business personal statement conclusion

How to end your personal statement

Applying to university

Using your personal statement beyond a university application

You want to leave the admissions tutor reading your personal statement with a strong lasting impression – one that will leave them no choice but to make you an offer (or invite you to an interview).

There are several ways you can do this.

HE Careers Adviser Liz says:

A good ending can link back to what you claim at the beginning or be a short summary as to what you’re looking forward to at university, new challenges etc… or even your commitment as to why you would be an ideal candidate (without bragging).

Think about what you’re writing in this critical spot – what’s your reason for including it here? Keep the ending of your personal statement short, concise and to the point.

Shona Barrie – Director of Admissions, University of Stirling

How to end your personal statement: what to write.

A key academic skill at degree level is being able to form a structured written argument, including a conclusion that summarises the key points.

As Liverpool student Joseph says:

You don’t want a conclusion in the same way as you would for an essay, as that’s just taking away from your word count. Don’t draw it out.’

In other words, keep it to the point and punchy.

There’s no set way to end your statement. Instead, think about the following and how it might help you to stand out:

Tie it back to what you’ve written earlier

Revisit the key points you’ve already spoken about in the main body of your personal statement and emphasise them again in your conclusion. This could be reiterating key skills, interests, and experiences you’ve already touched on, giving them one last chance to hit home (but don’t just regurgitate what you’ve already said).

Talk about the future

Looking to the future is an optimistic way to finish. It shows you’re goal-oriented, and you’ve carefully thought about how this course fits into your plans. You don’t need to have the next ten years mapped out, but if you’ve a broad sense of your career path – or any related life ambitions you want to fill – it’s worth mentioning them here, as well as how this course will help you achieve those.

Learn more about career prospects for your subject (and more) in our subject guides .

Think about your university experience

You could conclude by talking more generally about what you want to get from your overall university experience. For instance:

Also, talk about how you will be an asset to a university.

Remember, all of your UCAS choices will see your personal statement , so it may be best to keep it general, rather than being specific about one university.

Chloe Ng – Higher Education Career Coach, Manchester Metropolitan University

Final thoughts

Need more advice?

Mature students: Five things to do now to boost your personal statement

Starting your personal statement

Personal statement dos and don’ts

Writing your full personal statement

Search for a course and learn more, including modules, graduate stats, and student satisfaction scores.

UCAS scans all personal statements with the Copycatch system, to compare them with previous statements.

Find out more

Was this page helpful?

Yes No

Share this page

Sponsored articles, apprenticeships – the facts, explore law, criminology or policing, three reasons you should attend a ucas exhibition.

University Interviews

Personal Statements

Studying Abroad

Guide to GCSE Results Day

Finding a job after school or college

Retaking GCSEs

In this section

Choosing GCSE Subjects

Post-GCSE Options

GCSE Work Experience

GCSE Revision Tips

Why take an Apprenticeship?

Applying for an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships Interviews

Apprenticeship Wage

Engineering Apprenticeships

What is an Apprenticeship?

Choosing an Apprenticeship

Real Life Apprentices

Degree Apprenticeships

Higher Apprenticeships

A Level Results Day 2023

AS Levels 2023

Clearing Guide 2023

Applying to University

SQA Results Day Guide 2023

BTEC Results Day Guide

Vocational Qualifications Guide

Sixth Form or College

International Baccalaureate

Post 18 options

Finding a Job

Should I take a Gap Year?

Applying to US Universities

Choosing a Degree

Choosing a University or College

Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Guide to Freshers' Week

Student Guides

Student Cooking

Student Blogs

Top Rated Personal Statements

Personal Statements By Subject

Writing Your Personal Statement

Personal Statement Length Checker

Personal Statements By University

Personal Statement Frequently Asked Questions

Personal Statement Template

Job Interviews

Types of Postgraduate Course

Writing a Postgraduate Personal Statement

Ivy League Universities

Common App Essay Examples

Universal College Application Guide

How To Write A College Admissions Essay

Budgeting For College

Online Degree

Platinum Express Editing and Review Service

Gold Editing and Review Service

Silver Express Editing and Review Service

UCAS Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Oxbridge Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Postgraduate Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Business Personal Statement Examples

Our business UCAS personal statement examples for university will inspire you to write your own statement and help you understand why other students have successfully applied for a business degree in the past.

Related resources

Business management statements.

Find out more

Best UK Universities For Business

Business Careers

Business Degree Job Options

Business Undergraduate Degrees

Types Of Business Degree

Why Start A Business?

10 Steps To Starting A Business

What is a business personal statement?

Your business personal statement is essential for telling the university about your main strengths, and highlighting what sets you apart from all the other candidates.

Admissions tutors want to see candidates with real world business experience, who can apply it to their degree and bring value to their department.

It should also convey your passion for the subject, as well as why you want to pursue a degree in this particular subject.

How do I write a business personal statement?

It’s a good idea to start your statement with why you want to study business at university. Talk about one or two aspects that appeal to you and why.

Make sure you back up everything with examples, since you need to convince the admissions tutors that you they should offer you a place on their business course.

A successful business personal statement should be written clearly and concisely, with a good introduction, middle, and conclusion, without any waffle - remember, you only have a limited space of 4,000 characters. Our personal statement length checker can help you make sure you're within the character limit.

For inspiration on how to write your own unique statement, take a look at some of our business personal statement examples above, which will help you with how to structure it and what to include.

What should I include in my business personal statement?

It’s important to include skills and experience from all areas of your life and try to relate them to hobbies or extracurricular activities if they helped you to build on your strengths.

Think about how any work experience has helpd you, what you have learned from it, and how it might be useful in your degree.

University admissions tutors want business students on their course that are going to work hard and are going to be an asset to their department.

For more help and advice on what to write in your business personal statement, please see:

Further resources

For more information and advice on business degrees and careers, please see the following:

Popular Course Categories

Course search & discover.

Start the search for your uni. Filter from hundreds of universities based on your preferences.

Search by Type

Search by region.

Recommended Universities

Escape Studios

London (Greater) · 90% Recommended

Writtle University College

South East England · 66% Recommended

Newman University

West Midlands Region · 83% Recommended

Search Open Days

What's new at Uni Compare

University of Kent

Study at the University of Kent, a top 50 UK university where you can personalise your studies, achieve your ambition and build your future.

Bangor University

Start your journey at Bangor University and be part of a vibrant and friendly learning environment that makes academic exploration exciting and fulfilling.

Ranking Categories

Regional rankings.

More Rankings

Top 100 Universities

Taken from 175,000+ data points from students attending university to help future generations

About our Rankings

Discover university rankings devised from data collected from current students.

Guide Categories

Advice categories, recommended articles, popular statement examples, statement advice.

What to include in a Personal Statement

Personal Statement Tips

Personal statement example business and management personal statement.

Submitted by Nathan

Business and Management Personal Statement

Business is one of the most important components of modern life, and I find its dynamic and interdisciplinary nature very interesting. Having enjoyed studying Business Studies at GCSE and A level, I would like to further my knowledge and learn more about management theory and how different organisations operate in the Global economy. I look forward to applying my learning, and developing practical managerial skills, by undertaking a work placement in industry to enhance my undergraduate study.

I am an extremely self-motivated, organised and diligent student, who achieves in both independent and group working environments. The research and planning involved in my EPQ project, entitled, 'To what extent is branding the most important influence on consumer preferences of coffee shops?' is enhancing my self-study and organisation skills, and allowing me to utilise some of the business theories that I have studied. My A level subjects provide me with skills that complement my study of business. In geography, collecting primary and secondary data before analysing the results has developed my sampling and data handling skills. Cross-over topics include globalisation and demographics, which have helped my understanding of the world within which organisations operate. In history, a subject requiring investigation and review of different historians' interpretations of past events, I have developed my analytical and critical thinking skills. These skills are invaluable in business today, especially in the decision-making process.

I am an active member of my school's Sixth Form council, which has strengthened my oral presentation and problem-solving skills, as the council is based on finding solutions, through discussion, to issues raised. I have volunteered as a prefect and both an educational and peer supporter; responsible positions which required communication skills and maturity to assist lower year students. Through completing work experience at Waitrose, I gained an insight into the world of work, learning about the importance of customer service in the retail sector. I participated in the daily managers' meeting which reinforced the importance to me of leadership, teamwork and communication in business.

In addition, I was a member of the winning team in a school-wide Business Smart Programme that required us to generate and pitch a business idea to senior staff and an external business owner. These experiences confirmed my career aspirations are definitely within the area of Business Management. In addition to extra curricular school responsibilities, playing tennis has been my passion for a number of years and I regularly represent my tennis club's adult first teams in local leagues. Through competing in singles tournaments, I have progressed to an LTA rating of 5.2, which required significant perseverance and commitment to achieve. I am a trained tennis coaching assistant and have a part-time job helping to deliver junior lessons at my club. This allows me to apply my leadership, planning and communication skills to organise a group of young players who require clear, concise and structured direction in order to improve their game. I also captain a local table tennis team and have represented Chelmsford in the National Junior League. Playing so much sport whilst studying has required me to effectively prioritise and manage my time. Undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver and Gold awards has allowed me to participate in many varied activities and learn the importance of leadership, co-operation and determination to successfully overcome challenging situations and enjoy team expeditions.

