personal statement mathematics and finance

Mathematics and Finance Personal Statement

My ambition to study for a degree in mathematics and finance has been inspired by my deep interest in my A-level courses in mathematics, ICT and accounting, and by a natural aptitude for mathematical puzzles and challenges.  At the same time I have found myself increasingly interested in the way the world economy works. Living in a time of recession and economic crisis has prompted many questions about the forces which sent prosperous countries into financial collapse in 2008, threatened bankruptcy within a few months and suddenly deprived the growing economies of the east of their markets.  The speed of change has been astonishing and the continuing uncertainty provokes intellectual curiosity as well as concern about how the situation can recover and whether the effects of these dynamic economic forces can be controlled or even predicted.  The understanding I have begun to develop in my A-level courses has made me want to study the subject in much greater detail, and my hope is that I shall be able to make a career in financial mathematics, probably in banking, leading ultimately to becoming an investment banker.  I am very interested in the problems of financial management, the intricacies of probability and prediction in business and economics, and the role of uncertainty in economic calculation.  I should like to understand more fully how markets work and consumers make their choices, how competition operates and the effect of monopolies.  I am curious about such macroeconomic issues as the interaction of movements in output, unemployment, inflation and interest rates, and the relationship between supply and demand.  It is a very complex world and full of fascinating challenges which I am eager to confront. I am academically able, though I was disappointed with my A-level performance which was hampered by a serous illness, so that I am retaking my final year.  I have attended a Business Enterprise day which offered many insights into the financial world and demonstrated the importance of leadership and management skills.  I regularly follow the movements of the stock market and read the Financial Times as well as the Daily Telegraph .

At school I have held posts of responsibility, such as school prefect, responsible for the care and supervision of my fellow pupils, and assisting in the running of school events, which has taught me much about understanding other people and observing their behaviour.  I am eager to keep fit and attend a gym regularly as well as enjoying football, tennis and snooker. For several years I have captained the school cricket team, organising training and fixtures and carrying out managerial duties and administration, as well as offering an example of leadership and fostering the sense of team involvement. I spent a work experience session as a teaching assistant in the PE department at my school, working alongside professional teachers as part of a team, performing administrative tasks and working to deliver successful results.  I supervised and coached younger pupils within the school environment, exercising my organisational and leadership skills.

I am the first member of my family to apply to study at a university.  English is my mother tongue, but I also have good conversational Gujarati and Urdu.  I believe that languages are an invaluable asset in an increasingly international world and globalised marketplace.  I have a great interest in other cultures and also enjoy music.  I am extremely hard-working and give my full commitment to anything I choose to do.  I am a strong team-member and enjoy working with others, but have the confidence in my own judgement to be equally happy working on my own.  My academic performance has been uniformly strong and I am full of curiosity about the subjects I hope to study to an advanced level.  I am determined to succeed in my chosen path, and I believe that I have the necessary qualities to become a very efficient undergraduate.

Do you want to perfect your personal statement? Read this Mathematics and Finance personal statement example as a guide for shaping your own statement for university.

French Personal Statement

Pharmacy personal statement.

• Personal statement: finance and accounting

Applying to university

• Getting started
• UCAS Tariff points
• Calculate your UCAS Tariff points
• Amendments to the Tariff consultation
• Offer rate calculator
• How to use the offer rate calculator
• Understanding historical entry grades data
• Admissions tests
• Deferred entry
• Personal statement advice and example: computer science
• Personal statement advice: English
• Personal statement advice: Midwifery
• Personal statement advice: animal science
• Personal statement advice: biology
• Personal statement advice: business and management
• Personal statement advice: chemistry
• Personal statement advice: dance
• Personal statement advice: dentistry
• Personal statement advice: drama
• Personal statement advice: economics
• Personal statement advice: engineering
• Personal statement advice: geography
• Personal statement advice: history
• Personal statement advice: law
• Personal statement advice: maths
• Personal statement advice: media studies and journalism
• Personal statement advice: medicine
• Personal statement advice: modern languages
• Personal statement advice: music
• Personal statement advice: nursing
• Personal statement advice: pharmacy
• Personal statement advice: physiotherapy
• Personal statement advice: politics
• Personal statement advice: psychology
• Personal statement advice: social work
• Personal statement advice: sociology
• Personal statement advice: sports science
• Personal statement advice: statistics
• Personal statement advice: teacher training and education
• Personal statement advice: veterinary medicine
• Filling in your application
• Staying safe online
• How to write a personal statement that works for multiple courses
• The new personal statement for 2026 entry
• How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement
• Fraud and similarity
• How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber
• How to end your personal statement
• Introducing the personal statement tool
• Personal statement dos and don'ts
• What to include in a personal statement
• Using AI and ChatGPT to help you with your personal statement
• Using your personal statement beyond a university application
• Carers, estranged students, refugees, asylum seekers, and those with limited leave to remain
• Personal statement guides
• References for mature students

