<p>I’m wondering if the personal statement should be written in your own words or in formal language.</p>
<p>I read my friend’s personal statement who got into UCB last year, and his personal statement is not really formal. He used his own words and stuff.</p>
<p>But another friend whos already in UCB told me to write in formal language.</p>
<p>English is my second language, and sure I can do in formal, but it’s not gonna sound like me. What do you guys think? Should I write in my own voice or formally?</p>
<p>What do you mean by formal? If by formal you mean Intro, thesis, body with supporting evidence, conclusion etc. Then no. You should write in your own voice It will make you stand out more.</p>
<p>I think it’s best in your own voice, but not in your talking voice. I’d say to think of it as an informal letter, but informal writing has really declined. Personally, I overshot with regards to formality on the first draft and then I toned it down on the second.</p>
<p>could someone please discuss this in more detail. i thought any essay should have intro, thesis, conclusion. i don`t see how one can omit these parts.</p>
<p>Every essay, article, letter, etc, all share a common structure, it’s inherent in the methods in which we use to articulate ourselves; every written assertion will have a thesis, as without one there would be no focus. Though, you must understand that a thesis is not necessarily the last sentence of your introduction as your English teachers have pounded into your head since middle school. And the same applies to a conclusion --when you are expressing a point it would be logically absurd to completely stop at the very moment you have articulated your divisio, we all tend to draw down our assertions in an organic manner. My suggestion is to just write in an natural way, don’t worry about structure so much as it will hinder your results.</p>