On a piece of paper, answer the following questions in single paragraphs: What achievements are you proud of? What work experiences have you had? What important activities have you engaged in?
Look at your answers and try to single out qualities that you possess that make you different from other people. Write them down.
Write down your answers to the following questions on a piece of paper: What career goals do you have? What evidence do you have that these are the right choices? Examine your answers and determine how strong or weak you find them.
Pick one of the qualities that you determined that you possess in Step 2 and the experiences that have led you to believe that you possess it. Describe one such experience in the opening paragraph of your essay in an engaging manner. Don't overtly write that you possess this quality, but imply it. Explain how this experience connects to your desire for a course in psychology.
Explain your answers to the following questions in separate paragraphs: Why you want to take this psychology course, what area of psychology you'd like to specialize in, your future use for this education in psychology, and any special preparation that you have that distinguishes you from other applicants.
Reread your essay carefully, fixing any errors. Give it to a colleague or teacher to read. Make adjustments according to the feedback you receive.
Summarize your ideas in a new way for your closing paragraphs. Pick a quote from a famous psychologist such as Erik Erikson, Carl Jung or Sigmund Freud to act as a memorable final closing line for your essay.