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baruch college | zicklin school of business

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Zicklin Graduate Admissions

Application components.

The admissions committee reviews all applications holistically. Each component is important. We encourage you to carefully review each section below and the following applicable webpages:

Selection Criteria

  • International
  • Baruch PATHs

Candidates pursuing a Zicklin MS or MBA program must have a Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in any major to be considered for admission. Candidates who are in the final year of their degree program are eligible for consideration. If admissible, these candidates must provide proof of the awarded degree before enrolling in graduate coursework.

While work experience is not a requirement for admission to our MS programs, MBA applicants must have at least 2 years of post-bachelor’s work experience to be considered for admission.

For more information regarding our selection criteria, please visit:

Create your online account . Once you begin your application, you may save it and return to it at a later time. After you submit your application you won’t be able to add materials through the application portal, so be sure to upload everything you can at that time.

You may only apply to one graduate program for a given semester.

If you previously applied and wish to considered for any of our graduate programs please visit the Reapplicants section on our policies page .

Zicklin accepts the GRE, GMAT, GMAT Focus, and Executive Assessment (EA)

Evening MBA, Full-Time MBA, & Online MBA

The standardized test requirement is waived for applicants to MBA programs who meet the following criteria: (1) have earned a four-year bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. (2) with a final cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher on a four-point scale. Degrees graded on other scales are not eligible.

Applicants who meet the criteria do not need to submit a request for a waiver. The standardized test requirement will be waived when the application is received.

MS Programs

Standardized testing is optional for applicants to MS programs. Candidates are not required to submit a standardized test score to be considered for admission. Those who want to submit a score report may do so. This may be helpful for applicants with academic records that are significantly below the average profile .

Providing Scores

  • Which test you choose to take is entirely up to you. We have no preference.
  • MBA applicants are welcome to submit an application before taking the GMAT/GMAT Focus/GRE/EA, but, with the exception of candidates eligible for waivers, your application cannot be considered for admission until we receive your score.
  • Test scores are valid for 5 years but we are flexible, so please let us know if you have an expired score that you would like considered.
  • We only consider your highest score.
  • The GRE school code is 2034.

Applicants educated outside the United States may need to take an English Proficiency Exam.

You are exempt from the English Proficiency Exam if you:

  • Completed a post-secondary degree (Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctorate) in the United States.
  • Completed a post-secondary degree (Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctorate) from one of the English speaking countries listed below.
  • Documented proof of attendance in a U.S. school from 1st-12th grade (Elementary, Middle School, and High School are all required).

If you don’t meet any of the above conditions, then you will need to submit English Proficiency Exam scores.

  • School Code: 2034
  • Please note: The TOEFL and IELTS are valid for 2 years

Unofficial Transcripts | Required for Initial Admission Decision

Please upload a scanned copy or electronic PDF of the unofficial transcript for every college you have attended to the online application.  If you are ready to provide official documents electronically at this point, then you can have them sent to  [email protected]  (via a secure service such as Scrip-Safe or National ClearingHouse.)

Current seniors should wait until their last semester to apply. Applications will be considered “Incomplete” until candidates can provide an unofficial transcript with their second to last semester grades.”

  • We do not require official transcripts for:  (1) Degree programs completed at Baruch College or other City University of New York (CUNY) colleges from 2008 onwards, or (2) study abroad programs.
  • International Applicants: If you are applying with a degree from outside the United States, please visit our International Applicants page  to see whether you need to have your transcript evaluated by an outside agency.

Official Transcripts | Required for Enrollment

If you receive an offer of admission, you will then be required to provide official transcripts. The issuing institution must mail or electronically send your official transcript to Zicklin’s Office of Graduate Admissions. 

  • Email to:  [email protected] (via a secure service such as Scrip-Safe or National ClearingHouse) 
  • Mail to:  Office of Graduate Admissions Baruch College/Zicklin School of Business City University of New York (CUNY) One Bernard Baruch Way, Box H-820, New York, NY 10010 

International education systems vary around the world and therefore our admissions committee needs to understand the comparability of international qualifications with U.S. degrees. If you have a degree from another country you may need to submit an international credential evaluation, depending on the graduate program you apply for.

Three-year Bachelor’s Degrees:  We generally accept three-year Bachelor’s degrees from the following countries: Australia, Bahamas (University of West Indies only), Canada, European Union members, India, Israel, and United Kingdom (excluding Scotland). A credential evaluation may still be required. Please refer to the table below.`

What We Need:  We require two professional recommendations, however, recent graduates may submit one professional reference and one academic reference. If you have not yet completed your Bachelor’s degree you should provide two academic recommendations. We don’t accept recommendations from friends or family.

Baruch seniors and recent graduates may be eligible to have their letters of recommendation waived, please visit our Baruch Paths to MS webpage for more information.

How To Submit It:  You will be asked in the application to enter the names and contact information for the two individuals you are seeking recommendations from. You have a choice of how the recommendation is acquired—through the online portal (recommended) or sent directly.

  • Online Portal –   If you use the online option, recommenders will receive an email from us letting them know that you are applying to Zicklin and that you have requested a recommendation from them. Your recommender will follow a link into a secure online form, where they have the option to include any additional narrative before submitting the form.
  • Direct Option –  With the second option, if your recommender prefers, they can complete our online recommendation form linked here . 

You are required to submit two essays. A third optional essay may be submitted.

  • Essay 1 (500 word limit): Why are you looking to pursue an MBA or MS degree at this point in your life and what do you see yourself doing professionally upon graduation? What key actions have you taken up to this point to prepare you for this career?
  • Discuss a social issue that you feel deeply about. Describe how you would contribute to the solution.
  • Describe a technology trend that will impact your target career.
  • Reach out to someone you haven’t met before for an informational interview to learn more about your target role and the steps you can take to achieve success. Discuss who you met, how you connected with them, and what insights you gained from your conversation.
  • Optional essay: You may provide the Admissions Committee with any information that you would like the members to consider as they make their decision.

Upload your résumé, which should be fully up-to-date and include all post-college work experience. For guidance, please refer to this quick video overview by Zicklin’s Graduate Career Management Center on how to write a well-crafted résumé.

Pay the $75 non-refundable application fee by card or wire transfer.

Pay by wire form

Application Fee Waivers

Application fee is waived for U.S. Armed Forces This fee is waived for veterans or spouses of the United States Armed Forces, currently on active duty, or members of the National Guard or Reserves. To receive the fee waiver, complete all segments of the online application, including the key military questions on the “Demographic Data” page, then submit your application without paying the application fee. On the “Demographic Data” page, you’ll select that you or your spouse are on active duty or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and for which branch, and upload your DD-214 or a copy of your military ID in the space provided.

Do you have more questions? 

  • Visit our FAQ page

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PrepScholar SAT

Baruch College Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are Baruch College's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

  • GPA requirements
  • Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
  • Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Baruch College and build a strong application.

School location: New York, NY

This school is also known as: CUNY Baruch, Baruch College (City University of New York)

Admissions Rate: 50.6%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Baruch College is 50.6% . For every 100 applicants, 51 are admitted.

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This means the school is moderately selective . The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. But if you don't, you might be one of the unlucky minority that gets a rejection letter.

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We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

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Baruch College GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.7

The average GPA at Baruch College is 3.7 .

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(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.7, Baruch College requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. You can compensate for a lower GPA with harder classes, like AP or IB classes. This will show that you're able to handle more difficult academics than the average high school student.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.7, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

Baruch College hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Baruch College will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

Baruch College SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1309

The average SAT score composite at Baruch College is a 1309 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Baruch College Moderately Competitive for SAT test scores.

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Baruch College SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1220, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1390. In other words, a 1220 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1390 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Baruch College ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Baruch College likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 27

The average ACT score at Baruch College is 27. This score makes Baruch College Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 29.

Even though Baruch College likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 24 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 27 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Baruch College, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 27.

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Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

Free eBook: 5 Tips to 4+ Points on the ACT

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

Baruch College considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission . Scoring a 1390 SAT or a 29 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 50.6% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%.

If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 3.7. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in. You can get in based on the merits of your score alone.

But if your score is a 1220 SAT or a 24 ACT and below, you have a good chance of being one of the unlucky few to be rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

  • 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
  • 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
  • 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
  • 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
  • 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

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  • Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
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SAT Free Signup

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Baruch College here.

Application Requirements Overview

  • Common Application Not accepted
  • Electronic Application Available
  • Essay or Personal Statement
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Interview Not required
  • Application Fee $65
  • Fee Waiver Available? Available
  • Other Notes 16

Testing Requirements

  • SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
  • SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
  • SAT Subject Tests
  • Scores Due in Office None

Coursework Requirements

  • Subject Required Years
  • Foreign Language 2
  • Social Studies 4

Deadlines and Early Admissions

  • Offered? Deadline Notification
  • Yes February 1 February 1

Admissions Office Information

  • Address: 55 New York, NY 10010-5585
  • Phone: (646) 312-1000
  • Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Baruch College, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Baruch College.

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Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Baruch College. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

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Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Baruch College, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

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Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Baruch College, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Baruch College is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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Baruch College Writing Center

Main content, the writing center.

We offer free support to all Baruch students. Our professional consultants—teachers of college writing and writers themselves—work collaboratively with you to deepen your writing and English language skills. At any step in the process, we’ll help you become a more independent, confident, and versatile writer.

If you're new to the Writing Center, read our guide for first-time visitors.

One-to-one Consultations

Our core service is a 50-minute, one-to-one consultation. Online appointments meet by video, audio, or text-only chat; in-person appointments meet in 8-185 of the NVC.

Written Feedback

You can also upload your draft to our online schedule with 2-3 questions on the writing issues most important to you. We’ll return your paper with a response to guide your next steps.

Online Workshops

75-minute workshops focused on core academic and professional writing skills—visit our events calendar for dates.

Writing Guides

Find guides on a range of writing skills, including thesis statements, citation, cover letters, organization, and grammar.

What’s New

Workshops, testimonials, and important dates

Our students say

“The writing center has a great video and audio feature now. I highly encourage everyone to to try at least once!”

“When I first started the MSEd program in Higher Education Administration, it had been many years since I had been in my previous graduate program. I made use of the Baruch Writing Center for my first assignment and now I have book-ended my studies with a visit to work on my Capstone Personal Statement. This is an extremely valuable resource that allows one to be better no matter what level they are at.”

“I was always afraid and hesitant to book an appointment because I did not feel like a strong writer. Within my one hour session my confidence in my writing changed completely. I felt more sure of what I was doing and learned new techniques to spot and fix my own mistakes. The time goes by really quickly and I am so happy that I went. The staff is very friendly, understanding, and kind.”

[In-person] Thursday Writing Hours

[online] developing thesis statements, [online] emailing strategically, [online] summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting, [online] writing an honors thesis proposal.

The Writing Center produces two online publications:

A journal of student work,  The Lexington Review   features model texts and writing guides. We welcome submissions year-round.

A journal of writing by our team of professional consultants, Writers Teaching Writers   features reflective essays and resources, sharing best practices for teaching one-to-one.

Featured Resources

We support Baruch students via one-to-one sessions, small-group workshops, and writing guides.

We’ve highlighted a few resources below—you can browse the menu at the top of the page (or search this site) to find more.

Baruch Writing Guides

We've created these resources to help you work independently on a range of writing skills. Some come …

We created this archive to help students work independently on a range of writing skills. Below, …

Request accommodations

Request accommodations for your Writing Center sessions Using this form, disabled students can …

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Spring Hours of Operation

In-Person Office Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9AM-8PM Friday: 9AM-3PM

Online/In-person Sessions Available: Monday-Thursday: 9AM-8PM Friday: 9AM-3PM Saturday: 10AM-4PM

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New York, New York

Baruch college | cuny baruch.

  • Cost & scholarships
  • Admission requirements
  • Essay prompts

Want to see your chances of admission at Baruch College | CUNY Baruch?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

Baruch College | CUNY Baruch’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Select-a-prompt essay.

If you are applying to Baruch College, Hunter College or Queens College, use the essay topics below. Baruch College recommends all freshman applicants to submit an essay. Hunter College and Queens College require an essay.

1. Tell us something meaningful about yourself that is not reflected in your application. You may choose to speak about your interests, aspirations and/or background.

2. It is often said that the road to success is paved with setbacks. Tell us about a time you faced a challenge or obstacle. What did you learn from it, and how did it contribute to your success?

