Our Magnum OPTus
A uniquely fun and simple way of writing personal statements
Writing the One-Sentence Overview (OSO)
The OSO is...
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One sentence
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Although it can be a long one
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Comprehensive
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Needs to cover the topics of every body paragraph
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Original
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Is this an idiom or cliché? If so, don't use it
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Something you can refer to throughout your entire writing process
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The OSO is not...
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A quotation
- About your potential major or career
- Unless you are writing a statement for graduate school
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An outline
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Create an outline after writing the OSO
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- Mandatory to include in the statement
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Usually recommended, but the OSO is more of a strategy than an ingredient
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Complete if a reader won't get a complete summary of your statement by reading it
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Only applicable to personal statements!
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You can use the method to clarify and strengthen any piece of writing
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EXAMPLE A
Incomplete OSO: I love to help people and make the world a better place.
Complete OSO: Making my school and neighborhood better, by creating "buddy passes" and organizing public health events, has allowed me to share my optimistic view of the world with others.
EXAMPLE B
Incomplete OSO: The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese. I like taking advantage of opportunities no matter what.
Complete OSO: Growing up in the foster system has taught me to be fearless in going for what I want, whether that is college, a business, or even a dog (in an apartment that doesn't allow them).
How can you know your Personality?
The personal statement is one of the only documents in an application that show who you are, as opposed to how well you do. Understanding ourselves, unsurprisingly, is particularly relevant for the statement (whether for college, grad school, or other institutions).
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However, in the information age, there are so many sources for self-knowledge (both legitimate and fake), that we become paralyzed with indecision when deciding what to believe. As a result, we lose out on essential scientifically-backed information that helps us understand who we are and why we do the things we do.
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That's where Alever stands out from the other editing and consulting companies. To reveal who you really are, we provide you with real, science-based, tested, and most importantly, fun, quizzes to use as a starting point for your personal statement.
So, it's your choice:
Do you want to brainstorm...
The hard way
Lots of time spent thinking, deep introspection, brainstorming with friends and family, and analysis of past and present behavior
OR
The easy way
Accurate, short quizzes that can spark memories and stories, leading to more richer examples and questions about the self
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Not only is taking fun quizzes easier than hours of introspection, but you also help the scientific community with your input
How we Think, not What we do
When high school seniors start brainstorming ideas for their college personal statements, most immediately turn to inductive reasoning. They mistakenly cite their extracurricular activities as evidence of how they think.
For example, Peter might write that playing first base for the varsity baseball team and being a class officer shows that his personality is oriented towards teamwork and dependability.
The problem is that by focusing on his activities, Peter is removing the focus from what makes Peter, Peter. Anyone can play first base, and anyone can be a class officer. Why did he join the baseball team? What does he enjoy about it? What is his view on leadership? What drives him to achieve?
These are the interesting questions that colleges (and programs) want you to answer.
Alever’s method uses deductive reasoning. We believe that understanding how you think, not what you do, is essential to writing a compelling personal statement. Getting to the core of who you are, how you became the unique person you are, what you value and enjoy, and all your quirks, are where we should focus. Your activities should only act as evidence of your story.