A student autobiography is a short paper written by a person about their life, achievements, and goals. You often need to compose one when entering a college or when applying for work. Your autobiography shows your attitude towards the chosen path. This is how you let the committee or employer know that you do want to get the position.
We’ve prepared for you a step-by-step guide that will help you write the perfect student autobiography. You will learn the difference between a biography, an autobiography, and a memoir. Then we will explain how to define a goal and outline your essay. In addition, you’ll find autobiography examples for high school and college students at the end of this article. Keep reading and write a remarkable student autobiography using our tips!
🆚 Biography vs. Autobiography: What’s the Difference?
Biography versus autobiography. What is the difference between them?
- A biography is a story about a person written by someone else;
- An autobiography is a narration about its author.
Of course, they have many other differences and similarities.
The table below compares these two types of texts.
📝 Autobiography Format for Students
A common way to structure an autobiography is the past-present-future approach. This way, you can reflect on your past experiences and how they have shaped your present identity and future goals.
In the following table, you’ll find the autobiography’s main parts and great ideas for constructing a compelling narrative of your life.
👣 7 Steps to a Perfect Student Autobiography
Now let’s write a creative student autobiography! We are sure that every person has something exciting to share with others. With our guide below, you’ll be able to express your own experience.
Step 1: Determine Your Goal
The first thing you are to do before writing an autobiography is to define your goal. What are you writing your autobiography for? What is your audience? Are there any requirements? Most student autobiographies feature a similar format. However, if there are any special requirements, you should take them into account.
Below are five questions to help you set up a goal.
Step 2: Outline Your Autobiography
Start working on your student autobiography by creating your life’s timeline. It will help you structure your thoughts in a logical order and see the big picture. Then look at the list of events and choose those worth describing in the text. It is also a good idea to think of the people you will mention.
Once you’ve decided which facts to include, it’s time to draft an outline of your autobiography. A typical one consists of the following parts:
- Introduction. This section provides a general idea of who you are, what your goal is, etc. Your aim here is to grab your reader’s attention. You can do this by starting with a hook or by writing an engaging thesis statement at the end of the paragraph. It could be your goal or a childhood dream you are trying to bring to life.
- Body. This is the base of your text that should contain a description of the events selected before you start creating the outline. You might want to briefly describe your family, childhood, and hobbies. Share something personal that not many people know about. It is also a good idea to talk about your cultural background and the things you like about it.
Feel free to write about your achievements and skills. Any small victory will do. It will help if you mention some of your failures but state that you have coped with them. The next thing is to present your future goals and prospects. Where does the college or job you applying for to get fit into your plans? - Conclusion. The last paragraph of a student autobiography should summarize its main ideas. The conclusion should be more or less the same size as an introduction. Formulate the main idea of your text in one sentence. Repeat here why you want to enter a college or get a job.
Student Autobiography Outline Example
Below you’ll find an outline for an autobiography that could be written by a student who is applying for admission to a vocal department of a college.
- Introduction (100 words):
- Basic info about the author: name, age, the city they live in.
- Thesis statement: I feel empowered to make a meaningful contribution to art as a vocalist.
- Body (300 words); each paragraph is about 100 words – the description of the author’s past, present, and future:
- When I was a child, I enjoyed watching talent shows with singers and wanted to be like them. My parents sent me to music school, and a path to my dream began.
- I gave many concerts as a soloist in the choir. I took part in several singing competitions. It was not easy to get the victory, especially with such professional competitors. But I have not given up and practiced my skills, so I have managed to win some of them.
- Now the project of my life is to go further and become a professional vocalist. I would like to go to this college because I believe that you have the best professors that help students develop excellent singing skills.
- Conclusion (100 words):
- Since my childhood, I have done everything I could to sing professionally. The next step to my dream is to enter and graduate from college.
Step 3: Start Writing Your Autobiography
Now, after you have prepared an autobiography outline, let’s proceed to the writing itself. You have already completed the most challenging part. In the introduction, you might want to write a catchy and creative thesis statement or a hook that will draw the reader’s attention.
BTW, if you need any help with formulating a thesis statement, you can use our free thesis maker.
Here are some ideas for your introduction:
- I wondered, how can I become a desired position?
- The desired positioninspires many people to be better. That is why I have chosen this path.
