Personal statement 4

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Apr 13, 2021
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I feel that I have done a good job describing myself and my character in my first three personal statements, and I am honestly at a loss as for the 4th. I know that it is optional, but I also know that leaving it blank looks bad. With that being said, I feel like mustering together the 4th statement will result in it sounding unoriginal and a repetition of the previous ones.
Any thoughts?
 
I feel that I have done a good job describing myself and my character in my first three personal statements, and I am honestly at a loss as for the 4th. I know that it is optional, but I also know that leaving it blank looks bad. With that being said, I feel like mustering together the 4th statement will result in it sounding unoriginal and a repetition of the previous ones.
Any thoughts?
Look at the forth personal statement as an opportunity to try to convey more about yourself. Between the other three you are limited to 1000 words (500 - Why CGA, 250 - Diversity, 250 - Covid) with which there is only so much you can write about to give a picture of who you are.
The extra 250 words give you an opportunity to fill in the gaps.
I mainly wrote about how I have personally prepared for the USCGA, how my prior schooling was home schooled and self taught, Academy Self Prep at GMC, and other plans if USCGA does not work out, like NROTC.
 
Is there an activity you're proud of that doesn't leap off the page elsewhere in your app? If you're a one academy person then fly that CGA flag and let them know. Were you looking for a place to mention that harrowing family experience that didn't make it into the other essays? Did you waste freshman year but then get your act together in a crescendo of academic growth that you'd like to highlight? If you think those bullet points and scores are your best face then let it roll, but it's your last chance to add anything about you that doesn't fit into the forms.
 
I would NOT leave it blank. At various Admissions events, the AOs have always said that anything marked as "optional" should not be considered optional. Others have given some good ideas. What makes you stand out that is not already in your application or essays? Is there something about your application that you would like to explain in more depth?
 
I feel that I have done a good job describing myself and my character in my first three personal statements, and I am honestly at a loss as for the 4th. I know that it is optional, but I also know that leaving it blank looks bad. With that being said, I feel like mustering together the 4th statement will result in it sounding unoriginal and a repetition of the previous ones.
Any thoughts?
My DD visited the academy last month and an admission officer recommended that she write about the A she earned in a college Calculus she took. So that’s what she did.
 
From a faculty standpoint, if you did not make it clear why you are a great fit for the major, put it here.
 
From a faculty standpoint, if you did not make it clear why you are a great fit for the major, put it here.
I am wondering if you could please answer a question regarding the process of reviewing applications. Does a faculty member from your desired major review your application or is it just any faculty member in general that is assigned to review your application? Thanks!
 
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I am wondering if you could please answer a question regarding the process of reviewing applications. Does a faculty member from you desired majot review your application or is it just any faculty member in general that is assigned to review your application? Thanks!
I believe a faculty member generally reviews each applicant. Representatives from each major have the option to review those in their major.
 
I applied for EA and regretfully neglected to use the extra space I was granted for the 4th Personal Statement. I was in the same position as you and I feel like I couldn't have added anything that wouldn't look forced. Looking back there are definitely some more things I would've liked to talk about, especially adding more detail to how some of my extracurriculars granted me valuable leadership experience.

I would like to know for my own sake though: How highly is using the 4th personal statement regarded during the application review?
 
Did you complete the "optional upload" of a resume? Did you have an interview? Nobody can really tell you how much not completing the 4th personal statement will impact your application. I believe the admissions board just wants to know as much as they possibly can about an applicant. I know from attending Bears Day that the information relayed to us about applications was that if something said "optional", you shouldn't view it as optional, instead you should complete it. That may not always be the case though. I think with Dec. 23rd just around the corner, many about questioning what we could have done better on the application, what if we would have done this or that differently, etc. What's done is done. Now it is just sit back and wait and see. (WAITING IS SO HARD!!!). Good luck!
 
My kid wrote a letter to herself from a future prospective as her additional upload, a letter as if she had just graduated and moved on to her first assignment. She talked about all the things she had gained from attending the CGA and accomplishments, adventures, etc. After she received her appointment, several people commented on that piece of her application.
 
Did you complete the "optional upload" of a resume? Did you have an interview? Nobody can really tell you how much not completing the 4th personal statement will impact your application. I believe the admissions board just wants to know as much as they possibly can about an applicant. I know from attending Bears Day that the information relayed to us about applications was that if something said "optional", you shouldn't view it as optional, instead you should complete it. That may not always be the case though. I think with Dec. 23rd just around the corner, many about questioning what we could have done better on the application, what if we would have done this or that differently, etc. What's done is done. Now it is just sit back and wait and see. (WAITING IS SO HARD!!!). Good luck!
Remember though, not everybody submitted early. The application deadline isn't until January. It sounds like the OP is still completing their application.
 
Remember though, not everybody submitted early. The application deadline isn't until January. It sounds like the OP is still completing their application.
I am sorry, I was directly my questions/statements to YaBoi03.
 
I applied for EA and regretfully neglected to use the extra space I was granted for the 4th Personal Statement. I was in the same position as you and I feel like I couldn't have added anything that wouldn't look forced. Looking back there are definitely some more things I would've liked to talk about, especially adding more detail to how some of my extracurriculars granted me valuable leadership experience.

I would like to know for my own sake though: How highly is using the 4th personal statement regarded during the application review?
I did the same. In my case, and despite having heard that nothing "optional" should be left blank, I followed general college application advice from my high school guidance counselor. This advice was that, if I did not have anything that would add to my application, to not add it. I uploaded a resume and was interviewed as well. Good luck!
 
Look at the forth personal statement as an opportunity to try to convey more about yourself. Between the other three you are limited to 1000 words (500 - Why CGA, 250 - Diversity, 250 - Covid) with which there is only so much you can write about to give a picture of who you are.
The extra 250 words give you an opportunity to fill in the gaps.
I mainly wrote about how I have personally prepared for the USCGA, how my prior schooling was home schooled and self taught, Academy Self Prep at GMC, and other plans if USCGA does not work out, like NROTC.
In one case for a young man that was accepted to USCGA EA and then USNA ... he simply used an optional essay by stating; To let you learn more about me, I have included my Eagle Personal Statement for your review. Now, you may not have an Eagle Personal Statement...but perhaps you can write a statement as if you were making recommendations to new high school students about how to study, engage in ECAs, have fun and practice applied leadership. Be a bit creative.
 
I feel that I have done a good job describing myself and my character in my first three personal statements, and I am honestly at a loss as for the 4th. I know that it is optional, but I also know that leaving it blank looks bad. With that being said, I feel like mustering together the 4th statement will result in it sounding unoriginal and a repetition of the previous ones.
Any thoughts?
If you haven't already written about it, you should talk about why you're a Cessna Enthusiast. Do you fly/want to fly/prefer them over Pipers, whatever it might be.
 
If you haven't already written about it, you should talk about why you're a Cessna Enthusiast. Do you fly/want to fly/prefer them over Pipers, whatever it might be.
This is the best answer! You want your fourth essay to be something that is uniquely about *you.* Likely no other applicant will have the Cessna enhusiasm you have. If your dream is to be a CG pilot, so much the better, but anything that makes you memorable is great. My DS wrote his essay about the relationship he formed with an elderly neighbor who he did housekeeping and yard work for -- the essay wasn't really about the work, but about how they both grew together through house projects and life discussions. Probably no other applicant had that. It gave insight into DS' personality, just as a passionate essay about small planes would do for you. Good luck!
 
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