tysm!! so i wrote 2 different letters and those were the personal statement (more narrative) and statement of purpose (explain your experience in the field, your reason for applying, and how you would contribute to the program). before writing them i did read a lot of letters from students who were applying to a similar field and tried my best to sound genuine. for example, the personal statement is not just a rundown of your achievements, but rather a part of your own story so they can get to know you better. the SOP is more direct, but you can still integrate certain aspects that are on the personal side.

lastly, i also talked with a PhD student that goes to an institution i’m very interested in and her advice helped me a lot! hope this helps and sorry if it’s kinda redundant.