I'm sorry, Pmilian :/ Did they specifically tell you that your personal statement was the reason for rejection? If not, I strongly recommend asking admissions if they can give you some specific feedback so that you can focus your efforts appropriately.
And when you say "personal statement," do you mean the 4 essay questions or did you send in an actual personal statement? I made the mistake of writing a personal statement according to the MSN/DNP instructions. Spent many hours on it before noticing the print that said it was for all programs except ABSN. Admissions told me not to submit it. If you did the same and submitted a 1-2 page personal statement, that may have counted against you.
I'd be willing to take a look at yours and give you some feedback. But again, I would ask admissions what the scoop is so that you're not taking shots in the dark.
And if nursing is what you really want to do, don't give up. The disappointment of being rejected on the first try would be much less than the disappointment of looking back 10+ years from now, while working a job that doesn't fulfill you, and wondering where you could be if only you had tried again. My mom was an RN that always wanted to go to back to school to be a PA. Never really had the confidence to try and she still voices that regret.
Maybe consider applying to a wider range of programs next time. Maybe even some traditional programs? Figure out what your applicant strengths are and look for programs that seek them. E.g. grades, clinical experience, volunteer work. They are weighted differently for different programs. If you happen to be a single, childless individual and are willing to move for education, that really will broaden your options, too.
