personal statement for gks scholarship examples

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How to write a personal statement for gks/kgsp scholarship | how to write gks undergraduate/graduate scholarship personal statement.

personal statement for gks scholarship examples

One of the important part of GKS/KGSP scholarship application is writing your personal statement which should be well written as it makes a clear difference between students who want to apply for the GKS scholarship. Personal statement plays an important role in the selection procedure for the student as it present your purpose for applying for the scholarship program. GKS/KSGP personal statement indicates why you are the good candidate for this scholarship so its mean it should be written good enough to make your scholarship application strong.

GKS/KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement Writing Guidelines:

Many of the students who want to apply for the GKS scholarship write their personal statement without following the proper guidelines regarding how the personal statement for the GKS scholarship should be written. So make sure if you are planning to apply for the GKS/KGSP scholarship you should follow these guidelines to make your personal statement good:

· GKS/KGSP scholarship program personal statement can be written in Korean or English language. Means you can either write your personal statement in Korean language or in English language it depends on you.

· Also make sure your GKS scholarship personal statement should be of good length means it should not be too lengthy or too short that it’s meaning is not clear. The ideal personal statement for the GKS scholarship should not be more than two pages. So you should present your personal statement within the length of two pages.

GKS/KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement Important Tips To Follow:

Before you start writing your personal statement for the GKS/KGSP scholarship make sure that:

· You know what the GKS scholarship personal statement actually should include.

· Follow the guidelines that are provided by the GKS scholarship to write the personal statement.

· You should focus on the main points that need to be discuss to make your personal statement good.

· Your personal statement should be unique to differentiate you from others candidate for the scholarship.

· Don’t add something in personal statement that you think is not valuable as you only have two pages to write down your personal statement.

Check: GKS Scholarship Embassy/University Track Interview Questions

How To Write GKS/KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement:

To write the GKS/KGSP scholarship personal statement you have to follow the certain things that are mentioned in the GKS scholarship personal statement form. You have to make sure that your personal statement for the GKS/KGSP scholarship should include the following things:

1. Your motivations With Which You Want To Apply For This Program:

This is the first thing or point that your personal statement should include. You have to explain your motivation that why you have chosen to apply for this scholarship program what is your main motivation behind choosing this scholarship program. There are number of things that you can actually include here to show your motivation for this program such as:

· Which course program you want to study under this scholarship program and why?

· Why you want to study under this scholarship program?

· How you can be the good candidate for this scholarship program.

· Why you are motivated for this program?

· If you are applying for this program then what is your purpose?

· How you can make contribution to the community if you are selected for this scholarship program?

2. Your Family Background And Education Background:

This is another point that you should discuss in your personal statement to make it good. You have to discuss here your education background and provide some information regarding your family background. Things you should focus on here include:

· Provide a concise information regarding your academic record.

· Discuss your academic achievements which you have achieve.

· What course program you have studied previously?

· Provide a brief information of your family.

3. Any Experience You Have, Your Achievements, Person Or Event Which Influence You:

To make your personal statement unique you have to write about your achievements, experience and person or event which influence you. These things will provide information related to how you deal with challenges and what you have achieve in your life so far. Discuss your experience which might be related to the work you have done or the things you have achieved in your life. You can also explain about any person or event which influence you in your life as well. These things if discuss well can make your personal statement good. So write about:

· Any work experience you have.

· Achievements you have.

· Any person or event who influence you in your life.

4. Write About The Extracurricular Activities Or Work Experience:

The extracurricular activities or work experience can be a good thing if written in your GKS/KGSP scholarship personal statement can make it unique from others. So write about:

· Your extracurricular activities you have performed.

· The work experience you have.

· Any activity you have performed for the community.

· What you learned by doing the extracurricular activities.

· What is the reason behind performing such extracurricular activities?

Check: GKS Scholarship 2023 Application Form Guidelines

5. Write About Your Awards, Publications Or Skills Which You Have:

If you have received awards, written some publications or have some skills than you should discuss them as well in your GKS/KGSP scholarship personal statement to make it more unique from other candidates. So write about:

· What awards you have received?

· How you received that awards?

· What publications you have done?

· Why you have written that publications?

· What are the skills that you have?

· How these skills can be good for you?

GKS/KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement Importance:

The GKS/KGSP scholarship personal statement is one the important documents that can actually make your selection for this scholarship program. The personal statement for the scholarship should be written good enough to make a clear difference and to make yourself a different candidate from others for the scholarship. These are the somethings that your personal statement for the GKS/KGSP scholarship should include you can also include some other things in your personal statement which you think can make you a good candidate for this scholarship program.

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How to write your personal statement and SOP for GKS-Graduate Scholarship. Tips for interview!!

January 21, 2024

By Smriti Ekka

Writing an effective Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement is a frequently asked question among the students who apply for a GKS Scholarship for the first time. The main purpose of this article is to help you write such a statement.

So today I have mentioned some points that I have broken down into small segments which will be easy for you to understand how to write your own personal statement and statement of purpose. ALSO some tips for the interview that will make you sound more promising while applying for the GKS 2022 scholarship for Masters and PhD in Korea.

To check the GKS Field of study and guidelines click HERE !!

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Like the word suggests. The student should write his/her experiences, achievements, values. The reasons to study abroad and apply for the scholarship might not be so unique, thus, the way it is written should be impactful.

The following key question can be formed and written in a way that would sound promising and you can include the following questions like :

Why did you decide to go to graduate school ?
Why you chose Korea and what you can do in Korea after your graduation ?
How GKS benefit in your field of study ?

Things should be mentioned in detail. Analysis on all those parts can further be broken down into small segments for easy evaluation and understanding.

The first part can be very idealistic.
Second part should be practical.
Third part can include all the summary of what you have mentioned above.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

A real Statement of Purpose shows that you have thought through why you are doing the course, rather than exclaiming a wish to be one day employed. Even if you have fully considered your reasons for undertaking further study, it is not uncommon to feel a certain self-consciousness about writing about them.

Statement of purpose definitely contains your goal of study. Statement of purpose definitely contains your goal of study.

The first part could be started with a quote. That's done by most of the people. Followed by explaining what you'll do in " that " specific University !!

The answer shouldn't be like " You wish to study with that professor." Those types of answers are always along the line. But your answer should be more promising like, how you will be generating more knowledge together. With the help of such a good facility how will you be able to contribute and take advantage of such opportunities given to you.

You can explain how being able to get such knowledge you can help others and expand your field of study and contribute much more.

The second part of it can include the research interest. How is it going to help you in your field of interest?

Since Korea is among the top 5 OECD countries that spend most on research & development studies constituting 4.46 percent of South Korea's GDP. Hence a lot of the students around the globe are interested to study in Korea because of the facilities/benefits provided which includes

Monthly allowance
Two way air fare
Monthly allowance which will be enough for you to survive in Korea.

See Also : Things to prepare for GKS Scholarship 2021

With all these facilities they want you to focus solely on the research and provide the best result afterwards. Your focus should be to fully invest your time in the research and make use of the guidance by being under the professor of your department.

The third part could be the research topic. After the research topic you need to explain about the research topic
You can include why you have the necessary aptitude to succeed in GKS ?

Things that will ultimately make you stand out from the rest of the students after you have completed your graduation. You have to convince and prove your worth and give that commitment to the professors in writing what you will ultimately be providing them in the end.

To stand out from the rest of the students if you have already done some studies in your field or have published some papers already or doing some work in some specific areas. Chances are that your worth could be easily measured looking at those results.

In the future plan. You can break it down into two parts:-

Long term goals and short term goals.

In long term goals you can write keeping in mind about the next five years and short term could be what you can achieve in the coming few months maybe.

For the short term you can mention how KGSP will help you in achieving those dreams. It shouldn't include what you want to do after kgsp BUT how can KGSP help you to achieve those goals of yours !!

There's a difference between the two and mentioning the latter can increase your chance immensely !! You can also list down the goals down below which should be closely linked to your graduate studies.

For the long term goals you can also mention in detail about how long you'll be staying in Korea and what will be your field of study after graduation and then probably going back to your country, you will continue working in the field of yours.

Eventually you have to mention how the KGSP is going to help you to achieve those long-term goals of yours.

You can easily write about your long term goals by adjusting what you have already mentioned in the short term goals and try to add two or three points in it to make it sound appropriate . It shouldn't be lengthy. Just explaining two or three points would be enough.

It is actually mentioned that you have to score TOPIK 3 and above to give you an extra 10 points while selection. BUT as long as you have something that makes you stand out from the rest of the students that would be enough for you to get into any university. For example fluency in Korean, research skill or entrepreneur skills.

Tips for the Interview !!

Mainly the interview is very nerve wracking and people are very nervous before giving the interview keeping in mind that it's for the research and professors may ask you questions regarding your field of knowledge and you should be thoroughly prepared for it.

Questions linked to your major.
Questions related to the documents that you have provided.
Question can also be a close link to why you have chosen that particular University auditor field of study and why Korea was your destination for studies.

Confidence is the key and how you articulate your thinking well enough for the professors and teachers to pick you from the crowd.

The key point would be to emphasize on the things that you are actually good at and make it your key point.

The best suggestion I will give you is to prepare something in Korean even if you don't speak it properly.

Having some knowledge of Korean will always give you that " extra edge" even if you are preparing to go to Korea in general. Not to mention it is highly appreciated if you're doing any kind of studies in Korea.

They might ask you to introduce yourself in Korean so prepare small sentences that you would be confident in.

Since you are applying to learn and improve your abilities, it is important to make that goal clear in the statement of purpose.

Those were the few points that would be helpful in writing your personal statement and statement of purpose. Hope you found this article helpful. Please write your doubts below if you have any.

Thank you !!

Smriti Ekka

Smriti Ekka graduated in Commerce and Library science, and currently she is working as a content writer at TOPIK Guide website. She is a Korean language and culture enthusiast and has been working across multiple disciplines which broadly addresses narratives of similarities between Korean and Indian culture. Apart from being a content writer at TOPIK Guide she manages Annyeong India website and has had her pieces published in Learn Korean in India website as well. In her other life, she is a singer, rising entrepreneur, life enthusiast and a learner.

Global Korea Scholarship for Graduate Degree 2024 – For Indian Students

Gks graduate scholarship 2024 : things to prepare, difference between 아/어/해도 되다 & (으)면 되다 [korean grammar].

Learn Korean with Dr. Satish Satyarthi

on LKI YouTube Channel

A Journey to GKS: Personal Statement

February 06, 2024 February 10, 2022 -->
15 min Read

In conclusion, this is my third post on A Journey to the GKS Series. Before this one, I had written about how to fill out the GKS application forms, and I had previously written about my experience studying for the GKS application back in 2016. This time, I'll be giving tips on how to write a personal statement that is one of the essays needed for the GKS application. I spent about three months writing both of the essays while I was preparing to submit my application. I remember that I started writing as soon as I decided to apply for the scholarship in November, put it off for around a month, went back and forth to make the required changes, and finished it just a few days ago.

Personal Statement Template (2021 GKS Application)

Find the identification of your application first. " What motivates me to apply for this program and study in Korea?" Why should I be chosen from among hundreds of candidates by the reviewer? Throughout the process of preparing my personal statement, I kept coming back to these questions. I eventually identified my application's identity as I dug deeper into the explanations; it was a concise statement that would ideally make an impression on the reviewers and accurately represent myself.

I see a Personal Statement as a stage to promote myself. It tells a story about me, my personal values, and significant events that happened in my life that led me to aspire to study in Korea and apply for the GKS. The goal is to convey my story in the most impactful way possible so that no matter how ordinary it is, the reviewer will still remember me after reading hundreds of similar or even better stories. To do this, I don’t think I can merely rely on a list of achievements and experiences I have because they probably aren’t so outstanding among other applicants. That is why I need to put an identity into my application, to make my story stronger than my own name.

In my case, “an applicant majoring in Family Studies” is the identity that I highlighted. Given that Family Studies is not a common field of study especially in India, regardless of how important it is for our society (don’t get me started into Family Sciences 101. Lol.), I guess it was the strongest point of my application that granted me a seat for an interview in the Korean Embassy. I could be wrong, but the interviewers asked about it during the whole interview session.

Second, make your essay hook. If you put yourself in the reviewer’s shoes who has to deal with a hundred applications, how will you sort it out? There are sure other points such as grades that are quite easy to determine. But, when it comes to essays, how will you rate it and choose from a pool of applicants? Just like its name, a Personal Statement should be personal yet interesting. Personal; it tells who the applicant is, his/her experiences, achievements, and values. Interesting; no matter how different every applicant’s life story is, the reasons to study abroad and apply for the scholarship might not be so unique, thus, the way it is written should be fascinating and impactful. That is how an essay hook will make your application stand out and assure the reviewers that you deserve one seat until the final round.

There are many ways to write an essay hook; quotation, question, strong statement, metaphor, etc. You may try many different ways before finding the one that matches the big picture of your essay. An essay hook is aimed to attract the reader from the beginning of your essay. This is also related to the whole picture of the essay and the information in the next paragraphs. As I decided to emphasize my major in Family Studies, I open my essay with a story about my own family and what values I grew up with. I also wrote about how people used to ask what my major was about and whether it really was necessary to learn about family sciences at university. I keep this point as the whole idea of my essay which helped me to explain why I had to go to a Korean university.

Third, be reflective. Reflecting is such a habit to me. You know, that tendency to lay awake in your bed and replay what has happened that day in your head and what you could’ve done to make it better, or at least, to make yourself feel better. Well, I learned that doing it isn’t always good. But, when it comes to reflecting on your past experiences and achievements in your Personal Statement, I can never stress enough how important it is. After mentioning all your precious achievements and writing how eventful your life is, you need to explain what lessons learned that you learned, what skills you learned, and how they contribute to who you are today. It might sound cliché to write about how your leadership skills have been sharpened through many organizations, but I don’t think it will do you bad to show that you have learned from your experience.

Fifth, make an outline. To me, an outline always does wonders. You might have ever practiced it for school assignments. It’s really as simple as starting from the points mentioned in the essay instruction; (1) family background, (2) latest education, (3) significant and relevant experiences (working, internship, organization, clubs), (4) motivations to study in Korea and apply for the GKS. You can write down ideas for each point and add a few sentences for the explanation. As you develop each point, you may want to write it in 1-2 paragraphs and keep it as your main idea. This will surely help your writing stay on track, lead the plot, and transition from one idea/point to another without jumbling up.

Sixth, don’t expect to finish it in one night or even one sitting and then submit it on the next day. Only after giving it some time and re-reading it a few days later, you will notice every mistake in your essay, those misspellings-wrong tenses-wrong expressions, even if you’ve been very meticulous especially when it comes to writing. Also, I can never stress enough how you should stop yourself from editing those punctuation marks or misspellings while typing because it will put your idea on hold and take much time to finish your first draft.

Finally, ask someone to proofread your essay and give feedback. I received a lot of help from my English tutor who gave valuable feedback on my essays. Having someone read your essay sort of allows you to get through the pre-review and the nerve-wracking of the application screening process. Also, your essay will look different from someone else’s perspective so it’s important to get their feedback even if it’s as simple as word choices. Especially, because a Personal Statement is an essay about ourselves, we can easily understand it but it can be hard to be objective. Your best friend will tell you some confusing parts, things that you should explain better, or simply tell whether the storytelling is interesting enough.

There are a lot more awesome tips all over the Internet on how to write a great Personal Statement essay. These are basically what I did when I wrote my own for the GKS application. I have no idea exactly which part of my application granted me the scholarship, but I believe that the Personal Statement had its big share. For another essay, Study Plan/Statement of Purpose, you can check my post about it here .

A Journey to GKS: Application Forms

I decided to write A Journey to GKS series based on my experience as a GKS awardee in 2016. Just like other awardees, I also received a lot of chats and DMs from people asking about GKS applications. It’s not that I’m tired and annoyed by answering the same questions over and over again, that I decided to post it online, really. That is practically what I’ve been doing in the past four years which, at some points during my student life in Korea, turned out to help me cope with the situation and keep me on track as I was reminded how far I had come.

Just recently I changed my mind about writing and posting it online so anyone can read it and I can re-read it (for whatever reasons), after joining a mentorship program (supported by the Indonesian Student Association in South Korea aka Perpika ) as a mentor for the Indonesian students and graduates who are interested in studying in Korea and preparing for the scholarship application. I mentored a similar program from MITI Klaster Mahasiswa back in 2017 called Youth Connection but I guess at the time I wasn’t feeling okay enough to share it. Now that I graduated safe and sound, I guess posting it online won’t hurt. So, this is the second post of my ‘A Journey to GKS’ series, and I’ll try to post the next ones as soon as possible.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous post about my journey to GKS , I decided to go for this scholarship application the second I learned about this program. One of my thoughts at the time is how simple the application looks. And it is indeed simple, at least for me who had never applied for such a program and dealt with forms in English. The guideline also states everything clearly. Of course, I got a lot of help from GKS awardees I met online who were very kind to share their experience. But, I tried to do my share as much as possible by doing my research on the Internet in advance, making sure I didn’t irritate them by asking trivial questions I could easily access on the Internet or even the application guidelines, and avoiding the questions which are more on self-preference, such as “Is it okay if my recommendation letter is folded?”

GKS-G (for graduate) and GKS-U (for undergraduate) Application Forms are all over the Internet. It can be downloaded from various sites, such as Study in Korea, Korean Embassy sites, some Korean university sites, and Topik Guide. Along with the application guideline is a separate file of the application forms (although the complete guideline includes the forms as well), University Information, and FAQs files. These are the first references and ammunition that no single applicant should ever miss. You might have your sister as a GKS awardee and you can easily ask every single detail, but really, that kind of mentality will get in your way someday. So, go get the guideline and read it! (Sorry, I’m being too enthusiastic here.)

Thankfully, the application forms have stayed pretty much the same over the years. Minor changes might have been made as well as the regulation changes. However, it does not affect that much to the application procedures, thus making it easy for the applicants to prepare the applications way earlier even before the opening period. And that’s what I did back then. I downloaded the application guidelines from the previous years and noticed that the forms stayed the same, so I started to practice filling in the forms and preparing the required documents.

The first part of the application forms includes the application checklist . Depending on the program you apply to, either Undergraduate or Graduate Degrees, the required documents are slightly different. The application checklist for the Graduate Degree Programs consists of all required documents for three different degree programs (i.e., Master’s, Doctoral, and Research Programs) so the list is a little bit longer. As for the Undergraduate application, three types of documents are required for certain documents (graduation certificate, transcripts, certificate of citizenship, and awards). I might be wrong on this since I had no experience in preparing for the undergraduate application, but here is what I understand about the difference between the original, official notarized translation, and copied documents.

The original document , like its name, is the original version of a document that can be written in many different languages depending on the country where it is issued. In case an applicant only has one copy of the original document, they can submit the certified copy version which is the copy of the original document certified/stamped by the issuing institution (e.g., school).

Since all documents have to be written in either Korean or English, here comes the second type of document to accompany the original document, official notarized translation . As for the graduation/degree certificate and transcripts, some schools might provide the English translation. Otherwise, an applicant needs to have it translated into Korean or English by a sworn translator. From here, the document has to be legalized again by the notary. In the end, the official notarized translation should be a document written in Korean or English and should have 2-3 different stamps: issuing institution, (translating institution), and notary stamps. The last is the copied document which is the photocopied version (black-and-white document).

The number of copies submitted depends on the application track. For those applying via University Track, they should send only the original/certified copy of the documents to the university of their choice. As the screening process takes place in Korea, the documents should be the very best legalized version. For countries that require an apostille version of the document such as India, some documents (degree certificates, transcripts, proof of citizenship) have to be apostilled or receive consular confirmation from the Korean Embassy in the country where the document is issued.

Notes for my Indian fellows, here is the procedure to get the documents apostilled: legalized by the notary >> Ministry of Law and Human Rights >> Ministry of Foreign Affairs (New Delhi) >> (Korean) Embassy.

If applying via the Korean Embassy, one original/certified copy document, one official notarized translation, and three photocopied documents have to be prepared. Apparently, some Korean Embassies, including the Korean Embassy in India, may apply different regulations. Korean Embassy in India requires the applicants to send only one copy of the original document and the copies will be made by the Embassy.

The next part of the application forms is the applicant’s personal information , which is considerably easy to fill in. As for the applicant’s name, some who do not have a separate family name may find it confusing at first, like in most cases of South Indians. In such cases, simply write the same as your passport name: first name and middle name (if any) as the given name and last name as a surname. For the university and major choices for graduate degrees, some confusions come from the differences between Division, Department, and Major. The best way to solve this is by referring to the University Information file, on the list of majors offered. As for the grades/GPA, use the CGPA conversion table on the guideline to convert various grading systems. If the CGPA conversion table does not apply to the grading system of the applicant’s school, the information on how to do the conversion should be attached.