3. Share an essay on any topic. You may use an essay that you have previously written or one that discusses a topic of your choice.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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Percy E. Sutton SEEK Program

  • Program History
  • Program Mission
  • Meet Our Students
  • Eligibility

Second Year

  • Fourth Year
  • Summer Academy
  • Transfer Student
  • Admitted Student
  • SEEK for Guidance Counselors
  • Freshman Seminar
  • Academic Support
  • Academic Survival
  • Peer Mentoring
  • Scholarship and Awards Ceremony
  • BMI @Baruch
  • Urban Male Leadership Academy Scholars Program
  • Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society
  • National Association of Black Accountants
  • Women Empowered for Success
  • Why Stay Connected
  • Meet Our Alumni

Explore the Possibilities!

SEEK benchmarks are designed for you and your counselor to monitor your continued accomplishments. Your second year is a time to learn about yourself and discover opportunities inside and outside of the college. As a second-year student, it is important to:

  • Assess your academic strengths and weaknesses and be willing to receive assistance
  • Join a student organization and attend workshops/seminars, as well as research careers
  • Learn more about potential majors and careers by networking, attending events, talking to your SEEK counselor and engaging in self-analysis
  • Apply for internships and fellowship opportunities

The following are further detailed benchmarks you should accomplish during your third and fourth semesters at Baruch College:

  • Go to the Registrar Office to be coded for my intended major by September 16, 2019
  • Apply to the school of my choice: Marxe School of Public Affairs, Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, or Zicklin School of Business; and declare my major before 45 credits
  • If under 2.0 GPA, attend all Academic Survival Workshops
  • If GPA is between 2.01 and 2.5, attend all Strength Initiative Workshops
  • Schedule an appointment with at least two of my professors to discuss my progress in the course
  • Weissman-track students: Schedule an appointment with a faculty advisor in my department prior to declaring my major
  • Zicklin-track students: Complete my remaining pre-business courses and calculate my GPA in pre-business courses
  • Schedule and keep two appointments with my counselor each semester
  • Familiarize myself with mental health (e.g. counseling center), health (e.g. student health services center), and other wellness resources on campus
  • Check my Baruch email daily
  • Create and practice a well-written personal pitch
  • Craft a personal statement for potential scholarships, internships, etc.
  • Update and re-upload my resume and cover letter to the Starr Career Center database
  • Attend a large-scale career-related event such as the Internship and Diversity Fairs, Career Day, and Diversity Pipeline
  • Participate in an internship or part-time work in a field related to my major
  • Join one career-related club
  • Attend a corporate or industry-based panel presentation
  • Contact an upper level student or professional in my field of interest to serve as a mentor
  • Find opportunities to hone my communication/public speaking skills (e.g. Toastmasters, Conversation Partners)
  • Executives on Campus (EOC)
  • Finance Women Associates (FWA)
  • Global Student Certificate
  • P2P, for accounting majors (sophomore program to be in junior year)
  • Rising Starr Sophomores

Non-Baruch Programs

  • Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
  • Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP)
  • Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT)
  • Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO)
  • Streetwise Partners
  • T. Howard Foundation

Community and Global Experience

  • Pursue opportunities for leadership experiences by becoming involved on campus and/or in community activities (e.g. SEEK Peer Mentor or Tutor, Student Government, student organization officer, etc.
  • Consider taking the Team Baruch Training for Student Leaders
  • Participate in cultural events (theatre performances, concerts, etc.)
  • Identify the names of Undergraduate Student Government (USG) representatives
  • Attend the SEEK Awards

If I am interested in studying abroad I will:

  • Attend the study abroad fair/workshop
  • Apply to the CUNY Chancellor’s Study Abroad Scholarship
  • If I am interested in experience abroad, I will review the experimental programs document

Financial Aid

  • Have you filed for financial aid?
  • Have you verified that you are applying for financial aid for the current year?
  • Have you updated your FASFA with current information for the upcoming year?

Account Access

  • Have you applied for scholarships opportunities ?
  • Is your major/minor reflected on your transcript?
  • Have you reviewed the Baruch Financial Aid Services document?
  • Have you checked CUNYfirst for any outstanding “FIN AID TO DO LIST?’
  • Have you checked CUNYfirst for any Bursar holds?
  • If selected for verification, have you submitted all documents?

TAP Compliance

  • If your courses have been determined by the Registrar to not be TAP compliant, have you completed online TAP compliance application?
  • Did you complete the TAP compliance form ?
  • Have you checked FACTS to confirm your TAP compliance status?
  • Have you checked DegreeWorks to confirm your TAP compliance status?
  • TAP compliance contact: [email protected]  – Registrar Office
  • TAP:  [email protected]  – Burser Office
  • PELL:  [email protected]  – Financial Aid Services

Please bring your copy of your benchmarks to all your meetings with your SEEK Counselor to discuss your progress.

Current Students

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Future Students

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  • Find a Course
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  • Find a Program

People Search

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Application Review

  • Undergraduate Admissions

How Will My Application Be Reviewed? During application evaluation, our colleges review your academic achievements to determine your likelihood of being successful on their campus.

Please note that your application will be reviewed based on a number of components, which can vary by college.

Use this page to understand how your application will be considered and determine which of our colleges is a strong academic fit.

Applicants Profile

College specific information, frequently asked questions.

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Freshman Applicants

Each of our colleges has a unique selection process, and there is a great fit college for all first-year students. For most programs, a comprehensive review of your academic record is sufficient to make an admission decision.  However, some of our colleges will review additional supporting materials to determine your eligibility.

Admission Profile

Use this profile to review the average GPA of students accepted to the university for Fall 2023. The table below displays information for both general and SEEK/CD admission .  Remember that there is a great fit college for all first-year students, and you can apply to up to 6 colleges using the  CUNY Application .

CUNY College Admission Profile: Fall 2023

1 Excludes applicants admitted through the Opportunity for Student Success (OSS) program and applicants admitted conditionally. 2 Consists of admitted applicants meeting the SEEK/CD income criteria who are in the SCD1 or SCD2 student groups, or who are in the SEEK or CD student groups. Admits in one of the above groups and in the ASAP student group have been excluded. 3 Includes applicants admitted to both associate and baccalaureate degree programs.

Application Review & Support Materials

Once you’ve reviewed the admission profile, take a look at the components that each college can consider during application review.  For specific information on how each college will review your application, view the College Specific Information section.

Academic Review:

  • Overall academic average or GPA
  • Foreign Language
  • Strong performance in one or more specific subject areas
  • Level of coursework completed in each subject area (for instance, the completion of Trigonometry or Calculus in mathematics)
  • Participation in college level courses while in HS
  • AP or IB participation
  • Course selection during senior year
  • Proficiency  in Math and English
  • NYS Regents examination results, if available
  • High School Equivalency exam results
  • Financial Aid information for students wishing to be considered for SEEK/CD. To learn more about SEEK/CD, click  here .
  • TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo for temporary visa holders who were educated in a non-English environment.
  • Please note that SAT/ACT exams are not required, nor will they be considered through the Spring 2025 admission cycle. For more information, click here .

Supporting Materials:

  • Extracurricular achievements
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Personal statements

baruch college personal statement

Transfer Applicants

As a transfer applicant, the review of your application will be based on a comprehensive review of your academic record.  Each of our colleges has a unique selection process, and certain majors may have additional requirements. Once you’re admitted, you’ll be able to engage with your future college to determine credit transfer. Already a CUNY student?  Use  this tool  to see how your credits will transfer across the university.

Use this profile to review the average GPA of transfer students accepted to the university for Fall 2023.  Remember that as a transfer applicant, you can select up to 4 college choices on the  CUNY Application .

1 The GPA reflects a combination of all prior colleges attended. GPAs reported as “0” in CUNYfirst are only included if the total number of credits attempted is greater than 0. GPAs reported as greater than 4.0 have been excluded. 2 Total credits earned for each applicant reflects a combination of all prior colleges attended but does not necessarily reflect the number of credits that CUNY will accept towards the degree. Credits reported as “0” in CUNYfirst are only included if the total number of credits attempted is greater than 0. 3 Means are based on applicants admitted to both associate and baccalaureate degree programs. 4 Only includes applicants admitted as transfer applicants. 5 Data is not available at this time but Guttman accepts Transfer Students.

Most of our colleges will review your application based on your overall GPA and demonstrated  proficiency  in math and English. However, certain majors have additional requirements.  Below is a listing of items that our colleges may consider during review. For specific information on how each college will review your application, view the college specific information section.

  • Overall academic average or GPA in college courses
  • Completion of pre-requisite coursework
  • Completion of an associate degree
  • Demonstration of  proficiency  in math and English
  • Academic average or GPA in high school
  • Proof of high school graduation
  • TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo for temporary visa holders who were educated in a non-English environment
  • Proof of licensure for certain majors

Which colleges require a personal statement for general freshman applicants?

Hunter College and Queens College ask that all freshman applicants submit a personal statement. It is recommended for Baruch College.

What are the essay topics for Baruch College, Hunter College and Queens College?

You may submit one of three essay topics as part of your freshman application to Baruch (essay is recommended), Hunter or Queens:

  • Tell us something meaningful about yourself that is not reflected in your application.  You may choose to speak about your interests, aspirations and/or background.
  • It is often said that the road to success is paved with setbacks.  Tell us about a time you faced a challenge or obstacle.  What did you learn from it, and how did it contribute to your success?
  • Share an essay on any topic.  You may use an essay that you have previously written or one that discusses a topic of your choice.

Do any colleges require a letter of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation are optional for general admission programs. Be sure to check if your intended major requires supplemental materials to be submitted.

How will community colleges review my freshman application?

Our community colleges will primarily look for proof that you are graduating with a high school diploma. Many students who are looking for a supportive environment choose to apply to a community college.

My school does not offer Regents exams, but I’m a strong student. Will my application be impacted by missing Regents exam scores?

No.  Each college will review your application comprehensively.  We understand that not all students take Regents exams, and our colleges will look at other components of your application to determine eligibility.

My grade point average falls slightly below what is listed on the admission profile. Can I still apply?

Yes. The admission profile displays averages of admitted students and does not represent minimum requirements for admission.

More Admissions Resources

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Transfer Credit Guide

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Transfer Students

Am i a transfer student.

You are considered a transfer student if you have previously attended any college, university, and/or proprietary school since graduating from high school or secondary school. This applies whether or not you are seeking transfer credit and/or changing your program of study.

What are the steps to transfer?

Step 1: Get to know us

Attend an  open house , take a  campus tour , or  meet with a transfer advisor  to find out how Baruch can help you reach your potential.

Step 2: Ready to Apply

Visit our  application site  to get started.

Transfer Application deadlines:

Fall: February 1

Spring: September 15

Step 3: Check the status of your application

After submitting supporting documents, please allow 3-4 weeks for your application status to update.  Please note that all materials and documents submitted as part of an application for admission become the property of CUNY and cannot be returned.

Click here  to check the status of your transfer application.

You may also contact the CUNY Helpdesk at: (212) 997-CUNY (2869).

Step 4: Get Admitted

You must accept the Offer of Admission via CUNYfirst, and pay a non-refundable $100 Commitment Tuition Deposit. The Commitment Tuition Deposit enables you to confirm your enrollment and will be applied to your first semester tuition charges.

Your deposit must be submitted by the deadline stated in your acceptance letter email.

Newly admitted transfer students should visit the  Admitted student’s page  for more information.

How do I meet with an advisor?

Meeting with a transfer Admission Advisor is easy! Just send us  an email  to schedule an appointment, and feel free to bring a copy of your transcript(s) if you would like us to review them.

What are the transfer policies?

Transfer credit will only be granted from institutions that are listed on the student's admission application. Transfer credit for institutions not listed on the admission application may be denied. In addition, failure to list all postsecondary institutions attended will subject a student to disciplinary action and a review of the admission decision.

Transfer students may receive credit for courses equivalent to courses at Baruch College completed with a grade of D- or better at colleges of the City University and/or with a grade of C or better at other regionally accredited colleges. For courses for which there are no specific equivalents at Baruch College, elective credit may be assigned by the transfer center. Further documentation such as course syllabus/course description will be requested for possible transfer credits. You may receive transfer credit for a course or its equivalent only once. Credit cannot be earned twice for the same course.

If a course was taken on a pass/fail basis at another institution, the official transcript must state that the pass grade equals a C or better for transfer credit to be considered.  All final official transcripts must be received for the Transfer Student Services Center to complete a final transfer credit evaluation.

