GRFP Personal Statement Template - Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement

Aug 31, 2026

Upload by Miles

GRFP Personal Statement Template provides structured instructions for drafting a compliant three-page Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement aligned with the GRFP Solicitation requirements. It details how to present educational and professional development plans and STEM career goals, explicitly separating the sections “Intellectual Merit” and “Broader Impacts.” The template includes formatting constraints (page size, margins, fonts, line spacing), guidance on evidence reviewers seek, and reference rules excluding DOIs and URLs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResumes

FormatDOCX

Pages2

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Intellectual Merit

Broader Impacts

References

Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement Instructions The Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement Template has been formatted to the requirements of the GRFP Solicitation. Follow the instructions, then REMOVE all instructional text in brackets [], before you input your own content into the three-page Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement. General Instructions:Outline your educational and professional development plans and career goals. Describe how you envision graduate school preparing you for a career in STEM, including how your experiences could contribute to scientific understanding and broadly benefit society. Your statement should include: Potential to advance knowledge in your field (Intellectual Merit) Potential to benefit society (Broader Impacts) Keep section headings exactly as shown: Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts Other headings are allowed Follow all formatting rules listed Line break between sections Before submission, replace ALL instructional text with your own content Applications that deviate from this format will be considered non-compliant and will be returned without review (i.e., will not be considered for a fellowship). Formatting Checklist Page size: 8.5” x 11” Page limit: Three (3) PDF pages for the Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement Sections: Separate sections may be any length within the overall page limit and may appear in any order. Note: section length is not restricted to the space currently shown in the template. Font: Arial (not Arial Narrow), Courier New, or Palatino Linotype (10 pt or larger) OR Times New Roman / Computer Modern (11 pt or larger) Margins: 1” on all sides, no text in margins (no header, footer, name, or page number) Line spacing: Single spaced; no more than 6 lines of text per vertical inch (do not shrink spacing to fit more text) Figures/Charts: include descriptive alternative text; must be included for all images, figures, graphs, and charts Links: Do not include URLs or external website links References: Must include journal or publication name (abbreviations accepted). DOIs and URLs are not accepted Tips: Reviewers will look for evidence of: Active engagement with STEM communities Sustained interest in STEM Personal initiative and motivation Maturity and intellectual curiosity Growth through academic and professional experiences (problem solving, leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and strong communication skills) Vision for their future role in STEM Interest in addressing societal challenges Note: You do not need to address every bullet. These are examples of qualities and experiences. Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement Summary of Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement: [Insert your Personal Statement here. This section must include both Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, under separate headings as shown below. Other headings and sections are allowed.] Intellectual Merit [State the Intellectual Merit of your Personal Statement here. Keep this heading exactly as shown. Do not combine add text or combine with other sections. See GRFP Solicitation for definitions and guidance related to Intellectual Merit.] Broader Impacts [State the Broader Impacts of your Personal Statement here. Keep this heading exactly as shown. Do not add other text or combine with other sections. See GRFP Solicitation for definitions and guidance related to Broader Impacts.] References: [List cited references here. References must include journal or publication name (abbreviations accepted). DOIs and URLs are not accepted.]

FAQs

Statement must include哪些必须部分？

必须包含“Intellectual Merit”和“Broader Impacts”两个部分，并使用与模板要求一致的标题，且两部分需分开。

提交前需要完成哪些合规检查？

需移除所有括号中的教学说明文字，并确保替换为个人内容；同时遵守页数、页面尺寸、字体、边距、行距与引用格式等要求。

References部分对期刊/出版物有哪些限制？

引用必须包含期刊或出版物名称（可使用缩写）；不接受DOIs和URL链接。

评审通常会重点观察哪些证据？

模板提示需体现与STEM社区的积极参与、对STEM持续兴趣、个人主动性与动机，以及通过学术与职业经历实现的成长与解决问题能力等。

Aug 31, 2026

Upload by Miles