personal statement for economics and finance

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Economics and Finance Personal Statement Example 15

Through life's experiences, I have come to realise that the economy affects almost everything in the world. Newspapers dedicate more headlines to financial issues in comparison to other topics. This has led to the realisation that without a good stable economy the world could fall to its knees, for example, the Wall Street collapse of 1929 and the more current financial crisis which started in 2007. These factors have influenced my decision to study a finance and economics related degree in university.

I have always had a keen interest in the business environment therefore the BTEC certificate in Business combined with the Certificate and Diploma in Financial Studies I am currently studying at college has provided me with valuable insight into the world of business and finance. Studying Maths at A level alongside this course has helped to increase my understanding of financial calculations, i.e. ratios and cash flow forecasts. I was pleased to be predicted an A for my A level Maths as it reflects all my hard work and dedication. The Business course has provided me with the opportunity to broaden and increase my knowledge with regards to economic and financial issues. This was through the various assignments such as starting up and financing a small business. Through research, I identified that customer satisfaction is a key priority within business organisations. Therefore in order for a business to be successful they need to keep their customers happy.

It is my strong personal belief that like the saying: "Knowledge is power", the road to success lies through education, and in the financial market, knowledge about the economy and the risks involved is crucial if you want to succeed. This has led me to admire and respect successful entrepreneurs such as Sir Allen Sugar and Stelios Haji Loanu. Personally, I would like to work for an international leading bank facing different challenges whilst working in different environments. This will give me the opportunity to deal with financial decisions that will help increase corporate value whilst managing financial risks. The desire to make my community a better place encouraged me to undertake voluntary work. My current post as a Youth Assistant worker gave me the opportunity to organise various events, with the aim of bringing the youths together. This helped to develop my team working and social skills. It was important to be able to work effectively with the other members in order for the event to be a success. In addition to this, I helped to manage the finances and ensure that our budget would cover any events or trips planned. We recently hosted a successful event called 'Black Dreams', which was aimed specifically at young black boys, and was sponsored by local government. During such events, we would socialise with the youths, something that I personally enjoyed and felt like it boosted their confidence and self-esteem. It also helped to develop valuable skills such as organisational skills and good communication skills.

During secondary school, I was actively involved in the highly recognised scheme Aim higher and I was given an award for being innovative and creative. Strong-minded, innovative, risk-taker - These are all qualities that I feel are necessary for anyone who wants to enter the financial field, especially with the world's economy as it is and are qualities that I have in abundance. In conclusion, I hope that taking this course at university will equip me with the necessary intellectual knowledge and practical skills needed when making economical or financial decisions. This will be essential for any career path within the finance and business industry.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by mscaro for application in 2011.

mscaro's university choices Aston University Brunel University Oxford Brookes University

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

Degree Economics, Finance and Banking at Nottingham Trent University

This personal statement is unrated

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The best business economics personal statement examples describe a student’s interests, goals, strengths and motivations. It gives the uni a picture of who you are and why you will be successful with them. Beyond undergraduate study, a postgraduate economics personal statement is still essential and covers many of the same themes. Whether it’s an economics masters personal statement or an economics PhD personal statement, it’s important to give yourself the credit you deserve, and present yourself as winningly as possible. Start planning your business and economics personal statement by brainstorming ideas: what skills make an effective student, and how can you demonstrate those skills through past experiences or achievements? You might find it helpful to work with a financial / economics personal statement layout. That way, you can focus on high quality content and not worry so much about the structure. Always allow time to return to your draft to make changes, and proof-read for spelling and grammar. Business departments expect attention to detail, and errors can undermine a personal statement for economics degree students. Keep it professional! If you’re going for joint honours, tailor your statement to suit those particular subjects. A business management and economics personal statement might mention a role of responsibility, such as a position on your college’s student council. Or for an economics and finance personal statement, you could mention managing the budget for entertainment at the leavers’ prom. Don’t list endless clubs or musical awards if you can’t link them to the programme. Earning an entry-level swimming badge ten years ago is nice, but is it really going to enhance an economics and accounting personal statement? Be choosy with your details so that course leaders notice high quality skills, not filler or waffle.

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• Personal Statements
• Economics and Finance Personal Statement

Economics and Finance Personal Statement Example

Sample statement.

