marketing undergraduate personal statement

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• Marketing Personal Statement Examples

As you start your marketing journey, writing a good personal statement for marketing can make all the difference in standing out in the admission tutor’s eyes. 

To help you get inspired, we have gathered a collection of successful marketing personal statement examples from top marketing students. These examples showcase a variety of skills and achievements in the field, giving you a clear picture of what a winning marketing personal statement looks like. 

Whether you’re applying for a marketing course or related courses, these undergraduate and postgraduate examples will provide valuable insights and tips to help you create an impactful personal statement for marketing.

Marketing Personal Statement Example

My passion for marketing started at a young age, inspired by the popular TV show Mad Men and its portrayal of the advertising industry. The show sparked my interest in the art of persuasion and the power of effective communication, and I have since been motivated to learn more about the field.

During my high school years at Chew Valley School in Bath, I was the captain of the rugby team, where I developed valuable leadership skills and the ability to work well under pressure. These skills have translated well into my work experience, where I spent two summers at McDonald’s, where I learned how to be task-focused and improve my time management skills.

In terms of academics, I have taken A-Levels in English, Biology, and Chemistry. Although these subjects are not directly related to marketing, they have helped me to develop critical thinking and analytical skills, which I believe will be beneficial in my future marketing career.

My long-term goal is to become a marketing manager and to make a meaningful impact on the industry. I am fascinated by the various aspects of marketing, including market research, branding, advertising, and promotions. I am eager to learn more about these topics and to gain practical experience through internships and real-world projects. I am also interested in writing a marketing book and sharing my knowledge and insights with others who are interested in the field.

In my free time, I enjoy playing rugby and reading books. I am also an avid traveller and have visited several countries, which has broadened my perspective and exposed me to different cultures and marketing strategies. These experiences have further fuelled my interest in marketing and have given me a deeper appreciation for the global impact of the industry.

I believe that a marketing course at a UK university will provide me with the education, skills, and network to pursue my dream career. I am confident that I have the determination and motivation to succeed in the programme, and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

Recommended guides for reading:

• How to Write a Personal Statement for a Master’s
• How to Write a Personal Statement for a PhD
• UCAS Personal Statement: A Writing Guide And Tips For Success
• Tips for Writing a Personal Statement for the University
• How to Write a Personal Statement That Stands Out
• UCAS Application: Process and Deadlines Explained in Details
• Personal Statement Examples UK

Undergraduate Marketing Personal Statement Example

Fueled by my fervour for marketing and backed by my hands-on experience and educational foundation, I am the ideal candidate to soar in this programme.

I first became interested in marketing while reading Seth Godin’s book “Purple Cow”. The book spoke to me on a personal level and helped me understand the importance of creativity and innovation in marketing. I was inspired by Godin’s approach to marketing, which emphasizes the need to stand out and be unique in a crowded market. This resonated with me, and I knew then that I wanted to pursue a career in marketing.

My work experience has also been a significant factor in shaping my interest in marketing. During my time at Cantell School, I worked part-time as a digital marketing coordinator for a secondary school web portal. In this role, I was responsible for creating and executing marketing campaigns, analyzing data, and maintaining a strong online presence for the school. This experience provided me with hands-on experience in the field of marketing and further solidified my interest in the subject.

In addition to my work experience, I have also been highly involved in various extracurricular activities, including playing basketball for my school’s team. I believe that my athletic background has taught me valuable skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership, which will be useful in my future marketing career. Furthermore, my A-level studies in English, Media, and Finance have given me a strong foundation in the areas of communication, analysis, and finance, which are essential skills in marketing.

My travels around the world during my gap year have also had a profound impact on my interest in marketing. I had the opportunity to meet and interact with many people, including marketing professionals, who shared their experiences and insights into the industry. This has given me a deeper appreciation for the dynamic and ever-changing nature of marketing and has motivated me to pursue a career in this field.

Philip Kotler, another marketing thought leader, has also had a significant impact on my motivation to pursue a career in marketing. I admire his approach to marketing, which emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and designing strategies that meet those needs. This has inspired me to approach marketing from a customer-centric perspective and to always prioritize the needs of my target audience.

Ultimately, my goal is to become a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and make a significant impact in the marketing industry. I am confident that with a degree in marketing from your esteemed university, I will be well-equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve this goal.

