personal statement for mathematics and statistics

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Mathematics Personal Statement Examples

Hopefully, these examples of Mathematics Personal Statements will help you create a unique statement for your UCAS application . 

I have always been fascinated by the world of mathematics and its ability to explain and understand complex phenomena in the world around us. From a young age, I have been drawn to the beauty and elegance of mathematical concepts and their ability to provide answers to some of the most challenging questions we face.

At school, I have excelled in mathematics, consistently achieving top grades in my exams and regularly participating in extra-curricular math competitions. I have particularly enjoyed studying topics such as calculus, algebra, and geometry, and I have found that my natural aptitude for problem-solving has allowed me to excel in these areas.

In addition to my passion for mathematics, I have also developed a strong interest in computer science. I have taught myself several programming languages and have enjoyed using these skills to create my computer programmes and simulations. I believe that the combination of my mathematical knowledge and computer programming skills would make me an ideal candidate for a degree in mathematical sciences.

As a university student, I am eager to continue exploring the fascinating world of mathematics and to push myself to the limits of my abilities. I am confident that a degree in mathematical sciences would provide me with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a successful career in this exciting and rewarding field.

I am applying to your university because I believe that it offers an outstanding programme in mathematical sciences, with a strong emphasis on both theoretical and practical applications. I am particularly impressed by the diverse range of research opportunities available, and I am eager to participate in cutting-edge research projects that will challenge and inspire me.

As a student with a passion for mathematics, I am excited at the prospect of studying at such a prestigious institution and I am confident that your programme would provide me with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a successful career in this field.

At school, I have consistently achieved top grades in my mathematics exams, and I have regularly participated in extra-curricular math competitions. I have a particular interest in topics such as calculus, algebra, and geometry, and I have found that my natural aptitude for problem-solving has allowed me to excel in these areas.

In addition to my passion for mathematics, I have also developed an interest in computer science. I have taught myself several programming languages and have enjoyed using these skills to create my computer programmes and simulations. I believe that the combination of my mathematical knowledge and computer programming skills would make me an ideal candidate for your degree programme.

As a university student, I am eager to continue exploring the fascinating world of mathematics and to push myself to the limits of my abilities. I am confident that a degree from the University of Cambridge would provide me with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a successful career in this exciting and rewarding field.

I am particularly impressed by the wide range of research opportunities available at your university, and I am eager to participate in cutting-edge research projects that will challenge and inspire me. I am also excited by the opportunity to study at such a historic and prestigious institution, and I believe that the intellectual environment at Cambridge would be the perfect place for me to grow and develop as a student.

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Undergraduate Personal Statement Example: Mathematics

By taking the time to study personal statement examples , you can learn how to write and structure your own application. Basically, you can pick up some great tips on how to write a personal statement by examining others.

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

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

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 Mathematics 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

“Whilst an inspiring and encouraging teacher nurtured my formal interest in maths, my dad ignited my love of finding the logic in patterns and puzzles. I’m someone who enjoys solving problems and has always been interested in how different networks and systems operate, inspiring my interest and engagement in logistics. Participating in workshops with the Office for National Statistics gave me a clear insight into the techniques required to analyse trends in data and illustrated a range of potential career opportunities. I am motivated to study Mathematics as I consider it vital to the development of numerous critical industries and for solving global problems such as rising fuel costs and staff shortages. By completing a Maths degree, I aim to gain extensive knowledge and skills that will prepare me to meet a range of professional challenges.”

My Commentary and Analysis 

This undergraduate personal statement example for Mathematics begins in a traditional but effective way. The writer has referenced an inspiring person that acted as an early mentor or introduced them to the subject they are now applying to study at university. 

This personal connection works very effectively, especially as it really just takes the first sentence to hook the reader. This tactic is a useful one, but do make sure you limit any references to people other than yourself, or you may begin to inadvertently write a personal statement about someone that isn’t you!

The writer goes on to talk about logistics, which is clearly a discipline they are keen to pursue within mathematics, and from there, connect their interest to tangible experiences that show engagement with the subject outside of the classroom. This is an excellent strategy, as it shows motivation, a depth of knowledge and a strong array of applicable, transferable skills.

The writer finishes the introduction by outlining their professional ambitions, although in a very general way. This isn’t a tremendous problem at the undergraduate level, but it would have been valuable to have had a little more clarity. What exactly does this candidate know about the various fields they might enter? Do they understand exactly how a degree will help them achieve their goals? These things are implied but not explicit.

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

“My Grade 8 in Mathematics has provided an excellent foundation for further study, and the data analysis knowledge I acquired has deepened my potential for managing quantitative and qualitative data research. In GCSE Computer Science I gained a good knowledge of the coding program Python, which will be important in this degree. I have excellent independent learning and collaborative skills, maintain high academic standards and always put in maximum effort. I continuously learn and recap critical curriculum concepts and am diligent with my homework and revision, which is a valuable undergraduate skill. My Business A-level course requires me to analyse data from tables, evaluate financial situations and discuss appropriate actions and strategies to improve profitability and stability. In Geography, I value the opportunity to analyse trends and patterns from maps and images. As part of my academic research, I am carrying out an NEA project requiring me to collect and analyse data. I look forward to developing my understanding of these skills and applying complex formulae to generate a specific outcome across various contexts.”

My Commentary and Analysis

The writer refers to related academic qualifications and courses in this next section, but more than this, they focus on the value of the experience and knowledge gained in relation to the subject they intend to study. This is the key to every good personal statement example: the relevant value gained from an experience is more effective than simply describing the experience itself.

