PS是英文Personal Statement的缩写，中文名称叫个人陈述，是留学申请文书中必不可少并且极其重要的申请材料。个人陈述主要用于描述个人的背景、申请目的、研究方向等信息，是留学申请材料中较重要却也比较难把握的部分。下面是美国留学文书中的个人陈述的开头方式一定要尽力避免6种开头。
一、学校简介型
I am an undergraduate in…University , the largest university anda cradle of scientific and technological talents in China.
点评：该同学的个人陈述开头等于是一个申请学校的简介，这好像是在帮助学校做宣传，或表达你有多了解该学校，而不是写个人陈述了。这是没有意义的开头，白白浪费了字数，最容易被秒据掉。
二、简历重复型
I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in … Sciences with a specialization in … in 2002 at … university
点评：美国留学个人陈述不要去重复简历中的东西，这在很多学校的PS要求中明确提到，个人陈述的写作要具体到事件上，事件解决上，而不要单纯重复已有的内容。
三、模板句式型
As a student majoring in Computer Science, I began my odyssey since I entered undergraduate program. Indeed, having entered this splendid computer world, I am more than greedy for something new.
点评：Odyssey 和more than greedy for something new 这种句式不知道是从哪里学到的，很多同学在用。但你要知道，老外最恨抄袭，最喜原创，所以利害关系大家想想吧。
四、循序渐进型
Making a right decision at the right time is very important for a young people .At present, I have come to a critical point in my life when I have to make a decision concerning my future course of action. Only a perceptive understanding of oneself will enable one to chart his proper action. Aftercarefully thinking, reviewing my life and analyzing my personality, I make the determination and choose to apply for graduate study in XXX. And I choose to specialize in communications which I will pursue a lifelong career.
点评：重点放在自己要做重大决定上了，人生的转折点，然后来上句所谓名言警句。浪费字数，有限的字数里，同学们应该学会直接，并且抓住重点，突出自己最有优势的方面，最有特色的方面。
五、英雄型
I am a problem solver. I have an impulse as a kind of instincts to solvevarious problems before me and enjoy doing that. Since I was a little boy, a voice from President Franklin Roosevelt has constantly hovered around my mind, "The world can be changed by man's endeavor, …
点评：一副救世主的形象，小时候就受富兰克林的影响，立志改变世界。个人陈述的写作一定要个人化具体化，别吹大牛，甚至带着一种霸权主义思维。
六、回忆型
Why the gecko can climb on the wall while we can't-' 'Why the leaves turn red in autumn' 'How many stars are there in the sky-' When I was in childhood, I always kept asking my mom all kinds of questions。I am especially interested in how things work, I can even take apart things for several hours in order to find out its principle.
点评：上来就回忆童年少年自己如何有着远大抱负，who cares。个人陈述字数有限，却用这么多话描述童年，没有任何意义。学校想知道你如何看待未来，而不是如何度过过去。