Pathways at Baruch

CUNY colleges will have a uniform set of general education requirements known as  CUNY Pathways . Although the courses that can be used to fulfill these requirements will differ from college to college, the basic set of requirements will be the same throughout the CUNY system, and with few exceptions any requirement that a student fulfills at one college will be considered fulfilled at any other college to which he or she transfers. CUNY transfer students who have completed a bachelors, AA or AS degree will be deemed to have completed CUNY Pathways.

Transfer Students from SUNY Community Colleges

Effective Fall 2018 SUNY transfer students who have completed a bachelor’s, AA or AS degree or the entire 30-credit GER from SUNY will be deemed to have completed  CUNY Pathways  Common Core requirement. SUNY transfer students who completed a portion of the 30-credit GER requirement will have the completed GER credits applied to the Pathways areas as appropriate. Credits will be granted with a grade "C" or better. There is no set credit maximum on the number of credits that may be transferred. Articulation Agreements Articulation Agreements are formal agreements between Baruch College and other academic instituitions tha create additional pathways for admitted students in particular programs or degrees. To find list of instuitions we have agreements with  click here

How does my credit transfer?

Newly Admitted Transfer students can access their Transfer Credit Report via CUNYfirst . Use the  Evaluate My Transfer Credit tool  if you are planning to transfer from another CUNY college.

If you are planning to transfer from a Non-CUNY college, you can contact a  transfer admissions advisor  for a brief overview of how credits would transfer. For information regarding college credit earned while in high school such as Advanced Placement (AP), College Now, and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses,  click here

Click here  for answers to our most frequently asked questions .

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Transfer Students

Welcome to baruch college.

Our transfer students are an integral part of our Baruch community. We’re excited to welcome you to the Bearcat family. Whether you’re transferring from CUNY, SUNY, or beyond, there are many ways for you to get connected, get involved, and succeed at Baruch.

Getting Started

Once you’ve been admitted and confirm your attendance, you’ll be invited to attend orientation where you’ll learn more about the Baruch curriculum, important policies, and register for classes.

This webpage is built for admitted transfer students to bring together key resources and information most relevant to you! Feel free to click around, explore, and learn more.

For information and FAQs on applying to Baruch as a transfer student, please visit our Undergraduate Admissions webpage .

National Transfer Student Week

The National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) organized National Transfer Student Week (NTSW) on an annual basis during the third week of October as a way to celebrate transfer students. Baruch College sponsors various events during NTSW to highlight the achievements of our transfer students. We will also use this week to showcase the support and resources we offer our transfer students.

NTSW 2023 Calendar of Events

Monday, october 16th.

All Aboard Bearcat Den – NVC 2nd Floor 12:30 P.M.-2:00 P.M. Join us at our National Transfer Week kickoff celebration to hear from USG members and Transfer peer mentors. You’ll also learn about the week-long scavenger hunt with exciting prizes.

Tuesday, October 17th

Express to Success Bearcat Den – NVC 2nd Floor 12:30 P.M.-2:00 P.M. Join us in listening to faculty and Baruch alumni share their experiences as transfer students. You will have an opportunity to ask questions as well.

Wednesday, October 18th

Stay on Track NVC 2-190 12:30 P.M.-2:00 P.M. Discover valuable resources offered by the Starr Career Development Center and gain insights on excelling as a transfer student.

Thursday, October 19th

Bridge the Gap NVC 10-125 12:30 P.M.-2:00 P.M. This workshop, hosted by Baruch’s Writing Center, will review strategies for responding to assignments-even when you feel stuck or confused- and for brainstorming, developing, and organizing your thoughts.

Join Homecoming week on the plaza as well at our Transfer Table to have your questions answered

Friday, October 20th

Next Stop Multipurpose Room – NVC 1-107 11:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M. Explore the array of resources available at Baruch during this event, which is open to both new and current transfer students

Don’t forget to visit the second floor of NVC, right outside of Student Life, where you’ll find a message board during the week. Share your transfer story and connect with fellow students and staff as they proudly display their educational journeys. You will also have an opportunity to get a button to showcase your transfer pride!

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Writers Teaching Writers

Resources: Personal Statements

By Chong Bretillon

When helping students write personal statements, I often use this resource from the University of Chicago Law School, entitled, “In Their Own Words: Admissions Essays that Worked.” These essays, written by students who were accepted to U of Chicago Law, provide models of excellent narrative writing that can be used as fodder for conversations about the genre.

A common problem in personal statement writing is that students demonstrate difficulty conceptualizing their intellectual and academic identity beyond the lists of achievements that comprise their resumes. The result is often a statement that more closely resembles a “resume in prose form” that is hardly personal, or a persuasive essay testifying to one’s preparation for classes in the chosen discipline. The following essays take different approaches, but they all allow readers to picture who the student is, what they value, and how they could contribute to the scholarly community.

Consider the first essay, by Tammy Wang, in which she describes her experiences as a classical pianist. In a session, I ask students to point out where Tammy mentions her interest and experience with the legal system and the law. Surprise! the answer is, she doesn’t—at all—and that’s the point! I then ask different questions: Who is Tammy? What qualities might make her a successful law student? Answers might be: her diligence, willingness to take risks and try new things. Her use of music as the central theme ends up telling the committee much more about her character than if she had merely listed her accomplishments and claimed she was ready for law school.

Osama Hamdy’s essay also affirms that personal statements need not be grounded in academic work at all in order to be successful. We talk about the essay’s “hook”: the student reflects on the fact that he shares a first name with one of the world’s most notorious terrorists. He describes how he dealt with racism and stereotyping throughout his youth, which ultimately inspired him to begin working as a diversity ambassador in college. In a conversation about this essay, I ask students to describe the qualities Osama underscores that might make him a valued member of the academic community.

I believe all of these essays can help students feel more comfortable getting personal in their application essays.

Published on April 12, 2018

baruch college personal statement

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How to Write a Personal Statement – 5 Personal Statement Examples

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How to write a personal statement? – Introduction

The personal statement is one of the most important parts of the college application process. For this reason, it’s often also one of the most anxiety-inducing. If you’ve been searching for personal statement examples because writing your personal statement has you worried (or excited), then you’re in the right place. 

In this article, we’ll present five personal statement examples and teach you how to write a personal statement that highlights who you are and demonstrates your full potential to colleges. We’re going to outline what a personal statement is, how colleges use them in the application process, and which topics tend to work best for college applicants. Then, we’ll offer some advice and tools to help you draft, edit, and finalize your own personal statement. Finally, we’ll walk you through five personal essay examples, breaking them down individually, so you can see just what makes them work. 

Writing a personal statement may seem like a daunting task, especially if you aren’t clear on just exactly what a personal statement for college is. After you see your first personal statement example, things may seem clearer. But first, let’s demystify the term “personal statement.” 

What is a personal statement?

Learning how to write a personal statement starts with understanding the term . I’m sure throughout the college application process you’ve heard your counselors, teachers, and classmates talking about the importance of a personal statement. While you may know that the personal statement for a university is extremely important, you still might not be clear on just what it is. You may have never even seen a personal statement example. So, before you attempt to start writing , let’s answer the questions: what is a personal statement for college? And just how do universities use them to evaluate students?

A personal statement for college is your chance to set yourself apart from other students and show admissions who you are. A strong personal statement for a university will describe your unique experiences and background in a first-person narrative. And when done well, it’s your opportunity to catch the right attention of an admission officer. 

No pressure, right? Don’t stress quite yet. The process of writing a personal statement can be fun! It’s an opportunity to write about something you’re passionate about. You’ll be able to see a personal statement example later on (five, actually!), and you’ll notice that it’s not about the perfect topic , but rather, how you tell your story. 

Personal statement basics

Now, let’s talk about personal essay specifics. Generally speaking, a personal statement will be between 400-700 words, depending on the specific university guidelines or application portal. The Common App essay must be 250-650 words. The Coalition App , by contrast, suggests that students write 500-650 words.  Try to aim for the higher end of those ranges, as you’ll be hard pressed to write a compelling personal statement without enticing descriptions. 

Apart from the word count, what’s the personal statement format? The personal statement for a university should be written in a first-person conventional prose format. You may be a wonderful poet or fiction writer but refrain from using those styles in your personal statement. While using those styles in a personal essay could occasionally be a hit with admissions, it’s best to showcase that style of writing elsewhere. If you choose to add your creative writing style to your application, you should do so by submitting a writing portfolio. Generally speaking, the strongest personal statement will be written in first-person prose language. 

General or prompted

When it comes to a personal statement for college, it will generally fall into one of two categories : general, comprehensive personal statement, or a response to a very specific personal essay prompt. In the open-ended option, you’ll want to share a story about something important related to your life. This could be about family, experiences, academics, or extracurriculars . Just be careful not to repeat your entire resume. That’s certainly not the goal of a personal essay.  

Remember, it’s a personal statement. So, share something that you haven’t elsewhere. If given a prompt, it will likely be open-ended so that you can flex your creativity and show off your writing style. You’ll be able to write a story that genuinely matters to you, ideally sharing something that has made you who you are. 

You may also need a personal statement when applying to certain programs, such as business or STEM programs. The basic idea is the same, but you’ll want to connect your experiences to the specific program. Check out the details of writing a personal statement for a specific field . 

That extra push

The college application process can seem rigid at times; the personal statement for college is your chance to show off in a way that has nothing to do with GPA or transcripts. The personal statement is an opportunity for colleges to meet students on their own terms. It’s essentially your written interview . 

At top universities, many students will have similar grades and test scores. A strong personal statement gives students the chance to stand out and show that they’re more than just numbers on a transcript. What’s the extra push that an admissions officer may need to admit a qualified student? A well-written, compelling personal statement can help you gain admittance to competitive schools . 

Having a support system throughout the college admissions process is important. Keep your parents in the loop with this personal statement webinar that offers details about the common app essay and the personal essay for college. 

You are probably wondering the same things as other students about the college application essay or college essay tips. Read an admissions officer’s response to some FAQs and get some useful college essay tips. 

The CommonApp Essay vs. The Personal Statement

common app essay

So, we’ve discussed what a personal statement is and why it matters. Now, let’s discuss one common type of personal statement: the Common App essay. While each school may have their own personal statement topics, the Common App essay section has general prompts that will serve as your personal statement. The Common App essay will respond to one of seven prompts.

For the most up-to-date information on the Common App essay, you can check their website .

Common App Essay Questions for 2022-2023:   

  • Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
  • The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
  • Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
  • Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
  • Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
  • Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
  • Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Open-ended prompts

The Common App essay personal statement prompts are intentionally open-ended. They are meant to give you the chance to tell your unique story . However, one requirement is that your Common App essay must be between 250-650 words. 

You can choose to respond to any one of the seven prompts. Remember to choose the best prompt for you. It may seem obvious, but the personal statement for college is your opportunity to share your personal story. You’ll want to choose a topic you can write well about that will show how you’ve grown or changed. It’s also your opportunity to show off your writing style. So, pick a topic you enjoy writing about!

Check out some tips on how to tackle each prompt from the Common App essay blog. You may also want to read this Common App essay overview for juniors . We’ll get into more specific details later on how to write the Common App essay– and other personal statement topics in general– later in this article.

How important is a Personal Statement?

As we’ve mentioned, the personal statement is your chance to stand out in a pool of applicants. It’s an extremely important part of any college application. A personal statement for college will be a requirement of nearly every application you complete. Admissions will use your personal statement to get a sense of who you are beyond your grades and scores. So, if you want to show colleges what makes you unique, your personal statement is the place to do it. Figuring out how to write a personal statement is key to a successful application. 

Seeing what works when it comes to your personal statement for university can be a helpful first step. U.S. News breaks down the process of writing a personal statement and gives some successful personal essay examples. Reading another student’s successful personal statement example will give you an idea of what impresses admissions. It may even get you excited about writing your own personal statement for college! 

While every school will likely require some sort of personal statement, it may actually be used differently in the admissions process. How your personal statement is judged during the admissions process will depend on a school’s size, ranking, acceptance rate , and various other factors. Larger state schools will likely put the most importance on an applicant’s grades and scores while spending little time reviewing a student’s personal statement. 

Especially important at top tier schools

However, at Ivy League schools and other elite institutions, many students have the same impressive grades, scores, and extracurriculars. The personal statement allows these schools to distinguish between high-achieving students. If you’re looking at these types of institutions, then a lot of importance should be placed on writing a personal statement that is unforgettable and impresses admissions. 

