A personal statement is a required essay on many graduate school applications. It focuses on the applicant’s goals in applying, their reasons for doing so, and their personal background. But unlike the similar statement of purpose, a personal statement tends to be person-oriented, helping the graduate admissions committee get to know the applicant as an individual. It is designed to let them develop a more well-rounded idea of who the applicant is, and see how they’d fit into the culture of that school and program.