Brief Autobiographical Statement WITHIN My Personal Statement?

[Kaye]

I'm currently working on my personal statement and I am given a list of 5 things to include: 

 

1. Brief autobiographical statement

2. Example of how I overcame an obstacle

3. Multicultural Experiences

4. Volunteer Experiences

5. How this program will help me meet my goals. 

 

I'm unclear about what i'm supposed to write for #1 - brief autobiographical statement. Isn't the whole thing really an autobiographical statement? For my other statements, I have a witty (eh, not really witty) introduction about what motivated my future career goals. Is that what they're looking for, or are they looking for more general information about me? 

 

I'm so confused! Please help! 

[Usmivka]

No. A personal statement says something about what you are excited about, how you plan to make it happen, and why you are qualified to follow through on this plan. Only one component of that necessarily has to do about your past. A personal statement should be a little less formal than a statement of purpose (think of a letter to a prospective employer as though you are applying to a job for that latter case), but it still isn't necessarily "story time." Take a look at the last few months in the archives about SOPs, you'll see a LOT has been written about them and how to tackle them.

[Kaye]

No. A personal statement says something about what you are excited about, how you plan to make it happen, and why you are qualified to follow through on this plan. Only one component of that necessarily has to do about your past. A personal statement should be a little less formal than a statement of purpose (think of a letter to a prospective employer as though you are applying to a job for that latter case), but it still isn't necessarily "story time." Take a look at the last few months in the archives about SOPs, you'll see a LOT has been written about them and how to tackle them.

 

What you described basically sums up how i've written my other 8 personal statements. My question is asking whether there's something in addition that i'm supposed to add that would be considered "a brief autobiographical statement."

I am not being asked for a statement of purpose. 

[Usmivka]

OK bud. I answered your two questions ("Isn't the whole thing really an autobiographical statement?" and "Is that what they're looking for ["I have a witty (eh, not really witty) introduction about what motivated my future career goals"]?). In both cases no.I suggested that only one part of a the personal statement as described is necessarily autobiographical, and suggested you look at the many recent SOP posts which go into quite a bit of detail about how to craft a statement for a variety of situations. What you have posted now is a new and different question.

 

Thanks for downvoting me for the trouble of trying to give constructive feedback and pointers to other help. With that attitude I'm sure you'll get lots of help.

Edited January 10, 2013 by Usmivka