How important is personal statement (as opposed to statement of purpose)

[longforit]

I'm applying to this program that requires both Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement. The requirement of personal statement seems to be not program-specific, and it's expected to be a 500ish-word short essay.

 

After pouring all my passion/what I can think of about linguistics into my statement of purpose, I found I have little to say in my personal statement except a few general statements about my interest in linguistics and cognitive science (the interest in the particular areas have been elaborated in the SoP).  

I was wondering how much importance an Adcom would attach to a personal statement? I think if I just list my personal experiences in a chronological order it will be not very convincing. Any idea how should I be effective in this essay? Should I give, say, vivid stories, or a more abstract, "philosophical" understanding of linguistics? Thank you!

[mylime]

I'm guessing you're applying to a UC, then. From what I understood of the way the two are set up, the Personal Statement is actually designed to be the venue for "passion"--I'd be careful about appearing overeager in your Statement of Purpose, which should be a more professionally written, highly detailed text outlining your plans for study at X school. What I was told about the UC personal statement, when I applied, was that it's meant to show your awareness of the power dynamics inherent to higher academic study and/or how your knowledge of/experience with those power structures plays out in your work/professional goals--basically to show that you are politically sensitive and aware. I'd be interested in hearing how others interpreted it, though.

[Canis]

Think of your Statement of Purpose as a research plan - a totally academic explanation of your research interest, how it fits in the literature, what it contributes to the field, etc. And your Personal Statement as the story of how and why you are interested in pursuing that research. That might help you divide the two up more clearly.

[longforit]

Thank you guys! I've already submitted it. But I don't think I did a good job though.. I have a lot more to say about linguistics itself than how I got interested in it  

[mylime]

I think that's probably okay! Definitely better than the reverse.