business and it personal statement

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How to Write a Top MBA Personal Statement (With Examples)

Working on your MBA application? You aren’t alone. In 2021, over 200,000 students graduated with an MBA degree making it the number one choice for graduate students for the 10th year in a row. And there’s good reason for this. According to the National Center for Education Statistics , post-MBA, grads can earn significantly more at work—experts estimate an additional $20,000 each year depending on the industry. 

During the application process, you’ll want to stand out. A well-crafted personal statement will help distinguish you from other applicants. It serves as a powerful tool to showcase your unique experiences, skills, and aspirations to admissions committees. To make a lasting impression, tailor your personal statement to each MBA program you’re applying to, highlighting how your background aligns with their values and goals. For additional support, keep reading for some MBA personal statement examples and guidance. 

Understanding the Foundations – Word Count, Templates, and Pricing

When you start your personal statement, keep the word count in mind. Make sure to write your statement succinctly. Templates can give crucial structure to a first draft and make sure you hit necessary points. Finally: is it worth it to hire a professional proofreader? We break down the pros and cons. 

Word Count Considerations

A well-written personal statement is often the deciding factor in the business school admissions process. Conveying your thoughts concisely is a crucial skill in the business world, and future peers will be grateful for your brevity.

One strategy is to start with a longer draft and edit it down when revising. Remove unnecessary details and tighten wordy language. Focus on improving the quality of your content over meeting the maximum word count. 

Templates as a Starting Point

Templates can help to organize your thoughts. Use them to provide structure and give your writing direction. By planning ahead, you can decide how much space you want to dedicate to each element—this can also help you meet the word count.

Remember: popular templates are popular for a reason, and following them too strictly can make your statement feel rigid and unoriginal. To avoid that pitfall, personalization is key. Your individual experiences, goals, and perspectives are all unique. What would a Master’s in Business Administration mean to you? Don’t be afraid to customize any template to fit your voice. 

Professional Proofreading

Graduate schools know what a well-written personal statement looks like—and so do professional proofreaders. Experts can help catch small grammatical errors and improve clarity in your writing. It can be challenging to review personal writing from an objective standpoint. A good proofreader will streamline your writing and ensure overall coherence, improving your odds with your preferred school of business. 

Unfortunately, this can be expensive. Pricing for these services can easily cost hundreds of dollars. If hiring one isn’t in the budget, here are some alternatives: 

• Find writing groups online or in person. Not only will you receive feedback, you’ll get a better idea of what other personal statements look like. Be prepared to help edit other statements.
• Reach out to peers and mentors. Turn to people who know your voice and can tell when your writing is authentic. Make sure they aren’t afraid to give negative feedback.
• Utilize free online resources. Writing tools like Grammarly or Hemingway help check grammar and sentence structure. They won’t help with essay format and aren’t infallible; double-check any changes they might suggest.
• Read your statement out loud. This can help make sure your statement has a good rhythm and flows naturally.
• Take breaks. Be your own set of fresh eyes. When you’re in the thick of writing, you might glaze over easy-to-spot details while you’re thinking of the big picture. Allow yourself to recharge and clear your head before you get back to it. 

Tailoring Your Personal Statement to Top MBA Programs

Make sure to personalize your essays to specific MBA programs . Include details about specific classes and faculty, unique opportunities, and the strengths that make this program stand out. 

Then, tie yourself into the narrative. What role would you fill as a graduate student or an alumnus? Consider your own strengths and where they align with this specific program. What career goals could this opportunity help you achieve? 

Remember to mention your soft skills and other details that may not show up elsewhere on your application. Finally, shine a spotlight on your unique contributions in past roles. 

Write a Captivating Introduction

A beautiful personal statement will be overlooked unless the introduction captivates the audience. You can begin with compelling anecdotes, personal stories, or influential quotes. Tie this introduction into your reason for pursuing an MBA. Make the reader care before launching into your achievements. Then, clearly state why you’re pursuing an MBA. Example: “From the dynamic intersections of global markets to the intricate strategies driving corporate success, the realm of business has always beckoned to me as a realm of boundless opportunity and perpetual evolution..” 

Discuss Academic and Professional Background

Now it’s time to discuss what you’re bringing to the table. It’s okay to brag! Think about any key achievements or acquired skills that are transferable to an MBA program. What motivated you to apply? Example : “As a project manager at XYZ Corp, I navigated intricate challenges, demonstrating resilience and strategic thinking – skills I am eager to refine in a top-tier MBA program.” 

Answer the Questions: Why an MBA? Why Now? 

What does an MBA mean for your career goals ? Break down your short and long-term goals to answer this essay question. How do the skills you gain from earning an MBA connect to your plan? Research the program you’re applying for and use examples from the curriculum. Example : “My immediate goal is to transition from project management to strategic consulting, and Crummer’s MBA program’s focus on experiential learning and global business strategy perfectly complements my aspirations.” 

Emphasize Soft Skills

Think about moments you demonstrated personal growth or teamwork. Are there any moments you stepped up to lead a project or team? Your past experiences will influence your habits in a graduate school setting. Example :  “Leading a cross-functional team on a high-stakes project not only honed my leadership skills but also taught me the importance of collaborative problem-solving, a cornerstone of Crummer’s MBA program. “

Spotlight Unique Contributions

What sets you apart from other applicants? Moreover, what impact will your unique perspective bring to the MBA cohort? Explain how your background will enrich the learning environment. Detail personal qualities and experiences that showcase your value. 

Key Elements for a Powerful Personal Statement

Take a holistic approach to strike the right chord in your personal statement. Give admissions committees a more concrete impression of you. Weave in your qualifications, experiences, and aspirations. Don’t just mention your professional achievements—detail all of your positive qualities. 

Showcase Work Experience 

Be strategic when discussing your real-world work experience. If you can, including measurable results is a great way to show your professional impact. Earnings numbers, statistics, and other metrics will show off your professional experiences. 

Articulate Career Goals and Aspirations

When discussing career goals for an MBA application, detail your short and long-term objectives clearly. Ambiguity can weaken your statement’s impact. Whether you’re joining a family business, starting your own business, or looking to go abroad for international business you should discuss how you see yourself navigating the business world. Connect these career aspirations to the MBA program. 

Incorporate Extracurricular and Real-World Experiences

Touch on any extracurricular experiences like internships or entrepreneurship. Explain how these real-world experiences impacted your analytical skills, business acumen, and decision-making. If you’re an entrepreneur, touch on your journey or discuss the vision for your next startup. 

You can also talk about moments where you demonstrated leadership and communication skills. Teamwork is critical to business leaders. Reflect on your leadership experience—the successes you’ve won and the lessons you learned. 

Maintain Authenticity

Write authentically. Admissions officers want genuine stories. Give readers a reason to empathize with you. Overly formal and generic language can depersonalize your statement and keep readers at arm’s length. 

Also, use conversational language. If something sounds clunky or unnatural, it probably also reads that way. Plus, the way you speak naturally showcases your personality. While you should always use proper grammar, don’t suck the life out of your statement in the name of sounding more “academic.” Use this opportunity to demonstrate your communication skills. 

Navigating Common Challenges

Crafting your personal statements can be challenging! Let’s answer some FAQs. 

How Do I Balance the Personal and Professional Aspects?

Be intentional about what you choose to mention from your personal life. Use elements that either contrast or emphasize your professional experience. How does your background influence your business philosophy? Make sure to keep a professional tone and align your statement with the admissions committee’s expectations and be prepared for any questions the interviewer could ask.

How Do I Handle Sensitive Topics?

If you’re writing about a sensitive topic, do so thoughtfully. You don’t know what type of people will be reading your statement, so be considerate and intentional about any details you choose to share. 

However, your application essay should be a reflection of you. Sensitive subjects often play a major role in personal growth and development. Discuss what you learned from this challenging experience and how it influenced you. 

How Do I Make My Writing Stand Out? 

We’ve touched on all of the story elements you need—now trim the fat. Avoid common clichés and generic statements. Common phrases will dilute the unique perspectives in your personal statement. Make sure the language aligns with you. Avoid language that could apply to everyone when possible. 

Other MBA Application Process Essentials – GMAT Score, GPA, and Statement of Purpose

The MBA application process is multifaceted and holistic. Alongside your statement, admissions committees also consider your GMAT scores and GPA. GMAT scores are used to gauge applicants’ aptitude for business studies, while GPA showcases your readiness for MBA rigor. If you have a lower score in either category, address these challenges by highlighting your other strengths, relevant experience, and resiliency. Remember: committees consider the entire application, not just scores. 

The other factor in the application process is your Statement of Purpose or SOP. This will complement your personal statement. Make sure your SOP articulates your academic and career goals without echoing your other application essay. Avoid redundancy. Focus on the future: link the MBA program to your long-term plan. Take a forward-looking perspective and demonstrate how the MBA will work as a natural progression in your life. 

Your personal statement should be as unique as you are. Start with a compelling narrative and a plan. Proofread your essay, and don’t be afraid to seek help from peers or professionals. Explain how your personal and professional life gives you the necessary skills to thrive at your desired program and be specific about what you want to do there. This is your chance to differentiate yourself from other applicants—take advantage!

Crummer is the #1 ranked MBA program in Florida. You can learn more about what we offer and when you’re ready, start working on your application . 

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How to Write a Strong Personal Statement

• Ruth Gotian
• Ushma S. Neill

A few adjustments can get your application noticed.

Whether applying for a summer internship, a professional development opportunity, such as a Fulbright, an executive MBA program, or a senior leadership development course, a personal statement threads the ideas of your CV, and is longer and has a different tone and purpose than a traditional cover letter. A few adjustments to your personal statement can get your application noticed by the reviewer.

• Make sure you’re writing what they want to hear. Most organizations that offer a fellowship or internship are using the experience as a pipeline: It’s smart to spend 10 weeks and $15,000 on someone before committing five years and $300,000. Rarely are the organizations being charitable or altruistic, so align your stated goals with theirs
• Know when to bury the lead, and when to get to the point. It’s hard to paint a picture and explain your motivations in 200 words, but if you have two pages, give the reader a story arc or ease into your point by setting the scene.
• Recognize that the reviewer will be reading your statement subjectively, meaning you’re being assessed on unknowable criteria. Most people on evaluation committees are reading for whether or not you’re interesting. Stated differently, do they want to go out to dinner with you to hear more? Write it so that the person reading it wants to hear more.
• Address the elephant in the room (if there is one). Maybe your grades weren’t great in core courses, or perhaps you’ve never worked in the field you’re applying to. Make sure to address the deficiency rather than hoping the reader ignores it because they won’t. A few sentences suffice. Deficiencies do not need to be the cornerstone of the application.

At multiple points in your life, you will need to take action to transition from where you are to where you want to be. This process is layered and time-consuming, and getting yourself to stand out among the masses is an arduous but not impossible task. Having a polished resume that explains what you’ve done is the common first step. But, when an application asks for it, a personal statement can add color and depth to your list of accomplishments. It moves you from a one-dimensional indistinguishable candidate to someone with drive, interest, and nuance.

• Ruth Gotian is the chief learning officer and associate professor of education in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and the author of The Success Factor and Financial Times Guide to Mentoring . She was named the #1 emerging management thinker by Thinkers50. You can access her free list of conversation starters and test your mentoring impact . RuthGotian
• Ushma S. Neill is the Vice President, Scientific Education & Training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She runs several summer internships and is involved with the NYC Marshall Scholar Selection Committee. ushmaneill

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A Quick Guide to Writing Business and IT Personal Statement

Table of Contents

When it comes to writing a business and IT personal statement , many students feel overwhelmed. After all, this document is one of the most important pieces of your application package. It is a written declaration of your plans, goals, and intentions for pursuing a career in the field of business and information technology.

A personal statement is what admission officers will use to determine if you have the skills and experience necessary for their program.

This article outlines what goes into a great personal statement . We’ll also provide tips on making yours stand out from the rest. So whether you’re just starting out or you’ve already started drafting your statement, read on for helpful advice!

What Is a Business and IT Personal Statement?

A business and IT personal statement is a document that outlines an individual’s qualifications, experience, and goals in the business and information technology fields. It can be used to apply for jobs, scholarships, or other opportunities in these areas.

The statement is important because it allows potential employers or scholarship committees to better understand an applicant. It helps them determine if an applicant is a good fit for the position or opportunity.

Tips to Write a Business and IT Personal Statement

Whether applying for a job, grad school, or other opportunities, below are some effective tips for writing a solid business and IT personal statement .

Know the purpose of the personal statement

A personal statement for business and IT should showcase your skills, abilities, and experience in these areas. It is not a resume or CV, so do not simply list your work history or education. The focus should be on why you are interested in a career in business and IT and what you can bring to the table.

Tailor It to Each Application

Each personal statement must be tailored to different programs or jobs. So make sure to highlight various aspects of your background depending on where you are applying. Do some research into the organization/program before writing so that you can target specific points they are looking for.

Be Clear and Concise

Keep your statements short and sweet – no one wants to read a long-winded essay! Get straight to the point by highlighting your key strengths and experiences related to business and IT without rambling on about irrelevant details.

Use Strong Examples

Back up any claims with concrete examples from past experiences, whether at school, work, or other activities. This will help illustrate just how talented you are when it comes time for reviewers to see the evidence.

Make Sure to Proofread

Make sure to proofread your essay for mistakes before submitting it – one typo can really ruin an otherwise great piece of writing! In addition, using proper grammar shows that you cared about this document.

Personal Statement Examples for Business and IT

The key to writing a strong personal statement for the application of your choice is to be clear and concise. Use the following example to write a customized personal statement for yourself.

Personal Statement Example 1

My love for business and information technology began at a young age. I was always intrigued by the way businesses operated and how technologies were used to support these organizations. My interest in IT stemmed from my desire to understand business and IT. I wanted to explore how different aspects of technology could be integrated into the business world to improve efficiency and productivity. As someone with strong technical skills, I know that I would be an asset to any graduate program in information management.

For the past four years, I’ve worked as a web developer. This has given me experience translating complex business needs into tangible IT solutions. In addition, my academic background includes coursework in data analysis, systems analysis, project management, and enterprise resource planning (ERP). These courses have prepared me well for a career in information management. Furthermore, through extracurricular activities such as Toastmasters International, I have developed essential communication skills that will benefit me in this field.

Given my passion for business and IT, I am confident I will excel in a program like yours at [university name]. The curriculum is tailored specifically for students who want to pursue careers in information management or another related field, such as MIS or analytics. I believe acquiring a Master’s degree from [university name] will help me fulfill my long-term goal and flourish in my career.

Personal Statement Example 2

The decision to pursue a business and information technology degree was an easy one for me. I have always been interested in both the business world and IT. And I saw this program as the perfect opportunity to learn more about both subjects. My skills with computers started early on when my parents bought me my first computer. From there, I began teaching myself how to use different software programs, which gave me a strong foundation in IT.

I am excited to apply what I learn in this program to the business world. In previous jobs, I have used my knowledge of IT systems to help improve efficiency and solve problems within companies. For example, at my last job, we were experiencing some issues with our email system that were impacting customer service operations. After investigating the problem, I found a solution that solved the issue and also saved the company money on their monthly internet bill!

My future goals include working in a business role where I can continue using my IT skill set. I wish to make positive contributions and strengthen businesses from within. If given a chance, I would be able to use my understanding of business processes and IT tool sets to build efficient systems. It will help streamline operations in ways never imagined before.

Personal Statement Example 3

The business and information management program at ABC University is the perfect fit for me. I’ve always been interested in business, and through my coursework, I have discovered a love for information technology as well. In today’s world, businesses rely more than ever on IT to stay competitive. My education in both areas will give me the skills to succeed in the business world.

I am confident that I can benefit your program. I have excellent organizational skills, which I developed while managing billing operations for a large company. My experience with data entry and analysis will also come in handy when dealing with big data sets in the IT field. Furthermore, my future goals include starting my own computer repair shop. An enterprise that would greatly benefit from my knowledge of business and IT systems security administration techniques.

I believe that ABC University offers an outstanding business and information management program that will help me reach my career goals.

Personal statements are crucial when applying for specific programs or job opportunities . If you’re passionate about pursuing a career in business and IT, reflect that on your personal statement. This article lists effective tips along with examples to help you write a great personal statement for Business and IT.

Abir Ghenaiet

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

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Writing a Business Personal Statement: 7 Steps to a Stand-Out Application for Your Students

James is senior content marketing manager at BridgeU. He writes and directs content for BridgeU's university partners and our community of international schools

• Answer the fundamental question of a business personal statement
• Sell their suitability in their business personal statement
• Identify relevant experiences to include in the business personal statement
• Identify the areas of business that most interest them
• Think about what they want to learn next
• Come up with a compelling structure for the business personal statement
• Create the business personal statement

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Business subjects are some of the most popular around the world, meaning competition is stiff! Help your students secure top spots with these 7 steps for writing business personal statements.

The business personal statement is probably something you’ve contended with a lot as a university counsellor. After all, business and its related subjects are some of the most  popular degree subjects  and  majors  in the world!

But writing a personal statement for business can be tricky. It’s a subject that requires a diverse blend of skills. Students need to be mathematical, analytical and logical, but also have entrepreneurial spirit and creative flair. Strong leadership and communication skills are often at play, too, particularly for degrees focused on management.

So how can you ensure students’ personal statements hit all these criteria, capture who they are  and  make them stand out from an ever-growing crowd of applicants? All while keeping to the personal statement’s notoriously tight limit of just 4000 characters?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve created a clear 7-step process for writing a business personal statement. By the end, students will have a memorable, impactful and totally personalised essay!

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Step 1: Answer the fundamental question of a business personal statement

The first step is perhaps the most important: interrogating  why  they want to study business.

The strongest personal statements showcase a well-rounded interest in business. Therefore, it’s a good idea to suggest that your students jot down some motivations in each of these categories:

• Intellectual
• Professional

Another helpful technique is thinking about how they chose which universities and courses to apply to. Different countries and even universities structure business degrees differently, and have different focuses, specialisations, approaches… So what factors did your students use to narrow down their options? What do their top courses have in common – and why?

These questions can uncover the nuances of what they’re looking for in the degree, and what they’re hoping to get out of it. And that makes a compelling business personal statement!

