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Communications, media and culture personal statement example.

I am hoping to read for a communications, media and culture degree. I find it remarkable, inspiring and a little bit frightening how the media exercise control over our lives, whilst offering rich cultural rewards. I am fascinated by the action and effects of human communications of all kinds and am keen to extend the insight I have gained so far. My interest in the subject began through my GCSE Media Studies and my knowledge of the subject area has expanded at A-level where I am acquiring analytical skills, helping me unpack and contextualise a wider variety of media forms. My other A-levels are English Language, Sociology, Critical Thinking and Philosophy &Ethics, and these are giving me a broad overview of life and human communications and culture. An example of how these subjects support each other would be studying the marxist concept of hegemony and applying it to religion, media ownership, the high culture/low culture debate in sociology and even the bourgeois emphasis on Standard English. I've slowly been gaining practical experience alongside my academic learning. Two years ago, I was lucky enough to get work experience with a television crew on location as a runner. I learnt the value of working as a member of the team in a stressful environment and I gained an understanding of the processes of TV production. I have also been involved in several other media projects, some as coursework and others undertaken independently. Coursework projects have included a magazine for young male teenagers; designing a product and advertising campaign; and producing, directing and presenting a documentary for sixth formers and their parents on the EMA system. As extra-curricular activities, I designed a poster and Internet campaign for one of the school plays and in the absence of any existing school publication, I launched a bimonthly newsletter, aimed at Angley's students. These projects have provided great learning experiences, enabling me to develop print software skills in a creative way. Other school activities have included, the lead male role in 'South Pacific' and significant roles in 'Oliver' and 'West Side Story' as well as assisting the Performing Arts A-level group perform their comedy show. By playing roles on stage, my confidence has increased and I have learnt to appreciate and learn from the talents of others. I am also a school prefect, which I find satisfying and a great privilege. In my leisure time I enjoy making films - mostly parodies of various genres. I then edit the films using a programme called Magix Movie Edit Pro. I have also edited on Final Cut Express, which has made an interesting comparison. My next project is to learn Final Cut Pro, and to develop a more effects-driven style. I also like to read, for example, I was inspired by Naomi Klein's book No Logo on the effects of globalization, the commoditisation of our culture and public spaces and how powerful brands have become. I am currently reading Graeme Burton's Media & Society to gain some additional perspective on my A2 media and to prepare myself for my degree. So far I have enjoyed myself in my studies and hopefully have developed some of the skills and qualities for success in degree-level communications, media and culture studies.

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This personal statement was written by Superboy for application in 2008.

Superboy's Comments

It's okay i guess, it pretty much describes me not trying to sound big headed, i tried to show what i wanted to gain from going to university and what skills i have and how they can become much better by going to the right university. The key was 'Show don't tell'.

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Writing an Effective Diversity & Inclusion Personal Statement

Table of Contents

Diversity and inclusion in higher institutions have become more important as the world becomes more connected and diverse. They are paramount values for any university to embrace and promote. As an undergraduate or graduate program applicant, a  diversity and inclusion personal statement  is a powerful tool. Such a statement can demonstrate your commitment to these values and your desire to contribute to a more diverse and inclusive community.

Diversity and inclusion create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of their background or identity. This article explores the importance of diversity in and provide tips for writing a strong personal statement on this topic.

What Is a Personal Statement?

A diversity and inclusion personal statement is a statement that is required as part of a university application. It is an opportunity for applicants to discuss their personal experiences and perspectives on diversity and inclusion. And how these issues have influenced their lives and goals. 

Your personal statement should demonstrate your understanding of the subject and how you have engaged with these issues in the past. It can also focus on your own cultural or personal background, interactions with diverse groups and communities. And how it shaped your perspective on diversity and inclusion. 

How Long Should a Diversity Statement Be?

The length of a diversity personal statement for a university varies depending on the program’s specific requirements and the school. However, generally, a university program’s personal statement should be around 500-700 words. 

Some universities or programs may have a specific word or page count that you need to adhere to. Always read the guidelines provided by the university and follow them closely.

How to Write a Diversity and Inclusion Personal Statement?

A diversity personal statement allows you to share your personal experiences and perspectives on the subject . Your statement must be clear and exciting enough to move the reader to action.

Here are some tips for writing a solid and effective diversity and inclusion personal statement:

1. Start by Reflecting on Your Experiences With Diversity and Inclusion.

Think about personal experiences shaping your views on diversity and inclusion. This could be experiences with discrimination or inequality, as well as experiences that have helped you appreciate the value of diversity.

2. Review the Values and Goals of the University You Are Applying To.

Think about how your experiences and perspectives align with their values and goals. And how you might contribute to their efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.

3. Reflect on Your Strengths and Skills.

When promoting diversity and inclusion, what specific skills or strengths do you bring to the table? How have you used these skills previously, and how could you use them to make a positive impact in the future?

4. Use Examples to Illustrate Your Points.

Do not make general statements about your commitment to diversity and inclusion. Instead, provide specific examples of how you have demonstrated this commitment in the past. This will help make your statement more catchy, engaging, and convincing.

5. Finally, Edit and Revise Your Statement Carefully.

Take the time to proofread and review your personal statement to ensure it is well-written and error-free. 

What and What Not to Include in Your Diversity Personal Statement

Here are some key details to consider including in your diversity and inclusion personal statement:

• Your personal experiences . Share personal experiences that have shaped your views on diversity and inclusion. They may be experiences with discrimination or inequality, as well as experiences that have helped you appreciate the value of diversity.
• Your skills and strengths . Write any specific skills or strengths you bring to promote diversity and inclusion. These could include things like leadership, communication, or problem-solving skills.
• Illustrations of your commitment . Provide examples of how you have demonstrated your commitment to diversity and inclusion in the past. These could include involvement in organizations or initiatives focused on diversity and inclusion or specific actions you have taken.
• How your experiences and goals align with the university . You can also explain how your experiences and goals align with the values and goals of the university you are applying to. And how you might contribute to their efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.

Here Are Some Key Details to Avoid in a University Diversity Personal Statement:

• General statements . Avoid making general statements about your commitment to diversity and inclusion without providing specific examples or details.
• Negative or foul language . While it’s important to address issues of discrimination and inequality, it’s best to avoid using harmful or offensive language. 
• Unnecessary personal information . Avoid including unnecessary personal information that does not directly relate to your commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Overly broad statements . Be specific and direct in your statement. 

Examples of Diversity and Inclusion Personal Statement

Diversity and inclusion have been central tenets of my life since I first started engaging with the world around me. In all aspects of my work, education, relationships, and advocacy, I have strived to create a more equitable and inclusive environment for everyone.

I am an experienced advocate for marginalized populations and those whose voices are not often heard. For example, during college, I worked as part of a campus organization that fostered diversity among students from varying backgrounds. We organized programs designed to help bridge cultural divides and connect individuals who might otherwise be isolated from each other. Through this experience, I clearly understood how important it is to amplify minority perspectives and empower people to speak up for themselves.

It is also essential to create a sense of belonging for members of traditionally underrepresented groups. This has always been at the forefront of my mind when teaching or mentoring. I strive to ensure all voices feel respected and validated. 

Additionally, my research into community-based initiatives that promote equal access to educational resources has shown me the impactful results of such efforts.

I’m passionate about creating more significant opportunities and expanding access to existing ones. As someone who has seen the difference this can make in people’s lives, it has become a goal to continue advocating for inclusion. Whether that means leading workshops on empowerment strategies or working with organizations to implement practical solutions – I look forward to continuing down this path.

I have been deeply invested in diversity and inclusion for years, a passion fueled by my experiences as a member of various marginalized communities. Growing up as an immigrant in an American school system, I often felt like an outsider. This created a sense of empathy for those who are discriminated against or excluded. This experience has given me great insight into how vital it is to create diverse and inclusive environments in our universities.

I am proud to say that over the past few years, I have actively worked towards making education more accessible and equitable. This is through my involvement with numerous outreach programs. I have been engaging in student mentorship initiatives and advocating for affirmative action policies. This is in my strive to increase opportunities for underrepresented populations to attend higher-education institutions.

Furthermore, I firmly believe that an effective way to ensure equity within our universities is to prioritize multicultural dialogue across all departments. We can combat marginalization and foster meaningful conversations about inclusion by ensuring a safe space where different voices can be heard. 

Diversity and inclusion efforts must go beyond simply implementing new policies; they must become part of the fabric of each institution’s culture. As someone well-versed in academics and activism, I understand the importance of leveraging research to inform practice. My expertise lies in data collection, analysis, and policymaking. This allows me to provide solutions that respond to the nuances of institutional cultures. Through evidence-based approaches, and targeted interventions, I am committed to creating sustainable change around issues of diversity and inclusion.

I have spent the past several years dedicating myself to the cause of promoting and furthering diversity and inclusion initiatives in the university setting. My experience working closely with students, and administration alike has given me a nuanced understanding of how best to achieve meaningful progress. In particular, I have been particularly successful at developing resources and events that help foster an inclusive environment on campus. For example, I recently developed a student organization dedicated to bridging cultural divides through dialogues and activities.

I believe that lasting change must go beyond mere rhetoric–it must be backed up by tangible action. Therefore, my approach to achieving greater inclusion involves more than just increasing awareness. I strive to create visible and invisible structures supporting diverse individuals’ growth. This means providing additional institutional resources, encouraging open dialogue among members of different backgrounds, and creating innovative solutions to challenging issues.

In addition, I firmly believe that it is essential to be mindful of how language can unintentionally contribute to exclusionary practices. As such, I employ a culturally-sensitive communication style when speaking or writing about subjects related to diversity and inclusion. 

Above all else, I recognize that having conversations around these topics isn’t enough. It’s important to remain actively engaged with them so that real progress can be made over time.

Wrapping Up

Diversity and inclusion are crucial aspects of the university experience. They help to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all students. In a university environment, you come in contact with diverse individuals you need to engage with.

Your statement is the chance to showcase how your experiences and perspective will help you embrace everyone. This is without minding who they are and where they are from.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLE Media, Culture and Society Personal Statement

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Media, Culture and Society Personal Statement

Media is the backbone of our society. In the twenty-first century, it is inevitable that we are all influenced in some way. For several years now I have had a fascination with the role media plays in our society, from the way we are socialised to believe what is right and wrong, to how the industry giants filter information to our TV, mobile and computer devices. I have been greatly influenced by innovative technology and its unremitting relationship with social media, allowing me to be up to date at a click of a button. This is why I have such an admiration for both the industry and an excitement of future possibilities within this course. 

I am currently studying Film Studies, Communication & Culture and Sociology at A level. In addition, during my first year at college, I completed AS Media Studies. I have come to realise that there is a strong connection between each of the subject areas and feel that progressing to further study of Media and Sociology, is of most interest to me. In Film Studies, I have been particularly intrigued by the way film acts as a mirror to society. This idea was evident in a recent piece of work in which I explored social realism in 1960s kitchen sink drama films such as ‘Billy Liar’ and ‘Alfie’. I have enjoyed developing my ability to analyse and critique society, supported by a sound grasp of research methodology. Sociology and Communication & Culture have particularly helped in this regard. I have also appreciated the opportunity to keep using my mathematic skills in Sociology to interpret and critically use data and statistical research. Communication & Culture has provided a bridge between my other subjects – especially around the study of culture, teaching me to use classical sociological theories in the modern media, such as Stanley Cohen’s theory of ‘Folk Devils and Moral Panics’. At school I was elected to be a member of the school council committee, allowing me to voice the thoughts and feelings of my peers. I was also chosen to be a School Prefect. These roles allowed me to develop my leadership and communication skills, vital in group discussions. I have played football in a team since the age of eight, and in recent years had the honour of becoming club captain. My aptitude for leadership was exercised allowing me to encourage and lead my teammates to success through direction, discussion and recognising their strengths. I have furthered these skills through a part time job in Sainsbury’s Restaurant, which has taught me the rewards of hard work and good time keeping, attributes that I will benefit from in higher education. During my work experience placement at Snell Advanced Media I focused on the way in which TV is distributed to the public. I learnt the infinite values speed and competition have in today’s society. I have attended several international field trips to culturally diverse destinations including Berlin and New York. I found New York was the highlight as it was an invaluable experience that showed the sheer range of diverse cultures in such a small area; a topic I believe would be an interesting area of study. Our visits included Radio City Music Hall and the World Trade Centre Memorial, both of which have such historical media connections. This first hand experience has increased my hunger to study other diverse cultures from around the world; this course enabling me to attain this. 

The course I have chosen is ideal for me to continue my study of the media and our society, and how they have such a significant affect on one another. I believe that not only the course, but also university life as a whole will develop who I am as a person, increasing my confidence through meeting new people and developing specific skills whilst taking the opportunity to learn within the industry. Although I am unsure, as yet, of which career path to take after Higher Education, I am adamant that this course will guide me to a decision.

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Culture Personal Statements Samples For Students

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WowEssays.com paper writer service proudly presents to you an open-access directory of Culture Personal Statements intended to help struggling students deal with their writing challenges. In a practical sense, each Culture Personal Statement sample presented here may be a guide that walks you through the important phases of the writing procedure and showcases how to compose an academic work that hits the mark. Besides, if you require more visionary help, these examples could give you a nudge toward an original Culture Personal Statement topic or inspire a novice approach to a threadbare subject.

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Claremont Graduate University Personal Statement

My passion for business has been the guiding force that has determined the educational path I’ve taken during the past several years. After completing a degree in Finance in King Saud University, I am now ready to take the next step in that path, which is to attain an MBA degree from the Claremont Graduate University.

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Ray Lyman Wilbur, a renowned American medical doctor once said “In a world full of uncertainties, the record of what has gone before as human experience is as sure and reliable as anything that we are born with” (UOFLIFE, pp.71). Experience makes up a vital fragment of our personality since it influences our tastes, preferences, inclinations as well as the dictates of our passion. My working experience is an apt manifestation of this phenomenon. My aspiration to delve into the world of business, particularly economics, has been greatly influenced by my seven years working experience in vastly interactive and social environment.

Getting a Degree in Business Personal Statement

There are many reasons why I have chosen to pursue a degree in business; both my personal and professional experience, as well as my own desires, have led me to this point. From my birth, to my own talents, and even my volunteer and employed work, I have been fervently working towards the pursuit of a career in business; I have done many things up to this point to prepare me for this path.

What Are Your Learning Needs What Are The Skills And Competencies That You Personal Statement Sample

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Describing Culture: 20 Examples of Company Culture Statements

Table of contents

How to describe your company culture

Benefits of a strong company culture, 20 examples of great company culture statements, faq: company culture.

Most companies think their culture is obvious and clear to everyone: leadership, employees, and even outsiders. But the truth is until you have it written down, it’s likely every employee has their own perspective of what the culture is like.

If you already figured that out and want to write a fantastic company culture statement, you’re in the right place. In this blog, we explore 20 examples of company culture statements and provide valuable insight into the different ways companies can describe and communicate their culture.

When creating a company culture statement, it’s essential not to take things for granted. Don’t assume everyone knows what the values and culture pillars are, and make an effort to build the case for your company culture from the ground up.

Here are the essential steps for describing your company culture:

• Make an assessment : Get a clear understanding of your organization's culture and understand the values, beliefs, and behaviors that are present in your workplace.
• Identify the key elements of culture : What are the elements of workplace culture that you want to communicate to others? Think about things like teamwork, communication styles, leadership, or work-life balance.
• Use specific examples : Use specific examples or do-and-don’t lists to illustrate the key values and behaviors you want to promote. This will make it easier for others to understand and relate to the culture.
• Get feedback : Share your description of the culture with employees and get their feedback. If your team doesn’t feel the culture statement is accurate, take their insight into consideration and go back to the drawing board.

We made a list of the essential company culture statistics that showcases how employees feel about culture and its importance. See the statistics >>>

Company culture examples: words that describe your culture

The words you use in your culture statement signal the type of culture in the company and the behaviors you truly value. Here are some examples of the most common ways to describe the company culture and what they mean to employees and candidates.

• Words like high-performance, agile, and mission-driven signify a relentless focus on achieving business goals and results on all fronts
• Ideas like customer obsession indicate that the customer experience is of utmost importance to the company
• Terms like independent, passionate, and curious describe cultures where individual contributors can make a difference and fit in well with various skill sets
• Words like sustainability, diversity, and equity demonstrate that a company is interested in contributing to the wider environment and social progress initiatives
• Terms like work-life balance, flexibility, and well-being signal a focus on employee experience

Work culture and company values are not buzzwords - they have a real impact on engagement, retention strategies , and profitability. From candidates who look for companies that have a culture fit and alignment with their personal values to how engaged employees are, here are a few benefits of a strong and positive culture:

High employee engagement

Strong company culture drives high employee engagement by creating a sense of belonging and purpose. When employees feel that they are part of a team and their contributions are valued, they are more likely to be invested and have a positive attitude towards their job.

A culture that promotes shared goals, collaboration, and a positive work-life balance also fosters a sense of trust and respect among employees , leading to increased engagement. Finally, when your teams feel their personal values align with company values, they’ll be motivated and engaged to achieve goals and smash their metrics.

Better retention and lower turnover

If your company has a strong culture that employees can relate to , they won’t just be more engaged; they’ll also be less likely to switch jobs.

Engaged employees don’t feel a need to change their job because they feel seen, heard, and valued. On top of that, if your company provides good career development opportunities and fosters a culture of learning and growth, it cements the happiness of employees and keeps them motivated.

Need help calculating your employee retention rate? See our calculator >>>

Attracting top talent

In the modern, global workplace, job seekers are increasingly searching for careers, not just jobs. And if you want to tap into the best talent out there, a strong culture will help you make a difference.

