Personal Statement?

[GraceEun]

So one of the schools I'm applying to requires both a SOP and Personal Statement. The prompt for the latter is "describe any cultural, geographical, financial, educational, etc., experiences that have led you to pursue a graduate degree here. Some of SOP has some personal history as well, so how do I distinguish the two?

[comicline865]

With a grain of salt: if one must draw a distinction between the two, SOP is prospective, personal statement is retrospective.

 

In most cases, the SOP is far more important, as it is where the applicant puts a serious discussion of interests, preparation, and fit; the personal statement provides room for the applicant to highlight extraordinary hardship and challenges faced in his/her education. Many applications will not request a personal statement (also called a "diversity statement"). Others will call it optional. Unless you've got a legitimate hardship, or an experience which conveys "genuine" contact with diversity (e.g., you worked in the peace corps in a developing country), do not fill it out (unless required). If optional and it is left blank, it will not hurt your application; if you fail a PC test, for example by bemoaning the "stifling" intellectual environment of your top tier private school, then you will only alienate the committee and come across as an ass.