Sara Clarke-Habibi
My Education
Cambridge
PHD | Education
Cambridge
MPhil | Education
University of Toronto
BA | Ethics, Society, and Law
Research
Cambridge
Doctoral Researcher
Sara Clarke-Habibi recently completed her PhD in Education at the University of Cambridge as a Gates Cambridge Scholar and doctoral fellow of the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. She has worked as a lecturer, trainer, project manager and consultant for universities and civil society organizations in Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Germany, Israel-Palestine, Mexico, Switzerland and USA on education reform, development, peacebuilding and youth empowerment. Sara holds an MPhil in Education Research from Cambridge (UK), an MA in Conflict Resolution from LIU (Switzerland), and a BA in Ethics, Society and Law from the University of Toronto (Canada).
3 Tips for a Winning Personal Statement
Sara Clarke-Habibi, PhD - Gates Cambridge alumna
Admissions and scholarship panels at top universities see hundreds, if not thousands, of applications every year. The vast majority are from students with excellent academic track records. So how can you stand out in the pile? By have a great personal statement! Here are three tips for writing personal statements that have helped me, and can help you, to win multiple top scholarships!
Tip #1: Show how your life experiences and hobbies have helped inspire your academic and/or career choices
Applicants are often encouraged to highlight their extra-curricular activities as a way of showing their admissions and scholarship panels that they are well-rounded individuals. But simply mentioning your hobbies is not enough to capture the attention of your assessors. It’s really important to bring your life experiences and hobbies to the front and centre of your personal statement and, more especially, to show how you’ve learned from them as part of your career path! To illustrate, consider the following example:
- Bad: “As for hobbies, I like to travel internationally. I also sing in a local choir.”
- Good: “By travelling the world, not just as a tourist but as a volunteer, I have gained an enriched understanding of different cultures and of different perspectives on issues like education, economic survival and social well-being. This has inspired my interest in promoting the values and skills of social entrepreneurship. A big part of successful social entrepreneurship is knowing how to work effectively in teams. Here, my experience of singing in a really good choir comes in handy. It has taught me that creating a highly functioning and unified team depends not only on dedication and passion, but also on deep listening and disciplined self-expression.”
Tip #2:Cite key voices in your field of study to show you’re already thinking like a scholar
You can show your assessors you’re ready to hit the ground running by reading ahead in your field! Citing some leading thinkers in your personal statement shows you’re not only passionate about your field but serious about making an original contribution. Consider the following example:
- Bad: “I’m interested in studying how contact between people of different racial and religious backgrounds can help break down prejudices and intolerance.”
- Good: “Allport’s (1954) ‘contact theory’ has inspired 60 years of interventions aimed at breaking down prejudice between racial and religious groups. But more recent research like that of Insko (1990) and Pettigrew (2008) has shown that contact alone does little to improve intergroup relations when economic and power inequalities between the groups remain unaddressed. This is one of the reasons why I’m passionate about exploring the potential of social entrepreneurship as an innovative means for transforming intergroup conflict.”
Tip #3:Tell them how you’re going to use your scholarship to improve the lives of others
Whether you’re planning to work in a lab, conduct social research, start your own tech company or curate art installations, it’s important to help the university and scholarship selection committee understand how investing in you means investing in improving the lives of others! Consider the following example:
- Bad: “I’m interested in second language learning. Having English language skills is important for getting access to international education and economic opportunities.”
- Good: “I’m interested in making second language learning more accessible to students from low-income backgrounds who are disproportionately excluded from international education and economic opportunities. By introducing intensive English language instruction in underprivileged schools, I believe low-income students will have greater chances to break out of the poverty cycle by getting increased access not only to international but also domestic employment markets. I plan to focus part of my studies on developing and evaluating the impact of the not-for-profit organization I created in Mexico which advocates for and supports the placement of English language teachers in underserved districts.”
There are lots of other great tips on the Dyad Resources page, so take time to check them out too!
Best wishes,
Sara Clarke-Habibi
Q: Why are you passionate about your academic field? When and how did you discover your love of your subject?
A: I'm passionate about the field of education, particularly in the international development context and in regions affected by conflict, because I believe that education is one of the most powerful tools for social transformation. I first became interested in this field when I volunteered during my gap year at a newly built school for girls in rural Zambia. Later as a Masters student I took up an opportunity to help schools build peace in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina. From there, I built an educational NGO and have kept going since!
Q: What are your three top recommendations for a student targeting a masters in your field? What if they are preparing to switch their major to your field?
A: My top recommendations for a student targeting a masters in applied social sciences like international development or peacebuilding are:
- Look for a Masters’ program that combines theory and practice. Some programs include experiential workshops or encourage internships with international organizations and NGOs as part of your studies. This will give you a professional head start!
- Reach out and make contact with professors, lecturers and students from the program you’re interested in. It will give you a chance to show your interest, to learn more about whether it's the right program for you and to begin building those invaluable relationships that will enrich your academic experience and strengthen your professional network.
