Applying to grad school means having to write a killer statement. This statement can be either a statement of purpose or a personal statement (or both, as we’ll explain later). But what exactly is the difference between these two types of essays?
In this guide to the statement of purpose vs personal statement, we take an in-depth look at the unique purposes of the grad school statement of purpose and personal statement, how the two essays are different and alike, and what you can do to ensure you produce an essay that’s guaranteed to get you into grad school.
When applying to graduate school, you’ll likely need to submit either a personal statement, a statement of purpose, or both. But what’s the difference between these two documents?
As someone who went through the graduate school application process myself I know it can be confusing to figure out whether you need a personal statement statement of purpose, or both. I wrote this article to clear up the confusion and explain the key differences between a personal statement and statement of purpose.
What is a Personal Statement?
A personal statement is a short essay that focuses on your motivations, qualifications, and strengths as an applicant. The goal is to give the admissions committee a sense of who you are as a person beyond your academic achievements and test scores.
Here are some typical things a personal statement will address
- Why you are interested in the program and field of study
- How your background and experiences have prepared you for graduate study
- Any challenges or obstacles you’ve overcome
- Your future goals and how the program will help you achieve them
- What makes you a strong candidate for the program
The personal statement gives you a chance to showcase your personality, passions, and writing skills. Admissions committees want to admit applicants who will thrive in their programs, so use your personal statement to convince them you have what it takes to succeed.
Key Features:
- More personal in tone
- Focuses on your qualifications and motivations
- Allows you to tell your unique story
- Less formal writing style
- Typically 1-2 pages double spaced
What is a Statement of Purpose?
A statement of purpose (SOP) is a more formal essay that states your intentions and goals as a prospective graduate student. While the personal statement showcases your best self, the SOP demonstrates your intellectual development and academic achievements.
Here are some key things a SOP will address
- Your reasons for pursuing graduate study in your chosen field
- How your academic/professional background has prepared you for this field
- Which faculty and areas of research interest you and why
- How completing the program will help you achieve your career goals
- Why you are a good fit for the program
The SOP explains why you want to attend that particular graduate program and how your goals align with what they have to offer. Admissions committees use it to evaluate your potential for success in their program.
Key Features:
- More formal and academic writing style
- Focuses on academic/professional qualifications
- Emphasizes research interests and fit with the program
- Typically 1-3 pages double spaced
Key Differences Between the Personal Statement and SOP
While the personal statement and SOP are similar in purpose, there are some key differences in their content and style:
Content
Personal Statement
- Life experiences, background, challenges overcome
- Motivations and passion for the field
- Personality, strengths, goals
SOP
- Academic achievements and preparedness
- Research interests and fit with program/faculty
- Future career goals and plan of study
Style
Personal Statement
- More personal, conversational tone
- Shows your personality and storytelling skills
SOP
- More formal, academic tone
- Demonstrates your intellect and writing skills
Length
Personal Statement
- Typically 1-2 pages double spaced
SOP
- Typically 1-3 pages double spaced
Examples to Include
Personal Statement
- Anecdotes, stories, dialogues
- Descriptions of life experiences
SOP
- Academic coursework, projects, research experiences
- Publications, presentations, awards
When Do You Need Each One?
Whether you need to submit a personal statement, SOP, or both will depend on the requirements of the graduate program.
Personal Statement Only
Some programs, especially professional master’s and specialization programs, only require a personal statement. These may include:
- MBA
- Nursing
- Public Health
- Social Work
- Journalism
- Teaching
SOP Only
Research-focused academic programs like PhDs often just require an SOP. These may include:
- Sciences (e.g. Biology, Chemistry)
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Humanities (e.g. History, English)
Personal Statement + SOP
It’s common for graduate programs to require both a personal statement and SOP:
- Law
- Medicine
- Public Policy
- Psychology
- Business/Management
This allows them to evaluate both your personal qualifications and your academic/research background.
Always verify the exact requirements of the programs you are applying to!
Tips for Writing Your Personal Statement and SOP
Here are some tips to make your personal statement and SOP as compelling as possible:
Personal Statement
- Focus on 2-3 key stories, experiences, or achievements. Go in-depth rather than covering too much.
- Strike a conversational, engaging tone and style. You can reveal more personality.
- Infuse the essay with passion and enthusiasm for your field of study.
- Be sure to answer the prompt thoroughly. Avoid going off on tangents.
SOP
- Provide plenty of detail when describing your research interests and professional experience.
- Adopt a more academic voice and style expected in graduate-level writing.
- Demonstrate your knowledge of the field and fit with the program by name-dropping classes, professors, projects, etc.
