What should I include in my personal statement?

Your personal statement should be structured around three key elements: your reasons for wanting to study the subject; evidence of your interest in and knowledge of the subject; the personal attributes that would make you a valuable member of the University and of the department. With this in mind, you should begin your personal statement with an explanation of why you think this subject is valuable and what personally draws you/has drawn you to it. Keep this at one or two sentences — more of an introduction than anything else — as what will really make your personal statement stand out is your experience of the subject and your individual qualities. Then, explain the ways in which you have expanded and consolidated your knowledge and pursued your passion in the subject throughout your academic and personal life — this is where you should reference any clubs you were a part of, essays you enjoyed writing, books you read, or any other extracurricular activities. Make sure that this doesn't become just a list of things you've done; for every experience you mention, briefly explain the skills that you have gained as a result of it, or some other way in which it is relevant to your present and future study of the subject. This section should make up the bulk of your statement. Finally, demonstrate your individual attributes and skills outside of your specific subject area — are you interested in sports? are you a conscientious person? do you have experience in community service? — and conclude on how you would make a great addition to the University and are excited for every aspect of University life.