I am highly motivated and passionate about pursuing a degree in marketing. I believe that my work experience, academic background, and extracurricular activities make me a strong candidate for your programme. I look forward to the opportunity to further develop my skills and knowledge in marketing at your esteemed university.

Postgraduate Marketing Personal Statement Example

With over three years of working experience in the marketing sector, I believe I have gained the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue advanced studies in the field.

I have been working at Grey International Marketing Agency in London, where I have been involved in a variety of international marketing campaigns for both UK and international brands. This experience has provided me with a unique opportunity to work with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and to understand the complexities of the global market. I have learned the importance of market research, consumer behaviour analysis, and creative branding strategies in developing effective marketing plans.

As a driven and ambitious individual, I am constantly seeking new challenges and opportunities to grow. My interest in digital marketing has led me to specialize in this field, and I am now proficient in social media marketing, search engine optimization, and email marketing. I am also skilled in data analytics and use it to measure the effectiveness of my marketing campaigns and make data-driven decisions.

Additionally, my experience as a basketball player in the Baker Early College team in Oregon, USA, has taught me the importance of teamwork and leadership. These skills are transferable to the marketing sector and have allowed me to work effectively with my colleagues and clients. I have also learned the importance of adaptability and resilience, especially when faced with unexpected challenges and obstacles.

I am confident that the postgraduate marketing course at your university will provide me with the advanced knowledge and practical skills to further my career and achieve my long-term goal of starting my marketing agency. I am particularly drawn to your university’s reputation for academic excellence and its commitment to providing students with real-world experiences. I am eager to learn from the experienced faculty and to engage with my peers from diverse cultural backgrounds.

I am passionate about marketing and believe that this postgraduate course will provide me with the foundation I need to make a significant impact in the industry. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my background and qualifications with you, and I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Thank you for your consideration.

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• Personal Statements
• Marketing Personal Statement

Marketing Personal Statement Example

Sample statement.

Is marketing an art or a science? Is it an informative blessing or an intrusive curse? Everyone has a different opinion on the subject, but for me, marketing is one thing above all; marketing is fun. I believe it has to be, or it simply won’t work. The days of information style announcements are long gone.

These days the advertiser must entertain and amuse their target audience if they want to have any hope of getting their message heard in the melee of modern media. This is the unspoken bargain that we all enter into.

I love the combination of strategy and creativity that makes a really good campaign. I always smile at clever, inventive media buying, where the company has really worked hard to match their product to the TV show or environment that it is being advertised in. I admire teaser campaigns that intrigue you and draw you in, despite our natural cynicism. And I love clever creative ideas that make you laugh and make you buy something, both at the same time.

I have always been a good persuader, and have been able to talk my way into, or out of, pretty much anything from an early age. I have developed this ability into the written word, writing copy that captures the imagination and gets people to act. Whenever there is a school production or a fundraising drive, I am usually called upon to come up with the words, and often the overall theme too.

To back up my interest in marketing, I have chosen my A-levels carefully. I chose psychology to help me understand how people’s minds work and mathematics, so that I could understand the inevitable figures and statistics that are needed to analyse a campaign. I also studied English Literature, partly to hone my writing skills, but also because I love to study other writing styles.

I wish I could say that I had the art skills to back up my marketing aspirations, but sadly I cannot create pictures with pencils and paints as easily as I can with words. Nonetheless, I have taken GCSE Art in my free periods to try and improve what ability I have, so that I can at least communicate my ideas to more skilled artists within a creative team.

I am keen on amateur dramatics, and love the way that a whole team has to pull together to make a production work, from the actors to the kid who works the curtains. I think that this has been good experience for a career in an advertising agency where teamwork is equally important. I also have a part time job at the local Tesco store, where I get to observe first hand how consumers react to the hundreds of different marketing messages they are bombarded with in the store. I am fascinated by human behaviour and relish the chance to see it up close as I anonymously stack the shelves nearby.

My ambition is to work my way up through the industry, building a reputation, until one day I am able to open an advertising agency of my own. 

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Marketing and business management personal statement example 1.

Ever since an early stage in my life, I have always worked hard to overcome challenges. This in turn influenced my passion for business. Business can be a risky and competitive industry, but having considered my most desired skills and interests, I know that I am ready to step into the world of business.