I am very much looking forward to studying a degree in Business and Management at university to further both my theoretical business knowledge and its practical application into the 'real world'. I will grasp every opportunity available and am excited to face the challenges that university life has to offer.

Recommended Statements

Submitted by anonymous

I am applying to study a

Business and Management (Marketing) Personal Statement

Living in London, which is ranked as the number one city for bus...

International Business Personal Statement

Interaction with business professionals has led me...

Business Management Personal Statement

There are many events in a person’s life, but only a few of them are important and define a new start in t...

undergraduate Universities

Undergraduate uni's.

Writtle Uni College

103 courses

107 courses

West London IoT

Uni of Reading

477 courses

Uni of Leicester

285 courses

Nottingham Trent

535 courses

Bristol, UWE

302 courses

Middlesex Uni

367 courses

Uni of Surrey

446 courses

101 courses

Edinburgh Napier

188 courses

Uni of Suffolk

130 courses

Uni of Portsmouth

353 courses

Uni of Roehampton

215 courses

Goldsmiths, UOL

276 courses

547 courses

Coventry Uni

443 courses

Uni of Aberdeen

572 courses

Uni of Kent

524 courses

Uni of Bedfordshire

460 courses

Uni of Bradford

212 courses

Uni of Chester

436 courses

Uni of Derby

273 courses

Staffordshire Uni

275 courses

Uni of Greenwich

310 courses

Uni of Winchester

175 courses

Uni of Westminster

343 courses

Uni of Sunderland

225 courses

Northeastern Uni

Uni for Creative Arts

532 courses

Leeds Beckett Uni

251 courses

Cardiff Uni

496 courses

Wrexham Glyndwr Uni

203 courses

Edge Hill Uni

216 courses

258 courses

Uni of East London

Uni of Glasgow

986 courses

Queen's Uni

409 courses

How To End A Personal Statement So The Admissions Committee Remembers You

Students are often unsure of how to end a personal statement. A strong conclusion makes all the difference in whether your application gets noticed by admissions officers or not.

If you’ve just finished writing your personal statement and you’re stuck on your ending, then don’t worry! This article will walk you through the essentials of personal statement conclusions.

Avoid writing a tedious and forgettable ending for your personal statement by following these rules.

Talk About Your Main Points

Don’t end your final paragraph by stating what you’ve never mentioned in the body of your personal statement. Remember, the purpose of your conclusion is to wrap up the package.

You shouldn’t say, “My experiences kindled my passion for engineering,” if you didn’t mention these “experiences” in the first place!

So actually summarising your key main body points is a great conclusion in many cases.

Summarise Your Key Points In A Simple Way

After reading thousands of personal statements, the admissions committee will be happy to see you concluding your personal statement with a clear summarisation of the vital points.

Go over your personal statement and jot down the main takeaway of each paragraph. Once you have that list, find a way to integrate them into your conclusion.

You can dedicate a sentence to each key point, tie them all together, and you now have a conclusion that does what it’s supposed to do!

how to end a personal statement with 11 tips

Use Your Key Points To Restate Your Passion For Your Course

If you’re wondering how to end your personal statement using your key points, use them to restate your passion for the course you’re applying for.

Say your key points including your skills and experiences, and wrap them up by saying, “With the [your specific skills] and [your specific experiences] I’ve gained over the years, I’m committed to [mention your course].”

By doing so, you’re hitting two birds with one stone. One, you’re reminding the admissions committee that you have the skill set necessary to succeed in your course. Two, you’re demonstrating your dedication to your desired course.

Double Down On Your “Why”

Another powerful ending is to remind the reader of your “why.” Many students pursue their chosen course because they’re not sure what else to take.

So being clear on your purpose immediately sets you apart from the rest.

To do this, take the most heart-moving story from the body of your personal statement on what inspired you to apply for your course. Mention the main idea of it in a sentence or two, then end with a “for this reason, I believe pursuing [mention course] is the best way to achieve my [state your why].”

If your course is related to education, perhaps your “why” is to help children learn by allowing them to show how they learn best.

Say you’re writing a medical personal statement . Maybe your “why” is to forward technology that helps safeguard the elderly from falling accidents because you witnessed your grandparent suffer injuries from a fall when you were young.

Doubling down on your “why” shows your conviction and direction on why you’re applying for your course.

Mention The Next Step Of Your Application Process

What’s the next step after the admissions committee accepts your personal statement? For many courses, they’ll call you up for an interview . Go ahead and mention this in your conclusion!

Write along the lines of “I’m looking forward to dedicating myself to this course, and I would love to receive an invitation for the interview.”

The reader will right away recognise that you’ve done your research. You know what the next step should be. You are serious about this application!

Make The Universities Excited To Have You As Their Student

Studying at a university is not merely a means to an end. It’s a profound journey in and of itself! You’ll meet new colleagues, form lifelong communities, and discover mentors who will guide you along with your future career.

Think of them when you’re pondering on how to end a personal statement. What can you contribute as a student to make the university a better place? Demonstrate your excitement in meeting them, building relationships with them, and serving them!

A statement as straightforward as “I am eager to establish new, lifelong relationships and use my [mention your skills] to help make the university a better place for learning and community-building.”

Demonstrate Your Willingness To Learn

Universities exist to train and mould students, not the other way around! A little humility goes a long way. Show yours by demonstrating your willingness to learn. Nothing excites teachers more than willing students.

To pull this off, make sure you know what values your course upholds. It could be service, excellence, inclusivity, and so on. State in your conclusion that “I’m looking forward to learning how to embody [write down the course’s values you resonate with], to grow and succeed in [mention your field of study].”

There’s so much value packed in this simple personal statement ending. Tweak it and make it yours!

Avoid Famous Quotes

Many students insert famous quotes from well-known persons when ending their personal statements. Avoid this tactic as much as possible because you’re driving attention away from YOU as the applicant.

If you want to include famous quotes, put them at the beginning of your personal statement to grab attention. To keep your reader’s attention focused on you in the end, why not come up with a memorable, relevant quote of your own?

Use The Bookend Strategy

Bookends are sturdy objects placed at either end of upright books to keep them standing. When you translate that into writing, the bookend strategy is when the introduction and conclusion statements connect to support the body between them.

You may start your personal statement with a heart-wrenching story about how you watched your beloved pet die of the wrong diagnosis. Then, for your conclusion, you can call back on this story and state how this event fuels you to pursue veterinary practice.

The bookend strategy is a clean and efficient way how to end your personal statement.

Ask Help From Your Family And Friends

If you’re still stuck on how to end a personal statement, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Approach your family and friends because they know you more than anyone. Read to them the introduction and body of your personal statement.

Ask them what particular line struck them the most. Maybe they know something about you that you missed including in your personal statement. What characteristics do they see in you that will help you succeed in your course?

Gather their answers in one place, and after reading them in one go, you now have a decent idea of what to emphasise in your conclusion statement.

Never State That It’s The “Conclusion” Or “Summary”

The most boring, generic way to end a personal statement is to write “In conclusion” or “In summary.” It’s actually one of the topics we cover in what not to put in a personal statement .

Avoid this writing style at all costs. A good conclusion statement doesn’t require explicit announcements.

By its style and structure alone, the reader knows immediately they’re about to read a lasting statement. So don’t hesitate to proceed straight to the major points. As long as the conclusion connects seamlessly with the previous paragraph, you’re good to go!

Stay Authentic

Universities hold honesty in high esteem. Show authenticity and honesty in your personal statement beginning with an attention-grabbing introduction to a strong conclusion.

The best way to radiate honesty in your personal statement is to write from the right mindset. When you work on your personal statement, your objective is to show who you are and demonstrate why you are a worthy candidate for the course .

Don’t try to impress. If you come from that standpoint, you’re more likely to add embellishments. The experienced admissions committee can smell insincere personal statements from a mile away. So stick with who you are and let your personality shine through.

Give Yourself A Break, Then Come Back To It

When working on how to conclude a personal statement, you need to give yourself time. After writing a rough draft of your conclusion statement, take a break and return to it after a few days.

When you return to it, you’ll be surprised to notice details you haven’t seen before. Edit as you like, and make it better. Keep the old versions of your conclusion at hand so you can readily compare them with your newest, edited text. Compare and choose which one sounds better.

5 Bad Examples For A Personal Statement Conclusion

These are 5 personal statement examples for conclusions that don’t meet the criteria outlined above.

5 Amazing Examples Of A Personal Statement Ending

How Long Should the Conclusion To A Personal Statement Be?

A personal statement conclusion should be 150-200 words long and leave a positive lasting impression on the reader. A UCAS personal statement should be 4000 characters long, making the conclusion 705-940 characters long – this is just a rough estimation based on the average number of characters per word (4.7).

Do You Feel More Confident Writing A Personal Statement Conclusion?

To end your personal statement in the best possible way, you need to know the body’s key points. Use them as pillars when deciding which direction your conclusion takes.

Will you highlight your future goals? Maybe you want to focus on your why? Take the time to decide. And if you’re stuck, don’t hesitate to ask for help from your family and friends so you can leave a lasting impression on the applications committee.

How much did this article help you out? Don’t forget to bookmark this page for future reference!

Best Universities For Economics UK: 8 Top Ranking UK Universities

Are you looking for the best UK university for economics? Economics studies how money, industry, and trade organise society. As an economist, you’ll be responsible for figuring out how to best allocate resources by considering risks and benefits. Developing government policies will be your forte because you understand the critical theories and techniques needed for […]

How To Write A Law Personal Statement?

Are you an aspiring high-school student looking for answers on how to write a law personal statement? It’s that time of year when you stare at the blank computer screen and try to come up with a well-written law personal statement. You’ve probably heard stories from student peers currently applying for law school about their woes […]

Best Universities For Architecture UK Edition: 10 Great Choices

Are you looking for the best UK universities for Architecture? Choosing a university is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. If you’re planning to study architecture at university, it’ll help jumpstart your architecture career and help you achieve your career goals. You’ll find the 10 best architecture universities in the UK in this list. […]

student writing on a notebook with coffee and eyeglass on desk

How To Write A Personal Statement? 10 Tips + Student Questions Answered

Struggling to write your personal statement? You’re not alone! Most students struggle with this part of the application process. But you don’t have to be one of them. We know how important it is for you to stand out from other applicants, and we want to make sure that happens. Follow these guidelines for writing […]

Why You Should Be a Doctor: Top 10 Reasons to Study Medicine

“Why medicine?” It’s a pretty difficult question. Whether you’re thinking of a career in medicine, your personal statement or preparing for an interview, it’s sometimes hard to articulate exactly why the medical field is so attractive. I’ve been living the medical student life for four years and I still struggle to put it into words! So, it’s […]

Subscribe to the Immerse Education newsletter for £100 off your programme*

We’ll send you our company updates and latest news. Subscribe for free by completing the form below.

*Not in conjunction with any other offers

Newsletter Signup

Would you like to receive anything else?

Business Studies Personal Statement

For several years now I have been fascinated by the workings of enterprise; it amazes me how some individuals have the drive, the determination and the know-how to turn a single idea into a worldwide business empire, or take a failing company and turn it into a leader in its field. Of course, to be able to achieve such feats it is essential to understand how businesses and the economy work. Through completing a degree in business studies, I hope to acquire the skills and knowledge that will allow me to prosper in a variety of business settings, from working in a demanding management position to running my own company or working on a self-employed basis. So long as there is a market economy there will always be a demand for highly competent people with business skills; I intend, through studying, to become one of those people. To prepare myself from an academic point of view for studying a business degree, I am currently studying a Foundation programme at INTO City University. The course has been a fantastic opportunity to gain a complete grounding in sound academic practices, and the courses that I have been studying in economics, business, accounting and mathematics have been indispensable. These four subject areas are all central to a business studies degree, and studying them as part of the programme has helped improve my understanding of them no end. I now have a solid understanding of the principles of economics, accountancy, management and marketing, as well as the numerical skills to be able to carry out complex statistical analysis. I have supplemented my studies through reading business books such as Rich Dad, Poor Dad .

I have very much enjoyed the work experiences that I have had so far in a business environment. Recently, for example, I worked as a secretary at a metal recycling company, with my duties extending into the areas of office management and acting as a personal assistant to one of the company’s directors. Through the post I learnt that it is essential for there to be an efficient flow of information between the different departments of a company to prevent costly misunderstandings and unnecessary duplication of work. I also became aware of the importance of a business maintaining excellent external relations with its clients, so as to ensure that productive business relationships continue and can be strengthened in the future. From a personal point of view this work experience was highly worthwhile as it taught me a range of skills that are essential for professional life. I learnt how to read documents and process paperwork quickly and efficiently; I learnt how to work to deadlines and establish working priorities; I had the opportunity to practice building professional relationships with others; I came to appreciate the value of teamwork.

One of my favourite hobbies has also, in its own way, taught me much about the world of business. I am a dog lover, and I like to enter my dog into shows. There are many parallels between entering a dog show and working in the business world. For example, it is essential to be pragmatic, in this case through developing strategies that show off the best traits of the dog and hide its shortcomings. It is also very important to do a lot of research on the judgement criteria that will be used in the contest, and even if possible on your competitors, and to use this information to maximize your chances of success. And like with business world, putting in this hard work can pay off; I took first prize in my last show, and look forward to building on this success in the next competition.

For me, work experience, study and hobbies all represent an opportunity to fulfil my potential. I am a highly ambitious and hard-working person, and I believe that as a result of these qualities I will be highly suited to corporate life. I also believe that I am a creative and original person, and my approach to life will likewise be welcomed in the business world.

Politics Personal Statement

Engineering personal statement.

Professionals

How to Write a Great End to Your Personal Statement

Hook Them Through to the End

You can hook your reader with the introduction to your personal statement . And you can wow them with magical words in your personal statement . But if you don’t write a strong conclusion to your personal statement? You’ll leave admission committees with a whimper, rather than a bang.

The conclusion forms a critical part of your personal statement. Admission committees may skip to it after reading your introduction. Or they may start with it, even before reading your introduction.

The reason they do this? To get through the many applications they have to review each cycle.

Good conclusions will deliver the points admission committees expect to see. And great conclusions will enhance their views of you as an applicant.

Here, I present how to write a great conclusion to your personal statement. This advice also works for a statement of purpose conclusion.

Where Does This Advice Come From?

Great question! It comes from my 8 years as an editor at UNESCO prior to founding DLA back in 2008 . It comes from interviews I've had with admission committee members. And it comes from 10+ years of helping our clients write great personal statements .

And the results speak for themselves. For medical residency, our clients have enjoyed a 97.4% match rate. For all other programs and schools, the rate is 100%.

See the stories DLA clients have shared about their experience .

3 Key Concepts and a Formula for Success

How do you write a conclusion in a personal statement? It starts with these three concepts:

First, I will discuss these three key concepts in detail. Then I will share my foolproof method for how to write a personal statement conclusion.

Key #1: Avoid Stating It Is Your Conclusion

A thought you may have is to start your conclusion with “In conclusion.” Or “In summary.” You want to make sure to avoid this, or anything similar.

Why is this? Program directors and admission committees see it's your last paragraph. In other words, they already know it's your conclusion. So make your personal statement great by leaving this out.

Simply, using extra words makes your writing less engaging. Wordiness can indicate a lack of diligence or maturity. It can indicate a lack of focus or clarity. And it can indicate self-doubt in what you are writing.

This is true, no matter where it may occur in your personal statement.

Instead, write your conclusion with focus and drive. Follow the path you have laid out in your introduction and body. And trust the admission committee will know they've reached your conclusion.

Key #2: Avoid Introducing an Unsupported Concept

Great conclusions advance the concepts of your personal statement. This means avoiding introducing an unsupported idea. Instead, make sure all ideas connect back to what you have written earlier.

Let's say, for example, you haven't yet discussed your love of teaching. And teaching is important to your future career. You'll certainly want to include it in your conclusion. So just make sure you've written about it earlier in your personal statement. That way, it won't come out of nowhere when writing about it in your conclusion.

If you write a new, unsupported idea in your conclusion, you may convey:

There are a couple of exceptions to this point. Are you an older candidate? Do you have multiple significant items you need to discuss? There may simply be not enough room for all these in the body paragraphs. In this case, your only option may be to present one in the conclusion.

In such cases, there are a few guidelines to follow. First is you must fully develop the new idea in your conclusion. You must do more than simply mention it.

Second, it must extend from a point made earlier in the personal statement. It must have a foundation.

Finally, it must dovetail seamlessly with the rest of the conclusion. And it must do so without the conclusion becoming too long. (This can be challenging, so don't be afraid to ask for help.)

Key #3: Be Specific in the Details

Key to writing a great personal statement is being specific . This means being specific both in the words you use (e.g., avoiding using “thing”) and in the details you write.

Many candidates make the mistake of being vague in the conclusion. This relates especially to what you wish to accomplish in the program. You may want to write to "increase my knowledge." Or you may want to write to "gain exposure in a variety of settings."

Can you make these more specific, so they can be more effective for you? For example, in what specific areas do you wish to increase your knowledge? What specific settings do you want to gain exposure to?

Any ways you can be more specific will make your conclusion stronger.

Formula for a Great Conclusion to Your Personal Statement

The formula I present here takes you step by step through writing your conclusion. It includes how to start the conclusion to your personal statement. It includes how to end it. And it includes how long your personal statement conclusion should be.