Dr Fatimah Zainudin from the University of Southampton’s management school is looking for 'the "chemistry" that makes an applicant shine out,’ so try and demonstrate your enthusiasm about the course and the buzz you'll get from studying it.

'What we love to see is a passion for the subject itself. If you fall in love with the subject, that’s what will lead to success on the course; it will give you the right chemistry,' she says.

Demonstrate your enthusiasm

If you can demonstrate what's sparked your interest in finance and accounting, that's a good start – but it’s no good just saying you’ve got a passion for it, you have to show it.

If you’re not the kind of person who gets very passionate about things, don’t worry. But do still try to explain what it is that attracts you to studying it. Then back it up with evidence of your relevant skills, knowledge or experiences and show that you understand something about what’s involved. That should solve it.

See our in-depth guides to studying finance or accounting at university, from typical modules to career paths, for some inspiration.

Finance and accounting personal statement must-haves

• Get the basics right: good communication skills are essential to anyone working in the finance sector, so make sure your statement is well-written. Nobody is asking for a literary masterpiece here, just a well-structured and waffle- and error-free statement.
• Interest in the subject: Sheffield Hallam University is looking for you to demonstrate 'an interest in and awareness of accounting and finance, or some level of practical experience.' Similarly, Bristol is looking for 'interest and commitment to the subject.' This means conveying enthusiasm for studying it and showing that you understand something about it, whether that comes from reading, work experience, or studying relevant topics in your A level, BTEC, or Higher course.
• Business awareness: University of Bath selectors are expecting students to have an interest and aptitude for 'quantitative analysis of business issues.' Demonstrate this with evidence that shows your abilities for applying mathematical skills to the analysis of business problems.
• Beyond the classroom: The University of Bristol is looking for 'intellectual curiosity – reading or research beyond the A level (or equivalent) syllabus.’ This is always good practice in personal statements, provided you then reflect on what you learned from your wider reading or research – they don’t just want a list.
• Relevant outside interests: if you choose to include extra-curricular activities, make sure they are relevant or showcase appropriate personal characteristics, skills, or achievements. Apply the 'so what?' test: if you play the flute or basketball, can you make that relevant to your future success at university, or should other factors take priority in your 47 lines?

Make the most of any experience

If you’ve had some work experience , that’s great. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a couple of weeks spent shadowing an accountant, a couple of hours just talking to one, a part-time job in a financial, retail, or business environment, or a scheme like Young Enterprise. What does matter is that you write about something relevant that you have learned from it. But, as Sheffield Hallam and LSE say on their websites, experience is not essential, so don’t panic if you don’t have any.

Your commitment to studying accounting or finance as an academic subject is usually the key requirement. However, if you can also show that extra ingredient of passion and a glimpse of the ‘chemistry’ that exists between you and the subject, then your application really will stand out.

Sponsored articles UCAS Media Service

Five reasons to sign up to the ucas newsletter, do you need to take an english test to study at university in the uk, study a business degree two days a week..

The Uni Guide has a fresh new look

• Teacher training
• Bangor University
• Birmingham City University
• Sheffield Hallam University
• University of Aberdeen
• University of East Anglia
• University of Hull
• University of Kent
• University of Reading
• Clearing and results day
• Preparing for university
• Ucas application
• Student finance
• Student accommodation
• Choosing a course
• A-level results day: what to expect
• A guide to Btec results day
• How Ucas Hub works on results day
• What to say in a Clearing phone call
• 10 tips to help you with Ucas Clearing
• A guide to Clearing 2024
• Which university is right for you?
• What you need to know about getting a university scholarship, grant or bursary
• How to decide on a university course
• Is a higher or degree apprenticeship right for you?
• Universities

By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 21 September 2023 | 5 min read

Writing a mathematics personal statement: expert advice from universities

Ace your maths personal statement with these tailored tips from university admissions teams

Share this page

Email & print.

