The following are the first two paragraphs of a motivation letter for a Dutch student applying to an exchange program.
Dear Sir / Madam,
Bachelor exchange is about new experiences. Getting to know yourself better, getting to know new people, new environments. I would be honoured to be considered as a part of an experience like this.
Let [...]

Here is the first paragraph of a student’s personal statement.
College was never very high on my priority list growing up in a rural southern mill-town. Being born to a small family where education was rarely a focus, homework went unchecked at night along with dinner being uncooked. I had never been told college was important [...]

Here’s the first paragraph from the personal statement of a student who wants to study history and politics.
From a young age I have found History fascinating and exciting - exploring different topics and learning about the past. I would visit museums and thoroughly enjoyed stories told by grandmother about how World War 2 had drastically [...]

Here is another essay from an ESL student on education
Study is the most important thing in our life, we will always learn in the whole life. Everyone want to study more than what they get in the present. University where everyone wants to be in is the highest degree in education. In university, people can [...]

Question: I need a good opening sentence for my personal statement to do a psychology degree at Oxford uni, any ideas?
Answer: For a personal statement think about a specific experience, yours or that of someone you know, that has led you to want to study psychology. The end of that story is the concluding sentence [...]