Personal Statement
Guidelines for the Personal Statement: Your statement can be up to 500 words in length (approximately 1 page, single spaced, using 1-inch margins and 12-point font).
Describe how your background, accomplishments, and life experiences (those not already described in your Statement of Purpose) led to your decision to pursue the graduate degree for which you are applying.
Include any educational, personal, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey.
In addition, describe any aspects of your personal background, accomplishments, or achievements that will allow the department to evaluate your contributions to the University’s diversity mission.
Contributions to diversity and equal opportunity can take a variety of forms, such as efforts to advance equitable access to education, public service that addresses the need of a diverse population, or research that explores inequalities.