Don’t list out your A-levels

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

Focus on yourself 

• Read more:  how to write your university application

Don’t use quotes unless you’re expanding on them

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

Mention any maths-related activities you’ve been involved with outside the classroom

• Read more:  personal statement FAQs

Include your unexpected extracurriculars

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

Don’t make excuses for disappointing grades

• Read more:  universities reveal all about personal statements

If you’re not taking the traditional A-level route to university…

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

Talk about the future

You may want to look at these..., personal statement secrets – universities reveal all.

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

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Help and advice on putting your application together

Personal statement FAQs

We've gone through some of the most commonly asked personal statement questions and put all the answers in one place

Related to this article

Search the uni guide, find further advice or search for information on a course or university.

• Search Advice
• Search courses &/or universities

The Uni Guide and The Student Room are both part of The Student Room Group.

Promoted universities

• Durham University
• Lancaster University
• University of Glasgow
• University of the Arts London
• University of Southampton
• Swansea University
• Aston University, Birmingham
• Ulster University
• Cardiff University
• University of Essex

Browse expert advice

• Oxbridge applications
• Personal statements
• University open days
• Ucas deadline 2024 countdown
• A-level choices
• GCSE choices and university
• Making firm and insurance choices
• Student life
• Advice for parents

About this site

• Cookie policy
• List of universities and colleges
• Privacy notice
• Terms and conditions
• Where we get our info

Who we work with

• Your account settings

Ad privacy settings

Popular tools and features

• A-level Explorer
• Course search

Connect with us

Mathematics, Statistics and Financial Economics

Applied in: winter 2013, university offers: queen mary, sussex.

I have been drawn to the logical, abstract and exact nature of mathematics from an early age and this once relatively casual interest has developed over the years into a more fervent and intense interest and a desire to now pursue the subject at degree level. Beyond my formal curriculum, I have enrolled in weekly mathematics sessions that focus on algebra, reflecting my enjoyment of solving problems. I particularly like the classes in probabilities and statistics; together with functions, this is the area of mathematics that I enjoy the most. Studying Binomial law helped me realize that mathematics is very present in real life. I continue to be fascinated by the endless possibilities of mathematics.

On a more practical level, I am a French citizen with an Indian and African heritage. The migration pattern of my own family, primarily to take advantage of trade and economic opportunities over the previous century, has convinced me of the importance of global trade, economics and modern finance in shaping the world. Another result of this global influence in my life is that I have been exposed to very different values, cultures and political and economic models: I consider this multi-cultural background to be advantageous in drawing comparisons between the different systems.

The impact of the 2008 global financial crisis on the real economy (I thoroughly enjoyed Charles Ferguson’s documentary INSIDE JOB describing the crisis) further intensified my interest in finance and economics: I believe studying Mathematics applied to economics would allow me to combine my both interests. Recently, I have engaged myself in economics by regularly reading ‘Les Echos’ and ‘AGEFI’ both of which are French economic newspapers. I have also started reading ‘The Economist’ to improve my knowledge of global economics and the English language.

My mother tongue is French but I have always aspired to be fluent in English. A year ago I had the opportunity to move to London and study at the French Lycée to sit the French baccalauréat. In one year I believe I have made very good progress in English and consider myself quite ready and able to study in a British university. Ultimately I see myself staying in Britain as it stands out as the perfect place with a high standard of education.

Outside of academia, I enjoy playing the guitar and have taken lessons since the age of eight at a music school in France. Music was the first passion I discovered in my early years; it represented a new world of unlimited possibilities and enjoyment. What attracted me the most was the logical nature of the language of music. I have achieved the ‘brevet de guitare’ and it was necessary to show serious concentration and perseverance to attain this high level: qualities that I believe are essential in the study of mathematics. I have performed in various recitals to large audiences and these experiences have taught me to manage and control pressure and stress. I continue to enjoy playing guitar along with singing.

I feel that mathematics and economics present the same level of curiosity and fascination as music does for me and it’s something I am keen to pursue in depth and detail.

I volunteer at the Ismaili Centre every Friday where I find satisfaction in donating my time to the effective running of the centre. I find that this is a good opportunity to organise myself and meet and help others. In France, I also volunteered at my school, providing tutoring sessions in mathematics to students. Reading is another interest. I particularly like the French classics: Le Père Goriot by Balzac is one of my all time favourite books. I also enjoy easy reading such as the Agatha Christie novels and other detective stories.