On top of that, demonstrating the culture you’re renowned for is a major advantage when it comes to new hires, as 20% of employees quit within the first 45 days of employment ! Showcasing your culture and fostering belonging during the onboarding process can make or break your efforts to attract and retain top talent.

Happy employees = a better bottom line

Put simply, employees who experience great company culture are happier, and that means a better bottom line and profitability for the company.

Happy employees tend to be more motivated, productive, and more likely to provide high-quality customer service. This leads to customer satisfaction and loyalty going up, which is a direct pathway to better business results.

Additionally, when they’re happy at work, people embrace creativity and feel safe to propose new ideas, leading to innovation and gaining a competitive advantage over competitors. Their decision-making is less burdened with stress, and they’re focused on problem-solving, thus creating a strong reputation for the entire company and attracting new employees, partners, and customers.

We curated a list of 20 examples of company culture statements from companies that do a great job describing and illustrating how their culture works and impacts day-to-day work. These examples provide valuable insight into how you describe and communicate culture and create or improve your own culture statement.

How Instapage describes its culture :

“Our global community of innovators work together to make industry-changing technology while embodying the values we want to see in the world. With international offices and a robust remote team, we are able to work with passionate, growth-minded experts from around the world.”

Want to know more about Instapage’s culture? Read this story from their COO, Imran Syed.

How CultureAmp describes its culture :

“We believe that nothing is impossible when a group of talented, caring humans work to build something together. That belief, among other things, means living our values every day, striving to be inclusive, and building a worldwide community that believes culture comes first.”

How Twilio describes its culture :

“We build for better, together. Twilio culture runs on creativity, diversity, and positivity. That’s because our mission is to unlock the imagination of builders, including our own. We cultivate an inclusive space where all feel welcome, celebrated, and contribute meaningfully as we build great things together.”

Twilio’s VP of Global Real Estate & Workplace, Tamar Draper Mahru, was featured as one of Gable’s Top Workplace Innovators of 2022. Find out why >>>

How Hubspot describes its culture :

Hubspot’s Culture Code Tenets:

• We solve for the customer.
• We work to be remarkably transparent.
• We favor autonomy & accountability.
• We believe our best perk is amazing peers.
• We lean towards long-term impact.

How Lattice describes its culture :

“At Lattice, we strive to constantly build an inclusive culture. We challenge ourselves with a daily commitment to seek diversity and foster inclusion and track our results to make sure that we’re staying true to our promises.”

How we describe our culture at Gable :

“We value diversity, curiosity, and caring — for customers, teammates, and your work. We’re mission-driven, customer-obsessed, and agile, but we also work hard to be diverse, inclusive, and empowering for our team members.”

At Gable, we help remote and distributed companies strengthen their company culture, foster connections, and engage employees. See how we do it >>>

How Oyster describes its culture :

“We design how we work as thoughtfully as we design our product . We believe that teams who work together in a cohesive way outperform the rest.”

How Airbnb describes its culture :

“Airbnb is built around the idea that everyone should be able to take the perfect trip, including where they stay, what they do, and who they meet. To that end, we empower millions of people around the world to use their spaces, passions, and talents to become entrepreneurs. A world where anyone can belong anywhere starts with a workplace where you feel welcome and can contribute your best work.”

How Doist describes its culture :

• Thinking in decades, not in quarters We opt for solutions that will get us where we want to be in the long term. We’re running a marathon, not a sprint.
• Balancing ambition and wellbeing Ambition without rest isn't sustainable. And working without ambition breeds complacency. Our team is proof you can have both.
• Working without borders From Jamaica to Poland, Taiwan to Australia, diversity is in Doist’s DNA. We believe the future of work transcends all kinds of borders.
• Supporting our users’ goals As Doist builds the future of work, many more people across the globe will thrive, both professionally and personally.

Doist’s Head of Remote, Chase Warrington, shared with us the proven tips for building, scaling, and connecting distributed teams. Read his tips here >>>

How Future describes its culture :

“We believe that partnership is the key to progress. We aim to provide the perfect environment for leadership and impact. We want to push the boundaries and motivate both customers and employees.”

How Docker describes its culture :

• Autonomy, Freedom, and Flexibility We trust you to get your work done however it fits into your lifestyle. Our flexible schedule lets you set priorities and maximize productivity.
• Work / Life Balance We want you to maintain balance to thrive, reduce stress, and prevent burnout.
• Transparency We believe that companies should be transparent. We’re open and honest with our employees.
• Collaboration We work together as a team in all departments and levels. We openly share ideas.
• Appreciation We know the employees are the heart and soul of Docker. We let them know how important they are every chance we get.
• Respect We treat you how we want to be treated. We listen to what you have to say. We value your time. We’re courteous and polite to all.

Read more about how Docker empowers employees to connect with Gable. Read Docker’s story >>>

How Okta describes its culture :

“Our cultural pillars show up in how we work, how we treat each other, what we focus on, and how we live our collective values. As a culture-adding organization, we know that each new employee adds to our evolving culture. As you add to Okta culture to make our vision a reality, we want to create a work environment that empowers you, values your ideas, and recognizes your contributions.

We are people connecting people, and we’re glad you’re here.”

How Zapier describes its culture :

“We set ambitious goals at Zapier. We want our customers, people, and company to grow. Achieving these goals requires us to regularly learn and improve. Thankfully, our success has more to do with how quickly we learn than how "perfect" we are at a given moment.

Whether it's about how we work or the work itself, feedback enables growth. As such, feedback is one of Zapier's most essential practices. Even so, feedback can be hard to give and hard to receive. We make a point to become good at it anyway—it's just that important.”

How Dropbox describes its culture :

“Dropbox has always striven to have an organizational culture that’s inspiring, diverse, informed, and joyful. That starts with letting team members take part in defining culture. We also unite ourselves by celebrating diversity. This highlights our different backgrounds and perspectives, which makes us stronger as a company. We recognize that simple acts of kindness are essential to building strong connections.”

How Wheel describes its culture :

“We nurture a collaborative and inclusive environment where people have the freedom and autonomy to do their best work. We know we will go further together by celebrating diversity — and that starts by honoring each of our unique lived experiences.

We practice problem-solving with the other in mind — from clinicians to clients to colleagues. We ask thoughtful questions. We make time to talk. We truly listen to one another. That’s the Wheel way.”

Wheel uses Gable to scale and connect their remote-first teams. Read a story from Gabby Lorestani, their Head of People >>>

How Airtable describes its culture :

“At Airtable, we don’t just identify problems; we find and build solutions. Rather than blindly following precedent, we value thinking from first principles, carefully considering the underlying reasons why things are the way that they are.

Our mission to democratize software creation translates into a culture that prioritizes transparency and respects everyone’s contributions to making the team work—from engineers and salespeople to recruiters and operations staff. Most of all, we’re excited to work at a company with a mission and a product we can truly believe in.”

How Pinterest describes its culture :

“We believe that everyone should be able to discover things that inspire them. It’s a higher purpose and concrete challenge that our employees embody every day. Every single person, no matter where they live, what they look like, or what their interests are, should be able to discover ideas that move them. Only Pinterest has the accessibility and scale to inspire this inclusivity.”

How Figma describes its culture :

“We’re a team of makers who celebrate our differences and share a passion for our community. We build for builders and try to make complex things feel simple. We ask why until we get to the core and continually focus on solving the right problem, not just shipping work. Everyone’s a work in progress, and we’re here to help each other grow. With humility and curiosity, we give and get the ❤️ and 💯, and the direct feedback we all need to become great.”

SentinelOne

How SentinelOne describes its culture :

“Our team is doing what no other company has done before in record time. We’re on a mission to defeat every cyberattack with autonomous technology. We're changing cybersecurity to give enterprises an advantage over tomorrow. We foster a winning culture that’s rewarding and values-driven. Work where your voice is heard, and your work is recognized. Thrive. Learn. Grow.”

How LiveRamp describes its culture :

“We believe in our own exceptionalism. We don’t aspire to be good or even great–we hustle to be the absolute best in all we do. We hire exceptional people, challenge them to accomplish exceptional things, and win exceptional results for our customers. We do this through six guiding principles: empowering people, saying what we mean, doing what is right, loving our customers, getting stuff done, and respecting people.”

What is company culture?

Company culture is a scope of shared values, beliefs, and behaviors that shape an organization. Culture encompasses the overall atmosphere and attitude in the workplace, including things like communication, teamwork, core values, and leadership.

A positive company culture leads to high employee satisfaction, a stable employee retention rate, and exceptional engagement in employees, while a negative culture can lead to high turnover and low morale.

What are a company’s core values?

A company's core values are the fundamental beliefs that guide the actions and culture of the organization. Put simply, core values are the behaviors and beliefs the company wants to promote and reward.

Core values provide a framework for how employees should behave and interact with each other, customers, and partners. Some examples of core values are integrity, respect, excellence, innovation, and diversity.

What is a company mission statement?

A mission statement is a statement of purpose that defines the overall goals and objectives of an organization. It is a concise statement that communicates the organization's overall strategy and the approach it will take to achieve its goals.

A mission statement serves as a guide for the organization's actions and decision-making, and it’s used to communicate values and purpose to employees, customers, and stakeholders. It is usually a short, clear, inspiring statement that outlines what the organization does, who it serves, and what it aims to achieve.

How to write a culture statement?

Here are some steps to help you write a corporate culture statement:

• Define your organization's values: Sum up the set of values of your organization that guide the actions of your employees.
• Identify behaviors & attitudes that align with your values: Define specific behaviors you want to encourage in your company in order to support core values.
• Write a draft: Write the first draft of your culture statement using simple, easy-to-understand language.
• Get feedback: Share your draft with your leadership team, employees, and stakeholders, and get their feedback. Use that feedback to improve the statement.
• Finalize and communicate: Once you have a final version of your culture statement, communicate it to all employees and make sure that it is visible and easily accessible.
• Review and improve: Regularly review the culture statement and make changes to ensure that it continues to align with the company’s goals and values.

Increase employee engagement and maintain your culture

Employees want flexibility and work-life balance but miss connecting with their teams in person. Help them achieve both by providing easy access to workspaces nearby, while you stay in control of budget spending, usage, and workplace data.

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A guide to writing the best personal statement for your college application (with template and examples!)

Why is boasting about a best friend SO much easier than writing about yourself? Unfortunately, writing about yourself is exactly what a personal statement essay requires you to do–whether it’s for your college admissions application, or for a scholarship application to pay for college . Here’s our guide, to ensure you’re well-equipped to write a killer personal statement!

First off, what’s the purpose of a personal statement?

What topics can i write about, how do i decide what to focus on, in my college essay, okay, i’ve got my personal statement topic. but now i have to actually write it. 😱what do i do .

• Do you have personal statement examples? 

Now it’s your turn.

Your personal statement should share something about who you are, something that can’t be found in your resume or transcript.

For colleges:

• It should paint a picture for colleges to understand who we are and what we bring to the table. This is why it’s often better to tell a story, or give examples, rather than just list accomplishments.
• It should complement the other parts of your application. Consider your college application as a whole. Your personal statement, application short answers, and supporting documentation should together tell a story about who you are. This also means not being super repetitive with your personal statement and your short essays. (For instance, if you have to answer 3 questions AND submit a personal statement, maybe they shouldn’t ALL focus on music.)

For scholarship applications:

• It should indicate why you’re deserving of the scholarship. This often means making sure your essay relates to the scholarship provider’s goals. (Get more help on writing a killer scholarship essay here , and then make sure you’re applying as efficiently as possible. )
• It should showcase your strengths. This doesn’t mean it can’t acknowledge any weaknesses, but it surely shouldn’t only focus on negative aspects!

It can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. First, figure out what your choices are. Some colleges may have very specific college essay prompts. That said, many students apply using the Common App, which this year offers these 7 topics to choose from : 

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? ( Psst – If you choose this topic, you can sign up for Going Merry and apply for a scholarship bundle : one essay, multiple scholarships! )
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

You’ll notice that #7 is a catch-all that allows you to submit any personal statement about anything at all . 

So maybe that doesn’t help you narrow it down. 

Here’s a 3-step solution:

STEP 1. Brainstorm about your life

Dedicate 5-10 minutes each to brainstorming about these 4 sets of questions.

You can do this by yourself (writing down your thoughts), or do this exercise out loud with a friend or family member, and then jot down notes as you’re talking. If you “think out loud” better than you do on paper, brainstorming with someone else may be the way to go! 

(A) What were defining moments in your life?

How did these moments in your life changed you, what did you learn from it, and how has it shaped your future plans? Some topics might include:

• An accident or injury
• A best friend you made (or lost)
• A defining talk with a peer
• Something new you tried for the first time
• Revealing a sexual or gender identity, to friends or family
• Discovering something about your family ( e.g., see Jesus’s story )
• Moving to a new city
• Traveling somewhere, or learning about a new culture ( e.g., see Gabby’s story )
• Your first pet (new responsibilities as a fur mom or dad)

(B) What have you chosen to spend time on?

Remember to focus not just on the what , but also the why – What were your motivations? How did you feel? What have you learned? Some topics on this might include: 

• The moment you joined band, color guard, or the soccer team. 
• A time you struggled with that activity – e.g., Maybe you got passed over for captain of the soccer? Or maybe you got an injury and had to sit out on the sidelines? 
• Maybe a moment you really fell in love with that activity – e.g. Maybe the first time you investigated a story for the school newspaper and realized journalism was your calling?

(C) Whom or what are you inspired by?

How did you find out about this person or thing? Why are you inspired? In what ways are you inspired? Is there anything that inspiration has made you do (e.g. join a club, do an activity or internship on the topic)? Some topics on this might include: 

• Technology – Maybe a specific App made you inspired to learn to code? 
• Person in your life – Maybe meeting someone (or knowing someone in your family) has affected you? 
• A show, movie, book, or podcast that inspired you to look at life differently
• A dance or song that has made you interested in performing arts

(D) What are you proud of?

Make a list of all the things you’re proud of. These can be milestones, hobbies, qualities, or quirks that are what make you, you. Topics to consider might be:

• Times you saved the day – like that epic left-handed catch you made on the field
• Personal qualities – Maybe you’re really funny, or amazingly calm under pressure. What are some examples of times when you showed those qualities?
• Random life things you’re amazing at – Baking a mean chocolate brownie. Guessing how many gumballs are in a jar. Tell a story when that amazing talent was handy!

Don’t worry if some of your ideas repeat between sections. This is just a way to get ideas flowing! 

STEP 2. Shortlist your ideas

Identify your strongest ideas out of the bunch. This should probably be very few (2-4).

STEP 3. Freewrite about your possible essay topics.

Once you’ve brainstormed some ideas and identified 2-4 winners, we agree with Find the Right College – just start freewriting! Start by writing a few sentences or paragraphs about any of your shortlisted topics, and let the words flow. Write for about 15 minutes, on each shortlisted topic. Don’t worry about structure or organization – this is just an exercise so you feel comfortable getting the thoughts out of your head and onto paper. 

It will also allow you to see which of the topics seems to have the most “legs” — often, you’ll notice that your best topic will:

• Be the easiest to write about (those 15 minutes flew by!)
• Lead you to tell at least one interesting story
• Feel like it genuinely reveals something important about who you are
• Not be captured easily by other parts of your application (you’ll need a full 500 words to really be able to tackle this meaty topic)

Well, let’s start here: What makes a personal statement good or even great ?

Here are some things to keep in mind: 

1. Get personal.

Remember the “personal” in personal statement. We all have a story to tell, and we all have a different journey that led us to where we are today. We might think “someone already wrote about this” or we might think our story isn’t unique, but IT IS.

2. Speak like you.

Write your personal statement in a genuine tone that reflects who you are . There’s no right or wrong tone – just make sure your tone represents YOU. This means, in particular, not using big words just to show off. Often, this just seems like you’re trying to hard. (Or, even worse, you accidentally use the word incorrectly!)

3. Think about your audience.

Who will you be writing your personal statement for? What message do you want to convey? If it’s for to the college admissions committee, how do you show you’ll align well with the culture of the school? If it’s for a scholarship provider, how do you show you support their mission?

4. Hit the big three: Story, Implication, Connection to college/major.

Most successful college essays do at least 3 things: 

• Mention at least one anecdote or story. (“Show, don’t tell.”)
• Explain why that anecdote or story is important to who you are.
• End (or begin) by connecting this information, to why you are applying to this specific college. This may include information about the major (why you think their department/program is great), or more general information about what attracts you to the school (e.g., location, sports, extracurricular activities, Greek life). Get specific so the school knows you’re really interested in them! This is the one piece of your personal statement that probably shouldn’t be cut & paste.

Here’s an example of how to use that personal essay template:

• Story: When I was 11, my family traveled to Italy and visited museums — one specific painting made me fall in love with art. ( 1-2 paragraphs )
• Why important: After that trip, I did lots of art and studied lots of art. Mention specific extracurriculars. ( 3 paragraphs )
• Why this college: I want to apply to X college because of its excellent art program, which I can also complement by joining Y and Z clubs. Since it’s in New York, it’ll also offer my the opportunity to visit the countless art museums like MOMA. ( 1 paragraph )

5. Hit the length.

Make sure you keep within the required length. Normally if you aim for 500 words, you’re golden. Some college or scholarship applications will allow you to write up to 600 or 650 words.

6. Edit your work.

Once you’ve written your personal statement, step away from it. There was a time when we used to rely on pencil and paper to write down all of our ideas and information (including first-draft college essays). Now, we mainly rely on screens, so our eyes grow tired, causing us to miss typos and grammar mistakes.

So save that document in an easy-to-find folder on your computer. Then stepping away from your computer and taking a break helps relax your mind and body and then refocus when you come back to edit the document.

( Psst – If you’re applying for scholarships with Going Merry, we’ve got built-in spellcheck, and we allow you to save essays in your documents folder, so no work will get lost! )

We can’t stress this one enough: Don’t submit your personal statement without checking your spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc.! All the grammar things! Your personal statement reflects who you are, from the topic you choose to the style you write it in, so impress colleges (or scholarship providers) with excellent structure and great grammar!

7. Then, ask someone else to edit it too.

We recommend asking a friend, counselor, or parent to read your personal statement before you submit the document. One more set of eyes will really help you get a second opinion on the tone, writing quality, and overall representation of who you are in your personal statement.

8. Be brave, and hit that “submit” button on your personal statement!

Finally, when everything is completed, click submit! Don’t hold back!

9. Remember, personal statements for your college app, can also be reused as scholarship essays.

Get double-use out of your personal statement. Going Merry is your home for all things scholarships–fill out a profile, get matched to eligible scholarships, and apply. You can even save essays so that you can easily upload the same one for multiple scholarship applications. (We were inspired by the Common App to make applying for scholarships easier.)

Register for an account here , get the full lowdown on how it works , or just sign up for the newsletter below (to get 20 scholarship opportunities delivered to our inbox each each week!).

Do you have personal statement examples ? 

Oh yes we do. First, here are some excerpts of personal statements from members of our very own Going Merry team!

Charlie Maynard, Going Merry CEO – wrote about what matters most to him and why, for his grad school application.

• The open paragraph read: “Being open to new ideas and able to take advantage of opportunities is what is most important to me. The most extraordinary times in my life have come as a result of moments when I’ve seized opportunities. This has been evident in my educational life, my travels around the world and my professional career.”
• This anchored the main topic of his essay. He then went on to explain examples.

Charlotte Lau, Going Merry Head of Growth – wrote for her college Common App personal statement:

“As a child, I was never close with my father, though we were always on good terms. He made me laugh and taught me all the things that made me into a young tomboy: what an RBI is, how to correctly hook a fish when I feel it biting, what to bring on a camping trip. But whenever I was upset, he wouldn’t know how to comfort me. He is a man of jokes and words, not of comforting motions.

But as I grew older and I too became infatuated with words—albeit in written form—our topics of conversation became more diverse and often more profound. We continued to watch sports games together, but during commercials, we’d have epistemological and ethical discussions more fitting for a philosophy class than a chat during a Knicks’ time-out. During these talks, my father would insert stories about his youth. They’d always be transitory or anecdotal, told as if they were beside the point. Still, I’d eagerly commit them to memory, and, over time, I began to get a sense of who my father was—and, in turn, who I am.”

Now, here are some excerpts from other sample personal statements:

These 3 are college essays about personal characteristics:

Essay 1: Humorous essay about getting a D and learning a lesson

“Getting a D probably isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it’s not something anyone wants to see, let alone put, on a college application. It came back to me, scrawled in red, on the first big history test of the year. The one the teacher had assured us was a third of our grade. I could already see my chances of a four-year college going up in smoke and my school year hadn’t even started yet.

What happened? I’m not a D student. I’ll get the occasional C as well as the occasional A. D’s are out of character for me, and enough of a stomach punch to really get my attention. The short version is, I didn’t study, and I don’t remember precisely why. There is always a reason not to study, isn’t there? I didn’t study and I went into a test woefully unprepared and got beaten up.

I had two options here. I could accept that I was in fact a D student despite what I had thought. Or I could study hard for the next test and try to bring my grade up by the force of the average.”

Essay 2: Why a talent (in this case, one at football) is also a responsibility

“Talent is not remarkable. It’s usually the first thing anyone compliments. “You’re so talented.” It doesn’t mean what they think it means. It doesn’t mean I worked hard. It means I was lucky, or blessed, or anything else you want to call it.

I have talent. I’ve known since I was old enough to hold a football. The game just makes intuitive sense to me. The pathways of the players, both my team and the others, where the ball has to go, and what I’m doing. In the silence before a snap, I’m already playing out what is going to happen, watching the holes in my lines, tracing the route of my receivers. […]

It is far too easy to view talent as an excuse. For me, it is a motivator. For my talent, I will accept nothing less than a dream that only a tiny percentage of people ever get to experience. To get there, I’m willing to work hard and wring every last accomplishment from myself.

Talent is a responsibility. Because you had nothing to do with acquiring it, you are compelled to achieve every last bit you can with it. While I had grown used to thinking varsity would be it, that was not the case. Now, I can focus on the goal while I accomplish the steps.”

Essay 3: On living with depression

“Before I was diagnosed, I had been told it was a normal part of growing up. I was told that teens are moody. I would grow out of it. I couldn’t imagine anyone growing out of what I was feeling. I couldn’t imagine anyone surviving.

Diagnosis and medication have saved my life, allowing me to see the world as people without my brain chemistry would. […] what I found was a place of tiny kindnesses.

It might sound bad—as though kindness can only exist in the smallest forms. This is not what I mean. There are extraordinary people out there who devote their lives to doing very large, very important things for others. I’m not talking about them, partially because they are extraordinary. They are not the norm.

What is normal are the tiny kindnesses. These do not cost a person much of anything. A slice of time, a moment of openness, and little else. They are a smile when you’re feeling down, a comforting hand on the shoulder, a moment to talk.”

And here are 3 college personal statements, about what drove their interest in their intended major: 

Essay 4: On why this applicant wants to study music

“My great-great-uncle Giacomo Ferrari was born in 1912 in Neverland, NY, the youngest of four sons. His parents had emigrated from Italy with his two eldest brothers in the early 1900s in search of a better life in America. Their struggles as immigrants are in themselves inspiring, but the challenges they faced are undoubtedly similar to those that many other immigrant families had to overcome; because of this, the actions that my relatives embarked upon are that much more extraordinary. Giacomo’s oldest brother Antonio, my great-grandfather, decided to take a correspondence course in violin, and to teach his youngest brother Giacomo how to play as well. Giacomo Ferrari eventually became an accomplished violinist and started a free “Lunchtime Strings” program for all the elementary schools in the Neverland area, giving free violin lessons and monthly concerts.

As a native English speaker who has had the privilege of studying viola and violin with trained, private teachers, I can only imagine the perseverance it took for my great-grandfather and great-great uncle to learn an instrument like the violin out of booklets and lessons that were not even written in their native language. Their passion and dedication to learning something new, something not part of their lives as blue-collar, immigrant workers, and their desire to share it with others, has inspired me as a musician and a person. It is this spirit that has motivated me to pursue an MA at Composition at the University of XXX.”

Essay 5: On why this applicant wants to be an allergy specialist

“Suddenly I started scratching my neck, feeling the hives that had started to form. I rushed to the restroom to throw up because my throat was itchy and I felt a weight on my chest. I was experiencing anaphylactic shock, which prevented me from taking anything but shallow breaths. I was fighting the one thing that is meant to protect me and keep me alive – my own body.

[…] After that incident, I began to fear. I became scared of death, eating, and even my own body. As I grew older, I became paranoid about checking food labels and I avoided eating if I didn’t know what was in the food. I knew what could happen if I ate one wrong thing, and I wasn’t willing to risk it for a snack. Ultimately, that fear turned into resentment; I resented my body for making me an outsider.

In the years that followed, this experience and my regular visits to my allergy specialist inspired me to become an allergy specialist. Even though I was probably only ten at the time, I wanted to find a way to help kids like me. I wanted to find a solution so that nobody would have to feel the way I did; nobody deserved to feel that pain, fear, and resentment. As I learned more about the medical world, I became more fascinated with the body’s immune responses, specifically, how a body reacts to allergens.”

Essay 6 : On why this applicant wants to study medicine  

“My passion for teaching others and sharing knowledge emanates from my curiosity and love for learning. My shadowing experiences in particular have stimulated my curiosity and desire to learn more about the world around me. How does platelet rich plasma stimulate tissue growth? How does diabetes affect the proximal convoluted tubule? My questions never stopped. I wanted to know everything and it felt very satisfying to apply my knowledge to clinical problems. distinct concepts together to form a coherent picture truly attracts me to medicine.

It is hard to separate science from medicine; in fact, medicine is science. However, medicine is also about people—their feelings, struggles and concerns. Humans are not pre-programmed robots that all face the same problems. Humans deserve sensitive and understanding physicians. Humans deserve doctors who are infinitely curious, constantly questioning new advents in medicine. They deserve someone who loves the challenge of problem solving and coming up with innovative individualized solutions. I want to be that physician. I want to be able to approach each case as a unique entity and incorporate my strengths into providing personalized care for my patients. Until that time, I may be found Friday mornings in the operating room, peering over shoulders, dreaming about the day I get to hold the drill.”

You made it this far. Now, it’s time to write your personal statement!

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Cultural Identity Essay

27 August, 2020

12 minutes read

Author:  Elizabeth Brown

No matter where you study, composing essays of any type and complexity is a critical component in any studying program. Most likely, you have already been assigned the task to write a cultural identity essay, which is an essay that has to do a lot with your personality and cultural background. In essence, writing a cultural identity essay is fundamental for providing the reader with an understanding of who you are and which outlook you have. This may include the topics of religion, traditions, ethnicity, race, and so on. So, what shall you do to compose a winning cultural identity essay?

Cultural Identity Paper: Definitions, Goals & Topics 

Before starting off with a cultural identity essay, it is fundamental to uncover what is particular about this type of paper. First and foremost, it will be rather logical to begin with giving a general and straightforward definition of a cultural identity essay. In essence, cultural identity essay implies outlining the role of the culture in defining your outlook, shaping your personality, points of view regarding a multitude of matters, and forming your qualities and beliefs. Given a simpler definition, a cultural identity essay requires you to write about how culture has influenced your personality and yourself in general. So in this kind of essay you as a narrator need to give an understanding of who you are, which strengths you have, and what your solid life position is.

Yet, the goal of a cultural identity essay is not strictly limited to describing who you are and merely outlining your biography. Instead, this type of essay pursues specific objectives, achieving which is a perfect indicator of how high-quality your essay is. Initially, the primary goal implies outlining your cultural focus and why it makes you peculiar. For instance, if you are a french adolescent living in Canada, you may describe what is so special about it: traditions of the community, beliefs, opinions, approaches. Basically, you may talk about the principles of the society as well as its beliefs that made you become the person you are today.

So far, cultural identity is a rather broad topic, so you will likely have a multitude of fascinating ideas for your paper. For instance, some of the most attention-grabbing topics for a personal cultural identity essay are:

• Memorable traditions of your community
• A cultural event that has influenced your personality 
• Influential people in your community
• Locations and places that tell a lot about your culture and identity

Cultural Identity Essay Structure

As you might have already guessed, composing an essay on cultural identity might turn out to be fascinating but somewhat challenging. Even though the spectrum of topics is rather broad, the question of how to create the most appropriate and appealing structure remains open.

Like any other kind of an academic essay, a cultural identity essay must compose of three parts: introduction, body, and concluding remarks. Let’s take a more detailed look at each of the components:

Introduction 

Starting to write an essay is most likely one of the most time-consuming and mind-challenging procedures. Therefore, you can postpone writing your introduction and approach it right after you finish body paragraphs. Nevertheless, you should think of a suitable topic as well as come up with an explicit thesis. At the beginning of the introduction section, give some hints regarding the matter you are going to discuss. You have to mention your thesis statement after you have briefly guided the reader through the topic. You can also think of indicating some vital information about yourself, which is, of course, relevant to the topic you selected.

Your main body should reveal your ideas and arguments. Most likely, it will consist of 3-5 paragraphs that are more or less equal in size. What you have to keep in mind to compose a sound ‘my cultural identity essay’ is the argumentation. In particular, always remember to reveal an argument and back it up with evidence in each body paragraph. And, of course, try to stick to the topic and make sure that you answer the overall question that you stated in your topic. Besides, always keep your thesis statement in mind: make sure that none of its components is left without your attention and argumentation.

Conclusion 

Finally, after you are all finished with body paragraphs and introduction, briefly summarize all the points in your final remarks section. Paraphrase what you have already revealed in the main body, and make sure you logically lead the reader to the overall argument. Indicate your cultural identity once again and draw a bottom line regarding how your culture has influenced your personality.

Best Tips For Writing Cultural Identity Essay

Writing a ‘cultural identity essay about myself’ might be somewhat challenging at first. However, you will no longer struggle if you take a couple of plain tips into consideration. Following the tips below will give you some sound and reasonable cultural identity essay ideas as well as make the writing process much more pleasant:

• Start off by creating an outline. The reason why most students struggle with creating a cultural identity essay lies behind a weak structure. The best way to organize your ideas and let them flow logically is to come up with a helpful outline. Having a reference to build on is incredibly useful, and it allows your essay to look polished.
• Remember to write about yourself. The task of a cultural identity essay implies not focusing on your culture per se, but to talk about how it shaped your personality. So, switch your focus to describing who you are and what your attitudes and positions are. 
• Think of the most fundamental cultural aspects. Needless to say, you first need to come up with a couple of ideas to be based upon in your paper. So, brainstorm all the possible ideas and try to decide which of them deserve the most attention. In essence, try to determine which of the aspects affected your personality the most.
• Edit and proofread before submitting your paper. Of course, the content and the coherence of your essay’s structure play a crucial role. But the grammatical correctness matters a lot too. Even if you are a native speaker, you may still make accidental errors in the text. To avoid the situation when unintentional mistakes spoil the impression from your essay, always double check your cultural identity essay. 

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Culture Development

Culture statement examples: inspiring your business growth.

• April 17, 2024

Business, where every decision can change the path of your company’s growth, can be a difficult place to navigate. The secret to success lies an often-underestimated powerhouse: the culture statement. Think of it as your organization’s heartbeat, a rhythm that beats through every strategy, decision, and action. It’s not just words on a page but your declaration of intent, a blueprint of values and behaviors that sets the stage for innovation, collaboration, and achievement.

At Culture Partners, we understand the gravity of aligning your company’s culture with its overarching purpose and strategy. It’s more than a mission, it’s about sculpting an environment where every team member, from the directors of HR to the VPs and team leads, doesn’t just do their job but thrives in it, contributing to a collective success that’s felt across all levels of a large organization.

As we dive into culture statement examples, we invite you to envision not just the growth of your business but the new creation of an ecosystem where accountability, creativity, and purpose drive every endeavor. This is where your journey to business excellence begins—not with a step, but with a leap into understanding and defining the very thing that makes your organization unique.

The Power of Culture Statements

In the heart of every thriving organization lies a core set of beliefs and behaviors, often encapsulated in what is known as a culture statement. This is not merely a decorative string of words but the very DNA of a company, guiding its actions, decisions, and strategies. Unlike the mission statement, which outlines the company’s purpose, or the vision statement, which projects its future aspirations, a culture statement zeroes in on the ‘how.’ It defines how team members interact, how objectives are pursued, and how challenges are tackled—shaping an environment where innovation and collaboration flourish.

What Are Culture Statements?

At its essence, a culture statement is a reflection of an organization’s identity, embodying its values, ethics, and the principles that steer its course. It provides examples of company culture, and answers not just who we are as a company but who we aspire to be in every facet of our operation. A compelling culture statement serves as a north star, guiding the behaviors and decisions of everyone in the company, from the executive suite to the newest team member.

When examining culture statement examples, it’s evident that the most impactful ones share common traits: clarity, authenticity , and alignment with the company’s broader goals. For instance, a tech startup might champion innovation and agility, while a nonprofit organization emphasizes compassion and community service. These aren’t just lofty ideals; they’re actionable principles that influence daily operations and interactions.

By distinguishing themselves through unique culture mission statements and company values, organizations don’t just tell the world what they stand for; they demonstrate it through their actions and decisions. These statements become a beacon for attracting talent that shares similar values, further reinforcing the company’s cultural foundation and driving collective success.

The Benefits of a Strong Culture Statement

When it comes to modern business, the strength of a culture statement is an important aspect of building your company. It’s the foundation for your engaged, loyal, and productive workforce. Here’s how a well-articulated culture statement propels a company toward its peak:

• Boosts Employee Engagement : A clear culture statement gives employees a sense of belonging and purpose. When they understand how their values align with the organization, their engagement levels soar. Engaged employees are not just clock-watchers but happy employees and contributors who are more likely to innovate, exceed their targets, and advocate for their entire company. Culture statement examples from leading organizations show a direct correlation between a strong culture and high employee engagement rates.
• Facilitates Talent Attraction and Retention : In a competitive job market, a company’s culture statement serves as a magnet for attracting top talent. Prospective employees are drawn to organizations whose values resonate with their own. Moreover, a culture that is both inclusive and dynamic, as reflected through its culture statement, plays an important role in retaining talent. Individuals want to grow and thrive in environments that respect and nurture their ambitions and aspirations.
• Enhances Team Cohesion and Productivity : A robust culture statement acts as a glue that holds teams together, fostering a sense of unity and collaboration. When everyone is aligned on the core values and principles of the company, it reduces friction and accelerates productivity. Teams that operate in a culture-positive environment are more efficient, innovative, and, ultimately, successful.
• Builds a Strong Employer Brand : Beyond internal benefits, a strong culture statement amplifies an organization’s brand in the marketplace. It tells clients, partners, and competitors about the kind of entity you are, what you stand for, and how you conduct business. A compelling corporate culture can be a distinguishing factor in market leadership and customer preference. Putting forth proof of your positive work culture can make or break a company.

Culture statements aren’t just words, they’re an identity that inspires action, loyalty, and growth. For HR directors, VPs of HR, and team leads aiming to sculpt a vibrant and resilient organizational culture, the crafting and nurturing of an effective culture statement is indispensable. It’s about creating a great place to work and building a legacy of excellence, innovation, and integrity.

Elements of Effective Culture Statements

A good culture statement is the bedrock upon which companies can build a thriving and appealing organizational culture. But what distills a culture statement into an effective instrument of identity and growth?

