Personal History and Diversity Statements

[Pamphilia]

Hello, wonderful people,

Another question here. Yes, I have many.

I've heard in several places and on several forums that personal history/diversity statements (mandatory or optional) are not *too* important to the actual application, but are used mostly to determine funding and fellowships. I'm wondering how much English adcomms even look at these statements. Do they, or it is mostly the larger graduate program/school that looks at them? Anyone have any idea?

I'm just curious because I have some information in my personal history statement about my background/what I've been doing in my time off that I think may make me a more attractive candidate to certain programs. At the same time, it's not information that's strictly relevant to an English grad application, which is why I'm really only putting it into the personal history statement (and therefore only bringing it to the attention of the three programs that require or give the option to submit a PHS). If the English adcomm won't be looking at the PHS, I'm thinking about trying to slip some of that information into my SOP. Maybe.

Has anyone heard about how much weight lit adcomms put on personal history statements, or if they even look at the PHS?

Thanks! You're all stars.

[callmelilyb]

I'm kind of in a similar situation....I also have a mix of programs that ask for both personal statement and statement of purpose. Trying to write a statement that works for both types of programs has been one hell of a task! How personal do I get in the statement of purpose depends on whether or not the program is also asking for a personal statement. I think, as you've mentioned that the personal statement is a perfect place to mention experiences that may not seem "directly" relevant to English but have still played an important part in shaping who you are and where you are coming from.

That being said, I would guess that for the handful of schools that do specifically ask for a biographical/personal statement, that it's important to them.

For places like UCLA and UC Davis (and any UC campus) they are DEFINITELY important. I can't say for sure if this is true for the other programs I see you are applying for.

At any rate, take it seriously. Even if a bunch of people get on here and tell you that nobody really looks at it, does that mean you're going to risk sending in a bad piece of writing?

If nothing else, I'd look at it as another opportunity to showcase my writing skills.

Edited November 10, 2009 by tlsaborido

[Pamphilia]

Oh, I'm definitely taking it seriously. For Northwestern, where it's optional, I jumped at the chance to show off more of my bad self. And I think I have a fair to decent personal statement written for the schools that ask for it. I'm just wondering if I should try to slip some of my attractive-but-not-wholly-relevant information into the SOP (if, of course, I can do it gracefully and in a way that makes it seem more directly relevant), where I know it will be read by the adcomm.

[Pamphilia]

For places like UCLA and UC Davis (and any UC campus) they are DEFINITELY important. I can't say for sure if this is true for the other programs I see you are applying for.

Err.....it's quite possible that I am being a HUGE bonehead here, but I have seen no mention anywhere on UCLA's website of a personal or diversity statement in addition to the statement of purpose. There's a little space for an essay to say why you should be considered for certain fellowships, but that's all I can find. Is the personal statement required (or an option) for UCLA and if so, where did you see that? Eep. Have I missed something important and glaringly obvious??

[soxpuppet]

I didn't see that UCLA asks for one either... but Berkeley certainly wants it!

Err.....it's quite possible that I am being a HUGE bonehead here, but I have seen no mention anywhere on UCLA's website of a personal or diversity statement in addition to the statement of purpose. There's a little space for an essay to say why you should be considered for certain fellowships, but that's all I can find. Is the personal statement required (or an option) for UCLA and if so, where did you see that? Eep. Have I missed something important and glaringly obvious??

[callmelilyb]

I thought all of the UC campuses asked for one, but it looks like UCLA doesn't. Sorry to worry you guys!

[callmelilyb]

Pamphilia: I think relevancy is a matter of packaging. Well, 99% of the time anyhow...but without knowing what kinds of things you're really thinking about I couldn't speak to whether or not it's too much of a stretch.

But, as far as I know, the personal statement is the one place where you can get away with that kind of stuff....

Edited November 11, 2009 by tlsaborido

[AVL587]

Err.....it's quite possible that I am being a HUGE bonehead here, but I have seen no mention anywhere on UCLA's website of a personal or diversity statement in addition to the statement of purpose. There's a little space for an essay to say why you should be considered for certain fellowships, but that's all I can find. Is the personal statement required (or an option) for UCLA and if so, where did you see that? Eep. Have I missed something important and glaringly obvious??

The only one I have seen in addition to the personal statement is part of the fellowship application.. ?

[piccgeek]

Two answers:

1) Yes, the personal history/diversity statements are mostly for fellowships and scholarships, especially for the schools that offer them as optional.

2) THE ADCOMS WILL READ THEM. As an English applicant, EVERY piece of writing is an opportunity to flaunt your wonderful writing skills. I've talked to a couple of the profs here about the application process (I was a teacher's-pet undergrad at the school where I'm currently a master's student, so some of the profs are maybe more indiscreet than they should be), and they almost always accept students because "we fell in love with their writing." The content is just icing on the cake--crucial for certain fellowship/scholarship decisions, but only a mannequin on which to hang the finery of your rhetoric and style as far as the adcoms are concerned. And, of course, if you have info that will make you a more appealing candidate which you can't fit directly in to your statement of purpose, get that on paper and put it in their hands, it can only help!

...no pressure for the writing sample, eh?

Edited November 15, 2009 by piccgeek

[Pamphilia]

The only one I have seen in addition to the personal statement is part of the fellowship application.. ?

DUDE. There is a secret Diversity Statement for UCLA. It's buried deep within the fellowship application, and you can't even see it until you fill out like three pages of other questions.

Cheap shot, UCLA.

[legob]

Hi everyone

 

So obviously UCLA is not using the Hubson application portal anymore. Instead, there is a new portal. Under the former one, we ad to write the Diversity Statement for fellowship application, which was only applicable to US citizens. This year, there is no required document as "Diversity Statement". But they ask for Personal History Statement which I think is the same as Diversity Statement. Do you guys feel the same? or am I missing something?

[Warelin]

13 hours ago, legob said:

Hi everyone

 

So obviously UCLA is not using the Hubson application portal anymore. Instead, there is a new portal. Under the former one, we ad to write the Diversity Statement for fellowship application, which was only applicable to US citizens. This year, there is no required document as "Diversity Statement". But they ask for Personal History Statement which I think is the same as Diversity Statement. Do you guys feel the same? or am I missing something?

Hi Legob!
The UC System addresses this here: http://graduate.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/applying/personal-statement/

Basically this statement is about you. What challenges and triumphs have you faced? How have your experiences helped to shape you? What has your engagement been with programs that increase diversity?