So, we know that learning how to write a personal statement is key to many successful applications, but you may be thinking: what’s the difference between a personal statement and supplemental essays? Every school you apply to via the Common App will receive an identical copy of your Common App essay. The Common App essay serves as your personal statement. 

However, each school will have their own supplemental requirements, which may include additional supplemental essays . For schools with many supplemental college essay prompts, your personal essay may not have as much of an impact on your overall application. Admissions officers will see your writing style, and likely your personality, in all of the college essay prompts you submit. 

Additional personal statements

Still, you should always treat your personal essay with the utmost care. It can make a huge difference in the admissions process. You may also need to write other personal statements when applying to scholarships or specific programs . It’s good to get used to the process and the personal statement format during college application season. 

When should I start writing my Personal Statement?

When it comes to all things in the college application process, including any college application essay, it’s best to start early . Don’t leave your personal statement for a university until the last moment. Writing a personal statement will take time. The sooner you start your personal statement for college, the more likely you are to succeed. 

how to start a personal statement

This doesn’t mean that you should start writing your personal statement for university the summer before your sophomore year. High school is a time for development, and colleges want to get to know you at your most mature. It’s just good practice to start thinking about how to write a personal statement early on. 

Review personal statement examples

Think about personal statement format, personal statement topics, and personal statement ideas. Look at other students’ personal statement examples. You can start jotting down potential ideas for your personal essay for college at any time, which may be useful down the line. But, you don’t need to actually start writing your personal statement until the summer before your senior year .

Be open-minded to changing your personal statement topic as you grow and discover new things about yourself. Check out this personal statement webinar on how one student switched her personal essay for college at the last moment. Just like there is no set personal statement format, there are no rules against mixing up your topic as you see fit. But, at least try to allow yourself some time to revise and edit your personal essay for college to perfection.

What do I write in a personal statement?

There’s no one-size-fits-all outline when it comes to how to write a personal statement. Your personal statement for university will depend on your own background, interests, and character. Overall, it’s not the personal statement topics that will catch the eye of admissions officers– it’s how you write your story that will. You need to know how to write a personal statement that not only checks the boxes but is also powerful . 

how to write a personal statement

Important things to keep in mind when writing your personal statement: 

Choose a topic you’re passionate about.

What would you be excited to write about? Chase the personal statement topics that seem fun to write, think about, and talk about. If you’re passionate about your personal statement, your audience will feel it and be engaged. 

Really be you

Authenticity is key when it comes to writing a personal statement. After all, it’s your chance to tell your story and really show admissions who you are. Whatever you write about, make sure it is true, honest, and authentic to your experiences.

Give it some flair

Ok, we don’t mean do something too unconventional like a personal statement haiku. But, you should show off your writing style in your personal statement for college. Admissions officers want to get to know you and your writing. 

Knowing how to start a personal statement or how to start a college essay, in general, is often the most difficult part of the process. You’ll want to brainstorm some personal statement topics to get your creative juices flowing. CollegeAdvisor.com offers a masterclass on brainstorming personal statement topics for the Common App essay in case you need some help with how to start a college essay or a personal statement. 

Still have doubts? Read more on how to write a personal statement and get some college essay tips from CollegeAdvisor.com’s admissions experts. It will also be helpful to look at some successful personal essay examples and understand why they worked . Good personal statement examples can inspire you to tackle writing your own personal essay for college.  

Exploring Personal Statement Topics

It seems logical that when exploring the process of how to write a personal statement, you should start thinking about personal statement ideas. What are the best topics to write about in a personal statement? If you look at various successful personal statement examples, you’ll likely realize the topic isn’t necessarily the most important part. You don’t need to write about something that no one else has ever written about. You just need your personal statement to have its own unique spin. Lean into brainstorming personal statement ideas that show who you are. It’s helpful to read some personal statement examples for inspiration. 

While there is no exact formula for “how to write a personal statement”, there are some basic guidelines that students should follow. The personal statement should be written in first-person nonfiction prose form. Often, a personal statement introduction will include a story or an anecdote and then expand to reveal the impact of that experience on the writer. 

You may be specifically wondering how to start a personal statement. Well, it could be with a moment, a place, or a conversation that spurred some sort of change or growth within you. While this isn’t necessarily a “personal statement format,” it’s a very general format that works. 

Things to avoid

We now know that the personal statement format is fluid, but there are some things to avoid when thinking about how to write a personal statement: 

  • Profanity, explicit content, or crude language. 
  • Lying or misinterpreting events. Keep it authentic. 
  • Sharing overly personal descriptions of troubling life experiences. Remember that applying to college requires professional boundaries. 
  • Writing a narrative that revolves around others. The personal statement is all about you and your experiences. 

If you want to know what a bad personal statement example would look like, imagine one that includes any of the formerly listed items. You don’t want to catch an admissions officer’s attention for the wrong reasons. Good personal statement examples will be engaging, but inoffensive. Check out some more do’s and don’ts when it comes to how to write a personal statement.   

When pondering “how to write a personal statement,” it’s good to know that you don’t need to follow conventional essay guidelines. The best personal statement examples will exude passion and professionalism, while a bad personal statement example will lack soul. If you’re excited about a topic, then that’s a great place to start! Now, let’s get into the actual writing. 

How do you write a good Personal Statement?

To review, in the first part of this series of three articles on how to write a personal statement we answered the question “What is a personal statement?” We also explained how schools use a student’s personal statement for college to evaluate them. We described the Common App essay as an example of a personal statement for a university. Next, let’s dig into how to write a personal statement, including how to start a personal statement, the best tips for writing a personal statement, and some good personal statement examples and personal essay examples to inspire you.

personal statement examples

First, you have probably wondered how to write a personal statement that stands out from the rest. It all comes down to one thing: authenticity. The best personal statement examples and personal essay examples show schools what makes the writer unique, and they are written in an authentic voice. When giving advice about how to write a personal statement, admissions officers say that the best personal statement examples tell them who the student is beyond their coursework and grades. They are personal, and they tell a unique and interesting story.

Considering Personal Statement topics

So, as you think about how to write a personal statement, you may also wonder what the best personal statement topics are. When writing a personal statement, including the Common App essay, you don’t have to share an exciting story about the time you wrestled a wild bear or how you discovered a cure for cancer. For example, in their advice on how to write a personal statement, Wellesley College advises , “Tragedy is not a requirement, reflection and depth are.” 

Some of the best personal statement topics focus on insights about common experiences. Begin your brainstorming process by reviewing the list of Common App essay prompts as you think about writing a personal statement, and choose a story that genuinely matters to you. Then, get excited about telling it! Think about writing a personal statement, including the Common App essay and every other personal essay for college, as an opportunity to lean into your quirkiness or to share your unique insights.

What’s more, a good personal statement for a university should be well-written. Consider the advice offered by Purdue Online Writing Lab : “Be specific, write well and correctly, and avoid cliches.” This will take time—writing a good personal statement for a university or a good Common App essay doesn’t happen overnight. The process of writing a personal statement will include multiple sessions between the first phase of brainstorming and the final phase of editing. Be prepared to write and rewrite, and never hesitate to ask for help from an advisor, counselor, parent, or trusted adult. However, remember that your work should always be your own.

Now, let’s discuss how to start a personal statement.

How do you start a personal statement?

So, now you have the basic information on how to write a personal statement, including your Common App essay. Next, you’re probably asking, “But how do you start one?” In this section, we’ll break down the process of exploring personal statement ideas and how to start a personal statement. This information also applies to thinking about how to start a college essay. Then, we’ll discuss how to write a personal statement opening.

how to write a personal statement

Brainstorming is usually the first phase of any writing project to generate personal statement ideas. You may want to read a personal statement example like those here or here for inspiration to help get your personal statement ideas flowing. Next, ask yourself some idea-generating questions : Who have your intellectual influences been?  Which careers are you considering and why? What personal goals do you have? As you think about the answers to these typical college essay prompts, jot down personal statement ideas that occur to you. If you’re still feeling stuck, ask a close friend or family member , “What do you think differentiates me?,” or “What are my quirks?”

Pick a topic that excites you

Then, once you have a few good topics for your personal statement, choose one that you feel most excited to write about. Write a draft of your personal statement introduction and see what other ideas occur to you for later parts of your essay. Choose another topic and do the same thing. Don’t feel like these initial drafts need to be perfect—words on the page are always a great start! The goal right now is to decide which personal statement topics you feel most inspired to write about. Which ideas reflect something interesting about you ? 

Once you have selected which topic you will focus on for your personal statement, Common App essay, or personal essay for college, think about crafting a strong hook. The opening line (or lines) of the best personal statement examples include a “hook” for the reader, grabbing their attention and making them want to keep reading. For example, you could start with a question, an unusual or surprising statement, or an anecdote that will leave readers wondering what comes next. Whichever approach you select when considering how to start a college essay, make sure to use engaging language and vivid imagery.

Remember, start early and write several drafts .

The personal statement is an opportunity to write about a topic that is important to you and that also reflects your personality . Now, let’s discuss the personal statement format.

How do you format a personal statement?

Different applications may require different approaches to your personal statement format. In some cases, you may copy and paste your personal statement into an application and it will format itself automatically. In other situations, you will need to set up your personal statement format yourself. If this is the case, Times New Roman font, 12-point, with conventional margins and double spacing is a safe personal statement format.

When you are submitting your personal statement or Common App essay through the Common App, you may notice that the Common Application text box only allows formatting for bold, italics, and underlining. Therefore, it’s best to write your personal statement in Google Docs or Word and to write your paragraphs with block formatting (not indented). In addition, using Google Docs or Word will also allow you to easily check spelling and word counts before pasting your personal statement into the Common App.

Editing your Personal Statement

Many students wonder what the editing process for their personal statement for college, including the Common App essay and other personal essays for college, should look like. This varies by student and by essay. But, the best personal statements for a university go through at least several rounds of edits.

Firstly, once you have written the first draft of your personal statement for a university or personal essay for college, take a step back for a few hours or even for a day. Then, return with fresh eyes. Is your narrative well organized? Are there sections that seem unclear, ideas that don’t support your main point, or awkward sentences? You may want to reorder your paragraphs or sentences or delete and rework other elements. Revisit a personal statement example and consider how it is organized for comparison. 

personal statement examples

Making the cut

In short, don’t be afraid to cut sentences that don’t directly relate to the main focus of the essay or convey some important detail of the story. This will help clarify your narrative. Also, make sure that you have centered your writing around your own experiences—the story should reflect your perspective and insights.

Next, once you are confident that your personal statement is well organized and your main ideas are clear, do another round of detailed editing. Eliminate any typos or repetitive language; make sure you have proper grammar and spelling throughout.

Finally, ask a trusted adult to read your personal statement and provide feedback. Something that you thought was clear may not be to them. Also, ask them how engaging your personal statement is, and if there are sections that seem dry or unimportant. Ask whether your hook is effective, and review tips on how to start a personal statement if necessary. Sometimes feedback can be difficult to hear, but it helps to remember that even professional writers seek input from others. The goal is to create the best personal statement possible!

For more detailed advice on revising your personal statement, check out this CollegeAdvisor personal statement webinar, “ Revising the Personal Statement .”

How do I know when my personal statement is done?

There’s no definitive way to know when your personal statement for a university is done—you can keep editing most writing forever. However, as you revise and edit, you’ll notice that you have fewer things to fix with every new draft. Once you feel like there’s nothing major left to change, get feedback from someone you trust. 

personal statement examples

Your College Advisor expert can also provide valuable feedback and guidance at this point. If the notes and suggestions from others are also limited, you may be nearly ready to finalize your personal statement for college and press “submit.”

6 Tips for Writing a Great Personal Statement 

1. be authentic.

Remember, admissions officers want to know about you —your personality, your interests, your goals. A great personal statement is personal . Your personal statement for a university needs to express your unique ideas and insights in your own voice. Nobody can tell your story better than you. So, choose a topic that interests you and let your energy and ideas shine through.

Being personal also means that you should share sensory details and your internal dialogue. What did you see or hear at a critical moment? What were you thinking or feeling during that pivotal conversation? The more personal details you share, the more interesting your personal statement will be.

2. Start early

This is one of the most important tips on how to write a personal statement. You can start brainstorming topics for your personal statement at any time during high school. Some students keep a notebook where they write down personal statement topics and ideas as they occur to them over time. They also begin reading other good personal statement examples and Common App essays for inspiration. 