We want… a personal insight into the applicant, something that goes over and above their academic achievements and includes their motivations, their ambitions, how they chose their university course, what they feel they could contribute to our community, and what it is they seek from their university experience.” Dr Trevor Bolton:  Pro Vice Chancellor & Dean Of International Business School, Anglia Ruskin University

Step 2: Sell their suitability in their business personal statement

Once they’ve drafted ideas about  why  they want to study business, encourage your students to think about why they  should .

Here, too, you can add structure to their ideas using handy categories.

1. Their personality and characteristics

Students should keep in mind that a business personal statement – like any other – needs to reflect who they are.

What is it about their personality that’s well-suited to studying business? How does this match their career goals? Which characteristics set them up for success at university?

2. Their skills and interests

Universities want to see a curiosity that takes students beyond the curriculum, and the relevant skills that their curiosity has developed. 

Are they maths wizards? Do they have an eye for investment? Have they helped their parents file their taxes? Do they have an in-depth knowledge of a particular economic paradigm?

Some other topics and areas to include:

• Recent news stories that have caught their attention
• Business-related blogs or publications they follow
• Related podcasts they listen to
• Lectures they’ve attended
• Public figures who inspire them

Step 3: Identify relevant experiences to include in the business personal statement

As business is a vocational pathway with infinite real-world applications, universities want to see that students have engaged with ideas and practices outside the classroom, and that their passion has driven real action.

So here are some things to consider:

• Work experiences/placements
• Extracurricular activities
• Extended projects
• Summer school  or other courses
• A passion project they’ve pursued outside school (e.g. an online homemade candle shop, a business blog)

For some extra inspiration, check out this video of Melissa talking at one of our student events about choosing experiences for her business personal statement!

Above all, students need to think deeply about each experience. They shouldn’t just write  what  they did. Instead, have them think about why they decided to do it, and what they learned. Again, this will offer a better indication of who they are, and show that they’re insightful, interested and introspective.

And to give their business personal statement that extra pzazz, see if students can link some of their experiences to current affairs or real-life examples in the business world!

Choosing experiences and skills for a business personal statement

We know that your students probably have a veritable cornucopia of experiences and skills to draw from. To help you narrow them down to that 4000 character limit, here are some of the qualities that admissions tutors look for in business personal statements.

• Enthusiasm and curiosity for the subject
• Initiative and innovation
• Individuality and personality
• Independent learning
• Problem-solving
• Setting and hitting goals
• Communication
• Quantitative skills
• Essay-writing skills
• Entrepreneurship
• A global mindset

[In business applicants, we look for] the abilities to think and work independently, follow complex lines of reasoning, demonstrate logical thought processes, solve problems and communicate accurately and succinctly” Will Breare-Hall:  Student recruitment and study abroad manager

Choosing Experiences for a Business Personal Statement

Step 4: identify the areas of business that most interest them.

For such a competitive and broad subject, simply being passionate is not enough to stand out. Students need to show a thoughtful, individual and developed interest.

Have students write down the topics, classes, projects or sources that have really captivated them in the course of their studies. It doesn’t have to be in a dedicated business class – universities know lots of students don’t have the chance to study business before university!

But they’ve likely encountered economic arguments in history or politics, or practical applications of maths techniques, or theories of occupational psychology… There are all kinds of areas that could have sparked students’ interest in business.

You don’t need to take our word for it! In one of our previous webinars, Rebecca Hill from the University of Exeter spoke about what the subjects she and her fellow admissions tutors look for in business applicants…

Here, too though, it’s absolutely imperative that students go beyond the classroom. Students should also pick out recent news stories, ideas they’ve found in their independent reading and research or case studies that fascinate them.

You can also tell your students not to shy away from being a little bit controversial… Do they have any strong opinions on recent events or issues – like why a well-known company collapsed, why a particular brand came back into the mainstream after decades, or why a real CEO is so fantastic (or terrible!)? If they can back up their thoughts, this can make a really memorable and impactful business personal statement.

The Subjects Aspiring Business Students Should Study

Step 5: think about what they want to learn next.

Universities don’t just want to understand students’ existing interest in business. They’re keen to hear how students plan to keep that motivation up throughout their studies.

A business personal statement should show universities how they will develop the knowledge, skills and curiosities that students are bringing to the table.

And while self-confidence and selling themselves is crucial, a little humility never goes amiss! Students aren’t yet masters of business, and acknowledging that there are areas they don’t know all about indicates their thirst for knowledge and determination to grow.

Top tip: Have students look at the modules offered on their favourite business degree programmes, and/or at the specialisations of the professors in the department. These could be the perfect inspiration or springboard for topics they’d like to pursue!

Step 6: Come up with a compelling structure for the business personal statement

Now that your students have all of the ingredients for a stellar personal statement, it’s time to help them put it all together!

The most important tip is to ensure that each personal statement tells a coherent story.

If your students feel overwhelmed, they can’t go wrong with a great personal statement template – at least as a jumping-off point.

Related resource:  Personal statement template

Step 7: Create the business personal statement

After the sixth step, your students will have to go away and independently write a first draft – but they’re not on their own from here on out! They’ll need to share it with you for feedback and proofreading.

Of course, having lots of different drafts zipping back and forth can get confusing and chaotic. It’s a good idea to use a  free platform like BridgeU , where you can make edits and suggestions in one single document that students can see and respond to from their own accounts.

It also makes writing references and recommendations so much simpler, as you and your colleagues can draft your comments in line with students’ statements and see their experiences and transcripts with the click of a button.

Learn more by booking your free BridgeU demo below.

Learn how BridgeU can help deliver better outcomes for your students and improved results for your school

How to Write a Personal Statement (Tips + Essay Examples)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is a personal statement that just means “essay” … right, what are some great personal statement topics (aka how do i brainstorm mine).

• Three personal statement examples

A few hundred words to capture who you’ve become over the course of almost two decades? 

Yup, makes sense why lots of students find the idea of writing a personal statement intimidating. Framed like the above, it could almost sound, I don’t know, unreasonable.

Whether you’re using the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or a school-specific application portal, it can be scary to try to come up with an essay topic that encompasses the complexity and vastness of who you are as a person … while also staying in the word count. 

But this can also be a fun, meaningful experience (real talk: We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t think it was true). In fact, the process of brainstorming and writing about meaningful aspects of your life can be an incredible way to practice self-reflection and think more deeply about who you are, what you value, who you hope to be in the world, and what you actually want to get out of college. 

So to help you move past the intimidating aspects and focus more on the fun and meaning, in this post, we’ll describe what differentiates the personal statement from other college essays and what function it serves in your college application. We’ll also share what qualities can help a personal statement stand out, how to find a stronger topic, how to set yourself up for an easier writing process, and even share some essay examples we loved.

A personal statement is an essay in which you demonstrate aspects of who you are by sharing some of the qualities, skills, and values you’ll bring to college. A written personal statement is typically used by college admission offices, but it’s also often used by scholarship selection committees or specific academic departments to help assess potential candidates.  

To understand what the personal statement is, it’s helpful to imagine your entire college application as a human body. The personal statement is the metaphorical “heart”—it captures the essence of who you are as a person and what motivates you, both academically and personally.

Let’s briefly clarify what it isn’t . It’s not a classic five-paragraph essay you write for English class (thesis, body, restate thesis in almost the same words, but hopefully not repetitively, done). 

Here are some other ways a personal statement is different from an English class essay:

There’s no “right” essay topic to write about, as you’ll see from the range of essay topics in this post . Students have written successfully on topics ranging from: I Shot My Brother, to Home, to Being Pooped on by Animals. Oh, and btw, we’d recommend not reading too many sample essays before you’ve done some brainstorming of your own first. But whatever topic you land on, keep this in mind: 

The goal of your personal statement is to find a topic that demonstrates the skills, qualities, values, and interests you’ll bring with you to a college campus.

In fact, though we’ll keep saying “topic” of your essay because it’s clear and easy, the topic of your essay is ultimately always you. Just as the heart drives the actions of the rest of the body, the personal statement provides context for the rest—and, in some ways, is the heart—of your application. The other supplemental essays , if required by colleges, are opportunities to go into more detail about aspects of your interests, passions, and identity not covered in your personal statement.

The personal statement is a great place to discuss critical events or experiences in your life that catalyzed you to become the person you are now, or various aspects of your identity that strongly influence the way you interact with the world around you. It’s also an opportunity to introduce readers to your most important interests and values . For more on that, and exercises to help clarify those things, check those links (we’ll also offer more on them later).

What makes a great personal statement?

Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to writing your personal statement that will magically make colleges admit you. 

Bummer, we know.

That said, the best personal statements often share a lot of the same qualities , even when they’re about drastically different topics. 

Here, in our opinion, are a few qualities you’ll find in an outstanding personal statement:

You can identify the applicant’s core values. In a great personal statement, we should be able to get a sense of what fulfills, motivates, or excites the author. These can be things like humor, beauty, community, and autonomy, just to name a few. So when you read back through your essay, you should be able to detect at least 4-5 different values throughout.  When you look for these values, also consider whether or not they’re varied or similar. For instance, values like hard work, determination, and perseverance … are basically the same thing. On the other hand, more varied values like resourcefulness, healthy boundaries, and diversity can showcase different qualities and offer a more nuanced sense of who you are.

It’s vulnerable. We love when, after reading an essay, we feel closer to the writer. The best essays we’ve seen are the ones where students have let their guard down some. Don’t be afraid to be honest about things that scare, challenge, or bother you. The personal statement is a great space for you to open up about those aspects of yourself. As you’re writing, ask yourself: Does the essay sound like it’s mostly analytical, or like it’s coming from a deeper, more vulnerable place? Another way of asking this: Does it sound like the author wrote it using mostly their head (intellect), or their heart and gut? Remember, this is the “heart” of your application. It’s a place for emotional vulnerability. After reading it, the admission officer should (we hope) feel like they have a better sense of who you are.

It shows insight and growth. Your personal statement should ideally have at least 3-5 “so what” moments, points at which you draw insights or reflections from your experiences that speak to your values or sense of purpose. Sometimes, “so what” moments are subtle. Other times, they’re more explicit. Either way, the more illuminating, the better. They shouldn’t come out of nowhere, but they also shouldn’t be predictable. You want your reader to see your mind in action and take that journey of self-reflection with you.

It demonstrates craft (aka it’s articulate and reads well). While content is important, craft is what’ll bring the best stories to life. That’s why it’s important to think of writing as a process—it’s very rare that we’ve seen an outstanding personal statement that didn’t go through at least 5 drafts. Everything you write should be carefully considered . You don’t want your ideas to come off as sloppy or half-baked. Your reader should see the care you put into brainstorming and writing in every sentence. Ask yourself these questions as you write:

Do the ideas in the essay connect in a way that’s logical, but not too obvious (aka boring)? 

Can you tell that the author spent a lot of time revising the essay over the course of several drafts? 

Is it interesting and succinct throughout? If not, where do you lose interest? Where could words be cut? Which part isn’t revealing as much as it could be?

If you’ve written a first draft and you’re still not sure whether the essay is what you want it to be, give it to a trusted friend, teacher, or family member and have them evaluate it based on these 4 general criteria. Sometimes, we spend so much time on an essay that it’s useful to get another person’s point of view.

The answer to this question dovetails with the approach you’re taking to structuring your essay, so let’s talk about that a bit first.

And while structure may seem nebulous, offering vast options, you can really boil it down to just two approaches: montage or narrative.

So … what are those? And how can you generate some great content for either structure?

Whether you take a Narrative or Montage Approach to structuring your essay depends on your answer to this question:

Do you feel like you’ve faced significant challenges in your life … or not so much? (And do you want to write about them?)

If yes (to both), you’ll most likely want to use Narrative Structure .

If no (to either), you’ll probably want to try Montage Structure .

The above links dive into greater detail if you’re curious, but essentially, Narrative Structure is the classic story structure, focusing roughly equally on a) Challenges You Faced, b) What You Did About Them, and c) What You Learned. Paragraphs and events are connected causally. (Not casually , btw, but causally—as in, through cause and effect.)

Montage Structure focuses on a series of experiences and insights that are connected thematically (so, for example, 5 pairs of pants that connect to 5 different sides of who you are).

So how does structure play into what makes a great personal statement topic?

We believe a montage essay (i.e., an essay NOT about challenges) is more likely to stand out if the topic or theme of the essay is:

X. Elastic (i.e., something you can connect to a variety of examples, moments, or values)

Y. Less common (i.e., something other students probably aren’t writing about)

We believe that a narrative essay is more likely to stand out if it contains: 

X. Difficult or compelling challenges

These aren’t binary—rather, each can be placed on a spectrum.

“Elastic” will vary from person to person. You might be able to connect mountain climbing to family, history, literature, science, social justice, environmentalism, growth, insight … and someone else might not connect it to much of anything. Maybe trees?

“Less common” —every year, thousands of students write about mission trips, sports, or music. It’s not that you can’t write about these things, but it’s a lot harder to stand out. 

“Difficult or compelling challenges” can be put on a spectrum with things like getting a bad grade or not making a sports team on the weaker end, and things like escaping war or living homeless for three years on the stronger side. While you can possibly write a strong essay about a weaker challenge, it’s really hard to do.

“Insight” is the answer to the question “so what?” A great insight is likely to surprise the reader a bit, while a so-so insight likely won’t. (Insight is something you’ll develop in an essay through the writing process, rather than something you’ll generally know ahead of time for a topic, but it’s useful to understand that some topics are probably easier to pull insights from than others.)

To clarify, you can still write a great montage with a very common topic, or a narrative that offers so-so insights. But the degree of difficulty goes up. Probably way up.

With that in mind, how do you brainstorm possible topics that are on the easier-to-stand-out side of the spectrum?

Would you Rather watch instead?

Brainstorming your (outstanding) personal statement topic

In our experience, virtually every great college essay comes from good brainstorming. So, early on, stay in exploration mode—we recommend that students outline at least 2-3 different ideas before starting a draft. 

Quality brainstorming can reveal great topics that you wouldn’t have thought about otherwise (and that you may not even know you can/are allowed to write about). Also, more on this in a bit, but outlining well is a huge time-saver, as it can help you either build a better first draft or reveal that you may not have as much to say about a topic as you might’ve initially thought. 

Here are 5 great brainstorming exercises to get you started: 

Values Exercise

Essence Objects Exercise

21 Details Exercise

Everything I Want Colleges To Know About Me Exercise

Feelings and Needs Exercise

That Values Exercise is your cornerstone—those values are what you’ll want to thread throughout your application, regardless of what structure you use in your personal statement. 

We’d recommend doing all of those exercises, regardless of which structure you think you may use, as you may find something new in exploring, and many students will have to write a bunch of supplemental essays anyway.

That said, if you’re thinking Narrative Structure may be your thing (as in, you have some strong challenges you want to write about), be sure to spend a nice chunk of time exploring the Feelings and Needs Exercise (linked above), as it can directly lead to a strong outline and first draft.

If you’re thinking montage, think about how things like your essence objects and 21 details may be thematically linked, and how they can connect to your core values and memories. After doing those, you can also check out this list of 21 College Essay Topics and Ideas That Worked to get a sense of some topics that have paid off. We’ll draw your attention to some of the specific examples in the tips below. We’ve seen great montages built around things like:

Identity: This can be anything from sexuality, to culture, to race, to religion. For examples, check out “ My Grandma’s Kimchi ” or “ The Five Families Essay .”

Academic/career interests: This isn’t just a list of your favorite classes or a lengthy explanation of how well you did on that one AP Calculus test junior year. Instead, it’s more of an exploration of your educational interests and a meditation on how that might influence the work you do in the future. For examples, check out “ Why Behavioral Economics ” and “ Flying .”

Meaningful objects: Those “essence objects.” They’re basically just objects that mean more to you because they connect to your values at a deeper level. For instance, maybe you’d choose dumplings because they remind you of family dinners on Chinese New Year and a specific moment when you had to navigate your cultural identity. So, talking about dumplings might give you an entry point into talking about things like family and cultural connection. Doing the Essence Objects Exercise linked above will help you figure out what kind of objects might serve this function in your life. See the “ Happiness Spreadsheet ” essay for an example.

Significant Obstacles or Events: You might choose to write about a struggle you’ve faced or a dilemma that forced you to think more deeply about some aspect of who you are or what you’re interested in. “ The Tally On My Uniform ” and “ Dead Bird ” are two examples.

It’s important to note that some of these topics will likely overlap. You might choose to write about a significant challenge you faced that related to your identity in some way. Or maybe you’ll want to include details about both academic and extracurricular interests. Don’t feel like you have to choose just one. This list is just to give you a sense of what kind of topics you can explore.

How should I write a personal statement?

First, outline.

Seriously? Outline?

To get into just a little more nuance—if you have a ton of time until your deadline, and you don’t mind maybe throwing away entire drafts and starting over, then feel free to just dive in and write.

Otherwise, outline. Doing so will save you time and make your writing better.

So how do you outline?

For a narrative, use the Feelings and Needs Exercise , and build clear bullet points for the Challenges + Effects, What I Did About It, and What I Learned. Those become your outline. 

Yeah, that simple.

For a montage, outline 4-7 ways your thread connects to different values through different experiences, and if you can think of them, different lessons and insights (though these you might have to develop later, during the writing process). For example, how auto repair connects to family, literature, curiosity, adventure, and personal growth (through different details and experiences).

Here are some solid example outlines:

Narrative outline (developed from the Feelings and Needs Exercise)

Challenges:

Domestic abuse (physical and verbal)

Controlling father/lack of freedom

Sexism/bias

Prevented from pursuing opportunities

Cut off from world/family

Lack of sense of freedom/independence

Faced discrimination

What I Did About It:

Pursued my dreams

Traveled to Egypt, London, and Paris alone

Challenged stereotypes

Explored new places and cultures

Developed self-confidence, independence, and courage

Grew as a leader

Planned events

What I learned:

Inspired to help others a lot more

Learned about oppression, and how to challenge oppressive norms

Became closer with mother, somewhat healed relationship with father

Need to feel free

And here’s the essay that became: Easter

Montage outline:

Thread: Home

Values: family, tradition, literature

Ex: “Tailgate Special,” discussions w/family, reading Nancy Drew

Perception, connection to family

Chinese sword dance

Values: culture/heritage, meticulousness, dedication, creativity

Ex: notebook, formations/choreography

Nuances of culture, power of connection

Values: science/chemistry, curiosity 

Synthesizing plat nanoparticles

Joy of discovery, redefining expectations

Governor’s School

Values: exploration, personal growth

Knitting, physics, politics, etc.

