Same personal statement for every school Forum

[sportsstar5]

I was under the impression that I can use my general personal statement for every school. Each personal statement description appears similar, giving you the ability to write what you want.

Now I am confused. For St. Johns Law, the personal statement description seems different. My personal statement involves an event in my life, how I reacted and showed perseverance, and how that has made me become who I am over the years into who I am (and why law school). Can this fit for all personal statements, including different appearing ones like this?

Thanks so much!

Applicants are required to include a “personal statement or short essay” with their application. Suggested topics include:

your decision to pursue a career in law
your reaction to a recent current affairs event
your feelings about a particular community service or extracurricular activity with which you have been involved
your reaction to a particular item you may have read recently (fiction, nonfiction, or poetry), whether in an article or a book

[rinkrat19]

If the school's essay prompt is asking for something besides what you wrote, you have to write something else. Don't submit an essay that isn't what they're asking for.

[sportsstar5]

Were you able to use the same statement for all schools? Isn't a personal statement about who I became and who I am, while demonstrating my writing ability?

Some topics include "or something else" and none of them are very clear cut? I'm unsure whether or not my statement for St. Johns for example can be about my becoming who I am from an experience, or if I have to write about a current event or novel. Thanks!

[rinkrat19]

In that case, the listed topics are SUGGESTIONS. St. John's is trying to give you inspiration.

I was able to use my PS for all the schools I applied to, because I only applied to schools for which the PS would work.

[sportsstar5]

Thanks so much, apprecaite it.