My passion for business has reinforced my decision and motivation to study business at a degree level. I am a creative, alert and hard working individual who can work intuitively with a pragmatic approach to studying, and for this reason I believe I can succeed in this course. I am keen to develop my knowledge in marketing as this is an interesting area of work for me. I also like to carry out my own research, and find out new points about business that I haven't come across yet.

I understand that marketing demands a fair degree of scientific thinking. And that it is a complex profession, requiring a broad understanding of technology, an awareness of how to analyse and understand data, plus a good grounding in a variety of other scientific and mathematical principles which I personally believe I have and this would enable me to progress and establish a good understanding.

Some of the modules that I have covered include Finance, Human Resources, Strategic Management and Marketing. With excellent understanding in these subjects that I have covered and an enthusiasm for knowledge, I am confident in my ability to progress further in business as I am keen to further my own skills in education.

I undertook a school-led work experience scheme at a business firm called Bridge Park in Wembley. Being an office-based job, I was able to further my organisational and interpersonal skills as I learnt the importance of professionalism in the work area and the day-to-day pressures of deadlines. During my time at Bridge Park, I recognised how businesses work with one another to gain profit.

During my secondary school life, I captained my football team from year 7-11. This improved my leadership abilities as I learnt how to organise the team, and understood the importance of teamwork, encouraging the players and improving team morale and spirit.

Being a successful captain, I always believed in a democratic team who could interact with each other, giving individual input from each of the members, and my role was to bring their ideas together and make final decisions. Being captain made me gain the understanding of commitment to the team and helping the team to a winning form.

I have been on various trips, one of which was a school trip to Egypt. It was an amazing experience, where I interacted with people from a different background. I was able to acknowledge and understand the values and norms of other cultures. This was thoroughly rewarding and I now have a deeper appreciation of diversity.

I am a believer of pro-actively trying to make a difference to world poverty and even in the current climates of recession I strongly believe that the developed countries have a duty to developing countries today. I'm currently donating monthly to Oxfam and have previously undertaken some volunteer work for the charity organisation, which provides domestic aid to developing countries.

During this time, I was able to help raise money to give aid to the children in Somalia. I found this experience very rewarding as I know that however little my efforts may seen, they have surely provided at least one child a better life. These efforts only strengthened my determination to work hard and achieve to the highest of my ability.

Making full use of the facilities we have in London, I am a regular attendee at my local gym and am a fanatic of sport, from hockey to basketball, but favouring football.

Having read a lot of media reviews on health and fitness and assessed the new approaches to health over the last few years, I am much more aware of the need to be positive about my health and understand the physical importance of taking care of your body and its effect on the mind, than ever before.

I intend to study at university and achieve a high class degree that will greatly help me to pursue my career plans in Business.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by bad_boy_g for application in 2009.

bad_boy_g's Comments

I'm coming to end of my personal statement i just wanted some thought from other people what they think and what i could improve!

Related Personal Statements

Tue, 09/12/2008 - 16:33

im applying for a marketing/advertising degree for 09 entry...still working on a new PS, thought they dont have anything on Advertising and only 3 Marketing statements > not really a gr8 amount of help from any of those...so Ive been reading through some of the Business ones.

So far, urs has really stood out Great statement :) in terms of covering all areas from academic achievements, work exp. extra cirricualar activities etc. while still showing u have a life!/are a well rounded person & without being too big-headed/waffling on/boring or using fancy words which look out of place n dnt rel8.. G00dluck, where have u applied so far?...

Wed, 10/12/2008 - 11:10

I've applied to Kent, nottingham trent, reading, brighton and worcester.! i havent yet sent my statement off going to send it off by today or tomorow what abt u where u applied?

yeh im just finishing up on

Thu, 11/12/2008 - 17:52

yeh im just finishing up on myne and hoping to send it off by tommorrow. I've summed it down to just 2 main unis that i want to go to - Hertfordshire and Northampton, but will probz add another thats in/around the london area maybe..

Very good! Affirmative,

Thu, 11/12/2008 - 21:53

Very good! Affirmative, confident and assertive!

Add new comment

• The University of Warwick

Perfecting your personal statement

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Your personal statement is an essential part of your UCAS application, providing you the opportunity to highlight your skills, experience and future ambitions. However, getting your personal statement right isn’t always easy so our Undergraduate Recruitment Manager, Danni, shares her advice on how to make yours stand out.