Applicant’s Personal Information (above Undergraduate; below: Graduate)

For awards and published papers , I believe there is no limit number but I personally mentioned the best two. You may want to mention the rest, if they are quite significant for you, in the Personal Statement. For published papers written in a language other than Korean or English, the original title and other details (e.g., journal name) can be mentioned first, followed by the English title in parentheses.

The next forms to be filled out are the Personal Statement and Statement of Purpose/Study Plan . Instructions have been provided clearly on each part, so I believe it comes back to the applicant’s writing ability to come up with the best way of storytelling which hopefully will impress the reviewers. I have made a post for some tips to write a Personal Statement and Statement of Purpose/Study Plan based on my experience.

Recommendation letters are another important required document for GKS applications. An applicant should receive two recommendation letters from two recommenders. The letter template has been prepared in the application, but the recommenders may attach their own template. Just make sure that they understand what points should be included and that everything should be written in either Korean or English. This letter is confidential, so you may want to clarify beforehand as to who will translate the document if your recommender writes it in other languages.

The last is self-medical assessment/personal medical assessment which is a brief medical history of the applicant. It can be filled in independently by the applicant without going to the hospital or any healthcare center and should be filled in all honesty because you shouldn’t let any wrong information stated in the application forms get in your way in the later selection process of the medical check-up where pretty much everything will be revealed.

That is the end of the GKS application forms. This is crazily long I know, but I hope you will somehow find this post helpful.

This post has been updated following the 2021 Application Guidelines. Please do let me know if you find incorrect information that I stated here. I strongly encourage all applicants to read the guidelines by heart as it has much more detailed information.

Tell me when it’s enough.

Tulisan ini merupakan salah satu refleksi dari sebuah drama Korea berjudul “ He Is Psychometric (사이코메트리 그녀석) ”. Yep, you read it right, I reflected on the drama that I watched and wrote it on my journal lol. Itulah salah satu aspek yang membuat saya menikmati Korean series. Selain karena jumlah episodenya yang pas (tidak terlalu panjang atau pendek) dan akting para aktornya yang luar biasa (terutama pada crying scenes ), jalan cerita dan dialognya menurut saya mengandung banyak makna dan mengajak penonton untuk mencernanya lebih dalam melalui berbagai sudut pandang. Terlebih setelah saya bisa memahami Bahasa Korea, setiap scene dan dialog menjadi semakin menarik dan berarti karena ada nuansa-nuansa tertentu yang tidak selalu bisa diterjemahkan dengan memuaskan ke dalam Bahasa Indonesia ataupun English.

Singkatnya, spoiler alert , drama ini menceritakan lelaki bernama Lee Ahn yang memiliki kemampuan psychometric , yaitu melihat kenangan benda hidup dan mati melalui indra peraba. Dia mendapat kemampuan itu setelah kehilangan kedua orang tuanya pada kebakaran di apartemen tempat tinggalnya. Lee Ahn diselamatkan oleh Sungmo yang kemudian berperan sebagai kakak laki-laki angkat yang membesarkannya, dan merupakan satu-satunya orang yang tidak bisa Lee Ahn baca kenangannya. The plot twisted, Sungmo ternyata merupakan pelaku penyulut kebakaran demi menyelamatkan ibunya dari kejaran sang ayah yang menyekap keduanya di basement sampai Sungmo berusia 10 tahun. Drama ini berakhir dengan Sungmo yang menyerahkan diri ke kepolisian akibat kejahatan membakar apartemen yang dilakukannya bertahun-tahun silam dan kekerasaan terhadap ayahnya yang mencoba mengejar dan melukai ibunya lagi.

I was hooked on Lee Ahn’s line when meeting Sungmo in prison, in one of the final scenes.

“I wish someone would tell us when it’s enough. The resentment, the hatred, and the guilt.”

Saya tersadarkan bahwa dalam hidup kita terus-menerus bersinggungan dengan pertemuan dan perpisahan, memiliki dan kehilangan, melukai dan dilukai. Saya sangat setuju dengan kalimat Lee Ahn, dan nyatanya berharap hal yang sama. Ketika seseorang yang penting pergi selamanya dari kehidupan kita, kita tidak tahu kapan harus berhenti meratapi dan merasa kehilangan. Ketika kita dilukai, kita tidak tahu kapan harus berhenti membenci. Pun ketika kita melukai, kita tidak tahu kapan harus berhenti merasa bersalah dan menyesali. Seandainya saja ada lampu indikator sebagai pertanda bahwa kehilangan, kebencian, dan penyesalan yang kita rasakan sudah cukup, sudah mencapai batas maksimal dan ini saatnya untuk reset.

Ada satu kesamaan di tengah rasa kehilangan, kebencian, penyesalan; lelah. Lelah jiwa raga. Jika kita membiarkan diri mengambil jeda sesaat, kita akan tersadarkan betapa melelahkannya memelihara perasaan-perasaan tersebut. Kemudian kita pun mulai bertanya, “Sampai kapan? Satu tahun lagi? Dua tahun lagi? Apa selama ini sudah cukup?” Tidak ada jawaban pasti, bahkan mungkin setelah kita bertanya di sepertiga malam pada saat pintu langit terbuka.

Oftentimes, we just get through busy days and lonely nights until, at some point in life, we sleep without tears on the bed sheet, we laugh without feeling guilty, and we remember them longingly once in a while without feeling pain in our hearts anymore. We, eventually, manage to get through those days when the loss, the hatred, and the guilt are all that mattered. But still, we never know when or how it happens. I believe that time does heal our broken hearts only when we let it so, only when we let go who has gone, keep them in our hearts, and cherish them in our memory, only when we let ourselves move and keep on living

A Journey to GKS: How I Ended Up in Korea

Everyone has at least one turning point in their life. It’s momentum when one believes that his/her life has completely changed and a new one has begun. To me, GKS is one of my turning points. I wouldn’t say that my journey to get the scholarship and my student life in Korea was full of blood and tears. Tough days were there, but there must be a bunch of heart-breaking stories other than mine. God allows us to experience things and difficulties within our ability and even though I unexpectedly had mine, I know that He had been very soft to me all the time. It was the time when I learned different versions of myself I never knew existed. And just now, months after I graduated and managed to finish the program safely I dared to share my experience.

The Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP), which has changed its name to the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), is a scholarship program from the Government of the Republic of Korea. This program provides foreigners the opportunity to continue higher education (undergraduate and graduate degree programs) in South Korea. You may click here for more information.

Studying abroad has always been one of my dreams since high school. It turned from a mere dream into a plan once I graduated from university. Given my major is not a common one (Family Science), especially in Indonesia, I knew that I should go overseas to do my master’s degree program. I could’ve just continued my studies at the same university where I graduated, but even my advisor suggested finding some overseas universities, the most possible one is in Malaysia. At the time, Korea hadn’t been on the list as I had no idea if any universities were providing my prospective major.

I only did my research on schools in Malaysia and the US until I ran into a broadcast message about overseas scholarships for graduate programs. The list was quite long so I did a quick scan and started to dig into each based on my country's preference, and Korea happened to be one of them. Back then, my knowledge of Korea was limited to dramas that I got to watch along with my older sisters (if you have three older sisters you can hardly choose what to watch on TV) and then some bands my little sister listened to. So I’ve been a fan of the Korean entertainment industry before coming to Korea, but studying there was never in any of my imaginations because I was skeptical of the idea of learning a new language (there were days when I laughed at the Korean language and how the actors/actresses look, never imagined it would be part of myself in the future).

Surprisingly, the moment I learned about GKS, I decided to give it a go. I did calculations on time and energy that I had (I was working at the time) and knew that I could afford only one scholarship application at the time. So I wrapped up my research on other countries and scholarship programs and spent the rest of the year preparing for GKS applications, which means that I literally gave my all to my first scholarship journey. As a person who was spoiled by her parents and never had experience in scholarship application before, it was quite overwhelming. But, I tried hard to prepare everything myself despite their disapproval. It was actually my way to show them as well as God that I could do it and I would make it (what a confidence. Lol).

I sent my application to the Korean Embassy in Jakarta as I applied via Embassy Track. I learned that the competition on the first round through this track was not a joke, but I simply preferred having three university choices rather than one and I didn’t want to take the risk of having my documents lost on the way (that’s odd, I know, but I’m always more on the safe side). Thank God, I got the interview call and then had my documents sent to Korea after passing the interview process. The next round was having my documents screened by the Korean National Institute for International Education (NIIED) in Korea and once I passed this process, I had to wait for the email from my chosen universities, whether they wanted to do another interview or directly announced their decision. At this round, a lot of awardees say that you’ve already taken your first step in Korea and there will be at least one university that will accept you. The saying was such a tranquilizer for me that I even started to make my packing list (I’m not always this confident, seriously).

I got the first email from Kyungpook National University which was interested in my application and sent me a written interview. While undergoing the university selection process, applicants have to submit the medical check-up form. And it was around that time when things started to go downhill. It should be easy if you have no history of having any acute diseases. I was not a healthy kid myself so I was quite worried that something off would unveil. It turned out that the underlooked mental health checklist was the one that got in my way. I took my medical check-up in a nearby hospital which happened to be a mental hospital where the doctor couldn’t simply sign my form without doing all the tests including the mental one. So, I had to take a written test to get the psychiatrist's signature, which unfortunately turned out that she didn’t want to give.

It was probably the wrong time to take the test. I was tired and drained out after taking several tests in a day. But, I know the result wouldn’t turn out differently had I done it on another day. So, I had to respond either yes or no to 300 questions. I guess the test basically tries to reveal your mental state (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression) through your fears and your response to stressful situations. Unfortunately, my result didn’t come out well. As silly as it sounds, I couldn’t hold back my tears in the counseling room when the psychiatrist showed me the result and told the story of people with similar cases to me and what happened to them. I sobbed not because she couldn’t give her recommendation, but because finally came the day when someone put my condition into words. It might sound like I was being judged and the way she frankly explained it to me was also unpleasant, but nothing was wrong with what she said which made me feel even worse.

You might think I could’ve just taken the test again in another hospital. But, I couldn’t let my money go down the drain, and asking for my parents’ money was not part of the plan. Plus, I had no ample time to do it all over again and get the results on time. More than anything, I started to doubt my decision to study abroad. I knew that the fear of living away from my parents and not being able to handle things independently had always been there all along (I don’t know if anyone at my age could relate). Not only one person pointed it out, but I kept on denying it. So, when it was brought to the surface, especially by a professional, it was painful to the point that I considered withdrawing because I couldn't even trust myself to take a risk.

Surprise-surprise, only a few days after the medical check-up I received the acceptance email from Kyungpook National University. I took it as a yes from God. I had come that far and I wouldn't trade my spot for some future events no one ever knew would really happen. So, with as much courage as I had, I took the mental health test again suggested by the kind nurse who listened to me crying in the counseling room, answered the same questions differently, and managed to receive the psychiatrist's signature to complete my medical form. Later, I got acceptance notifications from Pusan National University and Seoul National University as well, and I ended up choosing the latter for my graduate school in Korea.

Preparing for GKS applications and undergoing the selection process for months have taught me the pain of waiting and struggling. At one point, it showed me that I could push my boundaries and instead of jumping out of my comfort zone, I tried to widen it and made things that were used to be hard become part of myself. With the permission of God, I could turn myself into such an overconfident head by asking for prayers from people I know (in case my family’s prayers were not strong enough to persuade God. Lol). At another point, I was awakened to things I have been feared to deal with although I know I eventually have to. Confronting my fears wasn’t always pleasant nor that it affected me positively and became part of my comfort zone, but I did my share by trying to face it. At the end of the day, I learned Ikhlas and literally let God do the rest and decide for me. While waiting for the announcement I pictured the day I was rejected, hoping that it would ease the pain later. I also told myself a hundred times that everything would be okay even if I failed as long as the sun still rises; I would cry my eyes out for days, receive comforting words halfheartedly, and wake up one day feeling okay again.

My journey to be part of GKS came to a beautiful end as I flew to Korea in August 2016 and started the real struggle for 3 years. Some of what the psychiatrist said back then about people with similar cases like me did happen to me too, but I finished it differently. It was a tough year and only God’s mercy and the people I spent my time with in Korea helped me to stay sane and get through it.

Hi, I'm I-Kets

I'm David Smith, husband and father , I love Photography,travel and nature. I'm working as a writer and blogger with experience of 5 years until now.

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A Journey to KGSP/GKS: Personal Statement

Finally, here is my third post on A Journey to KGSP/GKS Series. Previously, I wrote about my experience in preparing for the KGSP/GKS application back in 2016 and just before this post I wrote about how to fill in the KGSP/GKS Application Forms . This time, I’ll be sharing my two cents on how to write a Personal Statement, one of the essays of the GKS Application. When I prepared my application, it took me around 3 months to finish writing both essays. I remember starting to write as soon as I decided to apply for the scholarship in November, putting it off for a month or so, coming back and forth for the revisions, and finishing it a few days before the application closing date.

The GKS application forms have included the essay template with instructions and points to include which I found very helpful. I always enjoy writing, but writing an essay in English for studies back then was especially hard because English isn’t my first language and I never learned writing academic English properly. Here are some tips that I did and I wish I had known when writing my essays for the GKS Application.

Personal Statement template (2021 GKS Application)

First, find your application’s identity. “Why do I want to study in Korea and apply for this program? Why should the reviewer choose me among hundreds of applicants?” These questions are the ones that I kept coming back when writing my Personal Statement. As I kept digging the reasons, I somehow found the identity of my application, a statement that will clearly describe me and hopefully will leave an impression for the reviewers.

I see Personal Statement as a stage to promote myself. It tells a story about me, my personal values, and significant events that happened in my life which lead me to aspire to study in Korea and apply for the GKS. The goal is to convey my story in the most impactful way possible that no matter how ordinary it is, the reviewer will still remember me after reading other hundreds of similar or even better stories. To do this, I don’t think I can merely rely on a list of achievements and experiences I have because they probably aren’t so outstanding among other applicants. That is why I need to put an identity into my application, to make my story stronger than my own name.

In my case, “an applicant majoring in Family Studies” is the identity that I highlighted. Given that Family Studies is not a common field of study especially in Indonesia, regardless of how important it is for our society (don’t get me started into Family Sciences 101. Lol.), I guess it was the strongest point of my application that granted me a seat for an interview in the Korean Embassy. I could be wrong, but the interviewers asked about it during the whole interview session.

Second, make your essay hook. If you put yourself in the reviewer’s shoes who has to deal with a hundred applications, how will you sort it out? There are sure other considering points such as grades that are quite easy to determine. But, when it comes to essays, how will you rate it and choose from a pool of applicants? Just like its name, a Personal Statement should be personal yet interesting. Personal; it tells who the applicant is, his/her experiences, achievements, values. Interesting; no matter how different every applicant’s life story is, the reasons to study abroad and apply for the scholarship might not be so unique, thus, the way it is written should be fascinating and impactful. That is how an essay hook will make your application stand out and assure the reviewers that you deserve one seat until the final round.

There are many ways to write an essay hook; quotation, question, strong statement, metaphor, etc. You may try many different ways before finding the one that matches the big picture of your essay. An essay hook is aimed to attract the reader since the beginning of your essay. This is also related to the whole picture of the essay and the information in the next paragraphs. As I decided to emphasize my major in Family Studies, I open my essay with the story about my own family and what values I was grown up with. I also wrote about how people used to ask what my major is about and whether it really is necessary to learn about family sciences at university. I keep this point as the whole idea of my essay which helped me to explain why I had to go to a Korean university.

Third, be reflective. Reflecting is such a habit to me. You know, that tendency to lay awake in your bed and replaying what has happened that day in your head and what you could’ve done to make it better, or at least, to make yourself feel better. Well, I learn that doing it isn’t always good. But, when it comes to reflecting on your past experiences and achievements in your Personal Statement, I can never stress enough how important it is. After mentioning all your precious achievements and writing how eventful your life is, you need to explain what lessons learned that you get, what skills you learn, and how they contribute to who you are today. It might sound cliché to write about how your leadership skills have been sharpened through many organizations, but I don’t think it will do you bad to show that you have learned from your experience.

Fifth, make an outline. To me, an outline always does wonder. You might have ever practiced it for school assignments. It’s really as simple as starting from the points mentioned in the essay instruction; (1) family background, (2) latest education, (3) significant and relevant experiences (working, internship, organization, clubs), (4) motivations to study in Korea and apply for the GKS. You can write down ideas for each point and add a few sentences for the explanation. As you develop each point, you may want to write it in 1-2 paragraphs and keep it as your main idea. This will surely help your writing stay on track, lead the plot and transition from one idea/point to another without jumbling up.

Sixth, don’t expect to finish it in one night or even one-seating and then submit it on the next day. Only after giving it some time and re-reading it a few days later that you’ll notice every mistake in your essay, those misspellings-wrong tenses-wrong expressions, even if you’ve been very meticulous especially when it comes to writings. Also, I can never stress enough how you should stop yourself from editing those punctuation marks or misspellings while typing because it will put your idea on hold and take much time to finish your first draft.

Finally, ask someone to proofread your essay and give feedback. I received a lot of help from my English tutor who gave valuable feedback on my essays. Having someone read your essay sort of allows you to get through the pre-review and the nerve-wracking of the application screening process. Also, your essay will look different from someone else’s perspective so it’s important to get their feedback even if it’s as simple as word choices. Especially, because Personal Statement is an essay about ourselves, we can easily understand it but it can be hard to be objective. Your best friend will tell you some confusing parts, things that you should explain better, or simply tell whether the storytelling is interesting enough.

There are a lot more awesome tips all over the Internet on how to write a great Personal Statement essay. These are basically what I did when I wrote my own for the GKS application. I have no idea exactly which part of my application that granted me the scholarship, but I believe that the Personal Statement had its big share. For another essay, Study Plan/Statement of Purpose, you can check my post about it here .

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How to Write a Personal Statement for a Scholarship + Examples

What’s covered:, what is the purpose of the scholarship personal statement, what to include in your personal statement, personal statement example: breakdown + analysis, how to make sure your writing is effective.

Either before or after you’ve gotten into your dream school, you’ll have to figure out how to pay for it. For most students, this involves a combination of financial aid, parent contributions, self-contributions, student loans, and scholarships/grants. Because scholarships are money out of someone else’s pocket that you never have to pay back, they are a great place to start!

Scholarships come in two forms: merit-based and need-based. Need-based scholarships are also often called grants. These designations tell you whether an organization looks at your financial situation when deciding about your scholarship.

Additionally, different scholarships fall under different categories based on the mission of the organization or person providing the scholarship’s financing. These missions typically emphasize different things like academic achievement, specific career goals, community service, leadership, family background, skill in the arts, or having overcome hardship. As you select scholarships to apply for and complete your applications, you should keep these missions in mind.

No matter what type of scholarship you are applying for, you will be asked to provide the review committee with standard materials. This includes your transcript, GPA, and resume/extracurriculars, but also, importantly, your personal statement. A scholarship personal statement is a bit different from your normal college essay, so we’ve put together this guide and some examples to help you get started!

The purpose of your personal statement is to help a review committee learn more about your personality, values, goals, and what makes you special. Ultimately, like with your college essays, you are trying to humanize your profile beyond your transcript, GPA, and test scores.

College essays all have one goal in mind (which is why you can apply to multiple schools at once through applications like the Common App or Coalition App): convince admissions officers that you would be a valuable addition to the university environment. The goal of your scholarship personal statement is different and differs more from one scholarship to the next. Rather than convincing various review committees that you are a generally good candidate for extra funding for college, you need to convince each review committee that your values have historically aligned with their organization’s mission and will continue to align with their organization’s mission.

Common missions amongst those who give scholarships include:

Providing opportunities for students with career ambitions in a particular field
Helping students who have experienced unexpected hardship
Supporting students who show outstanding academic achievement
Funding the arts through investing in young artists with strong technical skill
Supporting the development of civic-minded community service leaders of the future
Providing opportunities for historically underrepresented ethnic communities

If a specific mission like this is outlined on an organization’s website or in the promotional material for its scholarship, the purpose of your personal statement is to show how you exemplify that mission.

Some scholarships ask for your personal statement to be guided by a prompt, while others leave things open for interpretation. When you are provided a prompt, it is obvious what you must do: answer the prompt. When you are not provided a prompt, you want to write a personal statement that is essentially a small-scale autobiography where you position yourself as a good investment. In either case, you should identify a focus or theme for what you are trying to say about yourself so that your application does not get lost in the shuffle.