Regardless, a good plan is to solidify a draft of your personal statement for college the summer before your senior year. This will give you time to work on supplemental essays and other parts of your applications during the fall of your senior year.

how to write a personal statement

3. Brainstorm before you write

Take some time to think and reflect deeply before you begin writing. Don’t feel like you need to jump into a full essay draft as soon as you complete your junior year. Do some writing exercises and brainstorming activities first, including reading other personal statement examples. 

In each personal statement example you read, pay close attention to the personal statement introduction, the narrative arc, and the conclusion. Did the writer incorporate an effective technique for how to start a college essay? Why is the essay interesting? What does it tell you about the writer? 

4. Tell a story

Keep in mind that well-told stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. They also engage the reader and arrive at a clear message or point by the end. In short, the best personal statement examples follow a narrative arc. 

Start with an interesting hook and use it as an introduction to a story from your life that addresses the given college essay prompt. Then, use the latter half of your personal statement or Common App essay to show why this story matters and how it reveals a key part of your identity. And always remember: show, don’t tell.

5. Avoid common mistakes

Steer clear of cliches in your writing—they do not help you stand out or demonstrate strong writing skills. Also, do not use your personal statement or Common App essay as an opportunity to rehash your activities or achievements. Remember, these are included in other parts of your application. 

The best personal statement examples show admission officers something about the writer that is not reflected in other parts of the application. They describe first-hand experiences and provide specific examples to illustrate ideas.

6. Edit carefully

Once you’ve written your personal statement for college, look for anything that doesn’t feel right. Eliminate awkward phrasing, delete or replace repeated words and phrases, and work to streamline your language. You might delete entire drafts, and that’s okay! It’s a process, and all the work you do gets you closer to your best work. Also, make sure to ask a few others whom you trust to read your essay and provide suggestions for edits.

Bonus tip: Ask for help

A second set of eyes can make a huge difference. Ask an advisor (like our team at CollegeAdvisor.com), counselor, or parent to look over your work. Don’t let anyone write your sentences for you—instead, use their input to help your voice shine through. 

For more great college essay tips on how to write a personal statement and college essays, check out this advice from college admission experts.

Personal Statement- Frequently Asked Questions

Where can i find a good personal statement example.

There are a variety of websites that offer good personal essay examples as models you can use to inspire you. A good place to begin is here , and there are also examples of personal statements in the next article of this series. As you read these examples, take note of the personal statement introduction, as well as how the writer focuses the essay on a specific topic or idea that reflects their personality.

Is it ever too late to change my personal statement?

While it is much better to begin writing your personal statement early, sometimes students decide later in the writing process that they want to rethink the personal statement topic they have chosen. If you find yourself in this position, you will find some helpful advice in this CommonApplicant.com personal statement webinar . 

My parents didn’t go to college. How do I explain personal statements and how to write a personal statement to them?

CollegeAdvisor.com has created a special personal statement webinar just for parents. In this webinar, we describe personal statements, the specifics of how to write a great college essay, and other college admissions terms.

I’m a high school junior. What should I be doing now to prepare to write my personal statement and college essays?

First, congratulations on thinking ahead! You can begin by reading “ Common App Essay Overview for Juniors .” Then, your CollegeAdvisor admissions expert can help you begin brainstorming and planning for your college application essays. They can provide you with examples of common college essay prompts, as well as helpful college essay tips. Also, they can provide suggestions on how to start a personal statement and share other resources on how to write a great college essay.

How will college admission officers evaluate my personal statement and college application essay?

Admission officers are looking for personal stories that are well told. How closely each of your college application essays is read will vary depending both on the school and the other components of your application. However, as more schools become test-optional, admission officers say that college essays are becoming even more important in the admissions process. So, as you plan your essays keep in mind that admission officers want to learn about you —your experiences, thoughts, and goals. They also want to see that you have solid writing skills, so make sure that you closely edit your essays before you submit them.

If you would like to hear directly from an admission officer and learn more about how to write a great college essay, including specific advice on how to start a college essay, check out this “ 39 Essay Tips ” article.

How is the personal statement for a university different from the Common App essay and personal essay for college? 

The Common App essay asks students to write a personal statement in response to one of seven provided prompts. All types of personal essays for college provide students with an opportunity to introduce themselves to college admission officers on their own terms. For a more detailed description of each of these types of essays, check out the first article in this series, “How to Write a Personal Statement.”

For answers to more frequently asked questions about personal statements for college and college essays, click here .

In the first part of this series discussing how to write a personal statement, we answered the questions “What is a personal statement?” and “How important is the personal statement?” In this second article of the series, we have covered the specifics of how to write a personal statement, including descriptions of the writing phases of the personal statement and personal essay for the college writing process. In the next article, we will examine personal statement examples and highlight key elements of each personal statement example. 

Introducing 5 Personal Statement Examples

By this point, you’ve gone from asking, “What is a personal statement?” to knowing how to write a personal statement. Now, let’s look at some personal statement examples. Reading personal statement examples is great preparation for writing your own personal statement for college.

However, keep in mind that reading about how to write a personal statement is one thing–writing a personal statement is entirely different. By reading these personal statement examples and why they worked, you’ll have a better grasp of how to write a personal statement.

personal statement examples

Each of these personal statement examples shows something that isn’t clear in the rest of the application. Top schools accepted all the writers of these personal statement examples. Our guide will walk you through each of these personal essay examples and discuss what makes them work. We hope by reading these, you can learn more about how to write a personal statement.

Personal Statement Example #1: Choosing a Great Topic

The first of our personal statement examples was written by a student who was accepted to Yale, Princeton, and other top schools. Their personal statement discusses the legacy of antisemitic violence in their family. While political and religious topics can be difficult, this student writes a fantastic college application essay about their topic.

Personal Essay Example #1

Across the ocean, there is war. Children mistaking rockets for fireworks, parents too protective—too careful—to correct them.          Back home, there are phone calls. To family, to friends. In English, in Hebrew.          “Are you safe?”         I pray they live far from Jerusalem.          Right here, in my room, there is turmoil.          Furiously swiping through Instagram, I wonder who will betray me next. I wonder which friend will decide that their loosely related, offensive commentary belongs on their profile.          Once the deed is done, I am quick to unfollow. To cut off perpetrators of what Jewish journalists call “the Social Media Pogrom”: when targeting the Jewish people online turns to real antisemitic violence (and a powerful reason to unfollow my friends).          So I flee from my friends’ Instagram accounts. But only because my family fled from much worse.          My grandfather found himself wearing a yellow star, living in a ghetto, and losing everything to the Nazis. One day, he ripped off the star and ran. Even though it meant never seeing his family again.          He did not flee for a better life; he fled for any life.          His son came to marry another refugee: my mother. Her story is a familiar one, shared by many in my hometown: escaping yet another antisemitic regime whose existence threatened her own, my mother fled Revolutionary Iran in 1979. Fortunately, she was reunited years later with all eight of her siblings, who had escaped in various other creative, illegal ways—“on camelback” being a personal favorite.           To this day, she bears a scar on her eyelid from antisemitic violence back home.          My family tree’s roots are settled in the soil of persecution. Swastikas have sawed away at its structure, and Revolutionary Guards have bent its branches. I know too well which winds will threaten the leaves: words wishing my people death, implicitly or explicitly. Calling on my cousins to evacuate their homes, for they are on the Jewish side of the land dispute. Denying the reality that no one deserves to be displaced.         When I hear these words, see them on a screen, I sense a chillingly familiar breeze. Sometimes, the breeze blows away a few leaves: a rabbi is stabbed, a synagogue vandalized.          Suddenly my friends, teetering on the edge of antisemitism with waves of painful posts, are no longer my friends. They are my enemies.          But then I hear a little voice:         “David, what on Earth are you doing?”         And I remember that they are not. They are not Nazis or Revolutionary Guards. I should not shun them or cease to show them love. I cannot wallow in my rage or simply “unfollow”—not on Instagram, not in life.          I soon return those beloved friends to my circle. I “follow” them once again.         Because dialogue is my lifestyle. I ought to be recruiting my friends to Model Congress or engaging them in class. Welcoming the people around me to a world of positive, exciting, and purposeful discourse is the best I can do. It’s also who I am.          My family passed down a sensitive radar for harmful rhetoric, but also gifted me with a powerful belief—a Jewish belief—in informed discussion and coexistence. Holding no hate in their hearts, my ancestors wore lenses of love that did not belong to their oppressors.         Today, I wear those same lenses with pride. Once infuriating Instagram posts no longer cloud my vision. I’ve instead fallen in love with the precious diversity of thought that surrounds me and find myself most at home when I am immersed in political dialogue.          I will face many “enemy” opinions, but I will not shut my eyes and cover my ears, give up a dear human connection, and miss out on a meaningful experience.            I will approach individuals with humanity rather than animosity, acceptance rather than judgement, and love rather than hate.          I will live by the lessons of my ancestors. 

What Worked?

What did this Common App essay do well? Firstly, it covers a great topic. This student writes about their family’s experience with antisemitic violence and its legacy in their life today. When writing a personal statement for college, such sensitive personal statement topics can be challenging. In this case, the writer successfully centers their experiences and thoughts rather than on controversial events.

Moreover, they cut through political tension with a core reality rooted in empathy: “No one deserves to be displaced.” This is a great strategy if you’re wondering how to write a personal statement on a sensitive topic. All personal statement topics have an angle that makes them universally relatable. If your personal essay for college is missing something, try an empathetic approach.

Ask for help revising

Don’t forget to ask other people to revise your personal statement for university. What makes sense to you may not read well to others. Especially with sensitive topics, share your work with someone you can trust to give you feedback. If possible, also include a non-family member like a teacher or guidance counselor who knows how to write a personal statement.

This student connects their family’s troubles with their own worldview. Good personal statement examples offer a look at the author as a person. A strong topic lets you reflect on how your experiences have impacted your engagement with the world and other people. And as shown above, the writer chose a great topic –not necessarily a great college essay prompt. College essay prompts are wide-ranging , and good personal statement ideas can come from any of them. Indeed, whatever your prompt is, personal essay examples are ultimately about you . 

Evocative language and imagery

With this in mind, look at how the writer’s attitude changes throughout their Common App essay. Good personal statement examples contain precise, evocative language and imagery. When you’re writing a personal statement, find the right words—not necessarily the longest ones—and sentence structures you need. This personal statement begins in a panic; the writer “furiously swiping” in the “turmoil” of their room, keenly attuned to betrayal from friends. These words and the short paragraphs bring each thought into sharp focus.

The writer’s passion for their subject shows through their language. Using structural repetition in “Wishing…. Calling…. Denying…” establishes a serious tone and keeps the personal statement fresh. In the latter half, words like “beloved,” “lenses of love,” and “precious diversity” signify a shift to a gentle, loving attitude. The best personal essay examples choose their words precisely. By choosing words carefully in combination with poetic and rhetorical devices, you can write a stellar personal statement for university.

Certainly, family histories can be great personal statement topics. Even so, suffering doesn’t automatically make a strong personal statement for university. If you know how to write a personal statement, even at first mundane personal statement ideas can become good personal statement examples.

Personal Statement Example #2: Finding a Great Hook

The second of our personal statement examples is by a student who was accepted to UC San Diego, Johns Hopkins, the University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, and more. In their personal statement for college, this student uses their interest in Rubik’s cubes to frame other parts of their life.

Personal Statement Example #2

My life is as simple as a Rubik’s Cube: a child’s toy that can be solved in 20 moves or less IF and only if enough knowledge is gained. I received one on my 9th birthday and over the following months, I became obsessed with it.  I rotated the rows aimlessly, hoping that eventually the cube would solve itself. I was naive about the complexity of the cube which led me to apply some research. I began looking up tutorials on YouTube about solving the toy and was in awe over the amount of work that had to be done. I forced myself to go step by step until I could arrange a single face, and my progress pushed me forward until I could solve 4 of the 6 faces of the cube. Every night for an hour I would randomize the colors again and work my way back to ⅔ of the cube being complete. Until this point, I lacked the confidence in my everyday life and had never aimed for a difficult goal, especially one without external motivation. However, what I love about solving the cube is that you can follow the steps perfectly and still run into a stalemate based on the arrangement of the squares. This forces you to randomize the cube again and start from step 1. All the hard work and time put into this object can be useless, but it is unavoidable no matter what you do. Multiple times I faced this dilemma of running into a wall, but instead of giving up, my will pushed me forward. I shed many tears over my failures to solve a child’s toy. I needed to push through these failures until I could learn how to arrange the last faces of the cube. And just like that, it was complete! The Rubik’s Cube was arranged correctly. However, I wanted to get faster. I was inspired by the greatest, the individuals who could solve cubes within 5 seconds, and mix up the cube once more. I tried over and over until the point of obsession where I could get the cube arranged in under a minute. Sometimes it is necessary to disarrange a completed face of the cube in order to achieve the end goal of every face being complete. The colors of a cube can be compared to my academics, my athletics, my art, my leadership, my hobbies, and my family life. Though it is a struggle to juggle all these tasks, it is the desire to expand in all these subjects that pushes me forward. I want to learn more and master subjects within my academics, improve my form and get faster within my athletics, grow my skills of digital design within art, become a stronger role model as a leader, volunteer more within my hobbies, and get closer to supporting my family.  This mindset will continue to push me to expand my present knowledge and learn new concepts in order to complete my goals. 43,252,003,274,489,856,000: That is how many combinations there are for a single 3×3 Rubik’s cube, and there are probably even more combinations ahead of me in my journey through college and beyond. I have to struggle to learn how to solve my cube and put in the hard work in order to succeed at this game of life. Once I finish school and solve my cube for the first time, the game is not over. The next steps are to refine my work and ethics until I can get the process of solving my own cube down to 20 moves or less. My life goal is to carve a name for myself among the best and the brightest in the surgical field, yet there is always more knowledge to obtain which will drive me to continue growing.

Take a look at that hook! The classic personal statement format begins with a hook to draw the reader into a story, and this is no different. This personal statement introduction, “My life is as simple as a Rubik’s cube”, is bold, even seemingly contradictory, until you read the rest of the sentence. Either way, it makes you want to keep reading this personal statement example. 

The worst thing a personal statement for a university can be is boring. A good hook starts your reader off on the right foot. While many personal statement examples begin in the middle of a story, making a bold claim is also common. If you’re wondering how to start a personal statement, start thinking about what opening sentence would grab your attention.

Like the first essay’s writer, this student also uses descriptive language to bring their Common App essay to life. They didn’t simply try the Rubik’s cube, but they “rotated the rows aimlessly”. Rather than saying they kept working on the cube, the writer shows us how they scrambled and resolved it every night. When writing a personal statement, do your own experiences justice with the right descriptive language .

Thinking about tone

You may notice the tone of this personal essay example is very different from the first– intensity isn’t everything! In fact, it’s a reflection of the different subject matter of these personal essay examples. When writing your personal statement, your tone should match what you are trying to say. In the same way that one word can make a sentence, another can totally break it. 

From a vivid description of their childhood, the writer expands the scope of their Common App essay to other areas of their life. Good personal statement examples explore subjects that other parts of your application don’t. In this case, this student uses the Rubik’s cube to represent their varied activities and their aspirations for each. They also reflect on life lessons and personal traits: perseverance, ambition, and curiosity.

In other words, the writer creates parallels between their interest in Rubik’s cubes and their personal journey. In the same way that they obsess over speed-solving, the writer works to excel in other subjects. Furthermore, the writer shows us this instead of directly telling — a maneuver fundamental to all good personal statement examples. The writer makes a compelling case as not only an applicant but also as a future member of the campus community. 

Consider chronology

how to write a personal statement

Notice the chronological structure this student uses for their Common App essay. Specifically, see how it follows the writer’s life from their first Rubik’s cube to the present day. This is a simple way to craft a strong Common App essay. Personal essay examples like this make it easy to reflect on your growth, which is crucial for any personal statement for college. Lastly, by ending with the 20 moves needed to solve a cube, the writer neatly ties up this personal statement example.

Personal Statement Example #3: The Value of a Great Ending

The third of our personal statement examples is by a student who got into the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Southern California. The writer talks about how being on the swim team helped them cultivate confidence.

Personal Essay Example #3

When I joined the high school swim team, I never expected to go to school dressed as Shrek. Yet as Freshman Friday approached, I learned it was team tradition for upperclassmen swimmers to dress freshmen teammates in ridiculous costumes. Against my will, my teammates splotched green paint on my face, styled my hair into pigtails covered in green paper, and stuffed a pillow under my sweatshirt. Attending my classes was mortifying. With every stare, I buried my head further into my textbook and shifted my hand to cover my green and now bright red face; with every chuckle, I sank deeper into my seat, attempting to hide my massive pillow stomach. The frown on my face felt like a permanent fixture, and after dealing with the humiliation for a class period, I was done. I yanked the pillow out of my sweatshirt and ripped the paper from my hair. The only hint of swamp ogre that remained was the green face paint. When confronted about my lack of Shrek-ness at the end of the day, I claimed I was overheating and that the paper had fallen apart.  I lied. I was just embarrassed. I always knew I was shy — the “too-timid-to-signal-the-waiter” type of shy — but until Freshman Friday, I hadn’t realized the extent to which it affected the social and academic aspects of my life. Ever since I was young, my jaw would clench at the thought of humiliating myself by deviating from the norm and bringing attention to myself. I often closed myself off from friends by diverting conversations to trivial topics like gym class when they probed me about deeper subjects like my mental health. I even avoided participating in class by scouring Google for hours for physics help to circumvent admitting to my classmates that I was confused by asking questions. By hiding in the shadows to avoid embarrassment, I hindered my ability to cherish the humor in being Shrek, and, more broadly, my comfort in freely expressing myself.  However, I loved swimming and wanted to make my high school team’s environment as wonderful for me as my love for the sport. I slowly started creeping out of my shell, meeting the team, and participating in more voluntary dress-up days. Freshman year, I wore a dragon onesie on pajama day; sophomore year, I wore a Hawaiian shirt, a lei, and sunscreen for tacky tourist day. Junior year, I wore my swimsuit over leggings, goggles, medals, pigtails with award ribbons, and a towel cape, finally surpassing the ridiculousness of the Shrek costume. For the first time, I finally felt confident enough to prance around the school, laughing about my costume with my classmates. I felt like a true part of my team, joking with teammates, taking pictures, and letting the whole school know that I swam. With each year and its dress-up days, I gradually felt more of the sense of community, team spirit, and fun that I had craved.  Dressing up unleashed my confidence. This, in turn, made me happier and more involved in my school community. Most surprisingly, though, was how dressing up eventually better prepared me to enter engineering. Hispanic women are severely underrepresented in engineering, so I used to fear that I would be incapable of establishing a strong enough presence and earning my peers’ respect for my ideas. However, with every group discussion I initiated, every question I asked, and every club meeting I hosted, I saw myself making a place for my input and noticed that my teachers and peers actually valued it. I realized that I had found my voice and even enjoyed sharing my opinions. I’m now ready to take on the challenge of expressing my thoughts in a male-dominated field. In the meantime, I’m just looking forward to my swim team’s next dress-up day.

Like our last essay, this personal statement has an awesome hook. In fact, the writer drops us right into the action. This technique, known as in media res , is great for a Common App essay. You can immediately set the scene for your reader, then build context from there. Not only does the writer bring us right in, but they also expertly use language for tone. “Ridiculous,” “against my will,” and “splotched” all illustrate the writer’s opposition to what’s about to happen. This is an effective technique in personal statement examples.

Following the anecdote, the writer reflects on their intense shyness. They show self-awareness by recounting specific instances where fear got the better of them. Yet again, we can see the importance of showing rather than telling in a personal statement. Each sentence provides an example of how the writer’s shyness had a negative impact on their social and academic success. Thus, we see the true conflict in this personal statement isn’t the costume, but the writer overcoming their lifelong shyness. 

Personal growth and development

Ask anyone how to write a personal statement and they’ll tell you about growth. When writing a personal statement for university, demonstrating personal growth and an ability to reflect on it is key. Across college essay prompts, you should explore how your experiences have shaped or changed you. Being able to indicate specific causes and effects is part of all good personal statement examples.

From there, the writer clearly illustrates their journey from insecurity to confidence. They show us the ways that their shyness manifested before. Then, the writer shows us the increasingly ridiculous costumes they wore. Of course, the language changes, too—the writer goes from “creeping” to “prancing”! Yet another example of how small changes to wording can have a huge impact on your personal statement for college.

Finally, the writer provides a sound conclusion. They mention the numerous benefits of their newfound confidence and, more importantly, look forward. In the final paragraph, the writer takes the lessons they’ve learned and discusses how they will use them to accomplish their goals. Like both of the personal essay examples we’ve already seen, the writer closes by talking about the doors they want to open.

Circling back to your hook

We saw the effectiveness of linking the hook and closing paragraph in previous personal statement examples. Similarly, this personal statement example ends with the idea of dress-up day once again. This kind of personal statement format helps bring everything full circle. In learning about how to write a personal statement, the conclusion is one of the most important parts. Especially in chronologically structured personal statements, closing the loop in this way makes your personal statement feel complete .

how to write a personal statement

The best personal statement examples have a well-written conclusion. Taking your personal statement ideas and addressing them neatly in the conclusion is important. Whether you explain particular future goals or simply affirm your personal values, you should have a future-facing closer. Colleges want to know not only how you’ve grown, but also how you will bring that growth to campus. 

Personal Statement Example #4: Why This Essay Worked

Fourth on our list of personal statement examples is by a writer who applied to performing arts programs. This student wrote about their love for the performing arts and their heritage. They were accepted to schools like NYU Tisch, Point Park, and Roosevelt University. Look for the college essay tips we already mentioned in the personal statement below.

Common App Essay Example #4

At six years old, most kids I know get excited to help Blue find clues or recite Elmo’s songs on Sesame Street. So you can imagine my family’s surprise when they saw me ignoring the other kids to go belt alongside my grandfather’s mariachi trio in the backyard. Growing up, I had always loved performing for people. But my passion for performing in front of a packed house never compared to performing for my favorite audience: my great grandmother. From age seven to twelve, my dad would take our family on a three-hour road trip to visit my great grandmother’s nursing home every single weekend. I remember the clean, antiseptic smell, and the beeping of her oxygen concentrator as I perched myself next to her bed and sang all types of songs from romantic boleros to earwormy Disney tunes. Even as she began failing to recognize her loved ones due to her worsening Alzheimer’s, she would always remember me, her “palomita blanca,” or white dove. But as I got older, singing what once were innocent songs, like “Edelweiss” or “Almost There,” started to make me feel like an imposter. I knew I belonged on stage, but I never saw any Mexican representation in any of my favorite musicals and animated cartoons. By seventh grade, I was plucking away at my full eyebrows for community theatre the night before auditions because I was told it would give me a better chance at landing a lead role. When my great grandmother passed away, I had lost the person who constantly reminded me how powerful staying true to your identity is. Without her, I questioned whether I had a chance at pursuing the thing that lights my soul aflame. But I stuck through the late nights, sprained ankles, and endless sweating under stage lights, because I loved theatre more than anything else in the world. In my freshman year, I joined the Conservatory of the Arts program for dance and drama at my high school. After my first show, I remember feeling so comforted by the fact that I finally felt that I belonged in the theatre kid community. In sophomore year, I finally got my first lead role as Gertrude in my high school’s production of Seussical. At last! All of my hard work had paid off and I was going to be a lead after six years of ensembles. I was so excited to get the chance to show myself and the world that my identity was my power. I didn’t want to be any old Gertrude. I’d stay up until 2 a.m. on weekends coming up with ways to make her more memorable. Inspired by Juan Gabriel’s emotional ballads, I added vocal cry to Gertrude’s solos to better portray her insecurities. Instead of sticking to just belting in “All For You,” I sang runs similar to the high energy mariachi songs I grew up with to show off my character’s passion and newfound confidence. But in March 2020, the world stopped, and the show couldn’t go on. Distanced learning made the performing arts programs nowhere near as fun or educational as they used to be. Still though, as president of the drama program in 2021, I am determined to rebuild a community that was torn apart by a worldwide pandemic. I want to be the mentor I never had. My confidence in my identity has been an important tool in teaching others that practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes progress. I work hard encouraging others not to be afraid to show the world what they have. Musical theatre is an art that thrives with innovation, so I’d like to bring the creative spice which my culture has enriched me with to the world’s stage. Maybe someday I can be that actress on stage or TV that’ll get a little Latina girl enthralled by the arts.