Importance of exploring beyond what I know/am used to, taking risks

And here’s the essay that became: Home

Once you’ve got a solid outline, start drafting. A few really useful things for your first draft:

Don’t worry about word count (within reason).

Don’t worry about making your first draft perfect—it won’t be. Just write.

Don’t worry about a fancy opening or ending.

We’ve seen way too many students not write about the things they need to explore in a first draft because they were worried about word count. If your first draft of a 650-word essay is 800 or 900 words, cool. You’ll have to cut eventually. But that’s the easy part (you generally just hit “delete”).

And it’s actually easier to write a good first draft if you’re not worrying about writing a good first draft. We know that sounds contradictory. But what we mean is that a first draft is good if it gives you a clear sense of where to head with your second and third drafts. That’s its job—to help map where you go next.

Linked to that, a strong opening and ending are things you can more easily develop once you’re clearer on your content and structure. So, for a first draft, if something cool comes to you, great. But if not, don’t let it stop you from drafting.

Jump in and spend some time getting your ideas down on paper. Remember your first draft is just a chance to mess around with different topics and thoughts. It doesn’t have to be anywhere close to perfect. If it helps, just think of it as a brain dump. Once you’ve got all your ideas somewhere, you can start to reorganize and make them more coherent. 

Revise (And revise. And revise ...)

Like we said earlier, it’s incredibly rare for an outstanding personal statement to not go through at least 5 drafts. So this is a big part of the process.

To get you started, this guide to Revising Your Essay in 5 Steps will help you create clearer logical flow, as will this breakdown of 9 different ways to effectively transition .

If you want to build a better opening , check out a bunch of options to play with there (we’d recommend experimenting, even if you have something you like—through exploring, you may find something even better).

And if you want to strengthen the ending of your essay , wander over that way.

Additionally, one of the best general tips we can give you as you revise is to read your essay out loud to yourself. And try to read from a total stranger’s perspective. 

Reading out loud will help you notice problems you maybe missed when reading it in your mind. And reading from a stranger’s perspective will help ensure you aren’t relying on things in your brain that need to be on the page (but aren’t). 

You might also try reading it to a trusted family member, teacher, or friend. They might be able to give you some constructive feedback to make your piece more relatable or accessible for other people. Just keep in mind that some people may have a good sense of what makes for strong writing in general, but not necessarily what makes for a strong college essay specifically.

For more about the essay writing process, check out our Ultimate Guide for writing your personal statement.

Want some guidance on your college applications?

Schedule a meeting to work with my team., three personal statement examples (with analysis for why they worked).

Example 1: "Cheers" 

While my friends binge The Office , I’m at home with my favorite family tavern, Cheers . Reminiscing on my first visit five-years-ago, going into my tenth visit, I realize the gang at Cheers is my mirror: they reflect how I’ve grown.  Sam Malone. Handsome, charming, ex-pro athlete. When I first met Sam, I had the typical impression: a playboy. However, I now see the real Sam: a compassionate being. Raised in Birmingham, I’ve learned many positive lessons, but there are some lessons I’m ashamed of. Homophobia is still prevalent in Alabama; something platonic as hugging your friend fuels ridicule. There’s an episode where Sam is conflicted after discovering his old best-friend was gay. By the end, he determines that whom his friend loves shouldn’t affect their friendship--a progressive act for 1983. This became personal when my brother came out. I was angered that a society that taught me Southern hospitality tried to teach me to hate one of the people I love most. Sam’s actions taught me who one chooses to love doesn’t change their humanity and encouraged me to promote that view in Alabama. When classmates make homophobic comments, I always bring up my brother and our story. These same classmates are now attending the annual Pride parades, standing up for our friends’ rights. Diane Chambers. Educated, elitist, starving artist. Diane loved the arts and displayed her work proudly, even if her cartoons of people depicted animals. As a kid, my dad attempted to teach me how to draw. These sessions ended in frustration, as I wasn’t able to recreate his work. While I was fascinated by the expression of creativity, I thought, “I’m not talented.” Through Diane’s character arcs, I learned art is not linear; it’s multi-dimensional. Diane would appreciate the discovery of my means of expression: graphic design and programming. I blend the two mediums to create an impactful product. Whether it’s designing and developing an app to battle the Tanzanian Water Crisis, or creating advertisements and social media posts for my internship at a construction-tech start-up, I reveal my vision through my greatest passion: technology. Dr. Frasier Crane. Intelligent, empathetic, scientist. Frasier (we’re on a first-name basis), joined the gang later after falling in love with Diane at a mental health retreat. I first met Frasier when I struggled to fit in with my peers. While I had a passion for STEM and its ability to uncover mysteries of the unknown, my peers had a passion for hating everything academic. While I thought Frasier was super cool, I still called him a nerd. However, watching the way Frasier embraced science gradually allowed me to realize my love for it is something to hone rather than suppress. Eventually, I developed enough confidence to reach out to a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to conduct computational physics research. Over the past three years, I have completed two research projects, currently researching the distinct applications of computer vision, and have become a pioneer within STEM.  Inspired by the love for Computer Science competitions, I founded the district’s first CS team. Upon concluding our presentation at the U.S. Capitol, I knew Frasier would be proud.  The Cheers gang. I have wondered why I clicked with them so well since we are different people. Sam the jock, Frasier the nerd, Diane the artist, I the awkward teenager. I’ve realized each of them is a part of me. When I face societal pressure, I always learn and overcome. While I’m passionate about science, I also love the arts. Whereas I used to be an antisocial 7th grader, I’m now a senior with great friends and mentors. No matter what I’m struggling with in life, I know I can return to Cheers , where everybody knows your name.

Why this essay worked:

This essay does a great job of using the Montage Structure to incorporate a bunch of different aspects of the applicant’s life into one coherent piece. You’ll notice that they use the TV show Cheers and the characters in it as a clothesline off which to “hang” their interest in computer science and graphic design, LGBTQ+ community allyship, and generally endearing nerdiness. This is a really clever way of bringing together seemingly disparate topics. It doesn’t take itself too seriously but tells a lot about the author and how she thinks. It also gives her a very clear structure for her essay. Each paragraph is devoted to one Cheers character and (more importantly) expounds on the ways the author connects to that individual. The essay has a clear purpose despite lacking a linear narrative.

Also notice that the author doesn’t necessarily have a super clear idea of what she wants to do, career-wise. However, she still incorporates specific details about how she’s synthesized computer science and artistic design in various clubs and events. She doesn’t explicitly have to tell us what her future career is for us to get a sense of what interests she might pursue in college. This is a prime example of how you can write an outstanding personal statement even if you don’t totally know what you want to do in college and haven’t faced a significant challenge.

Example 2: 

All that I remember from my childhood are happy memories - of blowing balloons in summer after eating an ice-cone, coming from school to find my favourite snacks lined up on the table, my grandma feeding me with her own hands and never failing to add that extra spoon of ghee (clarified butter) to my rice. My parents shielded us from everything that was bad in this world or could somehow hurt us. They were so protective that I learned to ride a bike on the roof of our three-story house because my parents didn’t think it was safe for me to ride on the road. Even on our roof, a place well within the four walls of our house, I had someone looking out for me. That protective bubble around me finally popped when I was stopped from entering a temple where my family goes annually on an auspicious day. I loved that subtle fragrance of saffron and seeing the beautifully decorated temple with thousands of pilgrims lining up. My grandpa donates a lot there which allows us to enter early in the morning and perform the rituals without the usual crowd. The problem this year was a new rule that prohibited Western clothing. The strange thing was that they didn’t stop male my cousin even though we were wearing the exact same thing, jeans and t-shirt. I wouldn’t be surprised if this happened today but I was then, as I was only in middle school. I hadn’t seen anything like this yet because my family never treated us differently -- we hadn’t previously seen this side of the world. I started trying to learn more about the “real world”, reading more news and participating in intercultural exchanges and debates, anything that would give me more insight. This process of exploring different versions of an event, of noticing how different people might see the same thing, made me more observant. But this also made me think of how others might see me and I became scared of being judged. When I was elected Head Girl this past year, I became even more self-conscious because I was in the limelight -- and everything I would do would reflect on the school. I thankfully realized how irrational my fears were during a hectic Round Square International Conference (RSIC) at school. I was busy heading our student team and managing crises. When a school bought more students than they’d registered, I didn’t have time to think, I had to rely on my instincts and take action. Teachers from across the world praised me; one even said I’d been the soul of our conference. These small but empowering moments have helped me realize that I could trust my decisions, my input counted too. I need to be myself and worry less about what others think. I could have easily changed my clothes that day at the temple but I didn’t because that’s not who I am. There’s always going to be someone who might not approve of what I do and that is all right.  I am choosing to attend college in the United States because there I can continue my quest to learn more about the complexities of this world. My family never allowed me to use the public transportation in my city. I understand their concern, but I think it’s time for me to explore outside the safety of home, to ride a bike or take the subway, make my mistakes, and learn my way. At school, I felt like I was in the spotlight yet so invisible mostly because I worried about what others might think. But now I will choose to be visible, choose to be me.

Off the bat, one of the biggest things that stands out about this essay is the level of detail in it. In the intro, the author evokes very visceral images of blowing balloons in the summer, extra spoonfuls of ghee on rice, and riding bikes on rooftops. The more you can drop the reader into your world and engage their senses, the better. You want people to be able to identify with you so that they have a clear sense of who you are as a person. It also helps you stand out. The more specifically you write, the less likely it is that anyone else could have written it. That’s what this whole personal statement thing is all about—showing what you can uniquely bring to the table. 

The other great thing about this essay is that it ends in a different place from where it begins. This shows insight and growth. The author goes from questioning her instincts and judgements to seeing her inherent value. She begins to gain confidence and see the positive ways in which she can contribute to the conversations she’s a part of. This transformation is important because it’s a hook that keeps people reading. They don’t know where the essay is going to take them, so they keep reading to see where the author will end up. It also demonstrates the applicant’s growth and ability to self-reflect, which are always great qualities to highlight in college essays.

Example 3: 

Apparently, I have a natural “mom vibe.”  On my volleyball team, I am team mom in every way. As a natural worrier, I like to make sure that everyone has all of their necessities: knee pads, water bottle, hair elastic, uniform. Did everyone go to the bathroom before leaving on the bus? Did we count to make sure that all fourteen of us are here? Does anyone want an apple slice? Over my many years of playing volleyball, I have learned how to play every position well enough to fill in for any member of my team, whether that’s front, back, libero, setter, or hitter, so that I can always be there for my team in a pinch.  A few years ago, I transitioned from looking after only my teammates to also helping actual children. I started volunteering at my former elementary school as a teacher’s assistant. I guide third graders through difficult word problems or sentence structures, sometimes translating the lesson to Mandarin for the Chinese students who are struggling with English. I live for that moment when the impossible suddenly becomes possible and I see a student use what they just learned correctly without any assistance. I love helping kids ask big questions, and think about how to solve them, because it reminds me of how my parents guided me. Ever since I can remember, every time my father and I are alone on a long trip, we ask each other questions and the other has to answer with scientific evidence. Do birds have eyelids? Why is gelatin gelatinous? What does schizophrenia look like in a brain? I love thinking about how things work from the molecular level all the way up to the mechanical level. During a recent internship, I had the opportunity to ask big questions through research, a step beyond the guesstimating I was used to doing in my dad’s CRV. The team I was working with was conducting studies focused on treating alcoholism. My job was to “clean up” the data, or make it more readable. I sifted through spreadsheets, digging for the important data and piecing everything together logically. Knowing that my contribution would have a positive impact on people’s lives was incredibly meaningful. I’ve always enjoyed putting things together like a puzzle. As Chief Layout Editor of my school newspaper, I help my designers compile every edition. Like a real-life game of Tetris, every article must fit perfectly with the other articles around it, lined up into evenly lengthed columns. No matter how much experience a graphic designer has, no one gets all of their articles laid out nicely on the first try. We solve every edition by trial and error, which often results in lots of frustration, but no amount of frustration can surpass the pride and satisfaction once we have all the pages compiled and printed. As a pediatrician, I will be able to strengthen and use all these parts of me. I will have the chance to treat a multitude of illnesses and injuries and problem solve my way through each one. Each day, I will be able to think critically and scientifically to give families possible solutions and peace of mind about their child’s health. I hope to continually expand my knowledge as medicine advances and ask big questions by frequently participating in research. Hopefully I’ll be able to work with a great group of peers in a clinic and in public health. I want to find new solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems, and finally, use all of my skills and qualities to help better the lives of others.  Plus, as a pediatrician, I will be able to take care of children who cannot always advocate for themselves, so my mom instinct will be one of my greatest assets.

This is another creative example of how you can go about writing a montage essay. The author uses her “mom vibe” to her advantage and discusses how her interest in attending to the people (and world) around her has influenced different spheres of her life. Notice how well the first line hooks us into the story. It’s short, sweet, funny, and visibly distinct from the denser paragraphs below. When you’re writing, think very carefully about your first sentence and the work it’s doing to rope your reader in. That first sentence is your first impression on readers, so you want it to be a good one. 

One last standout aspect of this essay is the way it uses questions. In it, the author poses a lot of big and (oftentimes) unanswered questions. This is great because it highlights her natural curiosity and shows her mind in action. She doesn’t have to answer the questions for them to speak volumes about her personality and interests. Don’t feel like you have to resolve everything neatly by the end of your essay. That would be unrealistic, and ultimately, pretty uninteresting. It’s okay to pose questions for the sake of sheer wonder. In fact, it’s better than okay—it’s great. Nerd out a little. Have fun with it.

With all these writing/brainstorming strategies and example essays, the personal statement shouldn’t feel too intimidating anymore. Now you have all the tools you need to start writing an amazing essay.

Another great read: College Application & Admissions Timeline (AKA What Should I be Doing Right Now?)

• Personal statement advice: business and management

Applying to university

• Getting started
• UCAS Tariff points
• Calculate your UCAS Tariff points
• Amendments to the Tariff consultation
• Offer rate calculator
• How to use the offer rate calculator
• Understanding historical entry grades data
• Admissions tests
• Deferred entry
• Personal statement advice and example: computer science
• Personal statement advice: English
• Personal statement advice: Midwifery
• Personal statement advice: animal science
• Personal statement advice: biology
• Personal statement advice: chemistry
• Personal statement advice: dance
• Personal statement advice: dentistry
• Personal statement advice: drama
• Personal statement advice: economics
• Personal statement advice: engineering
• Personal statement advice: geography
• Personal statement advice: history
• Personal statement advice: law
• Personal statement advice: maths
• Personal statement advice: media studies and journalism
• Personal statement advice: medicine
• Personal statement advice: modern languages
• Personal statement advice: music
• Personal statement advice: nursing
• Personal statement advice: pharmacy
• Personal statement advice: physiotherapy
• Personal statement advice: politics
• Personal statement advice: psychology
• Personal statement advice: social work
• Personal statement advice: sociology
• Personal statement advice: sports science
• Personal statement advice: statistics
• Personal statement advice: teacher training and education
• Personal statement advice: veterinary medicine
• Personal statement: finance and accounting
• Filling in your application
• Staying safe online
• How to write a personal statement that works for multiple courses
• How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement
• Fraud and similarity
• How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber
• How to end your personal statement
• Introducing the personal statement tool
• Personal statement dos and don'ts
• What to include in a personal statement
• Using AI and ChatGPT to help you with your personal statement
• Using your personal statement beyond a university application
• Carers, estranged students, refugees, asylum seekers, and those with limited leave to remain
• Personal statement guides
• References for mature students

Whether talking about a recent news story, how you meet targets in your weekend job, or simply why you want to study business at uni, that spark of genuine motivation and enthusiasm will get you noticed. That's what business admissions tutors told us when we asked them what they look for – and here are some more of their top tips.

Find out everything you need to know about writing your personal statement , including how to write a killer opening and our top tips.

A spot-on business personal statement – in a nutshell

Dr Pam Croney, admissions tutor at Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University, is especially looking for evidence of:

• an independent learner
• a thinker and doer
• an innovator or potential entrepreneur
• a good communicator who likes giving presentations
• an interest in what's happening out there in the business world

Can you demonstrate any of these?

She also likes it when applicants give their own views on a topical issue, like why you think a particular company crashed, what sparked the revival of a vintage brand, or whatever else gets you fired up. Admissions tutors love to know what you’re genuinely enthusiastic about!

What business and management tutors are looking for

• Structure and organisation: to study management, you need to demonstrate that you are capable of managing yourself. Your personal statement needs to be structured, organised, and free of spelling or grammatical errors.
• First impressions count: Sue Blything-Smith, Business and Management Admissions Tutor from University Campus Suffolk, says 'you should aim to be unique and original and provide a good opening line that reveals something about your aptitude and enthusiasm’. She really likes to see statements that demonstrate personality and flair but don't go too over the top: keep it formal and remain objective.
• Examples of your relevant skills: Sue is also impressed by applicants who describe situations where they’ve demonstrated relevant skills like good communication or teamwork, problem-solving, initiative, leadership, or achieving goals.
• Research the course: London School of Economics is keen to know things like why you want to study management, what specific aspects of their course interest you, how it relates to your academic studies, and what additional reading or other activities have led you to apply.
• Entrepreneurial flair: Bournemouth likes its business studies applicants to show they are 'self-starters' who enjoy identifying and solving business problems.

Making your business experience count

It’s not just what you've done but how you've reflected on it. If you work-shadowed the CEO of a multi-national company, that's great, but it will have zero impact unless you spell out what you personally gained from it.

Similarly, if your part-time supermarket job or role in a Young Enterprise programme has helped you develop your skills and confidence, that’s great too. But it will only have an impact on your statement if you explain how or give an actual example.

It's the "how" that brings your statement to life and makes it interesting and personal. So try to think of specific occasions or unique ways you have demonstrated your potential, or maybe something you've observed about customer behaviour, management styles or an effective (or ineffective) marketing campaign.

It's even better if you can then link it to something you've learned in your business, economics, or psychology studies, or read in the Financial Times, The Economist, or on the BBC website.

