One-on-One Coaching Prompts

Below is a word-for-word script you can use when guiding your student through brainstorming, drafting, and refining their personal statement.

Brainstorming Key Experiences

Teacher Says: “Let’s uncover the moments that define your story. I’ll ask a question, and you share what comes to mind.”

1. Teacher Says: “Tell me about a moment in high school when you felt most proud. What happened, and why was it meaningful?”
   Follow-Up: “Why was this moment significant to you?”
   
   
   
2. Teacher Says: “What extracurricular activity or community involvement have you poured the most energy into? Describe a specific project or event.”
   Follow-Up: “What skill or value did you develop through that experience?”
   
   
   
3. Teacher Says: “Think of a challenge or setback you faced. How did you handle it, and what did you learn about yourself?”
   Follow-Up: “Which personal qualities helped you navigate that situation?”
   
   

Drafting the Personal Statement

Teacher Says: “Now we’ll shape those ideas into a clear structure. We’ll build a three-part draft: hook, body, and conclusion.”

1. Teacher Says: “Let’s craft a hook. What vivid image, surprising fact, or short anecdote best captures the essence of your story?”
   Follow-Up: “How can you tie that opening directly to your main theme or passion?”
   
   
   
2. Teacher Says: “For the body, choose 2–3 key experiences from our brainstorming. Briefly describe each with concrete details—who, what, where, and why. Go ahead and draft one sentence for each.”
   
   
   
3. Teacher Says: “Now the conclusion. How will you reflect on what you’ve learned and connect it to your future goals?”
   Follow-Up: “What action or aspiration do you want your reader to remember?”
   
   

Evaluating & Refining

Teacher Says: “Great first draft! Let’s use targeted questions and our Statement Evaluation Rubric to strengthen your narrative.”

1. Teacher Says: “Read your draft aloud. Does it sound like your authentic voice? Where does the tone feel formal or cliché?”
   Follow-Up: “Can you replace any phrase with a more personal or active expression?”
   
   
   
2. Teacher Says: “Let’s check clarity and impact. Which sentences are strongest? Which feel vague or wordy?”
   Follow-Up: “How can we simplify or tighten those weaker lines?”
   
   
   
3. Teacher Says: “Alignment check: Do your examples clearly tie back to the application’s goals—academics, leadership, or personal growth?”
   Follow-Up: “Is there an experience we should elevate or remove to stay focused?”
   
   
   
4. Teacher Says: “Last, grammar and style. Spot any passive-voice sentences or common errors. Let’s correct one example together.”
   
   
   

End of Script – Use these prompts to guide the student step by step, ensuring they actively contribute and refine each element of their personal statement.

Personal Statement Builder

Use this worksheet to organize your ideas and draft a powerful personal statement. Fill in each section below.

1. Brainstorm Your Key Experiences

• Academic Achievements (awards, research, projects)

• Extracurricular Highlights (clubs, sports, volunteer work)

• Personal Challenge & Growth (obstacles overcome, lessons learned)

2. Identify Your Core Values & Future Goals

List 3–4 values that define you (e.g., leadership, creativity, resilience):

Explain how each value connects to your long-term goals:

3. Craft Your Hook

Write a compelling opening (vivid anecdote, surprising fact, or bold statement):

What image or theme ties this hook to your main message?

4. Draft Body Paragraphs

Choose 2–3 of your strongest experiences. For each:

1. Experience #1
   • Describe the who, what, where, and why:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Lesson learned & value demonstrated:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Experience #2
   • Describe the who, what, where, and why:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Lesson learned & value demonstrated:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. (Optional) Experience #3
   • Describe the who, what, where, and why:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Lesson learned & value demonstrated:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Write Your Conclusion

Reflect on how these experiences shaped you:

Link your growth to your future goals and aspirations:

Next Steps:
Review and refine your draft using the Statement Evaluation Rubric.

Statement Evaluation Rubric

Use this rubric to assess and refine your personal statement. Circle the score for each criterion and add comments to guide revisions.

Total Score: ____ / 24

Revision Notes:

• Clarity & Focus:
  
  
  
• Impact & Engagement:
  
  
  
• Authenticity & Voice:
  
  
  
• Organization & Structure:
  
  
  
• Grammar & Mechanics:
  
  
  
• Alignment with Goals:
  
  
  

Use these notes to guide your next draft, focusing on criteria with lower scores. Aim to elevate your statement to the “Exemplary” level in every category.