Prompts include questions like:

Why do you deserve this scholarship?
How have you shown your commitment to (leadership/community service/diversity) in your community?
When did you overcome adversity?
Why is attending college important to you?

If you are provided a prompt, develop a theme for your response that showcases both your values and your achievements. This will help your essay feel focused and will subsequently help the review committee to remember which candidate you were as they deliberate.

Themes include things like:

I deserve this community service scholarship because my compassion for intergenerational trauma has inspired me to volunteer with a local after-school program. I didn’t just sympathize. I did something about my sympathy because that’s the type of person I am. Within the program, I have identified avenues for improvement and worked alongside full-time staff to develop new strategies for increasing attendance.
I overcame adversity when my mother had to have a major surgery two months after giving birth to my younger brother. I was just a kid but was thrown into a situation where I had to raise another kid. It was hard, but I’m the kind of person who tries to grow from hard times and, through my experience taking care of a baby, I learned the importance of listening to body language and nonverbal cues to understand the needs of others (baby and nonbaby, alike).

Without a prompt, clarity can be harder to achieve. That said, it is of the utmost importance that you find a focus. First, think about both your goals and your values.

Types of goals include:

Career goals
Goals for personal growth
The type of friend you want to be
The change you want to make in the world

Values could include:

Authenticity
And many more!

After you write out your goals/values, write out your achievements to see what goals/values you have “proof” of your commitment to. Your essay will ultimately be an exploration of your goal/value, what you have done about your goal/value in the past, and what you aspire to in the future.

You might be tempted to reflect on areas for improvement, but scholarships care about you living out your values. It is not enough to aspire to be exemplary in leadership, community service, or your academic field. For scholarships, you have to already be exemplary.

Finally, keep in mind that the review committee likely already has a copy of your extracurricular activities and involvement. Pick one or two accomplishments, then strive for depth, not breadth as you explore them.

My interest in the field of neuroscience began at a young age. When I was twelve years old, my sister developed a condition called Pseudotumor Cerebri following multiple concussions during a basketball game. It took the doctors over six months to make a proper diagnosis, followed by three years of treatment before she recovered. During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions. Later, my love of neuroscience was amplified when my mother began to suffer from brain-related health issues. My mother had been a practicing attorney in Dallas for over twenty years. She was a determined litigator who relentlessly tried difficult cases that changed people’s lives. Now, she suffers from a cognitive impairment and is no longer able to practice law. Oftentimes, she has headaches, she gets “cloudy,” her executive functioning slows down, she feels overwhelmed, and she forgets things. My mother has gone from being the strong, confident, emotional and financial caretaker of our family to needing significant help on a daily basis. Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.

Due to my experiences with my mother and sister when I was in middle school, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the field of neuroscience. I also knew that, to obtain this goal, I needed to maintain superior grades in school while also pursuing opportunities outside of school to further my education. In school, I was able to maintain superior grades to the point where I am currently valedictorian in a class of 567 students. In addition, in school, I challenged myself by taking 16 Advanced Placement classes and 19 Honors classes. Two of the most beneficial classes were AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research. AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research are research-oriented classes where students are given the opportunity to pursue whatever track their research takes them down. As a junior in AP Capstone Seminar, I researched the effects of harmful pesticide use on the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children. This year, as a senior in AP Capstone Research, I am learning about the effects of medical marijuana on the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Outside of school, I furthered my education through taking advantage of the Duke TiP summer program. Duke TiP is a summer program run by Duke University where students who score extremely well on the SAT as middle schoolers are able to take college classes at different universities throughout the summers of their middle school and high school years. I took advantage of this opportunity twice. First, I went to Trinity University in San Antonio to expand my horizons and learn more about debate. However, once I was done exploring, I decided I wanted to go into neuroscience. This led me to take an Abnormal Psychology class at Duke University’s West Campus. This class opened my eyes to the interaction between neuroscience and mental health, mental illness, and personality. Years later, I am currently continuing my education outside of school as an intern at the University of Texas Dallas Center for Brain Health. Through this internship, I have been able to see different aspects of neuroscience including brain pattern testing, virtual reality therapy, and longitudinal research studies. With this background, I have positioned myself to be accepted by top neuroscience programs throughout the nation. So far, I have been accepted to the neuroscience department of University of Southern California, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas, and Southern Methodist University, as well as the chemistry department at University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.

It is with this passion for neuroscience driven by my family and passion for education driven by internal motivation that I will set out to conquer my career objectives. My educational aspirations consist of acquiring a bachelor’s degree in a biological or health science that would assist me in pursuing a medical career as a neuroscience researcher. I decided to attain a career as a researcher since my passion has always been assisting others and trying to improve their quality of life. After obtaining my Masters and my PhD, I plan to become a professor at a prestigious university and continue performing lab research on cognitive disorders. I am particularly interested in disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In the lab, I hope to find different therapies and medications to help treat the 3.5 million people around the world suffering from ASD. Furthermore, I want to contribute back to underserved populations that struggle because they do not have as much access to medical assistance as other privileged groups. As such, I hope to do a part of my research in less developed or developing Spanish-speaking countries. This will also allow me to pursue my love of Spanish while pursuing my love of neuroscience. I think that following such a career path will provide me the opportunity to learn about the medical needs of the autistic community and improve their quality of health. Furthermore, I hope to train a new generation of students to strive to research and make comparable discoveries. Whether it be through virtual reality labs or new drug discoveries, I believe that research leads to innovation which leads to a brighter future.

This student does a great job of making themself appear competent and dedicated to the field of neuroscience. This is primarily because they provided tangible evidence of how they have pursued their dedication in the past—through their AP Capstone courses, their Abnormal Psychology class at Duke TiP, and their internship at UTD. There is no doubt in the mind of a reader that this student is high-achieving.

This student also engages successfully with a past-future trajectory, where they end with a vision of how they will continue to use neuroscience in the future. This helps the review committee see what they are investing in and the ways that their money will go to good use.

This student has two major areas for improvement. As we have said, the purpose of a personal statement is for a student to humanize themself to a review committee. This student struggles to depict themself separately from their academic achievements. A solution to this would be for the student to establish a theme towards the beginning of their essay that relates to both their values as a human and their achievements.

At the beginning of the essay, the student explores how their interest in neuroscience began. They explain their interest through the following sentences: “During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions” and “Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.” The student made the great decision to tell the backstory of their interest, but they described their research in very mundane and redundant terms. Instead, they could have focused on their value of intellectual curiosity as a magnetic force that encouraged them to research their mother and sister’s ailments. Curiosity, then, could serve as a value-related thematic throughline to taking AP Capstone classes, taking college courses during the summer that weren’t required, and interning before even graduating high school.

A second area for improvement would be avoiding statistics. As the student identifies their valedictorian status and the number of AP classes they have taken, they might turn away certain personalities on a review committee by appearing braggy. Even further, these statistics are a waste of space. The review committee already has access to this information. These words distract from the major theme of the essay and would have been better used to humanize the student.

Throughout my academic career, I have been an avid scholar, constantly pushing myself towards ambitious goals. I held and continue to hold myself to a high standard, enrolling myself in rigorous curriculum, including Honors and Advanced Placement courses to stretch my mental potential. During my junior year of high school, I took four AP tests, two on the same day, and earned the AP Scholar with Honor Award. Additionally, I received the Letter of Commendation for the PSAT/NMSQT, and qualified for Rotary Top 100 Students both my freshman and senior year, a sign of my commitment to my studies. However, school has not been all about having the best GPA for me; beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem. I always give each class my best effort and try my hardest on every assignment. My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result. It is a major goal of mine to continue to aspire towards a high level of achievement regarding future educational and occupational endeavors; I plan on continuing this level of dedication throughout my educational career and implementing the skills I have learned and will learn into my college experience and beyond.

This fall, I will begin attending the University of California Los Angeles as an English major. I chose this major because I am fascinated by written language, especially its ability to convey powerful messages and emotions. I also enjoy delving into the works of other authors to analyze specific components of their writing to discover the meaning behind their words. In particular, I cannot wait to begin in-depth literary criticism and learn new stylistic techniques to add more depth to my writing. Furthermore, I recently went to UCLA’s Bruin Day, an event for incoming freshmen, where I was exposed to many different extracurriculars, some of which really piqued my interest. I plan on joining the Writing Success Program, where I can help students receive free writing help, and Mock Trial, where I can debate issues with peers in front of a real judge. The latter, combined with a strong writing background from my undergraduate English studies will be extremely beneficial because I plan to apply to law school after my undergraduate degree. As of now, my career goal is to become a civil rights lawyer, to stand up for those who are discriminated against and protect minority groups to proliferate equality.

As a lawyer, I wish to utilize legislation to ameliorate the plight of the millions of Americans who feel prejudice and help them receive equity in the workplace, society, and so on. Though this seems a daunting task, I feel that my work ethic and past experience will give me the jumpstart I need to establish myself as a successful lawyer and give a voice to those who are often unheard in today’s legal system. I have been a Girl Scout for over a decade and continually participate in community service for the homeless, elderly, veterans, and more. My most recent project was the Gold Award, which I conducted in the Fullerton School District. I facilitated over ten workshops where junior high students taught elementary pupils STEM principles such as density and aerodynamics via creative activities like building aluminum boats and paper airplanes. I also work at Kumon, a tutoring center, where I teach students to advance their academic success. I love my job, and helping students from local schools reach their potential fills me with much pride.

Both being a Girl Scout and working at Kumon have inspired me to help those in need, contributing significantly to my desire to become a lawyer and aid others. My extracurriculars have allowed me to gain a new perspective on both learning and teaching, and have solidified my will to help the less fortunate. In college, I hope to continue to gain knowledge and further develop my leadership skills, amassing qualities that will help me assist others. I plan to join multiple community service clubs, such as UCLA’s local outreach programs that directly aid residents of Los Angeles. I want to help my fellow pupils as well, and plan on volunteering at peer tutoring and peer editing programs on campus. After college, during my career, I want to use legal tactics to assist the underdog and take a chance on those who are often overlooked for opportunities. I wish to represent those that are scared to seek out help or cannot afford it. Rather than battling conflict with additional conflict, I want to implement peaceful but strong, efficient tactics that will help make my state, country, and eventually the world more welcoming to people of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These goals are close to my heart and therefore I will be as diligent as I am passionate about them. My perseverance and love for learning and community service drive my ambition in both education and life as a whole, and the drive to make the world a better place is one that I will carry with me for my entire life.

This student emphasizes two values in this essay: hard work and community service. These are values that go together nicely, and definitely make sense with this student’s end goal of becoming a civil rights lawyer! That said, some changes could be made to the way the student presents their values that would make their personal statement more convincing and engaging.

Structurally, instead of using a past-future trajectory, this student starts by explaining their academic achievements, then explains their career goals, then explains their history of community service, then explains their future desires for community service. This structure loses the reader. Instead, the student should have started with either the past or the future.

This could look like 1) identifying their career goals, 2) explaining that hard work and a commitment to community service are necessary to get there, and 3) explaining that they aren’t worried because of their past commitment to hard work and community service. Or it could look like 1) providing examples of their hard work and community service in the past, then 2) explaining how those values will help them achieve their career goals.

Additionally, like with our other example, this student shows a heavy investment in statistics and spouting off accomplishments. This can be unappealing. Unfortunately, even when the student recognizes that they are doing this, writing “beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem,” they continue on to cite their achievements, writing “My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result.” They say they are going beyond the numbers, but they don’t go beyond the awards. They don’t look inward. One way to fix this would be to make community service the theme around which the essay operates, supplementing with statistics in ways that advance the image of the student as dedicated to community service.

Finally, this student would be more successful if they varied their sentence structure. While a small-scale autobiography can be good, if organized, every sentence should not begin with ‘I.’ The essay still needs to be engaging or the review committee might stop reading.

Feedback is ultimately any writer’s best source of improvement! To get your personal statement edited for free, use our Peer Review Essay Tool . With this tool, other students can tell you if your scholarship essay is effective and help you improve your essay so that you can have the best chances of gaining those extra funds!

Personal Statement SOP Sample for Global Korea Scholarship (GKS / KGSP) 2024

by Contentholic | Mar 5, 2024 | Personal Statement , SOP For Scholarship , SOP Samples , SOP Writing , Statement of Purpose , Study Plan | 6 comments

GKS Scholarships, also known as KGSP Scholarship is a very famous Korean Scholarship Program in South Korea funded by its Government to invite global talent to the country. Applying to GKS requires a Personal Statement to be submitted along with the GKS application and the academic documents of the candidate. SOP for GKS Scholarship or Personal Statement for GKS plays a very important role in the final grant of the scholarships to the candidates as it is a fully funded scholarship to the candidates and they are selected based on the GKS Study Plan they submit. We have created a comprehensive blog to give you clarity on – What is GKS, how to apply for GKS, and how to write an SOP / Essay / Personal Statement for GKS in 2024. Please read the article to the end as we have also added the GKS Personal Statement Sample and Frequently Asked Questions for the GKS or KGSP – 2024.

Content of the article

What is the GKS Scholarship?

Are the GKS Scholarship and KGSP Scholarship the same?

Personal Statement Sample for GKS Scholarship
Importance of GKS / KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement
Guidelines for Writing GKS / KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement
Tips for Writing GKS / KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement
How to Write GKS / KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement
FAQs Related to GKS / KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement

What is the GKS Scholarship?

GKS which stands for Global Korean Scholarship is also known as The Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP). This is an academic scholarship program funded by the Korean Government for International Students and this is managed by the NIIED – National Institute of International Education which is under the Ministry of Education in South Korea. This program was designed for non-Korean scholars and Overseas Korean People to invite them to study in South Korea through a fully funded scholarship program at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels, after completing one year of Korean language studies. This was started a long time back in 1967 to bring overseas talents to South Korea and introduce them to the Korean languages, culture, and environment. Undergraduate students are entitled to receive 800,000 KRW per month and postgraduate students are entitled to 1,000,000 KRW per month apart from other expenses like airfares, tuition, and other allowances.

How to apply for the GKS Scholarship in 2024?

The basic objective of the GKS or KGSP Scholarship program is to invite international talent in Korea and let them study in Korea and their talent can contribute towards growth and development in the country. While applying for the scholarship, the candidate has to decide on a study program for which they are applying to any of the Korean universities that are entitled to GKS. The chosen program can not be changed later if the candidate wishes to change the program after studying Korean Language for the first year. For undergraduate degree programs at Korean Universities, it requires studying for 4 years, for master’s programs the duration is two years and doctoral studies require a minimum of 3 years.

Sample SOP / Personal Statement for GKS Scholarship

Below is the sample personal statement for global korea scholarship south korea.

The National Liberation Day of South Korea and the Independence Day of India are a common tie between the two emerging nations as they celebrate these two events on the 15th of August. No wonder Rabindranath Tagore had called South Korea, the ‘Lamp of the East’, showcasing its noteworthy advancement in technology as the rest of the world is enlightened using products of the companies based in South Korea. This is profound in most Indian households. I remember clearly how each time I saw an advertisement for LG refrigerators and Samsung mobile phones, I jumped as these were the products that we used at home. As a child’s curiosity would have it upon finding similarities, I was always excited. In 9th grade, this excitement transformed into curiosity when my teacher informed me how South Korea is the core where reliable technology and ergonomic products are manufactured. My teacher also informed me about how South Korea invests in education so its citizens remain at the forefront of advanced technology. After listening to this, I could connect the dots, and it wasn’t a wonder that such wonderful easy-to-use products are made in South Korea. Not just expensive products, even trivial daily use products have their origin designed in South Korea, reflecting how people are scrupulous in designing. From here, my quest to perceive the exponential growth taking place in South Korea began.

In New Delhi, the capital of India, I visited the Korean Cultural Centre which displayed the beautiful culture, language, and clothes of the people of South Korea. Immediately post this visit, I started looking for opportunities to learn more about South Korea and I embarked on this learning path by beginning to learn the language. While learning the language at SEJONG HAKDANG (KCCI) I received a 100% scholarship for the Intermediate semester for being in the top 10% of students in the beginner semester, which encouraged me more towards this stream.I started participating in essays and quiz competitions organized by the Korean Embassy in India. I also participated in Korea-India 2021 quiz competition where I qualified at the school level and participated in the state prelims quiz (KIFQ-DEL-226). Such platforms helped me learn about South Korea’s clothing and fashion, food, housing, festivals and celebrations, culture and arts, history, and the country’s remarkable growth at an exponential rate through its strong education system. During my participation in the quiz, I also encouraged my fellow students to participate as it gives me pleasure to share knowledge with my friends and also elevate my level of education. My participation naturally made me focus on South Korea’s accomplishments, development, and high-ranking universities. This motivated me to opt for my higher studies in South Korea.

The efficacy of education was invariably known to me and my deep-rooted interest in the same stems from observing my mother. A public school teacher, my mother taught Maths, and I under her umbrella, not only gained dexterity in the subject, but also admiration for logical thinking. My family plays an important role in bringing me to this juncture where I can apply for my Bachelor’s in Computer Science Engineering. Witnessing my elder sister’s dedication who acquired a merit-based scholarship at a renowned University in the US and my father’s diligence to bring his children to a platform where they can choose their path, has been extremely stimulating and inspiring. The current student loan that my sister has taken for her further education will be able to help her secure a good position post the MS course and I want to follow the same path so I can help my father who works at a stationery shop be at ease. Owing to my family’s financial condition, my parents have constantly provided the luxury of a good education and that is the only thing I have to fall back on. Hence, during my school, I was a vigilant student who scored well throughout her schooling, while also learning beyond the scope of my syllabi. I have been a consistent holder of merit certificates for academic achievements since 7th grade and secured 1st position in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade while also scoring highest in Computer Science and Math in my entire batch. I often enjoyed reading my sister’s computer Science books as I felt hinged to logical and analytical thinking. My first learning of Computer Science was in grade 9th when I learned HTML. Along with this I also learned ways to create a website where I optimally used my creative abilities, especially in coding. In class 11th, I unraveled topics like data types and operators, conditional statements, data structures like lists, tuples, strings, and dictionaries, sorting algorithms, functions, libraries, data file handling, error and exception handling, data visualization using pylot, data representation, and boolean logic. I also learned Database concepts and Structured Query Language, along with interface Python with SQL and cyber safety. Python-SQL connectivity became the target concept for my A+ grade year-end project ”result analysis” where I created tables in SQL and modules in Python.

I also made an Art Integrated Learning Project, to find hotels that suit the tourists’ requirements using the concepts of Data Structures and functions. Alongside these, I have opted to learn through online mediums and have attained relevant learning of various computer science-related subjects. To enhance my personality, I participated in activities like Inter and intra-school Debate, art, and quiz competitions that evoked competitiveness in me. I have also exercised my leadership skills as I was the Executive of the student council where I maintained the decorum of the school and also partook in activities like organizing quizzes and managing cultural and sports events. I have also been a member of the interact club where I have practiced and learned the importance of community service. Sports have also been a cardinal part of me and I have enjoyed playing badminton and basketball in which I won 1st position at the zonal level competition which enhanced my focus and made me humble as a person.

The various exposures that I have attained so far have empowered me to choose GKS for my future studies. It ranks at the top of OECD countries for scholastic achievement and educational competitiveness while also ranking 1st for ICT (Information and Communications Technologies). It will be a great step to be a part of GKS and understand more about South Korea in terms of culture and of course the emphasis it lays on education. I will be able to perform well as a student and will make my country proud as moving there for education is a reflection of the friendship between my country and South Korea .

Download PDF of Sample Personal Statement for GKS South Korea

The Global Korean Scholarship Track Qouta 2024

Embassy Track (800) + University Track (1400) = Total (2,200)

The GKS Scholarship for this year 2024 has been announced by the Korean Government and they have invited 2200 International Students, for which students can apply through two tracks – Embassy Track and University Track, for which you need to read the whole to understand the same in detail.

The Global Korean Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships in Asia and the most sought-after South Korean Scholarship among international students which can be applied through two tracks – Embassy Track and University Track, where the difference lies in the application process. The Embassy Track has three steps – you have to apply through the Korean Embassy where the application is selected and then forwarded to NIIED for further selection and then finally it reaches the university for final vetting of the applicants. You can select three universities from the Embassy track which is a better option overall and the quota allotted to the embassy track is 800.

Embassy Track = 3-Step Process,

Embassy Selection > NIIED Selection > University Selection

Options to choose 3 universities

University Track, on the other hand, is quite simple, and once the university selects the candidates it sends the application to NIIED for final selection, which is a simple two-step process. The total quota allotted to University Track is 1400 which is quite higher than the Embassy Track.