Or consider the transferable skills you've gained through extracurricular activities and how they can show what the University of Bath describes as 'an active interest in understanding people, work, and organisations'.

Check out our guide to business, management, and administrative studies  to find out what courses are available, areas of employment, and where to find out more about careers.

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By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 18 August 2023 | 22 min read

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Stand out from the crowd: here's how to write a good personal statement that will get you noticed

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Your personal statement forms a core part of your university application, and the sooner you get going, the better you can make it. You may think that your personal statement won’t matter as much to unis as your grades and experience but a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grades. Sure, your application might not reach that deal breaker stage. But is it something you want to leave to chance?  Here we’ll take you through the process of planning, writing and checking a good personal statement, so you end up with something you can submit with confidence. And to make sure the advice we're giving you is sound, we’ve spoken to admissions staff at loads of UK universities to get their view. Look out for video interviews and advice on applying for specific subjects throughout this piece or watch our personal statement playlist on YouTube .

• Are you looking for personal statement examples? Check our library of hundreds of real personal statements, on The Student Room

Personal statement deadlines

You'll need to make sure you've got your personal statement written well in advance of your application deadline. Below are the main university application deadline dates for 2024 entry.

2024 entry deadlines

16 October 2023: Deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities, along with most medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses.   31 January 2024: Deadline for applications to the majority of undergraduate courses. After this date, universities will start allocating places on these courses –   but you can still apply after the 31 January deadline , as this article explains . 30 June 2024:  Students who apply after this date will be entered into Clearing .

• Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a central part of your Ucas application, where you explain why you’ve chosen a particular course and why you’ll be good at it. It's your chance to stand out against other candidates and hopefully get that all-important offer. You only write one personal statement which is then read by each university you apply to, so if you are applying for more than one subject (or it's a combined course) it's crucial that you include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects. Personal statements are especially important if you’re trying to get on a very competitive course, where you need to do anything you can to stand out to admissions tutors. Courteney Sheppard, senior customer experience manager at Ucas, advises that your personal statement is "the only part of the application that you have direct control over. Do lots of research to demonstrate your passion, curiosity and drive to pursue your chosen subject." There’s a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. This may appear generous (read: long) but once you've got going you may find yourself having to edit heavily.

• Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

1. Plan what you want to cover

The first thing you need to do is make a plan. Writing a personal statement off the top of your head is difficult. Start by making some notes, answering the following questions:

• What do you want to study?
• Why do you want to study it?
• What is there about you that shows you’re suited to studying this subject at university? Think about your personality, as well as your experiences.
• What are your other interests and skills?

These few points are going to form the spine of your personal statement, so write them in a way that makes sense to you. You might want to make a simple bulleted list or you might want to get all arty and use a mindmap. Whatever you choose, your aim is the same. You want to get it clear in your own head why a university should offer you a place on its course. Getting those details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. You might try carrying a notebook with you or set up a memo on your phone. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down. Inspiration sometimes comes more easily when you’re thinking about something else entirely. It might help to take a look at The Student Room for some sample personal statements by university and sample personal statements by subjects , to give you an idea of the kind of thing you want to include. 

• Read more: personal statement FAQs

2. Show off your experience

Some things are worth adding to your personal statement, some things are not. Firmly in the second camp are your qualifications. You don’t need to mention these as there’s a whole other section of your personal statement where you get to detail them very precisely. Don’t waste a single character going on about how great your GCSE grades are – it’s not what the admissions tutor wants to read. What they do want to see is: what have you done? OK, so you’ve got some good grades, but so do a lot of other applicants. What have you done that’s different, that shows you off as someone who really loves the subject you’re applying for? Spend some time thinking about all the experience you have in that subject. If you’re lucky, this might be direct work experience. That’s going to be particularly appropriate if you’re applying for one of the more vocational subjects such as medicine or journalism . But uni staff realise getting plum work experience placements is easier for some people than others, so cast your net wider when you’re thinking about what you’ve done. How about after-school clubs? Debating societies? Are you running a blog or vlog? What key skills and experience have you picked up elsewhere (eg from hobbies) that could be tied in with your course choice? Remember, you’re looking for experience that shows why you want to study your chosen subject. You’re not just writing an essay about what you're doing in your A-level syllabus. Use this checklist as a guide for what to include:

• Your interest in the course. Why do you want to spend three years studying this subject at university?
• What have you done outside school or college that demonstrates this interest? Think about things like fairs/exhibitions, public lectures or voluntary work that is relevant to your subject.
• Relevant work experience (essential for the likes of medicine, not required for non-vocational courses such as English )
• Skills and qualities required for that career if appropriate (medicine, nursing and law as obvious examples)
• Interest in your current studies – what particular topics have made an impression on you?
• Any other interests/hobbies/experiences you wish to mention that are relevant either to the subject or 'going to uni'. Don't just list your hobbies, you need to be very selective and state clearly what difference doing these things has made to you.
• Plans for a gap year if you’re deferring entry.

Read more: 6 steps you need to take to apply to university

3. Be bold about your achievements

Don't be bashful about your achievements; that’s not going to help you get into uni. It's time to unleash your inner Muhammed Ali and get all “I am the greatest” with your writing. Do keep it focused and accurate. Do keep your language professional. But don’t hide your qualities beneath a layer of false modesty. Your personal statement is a sell – you are selling yourself as a brilliant student and you need to show the reader why that is true. This doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and if you’re finding it difficult to write about how great you are it’s time to enlist some help. Round up a friend or two, a family member, a teacher, whoever and get them to write down your qualities. Getting someone else’s view here can help you get some perspective. Don’t be shy. You are selling your skills, your experience and your enthusiasm – make sure they all leap off the screen with the way you have described them.

• Read more: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement  

4. How to start your personal statement

Type your personal statement in a cloud-based word processing program, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word and don’t copy and paste it into Ucas Hub until it’s finished.  One of the benefits of doing it this way is that you can run spell check easily. (Please note, though, that Word adds "curly" quotation marks and other characters (like é or ü) that won't show up on your Ucas form, so do proofread it on Ucas Hub before submitting it to ensure it is how you typed it.)  Another big benefit is that you'll always have a backup of what you've written. If you're being super careful, you could always save your statement in another place as well. Bear in mind that extra spaces (eg adding spaces to the beginnings of paragraphs as indentation) are removed on Ucas. In your first sentence, cut to the chase. Why do you want to do the course? Don’t waste any time rambling on about the daydreams you had when you were five. Just be clear and concise – describe in one line why this course is so important to you. Then, in the rest of your intro, go into more detail in demonstrating your enthusiasm for the course and explaining how you decided this is what you want to do for the next three or more years. However you choose to start your statement, just avoid the following hoary old chestnuts. These have been some of the most used lines in personal statements over the years – they are beyond cliche, so don’t even think about it.

• From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
• For as long as I can remember, I have…
• I am applying for this course because… 
• I have always been interested in… 
• Throughout my life I have always enjoyed… 
• Reflecting on my educational experiences… 
• [Subject] is a very challenging and demanding [career/profession/course]… 
• Academically, I have always been… 
• I have always wanted to pursue a career in… 
• I have always been passionate about…   

5. Focus your writing on why you've chosen that subject

So you’ve got your intro done – time to nail the rest of it. Bear in mind that you’ve got to be a little bit careful when following a personal statement template. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying someone else’s style, and in the process lose all of your own voice and personality from your writing. But there is a rough order that you can follow, which should help keep you in your flow. After your opening paragraph or two, get into any work experience (if you’ve got it). Talk about extracurriculars: anything you've done which is relevant to the subject can go here – hobbies, interests, volunteering. Touch on your career aspirations – where do you want this course to take you? Next, show your enthusiasm for your current studies. Cite some specific examples of current work that you enjoyed. Show off your relevant skills and qualities by explaining how you’ve used these in the past. Make sure you’re giving real-world examples here, not just vague assertions like “I’m really organised and motivated”. Try to use examples that are relevant.   Follow this up with something about you as a person. Talk about non-academic stuff that you like to do, but link it in some way with the course, or with how it shows your maturity for dealing with uni life. Round it all off by bringing your main points together, including a final emphasis of your commitment to studying this particular course.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement in an evening  

6. How long should a personal statement be?

You've got to work to a very specific limit when writing your personal statement. In theory you could use up to 4,000 characters – but you’re probably more likely to be limited by the line count. That's because it's a good idea to put line breaks in between your paragraphs (to make it more readable) and you only get a maximum of 47 lines. With this in mind, 3,500 characters is a more realistic limit. But when you’re getting started you should ignore these limits completely. At first, you just want to get down everything that you feel is important. You'll probably end up with something that is far too long, but that's fine. This is where you get to do some polishing and pruning. Keep the focus of your piece on the course you’re applying for, why you want to do it and why you’re perfectly suited to it. Look through what you’ve written so far – have you got the balance right? Chop out anything that goes on a bit, as you want each point to be snappy and succinct.

• Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements  

7. Keep it simple

8. Smart ways to end your personal statement

Writing a closing line that you’re happy with can feel as tricky as coming up with your opener. What you’re looking for here is a sign-off that is bold and memorable. The final couple of sentences in your statement give you the opportunity to emphasise all the good stuff you’ve already covered. Use this space to leave the reader in no doubt as to what an excellent addition you would be to their university. Pull together all your key points and – most importantly – address the central question that your personal statement should answer: why should you get a place on the course?

• Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang  

9. Make sure your personal statement has no mistakes

Now you’ve got a personal statement you’re happy with, you need to make sure there are no mistakes. Check it, check it a second time, then check it again. Once you’ve done that, get someone else to check it, too. You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you send through a personal statement with spelling and/or grammatical errors. You’ve got months to put this together so there really is no excuse for sending through something that looks like a rush job. Ask your teachers to look at it, and be prepared to accept their feedback without getting defensive. They will have seen many personal statements before; use what they tell you to make yours even better. You’ve also got another chance here to look through the content of your personal statement, so you can make sure the balance is right. Make sure your focus is very clearly on the subject you are applying for and why you want to study it. Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or social media where anyone can see it. You will get picked up by the Ucas plagiarism checker. Similarly, don't copy any that you find online. Instead, now is a good time to make your parents feel useful. Read your personal statement out to them and get them to give you feedback. Or try printing it out and mixing it up with a few others (you can find sample personal statements on The Student Room). Get them to read them all and then try to pick yours out. If they can't, perhaps there's not enough of your personality in there.  

10. Don't think about your personal statement for a whole week

If you followed the advice at the very start of this guide, you’ve started your personal statement early. Good job! There are months before you need to submit it. Use one of these weeks to forget about your personal statement completely. Get on with other things – anything you like. Just don’t go near your statement. Give it a whole week and then open up the document again and read through it with fresh eyes. You’ll gain a whole new perspective on what you’ve written and will be well placed to make more changes, if needed.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say  

10 steps to your ideal personal statement

In summary, here are the ten steps you should follow to create the perfect personal statement.  

Personal statement dos and don'ts

• Remember that your personal statement is your personal statement, not an article written about your intended field of study. It should tell the reader about you, not about the subject.
• Only put in things that you’re prepared to talk about at the interviews.
• Give convincing reasons for why you want to study the course – more than just "enjoying the subject" (this should be a given).
• For very competitive courses, find out as much as you can about the nature of the course and try to make your personal statement relevant to this.
• Be reflective. If you make a point like 'I like reading', 'I travelled abroad', say what you got from it.
• Go through the whole thing checking your grammar and your spelling. Do this at least twice. It doesn’t matter if you’re not applying to an essay-based course – a personal statement riddled with spelling mistakes is just going to irritate the reader, which is the last thing you want to do. If this is something you find difficult then have someone look over it for you.
• Leave blank lines between your paragraphs. It’s easier for the reader to get through your personal statement when it’s broken into easily digestible chunks. Remember that they’re going to be reading a lot of these! Make yours easy to get through.
• Get someone else's opinion on your statement. Read it out to family or friends. Share it with your teacher. Look for feedback wherever you can find it, then act upon it.
• Don’t write it like a letter. Kicking off with a greeting such as "Dear Sir/Madam" not only looks weird, it also wastes precious space.
• Don’t make jokes. This is simply not the time – save them for your first night in the union.
• Don’t criticise your current school or college or try to blame teachers for any disappointing grades you might have got.
• Be afraid of details – if you want your PS to be personal to you that means explaining exactly which bits of work or topics or activities you've taken part in/enjoyed. It's much more compelling to read about one or two detailed examples than a paragraph that brushes over five or six.
• Just list what you're doing now. You should pull out the experiences that are relevant to the courses which you're applying to.
• Mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated by you or what you learnt from them. Anyone can write "I have great leadership skills" in a PS, actually using a sentence to explain when you demonstrated good leadership skills is much rarer and more valuable.
• Refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs (or equivalent).
• Give explanations about medical or mental health problems. These should be explained in your reference, not your PS.
• Apply for too many different courses, making it difficult to write a convincing personal statement which supports the application.
• Write a statement specific to just one institution, unless you're only applying to that one choice.
• Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else! This means do not plagiarise. All statements are automatically checked for plagiarism by Ucas. Those that are highlighted by the computer system are checked manually by Ucas staff. If you’re found to have plagiarised parts of your statement, the universities you apply to will be informed and it could jeopardise your applications.
• Use ChatGPT or another AI program to write your personal statement for you. Or, if you do, make sure you thoroughly edit and personalise the text so it's truly yours. Otherwise you're very much at risk of the plagiarism point above.

You may want to look at these...

How to write your university application.

Tips for writing your university application, including deadlines and personal statements

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A question-based personal statement will be required as part of university applications from autumn 2025 onwards

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It might feel like it's taking forever for your uni offers to come through. Find out what's going on, and when you should hear back

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Example of a personal statement for a business degree  .

A business degree personal statement has a big impact on your chances of getting admitted to your desired University.

While grades and UCAS points are an important part of your application, indicating intellectual or academic strength, personal statements are how you demonstrate your character and extracurricular experience.

A personal statement shows your academic achievements in addition to providing context and insight into your passion and goals for business studies. Admissions committees want to know the value you can bring to the university - a personal statement helps them to better determine this.  

This guide will help you write a comprehensive and effective personal statement - one that complements your academic scores with a clear description of your unique talents, experience, ambitions and goals. 

The Structure of a Good Personal Statement

A good business degree personal statement should have a clear and logical structure.

Typically you would want to include the following sections…

Introduction:

• Your motivation for pursuing a business degree.
• Your reason for choosing this course at this university.

Skills and Achievements:

• Key traits and characteristics.
• Your academic accomplishments.
• Any business-related extracurriculars and leadership roles.

Your Business Experiences:

• Work shadow programs, Internships, group projects, or roles that highlight your relevant skills and learning inside or outside of the classroom.
• Key contributions and takeaways from each experience.

Closing Statement:

• Reiteration of your passion and suitability for the course.
• Vision for your future in business.

1. The Introduction: Crafting the Opener

The introduction of your personal statement sets the tone. It's where you explain 'why' you want to study a business degree. The opening lines are important because they capture the admissions committee's attention.

Clarity: Begin with a clear, concise statement about your desire to study business. This could stem from a lifelong fascination, a transformative experience, or a future goal you're aiming for. Explain briefly why you’re interested in this particular course at this particular University.

Personal Touch: Share a personal anecdote or experience that ignited your passion for business. Did a specific event or individual inspire you? Elaborate briefly, connecting it to your broader aspirations.

Forward-looking: Highlight where you envision a business degree taking you. Are you looking to drive innovation in a particular sector? Maybe you aspire to be a future leader in sustainable business practices?

Concise: Keep it short and impactful. Avoid meandering or generic statements. Be genuine about your motivation, ensuring it's specific to your aspirations. Any personal anecdotes should be concise and punchy - to the point.

Your introduction should come across sincerely. It should set the tone by offering a short description of your past inspirations and future ambitions in the realm of business.

2. Skills and Achievements

It’s important to effectively showcase your skills and achievements. Here's how to strategically highlight them:

Traits: Begin by pinpointing key character traits that support and emphasise your suitability for a business course. Are you a decisive problem solver? Perhaps you excel at analytical thinking or demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges. 

Identify your strongest relevant attributes and share them to paint a picture of the potential you can bring to the course. Committees are always looking to find candidates who have traits that will make them good business students and future industry leaders.

Academic: Reference all relevant courses or subjects that align with the courses you're applying to. Did you ace your 'Business Studies'? Why did you settle on the subjects and courses you chose at school? Perhaps you were involved in an olympiad? Make sure to mention any honours or accolades, or academic activities that showcase your academic ability and past performance. 

Academic excellence is always worth mentioning, even in school subjects you might feel are unrelated to business. Bear in mind that ‘business’ is vast, complicated, and ever-changing. It is difficult to predict what knowledge and skills might become critically important to business activity in the future. So, share your academic strengths and interests, whatever they may be. 

Activities: Beyond the classroom. Business schools value real-world engagement, leadership, and teamwork experience . Did you take part in any societies? Did you play a leadership role? Or partake in a notable entrepreneurship competition? Emphasise any leadership roles or participation in business-centric events. These experiences underscore your passion and hands-on involvement in the world of business.

3. Relevant Experience & Roles

A University admissions committee won’t expect you to have started your career already. But they will greatly value any extracurricular initiative. If you have been involved in any entrepreneurial, leadership, or management roles at school, then mention them. If you are a mature student, and have been in the workforce for some time, use any relevant work experience.

Internships or Work Experience: Were you part of an internship or work shadow programme? If so, then it would be excellent to mention how you actively participated in a formal business environment. Describe what business you were a part of, what you did, and what you learned from the experience. Perhaps that experience taught you skills? Any exposure to a business environment is valuable.

Projects & Working as Part of a Team: Perhaps you spearheaded a project at school? Working effectively in a team is a highly valued skill. If you can showcase any team experience that will definitely stand in your favour. Highlight the challenges that you faced, how you resolved them, and show what you learned from your experience working with a group of people. 

Roles: Did you assume any significant roles at school or in a business setting outside of school? Outline your responsibilities, the impact you made, and the insights you gleaned from both your successes and failures. This demonstrates not just your capability to understand a role and its responsibilities, but also your adaptability in changing challenging circumstances. 

If you felt you learned from an unsuccessful project where you had an important role, then share what you might do differently - what you learned. The ability to learn from past ‘failures’ is an extremely desirable trait that admissions committees will value highly.

