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Ready to write your personal statement? Then it\u2019s time to conjure your inner storyteller. The best way to distinguish yourself from other applicants is to tell the admissions board a good story<\/a>, a tale of your greatest achievements, dreams, and challenges.<\/p>\n How do you tell a good story?<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s not about lifting plots from Harry Potter<\/em> or hoping you suddenly gain magic storytelling powers. It\u2019s about tying together the following five key elements:<\/p>\n Storytelling element #1: Creating a killer opening<\/strong><\/p>\n To get the admissions reader to keep reading \u2013 and even better, to keep reading enthusiastically \u2013 start with something attention-grabbing<\/a>. Usually that something is a scene or a moment in the middle of the action. If you started an essay with \u201cOne day I decided to watch TV,\u201d<\/em> then your readers probably wouldn\u2019t really care what happened next. It may be that you were watching TV when you found a worrisome lump, but your bored readers likely won\u2019t get to that point because of the snooze-inducing opener. On the other hand, an opening like \u201cThe moment I found the lump, I suspected my life was about to change \u2013 in a big way\u201d<\/em> will do a much better job of drawing in your readers.<\/p>\n Storytelling element #2: Setting context<\/strong><\/p>\n It was mid-May 2011. I was a busy consultant in McKinsey\u2019s Chicago office, the proud father of a boy about to turn one, and a generally happy guy in his mid-20s.<\/em><\/p>\n This part immediately places the killer opening in context<\/em>. Context (person, place, time) is important because readers want to understand the story\u2019s circumstances; it helps them relate to the story, even if they\u2019ve never been in that situation.<\/p>\n Storytelling element #3: Introducing the stakes<\/strong><\/p>\n The above line also shows the reader what\u2019s at stake. Stakes further help the reader relate to a story \u2013 if there\u2019s little for the main character to lose, then the reader won\u2019t care much about what happens next. Luke Skywalker had to destroy the Death Star to prevent Darth Vader from taking over the universe, which would have meant a lot of suffering for everyone. If Dorothy couldn\u2019t navigate Oz\u2019s Yellow Brick Road past the Wicked Witch, she never would have gotten back home to Kansas. If you had never figured out the source of the lump and treated it (if needed), then you wouldn\u2019t have been able to continue your life as a busy consultant, proud father, and generally happy guy. You don\u2019t need gargantuan stakes for people to relate to your story; but effective stakes are something most of us would fight for, like health, a job, our community\u2019s welfare, and the like.<\/p>\n Storytelling element #4 and #5: Outlining the obstacles AND Demonstrating strength of character<\/strong><\/p>\n It was tempting to wish the lump would just go away, and for a few days that was my strategy. I didn\u2019t even tell my wife. But soon I recognized that knowledge is power, and made an appointment with my doctor. Within a week I had a diagnosis: cancer.<\/em><\/p>\n This keeps the reader interested because it brings in two new elements: an obstacle<\/em> (cancer) and character<\/em> (your personality traits).<\/p>\n By this point in the story, your readers will know that you are the main character \u2013 you\u2019re the consultant, father, etc. But the text above shows your reader what kind of character you are<\/em>: one who is human (tempted to wish something bad away) but also one who takes action in adverse circumstances (going to the doctor).<\/p>\n Character isn\u2019t only about positive traits though. Many essay questions ask you to discuss a time you failed<\/a> or made a mistake. For those, you need to highlight negative traits upfront (e.g., Luke Skywalker\u2019s lack of faith in himself and the Force), but in the context of how you gained insights and ultimately more positive attributes from dealing with their consequences.<\/p>\n Do you need help writing your attention-grabbing story? Check out our 1-on-1 Admissions Services<\/a> for more information on how we can help you use story elements to write effective essays.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Grad School Statement of Purpose<\/a>, a free guide This article<\/a> originally appeared on blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Example](\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Example-to-exemplary.jpg\")
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\n\u2022 4 More Elements to Telling an Attention-Grabbing Story<\/a>
\n\u2022 What 3 Essential Ingredients Must You Include in Your Statement of Purpose?<\/a><\/p>\n