University Track = 2 Step Process

University Selection > NIIED Selection

South Korean Universities Available for GKS 2024 Programs

The South Korean Universities for GKS are divided into two major categories – Type A and Type B and each candidate can choose up to 3 Universities from A and B types but must select at least one of the universities from the Type B list as well.

Type A Universities for GKS 2024 Graduate

Type B Universities for GKS 2024 Graduate

Importance, Tips, Guidelines for GKS / KGSP Scholarship Program – 2024

The Global Korean Scholarship Program or Korean Government Scholarship Program for 2024 has been announced recently and thus we are updating our blog to add more tips and guidelines for creating a stellar personal statement for GKS Scholarship 2024. It is very important to focus on the personal statement because it holds a significant value in your application. Here are the tips to help you draft a convincing SOP for the GKS Scholarship in South Korea. One should focus on the story demonstrating what made him/her plan to study in Korea as they wish to admit those candidates who are genuinely interested in Korean Culture and lifestyle. Opening the GKS Essays with a strong introduction about the inclination towards Korea can be an impressive move. Highlight some unique abilities, skills, and qualities you have that can make you stand out from the crowd. GKS Program of South Korea is majorly focused on cultural exchange, so you should also show your interest and awareness in such topics and share some important things you like about Korea and its culture. Drafting an impressive, well-written, and insightful personal statement or SOP increases your chances of being selected for the GKS / KGSP Scholarship in 2024.

FAQs Related to GKS / KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement – 2024

What are the eligibility criteria for gks scholarship in 2024.

Eligibility varies depending on the application track you choose:

University Track: Open to applicants who are citizens of countries designated by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) and recommended by a Korean university.
Embassy Track: Open to citizens of countries designated by NIIED who are not recommended by a Korean university and apply through their home country’s Korean embassy or consulate.

Is there an age limit for the GKS scholarship?

How to apply for the gks scholarship.

You can apply for the GKS Scholarship Program through two different tracks – The University Track or the Embassy Track. Both of these tracks have their application process and deadlines which can be found on the official GKS website.

What documents do I need to submit for the GKS application?

Required documents typically include:

Application form
Academic transcripts
Letter of recommendation
Certificate of health
Personal Statement or SOP
Proof of language proficiency (optional, but recommended)

Different Korean Universities may ask for more documents individually as per the program level or subject.

What are the benefits of the GKS scholarship?

The GKS Scholarship Programs 2024 covers a wide range of expenses, including:

Tuition fees
Monthly living allowance
Settlement allowance
Korean language training
National health insurance
Airfare and travel expenses

Do I need to maintain a specific GPA to keep receiving the scholarship?

Yes, for being eligible for the scholarship the minimum GPA is required to pass for each year or semester to remain eligible for the scholarship funding.

When can I apply for the GKS scholarship in 2024?

Application periods typically open in March or April and close in May or June.

Where can I find more information about the GKS scholarship?

What is the difference between gks and kgsp.

GKS which is the Global Korean Scholarship and KGSP – Korean Government Scholarship Program is the same, thus the program was introduced in 1967 and since then its name has been changed but both these scholarships are the same and serve the same purpose.

What is the Study Plan for the GKS Scholarship?

Study Plan refers to your objective of studying in Korea and what you plan to do after you complete your study in Korea. The study plan is demonstrated through the statement of purpose or personal statement asked for by the GKS Program.

What are the scholarship benefits for GKS graduate programs?

The benefits offered by the Korean Government in 2024 for undergraduate programs are

Round trip airfare
Settlement allowance to relocate to Korea
Monthly allowance at the beginning of each month
Language Training Fee per month
Tuition Fee Waiver
Medical Insurance Fee
Research Support Fee
Thesis Printing Fee
Degree Completion Grants
Korean Proficiency Grants – 100,000 KRW per month

What are the scholarship benefits for GKS undergraduate programs?

I loved the sample I also want to apply for GKS Scholarship this year. I will need some assistance with my personal statement and study plan.

Hi Deborah, Thanks for liking our work. We can surely help you in creating a convincing Personal Statement and Study Plan for the Global Korean Scholarship Program – GKS 2024. Feel free to call me anytime.

Hello I find this very helpful and I would like you to help me on how to write my sop personal statement and study plan thank you as I want to apply soon

Yes, We can help you with the Personal Statement and Study Plan for GKS. Please, get in touch with our team at https://wa.me/919811040414 or email at [email protected] .

Hello, I like this sample and I was wondering if you could help me with the Personal Statement and Study Plan for GKS. I am planning to apply soon.

Hi Victor, Yes, We can help you with the Personal Statement and Study Plan for GKS. Please, get in touch with our team on +91-9811040414 or email at [email protected] .

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How to write Personal Statement for GKS

Students who are applying for a GKS Scholarship for the first time typically have questions about how to write a strong Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement. This article's main goal is to provide you with writing assistance for such a statement.

So today I've covered a few topics that I've split down into manageable chunks so you can easily grasp how to construct your own statement of purpose and personal statement. A few screening ideas to help you sound more promising if you're applying for the GKS scholarship for Masters and PhD study in Korea.

Motivation with which you apply for this program

The following points should be considered while you explain this point:, generally speaking, when discussing the first point in your writing, you should accurately portray the actual event that took place when you decided to study in south korea so that it appears believable to the reader. if you're applying for veterinary science, for example, you can begin your personal statement in a way that will grab the reader's interest while also describing the precise reasons why you are interested in the programme. begin drafting a personal statement with only the first two to three lines. then begin a new paragraph., family background, create the second paragraph as your narrative, in which you discuss your family, the challenges you have faced, and who you are as a person while still relating the story. describe the struggles you have faced in your life..

For Example- Life has been a difficult journey for me overall. I was born into a lower middle-class country-name family and am the eldest of three daughters; my mother passed away when I was only six years old. ---------- Then start narrating your story . End the paragraph with seven to eight lines.

Significance Experiences you have had

In the fourth paragraph, you can describe your internship experiences, job experiences and those of others. ( Describe the each and every activity in a way that it will state, your purpose, what difficulties you faces, what solution you brought and what you learned through this activity.

Person or events that have had a significant influence on you

If applicable, describe awards you have received, publications you have made, or skills you have acquired etc., others.

Try including each and every certificate, employment history, letter of recommendation, and CV. Try to include a few certifications or accomplishments in your personal statement, explain them, and then attach the relevant letters to the other documents.

Then, your final paragraph will be crucial to your personal statement. You must establish a link between your final paragraph and the first three introductory sentences of the PS. Like, after this experience, describe the challenges you encountered and how you overcame them to ultimately apply for GKS.

Thanks a lot for this information it is very useful...will use this as a reference. Keep it up 👍

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How to Write Personal Statement for GKS Scholarship

A personal statement is one of the important parts of the GKS/KGSP scholarship application. It must be well written to show your uniqueness among other students who want to apply for the GKS scholarship. It also aids the selection procedure for the students as it presents their different purpose for applying for the scholarship program.

If you are reading this, I suppose you are interested in the GKS scholarship and would like to know how to write a personal statement for the GKS scholarship. Good thing is, this post has the answers to your searches. So let’s begin!

What is a Personal Statement?

A personal statement sometimes called a statement of purpose is a document that provides the overview of a student profile to the scholarship selection team. It provides students with information related to their goals, interest, objectives, and some other aspects. A personal statement for the GKS scholarship is one of the most important documents that can make your chance of selection higher for the scholarship.

What is GKS Scholarship?

The GKS Scholarship fully called the “ Global Korea Scholarship Program ”, is an academic scholarship funded and managed by the National Institute for International Education, a branch of the Ministry of Education in the Republic of Korea. Its purpose is to provide international students with the opportunity to advance their studies at higher educational institutes in the Republic of Korea. It offers bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D., and research programs to deserving candidates worldwide. In addition, the scholarship program allows students worldwide to study and complete undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in the Republic of Korea.

Is GKS Scholarship the Same as KGSP Scholarship?

Yes, they are the same. The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is a South Korean government initiative that provides students with scholarships. Before this, they referred to it as KGSP (Korean Government Scholarship Program). The scholarship program allows students worldwide to study in South Korea.

Now that you understand the concept of the GKS Scholarship and the meaning of the Personal Statement, let’s move further to how you can write a personal statement for GKS Scholarship.

Importance of GKS/KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement

The GKS/KGSP scholarship personal statement is one of the important documents that can get you selected for the scholarship program. The personal statement for the scholarship should be written well enough to make a clear difference and to make yourself a unique candidate.

Guidelines for GKS/KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement Writing

Many of the students who want to apply for the GKS scholarship write their personal statements without following the proper guidelines. So, to make sure you do, we have provided the following guidelines for your GKS statement writing:

GKS/KGSP scholarship program personal statement can be written in either Korean or English language. It depends on you.
Make sure your GKS scholarship personal statement is of good length. It should not be more than two pages.
Make sure to discuss your achievements, skills, experiences, and the goals that you want to achieve during your study program.

Tips for GKS/KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement

Before you start writing your personal statement for the GKS/KGSP scholarship make sure that you know what the GKS scholarship personal statement must align with these.

Follow the guidelines that are provided by the GKS scholarship for writing a personal statement.
You should focus on the main points that need to be discussed to make your personal statement good.
Your personal statement should be unique to differentiate you from other candidates applying for the scholarship.
Avoid unnecessary stories as you only have two pages to write down your personal statement.

How To Write GKS/KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement:

To write the GKS/KGSP scholarship personal statement you must follow all the things that are mentioned in the GKS scholarship personal statement form. Then follow these steps to make sure that your personal statement for the GKS/KGSP scholarship is well-written:

Write about Your Motivation for The Program:

This is the first thing or points that your personal statement should include. You must explain your motivation and why you have chosen to apply for this scholarship program. Let them know your main motive behind choosing the scholarship program. Here are several things that you can include here to show your motivation for this program:

Which course program do you want to study under this scholarship program and why?
If you are applying for this program, then what is your purpose?
How would you contribute to the community if you are selected for this scholarship program?
How can you be a good candidate for this scholarship program?
Why are you motivated by this program?
Your Family Background and Education Background:

This is another point that you should discuss in your personal statement to make it good. Talk about your educational background and provide some information regarding your family background. Things you should focus on include:

Provide concise information regarding your academic record.
Discuss your academic achievements which you have achieved.
What course program you have studied previously?
Provide brief information about your family.

Have You Seen: Seoul National University Personal Statement Sample

Any Experience You Have, Your Achievements, Person or Event Which Influence You:

To make your personal statement unique you must write about your achievements, experience, and person or event which influence you. These things will provide information related to how you deal with challenges and what you have achieved in your life so far. Discuss your experience which might be related to the work you have done or the things you have achieved in your life. You can also explain about any person or event which influences you in your life as well. These things, if discuss well can make your personal statement good. So, write about:

Any work experience you have.
Achievements you have.
Any person or event who influences you in your life.
Write About the Extracurricular Activities or Work Experience:

Your extracurricular activities or work experience can be a good thing written in your personal statement. This will make it unique from others. You can include:

The extracurricular activities you have performed.
The work experience you have.
Any activity you have performed for the community.
What you learned by doing the extracurricular activities.
What is the reason behind performing such extracurricular activities?
Write About Your Awards, Publications, Or Skills You Have:

If you have received awards, written some publications, or have some skills then you should discuss them as well in your personal statement to make it more unique from other candidates. So, write about:

What awards you have received?
How did you receive those awards?
What publications you have done?
Why have you written those publications?
What are the skills that you have?
How these skills can be good for you?

I hope this article has helped your GKS/KGSP Personal Statement Writing . Nevertheless, if you need assistance writing and presenting an outstanding personal statement for your study, Contact us immediately!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GKS scholarship hard to get?

The GKS/KGSP is extremely competitive. To gain a scholarship In Korea, you need to prepare in advance with an excellent GPA, have an outstanding portfolio, and if possible, have certifications and awards. Also, depending on the University and program, you would need a good level of English proficiency. It has been stated that applicants need a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of or higher than: 2.64/4.0 or 2.80/4.3 or 2.91/4.5, or 3.23/5.0. That is, on a 100-point scale, one should score 80%.

What are the requirements to get accepted into the GKS scholarship program

To be eligible for the Korean Government Scholarship, you must meet the following requirement:

Citizenship: Candidates and their parents must hold non-Korean citizenship.
Age: KGSP-G: under 40,
Health: Candidates must be physically and mentally healthy for their studies in Korea.
Degree Requirements: KGSP-G: Bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Grades: The cumulative grade point average (CGPA) must be 80% or higher; or The CGPA must be 2.64/ 4.0, 2.80/ 4.3, 2.91/ 4.5, or 3.23/ 5.0 or higher.
Number of Scholarships: KGSP Graduate: around 700 grantees will be awarded annually

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What are the requirements to get accepted into GKS scholarship?

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Personal Statement for Scholarship: How to Write and Examples

Table of Contents

A substantial part of the applications are personal statement for scholarship. Writing a stunning personal statement is vital if you’re hoping to win a scholarship. The personal statement is your chance to convince the board that you deserve the scholarship. While your curriculum vitae may be remarkable, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of students are likely to be just as remarkable. A personal statement is an excellent way of setting yourself apart.

There’s no right way to write a personal statement for a scholarship, but here are some tips on how you can write a killer personal statement that can help you to elevate your pitch.

What is a personal statement for scholarship?

A personal statement is an overview of your accomplishments, talents, interests and objectives that are often included in applications for universities or scholarships or on resumes. It is a sample of writing (often about 2 pages) that describes you to the best of your abilities, your reasons for choosing the course you have chosen, your research interests, your goals and the creative ways you can add value to the program you are applying to.

The purpose of the personal statement is to provide an opportunity for those reviewing applications to learn more about you, your education goals, and how the scholarship will help you to continue your education.

How do you write a personal statement?

To guide you in composing your scholarship personal statement, here are some tips on how to get started.

Be concise, be organized, be focused

Make sure that your personal declaration follows a coherent order. Try to ponder how it might sound to an audience that doesn’t know you. Getting input from people you trust can help you get different points of view on how those who read it actually impact your personal statement. Avoiding long, drawn-out essay responses will not only help keep the attention of your reader, but will also show you’ve been thoughtful about your writing.

Be reflective

A personal statement, just because it narrates challenging times, is not always impactful. Strong personal statements should show that the writer has reflected on their past experiences and achievements and learnt from them. Ideally, the writer will be able to show progress towards a clear outlook on how he or she sees the world and the direction he or she is heading in the future. An effective personal statement gives a clear sense of your personal qualities and how you used and developed them to respond to your challenges and opportunities.

Get personal

The readers want to get an understanding of who you are, and the only way to do that is by sharing a little about who you are. That’s why it is called a personal statement after all. This is your opportunity to share what you feel they should know about you for making an informed decision with the reader.

Make it authentic

A personal statement for scholarship should show you who you really are and what you support about, not what you assume the readers want to hear. Remember that those who read your application will also be able to read many other applications, and will be able to tell you immediately if what you write is honest and genuine. It’s also worth remembering that some programs require a finalist interview where it’ll be easy to spot those who haven’t been authentic in their personal statements.

Give yourself plenty of time for revisions

Before submission, personal statements need to go through several revisions. Read your writing to others, and rewrite the content and style for accuracy. Pay attention to proper grammar and punctuation rules, and don’t forget spell checking. It’s also strongly advised that you make use of campus resources to gain valuable insight into how to improve your personal statement for scholarship.

A short personal statement, a strong personal statement

“My love of astronomy started when I looked up as a child at the darkness of space and found it captivating and awe-inspiring at the same time.” “From seeing my first production on stage I have been passionate about William Shakespeare’s works. I am fascinated by the way in which Shakespeare is still relevant today.

Can you see why these two examples are inaccurate?

While they are very favorable and well-worded statements about why a student might want to study astronomy, or Shakespearean literature, both of these examples of Personal Statement lead to clichés and generalization very rapidly.

We are not suggesting that when writing a personal statement for scholarship you should not use positive words, but this positive language needs to be supported up with solid, specific examples and thorough analyses. Remember: Showing, not telling, is the key to an excellent personal statement.

Why, then, is Shakespeare relevant to today? What specific examples could you use of an author from the 16th century to demonstrate its relevance to the modern age? Similarly, proclaiming a love for night sky wonders is all well and good, but why did it make you want to study astronomy?

Impose a limit on how many adjectives or descriptive sentences you use in your writing. It is important to remember that a personal statement in a relatively short number of words has to accomplish a lot. If you over-use words such as ‘ambitious,’ ‘astonishing,’ and ‘awe-inspiring,’ you’ll end up repeating yourself.

Structure of a personal statement

Structuring your statement is important to ensure it reads well. Write your personal statement as an ongoing prose piece, just like an essay. You might want to follow this structure:

Introduction

Your introduction should be brief, explaining why you’re excited about applying for the scholarship. The strongest introductions often have an academic focus, so think about the reading of the background that you did.

Avoid such phrases as ‘I always have’ or ‘from a young age’ or anything like that. Focus on one particular thing about the offered field that interests you. If you have a hardship, leave your introduction to the end. Once the main body of your personal statement has been written, it will be clear what your strongest motivations for applying are. Then you can integrate that into your introduction.

The main body of your personal statement should include examples that show your preparedness.

Start by choosing between three or four examples. For an idea of what examples you could include here, refer back to step one. Try to have at least one example related to your course which focuses on academic reading. Just avoid listing skills or qualities, and explain in detail your skills and experiences. Make sure you show when writing about skills or qualities that they are relevant to your future studies.

Try to think academically, as well. Imagine you are an admissions tutor when choosing your examples: are you demonstrating your knowledge of the subject through detailed examples? Are you showcasing the skills you need to apply the scholarship successfully?

Your conclusion should summarize your statement’s key points and remind the granting committee of your strengths. This is a good opportunity to write about your future plans, too. How does the scholarship that you apply for fit into your larger picture?

Examples of personal statement for scholarship

Whether it’s a scholarship essay about yourself, a creative writing scholarship, or an essay on why you deserve the scholarship, the personal statement for scholarship examples below can help you better understand what may result from following a good format.

Personal statement for scholarship: Example #1

As a child of immigrant parents, I learned to take responsibilities for my family and myself at a very young age. Although my parents spoke English, they constantly worked in order to financially support my little brother and me. Meanwhile, my grandparents barely knew English so I became their translator for medical appointments and in every single interaction with English speakers. Even until now, I still translate for them and I teach my grandparents conversational English. The more involved I became with my family, the more I knew what I wanted to be in the future.

Since I was five, my parents pushed me to value education because they were born in Vietnam and had limited education. Because of this disadvantage, I learned to take everything I do seriously and to put in all of my effort to complete tasks such as becoming the founder of my school’s Badminton Club in my sophomore year and Red Cross Club this year. Before creating these clubs, I created a vision for these clubs so I can organize my responsibilities better as a leader. The more involved I became, the more I learned as a leader and as a person. As a leader, I carried the same behavior I portrayed towards my younger cousins and sibling. My family members stressed the importance of being a good influence; as I adapted this behavior, I utilized this in my leadership positions. I learned to become a good role model by teaching my younger family members proper manners and guiding them in their academics so that they can do well. In school, I guide my peers in organizing team uniform designs and in networking with a nonprofit organization for service events.

Asides from my values, I’m truly passionate in the medical field. I always wanted to be a pediatrician since I was fourteen. My strong interest in the medical field allowed me to open up my shell in certain situations: when I became sociable to patients in the hospital as a volunteer, when I became friendly and approachable to children in my job at Kumon Math and Reading Center, and when I portrayed compassion and empathy towards my teammates in the badminton team. However, when I participated in the 2017 Kaiser Summer Volunteer Program at Richmond Medical Center, I realized that I didn’t only want to be a pediatrician. This program opened my eye to numerous opportunities in different fields of medicine and in different approaches in working in the medicine industry. While I may have a strong love for the medical field, my interest in business immensely grew as I soon discovered that I didn’t only have to take the practical approach in the medical field. With this interest, I plan to also become a part of a medical facility management team.

In the future, I hope to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor by attaining an MD, and to double major in Managerial Economics. I intend to study at UC Davis as a Biological Sciences major, where I anticipate to become extremely involved with the student community. After graduation, I plan to develop a strong network relationship with Kaiser Permanente as I’ve started last year in my internship. By developing a network with them, I hope to work in one of their facilities someday. Based on my values, interests, and planned future, I’m applying for the NCS Foundation scholarship because not only will it financially help me, but it can give motivation for me to academically push myself. I hope to use this scholarship in applying for a study abroad program, where I can learn about other cultures’ customs while conducting research there.