For each experience, focus on the value you added and the lessons you learned. This will give admissions committees a clear picture of your practical abilities and your potential contribution to their course.

4. Closing Statement: A Strong Impression

Your closing remarks are crucial. They should leave the admissions committee with a good impression and reinforce your fit for the course.

Reiterate Passion: Briefly touch upon the core reasons driving your interest in business, consolidating what you've shared throughout your statement. Perhaps you're motivated by the challenges and opportunities of the evolving business landscape, or you're dedicated to making a positive impact in a specific sector.

Your fit for the Degree: Highlight your alignment with the specific business degree courses to which you're applying. Have you been particularly impressed by their focus on entrepreneurship or their reputation for fostering global leaders? Express how their unique offerings align with your aspirations.

Your Future Vision: Provide a glimpse into your future. Post-degree, where do you see yourself? Leading a startup? Championing sustainable practices in a multinational? Use this chance to project your potential contributions to the business world, showcasing ambition and forward-thinking.

Gratitude and Openness: Express appreciation for considering your application. Showcase your openness to further discussions, signalling your enthusiasm and readiness to engage with the institution.

End on a strong note, ensuring your closing words echo your dedication, clarity of vision, and the unique value you'll bring to the institution. 

Tips & Advice: Helpful Hints to Strengthen Your Personal Statement

Your personal statement is a reflection of your journey, aspirations, and suitability for the business degree. Keep these tips in mind for a standout submission:

• Authenticity: Always be genuine. While it's essential to present your best self, resist the urge to embellish or overstate. Authentic experiences resonate more than grand exaggerations.
• Clarity: Opt for clear, concise language. Admissions committees appreciate directness over dense jargon. Let your true voice shine through.
• Examples: Don't just state; demonstrate. If you claim to be a problem-solver, illustrate with an instance where you tackled a challenge head-on.
• Tailoring: Beyond expressing your passion for business, pinpoint why this specific degree aligns with your goals. Is it their renowned faculty, innovative curriculum, or alumni network?
• Review: Never underestimate the value of proofreading. Ensure your statement is free from errors, reads smoothly, and truly represents you. It also often pays to get someone else to read it and give you constructive feedback.

We hope this guide will help you to create the best personal business degree statement that you can. Best of luck with your applications going forward.

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How to Write a Personal Statement: Tell Your Story for Success

It’s not uncommon during the application process to come across a section asking you to write a personal statement. This can happen whenever you fill out an application, whether it’s for college admissions, a new job, or anything else. If you’ve ever stared at the question, wondering what exactly they mean by “personal statement,” that’s understandable. They’re essentially asking you to distill who you are, where you excel, and what you stand for in the space of only a few paragraphs. That’s a lot of pressure, especially if you haven’t exactly thought about those key questions before. It will likely be the first time you’ve ever needed to know how to write a personal statement.

What Is a Personal Statement?

“A personal statement should summarize what the candidate has done in the past, what they want to do next, and the skills/knowledge/experience that bridges the two.” Zena Everett, director and career coach at Second Careers

For example, a personal statement to get into college will likely talk about high school achievements and awards as well as what the individual hopes to study. 

The Purpose of Having a Personal Statement

Essentially, a personal statement represents your personality, goals, and achievements in a succinct way for those in decision-making roles. They should get a good sense of who you are and what kind of person you want to become. You may also choose to include what career coach Donna Shannon calls a “passion statement,” which is a quick summary of why you love your job.

Structure of a Personal Statement

Narrative structure, montage structure.

Not everyone faces a monumental challenge in their life. In such cases, a montage structure might be the best choice. This structure strings together a series of events and experiences you’ve had that all are tied into a similar theme . The experiences should represent different facets of your life that give helpful insight into your character and skills.

How to Write a Personal Statement

1. create an outline, 2. begin with a personality-driven introduction.

Your introduction should serve more than just to ease the reader into your personal statement. Take the opportunity to show your personality from the very start . Indicate the type of person you are, and hook the reader with your unique qualities. Part of the introduction should discuss why the position or school interests you and why you would be the perfect fit there. The introduction should compel the reader to continue with the rest of the personal statement.

3. Detail Your Experiences, Skills, and Passions

4. end with a strong conclusion, 5. review and refine, tips for having an effective personal statement.

An additional thing to note is to actually answer the questions given in the prompt. A general personal statement can still be effective, but the prompt usually tells you what exactly people will be looking for in your answer. Copying and pasting your personal statement for every application will lead to a statement that misses the mark, no matter how well-written it is. As recruiter and business manager Laura Ross writes , “If you don’t take the time to ensure your personal statement is relevant to each job application, it will appear that you’ve been a bit sloppy, or even lazy.”

Ultimately, you should never overlook the personal statement section of an application. “Take it seriously!” is the advice given by Darren Weeks, a senior recruitment partner at the Office for National Statistics. “A few lines isn’t good for a personal statement, and won’t provide the evidence needed to allow your application to be assessed fully.” Think about what you write, and give an honest, insightful response.

Personal Statement Example

Note that the following is merely a personal statement example and not one you should follow word for word. This example also uses the montage structure mentioned above.

One particular project that proved highly influential was a client-outreach program I spearheaded. Thanks to my bilingual background, I designed two different programs, thereby increasing the potential customer base and reaching more people than ever before. I was also part of a marketing team that doubled our company’s revenue while under a strict deadline with a limited budget. My planning skills were instrumental in getting that project off the ground. I also helped launch a new e-commerce branch, creating multiple opportunities to reach customers and solve their needs.

Personal Clarity Cultivates Long-Term Vision

Writing a personal statement helps you to gain perspective by facilitating greater long-term vision and self-understanding. In much the same way a vision statement can help an organization, having your own personal statement leads to better decision-making, clearer goals, and an overall stronger sense of self. All of these elements are necessary for success.

Creating a vision board can also help define your vision in life. For more on how to do that, read the following article:

How to Create a Vision Board That Works

Writing Center

Personal statements, getting started, brainstorming.

• Why do I want to pursue graduate studies or professional training?
• What aspect of this field is most compelling to me?
• How have I prepared myself (e.g. with jobs, internships, research) to succeed in this field?
• What are my academic interests and career goals?
• Have I faced any adversities that have impacted my studies? Are there any discrepancies in my academic or personal record that should be explained?
• What else can I say about myself to convince the committee that I am a serious candidate?
• Why have I chosen this particular school and program?
• How can my background, skills, or experiences contribute to the diversity of this program?

Writing Your Personal Statement

• How did this experience change me?
• What did I learn from this experience and how can I apply it in the future?
• How does this experience relate to my academic or career goals?
• What do I want the admissions committee to learn about me from this experience?

Also recommended for you:

CV personal statement examples

If you want to secure job interview, you need a strong personal statement at the top of your CV.

Your CV personal statement is a short paragraph which sits at the very top of your CV – and it’s aim is to summarise the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to read your CV in full.

In this guide I have included 17 CV personal statement examples from a range of professions and experience levels, plus a detailed guide of how to write your own personal statement that will get you noticed by employers

CV templates 

17 CV personal statement examples

To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look , and what should be included.

Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates – if you are experienced, check out our CV profile examples instead.

Graduate CV personal statement (no experience)

Although this  graduate has no paid work experience, they compensate for it by showcasing all of the skills and knowledge the have gained during their studies, and demonstrating how they apply their knowledge in academic and personal projects.

When you have little or no experience, it’s important to draw out transferable workplace skills from your studies and extracurricular work, to showcase them to employers.

Graduate CV personal statement (part time freelance experience)

This candidate has graduated with a degree in biochemistry but actually wants to start a career in digital marketing after providing some digital freelance services to fund their studies.

In this case, they haven’t made much mention of their studies because they aren’t relevant to the digital marketing agencies they are applying to. Instead they have focused their personal statement around their freelance work and passion for the digital field – although they still mention the fact they are degree educated to prove their academic success.

Build your CV now 

School leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate is 16 years old and has no work experience whatsoever, but they compensate for this by detailing their academic achievements that relate to the roles they are applying for (maths and literacy are important requirements in finance and accountancy roles).

They also add some info on their extracurricular activities and school work-placements, to strengthen this student CV further.

    Top tips for writing a CV personal statement

• Thoroughly research the jobs and companies you are planning to apply for to identify the type of candidate they are looking for – try to reflect that in your personal statement
• Don’t be afraid to brag a little – include some of your most impressive achievements from education, work or personal life
• Focus on describing the benefits an employer will get from hiring you. Will you help them to get more customers? Improve their workplace? Save them time and money?
• If you have no work experience, demonstrate transferable workplace skills from your education, projects, or even hobbies

School leaver CV personal statement (part time experience)

Although this person has only just left school, they have also undertaken some part-time work in a call centre alongside their studies.

To make the most of this experience, they have combined their academic achievements with their workplace exposure in this personal statement.

By highlighting their GCSE results, summer programme involvement, work experience and expressing their ambitions to progress within sales, this candidate really makes an appealing case for hiring them.

College leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate has left college with good grades, but does not yet have any work experience.

To compensate for the lack of workplace exposure, they have made their A level results prominent and highlighted skills and experience which would benefit the employers they are targeting.

Any recruiter reading this profile can quickly understand that this candidate has great academic achievements, a passion for IT and finance and the ability to transfer their skills into an office environment.

College student CV personal statement (freelance experience)

As this student has picked up a small amount of freelance writing work during their studies, they have made sure to brag about it in their personal statement.

They give details on their relevant A level studies to show the skills they are learning, and boost this further by highlighting the fact that they have been applying these skills in a real-life work setting by providing freelance services.

They also include key action verbs that recruiters will be looking for , such as creative writing, working to deadlines, and producing copy.

Academic CV personal statement

Aside from junior candidates, the only other people who might use a personal statement, are academic professionals; as their CV’s tend to be more longer and detailed than other professions.

This candidate provides a high level overview of their field of study, length of experience, and the roles they have held within universities.

School leaver CV personal statement with and sports experience

Although this person has no work experience, they are still able to show employers the value of hiring them by selling their other achievements and explaining how they could benefit an organisation.

They expand on their sports club involvement to demonstrate their teamwork, leadership skills, communication and motivation, which are all important traits in the workplace, and will be looked upon favourably by recruiters and hiring managers.

They also draw upon their future plans to study business studies and take a part time job, to further prove their ambition and dedication.

History graduate CV personal statement

This history graduate proves their aptitude for both academic achievement and workplace aptitude by showcasing valuable skills from their degree and voluntary work.

They do this by breaking down the key requirements for each and showing how their skills could be beneficial for future employers, such as listening, communication, and crisis management.

They also describe how their ability to balance studies alongside voluntary work has not only boosted their knowledge and skills, but also given excellent time management and organisational skills – which are vital assets to any employer.

Law graduate CV personal statement

This legal graduate makes the most from their work university work placements by using it to bulk out the contents of their CV personal statement.

They include their degree to show they have the necessary qualifications for legal roles, which is crucial, but more importantly, they showcase how they applied their legal skills within a real-life work setting.

They give a brief overview of the types of legal professionals they have been working alongside and the type of work they have been carrying out – this is all it takes to get the attention of recruiters and show employers they have what it takes to fulfil roles in the legal sector.

Medical student CV personal statement

This medical student proves their fit for the role by showcasing the key skills they have gained from their studies and their work experience placements.

In just these few sentences, they are able to highlight the vast amount of experience they have across different disciplines in the industry, something which is particularly important in the medical sector.

As they have not graduated yet and are still studying, they have provided proof of their most recent grades. This can give the recruiter some indication as to the type of grade they could be graduating with in the near future.

Masters student CV personal statement

This masters student has started by specifying their area of study, in this case, accounting, and given details about the specific areas of finance they are most interested in. This can hint towards their career goals and passions.

They have then carefully listed some of the key areas of accounting and finance that they are proficient in. For example, business finance, advanced corporate finance and statistics.

They have also outlined some of the transferable skills needed for accounting roles that employers will be looking out for, such as communication, attention to detail and analytical skills.

Finance student CV personal statement

As this finance student has recently undertaken some relevant work experience, they’ve made sure to shout about this in their personal profile.

But more than this, they have included a list of some of the important finance skills they gained as a result of this work experience – for example, financial reporting, processing invoices and month-end reconciliations.

Plus, through power words and phrases such as ‘prevent loss’ and ‘ improve upon accuracy and efficiency’, they have also showcased how they can apply these skills in a workplace setting to benefit the potential employer.

Internship  CV personal statement

This digital marketing professional has started their personal profile by outlining their most relevant qualifications and work experience, most notably their freelance role as a content manager.

They have also provided examples of some of the key marketing skills that potential employers might be looking for, including very detailed examples of the platforms and tools they are proficient in – for example, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.

They have then closed their statement by giving a detailed description of the type of role or opportunity they are looking for. In this case, an in-house position in a marketing company.

Graduate career changer personal statement

Switching careers as a graduate can be tough. Especially when it comes to writing a personal statement that will attract employers in your new chosen field.

This candidate is looking to move from history teaching into journalism, so they have created a statement which briefly mentions their current workplace, but mainly focuses on highlighting transferable skills which are relevant to journalism. They achieve this by discussing the writing skills they use in their current role, and mentioning their hobby of writing – including some publications they have been featured in for extra brownie points.

Business management graduate personal statement

This business management proves their ability to work within a junior business management position by swiftly highlighting their impressive degree (to ensure it is not missed) and summarising some of the real-life experience they have gained in management during their university placements and volunteering. They do not let their lack of paid work experience, stop them demonstrating their valuable skills.

PhD graduate

PhD graduate roles attract a lot of competition, so it’s important that your CV contains a personal statement that will quickly impress and attract recruiters.

This candidate provides a short-but-comprehensive overview of their academic achievements, whilst demonstrating their exceptional level of knowledge in research, languages and publication writing.

By highlighting a number of skills and abilities that are in high-demand in the academic workplace, this CV is very likely to get noticed and land interviews.

How to write a personal statement for your CV

Now that you’ve seen what a personal statement should look like and the type of content it should contain, follow this detailed guide to one for your own CV – and start racking those interviews up.

Guide contents

What is a CV personal statement?

Cv personal statement or cv profile, personal statement format, what to include in a cv personal statement.

• Personal statement mistakes

How to write persuasively

A personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your CV which gives employers an overview of your education, skills and experience

It’s purpose is to capture the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers when your CV is first opened – encouraging them to read the rest of it.

You achieve this by writing a tailored summary of yourself that explains your suitability for the roles you are applying for at a very high level, and matches your target job descriptions .

One question candidates often ask me is , “what is the difference between a personal statement and a CV profile?”

To be honest, they are almost the same – they are both introductory paragraphs that sit at the top of your CV… but there are 2 main differences

A personal statement tends to be used more by junior candidates (graduates, school leavers etc.) and is relatively long and detailed.

A CV profile tends to be favoured by more experienced candidates , and is shorter in length than a personal statement.

Note: If you are an experienced candidate, you may want to switch over to my CV profile writing guide , or example CV profiles page.

To ensure you grab recruiters’ attention with your personal statement, lay it out in the following way.

Positioning

You need to ensure that your personal statement sits at the very top of your CV, and all of it should be totally visible to readers, without the need to scroll down the page.

Do this by reducing the top page margin and minimising the space taken up by your contact details.

This will ensure that your whole personal statement can be seen, as soon as your CV is opened.

We have a Word CV template which can help you to get this right.

Size/length

Your personal statement needs to contain enough detail to provide an introduction to your skills and knowledge, but not so much detail that it bores readers.

To strike the right balance, anything between 8-15 lines of text is perfect – and sentences should be sharp and to-the-point.

As with the whole of your CV or resume , your personal statement should be written in a simple clean font at around size 10-12 to ensure that it can be read easily by all recruiters and employers.

Keep the text colour simple , ensuring that it contrasts the background (black on white is best) and break it into 2 or even 3 paragraphs for a pleasant reading experience.

It should also be written in a punchy persuasive tone, to help you sell yourself and increase your chances of landing interviews , I cover how to do this in detail further down the guide.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional CV templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Once you have the style and format of your personal statement perfected, you need to fill it with compelling content that tells recruiters that your CV is worth reading.

Here’s what needs to go into your personal statement…

Before you start writing your personal statement, it’s crucial that you research your target roles to find out exactly what your new potential employers are looking for in a candidate.

Run a search for your target jobs on one of the major job websites , look through plenty of adverts and make a list of the candidate requirements that frequently appear.

This research will show you exactly what to include in your personal statement in order to impress the recruiters who will be reading it.

Education and qualifications are an important aspect of your personal statement, especially if you are a junior candidate.

You should highlight your highest and most relevant qualifications, whether that is a degree, A levels or GCSEs. You could potentially go into some more detail around modules, papers etc. if they are relevant to the roles you are applying for.

It’s important that you discuss the experience you have gained in your personal statement, to give readers an idea of the work you are comfortable undertaking.

This can of course be direct employed work experience, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can also include:

• School/college Uni work placements
• Voluntary work
• Personal projects
• Hobbies/interests

As with all aspects of your CV , the content should be tailored to match the requirements of your target roles.

Whilst discussing your experience, you should touch upon skills used, industries worked in, types of companies worked for, and people you have worked with.

Where possible, try to show the impact your actions have made. E.g . A customer service agent helps to make sales for their employer.

Any industry-specific knowledge you have that will be useful to your new potential employers should be made prominent within your personal statement.

For example

• Knowledge of financial regulations will be important for accountancy roles
• Knowledge of IT operating systems will be important for IT roles
• Knowledge of the national curriculum will be important for teachers

You should also include some information about the types of roles you are applying for, and why you are doing so. Try to show your interest and passion for the field you are hoping to enter, because employers want to hire people who have genuine motivation and drive in their work.

This is especially true if you don’t have much work experience, as you need something else to compensate for it.

CV personal statement mistakes

The things that you omit from your personal statement can be just as important as the things you include.

Try to keep the following out of your personal statement..

Irrelevant info

Any information that doesn’t fall into the requirements of your target roles can be cut out of your personal statement. For example, if you were a professional athlete 6 years ago, that’s great – but it won’t be relevant if you’re applying to advertising internships, so leave it out.

Generic clichés

If you are describing yourself as a “ dynamic team player with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm” you aren’t doing yourself any favours.

