It can be difficult to choose which course to take up in college.  There are so many considerations to keep in mind, such as your interests, skills, background, and your aspirations.  What’s worse is that choosing the wrong course may result in wasted years, because this may not be the one that can fully develop your abilities and your character.  For this reason, it’s important to take some time to reflect and analyze your situation, and the SWOT test is the perfect tool for the job.  Writers of personal statement examples have done this test to help write about their goals in their admission essay and get accepted to their chosen courses.

Examples of personal statements: Evaluating yourself through strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats

The acronym “S.W.O.T.” stands for “Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.  When you take a SWOT test, you analyze these four factors in an attempt to make key decisions and to form a strategy.  SWOT analysis is normally used for business ventures or projects, but you can also benefit from this to help you choose which college course would best fit your personality and your character.  Evaluate yourself by making a list.(1)  Make sure that you do so within the context of your college course, your career possibilities, and the school that you will be attending.

Personal statement examples: Getting a list of available courses that best match your skills, personality, and goals

Now that you have conducted your SWOT analysis, the next step is to take the process one step further by assessing which courses fit in with your skills, personality and goals.  There are two main ways in which you can mix and match your SWOT test results and the possible courses available.(2)  The first and more obvious way of choosing a course is to find one that fits best with your strengths and downplays your weaknesses.  On the other hand, you may want to take on the challenge of choosing a course that will develop your weaknesses.  You may want to lean toward courses that actually interest you, because when it comes down to sleepless nights trying to complete your assignments and projects, that interest may be the only thing that keeps you going.

Examples of personal statement: Deciding which course can offer the best potential for growth and career gain

Another important consideration when choosing your course is to analyze which courses will provide you with the education, training, and experience you need for personal growth and a successful career.  You may already have some practical experience in a career field that you want to pursue, so it would only make sense to choose a course that can help you in that field.  Ultimately, your goal is to find a course that will help you make the best out of your talents and skills to prepare you for your career and your future in general.(3)

(1)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_analysis
(2) http://www.cedu.niu.edu/aboutus/strategicPlanning/docs/knpeSWOT_Jan08.pdf
(3)  http://www.das.psu.edu/dairy/teams/planning