Personal statement for scholarship: Example #2

Nothing is more important to me than ending racial inequality and discrimination in America, as I do not want my younger siblings to face the discrimination Black people continue to face in our present society. After winning our fight to freedom and provoking the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, why do Black teens face higher poverty rates than Whites and are still four times more likely to be incarcerated? “That was such a long time ago. You really need to get over it,” my White peers say when referring to racial inequalities. But, why then, in 7th grade, after winning Nazareth Academy’s Spelling Bee competition, did my fellow White classmate state with a heavy dose of surprise, “You know…when I first saw you, I didn’t think you were going to be smart?”

I hope to contribute to ending racial discrimination by utilizing our present interconnectivity and running a social media campaign titled #It’sNotOver. #It’sNotOver aims to oppose the widespread misconception that, because racial inequality was legally outlawed, de facto racial inequality does not still persist in our society. Our recent presidential election may have brought life to a ‘Divided America’, but it also exposed how influential social media is. By raising awareness of racial disparities that occur everywhere, I might encourage a new wave of change in our country like that of the present Time’s Up movement. Furthermore, if I can access the influence of celebrities in my #It’sNotOver campaign, like that of Time’s Up, I might similarly capture the attention of millions of people and inspire action against this issue across the globe.

I know that social media can only do so much in addressing these issues as not everyone can afford the luxury of having internet access. However, I hope that my campaign can inspire all those who do have access to take it upon themselves to be the change by being inspired by the fact that we are globally united in this issue. Although I expect negativity and criticism from people who either do not believe that this issue exists or do not believe in our cause, I am willing to encounter it if it means our society as a whole irrevocably can grow to accept each other’s differences.

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5 GKS Scholarship Tips – Improve Your Chances For KGSP Scholarship

Post author By gksadmin
Post date March 12, 2023
30 Comments on 5 GKS Scholarship Tips – Improve Your Chances For KGSP Scholarship

GKS Scholarship, Global Korea Scholarship or KGSP (Korean Government Scholarship) is a fully funded scholarship that covers not only your tuition fee but also supports your monthly stipend (~$1000), health insurance, settlement allowance and Korean language training. The process of winning this scholarship is not easy, as it is considered one of the most prestigious and competitive scholarships globally. In this blog post, we will discuss 5 GKS Scholarship tips to help you increase your chances of receiving the Global Korea Scholarship.

Disclaimer : Please note that we are only suggesting you some of these GKS Scholarship tips to help improve your chances of being awarded the Global Korea Scholarship. The are our personal opinions and do not guarantee selection or admission.

GKS Scholarship Tips # 1: Planning Ahead

One important tip is to ensure that you plan ahead in order to avoid stressing out at the last minute.

When it comes to the application process for the GKS Scholarship, it is crucial to give it your full attention and dedication, as it involves a lengthy process and requires a significant amount of documentation. To ensure that you are adequately prepared, I recommend starting the application process at least 2-3 months before the deadline.

This will allow you sufficient time to gather all the necessary documents, such as letters of recommendation, transcripts, proof of citizenship for both you and your parents, and English proficiency test results (if required). It’s worth noting that the quality of your application is greatly influenced by the amount of time you have to prepare.

Tip # 2: Stand Out in Personal Statement

This has to be one of the most important GKS Scholarship tips. Imagine you have to go through 10,000 applications and each one of it starts with the same format, for example

I am ABC and was born in XYZ. My purpose in applying for the Global Korea Scholarship is to further my academic and professional goals in the field of International Relations. I am deeply interested in the diverse and complex relationships between nations, and I believe that the opportunity to study in Korea will provide me with a unique perspective and valuable skills that will contribute to my future career.

You see if every other Personal Statment has the same style and kind of the same wordings, you won’t stand out. So, make sure to start your personal statement with something unique, it could be a quote or a famous saying for example.

Disclaimer: Once again, remember that these tips are our personal opinions and only intended to enhance your chances of being selected for the Global Korea Scholarship. However, it is important to note that following these tips does not guarantee admission or selection.

GKS Scholarship Tips # 3: GPA Chart

According to the NIIED’s guidelines on the GKS Scholarship, all the applicants must meet the following requirements:

Score percentile should be 80% or above on a 100-point scale or be ranked in the top 20% of one’s class
CGPA must be equal to or above 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5 or 3.23/5.0

The Global Korea Scholarship i.e GKS Scholarship only considers GPA conversion scales ranging from 4.0 to 5.0. If your university uses this scale, you can fill out the form in the usual manner.

If your transcript does not have score percentile, refer to Appendix A. GPA Conversion Table to convert your CGPA into 100 points scale.

Applicants must submit an academic transcript with CGPA or ranking information
If a transcript does not provide CGPA in any one of the accepted GPA scales (4.0, 4.3, 4.5, 5.0 or 100 point scale), then the applicant must submit a transcript converted into one of the above GPA scales as a supplementary document.

Tip # 4: Additional points for Languages

Do you know, as per the NIIED guidelines for the GKS Scholarship, starting in 2024, applicants will receive additional points based on language proficiency in Korean and English

Korean: points will be given to applicants with valid TOPIK certificate based on their TOPIK level
English : points will be given to applicants with valid English proficiency certificate based on their test scores (TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, etc.)

More details: How to apply for GKS Scholarship

GKS Scholarship Tips # 5: Extracurricular Activities

One of another important GKS Scholarship tips is that always mention any extracurricular activities that you are good at. We believe that participating in extracurricular activities can significantly enhance an applicant’s chances of being awarded the GKS Scholarship for Korea.

Beyond academic achievements and qualifications, extracurricular activities demonstrate a student’s versatility and well-roundedness, which are highly valued by scholarship committees. Involvement in activities such as sports, music, community service, or leadership roles not only showcases a student’s talents and interests but also reflects their dedication and commitment to personal growth and development.

Additionally, extracurricular activities offer opportunities for students to build social and cultural competencies, which are essential for succeeding in an international program like the GKS Scholarship. Therefore, applicants should highlight their extracurricular involvement and achievements in their application to showcase their unique qualities and strengths that set them apart from other candidates.

Visit the link below for the official notice announced on the StudyinKorea website

GKS 2023 Official Notice

You can download the important documents by clicking the following links:

GKS Scholarship 2023 Graduate
GKS Scholarship 2023 Graduate Degree Application Form
FAQ 2023 GKS Graduate Degree program

To find out how to apply for the Global Korea Scholarship 2023 for the undergraduate degree , click here.

We wish you the best of luck and hope to see you in South Korea one day.

Tags gks scholarship graduate tips , GKS Scholarship tips , gks scholarship undergraduate tips , how to win gks , how to win kgsp , kgsp scholarship tips , win gks scholarship

30 replies on “5 GKS Scholarship Tips – Improve Your Chances For KGSP Scholarship”

Can we apply for GKS scholarship after 12 std

That’s nice studying in Korea

Less than 80% can apply?

Yes, you can apply but you should have in top 20% in your class So BEST OF LUCK

I read in class 8 and next year I want to go abroad how can I go abroad in full free scholarship

if you know the answer pls tell me

No ! 80% is at least percentage . You have to score 80% above . That is compulsory

how to know the deadline

So much inspired from the concern of govt.of Hanguke,korea

My exams will end in April and result will be announced in June so can I apply in September or October 2023 for GKS SCHOLARSHIP Now I am in 12th standard

Can I apply this year or not ?

Please reply Can I apply this year or not ??? ?

The scholarship programme of this year had already stared from september 2023.

My exams will end in April and result will be announced in June so can I apply for GKS SCHOLARSHIP 2023 Now I am in 12th standard

I also want to apply. How I apply it? Please tell me details

how to check that i am in 20% of my class in under graduation…..that means i have to compare my self from all the BBA students of 2024 o my state or just in my class?

Hi, I am an undergraduate student from Malaysia and I am interested in taking postgraduate programme in Korea. I would like to ask, if is it a must to take the English Proficient Test as I am from Malaysia. All of the courses we carried out in Malaysia are in full English and I have taken the Malaysian University English Test and have passed with a grade of band 4 over band 6.

Right now I am doing long term coaching to pursue my dreams to do medicine.So I want to apply for gks scholarship for 2024,so when should I apply I mean In which month I should apply??

[…] Read: 5 Tips to Win GKS Scholarship […]

My gpa is 3.17 in SSC and I am going to give HSC exam is this gpa is enough for GKS plz tell me

Do you need to be proficient in the English language?

Do you have to master the English language first?

Hey!! I’ve completed my graduation last year now I wanna do my masters from south Korea I want to know that how to know that I am in the top 20% students of my class and can I apply for GKS this year????

[…] this post, we will share several tips to improve your chances of winning the GKS Scholarship. Additionally, we will guide you through the application process, shedding light on the necessary […]

I should study in korea

My self himani & i am from india . I should study in korean because i love korean country .

I want to apply. How I apply it? Please tell me details

Pls I want to apply how can I do it

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How to Write an Amazing Personal Statement (Includes Examples!)

Lisa Freedland is a Scholarships360 writer with personal experience in psychological research and content writing. She has written content for an online fact-checking organization and has conducted research at the University of Southern California as well as the University of California, Irvine. Lisa graduated from the University of Southern California in Fall 2021 with a degree in Psychology.

Learn about our editorial policies

Zach Skillings is the Scholarships360 Newsletter Editor. He specializes in college admissions and strives to answer important questions about higher education. When he’s not contributing to Scholarships360, Zach writes about travel, music, film, and culture. His work has been published in Our State Magazine, Ladygunn Magazine, The Nocturnal Times, and The Lexington Dispatch. Zach graduated from Elon University with a degree in Cinema and Television Arts.

Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

How to Write an Amazing Personal Statement (Includes Examples!)

The personal statement. It’s one of the most important parts of the entire college application process. This essay is the perfect opportunity to show admissions officers who you are and what makes you stand out from the crowd. But writing a good personal statement isn’t exactly easy. That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate guide on how to nail your personal statement, complete with example essays . Each essay was reviewed and commented upon by admissions expert Bill Jack. Let’s dive in!

Related: How to write an essay about yourself

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a special type of essay that’s required when you’re applying to colleges and scholarship programs. In this essay, you’re expected to share something about who you are and what you bring to the table. Think of it as a chance to reveal a side of yourself not found in the rest of your application. Personal statements are typically around 400 – 600 words in length.

What can I write about?

Pretty much anything, as long as it’s about you . While this is liberating in the sense that your writing options are nearly unlimited, it’s also overwhelming for the same reason. The good news is that you’ll probably be responding to a specific prompt. Chances are you’re applying to a school that uses the Common App , which means you’ll have seven prompts to choose from . Reviewing these prompts can help generate some ideas, but so can asking yourself meaningful questions.

Below you’ll find a list of questions to ask yourself during the brainstorming process. For each of the following questions, spend a few minutes jotting down whatever comes to mind.

What experiences have shaped who you are?
What’s special or unique about you or your life story?
Who or what has inspired you the most?
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
What are your goals for the future? How have you arrived at those goals?
If your life was a movie, what would be the most interesting scene?
What have been some of the biggest challenges in your life? How did you respond and what did you learn?

The purpose of these questions is to prompt you to think about your life at a deeper level. Hopefully by reflecting on them, you’ll find an essay topic that is impactful and meaningful. In the next section, we’ll offer some advice on actually writing your essay.

Also see: How to write a 500 word essay

How do I write my personal statement?

Once you’ve found a topic, it’s time to start writing! Every personal statement is different, so there’s not really one formula that works for every student. That being said, the following tips should get you started in the right direction:

1. Freewrite, then rewrite

The blank page tends to get more intimidating the longer you stare at it, so it’s best to go ahead and jump right in! Don’t worry about making the first draft absolutely perfect. Instead, just get your ideas on the page and don’t spend too much time thinking about the finer details. Think of this initial writing session as a “brain dump”. Take 15-30 minutes to quickly empty all your thoughts onto the page without worrying about things like grammar, spelling, or sentence structure. You can even use bullet points if that helps. Once you have your ideas on the page, then you can go back and shape them exactly how you want.

2. Establish your theme

Now that you’ve got some basic ideas down on the page, it’s time to lock in on a theme. Your theme is a specific angle that reflects the central message of your essay. It can be summarized in a sentence or even a word. For example, let’s say you’re writing about how you had to establish a whole new group of friends when you moved to a new city. The theme for this type of essay would probably be something like “adaptation”. Having a theme will help you stay focused throughout your essay. Since you only have a limited number of words, you can’t afford to go off on tangents that don’t relate to your theme.

3. Tell a story

A lot of great essays rely on a specific scene or story. Find the personal anecdote relevant to your theme and transfer it to the page. The best way to do this is by using descriptive language. Consult the five senses as you’re setting the scene. What did you see, hear, taste, touch, or smell? How were you feeling emotionally? Using descriptive language can really help your essay come to life. According to UPchieve , a nonprofit that supports low income students, focusing on a particular moment as a “ revised version of a memoir ” is one way to keep readers engaged.

Related: College essay primer: show, don’t tell

4. Focus on your opening paragraph

Your opening paragraph should grab your reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of your essay. In most cases, this is the best place to include your anecdote (if you have one). By leading with your personal story, you can hook your audience from the get-go. After telling your story, you can explain why it’s important to who you are.

Related: How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)

5. Use an authentic voice

Your personal statement reflects who you are, so you should use a tone that represents you. That means you shouldn’t try to sound like someone else, and you shouldn’t use fancy words just to show off. This isn’t an academic paper, so you don’t have to adopt a super formal tone. Instead, write in a way that allows room for your personality to breathe.

6. Edit, edit, edit…

Once you’re done writing, give yourself some time away from the essay. Try to allow a few days to pass before looking at the essay again with fresh eyes. This way, you’re more likely to pick up on spelling and grammatical errors. You may even get some new ideas and rethink the way you wrote some things. Once you’re satisfied, let someone else edit your essay. We recommend asking a teacher, parent, or sibling for their thoughts before submitting.

Examples of personal statements

Sometimes viewing someone else’s work is the best way to generate inspiration and get the creative juices flowing. The following essays are written in response to four different Common App prompts:

Prompt 1: “Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

When I was eight years old, I wanted a GameCube very badly. For weeks I hounded my dad to buy me one and finally he agreed. But there was a catch. He’d only get me a GameCube if I promised to start reading. Every day I played video games, I would have to pick up a book and read for at least one hour. At that point in my life, reading was just something I had to suffer through for school assignments. To read for pleasure seemed ludicrous. Needless to say, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about this proposed agreement. But I figured anything was worth it to get my hands on that shiny new video game console, so I bit the bullet and shook my dad’s hand. Little did I know that I had just made a life-changing deal.

At first, the required hour of reading was a chore — something I had to do so I could play Mario Kart. But it quickly turned into something more than that. To my complete and utter surprise, I discovered that I actually enjoyed reading. One hour turned into two, two turned into three, and after a while I was spending more time reading than I was playing video games. I found myself captivated by the written word, and I read everything I could get my hands on. Lord of the Rings , Percy Jackson , Goosebumps — you name it. I was falling in love with literature, while my GameCube was accumulating dust in the TV stand.

Soon enough, reading led to writing. I was beginning to come up with my own stories, so I put pen to paper and let my imagination run wild. It started out small. My first effort was a rudimentary picture book about a friendly raccoon who went to the moon. But things progressed. My stories became more intricate, my characters more complex. I wrote a series of science fiction novellas. I tried my hand at poetry. I was amazed at the worlds I could create with the tip of my pen. I had dreams of becoming an author.

Then somewhere along the way my family got a subscription to Netflix, and that completely changed the way I thought about storytelling. My nose had been buried in books up until then, so I hadn’t really seen a lot of movies. That quickly changed. It seemed like every other day a pair of new DVDs would arrive in the mail (this was the early days of Netflix). Dark Knight, The Truman Show, Inception, Memento — all these great films were coming in and out of the house. And I couldn’t get enough of them. Movies brought stories to life in a way that books could not. I was head over heels for visual storytelling.

Suddenly I wasn’t writing novels and short stories anymore. I was writing scripts for movies. Now I wanted to transfer my ideas to the big screen, rather than the pages of a book. But I was still doing the same thing I had always done. I was writing, just in a different format. To help with this process, I read the screenplays of my favorite films and paid attention to the way they were crafted. I kept watching more and more movies. And I hadn’t forgotten about my first love, either. I still cherished books and looked to them for inspiration. By the end of my junior year of high school, I had completed two scripts for short films.

So why am I telling you all this? Because I want to turn my love of storytelling into a career. I’m not totally sure how to do that yet, but I know I have options. Whether it’s film production, creative writing, or even journalism, I want to find a major that suits my ambitions. Writing has taken me a long way, and I know it can take me even further. As I step into this next chapter of my life, I couldn’t be more excited to see how my craft develops. In the meantime, I should probably get rid of that dusty old GameCube.

Feedback from admissions professional Bill Jack

Essays don’t always have to reveal details about the student’s intended career path, but one thing I like about this essay is that it gives the reader a sense of the why. Why do they want to pursue storytelling. It also shows the reader that they are open to how they pursue their interest. Being open to exploration is such a vital part of college, so it’s also showing the reader that they likely will be open to new things in college. And, it’s always fun to learn a little bit more about the student’s family, especially if the reader can learn about how the students interacts with their family.

Prompt 2: “The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

I remember my first impression of Irvine: weird. It was foggy, stock-full of greenery and eucalyptus trees, and reminded me of my 5th grade trip to a “science camp” which was located in the San Bernardino mountains. Besides Irvine, that was one of the few places in Southern California where you’d find so many non-palm trees.

Of course, perhaps my initial impression of Irvine was biased, motivated by a desire to stay in my hometown and a fear of the unknown. While that was true to an extent, Irvine was certainly still a little peculiar. The city itself was based on a “master plan” of sorts, with the location of each of its schools, parks, shops, and arguably its trees having been logically “picked” before the foundation was poured. Even the homes all looked roughly the same, with their beige, stucco walls almost serving as a hallmark of the city itself.

Thus, this perfectly structured, perfectly safe city seemed like a paradise of sorts to many outsiders, my parents included. I was a little more hesitant to welcome this. As I saw it, this was a phony city – believing that its uniformity stood for a lack of personality. My hometown, although not as flawlessly safe nor clean as Irvine, was where most of my dearest memories had occurred. From the many sleepovers at Cindie’s house, to trying to avoid my school’s own version of the “infamous” cheese touch, to the many laughs shared with friends and family, I shed a tear at the prospect of leaving my home.

Moving into the foreign city, remnants of the hostility I held towards Irvine remained. Still dwelling in my memories of the past, I was initially unable to see Irvine as a “home.” So, as I walked into my first-ever Irvine class, being greeted by many kind, yet unfamiliar faces around me, I was unable to recognize that some of those new faces would later become some of my dearest friends. Such negative feelings about the city were further reinforced by newer, harder classes, and more complicated homework. Sitting in the discomfort of this unfamiliar environment, it started to seem that “change” was something not only inevitable, but insurmountable.

As the years went on, however, this idea seemed to fade. I got used to my classes and bike racing through Irvine neighborhoods with my friends, watching the trees that once seemed just a “weird” green blob soon transform into one of my favorite parts of the city. While I kept my old, beloved memories stored, I made space for new ones. From carefully making our way over the narrow creek path next to our school, to the laughs we shared during chemistry class, my new memories made with friends seemed to transform a city I once disliked into one I would miss.

Through this transformation, I have come to recognize that change, although sometimes intimidating at first, can open the door to great times and meaningful connections. Although Irvine may have once seemed like a strange, “phony” place that I couldn’t wait to be rid of, the memories and laughs I had grown to share there were very real. As I move onto this next part of my life, I hope I can use this knowledge that I have gained from my time in Irvine to make the most of what’s to come. Even if the change may be frightening at first, I have learned to embrace what’s on the other side, whether green or not.

One huge plus to writing an essay that focuses on a place is that you might have it read by someone who has been there. Yet, what’s really helpful about this essay is that even if someone hasn’t been there, a picture is painted about what the place is like. Admission officers have the hard task of really understanding what the student sees, so the use of adjectives and imagery can really help. It’s also really clever to see that the green that’s mentioned at the beginning is mentioned at the end. It’s a nice way to bookend the essay and tie it all together.

Prompt 6: “Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?”

I like getting lost. Not literally, of course, but figuratively. Whether it be in the story of a love song by Taylor Swift, or in the memories brought back by listening to my favorite childhood video game’s background music, I’ve always appreciated music’s ability to transport me to another place, another time, another feeling.