These cliché terms are vastly overused and don’t provide readers with any factual details about you – so keep them to a minimum.

Stick to solid facts like education, skills , experience, achievements and knowledge.

If you really want to ensure that your personal statement makes a big impact, you need to write in a persuasive manner.

So, how do you so this?

Well, you need to brag a little – but not too much

It’s about selling yourself and appearing confident, without overstepping the mark and appearing arrogant.

For example, instead of writing.

“Marketing graduate with an interest in entering the digital field”

Be creative and excite the reader by livening the sentence up like this,

“Marketing graduate with highest exam results in class and a passion for embarking on a long and successful career within digital”

The second sentence is a much more interesting, makes the candidate appear more confident, throws in some achievements, and shows off a wider range of writing skills.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Your own personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above guidelines you will be able to create one which shows recruiters everything they need.

Remember to keep the length between 10-20 lines and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.

You can also check our school leaver CV example , our best CV templates , or our library of example CVs from all industries.

Good luck with the job hunt!

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Writing the Personal Statement

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

1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:

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

2. The response to very specific questions:

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

Questions to ask yourself before you write:

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

General advice

Answer the questions that are asked

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

Tell a story

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

Be specific

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

Find an angle

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

Concentrate on your opening paragraph

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

Tell what you know

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

Don't include some subjects

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

Do some research, if needed

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

Write well and correctly

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

Avoid clichés

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

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

Taylor Swift can absolutely sue Trump over the fake endorsement images he reposted. Winning a lawsuit might be harder.

• Donald Trump recently reposted images showing Taylor Swift and her fans appearing to support him.
• They included an apparent AI-generated campaign poster of Swift urging people to vote for Trump.
• Legal experts discussed the pros and cons of Swift's options, from suing to calling Trump out publicly.

Should Taylor Swift sue Donald Trump or just shake it off?

It's a dilemma that arose on Sunday, when Trump reposted — or "re-Truthed," as it's called on his Truth Social platform — images showing Swift and her fans appearing to endorse the GOP presidential nominee.

"I accept!" the former president captioned the post, which included an apparently AI-generated campaign poster showing the pop star in a red, white, and blue top hat urging, " Taylor Wants You To Vote For Donald Trump ."

"You're going to get sued," one angry Swift fan quickly replied. "I see a cease and desist order," another said.

Legal experts and celebrity lawyers told Business Insider that Swift could, indeed, sue the former president, including on federal grounds of trademark infringement and false advertising. She could even try to take advantage of some states' laws against deepfakes in election communications, some said.

But the experts differed widely on whether Swift would ultimately succeed should she sue, with almost all saying the odds were against her.

Representatives for Swift did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

A legal threat that falls short of litigation may be the smartest move. Most of the experts agreed that a lawyer's letter telling Trump to remove the post could work on its own and would be Swift's best first step.

"Swift could sue Trump and those who misappropriated her likeness by creating AI-generated images," Neama Rahmani, the president and a cofounder of West Coast Trial Lawyers, said.

"Privacy torts protect people from having their name, image, or likeness used without their permission," he said. "Manipulating it using AI doesn't change things."

Rahmani pointed to a recent case where OpenAI removed a ChatGPT voice that sounded uncannily like Scarlett Johansson after the actor lawyered up and complained publicly.

Related stories

Swift's lawyers, too, are aggressive, Rahmani said. Earlier this year, her lawyers sent a cease and desist to a college student who tracked her private jet, and she once sued a radio host who she alleged had groped her. "So I wouldn't be surprised if they send the Trump campaign a cease-and-desist letter at a minimum," Rahmani said.

The superstar's best bet may be to call Trump out publicly, Harry Surden, a law professor at the University of Colorado Boulder , said.

"Swift's best option, in my opinion, is not legal in nature but to publicly communicate that Trump's use of her image and endorsement is false and misleading," Surden said. "She could also send a public cease-and-desist letter."

Swift has not endorsed a candidate for president in the 2024 race, but she did support the Biden-Harris campaign in 2020.

Firmly in the "sue Trump" camp is James Walker Jr., a veteran entertainment attorney from Atlanta who reps the estate of Isaac Hayes. Last week, the estate publicly called out Trump's campaign for using the R&B legend's composition "Hold On, I'm Coming" more than 100 times at rallies and events over the past two years.

"Taylor Swift is a billion-dollar brand," said Walker, whose firm has put Trump on notice that it plans to sue for $3 million in the Hayes matter.

"She probably has her name trademarked, just like Aretha Franklin and others I've represented own their trademarks," he said. "You have to protect your brand, your trademark, and when you don't respond immediately, that's conveying that you're accepting this, and then others will do it.''

Swift can claim trademark infringement by arguing that Trump's campaign gets an unauthorized benefit from reposting the bogus endorsement, Paul Michael Wilson, a trademark expert at Walker & Associates , added.

"This is really bad — somebody should have told him not to do that," Wilson said with a laugh. "Like, really?"

Walker, Wilson, and others cited the Lanham Act of 1946, a federal statute that protects trademarked commercial interests against unauthorized use, false advertising, and unfair competition.

"One could make a case that Trump's post is an advertisement" protected under the act, Jessica Litman, who teaches trademark and copyright law at the University of Michigan, said. Still, Litman said she'd "expect a court to exercise caution to avoid chilling political speech."

'Being clueless is not a defense'

"It's not out of the question that he actually believes that the other images are genuine," Litman said.

"He has posted things in the past that show some confusion about how to tell whether an image is real or AI-generated," she said, though "being clueless is not a defense."

Swift would also need to show that she has been damaged, Litman and others said.

"If Trump were to keep it up, I can imagine a fundraising post seeking to take advantage of the misimpression that Swift has endorsed him that would be actionable," Litman said. "But we haven't seen that yet."

Surden agreed, telling BI that Swift "would not have very strong legal claims against Trump under this scenario, in my opinion."

"US law has strong protections for speech under the First Amendment, even false speech, as Trump may have engaged in here," Surden said.

"Political speech is very heavily protected under the First Amendment," even when it is false or misleading, he added.

Trump may also protect himself by saying that the posting was satirical and that he had nothing to do with generating the image and little to do with putting it online, experts said.

As for the AI-generated likeness, "a handful of states have recently passed laws restricting the dissemination of deepfakes in election communications," Mark Bartholomew, a law professor at the University at Buffalo, said.

"That would be the key place for Swift to look," Bartholomew said. "Intent would be key. Swift would need to prove that the Trump campaign sent these images out with intent to deceive voters."

Swift is from Tennessee, and that state just passed the ELVIS Act, which lets people sue someone for using a deepfake of their likeness for fundraising, said Juan Perla, a partner at the New York-headquartered international firm Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle .

By suing, Swift may be entitled to a judge's injunction — at least temporarily — ordering Trump to take the post down, Perla said.

"But what is more likely to happen first is similar to what Celine Dion did, when she criticized and poked fun at the Trump-Vance campaign for using her 'Titanic' theme song at one of their rallies without her permission," Perla said.

It worked for Johansson, at least. OpenAI's new chatbot voices recently began to roll out to select users — and the voice resembling that of the actor is nowhere to be found.

Watch: Donald Trump announces 2024 presidential run amid legal woes

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Small Dollar Lending and Lending to Underserved Entrepreneurs Continues to Rise as a Record 19 Million New Business Applications Filed Under Biden-Harris Administration

WASHINGTON  – Today,  Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman , head of the  U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)   and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 34 million small businesses, announced the Biden-Harris Administration has  tripled SBA lending to Black-owned businesses while  doubling small-dollar lending and lending to Latino- and women-owned small businesses. The new data comes as the United States reaches a record  19 million new business applications under the Biden-Harris Administration.

“Over the past four years more entrepreneurs than ever before have pursued the American dream of business ownership, and the SBA has been committed to matching this incredible wave of enthusiasm with the capital, market access, and resources small businesses need to start, grow, and thrive,” said SBA Administrator Guzman . “While there is more to do, the Biden-Harris Administration is working to level the playing field for underserved entrepreneurs, and we remain laser-focused on expanding access to opportunity and championing equity.”

Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, there have been 19 million new business applications with an average 443,000 filed each month – a rate 92% faster than the pre-pandemic average. This historic Small Business Boom has been driven by women and people of color, with data showing Black business ownership doubling since 2019 and women increasing business ownership at a pace nearly double the pace of men.

Since President Biden took office in 2021, SBA lending to historically underserved entrepreneurs has grown substantially. Compared to FY20, so far in FY24:

• Average monthly SBA lending to Black-owned businesses has tripled.
• Average monthly SBA lending to Latino-owned businesses has more than doubled.
• Average monthly SBA lending to women-owned businesses has doubled.
• Average monthly SBA small-dollar lending has doubled.

Having already achieved the first, second, and third strongest years of new business applications on record, the Biden-Harris Administration’s economy remains on track for its fourth consecutive year of historic business filings. The U.S. economy has grown more in the past four years than in any other four-year span in the last quarter century.

See additional lending data and more information on how the SBA under the Biden-Harris Administration has taken steps to increase access to capital in underserved communities.

• Black Lending : In FY24 so far, the average monthly loan count is 415, triple the average monthly loan count in FY20. Average loan volume is $124 million, more than double the average loan volume in FY20.
• Latino Lending : In FY24 so far, the average monthly loan count is 775, over double the average monthly loan count in FY20. Average loan volume is $261 million, double the average loan volume in FY20.
• Women Lending : In FY24 so far, the average monthly loan count is 1,255, double  the average monthly loan count in FY20. Average loan volume is $444 million, a two-thirds increase over average loan volume in FY20.
• Small-Dollar Lending : In FY24 so far, the average monthly loan count is 3,110, double the average monthly loan count in FY20.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration   The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit  www.sba.gov .

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Attor­ney Gen­er­al Ken Pax­ton Sues Gen­er­al Motors for Unlaw­ful­ly Col­lect­ing Dri­vers’ Pri­vate Data and Sell­ing It To Sev­er­al Com­pa­nies, Includ­ing Insur­ance Companies

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued General Motors for its false, deceptive, and misleading business practices related to its unlawful collection and sale of over 1.5 million Texans’ private driving data to insurance companies without their knowledge or consent. 

This action follows Attorney General Paxton’s June 2024 announcement that he  opened an investigation into several car manufacturers regarding allegations that the companies had improperly collected mass amounts of data about drivers directly from the vehicles and then sold the information to third parties. 

“Our investigation revealed that General Motors has engaged in egregious business practices that violated Texans’ privacy and broke the law. We will hold them accountable,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Companies are using invasive technology to violate the rights of our citizens in unthinkable ways. Millions of American drivers wanted to buy a car, not a comprehensive surveillance system that unlawfully records information about every drive they take and sells their data to any company willing to pay for it.”

General Motors used technology installed in most 2015 model year or newer GM vehicles to collect, record, analyze, and transmit highly detailed driving data about each time a driver used their vehicle. General Motors sold this information to several other companies, including to at least two companies for the purpose of generating “Driving Scores” about GM’s customers and selling these scores to insurance companies. General Motors deceived many of its customers when it compelled them to enroll in its products, including OnStar Smart Driver, as part of its vehicle “onboarding” process and told them that failing to enroll would result in the deactivation of their vehicle’s safety features. Unbeknownst to customers, however, by enrolling in GM’s products, they were “agreeing” to General Motors’ collection and sale of their data. Despite lengthy and convoluted disclosures, General Motors never informed its customers of its actual conduct—the systematic collection and sale of their highly detailed driving data.

The investigation was part of a broad data privacy and security initiative  launched by Attorney General Paxton in June 2024 to ensure that companies respect Texans’ privacy rights and enforce privacy protection laws.

To read the filing, click here.

Receive email updates from the OAG Press Office:

Related news, ag pax­ton rec­og­nizes child sup­port assis­tant attor­neys gen­er­al of the year.

August 16, 2024 | Press Release

Attor­ney Gen­er­al Ken Pax­ton and 23 Oth­er States Ask SCO­TUS to Allow Ari­zona Law Requir­ing Proof of Cit­i­zen­ship for Vot­ing to Go Into Effect

Attor­ney gen­er­al ken pax­ton sues biden admin­is­tra­tion over rule forc­ing pri­vate busi­ness­es and states to imple­ment ​ “ trans­gen­der” policies.

August 15, 2024 | Press Release

Attor­ney Gen­er­al Ken Pax­ton Secures Expand­ed Injunc­tion Against Biden’s Harm­ful Title IX Rewrite, Ensur­ing Addi­tion­al Pro­tec­tions for Texas Women

August 14, 2024 | Press Release

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What is a business management personal statement?

You are required to write a business and management personal statement to showcase your main strengths, skills, experience and career goals to your chosen universities.

Admissions tutors want to see candidates with business and/or management experience that they can apply to their course.

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

How do I write a business management personal statement?

It’s a good idea to start your statement with why you want to study business and and management at university (rather than just business ). For example, you may want to focus on the management part and why this interests you.

Make sure you back up everything with examples, which means having a good list of notes about your experience.

A good business and management personal statement should be written concisely, with a clear structure, including a memorable conclusion.

For inspiration on how to write your own unique statement, take a look at some of our business and management personal statement examples above (please don't copy them!), which will help you decide what to include.

What should I include in my business management personal statement?

It’s important you talk about skills and experience from all areas of your life and try to relate them to hobbies or extracurricular activities, especially if they are relevant to your course.

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

University admissions tutors want students on their course that are going to work hard and be of benefit to their department.

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What to Know About the Latest Social Security Number Breach

Hackers may have gained access to the private information of millions of people from a background check company called National Public Data. Should you be worried? We have some advice.

By Ron Lieber

Ron Lieber covered the 2017 Equifax breach while fleeing from a hurricane .

The details are murky. In April, Hackmanac, a cybersecurity company, posted on X that about 2.9 billion records of personal data were for sale, from people in the United States, Canada and Britain. The data was supposedly stolen from National Public Data , a company that does background checks.

That company became the target of a class-action suit, which Bloomberg Law recently reported, contending that thieves got Social Security numbers in the breach. Bleeping Computer, a technology and security publication, rounded up reports of hackers leaking batches of the data.

We may never know the extent of the breach and the subsequent leak. But I’m not sure the details matter much.

Security breaches happen all the time. Thieves frequently find vulnerabilities in large systems and exploit them.

Our lack of data privacy and security is intensely hateful, but in the short and medium term, the only thing we can do is lock ourselves down as best we can.

Here are some reminders about how to do it.

Control Anxiety

Remember, some thieves steal simply because they can. If they don’t try to use stolen information, you don’t have a problem.

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As more consumers use health apps and connected devices like fitness trackers, information about our health is increasingly collected and shared online. For most hospitals, doctors’ offices, and insurance companies, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) governs the privacy and security of health records stored online. But many companies that collect people’s health information – whether it’s a fitness tracker, a diet app, a connected blood pressure cuff, or something else – aren’t covered by HIPAA. Does that mean this sensitive health information doesn’t have any legal protections? Not at all.  

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits companies from misleading consumers or engaging in unfair practices that harm consumers. In addition, the FTC enforces the  Health Breach Notification Rule , which requires certain organizations (both businesses and nonprofits) not covered by HIPAA to notify their customers, the FTC, and, in some cases, the media, if there’s a breach of unsecured, individually identifiable health information. July 2024 amendments make clear that makers of health apps, connected devices, and similar products must comply with the Rule. 

Is your business covered by the  Health Breach Notification Rule ? Do you know your legal obligations if you experience a security breach?

WHO'S COVERED BY THE HEALTH BREACH NOTIFICATION RULE

The Rule applies if you are:

• a vendor of personal health records (PHRs);
• a PHR related entity; or
• a third party service provider for a vendor of PHRs or a PHR related entity.

Vendor of personal health records . Your business is a vendor of personal health records if it “offers or maintains a personal health record.” A  personal health record  is defined as an electronic record of “identifiable health information on an individual that has the technical capacity to draw information from multiple sources and that is managed, shared, and controlled by or primarily for the individual.” For example, if you develop a health app that collects information from consumers and can sync with a consumer’s fitness tracker, you’re probably a vendor of personal health records. You’re not a vendor of personal health records if you’re covered by HIPAA.

PHR related entity . Your business is a PHR related entity if it interacts with a vendor of personal health records either by offering products or services through the vendor’s website – even if the site is covered by HIPAA – or by accessing identifiable health information in a personal health record or sending identifiable health information to a personal health record. For example, a company that offers a fitness tracker is likely a PHR related entity if it sends identifiable health information to health apps (which are likely personal health records, as described above). Your company is not a PHR related entity if you’re already covered by HIPAA.

Third party service provider . Your business is a third party service provider if it offers services involving the use, maintenance, disclosure, or disposal of health information to vendors of personal health records or PHR related entities. For example, if a vendor of personal health records hires your company to provide billing, debt collection, or data storage services related to health information, you’re a third party service provider, and covered by the Rule.

WHAT TRIGGERS THE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT

The Rule requires that you provide notice when there has been an  unauthorized acquisition  of unsecured  PHR identifiable health information . How those terms are defined is important:

• Unauthorized acquisition . If health information that you maintain or use is acquired by someone else without the affected person’s approval, it’s an unauthorized acquisition under the Rule. For example, say a thief steals an employee’s laptop containing unsecured personal health records or someone on your staff downloads personal health records without approval. Those are probably unauthorized acquisitions that trigger the Rule’s notification requirement. Keep in mind, though, that a “breach” is not limited to cybersecurity intrusions or nefarious behavior by hackers or insiders. Incidents of unauthorized access, including a company’s disclosure of covered information without a person’s authorization, triggers notification obligations under the Rule.
• PHR identifiable health information . The notification requirements apply only when you’ve experienced a breach of PHR identifiable health information. This is health information that identifies someone or could reasonably be used to identify someone. Consider two examples.  First, suppose you share your users’ medical information along with their mobile identifiers with an ad network for the purpose of targeted marketing without first getting the person’s consent. Second, say an intruder hacks into your database that contains email addresses, dates of birth, and medication information. Names weren’t disclosed in either example. But the information disclosed could still readily identify individual consumers, so it counts as PHR identifiable health information. By contrast, consider a hack of a database containing city and common medication data that reveals that ten anonymous individuals in New York City have been prescribed a widely-used drug. That probably wouldn’t be considered PHR identifiable health information because it couldn’t reasonably be used to identify specific people.
• Unsecured information . The Rule applies only to  unsecured health information , defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to include any information that is not encrypted or destroyed. For example, if your employee loses a laptop containing only encrypted personal health records, you wouldn’t be required to notify people.
• Personal health record . A personal health record (PHR) is an electronic health record that can be “drawn from multiple sources and that is managed, shared, and controlled by or primarily for the individual.” If your business experiences a breach involving only paper health records – not electronic records – the FTC’s Rule doesn’t require any notification. If your product draws information from multiple sources – let’s say a diet app that allows users to enter daily weights and an API for pulling calorie counts from restaurant menus – there’s a good chance you have a PHR covered by the FTC’s Rule.