I guess that leaves the proverbial “ team spirit” and “leadership skills”: I play in the basketball team for the Lycée Français and have found this sport more than develops these skills. I am confident that my passion will help me to develop more skills at university.

Please note UCAS will detect any form of plagiarism. PSE and its contributors do not take any responsibility for the way in which personal statements are used.

CollegeLAH is a website by the students for the students, featuring the honest story of applications and university life as told by Malaysians. It’s a non-profit social project to help Malaysian students to achieve their higher-education dreams and inspire them to reach their full potential. 

Financial Mathematics and Statistics Personal Statement (Sofiah Sidqi)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leave a comment Cancel reply

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

• What is a Career Community?
• Exploration & Discovery
• Education, Cultures & Human Services
• Multimedia, Marketing, Communication & Creative Arts
• Policy, Law & Public Service
• Management, Consulting, Sales & Finance
• Life & Physical Sciences
• Environment & Sustainability
• Engineering
• Computing, Information & Analytics
• What is an Affinity Community?
• International Students
• Students of Color
• Veteran Students
• NCAA Student Athletes
• Students with Neurodiversity & Dis/ability
• Adult Students
• First Generation Students
• Exploring Careers
• Exploring Graduate School
• Internships
• Interview Prep
• Research, Volunteering, & Fellowships
• Resume Prep
• Skill Development
• Contact + Team

Personal Statement: Top 10 Rules and Pitfalls

• Share This: Share Personal Statement: Top 10 Rules and Pitfalls on Facebook Share Personal Statement: Top 10 Rules and Pitfalls on LinkedIn Share Personal Statement: Top 10 Rules and Pitfalls on X

From Top 10 Rules and Pitfalls // Purdue Writing Lab

Writing the personal statement: top 10 rules.

• Strive for depth rather than breadth. Narrow focus to one or two key themes, ideas or experiences
• Try to tell the reader something that no other applicant will be able to say
• Provide the reader with insight into what drives you
• Be yourself, not the ‘ideal’ applicant
• Get creative and imaginative in the opening remarks, but make sure it’s something that no one else could write
• Address the school’s unique features that interest you
• Focus on the affirmative in the personal statement; consider an addendum to explain deficiencies or blemishes
• Evaluate experiences, rather than describe them
• Proofread carefully for grammar, syntax, punctuation, word usage, and style
• Use readable fonts, typeface, and conventional spacing and margins

WRITING THE PERSONAL STATEMENT: TOP 10 PITFALLS

• Do not submit an expository resume; avoid repeating information found elsewhere on the application
• Do not use the same personal statement for each application. Generic statements are often obvious
• Do not preach to your reader. You can express opinions, but do not come across as fanatical or extreme
• Do not talk about money as a motivator
• Do not discuss systemic and social injustices simply as complaints, but as a relevant source of motivation for your overall goals and intended studies
• Do not remind the school of its rankings or tell them how good they are
• “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is…”
• “This question asks me to discuss…”
• “I would like to thank the admissions committee for considering my application.”
• “It is my sincere hope that you will grant me the opportunity to attend your fine school.”
• “In sum, there are three reasons why you should admit me…”
• Do not use unconventional and gimmicky formats and packages
• Do not submit supplemental materials unless they are requested
• Do not get the name of the school wrong
• Do not incorporate technical language or very uncommon words

Stewart, Mark Alan. Perfect Personal Statements. New York: Simon & Schuster Macmillan, 1996.