Alas, I cannot sing, nor have I practiced an instrument since my middle school piano class days. So, perhaps Kurt Vonnegut was right. As he puts it, “Virtually every writer I know would rather be a musician.” While I cannot speak for others, I have certainly not debunked his theory. Writing allows many, including myself, to attempt to mimic the transformative power of music – even if our singing voices aren’t exactly “pleasant.” Just as you can get lost in music, you can do so in a story. Whether it is in George Orwell’s totalitarian Oceania, or Little Women’s Orchard House, the stories outlined in novels can provide an amazing look into the lives and worlds of others, and an escape from the worries and problems of those in your own.

While I am certainly not claiming to have the storytelling abilities of the Orwells or Alcotts before me, I’ve had fun trying to recreate such transformative feelings for others. When I was nine, I attempted to write a story about a little girl who had gotten lost in the woods, only managing to get a couple pages through. As I got older, whenever I was assigned a creative writing assignment in school, I wrote about the same pig, Phil. He was always angry: in my 8th grade science class, Phil was mad at some humans who had harbored his friend captive, and in my 9th grade English class, at a couple who robbed him.

Thus, when I heard about a writing club being opened at my school in 11th grade, I knew I had to join. I wanted to discern whether writing was just a hobby I picked up now and then, or a true passion. If it was a passion, I wanted to learn as much as possible about how I could improve. Although my high school’s writing club certainly wasn’t going to transform me into Shakespeare, I knew I could learn a lot from it – and I did. The club challenged me to do many things, from writing on the spot, to writing poetry, to even writing about myself, something that’s hopefully coming in handy right now.

From then on, I started to expand into different types of writing, storing short ideas, skits, and more in appropriately-labeled Google Drive folders. At around the same time, I became interested in classic literature, which largely stemmed from a project in English class. We had been required to choose and read a classic on our own, then present it to the class in an interesting way. While my book was certainly interesting and unique in its own right, nearly everyone else’s novels seemed more captivating to me. So, I took it upon myself to read as many classics as I could the following summer.

One of the books I read during the summer, funnily enough, was Animal Farm, which starred angry pigs, reminiscent of Phil. I had also started going over different ideas in my head, thinking about how I could translate them into words using the new skills I learned. While the writing club helped reaffirm my interest in writing and allowed me to develop new skills, my newfound affinity for classics gave me inspiration to write. Now, I am actually considering writing as part of my future. In this endeavor, I hope that Phil, and the music I inevitably listen to as I write, will accompany me every step of the way.

Admission officers might read 70 (or more!) essays in one day. It’s not uncommon for them to start to blend together and sound similar. This essay might not make you laugh out loud. But, it might make the reader chuckle while reading it thanks to the subtle humor and levity. Being able to incorporate a little humor into your essay (if it is natural for you to do… do not force it), can really be a great way to shed additional light into who you are. Remember, the essay isn’t merely about proving that you can write, but it should also reveal a little bit about your personality.

Prompt 5: “Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.”

I learned a lot of things during the summer I worked at Tropical Smoothie. I discovered the value of hard work. I figured out how to save money. I even mastered the art of the Mango Magic smoothie (the secret is lots of sugar). But most importantly, I learned the power of perspective. And I have Deja to thank for that.

Deja was my shift supervisor, and one of Tropical Smoothie’s best employees. She was punctual, friendly, and always willing to lend a helping hand. She knew the store from top to bottom, and could handle pretty much any situation thrown her way. She made everyone around her better. On top of all that, she was four months pregnant! I was always impressed by Deja’s work ethic, but I gained an entirely new level of respect for her one day.

It was a Friday night, and Deja and I were working the closing shift together. It was very busy, and Deja and I were the only ones on shift. We managed to get by, but we were exhausted by the end of the evening. After wiping down the counters and mopping the floors, we closed up shop and went our separate ways. I was eager to get home.

I walked a couple blocks to where I had parked my car. Well, it wasn’t my car actually. It was my dad’s ‘98 Chevy pickup truck, and it was in rough shape. It had no heat or A/C, the leather seats were cracked beyond repair, and the driver’s side door was jammed shut. I sighed as I got in through the passenger side and scooted over to the driver’s seat. The whole reason I was working at Tropical Smoothie was to save up enough money to buy my own car. I was hoping to have something more respectable to drive during my senior year of high school.

I cranked the old thing up and started on my way home. But soon enough, I spotted Deja walking on the side of the road. There was no sidewalk here, the light was low, and she was dangerously close to the passing cars. I pulled over and offered her a ride. She got in and explained that she was on her way home. Apparently she didn’t have a car and had been walking to work every day. I couldn’t believe it. Here I was complaining about my set of wheels, while Deja didn’t have any to begin with.

We got to talking, and she confessed that she had been having a tough time. You would never know from the way she was so cheerful at work, but Deja had a lot on her plate. She was taking care of her mother, her boyfriend had just lost his job, and she was worried about making ends meet. And of course, she was expecting a baby in five months. On top of all that, she had been walking nearly a mile to and from work every day. The whole thing was a real eye opener, and made me reconsider some things in my own life.

For one, I didn’t mind driving my dad’s truck anymore. It was banged up, sure, but it was a lot better than nothing. My mindset had changed. I appreciated the truck now. I began to think about other things differently, too. I started making mental notes of all the things in my life I was thankful for — my family, my friends, my health. I became grateful for what I had, instead of obsessing over the things I didn’t.

I also gained more awareness of the world outside my own little bubble. My encounter with Deja had shown me first-hand that everyone is dealing with their own problems, some worse than others. So I started paying more attention to my friends, family members, and coworkers. I started listening more and asking how I could help. I also gave Deja a ride home for the rest of the summer.

These are all small things, of course, but I think they make a difference. I realized I’m at my best when I’m not fixated on my own life, but when I’m considerate of the lives around me. I want to keep this in mind as I continue to grow and develop as a person. I want to continue to search for ways to support the people around me. And most importantly, I want to keep things in perspective.

Too often we can be focused on our own problems that we fail to realize that everyone has their own things going on in their lives, too. This essay showcases how it’s important to put things in perspective, a skill that certainly will prove invaluable in college… and not just in the classroom. Another reason I like this essay is because it provides deeper insight into the student’s life. Sure, you might have mentioned in your activities list that you have a job. But as this essay does, you can show why you have the job in the first place, what your responsibilities are, and more.

A few last tips

We hope these essay examples gave you a bit of inspiration of what to include in your own. However, before you go, we’d like to send you off with a few (personal statement) writing tips to help you make your essays as lovely as the memories and anecdotes they’re based off of. Without further ado, here are some of our best tips for writing your personal statements:

1. Open strong

College admissions officers read many, many essays (think 50+) a day, which can sometimes cause them to start blending together and sounding alike. One way to avoid your essay from simply fading into the background is to start strong. This means opening your essay with something memorable, whether an interesting personal anecdote, a descriptive setting, or anything else that you think would catch a reader’s attention (so long as it’s not inappropriate). Not only might this help college admissions officers better remember your essay, but it will also make them curious about what the rest of your essay will entail.

2. Be authentic

Perhaps most important when it comes to writing personal statement essays is to maintain your authenticity. Ultimately, your essays should reflect your unique stories and quirks that make you who you are, and should help college admissions officers determine whether you’d truly be a good fit for their school or not. So, don’t stress trying to figure out what colleges are looking for. Be yourself, and let the colleges come to you!

3. Strong writing

This one may seem a little obvious, but strong writing will certainly appeal to colleges. Not only will it make your essay more compelling, but it may show colleges that you’re ready for college-level essay writing (that you’ll likely have to do a lot of). Just remember that good writing is not limited to grammar. Using captivating detail and descriptions are a huge part of making your essay seem more like a story than a lecture.

4. Proofread

Last but not least, remember to proofread! Make sure your essay contains no errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. When you’re done proofreading your essay yourself, we would also recommend that you ask a teacher, parent, or other grammatically savvy person to proofread your essay as well.

Final thoughts

With those in hand, we hope you now have a better sense of how to write your personal statement. While your grades and test scores are important when it comes to college admissions, it’s really your essays that can “make” or “break” your application.

Although this may make it seem like a daunting task, writing an amazing personal statement essay is all about effort. Thus, so long as you start early, follow the advice listed above, and dedicate your time and effort to it, it’s entirely possible to write an essay that perfectly encapsulates you. Good luck, and happy writing!

Also see: Scholarships360’s free scholarships search tool

Key Takeaways

It may take some people longer than others to know what they want to write about, but remember that everyone, including you, has something unique to write about!
Personal statements should be personal, which means you should avoid being too general and really strive to show off what makes you “you”
Time and effort are two of the most important things you can put into your personal statement to ensure that it is the best representation of yourself
Don’t forget to ask people who know you to read your work before you submit; they should be able to tell you better than anyone if you are truly shining through!

Frequently asked questions about writing personal statements

How do you write a powerful personal statement, what makes an amazing personal statement, how do you start an amazing personal statement, scholarships360 recommended.

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To write is to redefine, reorganize, and revisit when memories are getting blurred. And of course, to make it less noisy.

A journey to kgsp/gks: study plan.

After a very long while, I finally managed to post this! This, I guess is my final post on A Journey to KGSP/GKS Series. I’m still considering whether or not to make a post about the interview. I’m not sure I can cover this topic well since my experience is limited to the interview session in the Korean Embassy. Even I heard that each Embassy has its own way of conducting the interview, including the questions given. Anyways, on this post, I’ll be sharing on my experience in writing a study plan (or statement of purpose for the Graduate degrees) for the GKS Application. If you just started preparing the GKS Application, you may want to check my previous posts on the guideline to the application forms and personal statement essay or read my experience in applying for the 2016 KGSP/GKS-G .

So, as we’ve known, a study plan is another important stage to showcase the applicant’s ability in planning his study in Korea. One needs to explain his/her plans before coming to Korea when doing the study in Korea, and after graduating from the Korean university.

Study Plan template (2021 GKS-Undergraduate Application)

Statement of Purpose template (2021 GKS-Graduate Application)

When preparing for the application back in 2016, I tried to find as many resources as possible. I joined the KGSP Global Applicant Facebook group, searched awardees from Indonesia and other countries online through Facebook and Instagram, and contacted them to discuss their experience and ask for some advice. I then found Mas Nasikun’s blog , a KGSP awardee from Indonesia who did his Master’s degree program at Seoul National University. I was especially very grateful for his posts on how to write a study plan. His posts on KGSP Application are still there and anyone interested in applying for this scholarship will surely find it very useful.

Here I’m making a kind of brief guideline in writing a study plan. I divide them into plans before, during, and after studying in Korea.

Plans before going to Korea. Here, you need to write down things you have been doing and will be doing before going to Korea. This mostly covers Korean language preparation. I believe that ‘taking Korean language courses’ shouldn’t be necessarily on the list. There’s a bunch of fun ways to learn a language, especially the Korean language. What is better than watching Korean TV shows and being whipped by the actors and actresses? (Not watching one?) Okay, if you still doubt whether you should start learning the language by now, I urge you to do so unless you just apply for fun and ‘luckily’ see yourself get a seat at the end. Especially for those who never got anything related to Korea, get yourself used to how Korean language sounds is an important first step that will take you further lightheartedly. I met people who hardly heard the Korean language until they reach the country, and they struggled within one-year language training which I believe could have been less tormenting and fun instead. One year is short if not to say insufficient, trust me.

I was far from fluent when applying for this scholarship program (well, I still am), but I wasn’t unfamiliar with the language either. If there was only one effort in learning the language that I invested the most, it was listening to Korean songs. I wasn’t into K-dramas before coming to Korea, and I could barely make any time to go to a language center. I started learning Hangeul (Korean alphabet) while preparing for the application but just started self-teaching on basic grammars around 2 months before my departure in August. I wasn’t confident in mastering the language in one year, plus my over-anxiety told me to do something to lessen my stress in the future. Still, I knew I should’ve started earlier.

So, you need to explain that any plans during this time are to prepare you for life in Korea and of course the degree program. Here, you also need to mention your goals during the language training program. You may divide it into two semesters; what things you will do and the level of Korean proficiency you aim in the first and second half. There are many programs you can participate in during language training, such as the Buddy program, voluntary work at Korean schools, cultural festivals, etc. You may do your research and mention what you’re mostly expecting to do to improve your Korean skills.

Plans during your study in Korea. This section is a little bit different for GKS-U and GKS-G applicants AND applicants via Embassy and University Track. GKS-U applicants are provided a separate section for this part whereas, for GKS-G applicants, this part is combined with the plan before coming to Korea. Regardless, the best way to deliver this part is by setting a timeline for your plan, either per semester or per academic year.

For GKS-U applicants , I personally think that you can simply mention the number of credits in total to graduate and the average number of credits every semester. As for the course, you can mention some courses you’re particularly interested in and the reason (for example, those courses are in line with the topic interest of your final project/thesis, or they will be beneficial for your future career). These are basic information, so make sure you check the curriculum and graduation requirements! Other things to include are plans on taking short-term courses during summer/winter break and organizations/clubs/other student activities you will want to join (check on the university/department website for reference). Don’t forget to elaborate on why you need these activities (project it to your future goal).

For GKS-G applicants , I recommend writing down your study plan per semester since dividing into two academic years may limit the details. Depending on the major, you may set different goals each semester. Generally, I believe, the first semester would be the time to strengthen your fundamental knowledge regarding your field of study while adapting to the Korean education system. Some may have chances to start consulting with their academic advisor/professor even working in a lab. In the second semester, you may need to start working on your research plans. Here, you may briefly explain the thesis research you want to do. Most Master’s degree programs in Korea require a thesis for graduation so make sure you prepare one. Unless you’re applying for the Research Program, no need to go very detail on this. Three important points to include when explaining your research plan: what the research topic is, why you want to work on it, and why Korea and/or your university choice is the best place to carry out this research. In the third semester, you will probably need to sit for a comprehensive exam and start conducting your research. For social science and humanity students, you should prepare the ethical clearance application by the end of this semester or during the semester break so that you can start conducting your research, especially, collecting the research data, as the new semester begins. Finally, you may wrap up your final semester by completing the thesis and publishing or submitting a research article to a journal (some departments have it as part of graduation requirements).

For Embassy track applicants , I don’t think you need to elaborate on your 3 university and major choices and the reasons behind every choice. You likely apply for similar if not the same major. Despite different names, the focus study should be the same and that’s what you need to elaborate on. What I did back then is briefing the reason I applied for that major (I already mention it in the Personal Statement so I just briefly explain it here) and what topic of study I will focus on my thesis research. For university track applicants , you may explain the reasons for applying to the major and the university of your choice and your study plan followed by the plan each semester.

Plans after graduating from a Korean university. The keyword for this part, I believe, is future career. And the best way to show the reviewer your enthusiasm and your visionary side (regardless of how vague the future life is yet), is to name your future goal. I think telling what kind of job you aspire and some motivations behind it would work. Another important point to include is whether you will return to your home country or stay in Korea after graduation, accompanied by things you will do afterward. Again, this part may seem vague for some, especially for GKS-U applicants. Still, you need to make it as detail as possible, regardless of whether you’ll change it someday in the future or whether it seems unattainable for now. Dream big! If you plan on going directly to a graduate school, briefly explain what motivates you to continue your study and what field of study you’re going for. For GKS-G applicants, I guess their work for this part shouldn’t be too difficult as some are likely to already have a job and/or know where they’ll go after receiving the degree.

I hope you find this post helpful and may as well be a reference for writing your study plan. Best of luck with your GKS application and your study in Korea.

korean government scholarship program
global korea scholarship
studyinkorea
Korean Scholarship
scholarship for graduate programs
scholarship for undergraduate programs
student life
university life in korea
3 years ago with 54 notes

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essay sample study in south korea full gks

4 Global Korea Scholarship Essay Examples

Your essay should include the following components and should not exceed two A4 pages:

Motivations : Explain the reasons and motivations that led you to apply for this program.
Family and Education Background : Briefly describe your family background and your educational history.
Significant Experiences : Share key experiences in your life, including risks you have taken, achievements you have made, or any individuals or events that have had a significant influence on you.
Extracurricular Activities : Discuss any extracurricular activities you have participated in, such as club activities, community service, or work experiences.
Additional Accomplishments (if applicable) : If relevant, mention any awards you have received, publications you have authored, or specific skills you have acquired.

Art, Ambition, and Aspirations: My Quest for Cultural Unity

Passion is the driving force behind our aspirations, whether they manifest in a sport, profession, or a dream. With genuine passion, the seemingly impossible becomes attainable .

From the tender age of 10, life presented me with a series of challenges. My father’s deteriorating health, the stagnation of our family business, and fluctuating financial circumstances tested our resilience. Amidst these adversities, my mother emerged as my beacon of strength. Her unwavering spirit in the face of hardship taught me to confront my fears head-on, transforming them into stepping stones for growth.

Entering high school marked a new chapter. Inspired by my mother’s tenacity, I reminded myself, “The past is behind you. Embrace the present and chase your passions.” My mother’s journey from an artisan and tailor to an arts and crafts teacher instilled in me the belief that dreams have no expiration date.

My own dream took shape in the form of a deep-seated passion for Korean culture, design, and artistry. Discovering the GKS scholarship, I recognized an opportunity to merge my interests and alleviate financial pressures on my family. To pursue this dream, I made the difficult decision to step away from an 8-year basketball career, driven by a newfound ambition.

To gain my family’s trust in my aspirations, I immersed myself in cultural exchange programs, securing top positions in language competitions and representing my school in an ERASMUS+ project in Italy. This experience not only broadened my horizons but also solidified my belief in my capabilities.

Back in Turkey, my passion for art found a canvas on the walls of our school, where I painted portraits of iconic artists. This endeavor not only showcased our artistic talents but also earned us accolades and recognition.

As I aspire to study in Korea, I’m driven by a vision to bridge cultural gaps, especially for the deaf community. Through sign language and visual communication, I aim to foster inclusivity and mutual understanding between Turkey and Korea. Moreover, Korea’s minimalist and innovative design ethos aligns with my belief in a future that values simplicity and creativity.

In conclusion, passion is the compass that guides my journey. While challenges are inevitable, my determination, inspired by my mother’s resilience, ensures that I remain undeterred. I am committed to realizing my dreams, fueled by unwavering self-belief and ambition.

A Journey of Curiosity: Embracing Korea’s Educational Excellence

From early childhood, an insatiable curiosity drove me to relentlessly seek knowledge. Encouraged by my parents to find answers independently, I developed a habit of rigorous research, allowing me to delve into varied perspectives on subjects that intrigued me.

This quest for understanding introduced me to the Korean educational system, globally acclaimed for its role in Korea’s socio-economic ascent. Recognizing the scholarship as a gateway to immerse in Korean culture, language, and society, I envision it as a platform to nurture my passion for diplomacy and education. Studying international relations in Korea promises a comprehensive career perspective, enriched by hands-on experiences and diverse cultural exchanges. I am confident that this program will offer an unparalleled education and cultivate a holistic global perspective.

Hailing from a lower-middle-class family, I learned early on the significance of education. My parents, despite their limited educational opportunities, prioritized our academic pursuits. Their unwavering support propelled me to academic excellence, culminating in my admission to a prestigious public school and later, the military police school.

High school exposed me to simulations, lectures, and projects that sharpened my academic prowess. Collaborative endeavors and presentations on diverse topics helped me overcome stage apprehension and fostered teamwork skills. These experiences expanded my global awareness and intellectual growth.

During the recent quarantine, my affinity for Korea deepened. I embarked on learning the Korean language, complemented by online courses on Korean society and its economic evolution. This immersion sparked my interest in foreign languages, leading me to study Italian. Concurrently, I participated in the Humanities Olympics and a United Nations Simulation, both amplifying my passion for diplomacy and international relations.

The opportunity to study in Korea offers a unique blend of world-class education and cultural immersion. Engaging with a global student community promises to enhance my understanding and perspectives. I am resolute in leveraging this opportunity for personal growth and contributing to the broader sphere of international relations. With the unwavering support of my family and a deep belief in education’s transformative power, I eagerly anticipate this educational odyssey in Korea. I am profoundly thankful for the consideration of my application and the potential to embark on this enriching journey.

From Provincial Roots to Global Aspirations: My Quest for Technological Excellence

My name is XXX YYY ZZZ, but many know me affectionately as XXX, a moniker that translates to “angel” in my father’s dialect. Bestowed upon me during a tumultuous period in our family’s history, my name embodies the beacon of hope and inspiration I represent to my loved ones. Their unwavering faith in me has molded my character, fostering a spirit of exploration, resilience, and an unyielding drive to harness my innate strengths.

From my formative years, the melodic allure of the piano captivated me, guiding my path to the Secondary Professional School of Art. Here, amidst nurturing mentors and peers, I honed my craft, clinching grand-prize accolades in esteemed piano contests. This nurturing environment underscored the value of collective growth over individual competition.