- I decided to enter the name of college, just like my relative/friend did.
Step 4: Write the Body
The body part is the most important one because here you write about your life in detail. You need to expand on the topics you have touched upon in the outline. Be honest and write whatever you find interesting. When you come to the difficult period of your life, do not write about yourself as a victim of circumstances. You need to prove yourself strong and committed to your goal.
Make sure your paragraphs are in a logical order and do not contradict each other in any way. Use linking words to connect the paragraphs coherently. If you do not know how to use them, look at the paragraphs’ examples later in the article!
Step 5: Conclude Your Autobiography
The conclusion is the part where you paraphrase the ideas you have stated in the introduction. Here you also need to summarize the points you have made in the body. Need help with making a summary quickly? Use our free summarizing tool!
Then you need to define the central idea of the autobiography about yourself in one or two sentences. It has to be short, simple, and memorable so that the committee would remember you.
Please do not forget to pay more attention to your goals and plans. Explain how the place you are applying for is going to help you in achieving them. Be sure to add why you think you will fit the position.
Step 6: Title Your Autobiography
We recommend that you do not choose a title for your student autobiography before writing the text itself. This must be the second last step you take because you do not know what your essay is going to be. You may consider some titles after you have composed an outline.
The purpose of the title is to attract attention and be remembered by the reader. The last thing you want to do is to create a boring heading. Write a catchy or inspiring phrase, your motto, or something that characterizes your life journey.
Here are some examples of good and bad titles:
Step 7: Proofread & Relax
The last step you will take is to give yourself a day or at least a couple of hours break. Then read through your autobiography again and check for errors. Maybe you want to add or change something? If the final result suits you, then you have done a great job and can relax. Congratulations, you have your autobiography written!
✏️ Short Autobiography of Myself as a Student: Example
You might need to write an autobiography when applying to college, seeking scholarships, or as a form of self-reflection. We created a short example to use as a helpful reference for crafting your autobiography. Check it out!
Ralph Emerson once wrote that every artist was first an amateur. My journey as an art student has been a colorful canvas of experiences shaped by a deep-rooted passion for creativity.
From a young age, I was immersed in a world of artistic expression, surrounded by the vibrant strokes of my parents’ masterpieces. Growing up in a household where creativity flowed like a river, I was inspired to explore the boundless possibilities of artistic expression. Today, I find myself fully immersed in the world of art, navigating the rich tapestry of art history and contemporary trends. Through my studies, I have had the privilege of honing my craft under the guidance of esteemed mentors, each imparting invaluable insights that have further enriched my artistic journey. Looking towards the future, I aspire to bring my vision to life through my first solo exhibition, where I can share my art with the world.
I’m excited about what’s to come and determined to leave a mark in the art world with my work.
👀 Student Autobiography: Examples
In this section, you’ll find great autobiography examples for high school and college students. Use them for inspiration and as templates. They are written as a paper to enter a college in the first case and to get a job with the second. Read them through, and you will be ready to compose your bio!
Autobiography Example for High School Students
A dream I want to share with others
Autobiography Example for College Students
It turned out not as I expected
Congrats, now you know everything you need to write an exciting autobiography! We hope our article and student autobiography examples were useful to you. Check out the FAQ section to get rid of all the remaining questions and start writing your essay as soon as possible!
❓ Student Autobiography FAQ
How to start an autobiography?
The first sentence of your autobiography contains your name, age, and status (a high-school student, a college student, or your profession). Then you should present yourself in more detail. What your family is, where you were born and what school you went to. It is very easy and you do not have to imagine anything.
How to conclude an autobiography?
In your autobiography conclusion, you should restate a thesis if you have one and summarize the key points of your text. You don’t have to give any new information here. Make sure you have written about your goals and expectations for the college or job you want to get. Those who will read your essay have to know why you are interested in the position.
How to title an autobiography?
Remember to title your autobiography after it is written. Read your paper through and identify its main idea. What have you emphasized and paid most attention to? Point it out in the title, but do not exaggerate, be confident. It would be best if you draw attention to your person so that the committee or an employer wishes to read it.
How long should an autobiography be?
It depends on your goal. If you want to describe your life to a vast audience, you may write a book of any length you want. When you need to get a job or enter a college, the appropriate size of an autobiography is five paragraphs.