• Search forums

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

• US Quant Programs

Personal Statement for Financial Mathematics master

• Thread starter ionix
• Start date 3/12/20

Hi everyone, I would really appreciate some comments on my personal statement. Here are the requirements: Address your mathematical qualifications, any relevant experience and eventual career ambitions. (4,000 characters maximum) My passion for quantitative finance stems from my desire to model risks into the valuation of financial instruments. Working part-time as an equity research analyst, I have come to understand how risk is a key element in the recipe for investment success, and return without risk is just a false hope. Risk and return are interconnected drivers of the financial world. Market participants often focus on return, which can’t be easily controlled, as opposed to the exposure to risk, which can actually be managed. At the end of my first undergraduate year, I began working part-time as an equity research analyst attracted by the thrill of analyzing stocks and conducting research. I quickly realized how future uncertainty makes the task very speculative. But, by employing mathematical and statistical models, combined with derivatives, one could reduce the exposure to risk and protect a client’s portfolio. With this objective in mind, I grew a strong fondness for quantitative modules such as Empirical Finance, Advanced Statistics, and Econometrics with R. These introduced me to concepts of calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and other essential mathematical tools. What I enjoyed most about these subjects is that they create models and analytical approaches to analyze problems and phenomena occurring around me. Then, I applied such notions in my Financial Derivatives and Financial Engineering courses. I found fascinating the plethora of financial products that can be priced with the same mathematical model and assuming risk-neutral valuation. However, a master’s degree in Financial Mathematics at King’s College London would provide me further insight into how stochastic interest rates and additional financial risks affect valuations. I would like to become an expert in derivative pricing to help clients reduce exposure to risk and achieve their financial objectives. Many investors have discounted the need for managing risk because supported by the longest bull market in history. But in the long-term, it will not be hard to distinguish who hedged risks from who didn’t. There are many reasons why I chose XXX: the course structure, the location, and the faculty. Your course structure is heavily focused on mathematics, which will help me develop the attributes needed further in my career. Seeking a career in risk management, the course will improve my prospects after graduation. Secondly, the location will offer me an excellent environment to network with industry professionals and academics at conferences and public lectures. This will reduce the gap between my academic and professional careers. Moreover, I have heard some outstanding names such as Dr. John Armstrong, Professor Markus Riedle and Professor Tiziana Di Matteo. Taking her Econophysiscs module will certainly be meliorating. In conclusion, I will proactively contribute to enriching the quality of the Financial Mathematics program with a multicultural education, an attention to the environmental, social and ethical aspects of financial analysis and by striving for excellence. I recently passed my first CFA exam and I plan to continue on this journey. Currently, I am on track to achieve a first-class degree from the XXX. Thank you very much!  

Similar threads

• EFRM Graduate Certificate

• Education Advice

• This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Accept Learn more…

• Ask a question Ask
• go advanced Search
• Please enter a title
• Please enter a message
• Your discussion will live here... (Start typing, we will pick a forum for you) Please select a forum Change forum View more forums... View less forums... GCSEs A-levels Applications, Clearing and UCAS University Life Student Finance England Part-time and temporary employment Chat Everyday issues Friends, family and work Relationships Health News Student Surveys and Research
• post anonymously
• All study help
• Uni applications
• University and HE colleges
• University help and courses
• University student life

Postgraduate

• Careers and jobs
• Teacher training
• Finance and accountancy
• Relationships
• Sexual health
• Give feedback or report a problem
• University and university courses
• Universities and HE colleges
• Life and style
• Entertainment
• Debate and current affairs
• Careers and Jobs
• Scottish qualifications
• Foreign languages
• GCSE articles
• A-level articles
• Exam and revision articles
• What to do after GCSEs
• What to do after A-levels
• When is A-level results day 2024?
• When is GCSE results day 2024?
• Studying, revision and exam support
• Grow your Grades

Exam results articles and chat

• Exam results homepage
• A guide to GCSE and A-level grade boundaries
• Year 13 chat
• Year 12 chat
• Year 11 chat

A-level results

• Guide to A-level results day
• Get help preparing for results day
• A-level retakes and resits
• Exam reviews and remarks
• Here’s what to expect on A-level results day
• Six ways to help results day nerves
• Understanding your A-level results slip

GCSE results

• Guide to GCSE results day
• How GCSE combined science grades work
• Stressed about GCSE results day?
• Understanding your GCSE results slip

Finding a uni in Clearing

• Clearing articles and chat
• UK university contact details
• Guide to Clearing
• Seven things people get wrong about Clearing
• How to make a great Clearing call
• Finding accommodation after Clearing
• How Clearing can help you prepare for results day
• All universities
• Applying through Ucas
• Student finance
• Personal statement
• Postgraduate study
• Uni accommodation
• University life
• All uni courses
• Apprenticeships
• Arts and humanities courses
• Stem courses
• Social science courses

Universities by region

• North of England
• South of England
• Greater London
• Distance learning
• International study

University guides and articles

• All university articles
• Applying to uni articles
• Personal statements
• Personal statement examples
• University open days
• Studying law at university
• Student life at university
• Careers and jobs discussion
• Apprenticeships discussion
• Part-time and temp jobs
• Career forums by sector
• Armed forces careers
• Consultancy careers
• Finance careers
• Legal careers
• Marketing careers
• Medicine and healthcare careers
• Public sector careers
• Stem careers
• