<p>This may seem like a dumb question, but what is the difference between your personal statement and your essay for the commmon application? What is your personal statement supposed to consist of?</p>
<p>bump. (10 char)</p>
<p>bump, i reallyyy need this question answered.</p>
<p>I would like to hear the answer as well.
burp = bump I assume.</p>
<p>I've heard more than one admissions representative stress, "the personal statement is NOT an essay," but every time it seems like they're just trying to keep you from stressing out about it.</p>
<p>That said, practically by definition, the personal statement is basically just another essay anyway.</p>
<p>Think of it this way. The common application is essentially a personal statement, except they give you 5 prompts to choose from incase you're drawing a blank and don't want to make one up yourself. On the common app essay, if you choose one of the prompts, you have to respond to the prompt. If you make up your own prompt, it's basically a personal statement.</p>
<p>Most colleges don't have you write both. I don't think any of the colleges on my list that use the common app ask for a personal statement.</p>
<p>This response was kind of vague because there's no real clear difference. On the personal statement, they're asking you to give an angle of yourself that the application doesn't provide. You should do the exact same thing on the common app essay.</p>
<p>If you have to write both for the same college, try writing your common app essay on part of your life, and write your personal statement about you personally.</p>
<p>Again, there's no clear distinction. You should provide an interesting take on your life in both.</p>
<p>okay, that clear things up. thank you!</p>