While the formula makes a logical progression, feel free to change it up. If you find another order works better for you, then go for it. Just make sure you have covered each item in your conclusion.

How Long Should the Conclusion to a Personal Statement Be?

There are few rules of thumb to determine how long your conclusion should be. First is it should be long enough to cover all four parts presented below. At the same time, it should not go on for too long. A good word count range is 100 to 120 words.

Part 1: Start With Your Vision for Your Future Career

The key to a great conclusion is in how you start. Start with your vision for your future career. This is a single sentence stating where you see yourself 5 to 10 years from now. Think of your vision as your conclusion's thesis statement.

The vision can be your medium-term goals, your long-term goals or both. Choose whichever option brings a better focus and context for your conclusion.

For example, you may wish to pursue cardiology fellowship after internal medicine residency.

Or you may wish, after law school, to enter private practice with time devoted to pro bono work.

But what if these goals change as you progress through the program? That's okay. You don't have to get them exactly right in your personal statement. And you don't have to stick to them just because you mentioned them.

The aim here is to demonstrate a clear vision for the path you are on. Being intentional will make your application stand out.

Part 2: Next, State Precisely What You Seek to Accomplish in the Program

After establishing your medium- and long-term goals, work backward from there. Perform a self-assessment. What precisely do you need to accomplish next? What next step will better position you to achieve your career vision?

The more specific you can be with these answers, the better. Then frame these as what precisely you seek to accomplish in the program.

This could be a specific knowledge you want to gain. It could be a specific technique you want to master. It could be specific research you want to perform. It could be a specific experience you wish to have.

For example, will you aim to apply for a cardiology fellowship? Then pursuing cardiology electives would be a goal for internal medicine residency.

What about for applying to law school? Is your long-term goal to practice in an area with litigation? Then a goal for law school would be to participate in mock trial.

Part 3: Then, Therefore, State the Specific Aspects You Are Seeking in a Program

First, you established your vision. Then you identified the next step to take toward achieving that vision. Now state which aspects would equip you to achieve that next step.

Does the program have a high rate of case types that align with your interests? Does it offer certain relevant technologies? Training in certain techniques? Particular courses or electives ?

Are there particular faculty whose research interests fascinate you?

What about elective rotations? Or partnerships available in the program?

Do they offer an elective rotation in a cath lab? That would be great for someone wanting a career in cardiology. What about a renown mock trial program? That would be great for a career in litigation.

And you can go further. Are you an aspiring Vietnamese doctor or lawyer? Do you want to work with Vietnamese immigrants? Does the program you are applying to serve such a population? Then mention that.

Geographic and Other Ties to the Program

Do you have geographic or other ties to the program? For example, do you have family or close friends in the area? Do you have colleagues who graduated from the program where you are applying? Great! This is where you would mention them.

Are you applying to programs that use the Supplemental ERAS Application ? Did you specify geographic preferences? What about a preference for urban vs. rural setting? Did you signal particular programs? Then tailor your conclusion accordingly. This is key for medical residency.

For each of your top-choice program(s), write a different version of your conclusion. Tailor it to each program.

Then group all the other programs by common features (e.g., geography). Make sure to be as specific as possible when doing so. Then tailor a different version of your conclusion for each group of programs.

Part 4: Finally, State What You Offer to the Program

Have you accomplished the above three points? Great! All that's left is to state what you offer to the program.

This is actually quite easy. Start by identifying the themes you have written in your personal statement. Check your introduction and each body paragraph. Then list these themes, in keyword form, as what you offer to the program.

In this way, you accomplish two goals. First is to wrap up your personal statement's main points. Second is to provide a forward-looking statement as you bring it to an end.

Personal Statement Examples

We tailor each personal statement we work on to the unique strengths and goals of our clients. Here are two examples of our work, shared with our clients' permission:

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published April 9, 2018. It was last updated for accuracy and completeness December 9, 2022.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy .

7 Outstanding MBA Personal Statement Examples

For top 5 mba programs in the world: updated for.

Reviewing MBA personal statement examples can really inspire your own! Before applying to competitive professional programs, many students review medical school personal statement examples or law school personal statement examples , as these can be a great way to gauge what is expected of you. And if you are applying to an MBA – you should certainly review MBA personal statement examples! In this blog, we will teach you what an MBA personal statement is and why it’s needed, the types of essay questions commonly asked and how to answer them, and provide 7 MBA personal statement examples you can study to craft your own. This blog will also cover some of the key elements of a winning personal statement and some of the biggest mistakes to avoid when writing your personal statement.

Note : If you want us to help you with your applications, interviews and/or standardized tests, book a free strategy call . If you are a university, business, or student organization representative and want to partner with us, visit our partnerships page .

Article Contents 26 min read

What is an mba personal statement.

An MBA personal statement is an integral part of any MBA application. But what exactly is it? Simply put, an MBA personal statement, sometimes called a goal statement or statement of purpose, is a summary of your goals and experiences, why you are applying to your chosen MBA programs and what you hope to achieve in doing so. It’s a document, written in essay form, that tells admissions committees the skills, experiences and fresh perspective you can bring to the program.

A personal statement convinces admissions committees that you are the most suitable choice for a position in a department of Business Administration. MBA personal statements work a bit like a great cover letter for a job interview. A good cover letter tells a hiring committee a bit more about you and your suitability for a job position. A great one will get you an interview or even a job offer from the chosen company. Similarly, your MBA personal statement should cinch your acceptance to a chosen program in the field of business administration.

For almost every application process, you’ll be asked to write a personal statement, and an MBA program is no exception. Schools want to know more about you. They want to know your motivations, your purpose in applying to business school, and any significant part of why you chose to pursue this degree. They’re looking for more than high grades and impressive resumes.

Admissions committees know that the competition is fierce, so they want to make the best decision possible. A personal statement is the best way to show them why your candidacy should be considered above others.

Your personal statement is your chance to shine. It’s a chance to make an impression on your business school’s admissions committee. It also shows committees that you have top-notch writing and communication skills, two things that are big assets to any future business leader. So, admissions officers aren’t just using your personal statement to measure how you stand out from the crowd, they’re judging your professional skillset as well. If you struggle with writing college essays for your application, consider reading some sample college essays to find inspiration and expert tips. Or, if you’re looking for a more holistic guide to the graduate school application grind, think about seeking help from an MBA admissions consulting service.

Still working on your MBA Resume as well? Here are some tips:

Common MBA personal statement prompts

For personal statements, MBA programs will usually pose a question to applicants, which the admissions committee expects to be answered in essay format. While the questions will vary from program to program and likely change from year to year, there are some commonly asked questions you can prepare answers for ahead of time.

These questions often seem a lot like common job interview questions, but it’s important to remember that the answers should focus on your personal, professional, and academic achievements that can relate to your MBA success. Admissions committees provide these personal statement prompts to encourage students to self-reflect on their motivations, goals and perspectives, and then to share their insights and discoveries with the school. Graduate school programs may also ask for a statement of purpose to ask you further questions about yourself, so review some graduate school statement of purpose examples and tips for extra help. The key is delivering a personal answer while tying it back to the skills and qualities needed to succeed in business school. It’s also good preparation for the MBA interview questions !

There’s no magic formula when it comes to writing the perfect personal statement, but there are some key elements that should be included to pack more of a punch. Aside from being well-written, MBA personal statements need to contain the content admissions committees are looking for, be presented in the essay format they want, and they need to keep the readers’ attention.

Below we’ve highlighted a few things to keep in mind when creating your personal statement.

Use essay format

Your personal statement needs to be organized in an essay format. A sentence or a short paragraph won’t do. Admissions committees are looking for a little more content, and a bit more structure. The typical word count of an MBA personal statement is around 400-1,000 words, so think one to two pages long. Some programs may have very strict word count requirements, while others may not specify the word count but ask students to answer two essay questions.

Craft your personal statement just as you would an essay, with an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. Start with a brief introduction that captures the reader. Use the introduction to engage the reader and keep them reading until the end of the statement.

Follow this with 3 to 5 body paragraphs that dig a bit deeper into your answer to the prompt in front of you. Each body paragraph should elaborate on how you came to apply to MBA and what makes you a great candidate. Remember to always use examples to support your claims- in other words, “show, don’t tell” them your story!

The conclusion

For the conclusion, wrap up your statement neatly, impressing upon the reader that you are the right fit for the program. Your reader should be left with the incitement to action, namely, they should want to extend you an interview invitation.

Being able to master the short essay format will also show admissions committees that you have the writing chops needed to excel in their business program!

Keep in mind that personal statements are usually between 750 and 1,000 words, so they don’t need to be long, meaty essays. Be concise in your statement and cut out any unnecessary information or fluff that isn’t needed.

Have a compelling story

When writing your personal statement, it’s important to leave an impression. Admissions committees will remember a great narrative over another student with high marks in all their classes. Crafting a compelling narrative is easier said than done, but it can be done.