Hailing from a modest provincial town, I was privileged to attend a specialized language school, laying a robust foundation in linguistic studies. This linguistic prowess proved invaluable when I embarked on my journey to master the Korean language.

Volunteerism has always been a cornerstone of my ethos. From environmental initiatives to community upliftment projects, I’ve endeavored to make a tangible difference. Concurrently, a burgeoning fascination with technology led me to immerse myself in workshops spanning robotics, game development, and web programming.

My high school tenure was marked by academic distinction, complemented by active participation in extracurricular pursuits. As a Student Council member and the founder of the Debate Club, I refined my oratory and interpersonal skills.

The pandemic’s onset brought unforeseen challenges, straining my family’s finances and compelling me to defer my academic aspirations. Undeterred, I juggled part-time work with continuous self-improvement, ever committed to community betterment.

Drawn to South Korea’s technological prowess, I am resolute that a degree in Computer Science and Engineering from this nation will empower me with unparalleled academic and practical expertise . Ajou University, with its stellar academic standing, diverse student body, and innovative ethos, emerges as my institution of choice.

My vision is to channel my expertise towards spearheading technological innovations in Armenia and beyond. I am confident that a scholarship from Ajou University will be instrumental in this endeavor, allowing me to wholly immerse in my academic pursuits and catalyze positive global change.

In summation, my journey, punctuated by tenacity, inquisitiveness, and a zeal for knowledge, has primed me for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. I am certain that Ajou University offers the quintessential milieu to amplify my potential, expand my worldview, and leave an indelible mark on the technological landscape. I eagerly await the prospect of joining the Ajou community and embarking on this transformative odyssey.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude for considering my application.

Bridging Cultures Through Biological Research: My Korean-Polish Vision

From the hallowed halls of Jagiellonian University, I was introduced to the microscopic marvels of fucoidans. These high-molecular compounds, diminutive in size, boast profound capabilities—from reducing blood pressure to combating cancer. This revelation ignited a fervor for biological sciences within me, further fueled by the professor’s evident passion. It was in that moment, I envisioned myself as a scientist, driven by curiosity and dedication.

My journey into the realm of biology was complemented by diverse experiences. As a distinguished volleyball player, I learned discipline and accountability, attributes that later proved invaluable. Balancing rigorous training with academic pursuits, I emerged as a top student, earning accolades and scholarships. My involvement in the school volunteer club and the school council further honed my organizational and leadership skills.

Throughout high school, I delved deeper into biochemistry, collaborating on our school’s inaugural newspaper and taking on leadership roles. My linguistic prowess in English, nurtured by Dr. Skowrońska, placed me among Poland’s top students. My insatiable curiosity often led me beyond standard curricula, prompting me to explore advanced topics in biochemistry and biology.

My family’s unwavering support has been my bedrock. My mother’s dedication to my education and my father’s commitment to continuous learning instilled in me the belief that growth is an unending journey.

My intrigue with Korea began with the mesmerizing piano renditions of Lee Hyuk and deepened with my exploration of the shared histories between Korea and Poland. A transformative visit to Seoul further solidified my desire to study in this vibrant nation. The Korean ethos—balancing relentless dedication with moments of joy—resonated deeply with me.

South Korea’s prominence in biotechnological research makes it the perfect destination for my academic pursuits. The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) program offers a beacon of hope, enabling me to access world-class education without the financial constraints that have long shadowed my dreams. Institutions like Seoul National University, Pusan University, and Kyungpook University offer unparalleled opportunities in biological research.

By awarding me the GKS scholarship, you will be investing in a future that bridges Korean and Polish scientific communities. I am committed to fostering collaborations, sharing knowledge, and contributing to the global tapestry of biological research. With the GKS program’s support, I am poised to excel academically, drive scientific innovation, and build enduring international relationships.

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How to Write a Killer Scholarship Personal Statement: Definitive Guide With Examples

A lady searching for scholarships, and preparing to write a scholarship personal statement

The Importance of an Effective Personal Statement

Whether you’re coming straight out of high school, are a transfer student, or are an adult student returning to college after a long absence, one of the first things you’ll want to do when preparing for college is to look for scholarships.

At all levels, college is expensive. Winning scholarships that cut down on costs is a priority for most of us, and writing an effective scholarship personal statement can help you do that.

There are many important parts of the process when it comes to scholarship applications. Locating the scholarships and gathering all the relevant information are key components, but your scholarship personal statement is arguably the most important part of a scholarship application.

Writing a powerful and memorable personal statement can really make your application stand out among the hundreds of other submissions.

Table of Contents

What Exactly Is a Scholarship Personal Statement?

A personal statement is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. It’s a statement, paragraph, or essay about yourself. It should tell who you are, where you came from, what your dreams, goals, and aspirations are, and more. It should focus on your strengths and tell scholarship committees why you deserve their money.

Sometimes, personal statements can be written in response to an open-ended question, such as, “ Tell us about yourself. ” More often, though, scholarship applications have a very specific prompt that you’re supposed to follow when writing your personal statement.

Following the Prompt

A prompt is something that many colleges or other types of scholarship committees will give you to help guide your writing. Some essays won’t have a prompt. We’ll discuss those later on in the article. For now, let’s focus on the applications that provide you with prompts.

When given a prompt, please stick to it and answer it fully. You don’t want to trail off onto some other tangent or write your statement how you want to write it simply because it sounds better or because you already have a standard scholarship personal statement you like to use. Answer the prompt that is given, and answer it honestly and completely.

Some prompts require you to respond to the questions asked in the order given, while for others ( most of them ), you can follow whatever order that suits you, so long as you address all questions.

Knowing about some common prompts beforehand will help prepare you for what you may be asked and will keep you from being blindsided. Knowing some common prompts early on can also prepare you a little more about what to write.

Common College Scholarship Personal Statement Prompts

1. why do you deserve this scholarship.

This is probably the most commonly asked prompt for any scholarship personal statement. Most organizations that give scholarships know why you want the scholarship. What they don’t know is why exactly they should give it to you. Your answer to this prompt should be one that fully answers the question by telling the scholarship committee not only why you deserve the money, but also why you need it at all.

Why you deserve something and why you need it are two totally different questions. This prompt, though, requires you to answer both. The reasons you need the scholarship money could involve a number of factors, including:

Financial hardship in your family
Coming from a single-parent or foster-parent home
Older siblings already at college
Parent(s) is disabled, out of work, or incarcerated
Coming from a low-income family, neighborhood, or Title I school
Receiving government assistance (housing, food stamps, etc.)
Being a ward of the state with no support system

All of these reasons – and more – are why you might need the money. Tell the committee that in your scholarship personal statement.

Telling them these things should not be seen as “feeling sorry for yourself” or begging for help. These are all legitimate reasons you could potentially need help paying for college. As long as you’re being honest, these are definitely things that should be included in your personal statement.

Telling the committee why you deserve the scholarship is a little different. While all those reasons are why you need the money, they don’t explain why you deserve it. This is the part of the scholarship personal statement where you sell the committee on YOU.

Tell them about all the great things you’ve done. If you were an honor roll student, a member of the BETA Club or National Honor Society, or a National Merit Scholar, put that in your statement.

Other reasons you could cite as to why you deserve a scholarship include:

Exceptional athletic ability or talent
Many hours of documented community service
Having served your country honorably in the military
Impressive personal stories of overcoming adversity
Exceptional ACT/SAT scores
A schedule that shows an impressive balance of grades, sports, community service, etc.

Just as listing the reasons you need the scholarship isn’t begging, listing these reasons for deserving the scholarship isn’t bragging. There are hundreds, possibly even thousands, of people, trying to get the same scholarships you’re trying to get. You need to stand out above the crowd.

2. Tell us about overcoming your greatest challenge.

Although this prompt is worded quite differently from the first prompt, in essence, you can answer them both in a similar way. All of those reasons you might have for needing the money are also challenges you’ve had to overcome to succeed in life.

Other possible challenges could include the loss of parents, a physical or mental disability you’ve had to learn to cope with throughout your life, or a dangerous, scary, or upsetting life event you’ve lived through in your past.

For this type of prompt, you’ll want to start with the challenge you faced. Be as honest and descriptive as possible about what it was. Then be equally honest and descriptive about the steps you took to overcome it. If, after overcoming the challenge, you received some kind of recognition or award, make sure you mention that as well.

3. Why do you want to attend college?/Why is education important?

This is another very popular question that’s asked on scholarship applications. A scholarship committee wants to know that you have actual, obtainable goals for your education and your future before they give you money to use for college.

If you can’t effectively explain why college – and education in general – is important to your future goals, most committees won’t want to take a chance on you.

There are different ways to approach this particular prompt. If you fit into a category of people who have notoriously been excluded from higher education in the past, such as African Americans, women, or other minority groups, talking about that can help your case.

You can discuss how hard the generations that came before you fought for you to be able to attend college and how you want to honor that.

You can also take a wholly personal approach to answering this question. Mention any relevant struggles you’ve been through, and don’t be afraid to talk about your family. Did they go to college?

If not, discuss what an honor it’ll be to be the first in your family to graduate from college. Those types of things are all relevant reasons you might want to attend college.

No matter which way you decide to go with your answer to this question, don’t forget to talk about your goals and how college is the only way for you to achieve them in your scholarship personal statement.

Be specific. Talk about your intended major and how that major and the classes you’ll take for it will help you become what you want to become. If you’re applying for a college-specific scholarship, talk about why you want to go to that specific college.

4. Random and Unique Essay Prompts

Sometimes, no matter how hard you study and prep in order to write a good essay, a scholarship committee comes up with a personal statement essay prompt that seems like it’s entirely out of left field. These types of prompts can be anything.

For example, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been known to ask students seeking scholarships in the past, “ What do you hope to find over the rainbow? ”. And for 2022/23, one of UNC’s application prompts required fill-in-the-blank type of responses, including:

If I had an extra hour in every day, I would spend it…
If I could travel anywhere, near or far, past, present or future, I would go…
The last time I stepped outside my comfort zone, I…

The 2022/23 Yale-specific questions on the Coalition and Common App included the following short answer questions:

You are teaching a new Yale course. What is it called?
Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What would you ask them to discuss?

Another unusual prompt you might come across is “What would you do if you were a superhero?” .

There really isn’t a way to prepare for these types of prompts, but knowing they exist and that you might run across one is a good start.

For many people, these are the best kinds of prompts to receive. They give you a chance to let your imagination run wild, and they’re a nice change from the same old “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” type of questions.

So if you do happen to run across one of these, don’t immediately dismiss it. These types of prompts give you a chance to have a little fun. They are a chance to have your personality shine a little, and who knows- you might just impress the scholarship committee!

Writing Scholarship Personal Statements for Applications without Prompts

If you’re asked to write a personal statement but aren’t really given a prompt, simply tell the college a mixture of all those things listed above. Talk about your achievements, accomplishments, and instances of overcoming obstacles. Talk about your history, and tell them why you need the scholarship and why you deserve it.

There are also a few other Do’s and Don’ts to remember. Do be specific, but don’t get too complicated. Keep things simple and light, while also being thorough. Your personal statement is like a mini autobiography.

You want to highlight all the key points while putting a heavy emphasis on your strengths. You can mention a weakness, especially if you’ve learned to overcome that weakness, but don’t focus too much attention there.

Arrange your essay in a logical order that makes sense and flows well. Also, try to keep to one or two central themes throughout the entirety of the statement. Clear, concise personal statements are easily read and extremely memorable. Don’t be afraid to tell a story, though.

You never want to lie or exaggerate in your personal statement, but you should make it as interesting and as entertaining as possible while sticking to the facts.

Be very clear and precise about your goals and dreams. Don’t add in a lot of hypotheticals, maybes, or uncertainties. Scholarship committees want to know that you have a solid goal for your future.

They don’t want to give money to someone who might want to be an engineer and thinks botany is great but also really loves the idea of cosmetology and is just going to “stay undeclared until I figure it all out.” Umm…that’s an extreme example, perhaps, but you get the idea.

Don’t add in a lot of unnecessarily long words. Your personal statement should read like an actual story of your life, not a poorly written thesaurus. Trust us on this.

Scholarship committees will be much more impressed if you write an honest, well-organized, and coherent essay about yourself than they will if you find a way to use the words “ platitudinous ,” “ audacity ” and “ impecunious ” in your personal statement.

Also, avoid cliches and extremely long and wordy sentences.

Personal Statement Review: If you need help brainstorming or reviewing your essay, check our personal statement helper page.

Standard Scholarship Essay Format

The first thing you want to do when writing your scholarship personal statement is to set the formatting up correctly. Some scholarship applications will provide you with specific formatting requirements.

If not, the standard formatting requirements of a scholarship essay or personal statement are usually as follows:

One-inch margins on all sides
Double-spaced
No additional line spaces between paragraphs
Typed in Times New Roman
Typed with 12-point font

Specific guidelines given in the scholarship instructions always supersede these formatting guidelines. Be sure to use proper grammar and punctuation. If these aren’t your strong points, ask a teacher, mentor, or friend to look over your essay for any errors.

You could also utilize this awesome spellcheck and online grammar check tool , or use any other that works for you.

After you’ve got the formatting correct, the next thing you want to do is put together your outline. This can be done on paper, on the computer, or just inside your head, but it does need to be done.

You need at least a loose outline to make sure your essay flows smoothly and makes sense as written. While the exact structure of your essay will depend largely on your own writing style and the essay prompt, here’s the general structure for most essays.

Step 1: Introduction

Your introduction should be no more than 2 paragraphs long, and you want to catch the reader with a very interesting and engaging first sentence. You should also outline the key points you’re going to be making in the remainder of your essay. If you were writing an English paper, this would be your thesis.

Step 2: Body Paragraphs

You should always have at least 2 body paragraphs, preferably 3. Remember, long paragraphs of text running together can be hard for readers to wade through and absorb, so try to keep your paragraphs to no more than 5 sentences if possible.

If you change topics, such as moving from talking about your family to talking about your strengths, you should also change paragraphs.

Your body paragraphs are where you really sell yourself as a great student with a lot of potential to the scholarship committee. Remember- be specific but simple!

Don’t get bogged down in big, thesaurus-like words, and avoid clichés. Just be honest about your life experiences, your accomplishments, and your future goals.

Step 3: Conclusion

In this last paragraph, you’ll want to sum up everything. This is also the paragraph where you talk about how much being awarded this particular scholarship would benefit you and what you would do with the money that will help you achieve your goals.

It’s also nice to thank the scholarship committee for taking the time to read through your application and consider you for the scholarship.

Scholarship Personal Statement Examples

Below you’ll find some examples of actual scholarship essays that were written by actual college students seeking scholarships. Some are examples of what to do, while others are examples of what not to do.

If you’re stuck and don’t know where to begin, hopefully, these will give you a little inspiration.

Sample Essay 1

“The day was May 28, 2014. My doctor told my parents that I would need Spinal Fusion Surgery with rods and screws, and it had to happen quickly. Before surgery, the doctor suggested strength training for the muscles in my back so that I’d recover faster. I immediately went to the local gym and began working with a personal trainer, Justin. I learned so much from him including how the body works and how surgery takes time to heal. After surgery, I knew that I wanted to use my experience to help others, just like Justin helped me.”

– Read the rest here .

This is an excellent example of an introductory paragraph for a scholarship personal statement. With the author’s first two sentences, I was hooked. This student knows how to immediately capture the reader’s attention and pull him into his story.

He’s relating a true story in response to a prompt asking him about his after-college plans, but he’s doing it in such a way that it’s instantly interesting, and engaging, and makes us want to read more.

The student also has a great transition sentence. Although we only provided a portion of the essay that stops just before he tells us exactly what his goals are, it’s obvious by the last displayed sentence that that’s exactly what he’s about to do.

He’s about to tell us his plans for his future, after already telling us why he chose those plans.

In just a few short sentences, this student catches our attention, tells us about a horrible thing that happened to him that he had to overcome, explains how that situation shaped what he wants to do with his future, and transitions into telling us his goals.

This is a masterfully crafted introductory paragraph.

Sample Essay 2

“Unlike other teens, I’m not concerned about money, or partying, or what others think of me. Unlike other eighteen-year-olds, I think about my future and haven’t become totally materialistic and acquisitive. My whole outlook on life changed after I realized that my life was just being handed to me on a silver spoon, and yet there were those in the world who didn’t have enough food to eat or place to live. I realized that the one thing that this world needed more than anything was compassion; compassion for those less fortunate than us.”

In contrast to example one, this sample section is an example of what not to do when writing your personal statement. It starts off badly and just keeps ongoing.

The first couple of sentences of this student’s essay don’t paint her in a great light because of how they’re written. It’s fine to tell the scholarship committee that you aren’t a partier and that you care about your future, but it’s not okay to do it while sitting in judgment of other people.

The very first words of this essay are “Unlike other teenagers.” This automatically sets the writer apart, which would be fine if she were going on to say something positive about “other teenagers.”

For instance, if she were to say that she didn’t grow up getting to socialize and spend time with friends because she was homeschooled her whole life or that she didn’t learn about the advantages of technology because she grew up in a rural community, her opening words would’ve been fine.

Instead, she immediately jumps into saying harsh, degrading things about “other teenagers.” She lumps all teenagers into a stereotypical group of irresponsible partiers who care only about their appearances and material things.

Casting other people in a bad light is never a great way to let your light shine in any arena, but this is especially true when trying to craft a strong college personal essay.

The transition to her revolutionary life moment didn’t make a lot of sense, either. She says her “whole outlook on life changed” after realizing there were poor people in the world. This is off-putting for 2 reasons.

The first is that most people, including children, know there are poor people in the world. It isn’t really a secret and doesn’t usually come as a life-changing shock.

Secondly, the way her essay is written, she says she never did those bad things that other teens did. Then she says her whole life changed when she realized there were poor people in the world.

As written, this makes it sound like she changed and started doing these things after her revelation, which is certainly not what she meant at all, but because of the chronology of her essay, that’s how it sounds.

Sample Essay 3

“And, that strength was something that came not only from knowing how to cook my own food, lug armfuls of wood three or four times a day, and make my own safe and cozy place in the world, no matter where. It came from an inner sense of seeing things as they are. Life isn’t just out of a magazine with the best appliances and the nicest furniture. There are other things in life, like dirty floors, and relationships that don’t always work, and meals that have to be made. But, that’s not all bad.”

– Read the rest here .

This is another example of an essay Don’t. The whole essay, which isn’t listed here, isn’t bad as a whole, but it also isn’t clear and precise. The sentences are long and wordy, and the student uses conjunctions, like “and” and “but,” to start sentences.

Grammatically, that isn’t the best way to write. This is an example of an essay that could have been quite good if only the student had spent some time editing it, proofreading it, and perhaps handing it over to someone else to look over it before he submitted it.

Never underestimate the power of revision and constructive criticism when writing your own scholarship essay.

Sample Essay 4

“Through the successes of my efforts, I also realized that poverty was just a societal limitation. I was low-income, not poor. I was still flourishing in school, leading faith-based activities, and taking an active role in community service. My low-income status was not a barrier but a launching pad to motivate and propel my success. […] Success is triumphing over hardships — willing yourself over anything and everything to achieve the best for yourself and your family. With this scholarship, I will use it to continue focusing on my studies in math and engineering, instead of worrying about making money and sending more back home. It will be an investment into myself for my family.”

– Read the rest here .

These are two paragraphs from the same essay, both excellently written. This student came from a very poor background and had to begin making money to help out their family at a very early age.

In this essay, the student does a great job of discussing hardships in the past in an honest, straightforward way that invites the reader’s admiration rather than pity.

The way he spends a brief amount of time talking about his hardships and then moving swiftly into how those hardships motivated him to want more from life is very well-done.

His conclusion paragraph is also spot-on. He acknowledges that the only way to overcome hardship is “willing yourself” to achieve. This shows that he has a willingness to work hard and experience to back it up.

He then goes on to tell how he’ll use the scholarship money if he receives it. He says that he’ll “invest into [him]self” and take this opportunity to work hard, even if it means he has to suffer financially for a few years, in order to achieve what he needs to achieve to ensure future financial success for both himself and his family.

This shows him to be a hard worker, someone caring and empathetic enough to put family first, and intelligent and enterprising.

These are all great things colleges want from prospective students, and he showcases these traits in himself without being overt or in-your-face about it.

Sample Essay 5

“To be able to hold onto your money you have to know how to manage it. Money management is a complicated process. As teenagers, we often have no idea how to manage money and we end up wasting a lot of it. But in a bad economy, most of us have had a crash course in what happens when you don’t manage your money properly. We have had to delve into a world foreign and unfamiliar to us and solve our own money problems. The most successful of us have managed to still have some semblance of a social life without going over our small budgets. The keys to doing this successfully are actually quite simple.”

