<p>The Berkeley Grad application wants a "Personal Statement" that descibes overcoming personal barriers overcome due to race, color, gender or family problems. Or helping someone do that. This is not the "Statement of Purpose", that's why you deservce them to have you. Any suggestions on either?</p>
<p>You’re making it sound harder than it is. Here is the prompt:</p>
<p>In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree.</p>
<p>As you can see, the essay does not have to be about obstacles. In fact, that is only one of the options you can choose to talk about.</p>
<p>Making two nearly identical threads on this subject in about an hour is not necessary.</p>
<p>As denizen said, these types of essays (especially when they are <em>required</em>) aren’t limited to the barriers you mention. You’ll find that Berkeley likely admits folks who are not impoverished vertically challenged hispanic lesbians. I’m not sure much a semi-BS’ed “how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree” will affect your chances compared to an actual story of struggle and over-coming obstacles. Just do your best, figure out some noble future intentions that they will like to hear.</p>