In this personal essay example, the writer uses vivid storytelling to show how they became the person they are today. Firstly, the hook tells us how the writer values both performance and her family. This light, fun personal statement introduction quickly goes for the heartstrings by introducing the writer’s great-grandmother. Personal statement examples sometimes avoid talking about family, because it’s easy to lose focus on the writer. But this writer never loses sight of their own memories, emotions, and experiences.

Equally important, those experiences are well-illustrated with rich imagery that clearly conveys the writer’s passion for their topic. Details like the smell and sound of the nursing home bring us into the moment. The writer also provides some examples of what they endured in theatre: “late nights” and “sprained ankles.” Use concrete images to get your personal statement ideas across with impact .

Also, the writer makes a point to explore the intersections of their Hispanic heritage and their passion for theatre. Particularly, the writer discusses their difficulty in putting them together, as shown by plucking their eyebrows. By establishing this conflict in the middle of her personal statement, the writer indicates their awareness of the wider world and their place in it. Many good personal statement examples will create context like this, showing the author thinking beyond themselves.

Show commitment to your topic

Broadly, the writer discusses their twin passions with powerful language and imagery. Exhibiting genuine enthusiasm for your personal statement topics is key. This personal statement shows that the writer has always been moved by their family and by the arts. Their triumph in combining the two feels huge precisely because we understand how much each of these things mean to them. Even if your personal statement topics aren’t as deep-seeded as this writer’s, you should show commitment to what you’re writing about.

If you’re reading this, COVID probably disrupted your school life at some point, as it did for this student. However, be careful not to linger on it more than necessary. This writer doesn’t completely gloss over the pandemic, but they keep their own journey at the center of the personal statement. The writer’s experience with distanced learning propelled them forward. Ideally, your personal statement for the university should keep a tight focus on you. The narrative personal statement format should show not only your experiences but also what you’ve learned from them.

Personal Statement Example #5: Pulling It All Together

The fifth and last of our personal statement examples is by another student who got into several top schools. They write about their participation and leadership at a club event. Keep an eye out for all the tips we’ve mentioned, from a good hook to showing-not-telling.

Personal Statement #5

One hundred and fifty bagels, all completely frozen. I couldn’t believe it. My school’s Model UN Conference was to start in thirty minutes, and breakfast for the delegates was nowhere near ready. I looked with dismay at my friends’ concerned faces peering out from behind piles of frozen bagels. As Secretary-General, it was my job to ensure that this conference went smoothly. However, it seemed that was not going to be the case. I took a moment to weigh my options before instructing Hannah, our “logistics coordinator,” to heat up the frozen circles of doom in the home-ec room. I knew Hannah enjoyed baking, so I trusted her to find a way into the locked room and thaw the assortment of bagels.  Cold bagels were not the only thing weighing heavily on my mind that morning. As I walked from classroom to classroom helping set up committees, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. Our conference wasn’t going to be like those of the private schools- there were no engraved pens or stylish water bottles. Instead, people got post-it notes and whatever pens we could steal from the supply closet. Forcing myself to stop worrying, I chose instead to think of why we made that choice. Since most of the food was donated, and all of the supplies had been “borrowed” from the supply closet, we could afford to charge only a nominal fee to everyone attending. Making Model UN accessible was one of my top priorities as Secretary-General; the same desire motivated me to begin including middle school students in the club. I hurried back down to the cafeteria, and was relieved to see that all the bagels looked warm and ready to eat.  The bagels would not be the sole crisis that day. As debates were about to start, one of the Chairs sent me a panic stricken text: “We only have 5 people in our committee! We can’t reenact the creation of the Treaty of Versailles!” I hurried to where his debate was taking place, and sure enough, only five people were there. I quickly considered my options- cancel the committee?  Convince some delegates to switch into this debate through bagel bribery? Or maybe, come up with a completely new topic?  I settled on idea number three. But what topic could a committee of only five people spend a day discussing? I mulled it over until an idea began to form. I explained to the room, “Each one of you will represent one of the five major Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. The chair will guide you as you tweet, make campaign videos, and debate the most important political issues.” I spent a few minutes figuring out how to go about moderating such an unconventional committee, before heading off to check in on the other debates.  As I walked from committee to committee, fixing problems and helping move debates along, I felt a sense of pride. I had spent months working on this conference, along with the other members of my team. At times, I worried I could never pull it off. A part of me had wished our faculty advisor would just organize the whole thing for us. After all, I’m just a high schooler, how could I put together such a big event? But as the day went by, I realized that with the help of my peers, I had done it. All the little crises that cropped up weren’t because I was doing a bad job; they were inevitable. The fact that I could find solutions to such a wide variety of problems was a testament to my leadership skills, and my level-headedness. I didn’t just feel like a leader—I felt like an adult. As I look towards my future in college and later the workforce, I know that I can succeed, even if my obstacles seem as insurmountable as a mountain of frozen bagels. 

This writer has a great example of how to start a college essay. Their strong hook makes us curious – why are there so many? What’s going on, and can the writer fix it? The essay’s tone is clear from the outset, and we’re drawn in by the conflict. Moreover, the writer establishes themselves as a leader and problem-solver.

Like a short story character, this writer encounters various obstacles. Throughout this personal statement, the writer shows off their resourcefulness, leadership skills, and quick thinking. While other people are in this personal statement example, the focus never wavers from the writer’s thoughts and actions. Additionally, the writer details the thought process behind each of their solutions.

As we’ve mentioned, a good personal statement for a university shows information, rather than telling it. This writer walks through various aspects of the conference in the second paragraph, then explains their reasoning. Instead of just saying they wanted to make the conference accessible, the writer shows us how they made it possible by organizing food donations and only charging a small fee. This Common App essay shows us what the writer is like through actions as well as words.

A narrative of learning and growth

As with our other personal statement examples, the writer wraps up with a strong conclusion that recalls the hook. They recount their personal growth throughout this process. In addition, the writer elaborates on the lessons they have taken from this experience. As shown above, introspection on personal growth and values is part of any good personal essay for college. This Common App essay makes a solid case for its writer as a future student and community member.

personal statement examples; growth narrative

In sum, this writer takes a seemingly insignificant anecdote and uses it to reveal something critical about their experiences. By highlighting particular, telling moments, the writer shows us their personality and capability. What’s more, by using engaging language and a clear structure, the writer makes a lasting impact on the reader. For these reasons, this is a superb example of a personal statement for college.

CollegeAdvisor Resources on Writing a Great Personal Statement

By now, you’ve seen several personal statement examples and confidently say you know how to write a personal statement. But maybe you feel you need a little more information. A good personal statement for college starts with early preparation. Getting a head start on writing your personal essay for college is a great idea.

We at CollegeAdvisor have no shortage of guides on how to write a personal statement. We’ve got quick college essay tips from our admissions experts . If you have some more time, here are some frequently asked questions answered by an Admissions Officer. If you’re more of a watcher than a reader, check out a personal statement webinar from CollegeAdvisor.

How to Write a Personal Statement: Final Thoughts

You made it to the end! Now you know how to write a great college essay. Let’s briefly recap what we covered in this “How to Write a Personal Statement” guide.

Firstly, we answered the question, “What is a personal statement?” We outlined the expected length, personal statement format, and how important they are in the application process. Then, we explored some of the most common and effective personal statement topics.

Next, we looked at how to write a personal statement. We gave advice and tips on drafting, editing, and finalizing your personal essay for college. Specifically, we talked about the value of strong hooks, your unique voice, and editing.

Finally, we reviewed five personal statement examples and discussed what made them work. Each of our personal essay examples had effective language, structure, and other techniques that may inspire your writing.

Still a little stuck on how to write a personal statement for college? Aside from college essay tips and personal statement webinars, CollegeAdvisor also offers one-on-one support. We have hundreds of Admissions Experts and former Admissions Officers available to support you. Our Admissions Experts can work with you to help you craft a college application essay that highlights your potential.

baruch college personal statement

This guide was written by Sarah Kaminski , Lori Dunlap , and Gina Goosby . No matter what stage you are at in your college search, CollegeAdvisor.com is here to help. We’ve created a wide range of guides, to help you navigate the college admissions process from building your school list all the way to packing for your freshman fall. For more specialized guidance on writing a personal statement, click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Academic integrity statements for your syllabi

January 24, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Please consider including on your syllabus a statement about academic integrity. Students suggest that faculty members who ignore these issues are signaling that they do not care about them. Our students expect such information and they expect members of the faculty to reinforce and model these values in discussion and in practice on assignments and during exams. Sample statements and some further discussion appear below, but first :

Students’ statements written on exams or assignments

Asking students before they take exams to write and sign statements affirming that they will not cheat sharply reduces cheating—see, for example, Dan Ariely, The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty (HarperCollins 2012). Ditto for writing assignments and plagiarism on papers.

We suggest that members of the faculty ask students to write and sign such statements. They are most effective when students write the statements themselves (i.e., as opposed to students signing a statement that you circulate). And they should written before the students take the exam. Any such statement should be brief, such as:

“I will neither give nor receive unauthorized assistance on this exam.”  or   “The work in this assignment is my own. Any outside sources have been properly cited.”

Three sample academic integrity statements for your syllabus

Syllabus statements can be as simple or elaborate as you wish, but please include whatever range of academic sanctions you plan to impose for violations. Any of the three sample statements below may be cut and pasted, or revised, or can serve to inspire your own. Also included are working definitions of plagiarism. Providing such definitions (feel free to devise your own) helps to inform students and to protect faculty members. Directing students to the online plagiarism tutorial (cited in the Statement #3 below) or to the Writing Center (see below) also can be helpful. You should also know that Baruch subscribes to Turnitin.com , an online plagiarism-detecting resource (see below for more information on Turnitin.com). The items below include some links to other resources as well.

Statement #1

  I [ or the Department of X ] fully support(s) Baruch College’s policy on Academic Honesty, which states, in part:

“Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Cheating, forgery, plagiarism, and collusion in dishonest acts undermine the college’s educational mission and the students’ personal and intellectual growth. Baruch students are expected to bear individual responsibility for their work, to learn the rules and definitions that underlie the practice of academic integrity, and to uphold its ideals. Ignorance of the rules is not an acceptable excuse for disobeying them. Any student who attempts to compromise or devalue the academic process will be sanctioned.”

Academic sanctions in this class will range from an F on the assignment to an F in this course.   [ Note to faculty members: academic sanctions are at your discretion. Please note that in light of CUNY policies that permit students to retake and expunge from their GPA several courses they have failed, some members of the faculty prefer to award D’s in place of F’s. ] A report of suspected academic dishonesty will be sent to the Office of the Dean of Students. Additional information and definitions can be found at http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html

Statement #2

  Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses.  The following definitions are based on the College’s Academic Honesty website at http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html :

Cheating is the attempted or unauthorized use of materials, information, notes, study aids, devices or communication during an academic exercise. Examples include but are not limited to:

  • Copying from another student during an examination or allowing another to copy your work
  • Unauthorized collaborating on a take home assignment or examination
  • Using unauthorized notes during a closed book examination
  • Using unauthorized electronic devices during an examination
  • Taking an examination for another student
  • Asking or allowing another student to take an examination for you
  • Changing a corrected exam and returning it for more credit
  • Submitting substantial portions of the same paper to two classes without consulting the second instructor
  • Preparing answers or writing notes in a blue book (exam booklet) before an examination
  • Allowing others to research and write assigned papers including the use of commercial term paper services

Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research or writing as your own, such as:

  • Copying another person’s actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes (a functional limit is four or more words taken from the work of another)
  • Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging them
  • Using information that is not considered common knowledge without acknowledging the source
  • Failure to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignment

My policy is to give a failing grade [or insert the academic sanction you prefer; best is to include a range of possible sanctions] to any assignment that has been plagiarized or an exam in which you have cheated. [ Again: academic sanctions are at the discretion of the faculty member, including a D or F for the course. ] In addition, I am required by College policy to submit a report of suspected academic dishonesty to the Office of the Dean of Students. This report becomes part of your permanent file.