- Familiarize yourself with some of the international organizations, NGOs and think-tanks working in your particular field and region of interest. Spend some time watching their introductory videos, reading their news items and most recent reports. This will help you to understand the main issues and priorities they are working on and make you familiar with the specialized language they use. International fields evolve rapidly, so building your background understanding is important.
Q: What resources can students use to educate themselves on your subject?
A: For people new to these fields, a simple keyword search on Google is enough to get you started. There’s really no shortage of introductory material online. For a quick introduction to international thinking, policy and action on key development issues, search the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Whatever subject interests you, start by spending some time following search links. For academic perspectives on the topic that interests you, go to Google Scholar and do a keyword search there. Google Scholar has been a great help throughout my studies.
Q: What are your top tips to showcase an applicant’s strength to Admissions Officers?
A: Read my Mentor's Insight on ‘3 Tips for a Winning Personal Statement’! You can also apply this advice to your admissions interviews.
Q: Any pitfalls or mistakes an applicant should be aware of as they apply to your program?
A: When applying to any social science field it is advisable not to make absolute statements or claims like “All politicians do X” or “The purpose of education is to prepare students for Y”. Social sciences recognize complexity and nuance in how and why human life and society are organized in particular ways. It's always important to show that you're considering a topic from multiple points of view. The better you're able to do this, the more impressed your academic admissions panel will be.
Q: Why did you apply to your university and program? What other universities and programs were you admitted to?
A: When I was first deciding where to apply, there were a number of North American programs in my field that attracted me very much. But as family obligations required me to stay in Europe, I shifted my focus to the best programs closer by that also offered funding opportunities. I applied to the University of Nottingham because I really wanted to be mentored by the head of the department who was holder of the UNESCO Chair for Peace Education. I knew his experience and his network would offer me a rich academic experience and help me build my professional career path after graduation. I was offered admission and a scholarship, but the timing wasn’t right for personal reasons. So a couple years later, I applied to Oxford and Cambridge. Initially the attraction was their international reputations and brand value. What can I say? I wanted the best! But I also found the rights professors to mentor me and provide the kind of learning I was seeking. Ultimately, I chose Cambridge as it’s an international leader in the field of education and because a leading professor agreed to be my supervisor. What made it possible though was the incredible Gates Cambridge scholarship that I was awarded.
Q: What are the common career paths for graduates in your field?
A: Many graduates from the social sciences move onto careers in public policy analysis, either within government or with foundations and think-tanks. There are many opportunities for international careers in project management, fieldwork and consulting with intergovernmental organizations like the United Nations or with NGOs. Graduates can also take up social scientific careers in research and teaching. And some graduates create their own social entrepreneurships or consulting companies.
Q: What aspects of the campus culture are your favorites? Which aspects surprised you? Which would you change if you could?
A: Cambridge University is very well-resourced – its main library has more than 8 million books! It also has a really international student body. Cambridge city which surrounds the university is really special, with so much history and charm. Though growing rapidly, it still retains a small-town feel with its quiet corners, quirky lanes and riverside parks. Cambridge offers some of the most beautiful medieval colleges you can find in Europe. And campus life is never boring: there always a hundred different things to do on any night of the week: whether that’s meeting friends at a pub, seeing a concert or play, attending a debate, listening to one of the world’s most famous people give a guest lecture, seeing a film, going dancing or eating out in Cambridge’s many restaurants. And there are so many university clubs and societies that you can take part in. There’s really something for everyone!
Q: What’s your favorite fun fact about your university? Any special events or traditions or legends?
A: Cambridge is one of the world’s oldest universities and has 98 Nobel laureates to its credit! During my time at Cambridge I really enjoyed all the dress-up dinners and parties, especially the May Balls at the end of exams in June. During the year it's fun to attend Formal Hall at the different colleges – these are the formal dinners where students wear the university’s famous black gowns and eat and drink their way through multiple courses. Other great Cambridge traditions are music and rowing. Cambridge is home to world famous choirs and the Cambridge University Boat Club which competes each year against Oxford.
Q: How did you spend your summer vacation during university? Any advice for making the most of summer?
A: As a PhD student I didn't really get summer vacation, since research at that level is full-time. Nevertheless, I did get to enjoy traveling around Europe during my studies. There are several low-cost airlines that fly from London with amazing deals that students can take advantage of. Tired of studying? Sunny beaches are only a short flight away!
Q: What makes you smile? Share more on a favorite hobby.
A: Getting to know people and helping them succeed is one of my favorite things to do! Really!
Q: Why are you excited to mentor Dyad Scholars?
A: Over the years I have had excellent mentors, without whom I wouldn't have known how to achieve my aspirations. I'm so grateful for all the support they offered me. I'd like to pay it forward by helping others become successful too!
