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PhD Personal Statements

Lauren Hammond
Lauren Hammond

PhD Personal Statements

Lauren Hammond is our PhD application essay expert and has been helping people write their PhD personal statements for several years. Whether you just want some feedback on a draft, or you're staring at a blank Word doc and don't know where to begin, she is happy to help!

Contact Lauren directly at 951-395-4646 (phone or text), or send us an email.

Meet Lauren Hammond

Lauren: I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Literature and Writing, with a concentration in Writing, at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and my Master’s Degree in English and Comparative Literature at San Diego State University (SDSU). I recently completed my PhD in English at the University of California Riverside (UCR) in September 2023. Upon graduating, I began my current position as UCR's Graduate Writing Center Specialist and Fulbright Program Advisor last summer.

I have been a writing consultant for nearly 10 years now, and I've helped people with research writing, thesis/dissertation projects, rhetorical and literary analyses, writing in the humanities, grammar/sentence mechanics, and more. My focus for VKTP centers on graduate school application materials– including personal statements, diversity statements, and research statements– as well as job market materials for academic and alt-academic positions– resumes, CVs, cover letters, etc.

During my downtime, I love hanging out with my husband, 2-year-old daughter, and our two dogs, Link and Leia! My favorite activities are going on the boat, cruising on the golf cart, and making our way through all of the local eateries. When we aren’t out and about, I typically enjoy reading and watching movies.

Working with Lauren is $225 per hour or $995 for a package purchase of 5 hours. You can reach her at 951-395-4646 (phone or text), or by sending us an email.

P.S. Our partner Julie can also help you prepare for your admissions interviews! Learn more about her professional voice training for interview prep.

Love For Lauren

  • Fiona Wang

    "I had about 6 sessions with Lauren Hammond to go over my personal statements for PhD/PsyD Clinical Psychology applications. I had different goals for each of my statements (e.g., trim, content development, brainstorm ideas), and she tailored each session to meet my needs. An hour might seem short, but she was very productive and sometimes went over two short statements in one session. She was also available via text for any brief questions or concerns. I am very happy with her service and recommend it to anyone who wants to craft a stand-out personal statement. I thought my writing skills were already good, but the final product, including her revisions, turned out even better than I expected."

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  • Lily Annino

    Lauren helped me out SO much with my MFT graduate school essays. I've already gotten an interview from two schools, and I was incredibly happy with the essay results. 110% would recommend her! Thank you so much Lauren.

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  • Nicolina Patin

    "I had the pleasure of working with Lauren Hammond on my Master of Public Health statement of purpose essays, and I’m thrilled to share that I was accepted into all my MPH programs! While I had started my essays, I found Lauren’s guidance on restructuring my writing to be incredibly valuable and provided a strong foundation that I applied across all my applications. Her in-line edits helped refine my language, ensuring clarity and conciseness—especially for essays with strict word limits. I also appreciated her flexibility in how we used our time, making each session highly productive. I highly recommend working with Lauren!"

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  • Mira Park

    "Lauren Hammond was so incredibly helpful with my personal statements for grad school. I really needed help with organization, staying focused on a coherent narrative and content-building, which she was phenomenal with. She's also a really sweet person and a pleasure to work with! Can't recommend her enough."

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  • Renee Begin

    "Lauren Hammond was amazing. She provided me with thoughtful feedback that structured and strengthened my graduate school application essays. She was great at asking questions to push me to be a better writer. You can tell she genuinely cares about her students and wants to see you succeed. Additionally she is flexible in scheduling and will make deadlines work with your timeline. I was accepted into my top school choice and appreciate Lauren for her help in the process. If you or someone you know is looking for an essay tutor for graduate applications, Lauren is definitely the best!"

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  • Eve Kogon

    "I worked with Lauren Hammond on my personal statements for graduate school in psychology and was highly impressed by her process. Her method was straightforward, structured, and supportive. She offered concrete, meaningful feedback that strengthened my essays while preserving my authentic voice and writing style. She consistently guided me with insightful questions and suggestions that helped me articulate my ideas more effectively. Her communication was timely, organized, and easy to follow, which made each revision cycle smooth and efficient. Although I take pride in my writing and academic abilities, Lauren’s guidance elevated my statement, helping me better understand how to present my strengths in ways that resonate with admissions committees. Our working relationship was collaborative and encouraging, ultimately making the process feel manageable, thoughtful, and uniquely tailored to my needs."