They then focus on some higher-level coding and data analysis skills which are exceptionally relevant to their application and impressive at this level. They make the link with valuable transferable skills as well: evidence that they will flourish in higher education.

The writer manages to weave in examples of academic research, real-world awareness and collaborative skills, all of which are relevant and exactly the content an admissions tutor expects to see. More than this, the writing style is concise and detailed and continually works to establish credibility and validity in the mind of the reader. 

A very capable section that reflects the maturity and broader knowledge of the candidate.

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

“Completing work experience at Marshall Logistics, I learnt about freight industry operations and developed my collaborative and listening skills. This included evaluating factors behind customer acquisition, vehicle choice concerning the transport of materials and contemporary issues affecting the business, such as rising fuel costs. I also familiarised myself with numerous operating systems including delivery tracking and efficient import/export analysis, dealt with invoices and solved logistical problems. Learning to work accurately at a fast pace, managing a large volume of work and dealing with the stress of unfamiliar and challenging environments are skills that I have developed as a result.”

Having undertaken work experience is an increasingly important aspect of university preparation, and one which is becoming widespread for a range of courses. Once the preserve of medicine and practical subjects, admissions teams now frequently expect to see evidence that applicants have gone ‘out there’ and seen how their proposed subject can be applied in the real world.

The writer has made this quite a descriptive passage, almost a list of the duties they undertook, but this is then put into context when they explain the value of what they learned. 

There isn’t any real suggestion of how these skills or experiences might be of value on the degree course they are applying for, but the examples tie in with the earlier mention of logistics, so the reader can certainly see a relevant theme emerging, which is likely to reassure them of this candidate’s potential for success.

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

Personal Statement Example: Section 4

“I work well independently, taking responsibility for my organisation, timekeeping and learning. This has been evident in my piano lessons, where I had particularly challenging pieces of music to learn for my Grade 6 exam. When practising, I prioritised work on challenging sections to improve the quality and command of my interpretation. I also had to show great resilience at secondary school in the years after my dad passed away. I maintained an excellent attitude to learning and a high standard of work despite going through a difficult time. During lockdown, I completed my work to a high standard and my teachers praised my commitment. Applying these skills during my degree will be critical because modules such as Vector Calculus are likely to be challenging.”

My Commentary and Analysis: 

A slightly weaker paragraph. The co-curricular activities mentioned do add to the overall picture of the candidate, but the transferable skills mentioned are quite general and a bit of a stretch in terms of application. 

This makes the reader think that either this person doesn’t have a developed level of social skills and may lack the maturity needed for higher education or that they are filling the word count with extra elements because they don’t have enough content to add which relates directly to their proposed major.

The writer then makes a connection with a generic course topic (it is not advisable to refer to specific topics in the UK undergraduate admissions system), which shows awareness of the kinds of course elements they are likely to encounter and reassures the reader that they have an understanding of the courses they are applying for.

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

“After graduating, my extensive knowledge of maths will enable me to succeed in a job requiring a high percentage of problem-solving, potentially in the finance industry. My motivated and informed approach gives me a clear understanding of the steps I need to take to achieve this goal. Undertaking a Maths with Finance degree will enable me to support people and businesses by finding solutions to their problems, and I am confident that my diligent and supportive approach will make me a valuable addition to your university.”

The writer identifies the skills and qualities that they aim to possess as a result of studying this subject and connects that with what potential employers are looking for. This shows that they have an understanding of the course and its potential outcomes, which, again, admissions readers expect to see.

The rest of the section is more general, less specific, and recaps information and ideas mentioned previously. This makes it less effective, and it would be far better to introduce new material here which strengthens the application. Perhaps a reference to research and reading or a clearer description of the kinds of companies or industries the writer might be keen to explore.

Equally, the writer could have made more detailed reference to exactly what they hope to contribute to the university environment, as this is only referenced in general terms. By outlining the value they hope to offer, a candidate can often evidence their suitability more convincingly.

In summary, this is a strong undergraduate personal statement example, which would be improved with some greater reference to academic mathematics skills and 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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Financial Mathematics and Statistics Personal Statement (Sofiah Sidqi)

Sofiah Sidqi is currently studying BSc Financial Mathematics and Statistics at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She completed her A-Levels in Oxford International College and will be graduating in 2022. This personal statement was part of her successful application to LSE, UCL and King’s College London for Financial Maths and Stats.

The number system embedded in nature is so orderly yet wears a mask of mystique. From the infinite Golden Spiral seed pattern in sunflowers, to the fractal perspective of our universe, mathematics never fails to enthrall me. As a fashion enthusiast, seeing the application of William Thurston’s low dimensional topological concept collide with the Japanese fashion brand, Issey Miyake’s 2010 collection was a eureka moment. I combine my passion for mathematics with art as I attempt to understand the evolving definition of mainstream aesthetics, driven by proportion, patterns and shapes. The struggle for an answer brought me to statistics which taught me the importance of data interpretation in retrieving insights from human decisions. Enticed by the endless possibilities that Mathematics and Statistics brings, I am determined to explore further the applications of mathematics in our everyday life.