Consider the question being asked. Are they asking for a moment of personal achievement? Your greatest failure? Do they want to know what motivated you to apply for business school? From there, choose a significant moment in your life that relates to the question.

Tell the story of this personal moment, using narrative story structure to deliver it with the greatest impact. Story structure means taking the reader—the admissions committee—on a journey.

For example, a story about the time you decided to run a marathon might start with a bit of background on the race and why you decided to run it. Then it would talk about any obstacles or setbacks you faced in preparing for this challenge, and how you overcame them. In your essay, you could write about the race itself, your mindset and any unexpected difficulties like a twisted ankle, finishing with the result of you completing the marathon anyway or beating your personal best time. Discuss why this moment of personal triumph was significant to you and how it relates to your decision to apply to business school.

Use your natural voice

When writing your personal statement, it’s key to maintain your authenticity. It is, after all, a personal statement, so use your natural voice and style in your writing. Admissions committees appreciate unique voices, and it will be noticeable in your writing if you’re trying to be overly formal or adopt the style of another writer.

Remember that committees are asking who you are as a person. Being honest and natural in your responses will shine through with way more impact than trying to sound like the smartest person in the room or the most business-savvy applicant.

Prove your leadership qualities, be introspective and honest

No matter the essay question, it’s best to showcase your leadership qualities. Show admissions committees that you can be introspective and honest with yourself. They want to see proof of self-growth and self-reflection in the experiences you share in your personal statement.

Demonstrate your leadership as part of a team environment by highlighting the ways in which you built up your team or encouraged them. Show the admissions team that you have leadership over yourself as well, in your commitment to your goals, writing about how you saw a difficult project through to the end, or a moment of personal self-development in which you learned from past mistakes.

Share how you will contribute, and how the program will help you achieve your career goals

Lastly, draw attention to what contributions you can make to the school or program of your choice. Pump up your strengths and the unique perspective or skills you bring to the table. Present compelling arguments for why you should be chosen over others.

Also mention how the program you’ve chosen will contribute to your business education or help you achieve your career goals. Mention specific elements in the school’s culture or curriculum that you feel will be an asset to your education in business administration or your future in business.

Worried about your MBA Interview? These are some of the question types you can start preparing for:

What should be left out of an MBA personal statement?

Just as there are elements that need to be included in your MBA personal statement, there are parts to avoid as well. Some common mistakes in poorly written personal statements are making it too long, not proofreading or checking your work, and not answering the essay question effectively.

Below we’ve listed some key mistakes to avoid when writing your personal statement.

Below we’ve provided 7 examples of great introductions, body paragraphs and conclusions of MBA personal statements, each answering the common types of essay questions we talked about above.

1. What motivated you to apply for this MBA program?

My family owns one of the oldest small businesses in our tight-knit community. I have always been proud to be a part of this family tradition, and it is my dream to open a small business myself. During the pandemic, I witnessed my parents and their fellow small business owners struggle to keep the doors open and the lights on. Many businesses, some of which had been here for decades, were ultimately unable to and had to close their doors for good. This was difficult for me, as it is not just a failing business, but an individual’s dream being shuttered. There are many hard-working small business owners in my community who simply could not compete or adapt to the changes of the past year. And they had no system to guide them on how to get back on their feet.

My dream to become an entrepreneur has now evolved; in the future, I want to create a company which incubates local start-up businesses. In working with [Company], I have developed my leadership and organizational skills, but an MBA from [University] will allow me to grow into a community-minded leader. With [Company], I have been fortunate to be able to lead a team of like-minded individuals, and see how both my actions, and the actions of the team, can lift up us all. It would be my goal to view my community of small business owners in the same way: as one unit that can be raised out of the circumstances we are all mired in.

[University’s] MBA program was my first choice because its foundational values align with my goals. With the program’s focus on the operation and management of small business, I believe it will provide me with the proper toolset to serve local business owners and up and coming start-ups. [University] also focuses on entrepreneurial leadership and development, which will be a great class to augment my existing skillset. The curriculum of this program will provide me with the necessary professional skills I need to succeed as a small business owner myself, particularly with its foundation of management, finance and leadership. Since the program also holds a high standard for innovative, exemplary leadership, I feel it will augment my developing leadership style and skills and mold me into becoming the kind of leader my community and its business owners need right now.

The small business owners in my community are like members of a family, and when they were faced with difficult times, I was amazed to see how they supported one another, and reached out to one another. My goal as a business incubator would be to provide a space for these businesses who were struggling or had to shutdown to restart again and get back on their feet. To have a community support system to reinvigorate them. It would also be a resource for any budding entrepreneurs in the community, who were scared off by these challenging times or simply don’t have the resources they need to get off the ground.

After graduating, I will achieve my dream of running a business incubator with the full guidance of my experiences inside and outside the classroom. With the skills I will have learned, I will be able to give back to my community and make a true impact on the lives of its small business owners. I am passionate about my goals, and deeply committed to making a real, tangible difference in my community’s business sector. I will take the lessons I’ll learn at [University] with me throughout my life and career in business and pass along the tools and skills I will have learned to the small business owners, like my parents, for whom it makes such an incredible difference.

2. Who do you most admire?

The businessperson I most admire is not a well-known titan of industry. Her name is [Name]. She is the founder of a not-for-profit organization which provides stray animals in need with care and housing, as well as educates on proper animal care. She has been my mentor as I have volunteered for her organization for the last 3 years. My passion for animals led me to volunteer with [Organization], but it was the incredible example set by [Name] which inspired me to further my professional goals and pursue an MBA. With an MBA degree, I can pour my experiences, skills, and passion into helping other not-for-profits like [Organization] succeed and continue to help animals. The world, particularly the not-for-profit sector, needs more leaders like her. She continues to inspire me with the commitment and passion she has for her business.

The reason I admire [Name] is because of her dedication to her business, her sense of responsibility to her team and the animals, and her vision in creating a better solution to stray overpopulation and pet abandonment. Every day, she works to educate pet owners on the problems organizations like hers face, and the effect on the animals and communities involved. People often misunderstand the work done by animal shelters and organizations like [Name’s], and it’s important to not only raise awareness but educate others on the real problems we are seeing everyday, and the proven solutions that can be provided. Overpopulation of strays and inadequate pet care often mean our shelters are at capacity, stressing our already taxed resources. It sometimes means we’re not able to accept an animal in need off the street, because someone else has returned a pet they weren’t prepared to care for.

[Name] puts everything she has into her business to ensure it runs in a responsible, organized way, from caring for the animals, to managing staff and customers. She tackles problems head-on, and she is involved in every step of the process to see where we can make improvements. Every year, she organizes our Adoption Day event and fundraiser. She sets up pens for potential pet owners to interact with our animals safely, signs up new shelter volunteers and accepts donations. And then she is in charge of educational presentations and a thank you speech in front of the crowd of our supporters and donors. She truly makes being an organized professional an artform. As part of the team, she is our leader by example, showing our team how to organize and set up a safe, fun and successful event. She leads from the front and shows us how to properly care for animals and advocate on their behalf.

[Name] is not only dedicated to her position as the team leader and head of the organization, but personally takes the time to do the work around the shelter and can fill in for any position flawlessly. She proves the importance of being able to multi-task, and how crucial it is to know every part of the business, when she shows our shelter volunteers how to clean out cages, maintain our animals’ physical health with grooming or properly delivering necessary medications, and how to socialize our animals with structured play with other animals and humans. She uses her creative thinking and innovation to keep finding ways the team can work smarter, not harder, and brainstorm ways that we can improve the lives of our animals. When our resources aren’t enough, or a piece of equipment breaks down, there is always another solution. When we didn’t have enough proper feeding and water bowls for our pets, she took it upon herself to recycle pieces of PVC pipe and plastic storage bins from our storage room to create a feeding and watering system that saved us time in caring for our animals and provided space for everyone during busy feeding times.

My mentor will always be an inspiration to me in the world of business for her leadership qualities and the way she executes her vision. Not only is she a prime example of a not-for-profit business owner, but she also never lets herself forget why she’s there, and she always shows up for her business. Working in the not-for-profit sector requires a surplus of passion, patience, integrity and dedication. It also requires superb organization, knowing your business inside and out, creativity and innovation. She demonstrates these qualities every single day, and inspires others to develop these qualities within themselves, too. [Name] is the best example I can think of a leader, a not-for-profit business owner and someone who truly cares about their mission. I hope to emulate the qualities she has shown and instilled in me in my future professional life.

3. Describe a time you led a team and what challenges you faced, how you overcame them.

The bulk of my professional experience has been as a member of team. I have been fortunate to have experience both being a part of and leading a team of talented and dedicated individuals. Working at [Newspaper] as chief layout editor, I consistently lead a team of 5 layout editors in creating and publishing a weekly paper. Journalism is a fast-paced environment that requires focus and collaboration. My team edited, laid out and approved a large volume of pages each week, working under tight deadlines. Our work requires adaptation and perseverance, and a fair amount of commitment to see things through to their deadlines and complete a project to the best of one’s ability. In my role as chief layout editor, I had the invaluable opportunity to develop my leadership style, grow as a leader, and prove to myself and my team that I can lead.