Crafting a Compelling Culture Statement

An effective corporate culture statement is more than a collection of aspirational words. An effective culture statement is a clear and actionable expression of a company’s core values and beliefs. Drawing insights from “The Oz Principle,” such a statement empowers accountability and inspires above-the-line thinking, where employees focus on solutions rather than problems. Here are key elements that constitute a compelling culture statement:

• Clarity and Conciseness : It should be easily understood by all members of the organization, from top management to new hires.
• Authenticity : The statement must reflect the true essence of the company’s culture fit and be demonstrable in everyday actions.
• Alignment with Business Goals : It should support and drive the organization’s strategic objectives, embedding culture into the fabric of business operations. It should reflect your overarching goals for the business.
• Inspirational : It ought to motivate employees to strive for excellence and embody the company’s values in their daily tasks.
• Inclusive : A corporate culture statement should embrace diversity and foster a sense of belonging among all employees, show you support an inclusive environment.

Real-World Culture Statement Examples

Successful corporate culture statements from real businesses often highlight the importance of a positive organizational culture as a significant competitive advantage. For instance, companies that have been successful in establishing and fostering positive cultures have shown that an effective, inclusive culture must align with employee values and be consistent with the organization’s operating environment.

Here are examples from well-celebrated companies with strong corporate culture:

“The values we share at Apple inspire the work we share with everyone. They’re also why we’re committed to leaving the world better than we found it. Each of us contributes to that effort in our own way, bringing a passion for what we do best and what we believe matters most. Explore our people’s stories and you’ll see that they’re all different, yet each one shows what’s possible when personal and professional values align.”

“Change is a constant throughout your career at Apple, and you may choose different ways to grow. You can seek even greater depth within your expertise, change scope in your current position, or even explore a new opportunity here. Whatever you decide, you’ll play the lead role in your growth, and we’ll be behind you all the way.”

“Three little words sum up one big mission: Keep Commerce Human. Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We connect creative entrepreneurs from nearly every country around the world with buyers shopping for something special.”

“Tackle unique problems alongside talented coworkers and teams. We’re large enough that you’ll focus on meaningful, complex challenges, but small enough that you can make a rewarding impact. See your work make a true difference in people’s lives.”

“We’re a thriving community for workplace conversations, driven by a simple mission: helping people everywhere find jobs and companies they love.

But the way we do it? That’s not so simple.

Every day, we’re inspired by a vision to make a positive impact change through radical transparency. Through the products we make and the communities we create, we’re breaking down barriers that lead to discrimination, pay gaps, and toxic work environments. Together, we’re fostering a world where people have the support and resources they need to find a job that loves them back.”

Developing Your Culture Statement

A step-by-step creation guide.

Creating a compelling and positive company culture statement for your business begins with introspection and dialogue. Here’s how you can navigate this daunting but important task:

• Gather Insights : Start with engaging team leads, directors of HR, and VPs of HR in conversations about the values that define your organization and workplace culture. What behaviors and outcomes are celebrated? This collective insight lays the groundwork for a statement that truly represents your organizational DNA.
• Define Core Values: Identify and articulate the core values that emerge from your discussions. These values should reflect the essence of your organization’s identity and aspirations. Examples of company values might include innovation, integrity, collaboration, and customer excellence.
• Craft Your Statement: Synthesize the insights and values into a succinct, compelling culture statement. Ensure it is clear, authentic, and inspirational, motivating employee retention to embody these values in their daily work. Make sure to include: your mission statement, company vision statement, core company values, code of ethics, company history , and work environment. Look at healthy culture statement examples to help guide you.
• Communicate and Embed: Share your culture statement widely across the organization. More importantly, integrate it into all aspects of your business operations, from onboarding and training to performance evaluations and recognition programs.

The crafting of a positive company culture statement stands as a critical milestone. It not only delineates the spirit of your organization’s identity but also gives your team a shared sense of values and behaviors with strategic objectives, fostering a cohesive and productive workplace. Through examples and actionable guidance, we’ve underscored the power of effectively articulated culture statements in enhancing employee satisfaction, attracting talent, and driving organizational success.

As you envision the next chapter of your organization’s story, consider the invaluable role that a clearly defined culture statement plays. For those ready to elevate their company’s collaborative culture to new heights, Culture Partners offers expert guidance and proven strategies.

Start shaping your organization’s culture today with Culture Partners. Learn more about our services here .

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PrepScholar GRE Prep

Gre prep online guides and tips, 3 successful graduate school personal statement examples.

Looking for grad school personal statement examples? Look no further! In this total guide to graduate school personal statement examples, we’ll discuss why you need a personal statement for grad school and what makes a good one. Then we’ll provide three graduate school personal statement samples from our grad school experts. After that, we’ll do a deep dive on one of our personal statement for graduate school examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a list of other grad school personal statements you can find online.

Why Do You Need a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program.  You need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere on your application.

A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.

While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly relevant to your field of interest.

Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your academic/research experiences and goals.

However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes, especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.

When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions essay.

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What Makes a Good Grad School Personal Statement?

A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However, strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:

A Clear Narrative

Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).

You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this, make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and diligence than about providing excuses.

Specific Examples

A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about the relevant literature in your field.

Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better evidence.

A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are informed about and genuinely invested in the program.

Strong Writing

Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating clearly and that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.

Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way (i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.

Appropriate Boundaries

While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment. The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.

You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as inoffensive as possible.

Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 1

PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 – Japanese Studies

For this Japanese Studies master’s degree, the applicant had to provide a statement of purpose outlining her academic goals and experience with Japanese and a separate personal statement describing her personal relationship with Japanese Studies and what led her to pursue a master’s degree.

Here’s what’s successful about this personal statement:

• An attention-grabbing beginning: The applicant begins with the statement that Japanese has never come easily to her and that it’s a brutal language to learn. Seeing as how this is an application for a Japanese Studies program, this is an intriguing beginning that makes the reader want to keep going.
• A compelling narrative: From this attention-grabbing beginning, the applicant builds a well-structured and dramatic narrative tracking her engagement with the Japanese language over time. The clear turning point is her experience studying abroad, leading to a resolution in which she has clarity about her plans. Seeing as how the applicant wants to be a translator of Japanese literature, the tight narrative structure here is a great way to show her writing skills.
• Specific examples that show important traits: The applicant clearly communicates both a deep passion for Japanese through examples of her continued engagement with Japanese and her determination and work ethic by highlighting the challenges she’s faced (and overcome) in her study of the language. This gives the impression that she is an engaged and dedicated student.

Overall, this is a very strong statement both in terms of style and content. It flows well, is memorable, and communicates that the applicant would make the most of the graduate school experience.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 2

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 2 – Musical Composition

This personal statement for a Music Composition master’s degree discusses the factors that motivate the applicant to pursue graduate study.

Here’s what works well in this statement:

• The applicant provides two clear reasons motivating the student to pursue graduate study: her experiences with music growing up, and her family’s musical history. She then supports those two reasons with examples and analysis.
• The description of her ancestors’ engagement with music is very compelling and memorable. The applicant paints her own involvement with music as almost inevitable based on her family’s long history with musical pursuits.
• The applicant gives thoughtful analysis of the advantages she has been afforded that have allowed her to study music so extensively. We get the sense that she is insightful and empathetic—qualities that would add greatly to any academic community.

This is a strong, serviceable personal statement. And in truth, given that this for a masters in music composition, other elements of the application (like work samples) are probably the most important.  However, here are two small changes I would make to improve it:

• I would probably to split the massive second paragraph into 2-3 separate paragraphs. I might use one paragraph to orient the reader to the family’s musical history, one paragraph to discuss Giacomo and Antonio, and one paragraph to discuss how the family has influenced the applicant. As it stands, it’s a little unwieldy and the second paragraph doesn’t have a super-clear focus even though it’s all loosely related to the applicant’s family history with music.
• I would also slightly shorten the anecdote about the applicant’s ancestors and expand more on how this family history has motivated the applicant’s interest in music. In what specific ways has her ancestors’ perseverance inspired her? Did she think about them during hard practice sessions? Is she interested in composing music in a style they might have played? More specific examples here would lend greater depth and clarity to the statement.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 – Public Health

This is my successful personal statement for Columbia’s Master’s program in Public Health. We’ll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I’ll highlight a couple of things that work in this statement here:

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• This statement is clearly organized. Almost every paragraph has a distinct focus and message, and when I move on to a new idea, I move on to a new paragraph with a logical transitions.
• This statement covers a lot of ground in a pretty short space. I discuss my family history, my goals, my educational background, and my professional background. But because the paragraphs are organized and I use specific examples, it doesn’t feel too vague or scattered.
• In addition to including information about my personal motivations, like my family, I also include some analysis about tailoring health interventions with my example of the Zande. This is a good way to show off what kinds of insights I might bring to the program based on my academic background.

Grad School Personal Statement Example: Deep Dive

Now let’s do a deep dive, paragraph-by-paragraph, on one of these sample graduate school personal statements. We’ll use my personal statement that I used when I applied to Columbia’s public health program.

Paragraph One: For twenty-three years, my grandmother (a Veterinarian and an Epidemiologist) ran the Communicable Disease Department of a mid-sized urban public health department. The stories of Grandma Betty doggedly tracking down the named sexual partners of the infected are part of our family lore. Grandma Betty would persuade people to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, encourage safer sexual practices, document the spread of infection and strive to contain and prevent it. Indeed, due to the large gay population in the city where she worked, Grandma Betty was at the forefront of the AIDS crises, and her analysis contributed greatly towards understanding how the disease was contracted and spread. My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration to me, and the reason why a career in public health was always on my radar.

This is an attention-grabbing opening anecdote that avoids most of the usual cliches about childhood dreams and proclivities. This story also subtly shows that I have a sense of public health history, given the significance of the AIDs crisis for public health as a field.

It’s good that I connect this family history to my own interests. However, if I were to revise this paragraph again, I might cut down on some of the detail because when it comes down to it, this story isn’t really about me. It’s important that even (sparingly used) anecdotes about other people ultimately reveal something about you in a personal statement.

Paragraph Two: Recent years have cemented that interest. In January 2012, my parents adopted my little brother Fred from China. Doctors in America subsequently diagnosed Fred with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). My parents were told that if Fred’s condition had been discovered in China, the (very poor) orphanage in which he spent the first 8+ years of his life would have recognized his DMD as a death sentence and denied him sustenance to hasten his demise.

Here’s another compelling anecdote to help explain my interest in public health. This is an appropriately personal detail for a personal statement—it’s a serious thing about my immediate family, but it doesn’t disclose anything that the admissions committee might find concerning or inappropriate.

If I were to take another pass through this paragraph, the main thing I would change is the last phrase. “Denied him sustenance to hasten his demise” is a little flowery. “Denied him food to hasten his death” is actually more powerful because it’s clearer and more direct.

Paragraph Three: It is not right that some people have access to the best doctors and treatment while others have no medical care. I want to pursue an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia because studying social factors in health, with a particular focus on socio-health inequities, will prepare me to address these inequities. The interdisciplinary approach of the program appeals to me greatly as I believe interdisciplinary approaches are the most effective way to develop meaningful solutions to complex problems.

In this paragraph I make a neat and clear transition from discussing what sparked my interest in public health and health equity to what I am interested in about Columbia specifically: the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and how that focus will prepare me to solve complex health problems. This paragraph also serves as a good pivot point to start discussing my academic and professional background.

Paragraph Four: My undergraduate education has prepared me well for my chosen career. Understanding the underlying structure of a group’s culture is essential to successfully communicating with the group. In studying folklore and mythology, I’ve learned how to parse the unspoken structures of folk groups, and how those structures can be used to build bridges of understanding. For example, in a culture where most illnesses are believed to be caused by witchcraft, as is the case for the Zande people of central Africa, any successful health intervention or education program would of necessity take into account their very real belief in witchcraft.

In this paragraph, I link my undergraduate education and the skills I learned there to public health. The (very brief) analysis of tailoring health interventions to the Zande is a good way to show insight and show off the competencies I would bring to the program.

Paragraph Five: I now work in the healthcare industry for one of the largest providers of health benefits in the world. In addition to reigniting my passion for data and quantitative analytics, working for this company has immersed me in the business side of healthcare, a critical component of public health.

This brief paragraph highlights my relevant work experience in the healthcare industry. It also allows me to mention my work with data and quantitative analytics, which isn’t necessarily obvious from my academic background, which was primarily based in the social sciences.

Paragraph Six: I intend to pursue a PhD in order to become an expert in how social factors affect health, particularly as related to gender and sexuality. I intend to pursue a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Reproduction. Working together with other experts to create effective interventions across cultures and societies, I want to help transform health landscapes both in America and abroad.

This final paragraph is about my future plans and intentions. Unfortunately, it’s a little disjointed, primarily because I discuss goals of pursuing a PhD before I talk about what certificate I want to pursue within the MPH program! Switching those two sentences and discussing my certificate goals within the MPH and then mentioning my PhD plans would make a lot more sense.

I also start two sentences in a row with “I intend,” which is repetitive.

The final sentence is a little bit generic; I might tailor it to specifically discuss a gender and sexual health issue, since that is the primary area of interest I’ve identified.

This was a successful personal statement; I got into (and attended!) the program. It has strong examples, clear organization, and outlines what interests me about the program (its interdisciplinary focus) and what competencies I would bring (a background in cultural analysis and experience with the business side of healthcare). However, a few slight tweaks would elevate this statement to the next level.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples You Can Find Online

So you need more samples for your personal statement for graduate school? Examples are everywhere on the internet, but they aren’t all of equal quality.

Most of examples are posted as part of writing guides published online by educational institutions. We’ve rounded up some of the best ones here if you are looking for more personal statement examples for graduate school.

Penn State Personal Statement Examples for Graduate School

This selection of ten short personal statements for graduate school and fellowship programs offers an interesting mix of approaches. Some focus more on personal adversity while others focus more closely on professional work within the field.

The writing in some of these statements is a little dry, and most deploy at least a few cliches. However, these are generally strong, serviceable statements that communicate clearly why the student is interested in the field, their skills and competencies, and what about the specific program appeals to them.

Cal State Sample Graduate School Personal Statements

These are good examples of personal statements for graduate school where students deploy lots of very vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes of life experiences. There are also helpful comments about what works in each of these essays.

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However, all of these statements are definitely pushing the boundaries of acceptable length, as all are above 1000 and one is almost 1500 words! Many programs limit you to 500 words; if you don’t have a limit, you should try to keep it to two single-spaced pages at most (which is about 1000 words).

University of Chicago Personal Statement for Graduate School Examples

These examples of successful essays to the University of Chicago law school cover a wide range of life experiences and topics. The writing in all is very vivid, and all communicate clear messages about the students’ strengths and competencies.

Note, however, that these are all essays that specifically worked for University of Chicago law school. That does not mean that they would work everywhere. In fact, one major thing to note is that many of these responses, while well-written and vivid, barely address the students’ interest in law school at all! This is something that might not work well for most graduate programs.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 10

This successful essay for law school from a Wheaton College undergraduate does a great job tracking the student’s interest in the law in a compelling and personal way. Wheaton offers other graduate school personal statement examples, but this one offers the most persuasive case for the students’ competencies. The student accomplishes this by using clear, well-elaborated examples, showing strong and vivid writing, and highlighting positive qualities like an interest in justice and empathy without seeming grandiose or out of touch.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 1

Based on the background information provided at the bottom of the essay, this essay was apparently successful for this applicant. However, I’ve actually included this essay because it demonstrates an extremely risky approach. While this personal statement is strikingly written and the story is very memorable, it could definitely communicate the wrong message to some admissions committees. The student’s decision not to report the drill sergeant may read incredibly poorly to some admissions committees. They may wonder if the student’s failure to report the sergeant’s violence will ultimately expose more soldiers-in-training to the same kinds of abuses. This incident perhaps reads especially poorly in light of the fact that the military has such a notable problem with violence against women being covered up and otherwise mishandled

It’s actually hard to get a complete picture of the student’s true motivations from this essay, and what we have might raise real questions about the student’s character to some admissions committees. This student took a risk and it paid off, but it could have just as easily backfired spectacularly.

Key Takeaways: Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

In this guide, we discussed why you need a personal statement and how it differs from a statement of purpose. (It’s more personal!)

We also discussed what you’ll find in a strong sample personal statement for graduate school:

• A clear narrative about the applicant and why they are qualified for graduate study.
• Specific examples to support that narrative.
• Compelling reasons why the applicant and the program are a good fit for each other.
• Strong writing, including clear organization and error-free, cliche-free language.
• Appropriate boundaries—sharing without over-sharing.

Then, we provided three strong graduate school personal statement examples for different fields, along with analysis. We did a deep-dive on the third statement.

Finally, we provided a list of other sample grad school personal statements online.

What’s Next?

Want more advice on writing a personal statement ? See our guide.

Writing a graduate school statement of purpose? See our statement of purpose samples  and a nine-step process for writing the best statement of purpose possible .

If you’re writing a graduate school CV or resume, see our how-to guide to writing a CV , a how-to guide to writing a resume , our list of sample resumes and CVs , resume and CV templates , and a special guide for writing resume objectives .

Need stellar graduate school recommendation letters ? See our guide.

See our 29 tips for successfully applying to graduate school .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

Essay Examples 20 Personal Statement Examples That Stand Out + Why They Work

This is your ultimate list of Personal Statement examples.

In this post, you'll learn:

• What makes a successful Personal Statement
• How to write an irresistible Personal Statement
• Ivy League personal essay examples

If you're looking to read and write Personal Statement essays, you've found the right place.

In this post, I'm going to share everything you need to go from zero to having a Personal Statement essay you can be proud of.