To grasp a deeper understanding about big data, I researched work conducted by WGSN – a trend forecasting powerhouse that advises growing businesses. Their approach of taking into account a broad range of factors in predicting trends serves as a powerful tool in both understanding and influencing people’s perspective of the world. Fascinated by the potential applications of data, I chose to complete an introductory course on data science and machine learning to understand their respective roles in deciphering patterns and trends. I learned that besides statistics, linear algebra and matrices are two vital components in making inferential techniques and discovering characteristics in a data set. I also yearn to learn about stochastic processes which are the back bone in evaluating probability and determining a propitious investment strategy and asset pricing theory. Venturing deeper into asset pricing, I was drawn towards the Fokker-Planck equation which deals with the probability distribution of the price of an asset in the future. The emergence of statistics and financial instruments has undeniably played a crucial role in not only driving the innovation of financial markets but also in aiding firm’s decision-making. This realisation echoed what I have learned in school where Bayes Theorem and Hypothesis Testing came into life. I am excited to explore further the concepts of Bayesian statistics and stochastic processes at university level to understand the science behind deducing probability.

Attending the Young Investment Banker programme at UCL provided me an opportunity to explore the role of finance as I pitched business strategies to Pepsi’s executives. During my internship at Maybank, I gained insight into the basics of securities analysis and financial reporting, while I took the initiative to learn about the application of stochastic processes on price fluctuations over time. At the national finals of the ICAEW BASE Competition, I needed to deal with data sets where I led my teamto interpret both accounting and market data in producing an actionable strategy to optimise the growth of a wearable technology company. Our efforts were rewarded when we received the ‘most commercially aware’ award. 

As a Queens Guide and the recipient of the Oxford Scholar’s Award, I learned to manage my timebetween school work and extracurricular activities and persevere when the going gets tough while my experience as Vice President of the Student Council enhanced my communication skills. I discovered that challenging problems excited me while competing in the Singapore and Asian schools Math Olympiad, which pushed me to solve mathematical problems beyond my school syllabus.

Seeing the diverse possibilities of mathematics in unexpected places such as fashion design, it is evident to me that mathematics and statistics will continue to play a vital role in shaping our society. By learning the underlying language of mathematics, I wish to be a part of the boundless potential of mathematics and uncover new, and exciting applications of it.

DISCLAIMER:  The personal statements on this site are strictly meant as a starting point to give an idea of how successful personal statements look like. There is no surefire formula to writing good personal statements.  COLLEGELAH IS STRICTLY AGAINST PLAGIARISM OF ANY KIND .  UCAS employs a plagiarism check system  that checks applicants’ work against other published writing so please  DO NOT PLAGIARISE.

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PERSONAL STATEMENT EXAMPLE Mathematics (MSci) Personal Statement

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Mathematics (MSci) Personal Statement

In my mathematical career to date, I have always pushed myself and thrive on new challenges. As such, I took the FSMQ additional maths in year 11 and am teaching myself AS further additional and the AEA in my year out. Working independently, I find I am always eager to learn more. This is the key reason I look to study maths at university, not because it's what I'm best at, but because I genuinely love doing it.

A level study expanded my mathematical horizons from matrix algebra and complex numbers to hypothesis testing and probability distributions. So far, proof by induction is the topic which absorbed me most. The concept that something can be 'proven' true for all cases is especially engaging and powerful; I can't wait to improve my skills in this field. In my spare time, I have begun working on STEP papers. Studying more advanced topics and being able to answer deeper questions is very rewarding.

A maths degree will always deliver this kind of challenge which is an exciting prospect for me. Studying chemistry fed my love for problem-solving. Topics like spectroscopy and synthesis built on the skill set gained in maths; gathering information and using it to find the solution to a problem. My favourite were problems requiring analysis of multiple graphs and spectrograms to be collated to achieve the final answer. The influence maths had on my thinking and, ultimately my ability to problem solve, was an important factor in my gaining a silver in the Chemistry Olympiad. Maths gave me the confidence to think logically and analytically and enabled me to persevere with difficult problems, knowing a solution would come. As a mathematician, this helped me take a step back from complex problems and approach them using potentially riskier, less obvious strategies.

Studying biology also allowed me to appreciate the importance of maths in making sense of data and thus allowing progress in research. Biomedical research is responsible for improving and saving lives through medical and public health interventions, many of which could not have been developed without the framework of understanding provided by mathematicians. Health economics research, clinical trials and epidemiology rely heavily on maths to provide reliable evidence to guide clinicians and policymakers. My natural curiosity led me to seek out many extracurricular events, including a problem-solving day where I was introduced to modular arithmetic and its applications in cryptography. Working in groups, we were required to present our findings to the wider audience, a presentation in which I took the lead. Explaining unfamiliar maths to strangers was very gratifying and I relished the way people's questions deepened my understanding.

Attending an Oxford conference on personalised medicine and the Earth Optimism Day in Cambridge showed me how central maths is to many disciplines. From statistical testing of evidence to mathematical modelling of climate change and population epidemiology; maths is everywhere. This convinced me further that it was the right degree for me. I have developed excellent interpersonal skills through volunteering in schools in the UK, India, and southern Germany, overcoming language barriers to communicate effectively.

I am currently a mentor to A2 further maths students and was mentor to AS students last year; teaching is entirely different to learning and has deepened my understanding. Being part of my local swimming club for over a decade taught me the value of commitment and teamwork, as has over 2 years working in cafes and as PA to a senior academic. For the first time (having earned enough!), I have an opportunity to travel independently and will visit China, Japan and Vietnam in 2018. Oriental cultures have always fascinated me: how ancient traditions coexist in such technologically advanced societies. Experiencing such different ways of life will undoubtedly prepare me better to embrace everything university life has to offer.

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Successful Personal Statement For Cambridge Mathematics And Physics

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Rob Needleman

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 a Mathematics and Physics applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Cambridge University. The Mathematics and Physics Course at Cambridge offers the opportunity to study a wide range of subjects: everything from abstract logic to black holes.