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  • Natalia Iturri

    "I had the pleasure of working with Lauren on my personal statement for my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, and I can’t recommend her enough. When I first started my personal statement, I was very lost and unsure of where to begin. Lauren was incredibly supportive, walking me through every step of the process. She truly “handheld” me, providing the guidance and structure I needed to turn my ideas into a cohesive essay."

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  • Grayson Bradley

    "I was extremely stressed when working through my essays in such a short time frame. I had multiple tutors, and Lauren was easily the best! She emphasized positive aspects of my work and reworked weaker material to strengthen my paper. She even offers to record the zoom meeting so you can look back on the breakdown you discussed with her during the zoom. I would highly recommend-as a stressed student applying to grad school, she definitely helped lifted a weight off my shoulders."

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Video: 7 Ways to Write a Crappy Graduate School Personal Statement

For more personal statement tips, check out Vince's video: 7 Ways to Write a Crappy Graduate School Personal Statement.

Frequently Asked Questions

We generally recommend about 4-8 weeks - 6 weeks is a good sweet spot. It takes time to come up with ideas and get those ideas onto paper in a compelling form.

Other than Google, I really like the sample admissions essays in Graduate Admissions Essays by Donald Asher. If you're a DIY kind of person, Asher's advice for the entire graduate admissions process is very good.

Note: The above links are Amazon affiliate links and I earn a commission if you purchase things through them. However, any commission I earn comes at no additional cost to you, and you pay nothing extra. My recommendation is based on extensive experience using this book's advice with dozens of people over the years, and I recommend it because it's helpful and useful, not because of the small commission I receive if you choose to buy it.

MOST personal statements are BORING! Not because the person writing them is boring, but perhaps because:

  1. Their focus is too broad. They try to cover everything they've done, and nothing ends up standing out.
  2. They're impersonal. It's a personal statement - the reader needs to get a sense of who you are and what you're actually like - not some sanitized "professional" version of you.
  3. They're too safe. Ironically, a statement that takes no risks can be the riskiest thing you can do. We're not applying to a program with the intent of blending in with all the other applicants!

Granted, the above things can be overdone, or done wrong. But most statements make no impact, so it's worth thinking about how yours actually can.

Securing a spot in a PhD program is akin to embarking on an expedition into the unknown — it demands a blend of academic excellence, research acumen, and a deep passion for discovery and innovation. Here's a typical roadmap for those aiming to pursue this advanced level of study:

The journey often starts with a strong academic foundation, usually a bachelor’s degree and, in many cases, a master’s degree in a related field. Excelling in coursework is important, but for PhD programs, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. These programs are looking for candidates who have demonstrated a capacity for independent research and critical thinking.

Research experience is paramount. Whether it's through undergraduate projects, master's thesis work, or employment in research roles, having a track record of research shows you can handle the demanding and often solitary nature of PhD studies. This experience also helps in defining your research interests and can guide you in choosing the right program and advisor.

For many PhD programs, standardized tests like the GRE are part of the application process. A strong performance can be advantageous, but it’s often the research potential that carries more weight.

The application process includes a research proposal or statement of purpose and letters of recommendation. The proposal or statement should clearly articulate your research interests, how they align with the program and potential advisors, and your long-term career goals. Recommendation letters should ideally come from academics or professionals who can speak to your research abilities and academic potential.

Interviews, if required, are an opportunity to discuss your research interests in-depth and demonstrate your critical thinking and communication skills. They also serve as a platform to gauge the fit between you and the program or potential advisors.

Going the extra mile by publishing papers, presenting at conferences, or engaging in academic networking can significantly strengthen your application.

In summary, getting into a PhD program involves not just academic excellence, but also a demonstrated commitment to research, a clear articulation of your research interests and goals, and the personal qualities needed for the rigors of doctoral study. It’s a path for those driven by curiosity, analytical thinking, and the desire to contribute original knowledge in their field.

BTW, Lauren can also help with: