English PhD Apps: Academic Statement Vs Personal Statement, and How "Personal" to Be

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

I'm sure this has been talked about a lot already, but I'm just getting conflicting advice, so I didn't know where to start. 

 

First off, I'm applying to PhD programs in English Literature. Most of the schools seem to only have one statement that they want--whether they're calling it a personal statement or an academic statement. But, U of M wants both. 

 

Here's the description from their website:

 

 

• Clearly labeled academic & intellectual Statement of Purpose: up to two pages, double spaced, statement about your academic and research background, your career goals, and how Michigan's graduate program will help you meet your career and educational objectives. Disregard the 500 word limit as stated on the application.

• Clearly labeled biographical Personal Statement: up to two pages, double spaced, statement about how your personal background and life experiences, including social, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan. This is not an Academic Statement of  Purpose, but a discussion of the personal journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree. Disregard the 500 word limit as stated on the application

So I've heard from many people that telling personal stories about your life and how you got to "love literature" is a really bad idea--but what about when they specifically ask for a statement that discusses your "personal journey" as described above? 

 

I'm planning on talking about classes that influenced by interests, papers I wrote (conference ones and ones for classes, including my thesis), and how these educational experienced formed my interests and influenced by decisions to pursue a graduate degree. I'm doing this for all of the academic statements of purpose. So, for one that asks for a personal statement too, is this the place to talk about how my parents and experiences growing up shaped me? For example, one reason I'm so interested in feminism is because of my mother being a feminist--obviously I would tell that story in a more interesting way, but is it inappropriate for a personal statement (like the one described above?). Or what about addressing issues of race--I'm always being questioned about my race because I don't fit into a certain "look" and I think it really has made me think about all the "boxes" we're put into, which is why I study people who don't fit neatly into these boxes. (I could make this sound more interesting, but I'm trying to be brief). So, to include that or not to include that? 

Should I instead have my statement of purpose focus on what I want to study, and the personal statement talk about the classes I took that formed that interest?

 

I just don't get how to put together all of the conflicting advice. For example, one handout I received from my department on how to write a good statement gave the following advice. It said to think about the following questions before writing the statement. 

 

1) What's special, unique, distinctive, and or/impressive about you or your life story?

2) What details of your life (personal or family problems, people or events) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?

 

So, my question is--if so many others say that it looks bad to talk about family and silly personal details, then what the heck sets us apart from others? Does our coursework really reflect a "unique" candidate? 

 

Long story short--what should I do about U of M's application in terms of the personal statement versus the academic statement, and how are others choosing to address how personal we should be? HELP!

[beyondaboundary]

I'm applying to UMich also but in Communications. I'll pm you my SOP and PS if you want to take a look...

[Loric]

I think perhaps the best way for you to look at this is thusly...

 

SOP = What you want to do and why you're qualified. Formal.

 

PS = Who you is, why you is, and how you is. Informal.

[Loric]

Oh, and remember anyone who reads one is likely to read the other, at the same sitting, while also looking at the rest of your folio on file.

 

So paint the big picture of what you want to convey to the adcomm. Then delegate responsibilties between the two papers and also other parts of your app. Don't be repetitive.

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

I'm applying to UMich also but in Communications. I'll pm you my SOP and PS if you want to take a look...

 

Sure! That would be awesome!

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

I think perhaps the best way for you to look at this is thusly...

 

SOP = What you want to do and why you're qualified. Formal.

 

PS = Who you is, why you is, and how you is. Informal.

 

Thanks. I thought that's what they wanted, but I'm just not sure exactly how to address the "who, why, and how" in terms of personal information. I'm just worried about how to address them because everyone says not to talk about parents, race/gender issues and such, but I don't see how I can avoid it in this case.

[Loric]

Thanks. I thought that's what they wanted, but I'm just not sure exactly how to address the "who, why, and how" in terms of personal information. I'm just worried about how to address them because everyone says not to talk about parents, race/gender issues and such, but I don't see how I can avoid it in this case.

 

Who is "everyone" exactly..?

 

The prompt specifically asks you to adress "cultural" "familial" etc..

 

Sometimes ignoring what's crept into your head and going back to what the prompt is actually asking for is what will suit you best.

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

Who is "everyone" exactly..?

 

The prompt specifically asks you to adress "cultural" "familial" etc..

 

Sometimes ignoring what's crept into your head and going back to what the prompt is actually asking for is what will suit you best.

 

"everyone" is just typically people on grad cafe, honestly--well, actually no, it's the websites for the programs as well (some of them say to go beyond your personal 'love of literature' and get to the academic stuff). You're right, I am making generalizations though. 

 

One question I have for the academic statement is whether or not to talk about courses I took--and how much space to spend on this. How are you guys tackling providing background information that proves your knowledgeable in this field?

[Loric]

Well, my premise was that i will contribute to the design team (it's a design program, and in a form that heavily relies on teams) and used my previous experience as examples/illustrations. Only courses that ever get mentioned, and very vaguely, are my study abroad in Paris/Venice where I pretty much studied art in every museum in the two cities.

 

In general, your transcripts will show your courses and your recomendations will talk of how you did well and touched on certain subjects. In the statement you're talking in "broad strokes" and want to present the future trajectory and past progress that shows this is a realistic trajectory.

 

"I want to study the nuances of word choice as it relates to homosexual identity in Uganda in the novel War and Peace, but English is my second language, I just learned it last week, and I'm not even sure where Uganda is on a map but I like the way it sounds..." is not a realistic goal as framed by past experience.

[Loric]

Something to keep in mind..

 

"I want to go to Grad School and I want to learn and study and wear a sweater and walk amoung the trees and blah blah blah.."

 

Adcom: "That's great. What's in it for me?"

 

"This goal is so important to my life.. and it'll get me where I want to go.. for me.. and with me.. and by me.. me me me.."

 

Adcom: "Seriously, what's in it for me?"

 

"And you'll be graced with my awesome tree-walking sweater wearing presence..."

 

Adcom: "To heck with this." *tosses it in the reject pile*

 

When you're framing your experience and goals, remember you're trying to convince someone to essentially hire you (give you money.) You need to talk about how you'd be useful and why anyone should be paying real money for that.

Edited November 10, 2013 by Loric

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

Well, my premise was that i will contribute to the design team (it's a design program, and in a form that heavily relies on teams) and used my previous experience as examples/illustrations. Only courses that ever get mentioned, and very vaguely, are my study abroad in Paris/Venice where I pretty much studied art in every museum in the two cities.

 

In general, your transcripts will show your courses and your recomendations will talk of how you did well and touched on certain subjects. In the statement you're talking in "broad strokes" and want to present the future trajectory and past progress that shows this is a realistic trajectory.

 

"I want to study the nuances of word choice as it relates to homosexual identity in Uganda in the novel War and Peace, but English is my second language, I just learned it last week, and I'm not even sure where Uganda is on a map but I like the way it sounds..." is not a realistic goal as framed by past experience.

 

So what past experiences and illustrations are you talking about if not how your coursework developed your interests? That's what I'm having a hard time with--if I'm not supposed to talk about things that are listed on the CV, and not supposed to talk about things that are listed on the transcripts (which, actually, typically don't give you much of an idea of what the course was about), and I'm not supposed to talk about how my love of literature stems from my familial experiences (at least in the academic statement), then what am I supposed to draw from?! (note: my frustration is not directed at you. just at this process).