Preparation is key

Start by creating a plan and remember that you can only write one personal statement as part of your UCAS application, so avoid mentioning any universities by name. Look at the descriptions of the courses that you are interested in and identify the key skills, qualities and experiences that are mentioned within the course description as this will help you to make a list of what to include. Make sure that you explain the reason why you are interested in that particular subject area and think about how studying that subject will fit with your future career aspirations. You could have excellent skills, qualities and experiences to share but if they’re arranged in a poorly written statement the impact will be vastly reduced. A well written, clearly structured personal statement will not only make the information stand out but will also evidence your ability to structure written work, a crucial skill for university.

Evidence your passion

We want to know what drives you, so make sure you show your enthusiasm. Begin by explaining why you are applying for the course and what interests you about the subject. Include examples; as Danni says , “don’t just say that you like a subject, demonstrate how you have an interest for that subject” . Are you enthusiastic about the subject because you have completed extra studies, obtained work experience, or written blogs? These key examples are crucial. Danni mentions that “much of your university work will need to be based upon evidence, so it’s useful to demonstrate this in your personal statement. We do understand you have a word limit so keep your examples clear and concise.” For example, if you mention work experience, talk about a particular day or challenge that taught you something rather than stating 'I did work experience, it was good’.

Identify skills you’ve developed

You can also mention activities outside of school that will help to support your application. “It’s good to include what extra-curricular activities you have done as this can demonstrate that you are a well-rounded individual,” says Danni. So when you talk about the sport you take part in, the instrument you play, or the Saturday job you have, explain the skills they're helping you develop. Team sports teach resilience and communication. Music requires patience and application. Any job demands ambition to be good at it, and your experience can teach you how to work well within a team. We’ve also all been impacted by Covid-19 this year so don't be afraid to refer to the pandemic and include any hobbies that you have picked up during that time or the skills that you may have developed. All these points help to provide a well-rounded picture of you.

Create a flow through a clear structure

If you only take away one thing from this blog, it should be to make sure that your personal statement has a clear beginning, middle and end. Try to aim for a punchy opening line but don’t spend days worrying about those first few words. “Don’t overly stress about having the perfect opening line,” says Danni, “it doesn’t necessarily need to be a bold or outlandish statement. It should flow nicely into the main body of your personal statement.” Think about your closing paragraph in the same way. Your conclusion should nicely summarise what has been mentioned previously - if it does that, it has done its job.

Proofread your statement

Finally, it’s also important to remember the basics. Spell check what you’ve written and read over it a couple of times before you submit it – typos can easily happen! We would also suggest getting someone else to read through it –  they may spot something you’ve missed or have other examples you could include that you may not have considered. It’s always worth discussing your personal statement with others; what you think may not be worth including could be considered really interesting by someone else.

Discover more about our range of   undergraduate courses , and how you could start your journey at Warwick Business School.

Discover more about our range of  undergraduate courses .

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• Knowledge Base
• Applying to graduate school
• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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Writing the Personal Statement

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This handout provides information about writing personal statements for academic and other positions.

The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories:

1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:

This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.

2. The response to very specific questions:

Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions.

Questions to ask yourself before you write:

• What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
• What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
• When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
• How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
• If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
• What are your career goals?
• Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?
• Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?
• What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
• What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
• Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school—and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
• What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

General advice

Answer the questions that are asked

• If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar.
• Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked.

Tell a story

• Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.

Be specific

• Don't, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, or whatever should be logical, the result of specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.

Find an angle

• If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.

Concentrate on your opening paragraph

• The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.

Tell what you know

• The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Too many people graduate with little or no knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the profession or field they hope to enter. Be as specific as you can in relating what you know about the field and use the language professionals use in conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other source of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited to it. Since you will have to select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your judgment.

Don't include some subjects

• There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).

Do some research, if needed

• If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.

Write well and correctly

• Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.

Avoid clichés

• A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.

For more information on writing a personal statement, see the personal statement vidcast .

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NPR defends its journalism after senior editor says it has lost the public's trust

David Folkenflik

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust.

NPR's top news executive defended its journalism and its commitment to reflecting a diverse array of views on Tuesday after a senior NPR editor wrote a broad critique of how the network has covered some of the most important stories of the age.

"An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don't have an audience that reflects America," writes Uri Berliner.

