Write a Personal Statement

Overview

There are two types of statements included in the Graduate School’s online application, (1) the Academic Statement of Purpose and (2) the Personal Statement, both of which are required for all graduate degree programs. 

What Should the Personal Statement Include?

Your personal statement should describe how your background and experiences have influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree and your readiness to do so. In your response, you should consider how you might contribute to Cornell’s founding principle of being “an institution where any person can find instruction in any study,”  and institutional core value to provide a community of belonging, where scholars representing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and work productively and positively together.

In your statement, you may draw from personal, academic, and professional experiences that can be transferable to an academic context. Your statement may include relevant information on any of the following:

• Your ability to engage with and contribute to effective, collaborative teams.
• How you have come to understand and value perspectives different from your own.
• How you have demonstrated persistence in overcoming a setback or challenge.

Your personal statement should reflect your unique perspective and experiences while illustrating how they have shaped your potential to contribute meaningfully to Cornell’s academic and community life.

Content in the Personal Statement should complement rather than duplicate the content contained within the Academic Statement of Purpose, which should focus explicitly on your academic interests, previous research and/or relevant professional experience, and motivation for pursuing your intended area of academic focus during your graduate studies.