This guide will help you get started writing an engaging Personal Statement essay. Or if you already have one, how to make it even better.

What is a Personal Statement Essay?

A personal statement, also called a statement of purpose (SOP) or personal essay, is a piece of creative, personal writing.

The purpose of your personal statement is to express yourself and your ideas. Personal statements usually aren't piece of formal writing, but still should be thoughtful and planned out.

Many applications for colleges, graduate schools, and scholarships require you to write a personal statement.

How to Write a Personal Statement Essay

While there are no rules or guidelines for writing a personal statement, the best ones often have these in common:

Have Strong Ideas:

Having compelling and interesting ideas shows you are a strong thinker.

It isn't necessarily about having all the answers, but asking the right questions.

For personal statement essays, the quality of your ideas matters more than your writing level. Writing interestingly is more important than writing beautifully.

I’ve stopped tripping over my own feet, and it’s led to me not being afraid to connect and interact with patients and customers or present in front of large crowds. Life is just one long Carioca – you might stumble at first, but if you keep pushing, the right feet will find themselves in the right place. From an accepted essay to UNC at Chapel Hill →

Be Authentic

Writing authentic essays means writing from the heart.

The best personal statements tend to come naturally, because the writer is excited about the topic.

Choose an idea that makes you feel excited to write about and start writing.

As you begin drafting, ideas will naturally arise related to your original idea. Exploring these tangential ideas is what leads to even better reflections for your essay.

That's why it's so important to be genuinely passionate about your subject. You can't just have an interest "in the topic," but there has to be something deeper you're writing about that moves you.

Use Narratives and Story-Telling:

Humans are naturally drawn to stories.

And often the best insights and ideas come from real life experiences.

Telling a story, or many, is the basis for developing your analysis and ideas. Remember, all stories need conflict in order to work.

It can help to think about the different types of conflict.

• Character vs. Self
• Character vs. Character
• Character vs. Nature
• Character vs. Society

And so on...

Once you've written a meaningful story, getting insights is as simple as answering the question: What did your experiences teach you?

The sounds of my knife striking kale unnerves my cat asleep in the corner. He quickly runs over to examine the situation but becomes instantly uninterested when he sees green and smells bitterness. Unfortunately, my family has this same reaction every day of every week. From an accepted essay to University of Southern California →

Showcase Your Values and Identity:

The purpose of a personal statement is to tell about who you are.

Personal statements are your opportunity to showcase what your values are, and how you would contribute to the school, scholarship opportunity, etc.

Good writers are those who write authentically. Write about your unique ideas and ask interesting questions, even if you don't know the answers.

How Long Should a Personal Statement Be?

A typical personal statement can range in length from 500 to 650 words or more.

For applying to colleges, the Common Application essay personal statement has a word limit of 650 words.

For graduate school programs, the application essay will vary in length, but most schools require a personal statement essay of at least 500 words.

20 Personal Statement EssaysThatWorked

It can be difficult to understand what makes a great essay without seeing some for yourself.

Here's 20 of our favorite personal statement essays that we've chosen for being unique and high-quality.

There essays were all accepted into some of the most selective schools. And while it isn't the only factor in admissions that matters, having outstanding essays can help tip the scales in your favor.

Table of Contents

Prompt: Background, Identity, or Interest

• 1. Uncomfortable Truths
• 2. Romanian Heritage
• 3. Film and Theater
• 4. Person of the Woods
• 5. Beautiful Walks

Prompt: Lessons from Obstacles

• 6. My Father
• 7. Self-Determination
• 8. Game Design Music
• 9. Speech and Debate

Prompt: Questioned or Challenged a Belief

• 10. Finding Answers

Prompt: Accomplishment, Event, or Realization

• 11. Connecting with Others
• 12. Summer Confidence
• 13. First Impressions
• 14. Law Career
• 15. Growing Up Asian

Prompt: Engaging Topic, Idea, or Concept

• 16. Secrets of Riddles
• 17. Rubik's Cube
• 18. Narrative Diversity

Prompt: Any Topic of Your Choice

• 19. Search for Dreams
• 20. Recipe for Success

Personal Statement Example #1: Uncomfortable Truths

This is a personal statement that worked for Princeton . It is outstanding for many reasons, but most of all because of its ideas and the thoughtfulness put into organizing them.

Common App Prompt #1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (250-650 words)

Why This Essay Works:

Having a unifying idea is key to successful personal statements. Find your deepest idea or realization and focus your essay around that.

Find a way to showcase your achievements while connecting to broader, more universal ideas.

Connecting your ending to your beginning is a powerful way to bring your essay full circle. A great conclusion expands on your ideas introduced earlier, while leaving some room for more to be said.

Personal Statement Example #2: Film and Theater

This student's essay was accepted to USC , among other top schools. It's topic is seemingly simple—taking walks—but the author brilliantly shows how even in the mundane there can be meaningful reflections.

This essay has lots of moments where the author's character comes across vividly. By using conversational language and interjections like "I want to—no, need—to...", the author has a clear "voice" and you can easily imagine them as if they were speaking directly to you. This student also showcases self-awareness and a sense of humor, by using slightly self-deprecating phrases like "some chubby, nerdy girl" and by recognizing how the social approval of sitting with the "popular girls" was enthralling at the time. Self-awareness is a highly valuable trait to portray, because it shows that you're able to reflect on both your strengths and weaknesses, which is a skill needed to be able to grow and develop.

This author manages to tie in their activity of producing films and reference them specifically ("Cardboard Castles") by connecting them to their main point. Instead of listing their activities or referencing them out-of-the-blue, they show how these accomplishments are perfect examples of a greater message. In this case, that message is how meaningful it is to connect with others through storytelling. To write about your activities and achievements without seeming arbitrary or boastful, make them have a specific purpose in your essay: connect to a value, idea, or use them as examples to show something.

In the intro of this essay, there are some descriptions that seem fiction-like and are ultimately unimportant to the main idea. Sentences that describe Mrs. Brewer's appearance or phrases describing how their teacher stood up after talking to them ultimately don't contribute to the story. Although these provide "context," the only context that admissions are interested in is context and details which have a purpose. Avoid writing like fiction books, which describe all the characters and settings, and instead only describe exactly what is needed to "go somewhere" in your essay.

What They Might Improve:

This essay has a strong hook which captivates the reader by making them ask a question: "What are these lunch-time horror stories?" By sparking the reader's imagination early on, you can draw them into your writing and be more engaged. However, ultimately this is somewhat of a letdown because these intriguing "lunch-time horror stories" are never described. Although it may not be completely necessary for the main point, describing one example or hinting at it more closely would be satisfying for the reader and still connect to the main idea of storytelling. One idea is to replace the conclusion with a reference to these "lunch-time horror stories" more vividly, which would be a satisfying ending that also could connect to filmmaking and storytelling. In general, anticipate what the reader will be looking for, and either use that expectation to your advantage by subverting it, or give them what they want as a satisfying, meaningful conclusion.

Although this conclusion could work as is, it could be stronger by seeming less arbitrary and less "fancy for fancy sake." Often, a good strategy is to connect your conclusion to something earlier in your essay such as your introduction or specific wording that you used throughout. In this essay, it could work much better to end by revealing one of those "lunch-time horror stories" in a way that also emphasizes their main point: how storytelling is a powerful tool to connect people.

About This Personal Essay:

Personal statement example #3: romanian heritage.

This personal statement worked for UMichigan , among many other top schools like MIT, Rice, UNC at Chapel Hill , University of Pittsburgh, UW Madison, and more.

This author is able to vividly bring you into their world using cultural references and descriptive writing. You can practically taste and smell Buni's kitchen through her words.

This essay starts off by posing a challenge, which is typical of essays. But rather than showing how they overcame this particular challenge of speaking Romanian without an accent, this reader shows how something unexpected—baking—came to satisfy what was missing all along. By the end, this creates a conclusion that is both surprising, connected to the beginning, and makes perfect sense once you've read it. In other words, the conclusion is inevitable, but also surprising in content.

This student uses Romanian words to help exemplify the culture and language. If you're writing about a culture, using foreign language words can be a compelling way of adding depth to your essay. By including specific terms like "muni" and "cornulete," it shows a depth of knowledge which cannot be faked. Always use specific, tangible language where possible, because it is "evidence" that you know what you're talking about.

This student exhibits strong self-awareness by noting characteristics about themself, even some which may not be the most glamorous ("can be overbearing at times, stubborn in the face of offered help"). Rather than telling the reader flat out about these personal attributes, they are able to discuss them by connecting to another person—their grandmother Buni. Using another person to showcase your own character (through comparison or contrast) is a literary "foil," which can be an effective way of showing your character without stating it outright, which generally is boring and less convincing.

This student doesn't focus on surface-level ideas like "how they got better at speaking Romanian." Instead, they reflect in a creative way by connecting the Romanian language to baking. Revealing unseen connections between topics is a great way to show that you're a thoughtful and clever thinker. Ultimately, having unique ideas that are specific to you is what will create a compelling essay, and this essay is a perfect example of what that could look like.

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Personal Statement Example #4: Person of the Woods

This essay was accepted into Dartmouth College . It is a brilliant example of showing how any experience, even those which originally may have been unpleasant, can be the topic of meaningful reflection.

Using visuals, like descriptions of scenarios and environments, can help bring the reader into your world. However, make sure that all of your descriptions are relevant to your main point, or else they could be distracting. For example, in this essay it would be unnecessary to describe what they're wearing or the appearance of canoes, but it makes sense to describe the nature as it relates to the main topic.

People are not isolated units. Instead, everyone depends on and is defined by those around them. By showing how you relate and connect with other people, you can provide insights into your character. In this essay, the student does a great job of delving into their strong friendships, particularly what they've learned from their friends.

Admissions officers love to see self-growth. Showing how your perspective on something has changed (in this case, how they went from disliking to loving an activity) conveys a development of your character. Ask yourself: what preconceived notions did I have before, and how did they change? This student reflects in a humble way, by first emphasizing what they've learned from others, before offering up what they might have contributed themselves. Always try to have a tone of gratitude in your essays because it makes you more likeable and shows strong character.

Personal Statement Example #5: Beautiful Walks

Personal statement example #6: my father.

This personal statement was admitted to Michigan in recent years. It is an outstanding example of how you can write about topics that are often cliché if done poorly, such as the death of a family member.

But unlike other essays, this one works because it has a unique take and genuine approach to the topic that makes it come off as heartfelt.

Common App Prompt #2: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (250-650 words)

Writing about a tragedy like a loss of a parent is a tricky topic for college essays. Many students feel obligated to choose that topic if it applies to them, but it can be challenging to not come across as trying to garner sympathy ("sob story"). This student does a graceful job of focusing on positive elements from their father's legacy, particularly the inspiration they draw from him.

This student does a great job of connecting their educational and career aspirations to their background. Admissions officers want to understand why you're pursing what you are, and by explaining the origin of your interests, you can have compelling and genuine reasons why.

In this essay, the student writes from their hypothetical perspective as an infant. This doesn't quite work because they likely wouldn't remember these moments ("I have no conscious memories of him"), but still writes as though they do. By writing about things you haven't seen or experienced yourself, it can come across as "made up" or inauthentic.

Personal Statement Example #7: Self-Determination

Some of the best essay topics are dealing with challenges you've faced, because difficulties make it easier to reflect upon what you've learned. Admissions officers ultimately are looking for self-growth, and showing how you've handled personal challenges can demonstrate your new understandings as a result. However, avoid talking about "tragedy" or difficulty without a clear purpose. Don't write about it because you think "you should," only write about challenges if they are true to yourself and you have something meaningful and unique to say about them. Otherwise, it can come off as trying to garner sympathy (i.e. "sob stories") which admissions officers generally dislike.

More convincing than telling admissions officers, is presenting them with "evidence" and allowing them to come to the conclusion themselves. If you want to show the idea "I couldn't learn due to this condition," it is far more effective to do what this student did and say, "I'd just finished learning complex trig identities, and I now couldn't even count to ten." When drafting, it is normal and okay to start off with more "telling" as you get your ideas on paper. But as your essay progresses, you should transform those moments of "telling" into more powerful and convincing moments of "showing."

Having meaningful reflections is a critical part of having compelling essays. But make sure your takeaways are not surface-level or generic. Each admissions officer has likely read thousands of essays, so they are well aware of the common ideas and tropes. Avoid cliché ideas at all costs, because it comes across as forgettable and unoriginal. Instead, it is okay to start with surface-level ideas, but keep asking yourself probing questions like "Why" and "How" to push your ideas deeper.

This essay tells a nice story of overcoming their physical impediment, but ultimately lacks meaningful reflections in the conclusion. Too much time is spent on "the problem" and not enough on how they overcame it. Your conclusion should have your best, most compelling ideas in your entire essay. Try ending your essay by connecting to the beginning with a new perspective, expanding on your idea with a new takeaway, or connecting to broader, more universal themes. Avoid having a conclusion that "sounds nice," but ultimately is lacking in meaningful content.

Personal Statement Example #8: Game Design Music

This essay was admitted into Cornell University . It discusses a common conflict of ideology that comes with pursuing the arts. What the author does brilliantly is show how that conflict was reconciled, as well as how it changed their perspective.

My mom used to tell me this a lot. She’d always disapproved of my passion for the arts.

In this essay, the author does a fantastic job of showing how they are thoughtful in considering the perspectives of others, even though they may disagree. Showing that you can entertain ideas that you may disagree with is an admirable trait that admissions officers love to see, because intellectual discussion is all about trying to see other people's views. When writing about things that you may disagree with, try to play devil's advocate and see things from their point of view. Doing so will make you come off as thoughtful, understanding, and inquisitive, and it will strengthen your own viewpoint if you can identify arguments against it.

The best essays help admissions officers understand how you think about things. One strategy is to offer up questions to explore. These can be questions that arose during a particular moment or questions that you're reflecting upon right now. By using questions in your essay, you'll also present yourself as a thoughtful and curious thinker. Ultimately, you want to help the reader see things from your perspective by showing your thought process.

A good starting place for reflection can be in comparing and contrasting different topics. This could finding the similarities and differences in an extracurricular and an academic class, or any other number of things. By finding the similarities in things often thought of as "opposing," or finding the differences in things thought of as "similar," you can get to interesting ideas. Comparisons are useful because they force you to think from a different viewpoint. For example in this essay: How does "programming" relate to "song lyrics"?

This essay ends on a note that feels somewhat off-topic and not as interesting as their main idea. The conclusion leaves more to be wanted, as the reader ends up thinking: Are you simply seeking the approval of your parents? Or are you carving your own path in life? Or does the answer lie somewhere in between? Avoid ending your essay with a tangential idea. Instead, a strong conclusion is often closely related to the main point of your essay, but with a slight twist. By planning out your essay before writing, you can make sure that each point (from start to finish) connects the way you want it to and that your conclusion ends on a strong, well-connected note.

Personal Statement Example #9: Speech and Debate

I was still high off the competition, poring over ballots by the soft streetlights as we drove. “Are you sure you want to do this?” My Dad was worried about me. Worried about my world crashing down around me, losing friends, being crushed by hate. Scarred by controversy. I laughed it off, and we rode in silence.

Fast forward to my second or third year in the league. I wanted to have some fun. I emailed the regional coordinator, asking if there’s a rule against a speech advocating for same-sex marriage.

This essay has lots of interesting ideas about having discussions between people of different viewpoints. This student is able to reflect sincerely about what the benefit of that dialogue is ("iron sharpening iron") and able to draw meaningful conclusions ("hope lives in that laughter") that express deeper ideas. By focusing on these compelling reflections, this student shows themself as a brilliant and thoughtful thinker, while demonstrating what they value: discourse between opposing viewpoints. Rather than focusing on the literal happenings (i.e. giving a speech to their club), the student reflects on what that experience represents more broadly, which allows them to connect to deeper ideas.

This essay is full of details, without being wordy or drawn out. Even small details like naming the show "The Daily Show" or giving a number of "40,000+ theologies" makes their writing much more engaging and compelling. By avoiding broad and vague language, this student paints a fascinating picture that allows the reader to enter their world. It is always better to be specific than to be generic, but make sure that the specific details are always relevant to your point. This essay is a great example of how to do both.

This essay does a fantastic job of creating a "voice." That is, you can easily imagine the student as if they were speaking to you while reading it. To craft this voice, this student uses small moments of more informal language and interjecting remarks that show their thought process. Using parentheses can be a good way to show your voice by jumping in when you have a small remark to add. This student also demonstrates a sense of humor and lightheartedness while still discussing meaningful ideas. The sarcastic remark "because controversy has no place in a debate club!" demonstrates their values (of dialogue between differing viewpoints) as well as showing their sense of personality.

This essay's weakest point is its intro or "hook." In fact, it could work much better by excluding the introduction paragraph and starting off with the second paragraph: "Forgive the melodrama: this is a story..." That short phrase is much more captivating and immediately draws the reader in. The introduction paragraph in this essay is too much of a meandering and vague story: you don't know what they're talking about, and ultimately it doesn't matter. Rather than using a fancy story or descriptions to introduce your essay, try jumping into the "meat" of your essay immediately. Consider using a short, declarative sentence or phrase like "Forgive the melodrama" as a hook, which is more impactful and draws the reader immediately into your essay.

Personal Statement Example #10: Finding Answers

Common App Prompt #3: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? (250-650 words)

My grandmother’s concern faded rather quickly as sirens fell distant and time passed.

After about 30 minutes, my grandfather’s friend ran toward the beach. My grandfather was not next to him. He was not there at all. At that moment, my grandma knew.

“Burt...he was with me...he slipped...he fell...I ran down the side of the mountain, off the trail, but I couldn’t find him. The park rangers are looking...” She stopped listening. She could see his lips moving, yet she heard nothing.