A strategic emphasis on diversity and inclusion on the basis of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, promoted by NPR's former CEO, John Lansing, has fed "the absence of viewpoint diversity," Berliner writes.

NPR's chief news executive, Edith Chapin, wrote in a memo to staff Tuesday afternoon that she and the news leadership team strongly reject Berliner's assessment.

"We're proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories," she wrote. "We believe that inclusion — among our staff, with our sourcing, and in our overall coverage — is critical to telling the nuanced stories of this country and our world."

NPR names tech executive Katherine Maher to lead in turbulent era

She added, "None of our work is above scrutiny or critique. We must have vigorous discussions in the newsroom about how we serve the public as a whole."

A spokesperson for NPR said Chapin, who also serves as the network's chief content officer, would have no further comment.

Praised by NPR's critics

Berliner is a senior editor on NPR's Business Desk. (Disclosure: I, too, am part of the Business Desk, and Berliner has edited many of my past stories. He did not see any version of this article or participate in its preparation before it was posted publicly.)

Berliner's essay , titled "I've Been at NPR for 25 years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust," was published by The Free Press, a website that has welcomed journalists who have concluded that mainstream news outlets have become reflexively liberal.

Berliner writes that as a Subaru-driving, Sarah Lawrence College graduate who "was raised by a lesbian peace activist mother ," he fits the mold of a loyal NPR fan.

Yet Berliner says NPR's news coverage has fallen short on some of the most controversial stories of recent years, from the question of whether former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 election, to the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19, to the significance and provenance of emails leaked from a laptop owned by Hunter Biden weeks before the 2020 election. In addition, he blasted NPR's coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

On each of these stories, Berliner asserts, NPR has suffered from groupthink due to too little diversity of viewpoints in the newsroom.

The essay ricocheted Tuesday around conservative media , with some labeling Berliner a whistleblower . Others picked it up on social media, including Elon Musk, who has lambasted NPR for leaving his social media site, X. (Musk emailed another NPR reporter a link to Berliner's article with a gibe that the reporter was a "quisling" — a World War II reference to someone who collaborates with the enemy.)

When asked for further comment late Tuesday, Berliner declined, saying the essay spoke for itself.

The arguments he raises — and counters — have percolated across U.S. newsrooms in recent years. The #MeToo sexual harassment scandals of 2016 and 2017 forced newsrooms to listen to and heed more junior colleagues. The social justice movement prompted by the killing of George Floyd in 2020 inspired a reckoning in many places. Newsroom leaders often appeared to stand on shaky ground.

Leaders at many newsrooms, including top editors at The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times , lost their jobs. Legendary Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron wrote in his memoir that he feared his bonds with the staff were "frayed beyond repair," especially over the degree of self-expression his journalists expected to exert on social media, before he decided to step down in early 2021.

Since then, Baron and others — including leaders of some of these newsrooms — have suggested that the pendulum has swung too far.

Author Interviews

Legendary editor marty baron describes his 'collision of power' with trump and bezos.

New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger warned last year against journalists embracing a stance of what he calls "one-side-ism": "where journalists are demonstrating that they're on the side of the righteous."

"I really think that that can create blind spots and echo chambers," he said.

Internal arguments at The Times over the strength of its reporting on accusations that Hamas engaged in sexual assaults as part of a strategy for its Oct. 7 attack on Israel erupted publicly . The paper conducted an investigation to determine the source of a leak over a planned episode of the paper's podcast The Daily on the subject, which months later has not been released. The newsroom guild accused the paper of "targeted interrogation" of journalists of Middle Eastern descent.

Heated pushback in NPR's newsroom

Given Berliner's account of private conversations, several NPR journalists question whether they can now trust him with unguarded assessments about stories in real time. Others express frustration that he had not sought out comment in advance of publication. Berliner acknowledged to me that for this story, he did not seek NPR's approval to publish the piece, nor did he give the network advance notice.

Some of Berliner's NPR colleagues are responding heatedly. Fernando Alfonso, a senior supervising editor for digital news, wrote that he wholeheartedly rejected Berliner's critique of the coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, for which NPR's journalists, like their peers, periodically put themselves at risk.

Alfonso also took issue with Berliner's concern over the focus on diversity at NPR.