WHAT TO DO IF A BREACH OCCURS

If your business is  a vendor of personal health records  or a  PHR related entity  and there’s a breach, the Rule spells out your next steps. You must notify:

• each affected person who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
• the Federal Trade Commission by submitting the online Notice of Breach of Health Information ; and
• in some cases, the media.

Here are the details of the Rule’s main requirements about who you must notify and when you must notify them, how you must notify them, and what information to include.

Who you must notify and when you must notify them

People : If you experience a breach of unsecured personal health information, you must notify each affected person “without unreasonable delay” – and within 60 calendar days after the breach is discovered. The countdown begins the day the breach becomes known to someone in your company or the day someone should reasonably have known about it. Although the Rule requires you to notify people within 60 calendar days, it also requires you to act without unreasonable delay. That means if a company discovers a breach and gathers the necessary information within, say, 30 days, it would be unreasonable to wait until the 60th day to notify the people whose information was breached.

The FTC : The Rule requires you to notify the FTC (use the online Notice of Breach of Health Information ), but the timing depends on the number of people affected.

If the breach involves the information of 500 people or more , you must notify the FTC at the same time you send notices to the people affected. That must be “without unreasonable delay” and no later than 60 calendar days after the discovery of a breach of security. To report the breach to the agency, you must use the following online form: Notice of Breach of Health Information .

If the breach involves the information of fewer than 500 people , you have more time. You must notify the FTC by submitting the online Notice of Breach of Health Information within 60 calendar days following the end of the calendar year. So, if your company experiences one breach in April affecting the records of 100 people and a second breach in September affecting the records of 50 people, the 60-day countdown begins January 1st of the next year.

The media : When at least 500 residents of a particular state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory or possession are affected by a breach, notification takes on an extra dimension. Without unreasonable delay – and within 60 calendar days after the breach is discovered – you must notify prominent media outlets serving the relevant locale. This media notice is a supplement to the individual notice you must give to people whose information was breached. It’s not a substitute for individual notices.

If your company is a  third party service provider  to a vendor of personal health records or a PHR related entity, you have notice requirements under the Rule, too. As a preliminary matter, the Rule requires those clients to tell you up front that they’re covered by the Rule. If you experience a breach, you must notify an official designated in your contract with your client – or if there is no designee, a senior official of the company – without unreasonable delay and within 60 calendar days of discovering the breach. You must identify for your client each person whose information may be involved in the breach. It isn’t enough just to send the notice and assume the ball is in your client’s court. You must get an acknowledgment that they received your notice. They, in turn, must notify the people affected by the breach, the FTC, and, in certain cases, the media.

How to notify people

The best practice for notifying people is to find out from your customers in advance – perhaps when they sign up for your service – if they’d prefer to hear about a security breach by email or by first-class mail. If you collect only email addresses from your customers, you can send them a message – or let new customers know when they sign up – that you intend to contact them by email about any security breaches. However, remember that if you plan to use email as your default method, you must give your customers the opportunity to choose first-class mail notification instead and that option must be clear and conspicuous. If email is a customer’s preference, explain how to set up any spam filters so they will get your messages.

If you’re notifying people by email, you must also notify people:

• by text message
• through an in-app message, or
• through a banner on your website or app

The notice must be “clear and conspicuous” and “reasonably understandable.” For example, consider using:

• short explanatory sentences
• bulleted lists
• plain-language headings
• an easy-to-read typeface
• wide margins
• ample spacing

Don’t use unnecessary legal or technical terminology, multiple negatives, or vague explanations.

See the Rule for more guidance on drafting notices and check out Appendix A for sample notices.

What if you’ve made reasonable efforts to reach people affected by the breach, but you haven’t been able to contact each of them? If you fail to contact 10 or more people because of insufficient or out-of-date contact information, you must provide substitute notice through:

• a clear and conspicuous posting for 90 days on your website home page; or
• a notice in major print or broadcast media where those people likely live.

Both of these forms of substitute notice must include a toll-free phone number that must be active for at least 90 days so people can call to learn if their information was affected by the breach.

What information to include

Regardless of the form of notification, your notice to individuals must be easy to understand and must include the following information:

• the date of the breach (if you know);
• the date you discovered the breach; and
• the full name or identity (or, where providing the full name or identity would pose a risk to individuals or the entity providing notice, a description) of any third parties that acquired unsecured PHR identifiable health information as a result of a breach.
• the kind of PHR identifiable health information involved in the breach – health diagnosis or condition, lab results, medication information, other treatment information, the individual’s use of a health-related mobile app, insurance information, Social Security numbers, financial account data, dates of birth, etc.
• if the breach involves health insurance information, you might suggest that people contact their healthcare providers if bills don’t arrive on time in case an identity thief has changed the billing address, check the Explanation of Benefit (EOB) forms from their insurance company for irregularities, and review their medical records for errors. If people spot anything unusual, they should contact their insurance company about possible medical identity theft or to ask for a new account number.
• if the breach includes Social Security numbers, you might suggest that people get a free copy of their credit report from  www.annualcreditreport.com , monitor it for signs of identity theft, and place a credit freeze on their credit report. If they spot suspicious activity, they should visit  IdentityTheft.gov  to report it and get a personalized recovery plan.
• if the breach includes financial information – for example, a credit card or bank account number – you might suggest that people monitor their accounts for suspicious activity and contact their financial institution about closing any accounts that may have been compromised.
• if the breach involved an app or connected device, you might suggest that people review the app’s or device’s privacy settings and download the latest updates to fix any privacy or security glitches.
• a brief description of the steps your business is taking to investigate the breach, protect against future breaches, mitigate the harm from the breach, and protect the people affected, like offering credit monitoring or other services; and
• toll-free telephone number;
• email address;
• within-application; or
• postal address.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HEALTH BREACH NOTIFICATION RULE

Here are answers to some questions businesses have asked about the FTC’s Health Breach Notification Rule:

Why did the FTC implement the Health Breach Notification Rule and issue the July 2024 amendments?

Congress directed the FTC to implement the Health Breach Notification Rule, which non-HIPAA covered businesses must follow if there’s a breach of consumers’ unsecured, individually identifiable health information.  The FTC amended the Rule because, as one of only a handful of federal privacy laws protecting consumers’ health information, the Rule plays a vital role in holding companies accountable for how they disclose consumers’ sensitive health information. Since the FTC first issued the Rule more than a decade ago, consumers have turned to apps, wearables, and other technologies for health advice, information, and tracking. It is imperative that the FTC’s enforcement of its Rule keep pace with changing technology.

What is considered a “breach of security” under the Rule? 

Under the rule, a “breach of security” is defined as the acquisition of unsecured PHR identifiable health information of an individual in a personal health record without the individual’s authorization. A breach is not limited to cybersecurity intrusions. Incidents of unauthorized access, including sharing of covered information without an individual’s authorization, trigger notification obligations under the Rule.

It looks like we accidentally sent some of our users’ health information to a social media platform. It also looks like someone accessed our database without our consent. We don’t know if the social media company used the information and we don’t know if anyone downloaded anything. Are these the kinds of “unauthorized acquisitions” that would trigger the Rule’s notification requirements?

Both incidents should trigger an examination on your part to determine your obligations under the Rule. Importantly, with respect to the first incident, the Rule’s definition of a breach makes clear that the Rule does not just apply to cybersecurity intrusions or other nefarious behavior. To the contrary, if you disclose consumers’ unsecured, individually identifiable health information without their consent, a breach has occurred.

In the second incident – the database access – it’s not clear whether the data also has been “acquired” – that is, downloaded or copied. In these cases the Rule has a rebuttable presumption: Where there has been unauthorized access, unauthorized acquisition is presumed unless you can show that it hasn’t – or couldn’t reasonably have – taken place. For example, if one of your employees accesses a customer’s personal health record without authorization, the Rule presumes that because the data was accessed, it has been “acquired,” and you must follow the breach notification provisions of the Rule. But you can overcome that presumption by establishing and enforcing a company policy that requires an employee who inadvertently accesses a health record not to read it or share it, to log out immediately, and to report the access to a supervisor right away. If the employee says he or she didn’t read or share the information and you conduct a reasonable investigation that corroborates the employee’s version of events, you may be able to overcome the presumption.

Consider another situation involving a lost laptop that contains personal health records. You could rebut the presumption of unauthorized acquisition if the laptop is recovered and forensic analysis shows that files were not opened, altered, transferred, or otherwise compromised.

My company makes a fitness app, in which consumers input their height, weight, age, and other information. The app, which consumers can download from the app store, can sync with wearable fitness trackers. Some of our users use this syncing feature, but others don’t. Is my company required to comply with the FTC’s Rule?

You are likely a vendor of personal health records. Your app includes identifiable health information, such as consumers’ names, weight, height, age, and steps taken. Your app has the technical capacity to draw identifiable health information both from the consumer (e.g., name, weight, height, age, and steps taken) and the fitness tracker (e.g., consumer’s name, miles run, heart rate), even if some consumers choose to not connect the fitness tracker.

Our business is in the “HIPAA business associate” category. Does the FTC’s Rule apply to us?

If your business acts solely as a “HIPAA business associate” – that is, if you handle only the protected health information of HIPAA-covered entities – the FTC’s Rule doesn’t apply. Nor does it apply to HIPAA-covered entities, like a hospital, doctor’s office, or health insurance company. If you are a HIPAA-covered entity or act only as a HIPAA business associate, your responsibilities are in the  Health and Human Services (HHS) Breach Notification Rule .

The HHS Rule requires HIPAA-covered entities to notify people whose unsecured protected health information is breached. If you are a business associate of a HIPAA-covered entity and you experience a security breach, you must notify the HIPAA-covered entity you’re working with. Then they must notify the people affected by the breach.

We’re a HIPAA business associate, but we also offer personal health record services to the public. Which Rule applies to us?

If your company is a HIPAA business associate that also offers personal health record services to the public, you may be subject to both the HHS and FTC Breach Notification Rules. For example, say you develop an app that people can download from an app store and upload their health information. Separately, you sign a HIPAA business associate agreement with an insurance company to maintain the electronic health records of its customers. In the case of a breach affecting all your users, both the FTC Rule and HHS Rule would apply. Under the FTC’s Rule, you must notify the people who use your app. In addition, you must notify the insurance company so it can notify its customers.

If you have a direct relationship with all the people affected by the breach – your customers and the customers of the insurance company – you should contract with the insurance company to notify both your clients and theirs. People are more likely to pay attention to a notice from a company they recognize.

What’s the relationship between the FTC’s Health Breach Notification Rule and state breach notification laws?

The FTC’s Rule preempts contradictory state breach notification laws, but not those that impose additional – but non-contradictory – breach notification requirements. For example, some state laws require breach notices to include advice on monitoring credit reports or contact information for consumer reporting agencies. While these content requirements are different from the FTC Rule’s requirements, they’re not contradictory. In this example, you could comply with both federal and state requirements by including all the information in a single breach notice. The FTC Rule doesn’t require you to send separate breach notices to comply with state and federal law.

What’s the penalty for violating the FTC’s Health Breach Notification Rule?

The FTC will treat each violation of the Rule as an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of a Federal Trade Commission regulation. Businesses that violate the Rule may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $51,744 per violation.

Law enforcement officials have asked us to delay notifying people about the breach. What should we do?

If law enforcement officials determine that notifying people would impede a criminal investigation or damage national security, the Rule allows you to delay notifying them, as well as the FTC and, if required, the media.

Where can I learn more about the FTC’s Health Breach Notification Rule?

Visit the FTC’s  Health Breach Notification Rule page .

The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumer spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint, visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a video,  How to File a Complaint , to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the  Consumer Sentinel Network , a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT

The National Small Business Ombudsman and 10 Regional Fairness Boards collect comments from small businesses about federal compliance and enforcement activities. Each year, the Ombudsman evaluates the conduct of these activities and rates each agency's responsiveness to small businesses. Small businesses can comment to the Ombudsman without fear of reprisal. To comment, call toll-free 1-888-REGFAIR (1-888-734-3247) or go to  www.sba.gov/ombudsman .

NationalPublicData.com Hack Exposes a Nation’s Data

A great many readers this month reported receiving alerts that their Social Security Number, name, address and other personal information were exposed in a breach at a little-known but aptly-named consumer data broker called NationalPublicData.com . This post examines what we know about a breach that has exposed hundreds of millions of consumer records. We’ll also take a closer look at the data broker that got hacked — a background check company founded by an actor and retired sheriff’s deputy from Florida.

On July 21, 2024, denizens of the cybercrime community Breachforums released more than 4 terabytes of data they claimed was stolen from nationalpublicdata.com, a Florida-based company that collects data on consumers and processes background checks.

The breach tracking service HaveIBeenPwned.com and the cybercrime-focused Twitter account vx-underground both concluded the leak is the same information first put up for sale in April 2024 by a prolific cybercriminal who goes by the name “ USDoD .”

On April 7, USDoD posted a sales thread on Breachforums for four terabytes of data — 2.9 billion rows of records — they claimed was taken from nationalpublicdata.com. The snippets of stolen data that USDoD offered as teasers showed rows of names, addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security Numbers (SSNs). Their asking price? $3.5 million.

Many media outlets mistakenly reported that the National Public data breach affects 2.9 billion people (that figure actually refers to the number of rows in the leaked data sets). HaveIBeenPwned.com’s Troy Hunt analyzed the leaked data and found it is a somewhat disparate collection of consumer and business records, including the real names, addresses, phone numbers and SSNs of millions of Americans (both living and deceased), and 70 million rows from a database of U.S. criminal records.

Hunt said he found 137 million unique email addresses in the leaked data, but stressed that there were no email addresses in the files containing SSN records.

“If you find yourself in this data breach via HaveIBeenPwned.com, there’s no evidence your SSN was leaked, and if you’re in the same boat as me, the data next to your record may not even be correct.”

Nationalpublicdata.com publicly acknowledged a breach in a statement on Aug. 12 , saying “there appears to have been a data security incident that may have involved some of your personal information. The incident appears to have involved a third-party bad actor that was trying to hack into data in late December 2023, with potential leaks of certain data in April 2024 and summer 2024.”

The company said the information “suspected of being breached” contained name, email address, phone number, social security number, and mailing address(es).

“We cooperated with law enforcement and governmental investigators and conducted a review of the potentially affected records and will try to notify you if there are further significant developments applicable to you,” the statement continues. “We have also implemented additional security measures in efforts to prevent the reoccurrence of such a breach and to protect our systems.”

Hunt’s analysis didn’t say how many unique SSNs were included in the leaked data. But according to researchers at Atlas Data Privacy Corp. , there are 272 million unique SSNs in the entire records set.

Atlas found most records have a name, SSN, and home address, and that approximately 26 percent of those records included a phone number. Atlas said they verified 5,000 addresses and phone numbers, and found the records pertain to people born before Jan. 1, 2002 (with very few exceptions).

If there is a tiny silver lining to the breach it is this: Atlas discovered that many of the records related to people who are now almost certainly deceased. They found the average age of the consumer in these records is 70, and fully two million records are related to people whose date of birth would make them more than 120 years old today.

TWISTED HISTORY

Where did National Public Data get its consumer data? The company’s website doesn’t say, but it is operated by an entity in Coral Springs, Fla. called Jerico Pictures Inc. The website for Jerico Pictures is not currently responding. However, cached versions of it at archive.org show it is a film studio with offices in Los Angeles and South Florida.

The Florida Secretary of State says Jerico Pictures is owned by Salvatore (Sal) Verini Jr. , a retired deputy with the Broward County Sheriff’s office. The Secretary of State also says Mr. Verini is or was a founder of several other Florida companies, including National Criminal Data LLC , Twisted History LLC , Shadowglade LLC and Trinity Entertainment Inc. , among others.

Mr. Verini did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Cached copies of Mr. Verini’s vanity domain salvatoreverini.com recount his experience in acting (e.g. a role in a 1980s detective drama with Burt Reynolds) and more recently producing dramas and documentaries for several streaming channels.

Sal Verini’s profile page at imdb.com.

Pivoting on the email address used to register that vanity domain, DomainTools.com finds several other domains whose history offers a clearer picture of the types of data sources relied upon by National Public Data.

One of those domains is recordscheck.net (formerly recordscheck.info ), which advertises “instant background checks, SSN traces, employees screening and more.” Another now-defunct business tied to Mr. Verini’s email — publicrecordsunlimited.com — said it obtained consumer data from a variety of sources, including: birth, marriage and death records; voting records; professional licenses; state and federal criminal records.

The homepage for publicrecordsunlimited.com, per archive.org circa 2017.

It remains unclear how thieves originally obtained these records from National Public Data. KrebsOnSecurity sought comment from USDoD, who is perhaps best known for hacking into Infragard, an FBI program that facilitates information sharing about cyber and physical threats with vetted people in the private sector.

USDoD said they indeed sold the same data set that was leaked on Breachforums this past month, but that the person who leaked the data did not obtain it from them. USDoD said the data stolen from National Public Data had traded hands several times since it was initially stolen in December 2023.

“The database has been floating around for a while,” USDoD said. “I was not the first one to get it.”

USDoD said the person who originally stole the data from NPD was a hacker who goes by the handle SXUL . That user appears to have deleted their Telegram account several days ago, presumably in response to intense media coverage of the breach.

Data brokers like National Public Data typically get their information by scouring federal, state and local government records. Those government files include voting registries, property filings, marriage certificates, motor vehicle records, criminal records, court documents, death records, professional licenses, bankruptcy filings, and more.

Americans may believe they have the right to opt out of having these records collected and sold to anyone. But experts say these underlying sources of information — the above-mentioned “public” records — are carved out from every single state consumer privacy law. This includes California’s privacy regime, which is often held up as the national leader in state privacy regulations.