Within a newsroom, there are multiple departments all operating with a degree of separation from one another, but all key parts of the overall team. Normally, the department heads are in contact with one another to fix problems quickly where they come up and stay in contact throughout the publication process. My team of layout editors would inevitably run into a roadblock or have a question they needed to pose to another department head about the copy. Communications between departments were usually streamlined by being communicated exclusively through department heads. If a team member had a request, it went through me and on to the appropriate department head. Since department heads were not always available at the time the issue arose, I took the initiative to make it easier for my team to get the answers they needed to work, even if myself or the other department heads were absent. Through a shared Slack message board, members of my layout team could post a request or question to the related department. All team members of that department would be able to see the request and respond. Or, messages could be sent directly to the individual to answer the request.

Another major hurdle was ensuring every page that came through our hands kept to our strict style and layout guidelines. As team leader, it was my responsibility to clearly communicate our style and layout guidelines to my team members, providing a comprehensive guide for them to follow. This guide became a staple in the office and part of the package prepared for new hires. The guide helped new hires onboard more quickly and increased the team’s self-sufficiency. All pages being worked on were also visible to the entire team, so everyone knew who was working on what and how projects were progressing in real time, without the need for constant meetings and updates.

Leading my team at [Company] was a challenging but rewarding experience. In my responsibilities as team leader, I learned valuable lessons about the importance of transparency, clarity and advocacy in the workplace. I learned the importance of fostering an environment where the entire team could excel and be self-sufficient. Being a leader is about much more than delegating, fixing problems and guiding team members. In an environment as dynamic and fast-paced as a newsroom, I learned how to use my creative skills to improve the work environment. By making these seemingly small changes to our communications and operations, the team was able to thrive. Through my time as leader, I believe my best accomplishments were removing the team’s hurdles to productivity and efficiency. Once I did, my team showed me how adept they were at leading themselves.

My greatest personal achievement was also the realization of a lifelong dream. This year myself and my water polo team won the gold medal for the Junior Olympics. It has been my dream to become an Olympian since I was young and being awarded a gold medal for competing in my sport has been by far my proudest moment. Not only was this a significant feat of athleticism, perseverance, and dedication, it was an affirming moment for me personally. It proved what I was capable of once I set my mind to something. It showed me what my passion and hard work could bring me.

My journey as an athlete has taught me many important skills applicable to every area of my life. Water polo is a team sport, and I could not have succeeded in this personal victory without the hard work, encouragement, and help of my teammates. The team’s strengths and weaknesses must complement each other to form the best unit it can. And thinking and functioning as a team helps keep us sharp and focused. Being a part of a team also inspired me to push myself and constantly improve upon my own performance. During training with my team, I often had doubts about myself and my performance. I never viewed myself as the strongest link, and saw only how I fell short compared to my teammates in speed, strength or maneuverability in the water. My teammate, [Name], noticed how hard I was pushing myself and encouraged me to share my self-doubt with her. I carried her following pep talk with me to the gold medal match. She told me that our teammates all relied upon one another, but that we were also there to support each other. To complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. And she reminded me that my strengths were knowing who was the quickest, who was the strongest, and who was the best teammate for any given situation in a match. She pointed out that I had a knack for analyzing a situation quickly and immediately moving into position to support the teammate that needed it to maximize our chance of success in the round. Having the team’s expectations of me, knowing they were relying on me, but also supporting me, inspired me to be my best. To challenge myself and expand the limits of what I thought I was capable of.

Water polo is also a physically demanding sport, and my long hours of training and practice have taught me diligence, patience and perseverance, especially when there is a goal I am striving for. But frustration bubbles up in you when you don’t see results or even a shred of improvement. Self-doubt might creep in, because you know that even your best might just not be good enough. Not to mention, when you’re in the arena and all eyes are on you, it’s easy to get distracted. My self-doubt was keeping me from seeing my personal strengths, and the improvements I had made. The mix of frustration at lack of progress and determination to do better pushed me too hard. After my teammate’s inspiring talk, I started to focus on my strengths, playing out different match scenarios in my head and in the pool and practicing drills with my teammates to improve my reaction times.

I remember walking out and trying to tune out the noise and distractions. You run through the mental checklist, and you’re so focused you almost forget what’s coming next. It feels a bit like sleepwalking, because you’re not aware of what’s happening around you, but you don’t miss a thing. Everything you have practiced comes rushing back to you and you’re waiting for everything to start. When it does, there’s the snap to action. All your training is remembered in a single instant, and suddenly you’re ready for everything. Your team is with you, all of them connected to you, sharing the same thoughts. You don’t need to tune anyone out anymore, because the only thing that exists in your world is your team and the game. It’s almost hard to believe when the game is over and you come back to the real world. It’s a surreal feeling. And then you realize: we won.

Although I have achieved this personal goal through hard work and dedication to my sport, it has opened my eyes to the other possibilities still ahead of me. In achieving this milestone, it has made me strive to reach for the next rung on the ladder and keep improving myself in my sport and in my personal development. In achieving something I wasn’t always sure I could, I’ve shown myself what I’m capable of, and taught myself the value of challenging myself and growing myself.

Want to learn more about MBA courses? Check out this video:

5. How will you contribute to school’s diversity?

As a female entrepreneur, I know the unique perspectives and value I can bring to the table. Growing up with a grandmother who started her own business had a huge impact on me, as it taught me what women in business are capable of. Now, as a proud business owner myself, I can see how my personal journey affects my approach to business. My grandmother owned a small hardware store, and hers was the only store around for miles in a rural area. She knew each of her customers by name, and took the time to chat with each one, providing advice or recommendations on their home improvement projects. As a child, I was astounded by her depth of knowledge and how she always seemed to have an answer for everything. It inspired me to follow her and soak up the information she had. As we worked, she also provided me with gems like ‘if they come back with a smile on their face, you’ve done your job’.

When I built my business, I was focused on one mission: to help empower my fellow female entrepreneurs and business owners. Now that I have been in business for a few years, it still amazes me how often my clients share stories with me that echo my own. We share so much of our struggles, triumphs and experiences, and yet we each have our own story to tell. We all have different reasons for going into business for ourselves. Some of the best interactions I’ve had are when my clients share their stories with me. When I was still working with my grandmother in her shop, I was helping a young girl with a school project. She wanted to construct a birdhouse and needed some help finding the right materials. Unlike her classmates, she wanted to construct the most unique birdhouse possible. Something the most colourful birds would call home. Together, we went through the store picking out flashiest glitter, buttons and faux feathers we could find. The following week, she returned to proudly show off her birdhouse, the most colourful I have seen yet. Seeing the proud smile on her face and seeing the result of what I had helped to build, ignited the spark that has never left me. Knowing I was a part of her passion project, of helping it become a reality, fills me with the same pride I feel now helping other women to succeed in their business. Whenever a client tells me that I’ve given them the tools they never thought they’d have access to or given them the advice they never knew they needed to succeed, I know I’ve done my job.

As a female business owner, I bring my own special brand to my business. My business was built on my personal passions and values, and it shows in every interaction with my stakeholders, my employees and my clients. My motivation to pursue my MBA comes back to my grandmother’s words of wisdom in doing my job. Doing the best job I possibly can for my clients. And I know I can’t continue to grow, and provide my clients with my best work, without continuing to develop myself professionally. In pursuing my MBA, I am filling myself up with even more knowledge, even more skills, that I can pass onto those who need my help.

6. Talk about a personal failure and what you learned from it.

Even as a child, I was never good at accepting failure. Whatever I did, I wanted to excel. And I quickly grew disinterested in activities I didn’t have a natural talent for. While in life it is inevitable to experience failures, there is one incident in my personal life that stands out. A few years ago, I was training for a national track and field competition. Track and field was something I was effortlessly good at, and I knew I would have no trouble competing when I qualified for the race. I would be racing in the 100 m sprint, a category in which I excelled and was sure to win first place. Even though I was assured of my victory, I devoted myself to my training. It was important to me that I show my best efforts and impress.

Before my defining race, I was warming myself up, preparing myself for the feat of athleticism. I also sized up the competition, taking note of the strongest runners, as I usually did. It became a pre-race ritual for me, to mentally catalog my opponents and consider how their strengths and weaknesses matched up to mine. There was one runner I noticed and dismissed immediately for being the smallest and weakest-looking of the group. Unlike the rest of us, he wasn’t warming up for the upcoming race. He was sitting quietly on his own, concentrating only on himself and whatever mental pep talk he was running through his head. Thinking nothing of it, I approached the starting line and waited for the gun blast. As soon as it fired, I took off, digging my toes in and launching myself ahead of the pack. I was pushing my body to its limits to reach that finish line. I could see my opponents falling back, on my heels but unable to catch me as I sprinted with confident strides. But to my surprise, the small runner I had dismissed so easily was a pace ahead of me in my sightline. Determined to beat him, I poured everything I had into my sprint, feeling the effort burn through me. But it wasn’t enough. The runner effortlessly flew over the finish line before me, nabbing the first-place prize I had worked so hard for.

While my defeat in an arena I excelled in could have brought bitter disappointment, it was also a good reminder for me that we all fail. Competition is inevitable, and we should never grow complacent in the areas where we excel. If we stop growing, our competition will catch up to us quickly and unexpectedly. If we want to stay ahead of the game, it’s important to keep improving. Because even the best athletes continue to train to stay at the top. My fellow runner didn’t care about their competition, and they weren’t concerned about comparing themselves to others. They were solely focused on their goal, as any top athlete should and will be. This is a lesson I took to heart.

During this race, I did also beat my personal best time, so it showed me that even if I excel at something, there’s always room for improvement. It taught me that complacency is the enemy of my success. I was so satisfied with what I thought to be my peak performance. I had thought I was at the top of my game. But this experience showed me how wrong that was, and how important it is to keep growing and developing myself. I’ve learned that even with our best efforts, we can sometimes still fall behind. Sometimes, someone’s strategy will be better. Or they’ll be better prepared. But mostly, it showed me that instead of focusing on how I measure up to others, I need to shift my perspective and ask how I measure up to who I want to be. My goal now shouldn’t be to be the best, my aspiration should be to become the best version of myself I can possibly be.

7. What are your career aspirations?

Brewing has been my family’s calling for generations, from my father brewing backyard beer to my ancestors’ colourful history of distilling illegal spirits. Recipes have been passed down through the family, and we each have our own favourites and specialties. Some of us add unexpected flavours to our home brews. Others swear by old or superstitious techniques. Still other members of the family have kept their ‘secret ingredient’ close to the vest. Something I want to change is the fact that the family hobby has never quite grown out of the backyard. Because the other family tradition is in the sharing of a cup, and I think with the growing popularity of micro-breweries and micro-distilleries, other families might enjoy a taste of our traditions, too. In applying for this MBA program, I believe it will help me to achieve my dream of opening a micro-distillery. It has long been my goal to own my own business and incorporate my passion for brewing. Being a small business owner requires supreme organizational and management skills, which [School’s] program will provide me.

In opening my own micro-distillery, I will be able to share my passion with my customers. The area in which I grew up has a unique history of locally made spirits, and the ingredients that grow in the area cannot easily be found anywhere else. They provide an inimitable flavour profile and a taste of the local land that cannot be matched. It is my goal to carry on the proud traditions of my hometown region by opening my own micro-distillery, to share our unique regional flavours with the world. Although my dad has taught me his home-brewing techniques, I also have experience working for [Beer Brand] as a brewer. Learning the modern techniques of brewing has definitely expanded my skillset, although brewing the same brand of beer, using the standard recipe, doesn’t have the same passion in it. My work experience has rounded out my technical skill as a brewer, and it has also given me some insight into the operations of a business. I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to operate a small business, and I know I have more to learn in this area. I know if I want to succeed in turning my family tradition into a real business, I need to build up my business sense.

To achieve my goal of owning my own micro-distillery, it is important to have a strong business sense behind the passion and big idea. I believe with this program I will add the leadership, management and operational skills I need to see my micro-distillery off the ground. My business will need a team, and I will need to develop myself as a leader to be able to choose and develop my employees. I know I will also need to learn the management skills that will allow me to help them be successful. It is my belief that this program will instill in me the soft skills I need to become the leader and teammate I need to become to see this venture succeed.

Writing an MBA personal statement is tricky, but it is a must for any business school application. By following the above tips or studying the examples we’ve provided in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to writing an awesome personal statement. Finally, if you are looking for more inspiration, check out our Harvard MBA personal statement examples . This renowned institution is well-known for its standards. If you can write a personal statement like this, you can get into any MBA program out there!

MBA personal statements are typically between 750 and 1,000 words.

An MBA personal statement is almost like a cover letter for a job application. It is written in essay form and should explain why you are the right choice for an MBA program. Your MBA personal statement should also highlight why you wish to attend the schools you're applying to and what you hope to do with your MBA.

Yes. Most MBA programs will ask for a personal statement as part of their application process.

A general rule of thumb is to include a strong personal narrative, compelling arguments for your candidacy and qualities or strengths you will bring to the program you’re applying for.

Yes. Usually, schools will change the essay question each application cycle. Though this may vary depending on the program.

Some of the most common personal statement essay questions relate to personal achievements, motivations for applying to business school or how you will contribute to the school’s MBA program.

Yes. Admissions committees will be expecting your personal statement to be in short essay format. If it’s not, it may lead your application to the rejection pile.

The simplest way is to study the short essay format, read the essay question, reflect on your personal experiences, and answer the question being asked!

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Apple Podcasts

Have a question? Ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions!

Anything we didn't cover? Have a question? Ask below or share your comments!

Get Started Now

Talk to one of our admissions experts

Our site uses cookies. By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy .

FREE Training Webclass:

How to make your mba application stand out.

And Avoid the Top 5 Mistakes That Get Most Rejected

Time Sensitive. Limited Spots Available:

We guarantee you'll get into an MBA program or we don't get paid.

Swipe up to see a great offer!

How to Format Your Personal Statement Correctly

5 successful ways how to end a personal statement, 5 worst ways how to end a personal statement, general tips on making a personal statement application, 5 great examples of a personal statement ending, personal statement for a medical school, personal statement for mathematics, personal statement for a law school, personal statement for a biology, personal statement for economics.

It is important to write this paper according to all requirements. With this document, you must prove that you suit the chosen position and show the admission committee or a recruiter that you are much better than all other candidates. Reading this you will learn how to end a personal statement properly.

You can create a personal statement for graduate school , a university, or any other place you want to apply to. When people create this document, they often make a big mistake when they try to write those things they think the admission committee or recruiters want to see in the ideal candidate for the position. To avoid this you can look at college application essays samples prepared by an admission essay writing service to be sure you do everything right.

You should understand there is a huge difference between this essay and an honestly written one. You need to be sincere and mention only true things about yourself. Don't try to look better than you are, just try to describe yourself brightly to be selected from tons of other applicants.

Needless to say, you have to grab the officers' or recruiters' attention, otherwise, you won't get chances to apply for a position of your dream. We suggest writing this document very carefully and thoroughly because your future depends on it. In our guide, we will give some general hints on writing and paying attention to the conclusion - it is the last part of this important paper. Go ahead and keep reading to find great tips and successful examples!

How to write personal statement ? Students need to format a personal statement just like any other kind of essay. If you want to make a strong and well-structured work, follow a three-paragraph structure:

When you are making the conclusion for personal statement , your goal is to concentrate on the main idea of your document. Remember you should write in the laconic style to make this part short but effective. Summarize your skills and interests shortly, include your plans for the future years, and provide information about why you fit the chosen course. Be careful with the length: your personal statement conclusion should be around ⅓ of the entire paper (150-200 words). We have one more blog that has an answer on how long is a personal statement .

The conclusion of your personal statement makes the second first impression on your audience. Use these effective hints to create a bright ending that will attract your reader:

These are the things you should never write in your personal statement:

If you have no idea how to create a personal statement for college , we are ready to share some useful ideas that will help you to complete this task. Read them carefully to understand what information you need to put in this paper:

We want to share four successful examples that can be helpful if you feel insecure concerning how to end a personal statement correctly. Read the most successful examples to help you in writing a personal statement of your own!

I am a self-motivated & responsible person & I am looking forward to challenges. I am totally ready to solve difficult problems. I know a medical career has a lot of demands & I am sure that my desire to become a good doctor & my volunteering experience in the hospital will be very helpful.

I decided to start my career in the mathematics field because I always love my mathematics studies, so I was never in a doubt about choosing it as my future degree. I hope that my experience & my willingness to learn math will help me to make a successful career of a mathematician.

I am interested in many subject areas but lately, I turned my attention to a career in the law sphere. I can pay attention to the tiniest details; I hope this will help me to become a good lawyer. I was always good at analyzing information; I am able to find strong evidence & present persuasive arguments.

Keep in mind that there is one more blog on law school personal statement . It has a useful guide and necessary tips to help with this kind of writing.

Biology is a subject that always drew my attention. I am interested in living things & evolution, & I always work hard to find explanations of everything. I am ready for the most difficult challenges & I hope that my experience in biomedical research & my ability to gather & analyze information will help me to become a successful biologist.

Economics is a challenging subject that always attracts my attention. I understand the importance of this discipline for the entire world & I have chosen it as my future degree. I believe that my ability to achieve goals & attention to details will help me to become a good economist.

We hope you have found a lot of useful information on how to end a personal statement in our article. Good luck in writing your own document on the high level & making your own bright future! You may always refer to a professional writing agency and save your time!

If you are applying for a nursing degree at university, then you should attach a personal statement to your application and take care of its stellar content. Being one of the most important selling points in your bachelor degree application, your nursing personal statement should demonstrate that yo...

