As university places become more hotly contested and admission interviews look to distinguish between the regurgitators and the critical thinkers, never has it been more important to display mental suppleness and an ability to think outside of the subject box. We also live in a period in which government funding for humanities subjects is being increasingly squeezed. 

A personal statement is a critical stage of the admissions process. It offers an opportunity to display a commitment to a subject and a belief in its importance, not only in and of itself, but also for society. The economic and cultural benefit of a subject is, therefore, one issue which you might address in the opening or close of your personal statement.