what is the difference between personal statement and college essay

College essay—basically the same as a personal statement (I'll be using the terms interchangeably). Essay prompt —a question or statement that your college essay is meant to respond to. Supplemental essay —an extra school or program-specific essay beyond the basic personal statement.

What is the difference between a personal statement and supplemental essays? The Common Application personal statement comprises 650 words (or less) in response to one of seven essay prompts.

In essence, the terms 'personal statement' and 'college essay' often refer to the same type of essay, particularly when it comes to the Common App where you have your main essay. This is the essay you'll be sending to the majority of schools if they're part of the Common App system.

These essays, sometimes called Personal Statements, are an opportunity to show the selection committee who you are as a person: your story, your values, your interests, and why you—and not your peer with a similar resume—are a perfect fit for this opportunity.

A personal statement is a more general term that can refer to any essay that reveals something about the writer's personality, background, or experiences. A college essay is a more specific type of personal statement that is written specifically for the purpose of applying to college.

An essay is a structured piece of writing that deals with a particular subject. A personal statement, on the other hand, is a form of essay that relays autobiographical information about its author.

When you apply to college, you'll write a personal statement and a college essay. Think of the personal statement as your life's snapshot. This is your ambitions and trials in your voice. On the other hand, the college essay showcases your thinking.

The short answer is that a statement of purpose is about what you want to do, while a personal statement is about who you are. Each essay has its own goals in what it’s supposed to do for you and the program you’re applying to.

A personal statement is an essay in which you demonstrate aspects of who you are by sharing some of the qualities, skills, and values you’ll bring to college. A written personal statement is typically used by college admission offices, but it’s also often used by scholarship selection committees or specific academic departments to help ...

This article offers four clear elements of an amazing personal statement for college by showing how two real sample personal statements express them.