"As a person of color who has often worked in newsrooms with little to no people who look like me, the efforts NPR has made to diversify its workforce and its sources are unique and appropriate given the news industry's long-standing lack of diversity," Alfonso says. "These efforts should be celebrated and not denigrated as Uri has done."

After this story was first published, Berliner contested Alfonso's characterization, saying his criticism of NPR is about the lack of diversity of viewpoints, not its diversity itself.

"I never criticized NPR's priority of achieving a more diverse workforce in terms of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. I have not 'denigrated' NPR's newsroom diversity goals," Berliner said. "That's wrong."

Questions of diversity

Under former CEO John Lansing, NPR made increasing diversity, both of its staff and its audience, its "North Star" mission. Berliner says in the essay that NPR failed to consider broader diversity of viewpoint, noting, "In D.C., where NPR is headquartered and many of us live, I found 87 registered Democrats working in editorial positions and zero Republicans."

Berliner cited audience estimates that suggested a concurrent falloff in listening by Republicans. (The number of people listening to NPR broadcasts and terrestrial radio broadly has declined since the start of the pandemic.)

Former NPR vice president for news and ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin tweeted , "I know Uri. He's not wrong."

Others questioned Berliner's logic. "This probably gets causality somewhat backward," tweeted Semafor Washington editor Jordan Weissmann . "I'd guess that a lot of NPR listeners who voted for [Mitt] Romney have changed how they identify politically."

Similarly, Nieman Lab founder Joshua Benton suggested the rise of Trump alienated many NPR-appreciating Republicans from the GOP.

In recent years, NPR has greatly enhanced the percentage of people of color in its workforce and its executive ranks. Four out of 10 staffers are people of color; nearly half of NPR's leadership team identifies as Black, Asian or Latino.

"The philosophy is: Do you want to serve all of America and make sure it sounds like all of America, or not?" Lansing, who stepped down last month, says in response to Berliner's piece. "I'd welcome the argument against that."

"On radio, we were really lagging in our representation of an audience that makes us look like what America looks like today," Lansing says. The U.S. looks and sounds a lot different than it did in 1971, when NPR's first show was broadcast, Lansing says.

A network spokesperson says new NPR CEO Katherine Maher supports Chapin and her response to Berliner's critique.

The spokesperson says that Maher "believes that it's a healthy thing for a public service newsroom to engage in rigorous consideration of the needs of our audiences, including where we serve our mission well and where we can serve it better."

Disclosure: This story was reported and written by NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editor Gerry Holmes. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly.

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Business Mangement with Marketing Personal Statement

The use of business management is something we are all exposed to throughout our day to day lives, regardless of whether or not we're aware of it. Without it, the businesses behind our everyday products and items couldn't run smoothly and provide the services they provide for us. A business related degree is extremely useful and gives multiple options in which career path to take. When researching which degree to pursue, it stood out to me as I demonstrate a strong understanding of business, which I hope to expand through a degree. Management holds the key to unlock doors for any businesses, and it fascinates me just how many aspects make up business as a topic.

The versatility of a degree involving business draws me towards the subject and I take a strong interest in marketing which I know is an important aspect of any business , I have began to become familiar with what marketing entails through studying business studies, where marketing is introduced. Since I began to study business, I knew it was the area in which I would like to research further and hopefully pursue a career in. I take an interest in being a managing director or marketing director and I hope either of these career choices would help me to further improve my leadership skills as well as teaching me my strengths and weaknesses , I would love to expand my knowledge through studying management and fulfil this role. Although these career paths appeal to me, my options remain open and look forward to seeing if there is any career role which would be more appropriate for me.

By studying A-Level business I've gained analytical skills alongside problem solving skills and obtained a deeper understanding of marketing, and what goes into branding as well as the ins and outs of business . Business studies has given me an insight into the world of business as well as marketing and some knowledge about what marketing entails, which I hope to expand through my degree. I also study sociology and financial studies. Sociology gives me a deeper insight into what goes on in society, which is extremely useful, from sociology I have also gained a deeper understanding of how people think, which would be a lot of help when finding out what appeals to the general public, to help in finding the best marketing strategy for a brand or product. Financial studies has helped me begin to understand the ins and outs of how businesses manage money. Over summer of 2016, I spent 5 weeks completing the National Citizen Service and graduated from NCS in September 2016. Here I gained a further understanding of what team work on a daily basis entails and how to work collectively in new environments with different people surrounding you. I hope to develop these skills as they're useful in the corporate environment I wish to enter. As a team we volunteered for the charity open door MK who work towards eradicating homelessness in Milton Keynes; I also plan to be an NCS team assistant in summer of 2018. My engrossments lie within real life documentaries, music and reading.