Read on to see how this strong Personal Statement addresses both maths and physics to showcase a high level of their ability. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

INTERVIEW + REJECTED

Enrolling on our Oxbridge Maths comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

Your tutor will give you actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

Mathematics And Physics Personal Statement

Since childhood, I’ve always loved complex puzzles, logical problems and challenges. Later on I discovered mathematics and physics which offered a lot of interesting problems and I enjoyed spending time on them. I loved the fact that real-life events, such as throwing a ball, could be described by a virtual language created by humans. However the most impressive fact for me was when I discovered that mathematicians and physicists can predict events just by solving equations. That’s is when I decided that maths and physics are what I want to do in life to contribute to the world.

Even though my passion in mathematics started very early, I have struggled to get to where I am now. When I got into Bratislava’s best gymnasium in mathematics I found myself at a position I had never been before. That was the first time I wasn’t the best in mathematics in our class, in fact I was one of the weaker students in this field. However over time I made my way to the top, but I still couldn’t surpass my classmates. When I got to the 5th grade, I realized why I didn’t succeed. That year we got a new mathematics teacher and she opened my eyes and showed me the beauty of maths. The most important thing that happened that year however was when I won the regional mathematics Olympiad and they invited me to KMS which is a camp for people interested in mathematics. There I realized that the school mathematics is just a fraction of the possibilities in this area. However the thing that I believe helped me in mathematics is that I started enjoying it. Rather than solving a Sudoku or crossword puzzle I was solving geometry problems. Since then I have won many prizes including bronze medals from the Middle European Mathematical Olympiad and the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Besides maths and physics I also love playing the piano and practicing Kung Fu. I have played the piano for 13 years and my personal favourites are Chopin’s Nocturnes. I may not be great at it, but playing the piano helps me relax and forget about my worries for a while. I practice Kung Fu mainly for health. My favourite style is Bagua. I learned that Kung Fu is not only a martial art, but a way of living. Besides Kung Fu and the piano, I also enjoy teaching kids interesting facts or problems in mathematics. During school, I teach a mathematics club and I want to teach the kids that mathematics isn’t just numbers.

Every summer I help organize a mathematics day camp for children. Mathematics may be the subject which I’m best at, but I don’t want to be ‘just a mathematician’ in the future. Since I was little, I’ve always wanted to do something great like solving global issues or inventing something useful, however I realize that it is very hard to achieve this with pure mathematics. People advised me to go study economics and financial mathematics so I could have a good job and earn money, but that is not what I want to achieve in life. My goal is to shape the world and make it a better place for future generations. This is the reason I want to study physics or engineering. I started doing physics two years ago and since then I participated and won some competitions including the Regional Physics Olympiad. To be better at physics I started reading Feynman’s lectures which helped me a lot, but also taught me that there is much to learn out there about the world. The reason why I want to study in the UK is because there are many opportunities compared to Slovakia. I have many friends who study there and heard from them that it’s an amazing experience. The most important fact, though, is that in the UK I can study and work with people who are ambitious. I know what I want to achieve in life, and even though I don’t yet know exactly how to get there or where ‘there’ will be, I believe that a UK university education will steer me in the right direction.

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

Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

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Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This is a very good statement. The statement is well-written and structured. The student describes their life experiences without making the statement sound like a list of achievements. This is achieved because the student explains every experience described, rather than listing their life experiences with no context. It is clear that the student has many talents and achievements, and these are stated in a humble manner that does not make it seem as though the student is bragging. It is clear that the student is aware of the significance of their decision to study outside of their native homeland and the challenges that this will bring. The student explains their reasons for applying to study a dual honours course and does not neglect either discipline.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

The student uses the word ‘gymnasium’ instead of school/college. Whilst this may be the term used in Slovakia, in the UK a ‘gymnasium’ is a place where people exercise and its use in this statement is somewhat confusing. The way in which the student writes about their personal experiences makes the statement sound somewhat like an autobiography.

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This is a very good statement. The student clearly has personality and a high level of ability. Strange terminology used can be excused due to the fact that the student’s first language is not English, and that the vast majority of the statement is very well-written.

This Personal Statement for Maths and Physics is a great example of how to showcase a high level of ability. The candidate’s interest and achievements are clearly shown which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

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

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Economics & statistics personal statement example.

Living in a time of immense economic uncertainty has sparked my curiosity to explain the rationale of consumers, firms and governments.

The severity of vast global problems, from financial crisis to poverty, has also attracted me to Economics: a subject relevant now more than ever to the prosperity of all societies. I want to complement this with a fluency in Mathematics, to lay sound foundations for analysing economies and financial markets.

Due to my growing interest, I am teaching myself Economics A-level in my gap year, alongside Further Mathematics, to explore the quantitative methods which make economic theory more rigorous.

The logic and ingenuity of Mathematics in solving problems strongly appeals to me, and I thoroughly enjoy learning new and applicable concepts. I am particularly keen to study Statistics, as it can clarify economic phenomena by deriving and testing models with data.

During my internship at Brevan Howard Asset Management, I saw its practical importance in asset and risk evaluation, which has become so prominent with the recent financial crisis. I even related it to my Mathematics A-level, as Gaussian distributions are assumed in stochastic models for asset pricing. Curious to learn more, I read Taleb's 'The Black Swan'.