This essay repeats a lot of the same ideas or information, just using different words. Rather than "getting to the point," this repetition makes the essay feel meandering and like it is going nowhere ultimately. When drafting your essay, it is okay to have repetition (your drafts shouldn't be perfect, after all). But when editing, ask yourself with each sentence: does this add something new? Is this necessary to my main point? If not, you should exclude those sentences.

This essay starts off with a drawn-out story of the tragedy involving the author's grandfather. Most of this story is unnecessary, because all that really matters for this student's main idea is the fact that their grandfather passed away from a tragic accident. Details about his grandmother or his grandfather's best friend are unnecessary and distracting.

An important "rule" in college essays is to only write from your perspective. That is, don't describe things that you couldn't have seen or experienced. In this essay, the author spends a lot of time describing their grandfather's incident as if they was there to witness it. But we later learn that the author was not even alive at this point, so how could they be describing these things? On a smaller level, don't describe yourself from an outside perspective. For example, instead of, "I grimaced when I heard the news" (how did you see yourself grimace?) you could say, "I felt my stomach pang when I heard the news."

Your ideas are most valuable in your essays. Admissions officers want to see how you think, and having interesting ideas that are unique to you is how you demonstrate that you're thoughtful and insightful. Avoid surface-level ideas at all costs, as it comes off cliché. It is okay to start with more generic ideas, but you should always delve deeper. To get at deeper and more unique ideas, the key is to ask yourself questions. For example: Why is this the case? Why don't things work differently? What does this mean for other people? What does this represent? How can I apply this to other areas of life?

Personal Statement Example #11: Connecting with Others

Common App Prompt #5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. (250-650 words)

It's important to create a "voice" in your personal statement, so that admissions officers can imagine your character and personality. Try to write as you would speak, but refined and polished. In this essay, natural-sounding phrases like "...let me admit, I was awful..." humanizes the author and makes the reader feel like they're being spoken to.

This essay is a perfect example of how effective essays don't need to have a super unusual story to be compelling. What makes this essay's story compelling is not necessarily the topic itself (meeting distant relatives), but instead how the student reflects and makes interesting connections to broader ideas. Even seemingly mundane experiences can make for meaningful personal statements topics.

This conclusion works well by connecting to the main story of the essay. However, certain phrases like "As a global citizen" and "I am hoping to forge relationships" are potentially too generic. Instead, try taking your main idea (in this case forming connections with others) and broaden it or connect to more universal ideas.

Personal Statement Example #12: Summer Confidence

This essay has a heartfelt moment where the author connects deeply with a camper and feels a sense of genuine gratitude. By showing their newfound connection with a person they were mentoring, this creates a sense of humanity and also tells a lot about the author themself. By talking about other people in your life, you create a literary "foil" which in turn describes something about yourself. Showing how you interact with others can be telling into your character, such as showing your empathy, sense of humor, friendliness, or how you draw inspiration from others.

This essay does a good job of expressing vulnerability, specifically the author's fears about the future and "deteriorating friendships" after going to college. By being vulnerable, these moments feel more relatable to the reader. Showing your struggles (especially emotional ones) can also make your later "successes" feel more impactful when you show how you've overcame them or persist in face of those struggles. By recognizing your flaws or insecurities, you also show self-awareness, which is a positive trait because you need to be self-aware in order to improve the areas of yourself you want to fix.

Although this essay does reflect upon the lessons learned during their time at this camp, the takeaways are ultimately surface-level and not delved into. Rather than saying things like "I had more confidence," it would be more engaging to show how that confidence made an effect and what exactly that "confidence" meant. This essay touches upon some meaningful lessons, but ultimately they fall flat because the nuances of these lessons are glossed over. Phrases like "upon further consideration it no longer fills me with...apprehension" don't delve into the most interesting part: How and why did that fear go away? What changed about your perspective and why? Instead, these are explained away with "confidence and maturity," which are too broad of terms and feel meaningless because they are overused in essays.

In your personal statement, it is completely OK to reference people by their first name. Using names makes your essay more vivid and engaging, while showing a deeper connection that you have with others. Rather than saying "other people" or "one of the older campers," it would be more impactful to use their first name. There are some caveats, however. Don't use their name if you're showing them in a negative light (which you probably shouldn't do anyway) or if you're revealing something personal about them. If you are revealing something personal, you can substitute their name for another name, or ask them for their direct permission.

Personal Statement Example #13: First Impressions

It had a nice ring to it, but I wasn’t a fan. Unfortunately, that’s what I imagined everyone saw first, and first impressions stick.

A caveat of my surgery was that the hair would grow, then one-third would fall off. My scar will never be completely gone, but I no longer feel defined by it like I did in elementary school.

An effective hook doesn't need to be complicated. Often, the best hooks are simple, declarative sentences. By using a short sentence, you'll immediately draw the reader into your essay and create a point of emphasis. In general, avoid long and meandering sentences to start your essay, and save those for later in your essay. Clear and succinct phrasing is often the hallmark of a strong hook.

To convey your ideas more strongly, show them using concrete examples. In this essay, the author does a great job of that by not saying "classmates only saw me for my scar," but instead showing that idea through the memorable image of "I learned about my classmates through their lunchbox covers...they saw me as the boy with the scar." Using tangible imagery makes for a compelling way of expressing your ideas, as it allows the reader to come to the conclusions you want them to, without just "telling" them.

Avoid exaggerating or "fluffing up" experiences in your essays. Instead, be realistic and tell them for what they are. This essay does that perfectly by using phrases like "I didn't have a sudden epiphany about my scar." Avoid using phrases like "suddenly, I..." which are often overused and unrealistic. Most new understandings aren't acquired in one moment in particular, but are developed over time.

This essay touches on some compelling ideas, such as how people can distill down other people into their physical attributes or ailments. However, it would be even stronger to delve deeper into these reflections by asking further questions: Why do we gravitate towards "categorizing" people based on surface-level attributes? What is the impact of only be acknowledged for surface-level characteristics by others, but knowing that you have much more depth to your character? This essay has some meaningful ideas, but other ideas such as "I can be whatever I want to be" feel surface-level and somewhat generic.

Personal Statement Example #14: Law Career

One great way to have interesting ideas is to show things that you find fascinating that other people may find boring. This essay describes how a judge mandating "reprimands for speeding tickets might be dull for some," but how they find it interesting. Everything, even the seemingly mundane, has interesting aspects if you're willing to look closely enough. When brainstorming, ask yourself: what do I find fascinating that others find boring? What do I think is "fun" while others may think it is "hard" or boring? By following these threads, you can often find unique and compelling ideas that allow you to bring the reader into your world and show them how you see the world uniquely.

A common trap when writing a personal statement is to use a descriptive, fiction-like story to start your essay. Although this may sound like a good idea, it is often ineffective because it buries what is most interesting (your ideas and reflections) and can easily be long and drawn out. Short, concise stories with a focus can be effective introductions, but in general avoid overly descriptive storytelling to start your essay. Also, avoid describing things that aren't critical to your main point. There is little to no benefit in describing things like "I smoothed my skirt and rose slowly from the chair." Focus on why your stories matter, rather than telling stories in a descriptive manner.

This essay does have some reflections, particularly about how the author discovered their passion for law by joining the Youth Court. However, most of these ideas end there, and there aren't any deep, unique ideas. The closest the author comes to having a unique and compelling idea is the final sentence where they write "the value of prioritizing the common good above individual success." This could be a fascinating topic to explore, but ultimately is cut short because it is tagged onto the ending. Your focus when brainstorming and drafting should be to have specific and original ideas—ideas that are not generic, not cliché, and not surface-level. To get to those ideas, ask yourself probing questions like "Why" and "How" over and over.

Personal Statement Example #15: Growing Up Asian

Personal statement example #16: secrets of riddles.

Common App Prompt #6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? (250-650 words)

As I was going to St. Ives, Upon the road I met seven wives; Every wife had seven sacks, Every sack had seven cats: Cats, sacks, and wives, How many were going to St. Ives?

The riddles of life were not as straightforward as the puzzles in my books and websites. In fact, they were not straightforward at all, like winding mazes of philosophical quandary.

One of the most thought-provoking subjects that preoccupies my mind regards the existence of aliens. Initially, my mind was settled on the possibility of intelligent life. A universe so big could not possibly be lifeless.

As for the solution to the riddle at the start:

How many were going to St. Ives?

This essay does well by having a unique central topic—riddles—which allows the author to draw out interesting ideas related to this theme. Your topic doesn't necessarily need to be profound or hugely significant, because this author shows how you can take a seemingly unimportant topic and use it to make meaningful connections. In this essay, riddles grow to represent something greater than the activity itself, which is something you can do with almost any topic.

One of the most effective ways to "show, not tell" is to use specific and tangible examples. This essay does a great job of exemplifying their ideas. Rather than just saying "I enthralled my friends with questions," the author also shows this: "Over peanut butter and sliced ham, I assumed the role of story teller..." Examples are always more convincing because they are proof, and allow the reader to interpret for themselves. Don't tell the reader what you want them to think. Instead, set up moments that guide the reader to come to those conclusions themselves.

This conclusion connects back to the beginning, which is generally a good idea as it creates a cohesive structure. However, this ending doesn't quite make sense in the context of the riddle. Rather than creating new meaning, it comes off as arbitrary and contrived. Make sure your conclusion isn't creative just for creative-sake, and instead also has significant meaning attached to it.

Personal Statement Example #17: Rubik's Cube

Personal statement example #18: narrative diversity.

If your cultural background or identity is an important part of who you are, then writing about it can make for a compelling essay. Often times in college admissions, Asian-Americans in particular are advised to "hide" their ethnic background, because it can be perceived to hurt their application. This student embraces their Asian heritage by recognizing ways in which they faced societal barriers. As this essay shows, regardless of your identity, there are unique aspects you can delve into that can make for compelling topics.

This essay does a great job of reflecting upon previously held beliefs, such as "I unconsciously succumbed to the 'reserve and quiet' Asian stereotype," and challenging them. Questioning your beliefs and where they came from can often be a good starting point for interesting reflection. Showing your new perspectives over time also conveys self-growth. Ask yourself: what did I once believe (in regards to myself, an activity, other people, etc.), what do I believe now, and how has this changed?

Rather than starting off with an activity and then reflecting upon it, this student takes a different approach. By introducing an interesting idea (the representation of underrepresented groups in media) and then later connecting to their activities, it makes the incorporation of those extracurriculars seem more appropriate and natural. The last thing you want to do is list your activities plainly, but it's still important to reference them. One strategy to naturally talk about your activities and accomplishments is to attach them to interesting ideas, as this essay shows.

Personal Statement Example #19: Search for Dreams

Common App Prompt #7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (250-650 words)

The diamond leaves of gnarled oak trees throw spectrums of color onto mounds of frosty snow that gleam melancholily under the moonlight. The leaves chime as wind violently rustles them in a haunting melody. I splinter a leaf off its branch and inspect the shard of my illusion, eyes dancing with amusement.

As I dwell in my worries, a cold hand reaches from behind me and taps my shoulder.

I jerk away, fear bubbling in my amygdala as I look into the nonexistent eyes of my intruding visitor.

The moon illuminates a blob of pink squish as it draws back slowly, points its spindly hands towards my drink and asks: “Could I have some of that?”

The blob wipes its invisible mouth with its nonexistent sleeve. I ask: “What are you?”

The blob tells me to stop looking at it so suspiciously. “I can prove it,” It says. I tell it, please, go ahead.

Suddenly we are back in the glowing forest. “Diamonds? Pah!” The blob dismisses them. Instantly, the leaves turn solid gold, the snow melts, and the wintry world is thrown into a blistering summer.

The blob laughs heartlessly. “Your cortex is under my control,” it says smugly.

“I heard you had a question for me?” It taps its invisible ears knowingly.

The blob wriggles its invisible brows as it waits.

It smiles that wicked smile. It laughs that sinful laugh. Then that insufferable blob wakes me up.

As I sit up in the dark and rub my bleary eyes, I am vaguely aware of the deep­set unfulfillment settling itself inside me. I yawn and plop back into bed, the soft red glow of my alarm clock indicating that it is still before midnight.

One thing is for sure about this essay: it has a unique idea that has surely not been written before. Regardless of your topic, you want your essay to be unique in some way, even if it isn't as fantastical as this essay. You can use a unique structure, such as having central symbolism, metaphor, or being structured as a recipe, for example. But this can easily become "gimmicky" if it doesn't have a clear purpose. In general, the most effective way to have a unique essay is to focus on having deep and unique ideas and reflections. By focusing on interesting takeaways and connections that are ultra-specific to you and your experiences, your essay will standout regardless of the structure.

This essay uses a lot of fiction-like writing that is fantastical and "flowery." Although moments of this kind of writing can make your essay more vivid, it is quite easy to end up with dense storytelling and descriptions that ultimately don't share anything interesting about you. The purpose of your essay is ultimately to learn about you: your values, your ideas, your identity, etc. By using dense story-like writing, it can be easy to lose focus of what admissions officers are looking for. In general, avoid writing "fancy" stories like this essay, unless you have a clear and distinct purpose for doing so. Everything in your essay should have a purpose in "going somewhere" (i.e. reaching interesting ideas and takeaways).

This essay is definitely creative, but lacks meaningful takeaways and ideas. By the end of the essay, we don't know much about the author besides the fact that they have an affinity for creative writing and are "on a search." Although the content is unique, the end result comes off as quite generic and surface-level because no interesting thoughts are explored deeply. The most interesting part of this essay is "I open my mouth and ask it my most crucial question," but this is super unsatisfying because the question is never divulged. Instead, the reader is teased by this fantasy story and the essay goes nowhere meaningful, which comes off as gimmicky and "creative for creative's sake," rather than deeply personal and interesting.

This essay ends on the idea of "continuing my search," but for what exactly? It is never explained, elaborated, or even implied (besides one reference to painting earlier). That makes this conclusion comes off as somewhat surface-level and uninteresting. Admissions officers won't care about "your search" unless they have a reason to care. That is, unless it tells something specific about you. On it's own, this idea of "exploring" and "searching" is meaningless because it is too broad and unelaborated.

Personal Statement Example #20: Recipe for Success

Step 1: Collect the ingredients

Step 2: Marinate the meat

Step 3: Wrap the dumplings

Step 4: Boil or pan-fry?

Step 5: Share and enjoy!

This essay has a clearly unique format in that it is structured as a dumpling recipe. By walking the reader through each step of dumpling-making, the student is able to explore various ideas and use the dumpling process as a metaphor for their own self-discovery. Having a creative structure like this can be beneficial, so long as you also have compelling ideas and the structure isn't unique just for the sake of being unique.

This whole essay is one big metaphor: the student compares their self-growth to the process of making dumplings. In doing so, the student introduces their heritage, while also having a creative literary device that they can use to explore various topics. By having a "central theme" such as this essay does, it makes it easier to explore a variety of ideas and activities, without seeming like you're listing them.

Struggles are one of the most defining aspects of self-development, and admissions officers are interested to see how you have overcome challenges. These difficulties don't need to be extreme tragedies or insurmountable obstacles, but everyone has faced difficulties. By reflecting upon those difficulties, you can draw out interesting ideas, showcase vulnerability, and express your personality.

What You Can Learn From These Personal Statement Examples

With these 20 Personal Statement examples, you can get inspired and improve your own essays. If you want to get accepted into selective colleges this year, your essays need to make you stand out.

These 20 examples show how real students got into highly selective schools and teach us several lessons for writing your own successful Personal Statement essay:

• Write a compelling first sentence that grabs the reader
• Be specific and reference things by name
• Tell a meaningful story
• Reflect on your life and identity. Be self-aware.

If you enjoyed these personal statement examples, check out some of our top Common App Essays , which are also personal statements essays, but for the Common Application.

Which of these personal statement examples was your favorite?

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How to Write a Personal Statement for a Scholarship + Examples

What’s covered:, what is the purpose of the scholarship personal statement, what to include in your personal statement, personal statement example: breakdown + analysis, how to make sure your writing is effective.

Either before or after you’ve gotten into your dream school, you’ll have to figure out how to pay for it. For most students, this involves a combination of financial aid, parent contributions, self-contributions, student loans, and scholarships/grants. Because scholarships are money out of someone else’s pocket that you never have to pay back, they are a great place to start!

Scholarships come in two forms: merit-based and need-based. Need-based scholarships are also often called grants. These designations tell you whether an organization looks at your financial situation when deciding about your scholarship.

Additionally, different scholarships fall under different categories based on the mission of the organization or person providing the scholarship’s financing. These missions typically emphasize different things like academic achievement, specific career goals, community service, leadership, family background, skill in the arts, or having overcome hardship. As you select scholarships to apply for and complete your applications, you should keep these missions in mind.

No matter what type of scholarship you are applying for, you will be asked to provide the review committee with standard materials. This includes your transcript, GPA, and resume/extracurriculars, but also, importantly, your personal statement. A scholarship personal statement is a bit different from your normal college essay, so we’ve put together this guide and some examples to help you get started!

The purpose of your personal statement is to help a review committee learn more about your personality, values, goals, and what makes you special. Ultimately, like with your college essays, you are trying to humanize your profile beyond your transcript, GPA, and test scores.

College essays all have one goal in mind (which is why you can apply to multiple schools at once through applications like the Common App or Coalition App): convince admissions officers that you would be a valuable addition to the university environment. The goal of your scholarship personal statement is different and differs more from one scholarship to the next. Rather than convincing various review committees that you are a generally good candidate for extra funding for college, you need to convince each review committee that your values have historically aligned with their organization’s mission and will continue to align with their organization’s mission.

