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Writing Your Personal Statement

A typewritten statement must accompany your application. There are three sections to this statement. Each should be labeled as follows:

ESSAY #1 CAREER GOALS
ESSAY #2 LIFE EXPERIENCES
ESSAY #3 OPPRESSION AND DISCRIMINATION

Each of these essays has a page limitation. The page limit of Essay #1 is one page. The page limit of Essay #2 is two pages. The page limit of Essay #3 is three pages. The essays should be double spaced with one inch margins on both sides and top/bottom. Please use 12 point size type.

Please prepare your essays carefully. Your choices on content and your skill of presentation are equally important.

Essay #1: Career Goals
The first essay should address your career goals and how admission to the MSW program at UM St. Louis will help you to achieve those goals. Included in this essay should be information about how one of the concentrations offered in this program (i.e., Family Practice; Gerontology, or Organization and Community Development) matches your career interests. This essay is limited to one page.

Essay #2: Life Experiences
The second essay should address one or more of your life experiences and how they contribute to your interest in social work. Included in this essay should be information about how you used those life experiences to prepare for a career in social work. This essay is limited to two pages.

Essay #3: Oppression and Discrimination
The third essay should address the problem of oppression and discrimination in our society. Using professional references, describe your understanding of the causes and consequences of oppression and discrimination in our society. Discuss values you hold that will assist you in working with people of diverse backgrounds. Also discuss your biases and prejudices, how you have worked to overcome them, and what issues regarding diversity you still need to work on. This essay is limited to three pages.