Seeing how models may fail to predict rare and devastating events has compelled me to learn how Statistics evolves to provide more accurate analysis in volatile markets. Moreover, the synergy of economic and financial principles in trading decisions has made me excited to study them with quantitative techniques.

An approach to Economics that intrigues me is game theory and I relish its mathematical elegance and usefulness. I am fascinated by the incentives and strategies of firms, and curious as to whether these produce optimal payoffs in reality due to bounded and biased rationality.

Researching these ubiquitous concepts has made me passionate to analyse strategic choice in markets, to better grasp the logic of the economic decisions around us.

I have pursued my interest in current economic affairs by reading Paul Krugman's online blog. My curiosity has driven me to question the Keynesian policies he advocates and the contrasting fiscal austerity widely implemented today.

Attending the LSE public lecture on UNCTAD fuelled my fascination with inequality, absorbing for its role in the Eurozone crisis and in poverty - evidence of the diversity of economic problems.

From Sen's 'Development as Freedom', I realised that the issues underlying poverty, like income inequality and capability deprivation, are multidimensional and must be tackled with political, social and economic principles.

I practised this at school through Model UN, where I researched, analysed and constructed logical arguments for growth and development, winning prizes at international summits. This strengthened my enthusiasm and skills for learning how economic policies can solve global problems.

My gap year internships will complement my study with a strong awareness of Economics in society. At Griffins' Insolvency Practitioners I will see the practical sides of business, finance and accounting and the effect of the lack of credit and economic growth on firms.

At the think tank 'Reform' I will assess government policies and their impact on the public sector and the wider economy. Contributing my research to papers for publication will require the analytical and essay-writing skills I gained from my A-levels, as well as communication and organisation skills I honed in positions of responsibility at school.

I hope to transfer these skills to my degree and to clubs and societies at university. Playing county tennis and teaching myself classical guitar also gives me a work-life balance.

Through my exciting internships and motivated self-study, I have been committed to engaging with Economics and Mathematics both in theory and in practice, to deepen my passion and skills for these subjects in preparation for my degree.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by zzXragXzz for application in 2013.

zzXragXzz's university choices Cambridge University University College London

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

zzXragXzz's Comments

It is quite tough to write a good/authentic personal statement but I tried my best. Don't think that you need to write about as many books as I did, I feel like I had to since I had never had an economics lesson before and wanted to adequately show my passion for the subject. My number 1 piece of advice is to keep your personal statement PERSONAL. This is something that requires a fair bit of thought and introspection which you must not be afraid to do, otherwise the PS will look and feel a bit lifeless, like my first PS did when I applied the first time around and got many rejections.

This time I applied to Cambridge econ, LSE econ and UCL (3 separate econ related courses). Despite my perfect academic record, I was actually rejected by UCL econ, and that too the day before my Cambridge interview! This actually went very well indeed, but there was one maths/game theory problem I struggled on, and I was placed in the pool and later rejected. So do keep in mind that no matter how good your grades and your PS and your reference are, nothing is guaranteed. I was devastated after UCL rejected me, since I thought there wasn't a hope in hell that Cambridge or LSE would give me an offer, but luckily LSE did and I'm starting there this year (2013). So try not to be too disheartened if you receive a rejection: it happens to all of us at some stage in life. The important thing is to learn from it, pick yourself up and keep working away. The university you attend will not by itself determine the trajectory of your life, and remember, the tough part of university is not getting in, but getting out with a good degree.

Would be happy to help anyone with their PS or interview preparation, just email me at rahulsugand at hotmail.com (please use @ instead of 'at', this is just to make sure no one spams my email address!). I only ask that students in the current admissions cycle email me for help. If you are not in the process of writing a personal statement or preparing for interview, please wait till you have applied before emailing me for advice. Best of luck!

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An official website of the United States government

Personal Income and Outlays, April 2024

• News Release
• Related Materials
• Additional Information

Personal income increased $65.3 billion (0.3 percent at a monthly rate) in April, according to estimates released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (tables 2 and 3). Disposable personal income (DPI) —personal income less personal current taxes—increased $40.2 billion (0.2 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $39.1 billion (0.2 percent).

The PCE price index increased 0.3 percent. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index increased 0.2 percent (table 5). Real DPI decreased 0.1 percent in April and real PCE decreased 0.1 percent; goods decreased 0.4 percent and services increased 0.1 percent (tables 3 and 4).

The increase in current-dollar personal income in April primarily reflected increases in compensation, personal income receipts on assets, and government social benefits to persons (table 2).

The $39.1 billion increase in current-dollar PCE in April reflected an increase of $49.1 billion in spending for services that was partly offset by a $10.0 billion decrease in spending for goods (table 2). Within services, the largest contributors to the increase were housing and utilities (led by housing), health care (both outpatient services and hospitals), and financial services and insurance (led by financial service charges, fees, and commissions). These increases were partly offset by a decrease in transportation services (led by air transportation). Within goods, the largest contributors to the decrease were spending for recreational goods and vehicles (led by information processing equipment) and other nondurable goods (led by recreational items). Detailed information on monthly PCE spending can be found on Table 2.4.5U .

Personal outlays —the sum of PCE, personal interest payments, and personal current transfer payments—increased $42.8 billion in April (table 2). Personal saving was $744.5 billion in April and the personal saving rate —personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income—was 3.6 percent (table 1).

From the preceding month, the PCE price index for April increased 0.3 percent (table 5). Prices for goods increased 0.2 percent, and prices for services increased 0.3 percent. Food prices decreased 0.2 percent and energy prices increased 1.2 percent. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index increased 0.2 percent. Detailed monthly PCE price indexes can be found on Table 2.4.4U .

