For those of you who might not be aware, Drexel University's writing center offers a number of practical workshops throughout the year. I recently attended "Writing the Personal Statement." During the workshop, the presenter emphasized that a personal statement is basically a persuasive essay. In a personal statement, you are working to emphasize not who you are but how who you are will integrate with the current culture of the graduate program, fellowship, or internship you are seeking. Successfully convincing your readers that you are a truly excellent candidate for a position requires that you understand the organization you are hoping to join (do some online research!) and that you understand who you are and what you might want. Knowing who you are and what you might want requires thoughtfully thinking about who you are and what conditions help you to flourish!
All of the advice above applies equally to a cover letter as well as a personal statement. Potential employers want you to do a little work for them--show them how you and your skills integrate with the position as it is advertised.
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