You see, here in America, virtually anyone can become a consumer data broker. And with few exceptions, there aren’t any special requirements for brokers to show that they actually care about protecting the data they collect, store, repackage and sell so freely.

In February 2023, PeopleConnect , the owners of the background search services TruthFinder and Instant Checkmate , acknowledged a breach affecting 20 million customers who paid the data brokers to run background checks. The data exposed included email addresses, hashed passwords, first and last names, and phone numbers.

In 2019, malicious hackers stole data on more than 1.5 billion people from People Data Labs , a San Francisco data broker whose people-search services linked hundreds of millions of email addresses, LinkedIn and Facebook profiles and more than 200 million valid cell phone numbers.

These data brokers are the digital equivalent of massive oil tankers wandering the coast without GPS or an anchor, because when they get hacked, the effect is very much akin to the ecological and economic fallout from a giant oil spill.

It’s an apt analogy because the dissemination of so much personal data all at once has ripple effects for months and years to come, as this information invariably feeds into a vast underground ocean of scammers who are already equipped and staffed to commit identity theft and account takeovers at scale.

It’s also apt because much like with real-life oil spills, the cleanup costs and effort from data spills — even just vast collections of technically “public” documents like the NPD corpus — can be enormous, and most of the costs associated with that fall to consumers, directly or indirectly.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Should you worry that your SSN and other personal data might be exposed in this breach? That isn’t necessary for people who’ve been following the advice here for years, which is to freeze one’s credit file at each of the major consumer reporting bureaus . Having a freeze on your files makes it much harder for identity thieves to create new accounts in your name, and it limits who can view your credit information.

The main reason I recommend the freeze is that all of the information ID thieves need to assume your identity is now broadly available from multiple sources, thanks to the multiplicity of data breaches we’ve seen involving SSN data and other key static data points about people.

But beyond that, there are numerous cybercriminal services that offer detailed background checks on consumers, including full SSNs. These services are powered by compromised accounts at data brokers that cater to private investigators and law enforcement officials, and some are now fully automated via Telegram instant message bots. Meaning, if you’re an American who hasn’t frozen their credit files and you haven’t yet experienced some form of new account fraud, the ID thieves probably just haven’t gotten around to you yet.

All Americans are also entitled to obtain a free copy of their credit report weekly from each of the three major credit bureaus. It used to be that consumers were allowed one free report from each of the bureaus annually, but in October 2023 the Federal Trade Commission announced the bureaus had permanently extended a program that lets you check your credit report once a week for free.

If you haven’t done this in a while, now would be an excellent time to order your files. To place a freeze, you need to create an account at each of the three major reporting bureaus, Equifax , Experian and TransUnion . Once you’ve established an account, you should be able to then view and freeze your credit file. Dispute any inaccuracies you may find. If you spot errors, such as random addresses and phone numbers you don’t recognize, do not ignore them: Identity theft and new account fraud are not problems that get easier to solve by letting them fester.

Mr. Verini probably didn’t respond to requests for comment because his company is now the subject of a class-action lawsuit (NB: the lawsuit also erroneously claims 3 billion people were affected). These lawsuits are practically inevitable now after a major breach, but they also have the unfortunate tendency to let regulators and lawmakers off the hook.

Almost every time there’s a major breach of SSN data, Americans are offered credit monitoring services. Most of the time, those services come from one of the three major consumer credit bureaus, the same companies that profit by compiling and selling incredibly detailed dossiers on consumers’ financial lives. The same companies that use dark patterns to trick people into paying for “credit lock” services that achieve a similar result as a freeze but still let the bureaus sell your data to their partners.

But class-actions alone will not drive us toward a national conversation about what needs to change. Americans currently have very few rights to opt out of the personal and financial surveillance, data collection and sale that is pervasive in today’s tech-based economy.

The breach at National Public Data may not be the worst data breach ever. But it does present yet another opportunity for this country’s leaders to acknowledge that the SSN has completely failed as a measure of authentication or authorization. It was never a good idea to use as an authenticator to begin with, and it is certainly no longer suitable for this purpose.

The truth is that these data brokers will continue to proliferate and thrive (and get hacked and relieved of their data) until Congress begins to realize it’s time for some consumer privacy and data protection laws that are relevant to life in the 21st century.

Update, Aug. 16, 8:00 a.m. ET: Corrected the story to note that consumers can now obtain a free credit report from each of the three consumer reporting bureaus weekly, instead of just annually.

37 thoughts on “ NationalPublicData.com Hack Exposes a Nation’s Data ”

California requires data brokers to register ( https://oag.ca.gov/data-brokers ) with the state in order to fall under the protection of the law giving them Carte Blanche to gather, advertise, sell, etc any “public records” on anyone. If they are not registered, they can not operate as a “protected data broker”. The link above takes you to a 2023 list of data brokers who have registered however, that is an incomplete list as California has decided to no longer maintain it yet still requires data brokers to register. There is a registration page link within the page the link takes you to so you can see the limited information required in order to register as a data broker. This action was taken in order to amend the act and went into place effective Jan 1, 2024 which weakened the original act. Thank you Mr. Newsom!

@BrianKrebs

You might update your information on free credit reports only being available for free annually via annualcreditreport.com as they are now available on a weekly basis (see URL link below).

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/10/you-now-have-permanent-access-free-weekly-credit-reports

I have found it difficult to obtain some reports via that website and therefore go directly to each CRA’s website to do so. After setting up an account on each, there is no obligation to pay or sign up for “locking” or other pay services. However, the Experian site makes it a little less obvious that you can ignore their extra services. Innovis may also provide a weekly report, but I have not tested that yet.

@Quid “After setting up an account on each, there is no obligation to pay or sign up for “locking” or other pay services.” Locking is not the same as Freezing. Freezing was created in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and prevents anyone from running a “credit check” with a CRA reply like “request denied file frozen”. Locking is an invention of the CRA’s and a reply would be like “here is the file, but file is locked so do not use”. Why? A frozen file makes the CRAs less money. BTW the CRAs have been playing fast and loose with their process of freezing and thawing almost to the point making it undesirable for consumers to use it.

As a former Credit Bureau employee and one who developed the original file freeze process at TransUnion, a Lock and a Freeze are technically the same. What it does to your credit report to stop your credit report from being returned in non-exempt permissible purpose situations, is the same. For example, if a credit pull is in connection with a credit application, both a locked and frozen file will not be returned. That is a non-exempt permissible purpose. It the credit request is for the collection of a debt, an exempt permissible purpose, then the credit file will be returned fully to the requestor for both locked and frozen files.

The difference is user experience. The Lock is a feature that is incorporated in to the credit bureau (certainly at TU) for profit monitoring products. The file freeze is what is offered by the bureaus directly and in compliance with state laws (there is no federal law on file freezes).

Essentially a lock is just a rebranding of a file freeze. Works behind the scenes exactly the same. And when I was at TU, you went directly in to a credit file, a lock would look just like a freeze.

If the lock is the same as the freeze why create confusing new terminology? Are you saying the lock doesn’t allow more info sharing for the bureaus?

I would like to hear Steve’s answer to this as well.

“The difference is user experience. The Lock is a feature that is incorporated in to the credit bureau (certainly at TU) for profit monitoring products. The file freeze is what is offered by the bureaus directly and in compliance with state laws (there is no federal law on file freezes).”

I’m going to guess that means they can use “locked” credit data for internal marketing of financial products directly, so the (paying?) user can see their data through the service portal but nobody else can access it for the usual credit checks. Whereas the freeze is just all blocked to comply with laws as it’s mandated to be offered. So a lock makes the agency money potentially, a freeze does not. My guess.

Thanks! I somehow missed that memo. I’ve updated the story.

Government files also include: driver’s licenses, hunting licenses, fishing licenses, gun licenses, any professional licenses, building permits, speeding tickets,… it’s a very long list. And you can’t opt out. The money from the sale of government information goes into a shush fund of the government sellers. It’s all off-budget. They are are addicted to the sweet, sweet, money from selling your information. Government service is a license to steal.

You should provide evidence of that “slush fund” “off-budget” claim like Mr. Krebs does when he presents information. Not just random accusations . . .

I thought BreachForums was seized after several domain takeovers? They created a new domain again?

“The site was again shut down and the domain seized on May 15, 2024, though the domain was back under the owner’s control just hours later. ” -wiki

I don’t know about yours, but my SS card says, “For social security and tax purposes — not for identification”. D’oh!

this is plain theory of identity. Your SS card is an attribute document, not an identity document because the entity that issues your SS card does not have an authoritative citizen register. Only entities with an official citizen register can issue identity documents. Many people don’t care about this difference, but it is the case anywhere in the world. Passports and identity cards (in countries that have them = practically all except US and UK) are issued by the ministry of interior, which oversees the local authorities that lead the citizen registry or registries. Any other official documents (drivers licenses, voting cards, whatever) are issued by another entity under a different ministry which is not allowed to have a “source” register. They rely on information from the authoritative register and only indirectly point to it. In other words: a Passport or ID card says “I, country X, hereby confirm that I have a citizen with the name and information stated in this document”. Any other official document says “I, the Y authority of country X, hereby confirm that the citizen referred to the name on this card (if they really exist, which I cannot ultimately verify), has the attribute Z” (e.g. may drive a car of class B2, or is a licensed attorney or whatever).

It means that physical possession of a social security card cannot be used to prove that it belongs to the person presenting it. That’s all.

The SSN is the only truly unique global person identifier we have in the US. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having such an identifier. Quite the opposite, it makes sense to have such a number and it is very helpful (given that many people share the same name). The problem lies not with the existence of a unique identifier but with various entities’ obviously false assumption that this number is only known to the person to whom it belongs and as such their reliance on it for authentication purposes.

My parents got me an SSN when I was born (1958) and I still have the original little cardboard “explanatory holder” to which the Social Security card was attached. It explained all about how “some day, when you enter the workforce, you will need this information.” But my favorite line on that entire card was “NOTE: your Social Security number should never be used as a form of personal identification.”

@BrianKrebs – your last paragraph is spot on:

“The truth is that these data brokers will continue to proliferate and thrive (and get hacked and relieved of their data) until Congress begins to realize it’s time for some consumer privacy and data protection laws that are relevant to life in the 21st century.”

We have GDPR in Europe, which protects individuals (citizens in general, and when acting as customers) and implies significant costs for breached companies not having this in place – so you definitely need something similar!

GDPR do not protect you against identity thefts.

But it does aim to keep your PII in fewer places and hopefully more securely so.

Like someone has pointed out annualcreditreport.com can be obtained on the weekly basis now. But the process is anything but easy. I bet it is deliberately designed to discourage people. In my case it doesn’t even work. One bureau refuses my login and always tells me to call them. I tried it once and was put in an endless call waiting. I eventually hung up.

Also freezing your record is less than ideal. It may affect your insurance premiums because those companies check your record behind your back. I’ve gone through this before when my auto insurance premium started going up.

The only way to ensure we, as consumers, have a fix for this problem is through the federal legislation that will impose a heavy monetary fine on any company that loses our PIA. In the U.S., unfortunately money is the language of security.

annualcreditreport.com appears to be worthless if you live overseas since it requires a current U.S. address for you to request your credit reports. Unless I’m missing something, the comment section doesn’t even provide an entry for email address so they can’t even respond to you if you ask a question.

I lived overseas for many years (up until last year). It is indeed difficult to access your US credit reports directly or via annualcreditreport.com from overseas, but it is not impossible.

First of all, you need to use a VPN that shows your IP address as located in the US. All the credit bureaus and the reporting website block access from non-US IP addresses, so without doing this, you will ever get past the login screens.

Second, you need to merely input a VALID US address. It does not have to be your current address, it just needs to be a US address that passes a simple verification check to show that it is a valid address. Although you could pick any US address, you shouldn’t, because the credit bureaus sell your info, which means that credit offers and junk mail will be sent to your name to whatever address you use (even if you have opted out of having your info sold for advertising purposes). I used a family member’s address, as they did not mind getting the junk mail.

Third, you MUST input a valid US mobile telephone number. It does not have to be yours, but it needs to belong to someone can quickly relay a texted single-use security code to you.

If you do these three things, you can look at your US credit bureau reports from overseas.

Dennis comment is correct. One of the 3 credit bureau’s web sites to request your credit report does not work and has not for some time now. I have tried many times, requesting either my credit report or my wife’s and after entering all of the information, it comes back as”not available at this time” I emailed Annual credit Report asking about the problem and was sent a form to request my credit report via snail mail. That is not a solution.

For a year or more I’ve been able to freeze, then thaw, my accounts at four CRAs: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, and NCTUE.

Not that you don’t have a Real Problem, but perhaps further effort would resolve this (clearing cache, trying a different browser, etc.).

Good luck! Our lives are fer shure real complicated!

FYI. Equifax has had a 5-year known-issue with locking users out of their Equifax account when trying to login to freeze/unfreeze. Just search “Equifax login” on Reddit. The best solution so far is to call Equifax support and choose the option to lift freeze, then request an actual agent. Tell the agent you have no luck accessing site and to send a pw reset link. Hope this helps!

The real hacker behind this breach is Wumpus aka Anthony Garced. He hacked Zacks.com and he hacked this!

Is there a way to schedule a recurring request to have your credit reports sent?

Local, state and Federal governments are so grossly negligent with our personal information being stored on databases connected to the Internet or selling the data without redaction. It is disgusting. Then governments think we are so stupid to go for Digital ID and digital money so we can all wake up broke. They truly are crazy.

Here is the lawsuit that has been filed and all the ways the hackers can use your data. https://www.bloomberglaw.com/public/desktop/documentHofmannvJericoPicturesIncDocketNo024cv61383SDFlaAug012024CourtDoc?doc_id=X6S27DVM6H69DSQO6MTRAQRIVBS

Looks like Salvatore Verini is running for the hills. His Florida office has a voice mail referring calls to the California office. A real person answered the phone in CA and I left my name and number for him to call me as he wants to charge for fixing 25 critical items and 1 high profile item. NPD has collected information on me for 38 years and if it wasn’t for the news, I would not have known. Both myself and a family member have phone numbers that are out of state in our records and never belonged to us. We also have credit monitoring and neither of us were notified of this breach. So Life Lock and the rest are a waste of money adding to the fraudulent environment we all currently live in.

We froze our accounts, however, it is pretty much useless with TransUnion as they provide no confirmation number to unfreeze and will use your personal information published all over the dark web to unfreeze. Sorry but you can’t cure dumb. It is literally impossible to have privacy thanks to the incompetency starting at the top of the pyramid of the WEF, Davos and IMF group and trickling on down. Even my state lost my birth certificate for the National ID driver’s license without any explanation and I had to provide it again. Three months after renewal, the news reported the Chinese hacked the driver’s data base. I think I am starting to understand the sovereigns, which is sad that they are more right than wrong.

Considering the magnitude of this breach I’ve been surprised how little coverage there has been about this in mainstream media. And the “expert” they use in their story usually isn’t very expert about what happened or how to react; just rehashing what’s already been said.

It’s also frustrating to know that about the only thing we can do is freeze our credit knowing that the credit bureaus are making it increasingly easier to for someone else to unfreeze without a PIN by supplying KBA using what is now publicly available data.

Recalling the ease that Experian allowed accounts to be hijacked going back to 2022; does anyone know if they ever fixed that or is their account security still incredibly bad?

I don’t think they ever fixed it. I checked a few months ago and it still allowed anyone to re-sign up as anyone else. Notification email only after someone has assumed your identity/account.

That’s how they coerce you into compliance with the whole credit report system. Fiscal punishment for doing nothing but legitimately, logically and legally protecting access to your personal information. Plus it’s such an intrusion on your right to privacy. A bank may need to know my credit worthiness, but it really is not an employer’s business, IMHO. Nor anybody else’s really unless I’m doing a business transaction that requires credit. It’s so sad that without that credit report, and a good credit rating, it is much harder to live in America.

Hence, when I crossed a certain threshold in age, I froze it all, they can kiss my derriere on the whole credit thing, and I’ve been diligently trying to get my credit score to zero before I give up the tent. It’s taken me years, but I’ve gotten it down to the score of 4!

Remember where to check to see if your stuff is running outside of the barn: https://haveibeenpwned.com/

What about the impact of resetting account passwords where only an email address and social is needed. For example, go to PayPal.com, click Forgot Password, put your email, select reset with Social, put that in, enter new password, you’re now in My Account with full access. In my case I have 2FA setup and it didn’t even ask for this after changing my password. Shocking. I also checked Chase.com, just need your card number and social and boom, it not only then reveals your username onscreen, it lets you reset password, again, bypassing 2FA. These compaines need to update their password reset processes to not be based off social.

It should never have been based on SSN in the first place. That’s ridiculous.

“go to PayPal.com, click Forgot Password, put your email, select reset with Social”

I think you need to reconsider the setup config for 2FA in your PayPal account. The only 2FA option I have chosen for account access is a hardware security key. Therefore, for account recovery purposes, that is the only 2FA option PayPal offers me after entering my email address. You need to actively remove the less secure options from your PayPal security settings ie; Social, SMS etc and ONLY use OTP codes, Authenticator app or a hardware security key.

The banking institutions , however, are a totally different kettle of fish. In my jurisdiction, not the US, https://2fa.directory lists 3 main categories of interest; Banking, Finance and Payment Platforms, all have wildly different attitudes towards 2FA implementation. Only 10 out of 30 (30%) banks offer the service, that is, 2 thirds DONT!! Whereas, finance and payment platforms list 33 out of 43 (77%) and 29 out of 35 (83%) respectively, that DO.

I personally have linked any banking and finance services that require online activities to my PayPal account because of their security and charge back features. Anything else, I visit the branch personally. Convenience be damned.

For credit card masking use Privacy.com or Ironvest.com.

The second reference to Have I Been Pwned use the incorrect address haveibeen(o)wned.com. I thought it was odd when my browser told me I could not connect using https.

One thing that isn’t getting much mention is now that (almost) everyone’s SSN is public there is a high likelihood of increased tax fraud. It is probably best to go ahead in request a PIN from the IRS in addition to everything else we need to do to protect ourselves. Better yet would be if the IRS acknowledged the need and proactively issued taxpayer PINs to everyone.

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