方針。
證明自己的能力和熱情這裡需要通過自己過去的經歷來證明自己有招生官想要的學習能力、領導能力、交流能力等等。過去的經歷可以包括
···自己在學習中的經歷。比如通過改善自己的學習方法成功把自己的成績提高到了多少分。
···自己參加的實習。比如自己參加了什麼項目，什麼會議，達到了什麼成績。
···自己平時的興趣活動。可以是自己通過參加的社團活動，志願者活動等等培養了什麼技能。
總之就是通過各種具體的事例來證明自己擁有招生官想要看到的能力。
如果不知道自己該從哪裡下手的話，可以利用 UCAS 提供的這個 worksheet，通過問自己問題來尋找可以寫的素材。
https://www.ucas.com/file/4261/download?token=u7I6M9Q5
···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.
···（針對非應屆的申請生）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.
···（針對國際學生）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?
2「具體怎麼寫？」
雖然內容大概可以劃分成上面兩塊，但是如果你的 PS 就只有兩個段落的話，招生官看起來會非常煩操，畢竟沒有人想要看 wallof text。而且加上字數限制（英國本科申請字符數最多 4000），內容的選擇也相當重要。接下來我們就結合英國曼徹斯特大學的結構例子來學習一下怎麼分段，以及每個段落怎麼寫。
開頭你為什麼想要申請這個課程？
這個課程的什麼地方吸引了你？
這裡一定要切記千萬要慎用 passionate 這個被萬千招生官討厭的詞，也不能說 I have always been interested in/ passionate about，這兩個都是非常爛大街的表達，招生官第一眼看到這個印象分肯定就下降很多。要通過自己具體的經歷來說明，不能假大空。
另外需要注意的是要精簡，畢竟大塊的內容是後面兩段。
例子：The subject ofeconomics, which I seek to study in the coming years, was first introduced tome through the United States Academic Decathlon, a ten-subject team competitionfor high schools. Over the past two years I have devoted hundreds of hours toindependent preparation for this competition. Consequently, I took third placein my division at the national level for an eloquent performance whileinterviewing. However, the greatest benefit has been developing a fascinationwith economics. I now see it as an elegant, mathematical approach to studyingthe consequences of human nature in action.
（https://www.studential.com/personal-statement-examples/economics-personal-statement-international-applicant）
第二段學業方面的能力和興趣。
這裡要寫的是自己最近在學習上的成就，包括學習能力，學習成績和在具體的學科上發展的興趣。需要注意的是要聯繫起來大學需要的技能，以此來表現自己能適應大學的學習生活，是個理想的申請者。
第三段在學習之外培養的能力。
這裡就可以寫自己做的實習，參加的社團，平常的興趣等等。可以通過 ABC 法則來寫。
···Activity: What haveyou done? 你參加的活動
···Benefit: Whatskills have you gained? 通過這個活動培養的技能
···Course: How willthis prepare you for the course? 這個技能和你申請的課程的聯繫。
如果申請的課程是像醫學這樣需要實際經歷的課程，這個部分就要著重多寫。
寫自己做了什麼時候，一定要多用各種行動詞。
（https://castlemanor.org.uk/files/Careers-and-Pathways/cv-application-useful-words.pdf）
第四段課外活動
這裡可以簡短地寫寫自己其他的課外活動和興趣，不用像上一段那麼具體，但同樣的，這個部分的內容是和申請的課程沒有非常大關聯的。
結尾總結自己申請的理由，自己具備的相應能力，為什麼自己應該被錄取的理由。
例子：
The recent economic turmoil has reinforced my belief in howeconomics is truly an integral part of our lives. University will provide theideal environment in which to strengthen and test my understanding of such adiscipline, whilst being a place where I can formulate and contribute my owntheories to the subject. After receiving full marks in AS-level Economics, Ihave set myself a high standard, and I wish to continue my ambitions in thefinance industry. However, I recognise that my passion for economics will leadme to many more career horizons.
（https://www.studential.com/personal-statement-examples/economics-personal-statement-19）
總的來說，申請研究生的 PS 基本可以沿用這個結構，但是需要注意的是，研究生需要寫到更多和自己專業相關的內容。包括自己具體對什麼論文感興趣，對哪些論點保持懷疑態度，以後自己想要研究的方向等等。
And papers such as Beliefsand actions in the trust game: Creating instrumental variables to estimate thecausal effect (Miguel A.Costa-Gomesa, Steffen Huck, Georg Weizscker 2014) demonstrated ways to incorporatestatistical tools such as OLS and IV estimators to explain causal effects inbehaviour patterns.
需要像這個例子一樣引用具體的論文和裡面具體的內容。
寫個人陳述不是一天就可以完成的，大家一定要儘早開始搜集素材，寫完之後也要多次修改，檢查好語法和拼寫。解決好基礎的問題才可以保證招生官能把精力放在你想要表現的內容裡呀。棕櫚君希望大家都寫出好的 PS 收 offer 收到手軟～
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