What's the point of a personal history statement?

[KindaHardWorker]

What I mean is... what is the function of it? I'm applying to UC Irvine and they have the essay split into SOP and Personal History. Personal history is supposed to be about your socioeconomic position, challenges, etc, but what should I be using it to showcase? Explaining bad first two years of grades? I know the SOP is showing my research experience and skills in my focus area (going for mechanical engineering) and why I want to go to the school. Personal history, on the surface, seems to be the place to unload all of the "ever since I was a kid... science..." type stuff. However, I know strategically this is probably not the approach I should take.

Help a brother out?

[Sury]

I think you should use the personal history statement to demonstrate which experiences in your life impacted ur decision of pursuing an higher degree. I don't particularly agree that only the socio-economic position or challenges you faced are the reaons you would like to pursue an higher degree. For example if you have had an experience as a volunteer, maybe you have has experienced something that motivated you to pursue the degree.

[KindaHardWorker]

In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree.

This "Personal History Statement" is required for all applicants who are US Citizens or legal US Permanent Residents and is different from the "Statement of Purpose" that is also required for all applicants. The "Statement of Purpose" is expected to focus on your academic/research background and interests while the "Personal History Statement" is expected to focus on your personal background.

I'm a white middle class male. WTF.

[Allouette]

I don't think that being a white middle class male means you can't write an awesome personal history statement. Maybe I'm completely off the mark, but I took it more as explaining why you are choosing to pursue graduate study and what you stand to contribute to the community as a person (be that diversity, community engagement, your sparkling personality and good looks, etc). As a white middle class female, I used mine (for UCDavis) to talk about my volunteerism, activism, and community involvement. I actually really liked it because it gave me a chance to explain some of the stuff on my CV that wasn't relevant to my SoP.

[Bearcat1]

Also being a white middle class female, I wrote about previous (crappy) work experience motivated me to pursue a degree in something I was passionate about so that I could get a job I enjoyed. As far as the socioeconomic stuff, I only talked about not appreciating my education until paying for it myself, which alluded to horrible grades my first year at a university (where I went on my parents' dime).

[KindaHardWorker]

Much appreciated, thank you both. I talked to a few of my friends too, it just caught me off guard because I polished my SOP. Now I have a second document to revise and tailor...

So far my main highlights will be choosing to leave industry for a higher degree (giving up a lucrative job), lack of scientific background in family, and how my father's hand injury steered me towards rahabilitation for engineering grad school.

[TransferFunction]

What do you think is more important? SOP or PH?

[Bearcat1]

What do you think is more important? SOP or PH?

I asked one POI I am applying to work with where they require both and he said the PH is mostly to find ways to fund you if you come from "a background for which there may be external funding." I'm not sure what that means aside from race, which most apps ask elsewhere, so I'm not sure if that's actually the case or not. One of my LOR writers said it may be used to argue for one person over another if two apps are equal in every other sense. I'm not sure how that would play out, though. Based on the fact that EVERYONE requires a SOP and only some schools ask for a PH, I'm thinking (hoping?) the SOP is the most important.

[KindaHardWorker]

SOP has to do with experience and ability; PH pretty much sounds like a place to explain anything unusual (like poor grades one year) and also give the more personal reasons for going into a field. That's how I'm approaching it.