- Follow all length and formatting requirements exactly.
General Tips
- Cater each essay to the specific program and its values/mission.
- Be coherent, well organized, and avoid grammar/spelling errors.
- Have multiple people proofread your essays and provide feedback.
- Revise multiple drafts until the content and style are polished.
The personal statement and statement of purpose serve related but distinct purposes in the graduate admissions process. While the personal statement shows your personality, background, and motivations, the SOP details your academic achievements, research interests, and professional goals within your chosen discipline.
Programs may require just one or both essays, so always verify the requirements. With these tips and an understanding of the key differences between a personal statement and statement of purpose, you can craft compelling essays that put your best foot forward!
Statement of Purpose vs Personal Statement: Which Do You Need to Write?
Now that you know the main difference between a personal statement and a statement of purpose, which one will you have to actually write for your grad school applications?
The answer to this question depends on what documents your school requires and how it defines the two types of essays.
While some grad schools, such as Michigan State University and the UC system, clearly distinguish between the two essays and require two separate statements for admission, other schools donât distinguish at all between the personal statement and statement of purpose. In fact, many grad programs use the terms interchangeably!
Meanwhile, some grad schools combine qualities from both statements into one comprehensive statement. Notre Dameâs Creative Writing MFA program, for instance, requires an essay that’s really a combination of the personal statement and statement of purpose: it asks applicants to talk about their future academic and professional goals as well as any personal aspects of their identity that influence their writing.
Generally, most grad programs will require at least one essay. For research-based programs, this will likely be the more academic, more formal statement of purpose.
To figure out which essay youâll need to write for your program (and whether youâll need to write more than one), check the programâs official website. You should be able to find details on either the programâs application requirements page or the application itself. I also advise checking the FAQ page to see whether anyone has asked a question about the program’s essay requirements.
If youâre still confused about what your grad school admissions essay should focus on and/or what type of essay youâre required to write for your application, contact the program directly by email or phone.
How to Write a Personal Statement
Now that weâve covered how to write a statement of purpose, letâs look at how your approach might differ for the personal statement.
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Since the personal statement is less formal and more personal, youâll want to ensure youâre telling a compelling story. In other words, you have more free rein to be creative with the personal statement than you do with the statement of purpose.
The personal statement is the one part of your grad school application where you can really flex your creative muscles. For instance, you donât need to stick with the conventional chronological format (though thereâs nothing wrong with this, of course).
A good way to show off your creativity is to use a variety of literary techniques, from ry and metaphors to dialogue and colloquialisms. Itâs also OK to write a little less formally than you would in a statement of purpose. So go ahead and tell that joke, or share that eccentric story!
Just be careful to not go overboard with informalities, and make sure you’re still clearly presenting yourself as a serious applicant who is an ideal fit for the program.
Since the personal statement allows you to be a bit more personal than the statement of purpose does, it’s best to use this space to focus more on your own personal reasons for developing an interest in this field and applying to this grad program specifically.
Take time to consider what motivated you to apply to grad school and to continue schooling in this particular field. Donât just focus on grad school in general but on the specific program you are applying to. What initially drew you to this program and at this time?
You can also use your grad school personal statement to discuss any major weaknesses in your application or any challenges or barriers youâve overcome in recent years. These can be personal struggles with things such as your career, school, health, money, etc.
For example, maybe your undergraduate GPA wasnât that high your freshman year because you struggled with living away from home and not knowing anyone at your college. In your personal statement, you could discuss how joining your school’s badminton team helped you make friends and more easily adjust to college life.
Regardless of the challenge you write about, put a positive spin on it. This will prove to the grad admissions committee that youâre able to overcome challenges on your own and can push forward to be successful.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE VS. PERSONAL STATEMENT – What is the difference?
How do you write a statement of purpose?
Demonstrate your knowledge of the school: Be specific about why you want to attend this particular school. This shows passion and a sense of direction and motivation. Avoid writing a generic, lackluster statement of purpose to reuse for multiple schools. Instead, include certain classes or professors that intrigue you.
What is a personal statement?
The personal statement is typically a concise one-page document where you reflect on your academic journey and personal growth. It’s an opportunity to share how your experiences have shaped your character and influenced your decision to pursue further education.
What is the difference between a personal statement and a statement of purpose?
What’s the difference between a personal statement and a statement of purpose? A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application. A personal statement can often be more creative.
What is a statement of purpose?
The statement of purpose is the more formal of the two, highlighting your academic/professional background and accomplishments, your future goals, and how you see yourself fitting with the program you’re applying to.