For thousands of years money and commerce has governed our society and as I have gotten older I have come to realise that economics is vital to the way our society operates. You only have to look at a daily newspaper to realise that our economic and financial issues affect our entire life and without a stable economy the world would come to a standstill.

At school I excelled in Mathematics and in my GCSE years I was able to first pick up the study of Economics. At college I was able to continue my study of Economics and also include Business Management and Financial Studies in my A Level choices.

To help me further understand how running a business works I took part in the school’s Young Enterprise scheme and also worked part time in my local department store.

This not only enabled me to see how a business works on a local level but also enabled me to see how stores communicate nationally and how different local trends affect the stock that is sent to each store.

I hope to be able to transfer to a store local to university and continue working and gaining more hands on experience. I also hope that the experience I already have will help me to gain a work experience placement in another company so I can compare how different organisations operate.

When I am not studying or working I spend a lot of time reading, in particular the murder mystery novels of Agatha Christie. I also enjoy gardening, cooking, and I hope to travel more in the future.

I feel that my skills, experience, and personal attributes make me the perfect candidate to study Economics and Finance. I am looking forward to the new challenges I will face at university and learning more about both the theoretical side of economics and finance and the real world application of these theories.

After university I hope to gain a position in a national company and get hands on experience of how their financial department operates and is managed.  

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Successful Personal Statement For Economics & Management At Oxford

Author: Adi Sen

• Successful Personal Statement For Economics…

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through an Economics and Managment applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Oxford University. The Economics and Management Course at Oxford examines issues central to the world we live in: namely how the economy and organisations function, and how resources are allocated and coordinated to achieve the organisation’s objectives.

Read on to see how this candidate managed to navigate the many disciplines of E&M. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

The World’s First Oxbridge Preparatory School

Economics and Management Personal Statement

Economics is the study of now. I view it as the study of the psychology of the people who dictate our lives. The world around us is shaped by the fundamental concept of supply and demand, wants and needs, goods and services. What grips me is that everything I have studied I can apply to real life. Discussions about inflation, for example, are so applicable since its current status is active in the world of pricing; the price of a Big Mac and “Burgernomics” is something to which I can relate from my travels.

The statistical aspect of economic analysis is closely linked to my interest in Mathematics, thus I will take an Econometric route on option modules. This scientific approach to what is otherwise a field-based solely on individual theories and concepts interests me, as I find quantitative analysis much more accurate and reliable than qualitative theories. As an example, I relish analysing more Econometric models on the A-level Course: like Profit Maximisation calculations.

Despite this, Economics intertwines both Maths and Philosophy on a regular basis. I recently read an article from the Guardian by George Monbiot, which discussed the cost-benefit analysis model and whether nature could be quantified as a tangible asset, and how this would benefit neo-liberals in their perpetual quest for profit. This is just an example of how Econometric analysis does not always deliver such verisimilitude where the figures given are ambiguous. This is what is unique about Economics: there is no right answer to the question ‘Is there a right answer?’ The concept of there being methods of analysing the psychology of and nature behind the way that the interface between consumers and producers operates seems to exceed all other subjects in terms of interest.

I find it peculiar that a subject that has such a ubiquitous undercurrent in our society is so undefined and obscure; it is undoubtedly this which draws me to it. Consequently, I strive to keep up with Economics in the modern world by reading the “I” and “Guardian” newspapers, and “The Economist” magazine regularly. For wider background reading I have read Marx’s “Communist Manifesto”, Tim Hartford’s “The Undercover Economist” and “Too Big To Fail” by Andrew Ross Sorkin.

Sorkin’s book provided a gripping, in-depth insight into the world of investment banking and entrepreneurship – I finished the book in a matter of days. His book has inspired me to enter the investment sector. Upon graduation I would like to become an investment banker or negotiator, hence I am in the process of trying to arrange some work experience with the London Metal Exchange.

I completed a programme of work experience with Linden Homes this summer, through the Career Academy Programme on which I am enrolled. It was a six-week internship during which I gained a firm understanding of a construction company’s place within the national economy. I enjoyed spending valuable time in a variety of departments within the firm. I also have work experience planned in Belgium in 2013.

Additionally, I participate in a multitude of extracurricular activities. My team and I finished second in the national UMPH Business Competition; in Year 11 my team set the school record for the Enterprise Day Challenge and for three consecutive years my team won the Grimsby Inter-School Quiz without loss. Furthermore, I am part of both the Franklin College Debating Team and the weekly “Blue Sky Club”, where students meet to discuss current affairs.

Recently, a particular subject of interest has been the US election. We frequently discuss the debates and the candidates, covering subjects like their political viewpoints and how it will affect both our lives and those of the American public – plus the potential Economic ramifications of the possible outcomes. With a genuine zeal for the subject and an ability to relate my studies to the real world, I am convinced that I will thoroughly thrive at degree level Economics.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

The student gives a good insight into their academic interests and what’s inspired them to develop over time. They also demonstrate a passion for the subject, not only by stating their interest in it but by further explaining what interests them and why they would make a good candidate to study it at university. The student is already accomplished and explains well what they’ve gained from their various extra-curricular activities.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

The writing is weak and, at points, unnatural. The forced interjections of examples and unusual adjectives make it read like a student attempting to write a formal and formulaic exam essay. They would do better to write in their usual style, even if it is somewhat informal; this will allow them to better express themselves and they will come across as more interesting to those reading it. More importantly than this, however, at times, the student fails to keep up their otherwise good level of detail, and the writing becomes list-like.

This is particularly prominent when they discuss books they’ve read to develop their understanding of economics. Although they expand on one of these, they do so in little detail. Interviewers are unlikely to be impressed by simply mentioning that you’ve read a book – any student applying for degree-level economics is able to read The Communist Manifesto, for instance – but they will be impressed by your response to it and what you gained from the experience of reading it. Unless you expand on these details, a list of books you’ve read does nothing to contribute to the statement.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

This statement is strong, except where it discusses academic work. The detail here was likely sacrificed in favour of expanding further on their extra-curricular activities and their particular areas of interest. However, they have limited discussion of their study of various classic economic works so severely that it fails to add anything to the piece. The statement would, therefore, benefit from a more balanced approach to the various areas of the student’s life.

We give this Economics Personal Statement a 4/5 as they have clearly projected their passion for the subject onto paper – the most important part of a strong Personal Statement – albeit this was at the cost of other factors that should have been covered in more depth.

And there we have it – an Oxford E&M Personal Statement with feedback from our expert tutors. 

Remember, at Oxford, the Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Our Free Personal Statement Resources page is filled with even more successful personal statements and expert guides.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Oxford E&M application.

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Undergraduate Personal Statement Example: Economics and Finance

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

Reading examples of personal statements can be valuable when applying to a university or college course. 

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

Undergraduate personal statements should highlight relevant academic and practical experience, academic skills, ambitions and suitability for the degree field. This undergraduate personal statement example for Economics and Finance clearly illustrates these three critical elements.

Undergraduate degree personal statement examples are sometimes referred to as personal mission statements or statements of purpose , so if you’re tasked with writing a personal mission statement, the following example will work for you.

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

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

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

Personal Statement Example: Introduction

“A recent conference organised by my local Somali community centre highlighted the economic and financial issues faced by many African countries today. An advocate of independent learning, I was informed enough to proactively question the origins of these economic and financial dilemmas, and my participation enabled me to view the problems in Africa as multi-dimensional, arising from increased economic, financial, cultural and historical incompatibilities with an ever-globalising world. Appreciating the orthogonal nature of economic and financial issues enabled me to think beyond media representations of the ‘Dark Continent’.  Consequently, I have chosen to embark upon the interdisciplinary course Economics and Finance, as it is essential in helping me to grow, navigate and ultimately change the world around me.”

Commentary and Analysis 

This introduction begins exceptionally convincingly, with a strong connection between the writer’s personal commitments and ethics and the subject matter of the undergraduate degree course they are applying for.

The paragraph also establishes the writer’s academic strengths, and their use of vocabulary indicates a sophisticated connection to economics and finance.  The content also indicates a significant level of maturity and worldview.

The personal passions of the author also combine with their academic knowledge to provoke a sound sense of educative and professional ambition, justifying their application and indicating a strong connection to the subject they’re applying for.

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

Personal Statement Example: Section 2

“Spending time working for NHS Test & Trace allowed me to witness first-hand the impact the pandemic had on working families; I spoke to people from a wide range of backgrounds, many of whom could not afford to stay at home and self-isolate even though they were a contact or a confirmed case. As a contact tracer, I had a bird’s-eye view of the economic impact of the pandemic and am aware of its national and global reach. Seeing how nations of different economic standing dealt with the virus illustrated the variety of economic and financial factors that affect a country’s sense of priority, capacity and willingness to respond. This experience served as a catalyst for my academic interest in economics and finance as I had a direct, almost ethnographical understanding of how government decisions can have lasting effects on economic agents at a micro and macro level.”

Commentary and Analysis

Again, a sophisticated and mature paragraph that links the writer’s personal views with the course. Outlining work experience is important in an undergraduate personal statement example, and in addition to adding weight to the writer’s ethical and professional ambitions, it also indicates that they have experience working in a professional environment.

A number of transferable skills are also referenced, and although they are largely implied rather than specific, they certainly indicate a high level of suitability. 

Lastly, the writer makes a strong connection between their experiences and their academic ambitions, strengthening their suitability in the mind of an admissions reader.

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

Personal Statement Example: Section 3

“My engineering studies necessitated different problem-tackling perspectives, and the qualities and skills required for success are highly transferable to the undergraduate requirements of Economics and Finance. Throughout my studies, I critically analysed problems by actively questioning underlying theoretical assumptions prior to investigating and formulating methods to solve them practically.

In Access to HE: Engineering , I developed my understanding of planning projects from the ground up and identifying the tools necessary to its fulfilment. For example, in the topic Engineering Materials , I was tasked with costing inputs and assessing outputs, ensuring the largest cost/benefit structure to aid efficiency. To facilitate this process, I was detail-oriented and measured all inputs into sophisticated formulae, developing my knowledge of CAD, calculus, spreadsheets and the fundamentals of programming. This monitoring of cost, revenue and product can easily be linked to principles in microeconomics, as engineers constantly battle with creating accurate economies of scale. I believe that my familiarity with the effective employment of mathematics and statistics, changing software and fluid analytical components has successfully prepared me for undergraduate study.”

Using the details from academic study works extremely well. However, whilst the writer makes mention of the value of some specific aspects of the course, they could have made much more of a connection between their experiences and generic elements of the courses they are applying for. This works well because when an applicant does this, they make a clear link between their capabilities and the demands of a degree course.

The second paragraph paints a picture of an exceptionally capable student. It is detailed, comprehensive, and rich with pertinent vocabulary. Even though there is not a direct link between engineering and economics, the writer manages to make some compelling connections. 

This way of writing maximises the value of the author’s previous educational experiences and makes a direct connection between these and the courses they are applying for.

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

Personal Statement Example: Section 4

“Last year I participated in ‘The True Cost of the Clothes on Your Back’ event, which outlined the exploitation of labour in developing nations. The event exposed the typical wages labourers in developing nations earn before the clothes are sold to developed nations at prices which are unsustainable for the global environment and the growing populations of working poor. To actively develop my understanding of some of the Marxist views represented at the event, I read the ‘Communist Manifesto’ and ‘Techno Capitalist Feudalism’. This independent reading helped illuminate some of the ongoing employee-employer problems within capitalist models in a globalised arena.”

Commentary and Analysis: 

This section certainly shows applied reading and research and shows a high level of enquiry and purpose. It also indicates that the writer is capable of using literature to inform their real-world interests. 

Again, although it doesn’t explicitly reference economics and finance, this section of the personal statement example shows flexibility and the capacity of the writer to apply skills across a range of contexts.

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

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

Personal Statement Example: Conclusion

“My aims are to use the academic and personal experiences I will gain as a mature student to further my understanding of economic and financial thought, principles and ideas. Subsequently, I intend to employ this knowledge by working to help offset the many inequalities facing developing nations, in a bid to uplift the disenfranchised.”

This conclusion is understandably brief, given the character count for UK undergraduate personal statements, but is probably the least effective aspect of the entire application. The first sentence is quite vague and could, perhaps, have been used to discuss the value that the candidate might bring to the university environment.

The last sentence, however, does clarify the writer’s intentions very clearly and gives the reader the sense that the applicant is dedicated to their path of study. 

In summary, this reads as a mature and purposeful personal statement example, which quite cleverly identifies the transferable skills from a slightly disconnected set of learning experiences.

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

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

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

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

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

Research and content verified by Personal Statement Planet .

David Hallen

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

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