1.7. Personal, Diversity, and/or Research Statements

As mentioned in the introduction, one of the biggest sources of confusion for graduate school applicants is around the naming of the essay. At times applications will use the terms statement of purpose and personal statement interchangeably. If an application only asks for a personal statement, it is quite possible that the SoP framework discussed in this resource will apply. Some institutions ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose; if that is the case, the prompts provided in the application should distinguish between the two.

For some applications, a personal history and/or diversity statement may be required. The prompts for these statements vary greatly, and it is not always clear how they are used in the application process. Sometimes the statements are used for fellowship programs to support individuals who identify as first-generation, low-income, and/or underrepresented. These essays are typically short, ranging from 300-500 words. Pay attention to the questions you are asked and be sure that you respond to the prompt. These statements are personal in nature, and you should only include what you feel comfortable sharing.

You might also be asked to write a research statement. This might overlap with the statement of purpose or it might be completely different. It could ask about your past research experiences and/or your research interests, goals, and proposed thesis or dissertation topics. Start by reading the prompt to ensure you understand what you should address in this statement.