Common missions amongst those who give scholarships include:

• Providing opportunities for students with career ambitions in a particular field
• Helping students who have experienced unexpected hardship
• Supporting students who show outstanding academic achievement
• Funding the arts through investing in young artists with strong technical skill
• Supporting the development of civic-minded community service leaders of the future
• Providing opportunities for historically underrepresented ethnic communities 

If a specific mission like this is outlined on an organization’s website or in the promotional material for its scholarship, the purpose of your personal statement is to show how you exemplify that mission.

Some scholarships ask for your personal statement to be guided by a prompt, while others leave things open for interpretation. When you are provided a prompt, it is obvious what you must do: answer the prompt. When you are not provided a prompt, you want to write a personal statement that is essentially a small-scale autobiography where you position yourself as a good investment. In either case, you should identify a focus or theme for what you are trying to say about yourself so that your application does not get lost in the shuffle.

Prompts include questions like:

• Why do you deserve this scholarship?
• How have you shown your commitment to (leadership/community service/diversity) in your community?
• When did you overcome adversity?
• Why is attending college important to you?

If you are provided a prompt, develop a theme for your response that showcases both your values and your achievements. This will help your essay feel focused and will subsequently help the review committee to remember which candidate you were as they deliberate.

Themes include things like:

• I deserve this community service scholarship because my compassion for intergenerational trauma has inspired me to volunteer with a local after-school program. I didn’t just sympathize. I did something about my sympathy because that’s the type of person I am. Within the program, I have identified avenues for improvement and worked alongside full-time staff to develop new strategies for increasing attendance.
• I overcame adversity when my mother had to have a major surgery two months after giving birth to my younger brother. I was just a kid but was thrown into a situation where I had to raise another kid. It was hard, but I’m the kind of person who tries to grow from hard times and, through my experience taking care of a baby, I learned the importance of listening to body language and nonverbal cues to understand the needs of others (baby and nonbaby, alike).

Without a prompt, clarity can be harder to achieve. That said, it is of the utmost importance that you find a focus. First, think about both your goals and your values.

Types of goals include:

• Career goals
• Goals for personal growth
• The type of friend you want to be
• The change you want to make in the world

Values could include:

• Authenticity
• And many more!

After you write out your goals/values, write out your achievements to see what goals/values you have “proof” of your commitment to. Your essay will ultimately be an exploration of your goal/value, what you have done about your goal/value in the past, and what you aspire to in the future.

You might be tempted to reflect on areas for improvement, but scholarships care about you living out your values. It is not enough to aspire to be exemplary in leadership, community service, or your academic field. For scholarships, you have to already be exemplary.

Finally, keep in mind that the review committee likely already has a copy of your extracurricular activities and involvement. Pick one or two accomplishments, then strive for depth, not breadth as you explore them.

My interest in the field of neuroscience began at a young age.  When I was twelve years old, my sister developed a condition called Pseudotumor Cerebri following multiple concussions during a basketball game.  It took the doctors over six months to make a proper diagnosis, followed by three years of treatment before she recovered.  During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions.  Later, my love of neuroscience was amplified when my mother began to suffer from brain-related health issues.  My mother had been a practicing attorney in Dallas for over twenty years.  She was a determined litigator who relentlessly tried difficult cases that changed people’s lives.  Now, she suffers from a cognitive impairment and is no longer able to practice law.  Oftentimes, she has headaches, she gets “cloudy,” her executive functioning slows down, she feels overwhelmed, and she forgets things.  My mother has gone from being the strong, confident, emotional and financial caretaker of our family to needing significant help on a daily basis. Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.

Due to my experiences with my mother and sister when I was in middle school, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the field of neuroscience.  I also knew that, to obtain this goal, I needed to maintain superior grades in school while also pursuing opportunities outside of school to further my education.  In school, I was able to maintain superior grades to the point where I am currently valedictorian in a class of 567 students.  In addition, in school, I challenged myself by taking 16 Advanced Placement classes and 19 Honors classes.  Two of the most beneficial classes were AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research.  AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research are research-oriented classes where students are given the opportunity to pursue whatever track their research takes them down.  As a junior in AP Capstone Seminar, I researched the effects of harmful pesticide use on the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children.  This year, as a senior in AP Capstone Research, I am learning about the effects of medical marijuana on the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  

Outside of school, I furthered my education through taking advantage of the Duke TiP summer program. Duke TiP is a summer program run by Duke University where students who score extremely well on the SAT as middle schoolers are able to take college classes at different universities throughout the summers of their middle school and high school years.  I took advantage of this opportunity twice.  First, I went to Trinity University in San Antonio to expand my horizons and learn more about debate.  However, once I was done exploring, I decided I wanted to go into neuroscience.  This led me to take an Abnormal Psychology class at Duke University’s West Campus.  This class opened my eyes to the interaction between neuroscience and mental health, mental illness, and personality.  Years later, I am currently continuing my education outside of school as an intern at the University of Texas Dallas Center for Brain Health.  Through this internship, I have been able to see different aspects of neuroscience including brain pattern testing, virtual reality therapy, and longitudinal research studies.  With this background, I have positioned myself to be accepted by top neuroscience programs throughout the nation.  So far, I have been accepted to the neuroscience department of University of Southern California, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas, and Southern Methodist University, as well as the chemistry department at University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.  

It is with this passion for neuroscience driven by my family and passion for education driven by internal motivation that I will set out to conquer my career objectives.  My educational aspirations consist of acquiring a bachelor’s degree in a biological or health science that would assist me in pursuing a medical career as a neuroscience researcher.  I decided to attain a career as a researcher since my passion has always been assisting others and trying to improve their quality of life.  After obtaining my Masters and my PhD, I plan to become a professor at a prestigious university and continue performing lab research on cognitive disorders.  I am particularly interested in disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  In the lab, I hope to find different therapies and medications to help treat the 3.5 million people around the world suffering from ASD.  Furthermore, I want to contribute back to underserved populations that struggle because they do not have as much access to medical assistance as other privileged groups.  As such, I hope to do a part of my research in less developed or developing Spanish-speaking countries. This will also allow me to pursue my love of Spanish while pursuing my love of neuroscience.  I think that following such a career path will provide me the opportunity to learn about the medical needs of the autistic community and improve their quality of health.  Furthermore, I hope to train a new generation of students to strive to research and make comparable discoveries.  Whether it be through virtual reality labs or new drug discoveries, I believe that research leads to innovation which leads to a brighter future. 

This student does a great job of making themself appear competent and dedicated to the field of neuroscience. This is primarily because they provided tangible evidence of how they have pursued their dedication in the past—through their AP Capstone courses, their Abnormal Psychology class at Duke TiP, and their internship at UTD. There is no doubt in the mind of a reader that this student is high-achieving. 

This student also engages successfully with a past-future trajectory, where they end with a vision of how they will continue to use neuroscience in the future. This helps the review committee see what they are investing in and the ways that their money will go to good use.

This student has two major areas for improvement. As we have said, the purpose of a personal statement is for a student to humanize themself to a review committee. This student struggles to depict themself separately from their academic achievements. A solution to this would be for the student to establish a theme towards the beginning of their essay that relates to both their values as a human and their achievements.

At the beginning of the essay, the student explores how their interest in neuroscience began. They explain their interest through the following sentences: “During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions” and “Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.” The student made the great decision to tell the backstory of their interest, but they described their research in very mundane and redundant terms. Instead, they could have focused on their value of intellectual curiosity as a magnetic force that encouraged them to research their mother and sister’s ailments. Curiosity, then, could serve as a value-related thematic throughline to taking AP Capstone classes, taking college courses during the summer that weren’t required, and interning before even graduating high school.

A second area for improvement would be avoiding statistics. As the student identifies their valedictorian status and the number of AP classes they have taken, they might turn away certain personalities on a review committee by appearing braggy. Even further, these statistics are a waste of space. The review committee already has access to this information. These words distract from the major theme of the essay and would have been better used to humanize the student.

Throughout my academic career, I have been an avid scholar, constantly pushing myself towards ambitious goals. I held and continue to hold myself to a high standard, enrolling myself in rigorous curriculum, including Honors and Advanced Placement courses to stretch my mental potential. During my junior year of high school, I took four AP tests, two on the same day, and earned the AP Scholar with Honor Award. Additionally, I received the Letter of Commendation for the PSAT/NMSQT, and qualified for Rotary Top 100 Students both my freshman and senior year, a sign of my commitment to my studies. However, school has not been all about having the best GPA for me; beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem. I always give each class my best effort and try my hardest on every assignment. My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result. It is a major goal of mine to continue to aspire towards a high level of achievement regarding future educational and occupational endeavors; I plan on continuing this level of dedication throughout my educational career and implementing the skills I have learned and will learn into my college experience and beyond.

This fall, I will begin attending the University of California Los Angeles as an English major. I chose this major because I am fascinated by written language, especially its ability to convey powerful messages and emotions. I also enjoy delving into the works of other authors to analyze specific components of their writing to discover the meaning behind their words. In particular, I cannot wait to begin in-depth literary criticism and learn new stylistic techniques to add more depth to my writing. Furthermore, I recently went to UCLA’s Bruin Day, an event for incoming freshmen, where I was exposed to many different extracurriculars, some of which really piqued my interest. I plan on joining the Writing Success Program, where I can help students receive free writing help, and Mock Trial, where I can debate issues with peers in front of a real judge. The latter, combined with a strong writing background from my undergraduate English studies will be extremely beneficial because I plan to apply to law school after my undergraduate degree. As of now, my career goal is to become a civil rights lawyer, to stand up for those who are discriminated against and protect minority groups to proliferate equality.

As a lawyer, I wish to utilize legislation to ameliorate the plight of the millions of Americans who feel prejudice and help them receive equity in the workplace, society, and so on. Though this seems a daunting task, I feel that my work ethic and past experience will give me the jumpstart I need to establish myself as a successful lawyer and give a voice to those who are often unheard in today’s legal system. I have been a Girl Scout for over a decade and continually participate in community service for the homeless, elderly, veterans, and more. My most recent project was the Gold Award, which I conducted in the Fullerton School District. I facilitated over ten workshops where junior high students taught elementary pupils STEM principles such as density and aerodynamics via creative activities like building aluminum boats and paper airplanes. I also work at Kumon, a tutoring center, where I teach students to advance their academic success. I love my job, and helping students from local schools reach their potential fills me with much pride.

Both being a Girl Scout and working at Kumon have inspired me to help those in need, contributing significantly to my desire to become a lawyer and aid others. My extracurriculars have allowed me to gain a new perspective on both learning and teaching, and have solidified my will to help the less fortunate. In college, I hope to continue to gain knowledge and further develop my leadership skills, amassing qualities that will help me assist others. I plan to join multiple community service clubs, such as UCLA’s local outreach programs that directly aid residents of Los Angeles. I want to help my fellow pupils as well, and plan on volunteering at peer tutoring and peer editing programs on campus. After college, during my career, I want to use legal tactics to assist the underdog and take a chance on those who are often overlooked for opportunities. I wish to represent those that are scared to seek out help or cannot afford it. Rather than battling conflict with additional conflict, I want to implement peaceful but strong, efficient tactics that will help make my state, country, and eventually the world more welcoming to people of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These goals are close to my heart and therefore I will be as diligent as I am passionate about them. My perseverance and love for learning and community service drive my ambition in both education and life as a whole, and the drive to make the world a better place is one that I will carry with me for my entire life.

This student emphasizes two values in this essay: hard work and community service. These are values that go together nicely, and definitely make sense with this student’s end goal of becoming a civil rights lawyer! That said, some changes could be made to the way the student presents their values that would make their personal statement more convincing and engaging.

Structurally, instead of using a past-future trajectory, this student starts by explaining their academic achievements, then explains their career goals, then explains their history of community service, then explains their future desires for community service. This structure loses the reader. Instead, the student should have started with either the past or the future. 

This could look like 1) identifying their career goals, 2) explaining that hard work and a commitment to community service are necessary to get there, and 3) explaining that they aren’t worried because of their past commitment to hard work and community service. Or it could look like 1) providing examples of their hard work and community service in the past, then 2) explaining how those values will help them achieve their career goals.

Additionally, like with our other example, this student shows a heavy investment in statistics and spouting off accomplishments. This can be unappealing. Unfortunately, even when the student recognizes that they are doing this, writing “beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem,” they continue on to cite their achievements, writing “My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result.” They say they are going beyond the numbers, but they don’t go beyond the awards. They don’t look inward. One way to fix this would be to make community service the theme around which the essay operates, supplementing with statistics in ways that advance the image of the student as dedicated to community service.

Finally, this student would be more successful if they varied their sentence structure. While a small-scale autobiography can be good, if organized, every sentence should not begin with ‘I.’ The essay still needs to be engaging or the review committee might stop reading.

Feedback is ultimately any writer’s best source of improvement! To get your personal statement edited for free, use our Peer Review Essay Tool . With this tool, other students can tell you if your scholarship essay is effective and help you improve your essay so that you can have the best chances of gaining those extra funds!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Postgraduate Personal Statement Example: Cross-Cultural Communication

Reading as many examples of personal statements as possible is a valuable strategy if you’re applying to a university or college course. 

After all, personal statement examples can teach you how to write and structure your application, and you can quickly learn how to write a personal statement by examining others.

But with so many university personal statement examples available, how do you know if you’re reading a good one?

Postgraduate personal statements should highlight relevant academic and practical experience, research skills and ambitions and their suitability for the course. This postgraduate personal statement example for Cross-Cultural Communication clearly considers these three critical elements.

Studying master’s degree personal statement examples can be especially valuable. They’re sometimes referred to as personal mission statements or statements of purpose , so if you’re tasked with writing a personal mission statement, the following example will work for you.

I’ve broken down this personal statement example section by section, with a commentary on each element. 

That way, you’ll see its strengths and weaknesses and get some inspiration for your own personal statement .

Once you’ve read the personal statement example and analysis, you can download a pdf of the whole document to use as inspiration for your own!

Personal Statement Example: Introduction

“Pushing myself to meet challenges and discover new possibilities is key to moving forward in life. Indeed, in the five years since I graduated, I have developed a successful career as Head of E-commerce Sales Operations. However, I have realised that my lack of marketing and global communication skills is stopping me from achieving my career ambitions.  By combining my professional experience with the courses offered through the Cross-Cultural Communications and International Marketing MA programme at Buckley University, I am confident that I will maximise my technical and practical skills and pursue the next stage of my career.”

My Commentary and Analysis 

The writer begins this personal statement example with a clear statement of intent that reflects their personal ethos and ambition. This is a positive opening and provides a foundation from which to develop the rest of the content. It also indicates a clear sense of purpose and academic endeavour, which is welcome in this kind of application.

The applicant also introduces their professional background and experience, which is relevant and of a high standard. Most importantly, however, they indicate gaps in their knowledge that will be filled as a result of studying on this course. 

This is a really critical aspect of a personal statement, as it shows the reader that the applicant has a sound reason for applying and that they are likely to gain full value from the experience.

If you’re struggling with your personal statement introduction, check out my article on how to write perfect opening paragraphs here .

Personal Statement Example: Professional Background 1

“My work experience and undergraduate background in International Economics and Trade provide me with a solid industry foundation and numerous transferable skills relevant to this programme. Having gained a sound understanding of macroeconomics and microeconomics, I derive great satisfaction from knowing that complicated issues can be brought back to simple terms of supply, demand and competition, connecting with other fundamental forces that determine equilibrium in a market economy. Management Studies exposed me to the principles and mechanics that regulate corporate and business life. For example, applying the Boston matrix model afforded me an effective perspective to develop sales and marketing strategies for different product lines. In the Foreign Trade Conversation and Negotiation course, I learned the power of words and honed my ability to communicate effectively with clients and peers. This helped me in my first job as an international business development manager, where I successfully expanded partnerships with clients from various cultural backgrounds and improved my cross-functional communication abilities.

My second job as a cross-border e-commerce operator required me to regularly edit and optimise e-commerce product description pages and images to satisfy the demands and tastes of international consumers. In this role, gaining an awareness of the optimisation of the company’s low-margin items offered on Amazon made me acutely aware that when marketing efforts transcend national lines, the relevance of cultural elements comes to the fore. Indeed, culture infuses every aspect of marketing, from product style and packaging to commission calculation and seller selection.”

My Commentary and Analysis

This section begins with a relatively general but effective statement regarding the writer’s academic and experiential suitability. Certainly, the language of business is used impressively, and there’s a strong sense here of competence and relevancy, which is critical in a postgraduate personal statement.

The writer goes on to give examples of skills developed in professional roles. This works well and is important to include, especially as they write from the perspective of the skills learned rather than simply listing the experience. 

To improve this, the applicant could have made some specific links to elements of the course and indicated exactly how these skills prepared them and made them highly suitable. Without doing this, a high degree of relevancy is lost. It’s always sensible to be explicit and make links between your knowledge and the demands of the course you’re applying for. The reader doesn’t know you, and you need to make the connections as clear as you can for them

The final section above continues in a similar way and offers a further range of qualifications. Again, these are probably relevant and show that the writer has a sound working vocabulary related to business practice, but stronger connections to the course could have been made here. Equally, the writer could have indicated how, in developing these skills, they became aware of weaknesses or gaps in their knowledge and the ways in which the course would be essential in filling these. 

This would have put these experiences into context and been reassuring for the reader, potentially resulting in an achievable offer.

If you’d like to learn more about structuring your personal statement or statement of purpose , check out my awesome Personal Statement Template eBook here . It’s full of detailed examples of what to include!

