<p>Most of the words of the prompt deal with practical experience–internships and the like. However, the first part asks how your interest developed. You can write about anything, making it a metaphor for how your interest developed. </p>
<p>Now, I say “anything,” but I don’t literally mean anything. You shouldn’t choose an offensive topic, or choose a topic so completely distant from your major that you can’t relate the two. But just because it asks for your experience relating to your major, doesn’t mean you have to talk about your time interning for a bank if you’re an economics major. </p>
<p>I think someone posted the Virginia page on personal statements above. The important thing is not to write a McEssay.</p>