What is the actual purpose of a personal statement in a college application?

It might not be what you think. You might have gotten advice like:

• don't use humor
• don't talk about the immigrant experience
• don't write a sob story
• don't list your accompishments
• be unique
• showcase your hobbies or other talents

These advice all miss the key purpose of a personal statement, and so is not always correct (or incorrect). So let's peel the layers back and talk about why colleges even ask for a personal statement.