Personal Statement Example: Professional Background 2

“In 2021, an increasing volume of new sellers entering the Amazon platform resulted in declining sales and profits for our product line. I was tasked with reviewing the product line and finding ways to generate revenue and increase sales. I started by analysing competitor data and evaluating the different marketing strategies utilised by local and global sellers. Subsequently, I crawled buyer reviews online and emailed interviews for consumer research, discovering that the platform had significant competition from similar low-priced products. Since the local market’s customers have distinct consumer inclinations, at least 30% of consumers conveyed that product features and quantities were not meeting their needs. I immediately saw this as an opportunity and partnered with our team to adjust our product strategy by upgrading product features, increasing the number of bundles sold to meet consumer demand, and increasing the unit price. Meanwhile, we optimised the packaging, product appearance and online imagery by employing a more local, consumer-friendly aesthetic. To ensure the ability to replicate our successes, I used A/B testing, tracking and impact analysis, and I am confident that these skills will play a valuable role in my postgraduate studies.

Ultimately, we experienced a 50% increase in sales for the entire product line and an improvement in profitability to greater than 20%, illustrating clearly that adopting the correct cross-cultural marketing strategy can enhance marketing efficiency and reduce company risks. To maintain our long-term advantage, a complete international marketing strategy is necessary. I am confident that pursuing a master’s degree will give me the tools and networks needed to achieve this goal.”

Commentary and Analysis

This section continues in a similar vein to the one above. It’s a well-written and compelling piece of writing and outlines further skills and experiences without repetition. 

It is only towards the very end that the writer begins to make reference to the subject of their intended postgraduate degree, and even then, the reference is a little bit oblique. It’s very much become a ‘business’ personal statement rather than a ‘cross-cultural communication’ personal statement, and the writer is in danger of giving the impression of applying for a course they are not wholly suited for.

Even so, the last couple of sentences make the link, and the reader will now expect the content to become more pertinent and explanatory.

Check out lots more examples of personal statements here , and see how they can inspire your application!

Personal Statement Example: Motivation For Study

“I am attracted to Buckley’s strong commitment to research and innovation and impressed by the quality and depth of content, teaching and opportunity in this MA programme. It will offer me a systematic framework for understanding international marketing and help me build the skills I need in marketing theory, global communication and brand management. As a postgraduate student, I’d like to learn about strategic market analysis, contemporary branding, international consumer behaviour and formulation of international marketing strategy. The Research Portfolio module will help me refine my data-gathering and analysis methodologies skills and illustrate how these skills can be applied to my field of study. Equally, studying Introduction to Intercultural Communication will teach me how to work more comfortably in an increasingly complex and internationally interconnected environment, which is critical to studying cross-cultural communication and international marketing. I’m particularly interested in Professor Marshall’s international marketing course since it will teach me advanced strategies for developing products for global markets, comprehending local customer behaviour and constructing an international marketing plan. This, alongside the International Brand Management unit, will allow me to learn fundamental and cutting-edge theories and models, supporting my future career plans.”

My Commentary and Analysis: 

This section of the personal statement is extremely successful and, in many respects, is the most compelling content, as it links directly to the course being applied for.

It might sound obvious, but this is a step that many applicants fail to take. By showing that you have an understanding of the course components – shown here through a discussion of the writer’s academic ambitions – you make it clear that your application is well-considered and tailored to a particular institution. 

By referencing the value of specific modules and even working with particular faculty members, the reader can be reassured that the applicant has chosen the course because it fits in with their long-term goals. 

That means they’re more likely to be successful on the course, and that’s exactly what the university wants too.

The one thing that all successful personal statements have in common is that they are concise, engaging and accurate in spelling, punctuation and grammar. Consequently, I always recommend Grammarly to my students and clients. 

It’s an outstanding tool for ensuring your personal statement is rich with detail whilst hitting those all-important word limits. Check out the free version of Grammarly here , or hit the banner for more information.

Personal Statement Example: Conclusion

“My short-term ambition is to work as a marketing manager for a cross-border e-commerce company, combining my experience in e-commerce operations and the international marketing and global communication knowledge gleaned from this postgraduate course. Subsequently, I intend to start my own cross-border e-commerce company. My country has a wide range of quality manufacturing plants and unique cultural crafts. My goal is to make these beautiful products visible and accessible to as broad a public as possible. An education from Buckley University will provide invaluable experience and skills that will allow me to launch the next chapter of my career.  I look forward to playing a positive and active role as a member of your highly-respected faculty.”

The writer’s professional goals match the outcomes from the course, and that is another very positive element of this personal statement. When your long-term aims can recognisably be achieved as a result of studying on a specific course, then admissions teams can recognise the logic in the application and feel comfortable making an offer as a result.

The final sentence makes a token reference to ‘playing a positive and active role’, and whilst that’s important, it would be worth the writer adding slightly more here, making it clear exactly the value they would bring to the faculty community. Universities are keen to see evidence of how an applicant might bring value to their peers or advance the research taking place within a faculty, so being clearer on this point is a sound strategy.

In summary, this is a postgraduate personal statement example that show a wealth of professional experience and skills in a related area and provides a clear sense of motivation for study.

It lacks connection with the course content throughout – showing exactly how a skill or experience has prepared the writer for a particular course element – and lacks examples of the writer’s academic abilities. Very little mention is made of research or writing skills gained as an undergraduate, and although skills used in the professional arena are relevant, showing how academic and independent study skills have been developed is vital content to include.

For more great advice, check out my article on writing an excellent final personal statement paragraph here .

Click here or on the banner below to get your free download of this complete personal statement example . 

Whether you’re looking for personal mission statement examples or an example of personal purpose statement, I hope this personal statement example has been helpful. Above all, I wish you every success in your academic career. 

If you’d like to work with me to develop your personal statement 1:1 and write a powerful mission statement, I’d be delighted to hear from you. 

Find out about my personal statement support services by clicking here or on the image below.

Research and content verified by Personal Statement Planet .

David Hallen

I've worked in the Further Education and University Admissions sector for nearly 20 years as a teacher, department head, Head of Sixth Form, UCAS Admissions Advisor, UK Centre Lead and freelance personal statement advisor, editor and writer. And now I'm here for you...

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15 Powerful Personal Brand Statement Examples to Elevate Your Career in 2024

• May 14, 2024
• by steven-austin

In an increasingly digital world, your personal brand has never been more important. It‘s the first impression people have of you professionally – whether they discover you on LinkedIn, through a Google search, or on your personal website.

And that first impression can open doors or close them. According to CareerBuilder, 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates during the hiring process, and 43% use social media to check on current employees.

What‘s more, 85% of U.S. recruiters and HR professionals say that an employee‘s online reputation influences their hiring decisions at least to some extent. Nearly half say that a strong online reputation influences their decisions to a great extent.

Bottom line? If you‘re not carefully crafting and curating how you show up online, you‘re putting your career at risk. In fact, 56% of employers won‘t even consider a candidate without an online presence.

But a compelling personal brand doesn‘t just insulate you from negative judgments. When done well, it can be an incredible asset – one that lands you that dream job, attracts high-caliber clients, or positions you for that next promotion.

Case in point: 57% of the U.S population now have a LinkedIn profile. Why? Because professionals and entrepreneurs alike know that a strong online presence can translate into major offline opportunities.

At the core of your personal brand is your brand statement – a crisp, compelling declaration of who you are, what you do, and why it matters. It‘s the throughline that ties all the pieces of your online presence together.

So what makes a personal brand statement stand out and stick in people‘s minds? The best ones do a few key things:

They express your unique value proposition. What special sauce do you bring to the table? What are the specific skills, experiences, or perspectives that set you apart?

They‘re authentic to who you are. If your brand statement feels generic or forced, people will see right through it. But when it captures your genuine personality and voice, it resonates.

They speak directly to your target audience. Who are you trying to appeal to and engage with your personal brand? Keeping that audience in mind will help you strike the right tone and highlight the right things.

They‘re memorable and specific. Broad, overused terms like "strategic thinker" or "experienced leader" won‘t make you stand out. But concrete, vivid language will lodge your brand in people‘s minds.

To help inspire you as you craft or refine your own brand statement, we‘ve rounded up 15 powerful examples from a variety of different fields and roles.

1. "Deconstructing complex topics to drive meaningful dialogue." – Nia Hope, Podcast Host

2. "i empower women in stem to communicate with confidence." – dr. andrea hernandez, speech coach, 3. "helping purpose-driven organizations scale their impact sustainably." – jonah malin, nonprofit consultant, 4. "i bring data to life to drive smarter decisions." – tanya sharma, data visualization specialist, 5. "building products that make people‘s lives easier." – lena tran, product manager, 6. "exploring the human side of tech." – simone bresi-ando, tech ethicist & founder, 7. "i help underrepresented entrepreneurs access funding and mentorship." – marcus johnson, startup advisor, 8. "crafting immersive digital experiences that push creative boundaries." – amaya henry, vr designer, 9. "helping families feel at home in a new city." – julia moran, relocation specialist, 10. "i turn complex legal concepts into plain english." – leah nichols, legal content writer, 11. "empowering retirees to fearlessly enjoy their next chapter." – sam diallo, retirement coach, 12. "capturing the heart and soul behind every brand." – diego chacon, brand photographer, 13. "i help the helpers avoid burnout." – hannah nguyen, therapist for nonprofit leaders, 14. "empowering young people to become global citizens." – kaila caldwell, education abroad advisor, 15. "helping biotech startups bring their innovations to market." – asha gupta, biotech business strategist.

Let‘s dive deeper into a few of these to unpack why they work so well:

Nia Hope‘s brand statement packs a punch by juxtaposing two concepts: deconstructing the complex and driving meaningful dialogue. It shows that she‘s not afraid to tackle thorny, nuanced topics but does so in service of a greater goal: sparking thoughtful conversations. You immediately get a sense of her communication style and the impact she aims to have.

Dr. Andrea Hernandez‘s statement works because of its specificity. Rather than saying she helps "people" with public speaking, she zeros in on a particular audience – women in STEM fields. This kind of niche specificity is powerful. It shows that she deeply understands the unique challenges and strengths of this group and can speak directly to their needs.

Jonah Malin‘s brand statement also features a tightly defined audience – purpose-driven organizations. The words "scale" and "sustainably" give us a picture of the kinds of outcomes he helps create. He‘s not just helping nonprofits grow but helping them do so in a way that‘s manageable and enduring over time. That‘s the kind of specialized insight his clients are looking for.

A few things to note across all these examples:

They‘re concise. You can read any of these statements in a matter of seconds, but they still convey a lot about who each person is and what they bring to the table.

They use fresh, vivid language. You‘ll notice very little jargon or filler words. Every word is carefully chosen for maximum impact and memorability.

They center on outcomes and audience. These statements focus not just on what the person does but on why it matters and who it helps. That outward focus is key.

So how can you craft a similarly powerful brand statement for yourself? Here‘s a simple framework to get you started:

For example: I use [skills in data analysis] to help [Fortune 500 companies] [uncover cost-saving opportunities and increase efficiency] .

Of course, this is just a starting point. Keep massaging the language until it feels authentic to you. Say it out loud. Get feedback from people who know you well. Word-smith until you land on a statement that makes you feel proud and energized.

And remember, your personal brand statement isn‘t meant to be static. As you gain new skills and experiences, don‘t be afraid to evolve your messaging over time. The goal is for your brand to be an accurate and compelling reflection of where you are now and where you‘re headed.

But this is just the first step. To truly harness the power of personal branding, you need to weave that brand statement through all your touchpoints and interactions.

That means integrating it into your:

• Social media profiles and posts
• Personal website or online portfolio
• Professional bio for conference programs, publications, etc.
• Elevator pitch for networking events
• Thought leadership content like blog posts or videos

Consider these eye-popping statistics: Influencer campaigns can generate up to 11x higher ROI than traditional advertising. Why? Because when you express a strong point of view and build a loyal following around your ideas, you become incredibly valuable to employers and clients.

So don‘t just define your brand – put it out into the world consistently and strategically. That‘s how you‘ll unlock the full power of personal branding.

Now, you might be thinking: How can I possibly stand out in such a noisy digital landscape? It‘s true – cutting through the clutter online is harder than ever. But that‘s precisely why an authentic, memorable personal brand is so vital.

When you lead with genuine substance, when you have the courage to share your unique perspective and voice, you‘ll naturally attract the right people and opportunities. No gimmicks or stunts needed – just the real you.

So take the time to reflect on your unique strengths and body of work. Distill the essence of what makes you YOU into a clear, cohesive brand statement. And then go forth and share that brand boldly and consistently, both online and off.

With a powerful personal brand as your calling card, there‘s no telling what doors will open for you in the months and years to come. You‘ve got this!

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45 Culture Fit Interview Questions You Should Ask Candidates

Morgane Lança

Finding the best talent for your organization is not an easy task, especially when you want to focus on culture alignment and long-term employee retention and wellbeing. Beyond skills and diplomas, you sometimes need to find the specific profile that will integrate seamlessly into your team and feel right at home from the very first days.

That’s why culture fit interview questions are essential: they help you get an idea of who the candidate is, and how their personal values can align with your mission and culture . Without further ado, here is everything you need to know about culture alignment, and examples of culture fit interview questions you should ask your candidates!

What is Culture Fit?

Culture fit, often called culture alignment, refers to the compatibility level an employee or potential hire has with a company’s culture and core values. This includes sharing the same vision and expectations related to the working environment, understanding and relating to business goals and values, and displaying the soft skills required to integrate seamlessly into their future team.

The Benefits of Culture Fit Recruiting

To start with, candidates who are culture fits are more likely to be interested in job offers put out by your company – that is, if you have a strong employer brand and let it shine through in the job description. But there are other benefits to focusing on culture fit in your recruitment process:

• Improved employee engagement from the very first days;
• Aligned expectations of what responsibilities and working conditions are going to be like;
• Chances to increase new hire and employee retention rates;
• Simplified onboarding process and seamless integration into the organization;
• Stronger professional relationships with coworkers and team members;
• Increased collaboration between colleagues and creation of a healthy work environment;
• Likelihood that your new employees will become organic ambassadors for your company.

Surrounding yourself with colleagues who share the same professional vision and mission is also a great way to support business growth and performance.

The Potential Disadvantages of Culture Fit Recruiting

Just like any other recruitment practice, culture alignment comes with potential disadvantages that you need to be aware of:

• Risks of overlooking highly talented job candidates for the sake of culture alignment;
• Lack of diversity in recruited profiles and potential bias;
• Longer recruitment processes and depleted talent pools;
• Lack of different perspectives, experiences and insights can hinder innovation and growth.

While corporate culture is important, it should not be the only factor that influences hiring decisions . In any case, it is important to know how to identify potential recruits who could relate to your organizational culture while diversifying the profiles and skill sets that you integrate into your company.

45+ Examples of Culture Fit Questions You Should Ask During Interviews

Whether during your job interviews or through recruiting emails , you can evaluate a candidate’s alignment with company culture by asking the following questions:

Company Culture and Motivation

1) How would you describe our company culture?

2) What is the aspect you like the most about our company values?

3) What is the aspect you identify with the least in our company values?

4) Why are you leaving your current job?

5) How do you think your personal values can align with our mission?

6) Why did you apply for this role, and why did you choose our company?

7) What are 3 qualities you like most about yourself?

8) What are your 3 qualities people like the most?

9) How would you describe your ideal work environment?

10) What aspects of work motivate you the most?

11) What is your top benefit expectation when joining a company?

Collaboration and Professional Relationships

12) Are you open to receiving feedback from someone who is not your direct supervisor?

13) Did you ever ask your manager or coworkers for extra feedback?

14) How do you typically approach problem-solving with your team?

15) How and how often do you prefer to communicate with your team?

16) What qualities do you look for in a manager?

17) Did you have a manager you looked up to in the past, and why?

18) What aspects do you value most in professional relationships?

19) Do you prefer to work alone or to collaborate with others?

20) Do you think of yourself as a follower or a leader?

21) Can you share an example of a time you took the initiative on a project without being asked to?

22) If you notice that a colleague has made a mistake, how do you handle the situation?

23) If a coworker disagreed with you on how you work on a project, how would you handle the situation?

24) Have you ever handled conflicts with coworkers? If so, how?

25) Have you ever handled conflicts with customers? If so, how?

26) What are the most important aspects of professional relationships to you?

27) Have you ever had a difficult professional relationship, and why?

28) Have you ever had to deal with important changes in the workplace? How did you manage?

Job Satisfaction and Work-life Balance

29) How does your career resonate with your personal life and interests?

30) Have you ever been completely satisfied and happy at work, and why?

31) Have you ever been unhappy at work, and why?

32) How would you describe your perfect work schedule?

33) Do you ever work at home outside of regular work hours?

34) Do you enjoy flexibility in your work schedule?

Performance and Productivity

35) Do you prefer participating in decision-making or contributing to strategies and goals?

36) Is there an achievement you are particularly proud of?

37) Do you like your work to be challenging or easy-going?

38) Can you think of a time when you exceeded performance expectations?

39) How do you maintain productivity levels on a day-to-day basis?

40) Have you ever had to deal with a fast-paced environment and what is your preferred working style to deal with your daily workload?

Social Awareness and Future Ambitions

41) What do diversity and inclusion mean to you?

42) Do you expect your employer to be socially aware and responsible?

43) Have you ever worked with people from different backgrounds or perspectives?

44) Where do you see yourself in the next two years? What about the next five years?

45) When thinking about your long-term career, what would be your dream job?

Bonus Questions to Improve Your Candidate Interview Process

46) Do you see areas of improvement in our hiring or interview process?

47) Did you like our communication style during the interview and throughout the process?

48) Could we better highlight our culture and key values on our company website or job descriptions?

49) Do you think that our employer brand is attractive to job seekers?

While culture fit recruiting should not be the only basis for your recruitment strategy, it is an aspect you need to consider during your hiring process. It has many benefits for your company, notably when it comes to long-term employee retention and effective collaboration in the workplace. Remember that diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives are essential to ensuring your business growth. Focus on creating a strong corporate culture that attracts and retains the best talents; you will reach your goals in no time!

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