<p>I know this may sound like a dumb question, but bear with me.</p>
<p>What should your personal statement contain preferably?
A generic explanation as to why you want to go to college (on the common app, all colleges see the same one, right?) and what you aspire to?
Or
An explanation of any factors that you want noted on your application, like stress, family hassles, depression, bad grades, etc?</p>
<p>BUMP since this should be easy to answer :P</p>
<p>Mostly what people call the "personal statement" is the main essay required on the Common Application. Is that what you're referring to? Is so, they offer you 5 or 6 prompts you can use as the basis for your essay, or you can choose the option "topic of your choice."</p>
<p>You can really write anything as long as it shows something about yourself, how you think about something, anything, everything, it can be about your circumstances but don't use it as a place to explain your shortcomings (family hassles, depression, bad grades, stress, etc.) If you want to write about those things only reference them as a means to show the lemonade you've made out of your personal lemons.</p>
<p>It should be a POSITIVE expression of yourself, your life, your outlook, beliefs, your passions... or whatever.</p>
<p>It should not be a why-I-want-to-go-to-this-college essay. Some colleges will ask you that directly on their individual applications or supplements to the Common App (some won't), but don't make it the main essay on the Common App. (Yes, all the colleges will see the main essay you write for the Common App.)</p>
<p>Take a look at the prompts and see if one of them sparks something for you. It can also be useful to look in some books available on how to write a good admissions essay. They can be particularly helpful in telling you what NOT to write. ;)</p>
<p>It really depends on the prompt, most of which are relatively general and ask for "significant experiences" and whatnot. It's basically a chance to show colleges the more personal side of you, apart from the academics.</p>
<p>It's where you show WHO YOU ARE and what makes you tick. For example, I wrote about a nickname I have for one of my essays and tied it in with the value I place on friendship and a close knit community. </p>
<p>When you're done, ask someone that knows you well to read it and see if they say that it displays who you are. When people read my name essay, they always exclaimed, "That's so you!" That's the kind of response you want.</p>