+1. Beyond the hard numbers, softs will help very rarely - basically when you can integrate them into a truly outstanding PS, although I don't even know how often mundane experiences can count toward this. Anyone who thinks, for example, that studying abroad or being the social chair for a fraternity/sorority are "solid" softs is kidding themselves. Based on the PS board here, it's amazing how inflated some people's egos are when it comes to stuff like this.LurkerNoMore wrote:This is absolutely the correct answer.legends159 wrote:For most softs, how you write about it is more important than what is on your resume.
Make sure the PS tells a coherent story about who you are and what your goals and aspirations are. Treat the soft factors (pick a couple) as anecdotes to illustrate who you are. I think that people with mediocre softs on a resume, who can talk it up and make a cohesive story with a sticking point are those that have "great softs."
Once you are past the numbers, it is much more about how you tell your story than what the component parts of that story are. Adcoms are looking to see what you bring to the table -- what you did doesn't tell them that, how you have incorporated what you have done into your life/world view does. Some people roll through life doing "impressive" things, but don't really internalize them. Some people pull great insight out of "mundane" experiences.
You want your personal statement (and resume) to indicate that you will contribute something of value when you are sitting in the classroom.
I would imagine some softs, though, such as URM status, a Rhodes scholarship, published research, etc, can help by themselves whether they are integrated well in an app or not.