From the same month one year ago, the PCE price index for April increased 2.7 percent (table 7). Prices for goods increased 0.1 percent and prices for services increased 3.9 percent. Food prices increased 1.3 percent and energy prices increased 3.0 percent. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index increased 2.8 percent from one year ago.

The 0.1 percent decrease in real PCE in April reflected a decrease of 0.4 percent in spending on goods and an increase of 0.1 percent in spending on services (table 4). Within goods, the largest contributors to the decrease were gasoline and other energy goods (led by motor vehicle fuels, lubricants, and fluids), recreational goods and vehicles (led by information processing equipment), and other nondurable goods (led by recreational items). Within services, the largest contributor to the increase was health care (led by outpatient services). Detailed information on monthly real PCE spending can be found on Table 2.4.6U .

Updates to Personal Income and Outlays

Estimates have been updated for October through March. For October through December, estimates for compensation, personal taxes, and contributions for government social insurance reflect the incorporation of updated fourth-quarter wage and salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program. Revised and previously published changes from the preceding month for current-dollar personal income, and for current-dollar and chained (2017) dollar DPI and PCE, are provided below for February and March.

*          *          *

Next release: June 28, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. EDT Personal Income and Outlays, May 2024

Full Release & Tables (PDF)

Tables only (excel), release highlights (pdf), historical comparisons (pdf).

• Personal Income Lisa Mataloni  301-278-9083 [email protected]
• PCE Goods Kyle Brown 301-278-9086 [email protected]
• PCE Services Harvey Davis 301-278-9719 [email protected]
• Media Connie O’Connell 301-278-9003 [email protected]

Additional Resources available at www.bea.gov :

• Stay informed about BEA developments by reading The BEA Wire , signing up for BEA's email subscription service , or following BEA on X, formerly known as Twitter @BEA_News .
• Historical time series for these estimates can be accessed in BEA's Interactive Data Application .
• Access BEA data by registering for BEA's Data Application Programming Interface (API).
• For more on BEA's statistics, see BEA's online journal, the Survey of Current Business .
• BEA's news release schedule
• NIPA Handbook : Concepts and Methods of the U.S. National Income and Product Accounts

Definitions

Personal income is the income received by, or on behalf of, all persons from all sources: from participation as laborers in production, from owning a home or business, from the ownership of financial assets, and from government and business in the form of transfers. It includes income from domestic sources as well as the rest of world. It does not include realized or unrealized capital gains or losses.

Disposable personal income  is the income available to persons for spending or saving. It is equal to personal income less personal current taxes. 

Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) is the value of the goods and services purchased by, or on the behalf of, "persons" who reside in the United States.

Personal outlays is the sum of PCE, personal interest payments, and personal current transfer payments.

Personal saving is personal income less personal outlays and personal current taxes.

The personal saving rate is personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income.

Current-dollar estimates are valued in the prices of the period when the transactions occurred—that is, at "market value." Also referred to as "nominal estimates" or as "current-price estimates."

Real values are inflation-adjusted estimates—that is, estimates that exclude the effects of price changes.

For more definitions, refer to the Glossary: National Income and Product Accounts .

Statistical conventions

Annual rates. Monthly and quarterly values are expressed at seasonally-adjusted annual rates (SAAR). Dollar changes are calculated as the difference between these SAAR values. For detail, refer to the FAQ " Why does BEA publish estimates at annual rates? "

Month-to-month percent changes are calculated from unrounded data and are not annualized.

Quarter-to-quarter percent changes are calculated from unrounded data and are displayed at annual rates. For detail, refer to the FAQ " How is average annual growth calculated? " and " Why does BEA publish percent changes in quarterly series at annual rates? "

Quantities and prices. Quantities, or "real" volume measures, and prices are expressed as index numbers with a specified reference year equal to 100 (currently 2017). Quantity and price indexes are calculated using a Fisherchained weighted formula that incorporates weights from two adjacent periods (months for monthly data, quarters for quarterly data and annuals for annual data). For details on the calculation of quantity and price indexes, refer to Chapter 4: Estimating Methods in the NIPA Handbook.

Chained-dollar values are calculated by multiplying the quantity index by the current dollar value in the reference year (2017) and then dividing by 100. Percent changes calculated from real quantity indexes and chained-dollar levels are conceptually the same; any differences are due to rounding. Chained-dollar values are not additive because the relative weights for a given period differ from those of the reference year. In tables that display chained-dollar values, a "residual" line shows the difference between the sum of detailed chained-dollar series and its corresponding aggregate.

Bill Walton, one of basketball’s most eccentric characters, dies at 71

Bill Walton, a Hall of Fame center who authored a career that was triumphant and tragic, as well as colorful and controversial, died Monday at the age of 71 after a battle with cancer, the NBA announced .

Walton was regarded as one of the most dominant and versatile centers to ever play, which translated to two state titles with Helix High in La Mesa, Calif., two NCAA titles at UCLA and two NBA titles, one with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977 and one with the Boston Celtics in 1986. In 1993, he was elected into the Naismith Hall of Fame, and in 1997, the NBA named him one of the Top 50 players of all time.

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“Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position. His unique all-around skills made him a dominant force at UCLA and led to an NBA regular-season and Finals MVP, two NBA championships and a spot on the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. Bill then translated his infectious enthusiasm and love for the game to broadcasting, where he delivered insightful and colorful commentary that entertained generations of basketball fans. But what I will remember most about him was his zest for life. He was a regular presence at league events — always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth. I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.