Statement #3

  Learning involves the pursuit of truth, which cannot be pursued by presenting someone else’s work as your own. By following the procedure outlined below, you will establish a basis of trust that will remain unless you provide reason to suspect it has been violated:

  • Visit the college’s Academic Honesty Policy web site: http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html
  • Read the material it contains.
  • Send me an email (or bring a signed statement to class) truthfully stating that you have read the web page, understood it, agree to act according to the principles it expresses, and that you understand that sanctions for academic dishonesty range from an F for the assignment to an F for the course. [or the range you prefer]

For further discussion of plagiarism and clarification of its parameters, see the online plagiarism tutorial prepared by members of the Newman Library faculty at http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu/help/plagiarism/default.htm . If questions remain, ask me. Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse for unacceptable practices. For the record, if you violate the precepts of academic integrity you will receive a zero for the assignment [or insert the academic sanction you prefer] and your name will be forwarded to the Office of the Dean of Students, where a notation will become part of your file at Baruch.

Baruch’s Writing Center The Writing Center supports students as they evaluate and cite sources, distinguish their voices from others’, and learn about academic integrity. In  one-to-one consultations , students can share their notes, drafts, and research materials with a professional writing consultant to cite sources strategically, accurately, and ethically. The Center also offers the following  in-class  and  small-group workshops , each of which focuses on a different element of effective source use:

  • Understanding Plagiarism and Citation
  • Ethical Writing and Source Use
  • Summarizing and Responding to Sources
  • Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting
  • Using Sources Strategically

Faculty members can request an in-class workshop  here ;  lesson plans  for all workshops are also available for use in Faculty classrooms. More information is available at  http://baruch.cuny.edu/writingcenter .

  Resource on plagiarism and how to avoid it

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab  (a free, often updated site) may be a helpful resource for both you and your students.

Please report violations of academic integrity to the Office of the Dean of Students

The functions of reporting are: 1) to take advantage of the educational moment to make sure the student understands what is at stake; and 2) to track whether incidents involving the student have been reported before. The reporting form is now available as an online report at https://www.pavesuite.com/Baruch/PublicPortal/HomePage . Academic sanctions for uncontested or resolved cases are at the discretion of the instructor . Students are, of course, entitled to due process; however, contested cases very rarely move as far as a hearing. The process usually unfolds quickly once you have reported the incident to Dr. Annie Virkus-Estrada , Associate Dean of Students (Office of the Dean of Students and Academic Integrity Officer):  646-312-4570  or  [email protected] .

A Definition of Plagiarism

  Plagiarism means presenting the work of others as your own. The “work of others” means other people’s words and/or ideas. “Presenting…as your own” means including that work in your assignment without adequate citation. Therefore, a slightly longer definition would be “Plagiarism means including in your assignment other people’s words and/or ideas without citing them correctly.” Here are some hints about citation: When you include the actual words of others, be they from a printed source, from the web, or from a live presentation, they must appear within quotation marks and you must indicate from where and from whom the words came. Otherwise you are plagiarizing. When you include another person’s ideas, you must indicate where you found those ideas, even when you are paraphrasing them. Following someone else’s sequence of ideas, even if you paraphrase them, also is plagiarism. (An example would be paraphrasing a paragraph from someone else’s work, sentence by sentence, even if you include a citation of that author.) If you have any questions about these definitions, please discuss them with me. You can also refer to Baruch’s online plagiarism tutorial http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu/help/plagiarism/default.htm or to Baruch’s Academic Honesty website: http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html . In addition, Baruch’s Writing Center offers workshops that focus on effective and ethical use of sources.

Turnitin.com

The college subscribes to the online plagiarism-detecting resource, Turnitin.com through Blackboard. To learn about its use, please contact Kevin Wolff (Instructional Designer, BCTC) at [email protected] or 6646-312-1010.

Other Statements, Sources , Resources

– Several other statements/approaches may be found at…

http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/facultyhandbook/Academic_Integrity_Related/Academic_Integrity_Syllabus.doc

– Students may also be directed to the Student Guide to Academic Integrity at Baruch, available at…

http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/facultyhandbook/documents/StudentGuidePDF.pdf

– Please feel free to peruse our academic integrity summary for faculty…

http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/facultyhandbook/documents/Ac_Integr_Summary.htm

– Baruch College’s Academic Integrity website…

http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/facultyhandbook/AcademicIntegrity.htm

– On Creating and Proctoring Exams…

https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/facultyhandbook/documents/ProctoringBrochure.pdf

Finally, as suggested above, while a syllabus item is helpful, the importance of discussing the meaning and significance of integrity within the academic environment can’t be overstated. That importance, of course, extends beyond student practice to include faculty and administrative practices as well. Devising exams that are at the appropriate level of difficulty, grading them and other assignments fairly and promptly, and turning in final grades on time also are issues of academic integrity.

Suggestions and comments are welcome.

Dennis Slavin, PhD

Associate Provost and Assistant Vice President

Baruch College, CUNY

646-660-6504 (phone); 646-660-6531 (fax)

[email protected]

http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/provost/teaching_learning.htm

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

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Watch CBS News

Attendees of 1 in 4 higher education programs earn less than high school grads, study finds

By Aimee Picchi

Edited By Anne Marie Lee

Updated on: February 20, 2024 / 11:47 AM EST / CBS News

Americans are increasingly skeptical of the value of a post-secondary education at a time when college attendance costs are soaring. In some cases, those doubts may be justified, according to a new analysis of earnings data from almost 4,000 colleges and other higher education programs.

A decade after enrolling, attendees of 1 in 4 higher education programs are earning less than the median annual income of $32,000 for high school graduates, according to The HEA Group, which analyzed data from the Department of Education to track the earnings outcomes of about five million students. 

About 8% of institutions show their students' median income a decade after enrolling is less than $22,000 a year, or about 150% of the federal poverty line — low enough to qualify for some public assistance programs, The HEA Group found. 

To be sure, the majority of colleges are producing graduates who outearn people with only high school degrees, and economic research points to a well-documented wage premium for college grads that only grows over time. But the findings may help explain the growing pessimism among Americans about whether a college degree justifies taking on student debt, which currently tops $37,000 per borrower .

"The main reason why students go to college is for greater employability and for a financially secure future," Michael Itzkowitz, the former director of the Department of Education's College Scorecard and the founder of The HEA Group, told CBS MoneyWatch. 

He added, "As you think about the student debt problem, this raises questions. Are colleges providing enough of a value to allow students to earn a decent living and pay down their student loans after they attend?"

About 56% of Americans now believe that earning a four-year college degree isn't worth the cost, compared with 40% a decade ago, according to a poll last year from the Wall Street Journal and NORC at the University of Chicago. 

In addition to the soaring cost of college, the 64% graduation rate  at colleges granting 4-year degrees means some students are leaving in debt but without a degree hindering them from enjoying the college wage premium. The HEA Group's income data covers all higher education attendees, including both those who graduated and those who dropped out. 

Dropouts are "three times as likely to default on their student loans as other students," Itzkowitz said. "It's often because they haven't earned their credentials, yet they have taken on debt, which becomes unmanageable."

Where post-secondary degrees may not pay off

Many of the colleges with post-secondary programs whose attendees earn less than high school grads are for-profit institutions or trade schools offering certificates in cosmetology and other vocational programs. Some are also community colleges, religious institutions and arts programs offering bachelor's degrees. 

"What we can see is that many of them are short-term, often times for-profit institutions that show the majority of their students earning less than at the typical high school student," Itzkowitz said. 

Certificate programs are an important avenue for students to obtain a post-secondary degree, and in the right circumstances can lead to higher earnings, he added. "They allow students to pay only one year of tuition to gain a skill and enter the workforce immediately," he said, "but they are often the riskiest programs in the U.S."

The lowest-earning institution is Searcy Beauty College in Searcy, Arkansas, whose attendees earn median income of about $11,300 per year a decade after enrolling, compared with median annual pay of $32,000 for high school grads, the HEA analysis found. The school's cosmetology course costs $16,000, its website shows. Searcy Beauty College didn't immediately return a request for comment. 

The colleges that pay off

To be sure, attendees of about 2,800 U.S. colleges and other post-secondary institutions earn more than high school grads, the analysis found. But some grads may come out only slightly ahead, with attendees of about 90 institutions earning between $32,000 to $33,000 annually a decade after enrollment — just a hair higher than the $32,000 median income for high school grads.

Examining earnings data for a program's attendees, as well as graduation rates, can help inform students and their parents about whether a degree will pay off long-term, Itzkowitz said. 

And many public state universities and colleges provide excellent value, helping to juice their graduates' incomes at an affordable price. Take Baruch College of the City University of New York (CUNY), a public institution. Its grads earn about $71,000 per year a decade after they attend — on the same order as well-regarded private colleges such as Scripps College and Wesleyan, the study found. 

Baruch's annual tuition cost is about $5,000 annually, compared with about $62,000 a year for tuition at Scripps . 

At the top end of the spectrum, Ivy League colleges and other highly ranked schools produce the best incomes for their attendees, the study found. Attendees of Samuel Merritt University, a health care-focused institution, have the highest incomes, at $129,442 a decade later, while STEM-focused MIT is close behind with $124,213 in median annual earnings.

University of Pennsylvania's attendees are the highest paid of the Ivy League, at $112,761 a decade later, the study found. But Itzkowitz noted that the Ivy League colleges are so exclusive that they educate just a "small sliver" of America's students.

"There are so many colleges beyond the Ivy Leagues that provide good outcomes for their graduates at affordable prices," he noted. "The larger public colleges across the U.S. enroll the vast majority of students and provide good outcomes at an affordable cost." 

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

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  1. Prewriting for personal statements and other application materials

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    Identify your most significant past experiences—in work, in school, and more personally. What are the most important, uncommon, or interesting elements of your past? What makes you stand out from the average applicant? List anything a committee might want to know about you.

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  4. Baruch College Admission Requirements

    GPA requirements Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements Application requirements In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Baruch College and build a strong application. School location: New York, NY This school is also known as: CUNY Baruch, Baruch College (City University of New York) Admissions Rate: 50.6%

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    Overview Cost & scholarships Majors Admission requirements Essay prompts Want to see your chances of admission at Baruch College | CUNY Baruch? We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances. Calculate my chances Baruch College | CUNY Baruch's 2023-24 Essay Prompts Read our essay guide

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    Create and practice a well-written personal pitch; Craft a personal statement for potential scholarships, internships, etc. ... Baruch College | One Bernard Baruch Way 55 Lexington Avenue (at 24th Street) | New York, NY 10010 646-312-1000. Back To Top.

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    Which colleges require a personal statement for general freshman applicants? What are the essay topics for Baruch College, Hunter College and Queens College? Do any colleges require a letter of recommendation? How will community colleges review my freshman application? My school does not offer Regents exams, but I'm a strong student.

  11. Academic Honesty

    Cheating, forgery, plagiarism and collusion in dishonest acts undermine the college's educational mission and the students' personal and intellectual growth. Baruch students are expected to bear individual responsibility for their work, to learn the rules and definitions that underlie the practice of academic integrity, and to uphold its ...

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    Baruch College | One Bernard Baruch Way 55 Lexington Avenue (at 24th Street) | New York, NY 10010 646-312-1000

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    Provost Home Faculty Handbook Mission Statements Mission Statements This page last updated on: September 6, 2023 The Mission of Baruch College Baruch College is a place of opportunity and exploration where students, faculty, and staff transform their futures, their professions, and their communities.

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    January 22, 2021. Dear Faculty Colleagues, Please consider including a statement about academic integrity on your syllabus. Students suggest that faculty members who ignore these issues are signaling that they do not care about them. Students expect such information and they expect members of the faculty to reinforce and model these values in ...

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    Baruch College | One Bernard Baruch Way 55 Lexington Avenue (at 24th Street) | New York, NY 10010 646-312-1000

  22. Academic integrity statements for your syllabi

    Statement #1. I [ or the Department of X] fully support (s) Baruch College's policy on Academic Honesty, which states, in part: "Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Cheating, forgery, plagiarism, and collusion in dishonest acts undermine the college's educational mission and the students' personal and ...

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  24. Attendees of 1 in 4 higher education programs earn less than high

    Baruch's annual tuition cost is about $5,000 annually, compared with about $62,000 a year for tuition at Scripps.. At the top end of the spectrum, Ivy League colleges and other highly ranked ...

  25. Bearcats Fall in CUNYAC Semi-Final (62-59)

    The women's basketball team's participation in the CUNYAC Tournament came to an end tonight in the semi-final round after a narrow 62-59 loss at John Jay College. The visiting Bearcats led 17-16 after the first quarter and quickly took a 20-16 lead on a long three-pointer by Madison Thorton-Lewis to start the second quarter.