Personal Statement Openers That Aren't Cliché

Admissions readers see the same handful of openers hundreds of times.

1. Avoid starting with a dictionary definition of a key word in your essay — this is one of the most overused openers.
2. Avoid "Ever since I was young, I've been passionate about..." — nearly every applicant opens some version of this.
3. Start instead with a specific moment, image, or decision that drops the reader into a scene.
4. A strong opener raises a question the rest of the essay answers, rather than announcing a theme upfront.

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