“As a cherished member of the NBA family for 50 years, Bill will be deeply missed by all those who came to know and love him. My heartfelt condolences to Bill’s wife, Lori; his sons, Adam, Nate, Luke and Chris; and his many friends and colleagues.”

“Bill was so much more than basketball, he was larger than life,” the Blazers said in a statement. “His upbeat and vibrant personality will forever be remembered and cherished, and he will be deeply missed by our organization, Rip City and all who experienced him.”

When Walton flew into Portland, Ore., in October 2009, he was surprised to find tears streaming down his cheeks.

As the legendary center looked out the window of the plane, he was flooded with memories. He had returned to Portland many times since he left in 1979, the result of a hastily requested trade. But for some reason, this time, at age 56, he was overcome with emotions. There was the satisfaction and appreciation of a team coming together to win the 1977 NBA title. The agony of multiple surgeries on his feet and ankles. The anger and confusion of how his medical care was handled. And the regret of how he handled it all.

The next day, before a Trail Blazers home game, Walton explained his emotions to a group of reporters.

“I’m here to try and make amends for the mistakes and errors of the past,” Walton said. “I regret that I wasn’t a better person. A better player. I regret that I got hurt. I regret the circumstances in which I left the Portland Trail Blazers’ family. I just wish I could do a lot of things over, but I can’t. So I’m here to apologize, to try and make amends, and to try and start over and make it better.”

Ironically, Walton was in Portland to be feted. Oregon governor Ted Kulongoski was honoring him with the Governor’s Gold award, given annually to four people or organizations who have made great contributions to the state. And the Trail Blazers had invited him to headline a fundraising event. But as the governor and the franchise prepared to celebrate one of its greatest athletes, Walton was revealing the complexity behind his legacy.

Ten years later, on another return to Portland, he looked back on that 2009 flight into Portland.

“It was very sad,” Walton told The Athletic . “I always try to self-reflect, and when you are living a life that is on stage, on camera, out in front, the minute it gets quiet, that’s when the true answers come to you … when it’s too late.”

Walton’s greatness on the court was unquestioned. In high school, Walton’s teams won their final 49 games. At UCLA, he was the NCAA’s player of the year for three consecutive seasons (1972-74), a span that included a string of 88 consecutive victories. In the NBA, he won the 1978 Most Valuable Player award with the Trail Blazers and the 1986 Sixth Man of the Year award with the Celtics.

But behind many of his triumphs was the tragic disappointment of injuries. Walton had 39 surgeries during his playing career, mostly on his feet and ankles, which caused him to miss 762 games over 13 seasons. Three times he missed an entire season because of injury. In his autobiography, Nothing But Net , Walton wrote that his biggest regret was playing hurt.

“I didn’t let pain be my guide,” Walton wrote. “I didn’t say, ‘If it hurt a lot, don’t play.'”

He said he suffered a knee injury on the playground as a youth and was never the same.

“My legs were pretty much shot by the time I got to the NBA in 1974,” Walton wrote. “I peaked when I was 12.”

When healthy, few were more versatile or more dominant. He was a brilliant passing big man, both in the half court and by initiating the fast break after a rebound with an outlet pass. He was 6-foot-11 and long, which helped him become an effective shot blocker. Those who played with Walton called him the ultimate teammate, who helped elevate their game. Still, never was Walton more ready to step to the forefront than in big games.

In the 1973 NCAA title game against Memphis State, Walton had 44 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks while making 21 of 22 shots in UCLA’s 87-66 win. Walton made four other shots that were disqualified and ruled offensive goaltending because of a then-NCAA rule prohibiting dunking. The previous season, in 1972, Walton had 33 points in the national semifinal, then led all scorers with 24 points in the title game, helping UCLA beat Florida State 81-76, which earned him the first of his two Most Outstanding Player awards.

In Game 6 of the 1977 NBA Finals, Walton had 20 points against Philadelphia , plus 23 rebounds, seven assists and eight blocks as Portland clinched the series and won its only NBA title. Walton in the series averaged 18.5 points, 19 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.7 blocks and was named NBA Finals MVP.

His most gratifying moment, Walton said, came at the end of his career, after he was traded from the LA Clippers to the Boston Celtics. Accepting a reserve role backing up Robert Parish, Walton played in 80 of the 82 regular season games and 16 of the Celtics’ 18 playoff games. Averaging 7.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19 minutes, Walton beat out Milwaukee ’s Ricky Pierce and Sacramento ’s Eddie Johnson for the Sixth Man of the Year award, and helped Larry Bird and Kevin McHale win another title. Walton called it “my greatest personal playing accomplishment.”

“I never had a better time playing,” Walton wrote in his biography. “Aside from winning, my favorite moments on the court came when I was out there with Larry Bird. It’s safe to say our styles were complementary.”

In a four-part documentary on Walton called “The Luckiest Guy in the World,” producer Steve James interviewed Bird about playing alongside Walton. Bird told James that Walton was as good as anybody when healthy.

“When Larry Bird said that, I mean, Larry Bird is not a guy who just throws around compliments,” James told The Athletic . “When he said he was one of the best ever, I said: Centers?

“And he said, no. Players.”

The next season would be Walton’s last, limited to 10 games because of injury.

“When he was right, I think he was the best center playing the game,” said Dave Twardzik, a guard on Portland’s title team.

In the turbulent 1970s, with the Vietnam War raging and Watergate eroding the confidence in the United States government, Walton became more than just a basketball player. He became a voice in the counter-culture movement.