The prompt for this particular essay was about managing money. In terms of staying on topic and having a good opening sentence, this writer did a really nice job.

The writer also makes the article very relatable because being a teenager and not knowing how to manage money is something most of us can remember quite easily.

In addition to being relatable, the first paragraph also holds our interest because it is easily read, not packed full of synonyms from the thesaurus, or written loftily.

The writer also does a great job with his “thesis” sentence. The last sentence of the paragraph is simple and straight to the point.

It lets us know what’s coming next; he’s about to list the keys to managing money successfully. This is a very well-organized introductory paragraph.

Where the writer falls short, though, is with his grammar. There are obvious run-on sentences and missing commas in that first paragraph. He also starts a sentence with a conjunction, which isn’t great as a general rule. The bad grammar and poor editing/proofreading take away from his entire paragraph, which otherwise would have been really good.

We’ve said it once, and we’re saying it again: Don’t skip the proofreading/editing stage ( fyi , we have great packages here to help with this ). If that isn’t something you’re good at doing, ask a teacher, mentor, friend, or loved one.

Grammar is important. You can have the best idea in the world, and bad grammar will keep people from hearing it because they’ll be too distracted by the errors.

When proofreading or editing for grammar, here are the most common questions to ask yourself:

Did you write in complete sentences? (No fragments, run-ons, or comma splices)
Did you run the paper through spellcheck and grammar check?
Is all of your punctuation correct?
Is it clear to whom or what your pronouns are referring?
Are there any misplaced or dangling modifiers in your essay?
Did you write in an active voice ?
Are you being repetitive?
Did you use the right word between commonly confused words ?
Did you use proper subject/verb and noun/pronoun agreement throughout?
Does your essay make logical, organized sense?

Before submitting your essay, edit through it using these questions as a guide.

Summing It All Up

The importance of writing a great, moving, and memorable scholarship personal statement cannot be overstated. Scholarship applications are uniform for all students.

Scholarship committee members are forced to read through the same types of information for all the students who apply. The one place you’re able to stand out and be creative is in your personal essay. That’s why it’s so important that you make it count.

A strong personal scholarship essay can be the tipping point between no money and lots and lots of money, so plan for it. Make time to do it right and edit it properly.

Consider it the most important part of your application process, and set aside the appropriate amount of time for drafting it, writing it, and editing it before the submission due date.

Finally, never be afraid to ask for help. Whether it’s an educator, parent, spouse, or friend, there is someone out there who wants to see you succeed. That person will be happy to help you craft the best possible scholarship personal statement.

How long should a scholarship essay be?

A scholarship essay should typically be between 500 to 1000 words. However, always adhere to any specific word limits set by the scholarship. If no limit is specified, aim for a concise essay within this range.

Focus on clear expression of ideas and experiences, and ensure to proofread for clarity and coherence. It’s more about quality than quantity.

PrepScholar GRE Prep

Gre prep online guides and tips, 3 successful graduate school personal statement examples.

Looking for grad school personal statement examples? Look no further! In this total guide to graduate school personal statement examples, we’ll discuss why you need a personal statement for grad school and what makes a good one. Then we’ll provide three graduate school personal statement samples from our grad school experts. After that, we’ll do a deep dive on one of our personal statement for graduate school examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a list of other grad school personal statements you can find online.

Why Do You Need a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program. You need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere on your application.

A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.

While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly relevant to your field of interest.

Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your academic/research experiences and goals.

However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes, especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.

When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions essay.

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What Makes a Good Grad School Personal Statement?

A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However, strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:

A Clear Narrative

Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).

You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this, make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and diligence than about providing excuses.

Specific Examples

A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about the relevant literature in your field.

Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better evidence.

A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are informed about and genuinely invested in the program.

Strong Writing

Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating clearly and that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.

Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way (i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.

Appropriate Boundaries

While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment. The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.

You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as inoffensive as possible.

Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 1

PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 – Japanese Studies

For this Japanese Studies master’s degree, the applicant had to provide a statement of purpose outlining her academic goals and experience with Japanese and a separate personal statement describing her personal relationship with Japanese Studies and what led her to pursue a master’s degree.

Here’s what’s successful about this personal statement:

An attention-grabbing beginning: The applicant begins with the statement that Japanese has never come easily to her and that it’s a brutal language to learn. Seeing as how this is an application for a Japanese Studies program, this is an intriguing beginning that makes the reader want to keep going.
A compelling narrative: From this attention-grabbing beginning, the applicant builds a well-structured and dramatic narrative tracking her engagement with the Japanese language over time. The clear turning point is her experience studying abroad, leading to a resolution in which she has clarity about her plans. Seeing as how the applicant wants to be a translator of Japanese literature, the tight narrative structure here is a great way to show her writing skills.
Specific examples that show important traits: The applicant clearly communicates both a deep passion for Japanese through examples of her continued engagement with Japanese and her determination and work ethic by highlighting the challenges she’s faced (and overcome) in her study of the language. This gives the impression that she is an engaged and dedicated student.

Overall, this is a very strong statement both in terms of style and content. It flows well, is memorable, and communicates that the applicant would make the most of the graduate school experience.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 2

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 2 – Musical Composition

This personal statement for a Music Composition master’s degree discusses the factors that motivate the applicant to pursue graduate study.

Here’s what works well in this statement:

The applicant provides two clear reasons motivating the student to pursue graduate study: her experiences with music growing up, and her family’s musical history. She then supports those two reasons with examples and analysis.
The description of her ancestors’ engagement with music is very compelling and memorable. The applicant paints her own involvement with music as almost inevitable based on her family’s long history with musical pursuits.
The applicant gives thoughtful analysis of the advantages she has been afforded that have allowed her to study music so extensively. We get the sense that she is insightful and empathetic—qualities that would add greatly to any academic community.

This is a strong, serviceable personal statement. And in truth, given that this for a masters in music composition, other elements of the application (like work samples) are probably the most important. However, here are two small changes I would make to improve it:

I would probably to split the massive second paragraph into 2-3 separate paragraphs. I might use one paragraph to orient the reader to the family’s musical history, one paragraph to discuss Giacomo and Antonio, and one paragraph to discuss how the family has influenced the applicant. As it stands, it’s a little unwieldy and the second paragraph doesn’t have a super-clear focus even though it’s all loosely related to the applicant’s family history with music.
I would also slightly shorten the anecdote about the applicant’s ancestors and expand more on how this family history has motivated the applicant’s interest in music. In what specific ways has her ancestors’ perseverance inspired her? Did she think about them during hard practice sessions? Is she interested in composing music in a style they might have played? More specific examples here would lend greater depth and clarity to the statement.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 – Public Health

This is my successful personal statement for Columbia’s Master’s program in Public Health. We’ll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I’ll highlight a couple of things that work in this statement here:

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This statement is clearly organized. Almost every paragraph has a distinct focus and message, and when I move on to a new idea, I move on to a new paragraph with a logical transitions.
This statement covers a lot of ground in a pretty short space. I discuss my family history, my goals, my educational background, and my professional background. But because the paragraphs are organized and I use specific examples, it doesn’t feel too vague or scattered.
In addition to including information about my personal motivations, like my family, I also include some analysis about tailoring health interventions with my example of the Zande. This is a good way to show off what kinds of insights I might bring to the program based on my academic background.

Grad School Personal Statement Example: Deep Dive

Now let’s do a deep dive, paragraph-by-paragraph, on one of these sample graduate school personal statements. We’ll use my personal statement that I used when I applied to Columbia’s public health program.

Paragraph One: For twenty-three years, my grandmother (a Veterinarian and an Epidemiologist) ran the Communicable Disease Department of a mid-sized urban public health department. The stories of Grandma Betty doggedly tracking down the named sexual partners of the infected are part of our family lore. Grandma Betty would persuade people to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, encourage safer sexual practices, document the spread of infection and strive to contain and prevent it. Indeed, due to the large gay population in the city where she worked, Grandma Betty was at the forefront of the AIDS crises, and her analysis contributed greatly towards understanding how the disease was contracted and spread. My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration to me, and the reason why a career in public health was always on my radar.

This is an attention-grabbing opening anecdote that avoids most of the usual cliches about childhood dreams and proclivities. This story also subtly shows that I have a sense of public health history, given the significance of the AIDs crisis for public health as a field.

It’s good that I connect this family history to my own interests. However, if I were to revise this paragraph again, I might cut down on some of the detail because when it comes down to it, this story isn’t really about me. It’s important that even (sparingly used) anecdotes about other people ultimately reveal something about you in a personal statement.

Paragraph Two: Recent years have cemented that interest. In January 2012, my parents adopted my little brother Fred from China. Doctors in America subsequently diagnosed Fred with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). My parents were told that if Fred’s condition had been discovered in China, the (very poor) orphanage in which he spent the first 8+ years of his life would have recognized his DMD as a death sentence and denied him sustenance to hasten his demise.

Here’s another compelling anecdote to help explain my interest in public health. This is an appropriately personal detail for a personal statement—it’s a serious thing about my immediate family, but it doesn’t disclose anything that the admissions committee might find concerning or inappropriate.

If I were to take another pass through this paragraph, the main thing I would change is the last phrase. “Denied him sustenance to hasten his demise” is a little flowery. “Denied him food to hasten his death” is actually more powerful because it’s clearer and more direct.

Paragraph Three: It is not right that some people have access to the best doctors and treatment while others have no medical care. I want to pursue an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia because studying social factors in health, with a particular focus on socio-health inequities, will prepare me to address these inequities. The interdisciplinary approach of the program appeals to me greatly as I believe interdisciplinary approaches are the most effective way to develop meaningful solutions to complex problems.

In this paragraph I make a neat and clear transition from discussing what sparked my interest in public health and health equity to what I am interested in about Columbia specifically: the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and how that focus will prepare me to solve complex health problems. This paragraph also serves as a good pivot point to start discussing my academic and professional background.

Paragraph Four: My undergraduate education has prepared me well for my chosen career. Understanding the underlying structure of a group’s culture is essential to successfully communicating with the group. In studying folklore and mythology, I’ve learned how to parse the unspoken structures of folk groups, and how those structures can be used to build bridges of understanding. For example, in a culture where most illnesses are believed to be caused by witchcraft, as is the case for the Zande people of central Africa, any successful health intervention or education program would of necessity take into account their very real belief in witchcraft.

In this paragraph, I link my undergraduate education and the skills I learned there to public health. The (very brief) analysis of tailoring health interventions to the Zande is a good way to show insight and show off the competencies I would bring to the program.

Paragraph Five: I now work in the healthcare industry for one of the largest providers of health benefits in the world. In addition to reigniting my passion for data and quantitative analytics, working for this company has immersed me in the business side of healthcare, a critical component of public health.

This brief paragraph highlights my relevant work experience in the healthcare industry. It also allows me to mention my work with data and quantitative analytics, which isn’t necessarily obvious from my academic background, which was primarily based in the social sciences.

Paragraph Six: I intend to pursue a PhD in order to become an expert in how social factors affect health, particularly as related to gender and sexuality. I intend to pursue a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Reproduction. Working together with other experts to create effective interventions across cultures and societies, I want to help transform health landscapes both in America and abroad.

This final paragraph is about my future plans and intentions. Unfortunately, it’s a little disjointed, primarily because I discuss goals of pursuing a PhD before I talk about what certificate I want to pursue within the MPH program! Switching those two sentences and discussing my certificate goals within the MPH and then mentioning my PhD plans would make a lot more sense.

I also start two sentences in a row with “I intend,” which is repetitive.

The final sentence is a little bit generic; I might tailor it to specifically discuss a gender and sexual health issue, since that is the primary area of interest I’ve identified.

This was a successful personal statement; I got into (and attended!) the program. It has strong examples, clear organization, and outlines what interests me about the program (its interdisciplinary focus) and what competencies I would bring (a background in cultural analysis and experience with the business side of healthcare). However, a few slight tweaks would elevate this statement to the next level.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples You Can Find Online

So you need more samples for your personal statement for graduate school? Examples are everywhere on the internet, but they aren’t all of equal quality.

Most of examples are posted as part of writing guides published online by educational institutions. We’ve rounded up some of the best ones here if you are looking for more personal statement examples for graduate school.

Penn State Personal Statement Examples for Graduate School

This selection of ten short personal statements for graduate school and fellowship programs offers an interesting mix of approaches. Some focus more on personal adversity while others focus more closely on professional work within the field.

The writing in some of these statements is a little dry, and most deploy at least a few cliches. However, these are generally strong, serviceable statements that communicate clearly why the student is interested in the field, their skills and competencies, and what about the specific program appeals to them.

Cal State Sample Graduate School Personal Statements

These are good examples of personal statements for graduate school where students deploy lots of very vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes of life experiences. There are also helpful comments about what works in each of these essays.

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However, all of these statements are definitely pushing the boundaries of acceptable length, as all are above 1000 and one is almost 1500 words! Many programs limit you to 500 words; if you don’t have a limit, you should try to keep it to two single-spaced pages at most (which is about 1000 words).

University of Chicago Personal Statement for Graduate School Examples

These examples of successful essays to the University of Chicago law school cover a wide range of life experiences and topics. The writing in all is very vivid, and all communicate clear messages about the students’ strengths and competencies.

Note, however, that these are all essays that specifically worked for University of Chicago law school. That does not mean that they would work everywhere. In fact, one major thing to note is that many of these responses, while well-written and vivid, barely address the students’ interest in law school at all! This is something that might not work well for most graduate programs.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 10

This successful essay for law school from a Wheaton College undergraduate does a great job tracking the student’s interest in the law in a compelling and personal way. Wheaton offers other graduate school personal statement examples, but this one offers the most persuasive case for the students’ competencies. The student accomplishes this by using clear, well-elaborated examples, showing strong and vivid writing, and highlighting positive qualities like an interest in justice and empathy without seeming grandiose or out of touch.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 1

Based on the background information provided at the bottom of the essay, this essay was apparently successful for this applicant. However, I’ve actually included this essay because it demonstrates an extremely risky approach. While this personal statement is strikingly written and the story is very memorable, it could definitely communicate the wrong message to some admissions committees. The student’s decision not to report the drill sergeant may read incredibly poorly to some admissions committees. They may wonder if the student’s failure to report the sergeant’s violence will ultimately expose more soldiers-in-training to the same kinds of abuses. This incident perhaps reads especially poorly in light of the fact that the military has such a notable problem with violence against women being covered up and otherwise mishandled

It’s actually hard to get a complete picture of the student’s true motivations from this essay, and what we have might raise real questions about the student’s character to some admissions committees. This student took a risk and it paid off, but it could have just as easily backfired spectacularly.

Key Takeaways: Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

In this guide, we discussed why you need a personal statement and how it differs from a statement of purpose. (It’s more personal!)

We also discussed what you’ll find in a strong sample personal statement for graduate school:

A clear narrative about the applicant and why they are qualified for graduate study.
Specific examples to support that narrative.
Compelling reasons why the applicant and the program are a good fit for each other.
Strong writing, including clear organization and error-free, cliche-free language.
Appropriate boundaries—sharing without over-sharing.

Then, we provided three strong graduate school personal statement examples for different fields, along with analysis. We did a deep-dive on the third statement.

Finally, we provided a list of other sample grad school personal statements online.

What’s Next?

Want more advice on writing a personal statement ? See our guide.

Writing a graduate school statement of purpose? See our statement of purpose samples and a nine-step process for writing the best statement of purpose possible .

If you’re writing a graduate school CV or resume, see our how-to guide to writing a CV , a how-to guide to writing a resume , our list of sample resumes and CVs , resume and CV templates , and a special guide for writing resume objectives .

Need stellar graduate school recommendation letters ? See our guide.

See our 29 tips for successfully applying to graduate school .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

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How To Write A Personal Statement For GKS/KGSP Scholarship
GKS/KGSP Scholarship Personal Statement Importance: The GKS/KGSP scholarship personal statement is one the important documents that can actually make your selection for this scholarship program. The personal statement for the scholarship should be written good enough to make a clear difference and to make yourself a different candidate from ...
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Writing an effective Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement is a frequently asked question among the students who apply for a GKS Scholarship for the first time. The main purpose of this article is to help you write such a statement.
A Journey to GKS: Personal Statement
GKS-G (for graduate) and GKS-U (for undergraduate) Application Forms are all over the Internet. It can be downloaded from various sites, such as Study in Korea, Korean Embassy sites, some Korean university sites, and Topik Guide. Along with the application guideline is a separate file of the application forms (although the complete guideline ...
A Journey to KGSP/GKS: Personal Statement
It's really as simple as starting from the points mentioned in the essay instruction; (1) family background, (2) latest education, (3) significant and relevant experiences (working, internship, organization, clubs), (4) motivations to study in Korea and apply for the GKS. You can write down ideas for each point and add a few sentences for the ...
How to Write a Personal Statement for a Scholarship + Examples
That said, it is of the utmost importance that you find a focus. First, think about both your goals and your values. Types of goals include: Career goals. Goals for personal growth. The type of friend you want to be. The change you want to make in the world. Values could include: Authenticity.
Personal Statement SOP Sample GKS
The Global Korean Scholarship Track Qouta 2024. Embassy Track (800) + University Track (1400) = Total (2,200) The GKS Scholarship for this year 2024 has been announced by the Korean Government and they have invited 2200 International Students, for which students can apply through two tracks - Embassy Track and University Track, for which you ...
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#GKS #KGSP #KGSP2021👩🎓 Study in Korea Community! 📗📘📙📚👉 https://www.girugi.com 👈5 things you should not forget when writing your GKS personal statemen...
Personal Statement / Study in Korea (KGSP/GKS) #kgsp #gks # ...
Hello guys,In this video, I am telling you about one of the most important documents while applying for Korean Government Scholarship, which is Personal Stat...
How to write your personal statement and SOP for GKS-Graduate
Tips of Ex-GKS Scholar on how to write your SOP for GKS Graduatre scholarship for increase your chances of selection. LKI SCHOOL OF KOREAN LANGUAGE ... Writing an efficacious Statement of Destination or Personal Statement is a frequently asked question among the apprentices who apply for a GKS Scholarship for who first time. ... For example ...
How to write Personal Statement for GKS
Then, your final paragraph will be crucial to your personal statement. You must establish a link between your final paragraph and the first three introductory sentences of the PS. Like, after this experience, describe the challenges you encountered and how you overcame them to ultimately apply for GKS. For example- Loosing Bunny left a scar in ...
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To write the GKS/KGSP scholarship personal statement you must follow all the things that are mentioned in the GKS scholarship personal statement form. Then follow these steps to make sure that your personal statement for the GKS/KGSP scholarship is well-written: Write about Your Motivation for The Program: This is the first thing or points that ...
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Examples of personal statement for scholarship. Personal statement for scholarship: Example #1. Personal statement for scholarship: Example #2. A substantial part of the applications are personal statement for scholarship. Writing a stunning personal statement is vital if you're hoping to win a scholarship. The personal statement is your ...
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How to Write an Amazing Personal Statement (Includes Examples!)
5. Use an authentic voice. Your personal statement reflects who you are, so you should use a tone that represents you. That means you shouldn't try to sound like someone else, and you shouldn't use fancy words just to show off. This isn't an academic paper, so you don't have to adopt a super formal tone.
BONAINTAN
If you just started preparing the GKS Application, you may want to check my previous posts on the guideline to the application forms and personal statement essay or read my experience in applying for the 2016 KGSP/GKS-G. So, as we've known, a study plan is another important stage to showcase the applicant's ability in planning his study in ...
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Your essay should include the following components and should not exceed two A4 pages: Motivations: Explain the reasons and motivations that led you to apply for this program. Family and Education Background: Briefly describe your family background and your educational history. Significant Experiences: Share key experiences in your life ...
How to write your personal statement and SOP for GKS-Graduate
So today I possess mentioned of points that I can broken down into small segments which will be easy for you to understand how to write will own personal statement or statement of general. PLUS some tips for the interview that will make you sound more promising while app for the GKS 2022 scholarship for Masters and PhD in Korea.
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A personal statement is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. It's a statement, paragraph, or essay about yourself. It should tell who you are, where you came from, what your dreams, goals, and aspirations are, and more. It should focus on your strengths and tell scholarship committees why you deserve their money.
how to write personal statement for gks scholarship
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Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3. PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 - Public Health. This is my successful personal statement for Columbia's Master's program in Public Health. We'll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I'll highlight a couple of things that ...

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Personal Statement for Scholarship: How to Write and Examples

What is a personal statement for scholarship?

How do you write a personal statement?

Be concise, be organized, be focused

Be reflective

Get personal

Make it authentic

Give yourself plenty of time for revisions

A short personal statement, a strong personal statement

Structure of a personal statement