So, you have reached the stage in your life where you need to decide on your occupation. What steps do you need to take to move forward confidently? First of all, decide on the educational establishment you want to connect the next four or five years of your life with. After that, the fun part comes...

If you dream of serving your community as a dentist, you’ll need to enroll into a respective higher education program and provide certain documents to the committee. One of them is your dental school personal statement, which helps grab the interest of the admissions committee.A personal statement i...

Did you know? The Uni Guide is a part of The Student Room Group.

End your personal statement with a bang - universities explain how

Wondering how to end your personal statement? To help make this part of the university applications process a little bit more straightforward, we spoke to over 20 universities to find out how much impact the end of your personal statement can have on your application – and how to conclude it with a bang.

Share this page

Email & print.

You've got the beginning and middle parts of your personal statement sorted – but how are you going to end it? And does the ending even really matter? The short answer is yes, it does. As Laura Knight, education liaison officer at Staffordshire University , explains:

"A strong conclusion gives a roundup of the evidence a student has given in their statement to show how their knowledge, skills and experiences will enable them to come to university and not only want to learn more but also want to succeed in the future."

Here are the eight things you should do when concluding your personal statement and why they matter: follow these tips and you’ll nail it. Visit the personal statement forum and the university applications forum on our sister site The Student Room to see what other students are saying about applying to uni.

1. Remember your personal statement could be key to you getting an offer

Your personal statement is a really important part of your application – it's your chance to convince admissions staff why you'd be a great fit for the course. Paul Starkey, director of recruitment and admissions at the University of Bolton , told us that your personal statement is "one of the only opportunities to really stand out, not only talking about academic study, but also showing knowledge of the course you’re interested in and any extracurricular activities relevant to your application."

And when it comes to how you end it, “a strong conclusion is essential to leave no doubt in the reader's mind that you deserve an offer," says Bangor University’s Emma Harris.

Read more: how to write an excellent personal statement in ten steps

2. Keep it simple

You should use the end of your personal statement to emphasise your key points – you want it to be easy for the reader to understand why they should offer you a place.

"A strong conclusion should pull together all of your key points," says Laura Clash from Nottingham Trent University .

Ian Freedman, student recruitment officer and Simon Jenkins, the UK student recruitment manager at Keele University , explains that it’s important to remember that "you will have a reason for applying to university and to your particular course; the conclusion offers a great opportunity for you to reiterate what this reason is."

Rather than trying to leave a last impression by using big words and complicated expressions, "keep it simple but powerful, with strong and eloquent language" says Joanna Haran, deputy head of admissions at the University of Salford .

More like this: universities reveal all about personal statements

3. Don’t waffle

Make sure your personal statement doesn’t end weakly with a load of waffle that doesn't really mean anything; keep up the momentum by "using your conclusion to reinforce your commitment to the course you’ve chosen. Keeping this short and concise is better than long and vague" says Pat Watson, head of UK and EU admissions at Anglia Ruskin University .

Rosie Reynolds, outreach officer at the University of Westminster , agrees, adding "you should use this section to clarify to the admissions tutor that you meet the criteria they are looking for."

Be careful not to waste this space by adding unecessary additional personal information. Gavin May, student recruitment assistant at St George's, University of London , says: "keep it simple, concise and relevant!"

More like this: how to write your university application

4. Keep in mind that your personal statement could be the key to an interview

Don't underestimate how much importance universities place on personal statements when making their decisions. "Many of our courses shortlist applicants based on the applicant’s personal statement, so a powerful conclusion to a personal statement can be the difference between getting an interview and being unsuccessful," says Phil Hiley, admissions team leader at University of Bradford .

Gillian Woolley, pre-entry information, advice and guidance adviser at the University of East London adds that if the course you’re applying to includes an interview then it’s a good idea to conclude with "I would love to do this degree and hope you will invite me for interview".

More like this: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

5. Personal is always best

Remember to keep it personal throughout the whole statement – including the ending. Make sure you "summarise what you are most looking forward to about studying at university" says Kirsty Wilkinson, Loughborough University school and college liaison manager, as well as "why you feel that this is the right course choice for you".

Professor Martin Coyle, School of English, Communication and Philosophy, Cardiff University , shared that you should "be truthful; be true to yourself; do your research before writing the personal statement and that way it will have substance and be convincing."

More like this: personal statement FAQs

6. Make it clear why you’ll be an asset to the university

What better way to finish than by spelling out exactly why you'll be such a great student? "End with a statement about why the universities would benefit from having you as a student" says Hannah Robinson, outreach officer at the University of East Anglia , and "share how you’ll make the most of your uni experience and how you’re looking forward to the challenge."

Shona Barrie, recruitment, admissions and marketing manager at Heriot-Watt University , explains that universities are more than just a place where you’ll study, and understanding that universities are communities is important: "Tell us why you will be an asset to our university community (without it sounding like a job application), so it's not just about getting a degree – it's about appreciating the bigger picture!"

More like this: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement

7. Show you understand the university’s values

Are you clear about the mission and values of your dream university? Have you considered how your personal values might align with them?

"SOAS is unique, so we want to see how unique you are,” says Paul Sharp, undergraduate admissions officer at SOAS, University of London . "We want applicants who won't settle for the status quo, but who live and strive to learn and improve every single day that they are here with us."

More like this: how to write your personal statement in an evening

8. Explain how university fits into your life plan

You could use your conclusion to look to the future, explaining exactly where you want to end up and how this particular course will help you get there. "Present your long-term plans and how your chosen course will help you to achieve this," suggests Ann Partington, senior admissions officer at UCLan .

Kimberley Ashwell, admissions officer at Buckinghamshire New University adds that providing some information on "what you imagine yourself doing after you complete your degree" will help the admissions team to picture how you’ll fit at the university.

Then, "once you've drawn together your motivations for further study, your current studies and career ambitions, deliver a strong, final line about why you deserve an offer" concludes James Aitken, schools and colleges liaison manager at Royal Holloway .

More like this: five practical tips to help with your personal statement

Don't feel overwhelmed

If you have any questions about writing your personal statement, you could visit The Student Room's personal statement forum , or pop into the university forums to see the tips and advice that other students and university representatives are sharing.

You can also take inspiration from The Student Room's personal statement library .

You may want to look at these...

Writing a law personal statement: expert advice from universities.

Make your law personal statement stand out from the crowd in a competitive field, with these tips from university admission experts

Personal statement secrets – universities reveal all

Want to know how to craft an amazing personal statement? Take some advice from the experts...

How to write your personal statement in an evening

Stay focused with our tips to help you write your personal statement quickly

Promoted universities

Browse expert advice

About this site

Who we work with

Your account settings

Popular tools and features

Connect with us

IMAGES

Personal statement conclusion art in 2021
http://www.businesspersonalstatement.com/personal-statement-business-management-services
Online Writing Lab
Examples of UCAS Personal Statement
Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample Fresh Grad School Personal Statement Examples in
Letter Of Purpose Example Fresh Mba Statement Of Purpose Template sop

VIDEO

Personal Statement Suggestions
Syllogism I Induction Deduction I Statement & Conclusion I Cause & Effect -By Kumar Sir
Statement & Conclusion| Reasoning Classes| Reasoning Tricks| Figure Reasoning for SSC GD
Personal statement
personal statement
Personal statement (Statement of purpose) Part 2

COMMENTS

How to end your personal statement
Think about what you're writing in this critical spot – what's your reason for including it here? Keep the ending of your personal statement short, concise and
Business Personal Statement Examples
I am keen on all aspects of business, but am particularly interested in Business Management. I feel I am a good communicator and wish to develop my teamwork and
Business Personal Statement Examples
A business and management personal statement sets you apart from the other applicants; it's an opportunity to highlight your particular strengths. A UCAS
Business and Management Personal Statement 9 Examples
I am very much looking forward to studying a degree in Business and Management at university to further both my theoretical business knowledge and its practical
How To End A Personal Statement: Make A Lasting Impression
How To End A Personal Statement So The Admissions Committee Remembers You · 1 Talk About Your Main Points · 2 Summarise Your Key Points In A Simple Way · 3 Use
Business Studies Personal Statement
I am a highly ambitious and hard-working person, and I believe that as a result of these qualities I will be highly suited to corporate life. I also believe
How to Write a Great End to Your Personal Statement
Good conclusions will deliver the points admission committees expect to see. And great conclusions will enhance their views of you as an
7 MBA Personal Statement Examples for Top 5 MBA Programs in 2023
Also mention how the program you've chosen will contribute to your business education or help you achieve your career goals. Mention specific
The Best Ways How to End a Personal Statement Properly
Conclusion — it is a short closing paragraph where you have to thank your audience for reading. A good idea is to put a phrase you hope to hear from them soon.
End your personal statement with a bang
"A strong conclusion gives a roundup of the evidence a student has given in their statement to show how their knowledge, skills and experiences