This essay will assist both the admissions committee and fellowship review committees to evaluate your background and motivation for graduate study. In your personal history statement, please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. A sample of topics that you might address in your statement is below. However, please structure your statement in any way that you feel best represents your personal history. Please do note that there is a 1200 word maximum for the statement.

Any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences or opportunities relevant to your academic journey
Challenges and/or obligations you have had to address in order to achieve your educational goals and how you addressed them
Employment while an undergraduate
How your perspectives or activities contribute to social or cultural diversity and/or make you sensitive to the experiences of underrepresented groups