He was arrested in May 1972 on the UCLA campus for protesting the escalation of the Vietnam War, and a picture capturing Walton sitting down on Wilshire Blvd. with arms peacefully raised before his arrest, was circulated widely in newspapers and magazines.

Walton told author Tom Shanahan that he believed in peaceful protests then, and always.

“Protesting is what gets things done,” Walton said. “The drive for positive change requires action. The forces of evil don’t just change their ways.”

And in 1975, a week after his second season with the Trail Blazers, Walton took part in a San Francisco news conference defending friends Jack and Micki Scott, who at times lived with Walton in Portland. The FBI was pursuing the Scotts for harboring members of the Symbionese Liberation Army, who had kidnapped Patty Hearst, and the Scotts disavowed any wrongdoing. Walton asked the world to “stand with us in the rejection of the United States government” while also calling the FBI “the enemy.”

The Trail Blazers were outraged by Walton’s comments, and owner Herman Sarkowsky, team president Larry Weinberg, and executive vice president Harry Glickman issued a statement.

“The Portland Trail Blazers deplore Bill Walton’s statement calling for the rejection of the United States Government. The United States is the freest and most democratic nation in the world. We and the people throughout the world recognize this,” the Blazers said in their statement. “The American system, despite its imperfections, has been and continues to be the have which oppressed people throughout the world yearn to reach. We believe the National Basketball Association is an example of the opportunities available to people under the system of government, and Walton, more than most, has reaped extraordinary benefits from this system.”

At the time, it was not unusual for an athlete to speak out on political or social issues. Arthur Ashe, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali … all took stands and were unafraid to voice their opinions. They all were Black. Walton was White.

“He was arguably the most outspoken White superstar, certainly in college, of that time,” James said. “To this day, there aren’t many White players of stature who speak out with regularity about capitalism … politics … whatever. Bill was a real outlier, in part because he was White, and in part because athletes at that time were trying to toe the line. They were viewed as culturally conservative.”

Years later, Walton argued against the notion that athletes should focus on their sports and not voice their opinions.

“Sports encompasses all aspects of life,” Walton told Hal Bock of The Associated Press in 1991. “It’s unfortunate when people use the argument that it is not a platform for politics … I believe you can’t stop and put sports in a vacuum. Just because people are involved in a special thing like sports, that doesn’t prevent them from taking a position.”

For the younger generation, Walton may only be known for his second career: broadcasting, where he was an over-the-top, and at times zany, color commentator for college and NBA games.

The irony was Walton grew up with a stutter and struggled with interviews in college and the NBA. When Walton was 28, he said he met New York Knicks broadcaster Marty Glickman, who gave him a series of tips on how to correct his stutter, which included slowing your thoughts down, reading out loud and chewing sugarless gum to strengthen jaw muscles. He also told Walton to identify the sounds that gave him trouble — for Walton it was words with D, H, S, Th and W — and find books or articles with those words and practice.

NBA 75: At No. 64, Bill Walton's injury-plagued career couldn't obscure his greatness

Walton, who would later become a paid public speaker, often cited in his presentation that learning to speak was “my greatest accomplishment   … and your worst nightmare.”

In 1990, Prime Ticket Network hired Walton as an analyst. Soon, he was everywhere. He had stints with NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, Turner Sports and most recently was providing color commentary for ESPN broadcasts of Pac-12 basketball. In 2001, he received an Emmy for best live sports television broadcast. No matter the network, or the stage, Walton was always spouting outrageous, off-the-wall commentary.

Awful Announcing made a list of Walton’s most outlandish broadcast moments. A sampling:

“Yesterday, we celebrated Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity. Today, Fabricio Oberto is defying it.”

“If you ever think you’re too small to make a difference, you’ve never spent a night in bed with a mosquito, or you’ve never played basketball against Taylor from Utah — No. 11 in your program, No. 1 in your heart.”

“John Stockton is one of the true marvels, not just of basketball, or in America, but in the history of Western Civilization!”

“Tonight’s start was electric. Just both teams riding quasars all the way to the top of the mountain to the promised land!”

When Walton descended upon Portland on that October day in 2009, another factor led to his emotional state: He was a reborn man.

During 2007 and ’08, Walton was absent from the airwaves. No television. No radio. No appearances. He was on his back, in misery, and contemplating suicide.

“I had been in the hospital, on my death bed, wanting to kill myself. For years,” Walton said in 2009. “I was in a terrible spot.”

In February 2009 he had a spinal fusion, and it not only eased his pain but also gave him a fresh outlook. It’s why he was so eager to repair his relationship with the Trail Blazers, and why he once again became an avid bike rider, and once again started attending what he called “church” — concerts of the Grateful Dead, of which he has attended more than 1,000 shows.

He was happy, with a feeling of accomplishment, and he wanted to spread the word. He called himself the “luckiest man in the world” and he believed it.

“When you face death, it changes you,” Walton said. “And you are never the same again.”

Related reading

• NBA 75: At No. 64, Bill Walton’s injury-plagued career couldn’t obscure his greatness
• ‘Tonight, I will not sleep.’ Bill Walton: A text exchange, a call, and the tao of Bill

(Top photo of Bill Walton: NBA Photos / Getty Images)

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Jason Quick is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Portland Trail Blazers. From Damon Stoudamire to Damian Lillard, he has covered the team for over two decades. He has been named Oregon Sportswriter of the Year four times by the National Sports Media Association and has been recognized by APSE and the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Follow Jason on Twitter @ jwquick