Opening Sentence Forum

[Anonymous User]

I just listened to a lecture from a pre-law advisor who stressed that the opening sentence of the personal statement should really grab the reader. Okay... but how much is too much? Is the goal to shock them? Surprise them? Make them laugh?

How's this approach:

"At 38 years of age, I have been married for more years than I have been single."

I'm thinking of going with the life story approach.

[rad lulz]

Not attention grabbing because

1) I had to do mental math to figure out you've been married at least 19 years and

2) I'm not sure why getting married at 18 or 19 is so shocking

[jselson]

I don't like it because I don't know where the rest of the statement is going. If I'm an adcomm member, I don't want to have to hunt for your main ideas.

[SPerez]

It's not bad, really. Like jselson said, though, for me it depends on where it goes from there. I would be interested enough to WANT to read the next sentence.

What I don't like is the "years of age". Who talks like that? "I'm 38 years old, and I've been married more than half my life," is more natural-sounding.

When going for the life story PS, be very careful it doesn't become a recitation of your resume. It may be better to focus on one particular life event or string of experiences you can tie together with a common theme.

Dean Perez
Texas Tech University School of Law

[eyfl]

It's not bad, really. Like jselson said, though, for me it depends on where it goes from there. I would be interested enough to WANT to read the next sentence.

What I don't like is the "years of age". Who talks like that? "I'm 38 years old, and I've been married more than half my life," is more natural-sounding.

When going for the life story PS, be very careful it doesn't become a recitation of your resume. It may be better to focus on one particular life event or string of experiences you can tie together with a common theme.

Dean Perez
Texas Tech University School of Law

I wish Dean Perez read my PS.. I promise it's very insightful & interesting!

[t-14orbust]

What do you guys think about starting with a question? Too cliche?

[westphillybandr]

What do you guys think about starting with a question? Too cliche?

Is that your opening sentence? I think that it is a little too cute.

[t-14orbust]

hahaha no, I was thinking of starting with a question related to what I'll be writing about. Not sure if it's too corny to begin with a question though.

[rinkrat19]

hahaha no, I was thinking of starting with a question related to what I'll be writing about. Not sure if it's too corny to begin with a question though.

I lean towards no, but it's hard to say without actually seeing it.

Also be careful that you don't spend your first 300 words discussing what you are or are not going to be writing about. It wastes space and is boring at best, pretentious douchebaggery at worst. Just dive in and write your topic, whatever it is.

[Anonymous User]

Thank you all for your replies. I appreciate your candor. I didn't know that the PS should be written in a conversational voice. That was extremely helpful. Thanks SPerez!

[westphillybandr]

Candor? I was lying through my teeth. Anyway Good Luck!