The Personal Statement: No Need to Panic!
When I first learned I had to write a personal statement to apply for Kellstadt’s MBA program, panic set in. Writing has never been one of my strengths, so it was hard not to procrastinate. Inspiration came, however, when I began to examine the reasons why I knew DePaul University was the right fit for me. A role model at my former company helped me find my “Aha!” moment and the direction for my personal statement.
My first impression of the company’s Chief Accounting Officer was that he was a family man, a DePaul alum, and occasionally called “Deacon.” After having the opportunity to work with him and get to know him better, I learned there was much more to him than met the eye. At an annual company event, the CEO asked Deacon to speak about his personal experience of balancing personal and company responsibilities. During this speech, I learned about the journey to achieve his goal of becoming a Deacon, an ordained minister in the Catholic Church. The process is a lengthy one and he needed support not only from his family, but also from his peers at work. When Deacon had explained his personal ambitions to the CEO, he was supportive and made sure Deacon had help from his coworkers if he was unable to complete a task.
For the first time, I found myself eager to write my personal statement. It was exciting to connect Deacon’s personal value at the company to the skills and tools he developed at DePaul. My advice to prospective students writing their personal statements would be to share what inspired you to apply to Kellstadt. Each applicant has a different story and connection to the program and sharing your own “Aha!” moment is a way to set yourself apart from other applications.
Learn more about:
- DePaul’s Graduate Business Programs
- Admission to Kellstadt
- Opportunities to Attend a Class and Meet Students Like Kristen