My spare time is often utilised by making or fixing garments, or listening to live music as I have an appreciation for the voice of an artist and I hope to join a musical society or even help to create one . My occupation with documentaries means I have a widened understanding of different lifestyles and cultures around the world and how others live, which gives me more appreciation of the opportunities I've been given, thus building my work ethic. My love for reading means I gain information from the pastime and I'm using this passion to assist myself in learning French which is a goal I've set for myself to do before the year ends . Since entering sixth form my mind is in non-identical from the mind-set I had during my GCSE's. now more than ever, I am determined to reach my full potential and with hard work and an improved work ethic I hope to achieve my goal of graduating with a first class degree.

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Former Michigan House leader and wife charged with misusing political funds

FILE - Michigan Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield bangs the gavel, April 24, 2020, in the House chambers in Lansing, Mich. Prosecutors plan to announce charges Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in an investigation of the former leader of the Michigan House, the attorney general’s office said. (Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal via AP, File)

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel talks about charging former House Speaker Lee Chatfield, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Lansing, Mich. Prosecutors charged Chatfield and his wife with financial crimes Tuesday, alleging they milked political accounts for personal travel, housing and other benefits while the Republican lawmaker was raising millions of dollars from his powerful post. (Al Goldis/Detroit News via AP)

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LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Prosecutors charged the former leader of the Michigan House and his wife with financial crimes Tuesday, alleging they milked political accounts for personal travel, housing and other benefits while the Republican lawmaker was raising millions of dollars from his powerful post.

Lee Chatfield misused various political funds, including his Peninsula Fund, which was not required to report the names of donors and served as an “unregulated slush fund,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said.

The operation was a family affair, as wife Stephanie Chatfield monitored her husband’s credit card balance and paid it off with cash from the Peninsula Fund, including $132,000 over a 14-month period, Nessel said.

In another example, Nessel said Lee Chatfield’s brother cashed a $5,000 check from a political fund in 2020 and returned $3,500 to the lawmaker ahead of a vacation, Nessel said.

Lee Chatfield’s various political funds took in more than $5 million over six years, including more than $2 million in 2020, which was his last year as speaker, the attorney general said.

“To call him, as many have, a prodigious fundraiser would not be an exaggeration,” Nessel said.

Lee Chatfield faces 13 charges, including conducting a criminal enterprise, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, and embezzlement.

Chatfield’s attorney, Mary Chartier, said she’ll fight the charges “each and every step of the way.”

“It took almost 2 1/2 years for the AG’s office to come up with charges. It’s going to be pretty flimsy if it took that long,” Chartier said.

Stephanie Chatfield was charged with embezzlement. A message seeking comment from her lawyer, Matt Newburg, was not immediately returned.

Nessel said there has been a proliferation of “dark money” political funds. She said the Peninsula Fund was organized under federal law as a tax-exempt “social welfare organization.”

“The Michigan Campaign Finance Act is effectively toothless, useless and utterly worthless as a deterrent to these crimes,” she said.

“The misuse of social welfare funds is not a new practice in Lansing. And while Lee Chatfield may have exploited the system a little bit more than others, no one political party alone has perverted or abused it,” she said.

Separately, there was a renewed call Tuesday to expand financial disclosure laws in Michigan.

“We won’t give up on seeking the type of anti-corruption laws that this state needs that most other states have,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, said. “These charges really underscore the real necessity to more people in Lansing than ever before.”

The Chatfield investigation began in 2022 when his sister-in-law publicly said he had sexually assaulted her. He has denied the allegations and said they had a consensual affair. Investigators eventually expanded the case beyond those claims.

Nessel said there was insufficient evidence to charge Lee Chatfield based on Rebekah Chatfield’s allegations, though she praised her courage in stepping forward.

“Were it not for her we likely wouldn’t be here today,” the attorney general said.

Two people who were top aides to Lee Chatfield when he ran the House were charged last year with crimes, including embezzlement from nonprofit funds created for political purposes. Rob and Anne Minard have pleaded not guilty.

White reported from Detroit.