A personal statement is a brief, persuasive essay that people usually need to write when applying for a grant, a scholarship, or admission to a college or graduate program. A personal statement is usually required as part of the application package for any of these, along with an application form, a writing sample, transcripts, and other materials. When applying to graduate school, you may be asked to respond to a particular question or prompt. For example, the University of Delaware’s Graduate Program in Entomology asks applicants to respond to these questions:

While an application form and transcripts can represent you in terms of numbers and achievements, the personal statement is a chance for you to reveal your personality, persuade your audience (members of an admissions or funding committee), and allow that audience to get to know you a little. This is especially important in competitive situations. For example, some graduate schools receive hundreds of applications for just a few spots, and there may be ten or more applicants who, just like you, have 4.0 GPAs. However, your personal statement can be a tool that makes you stand out from the pack.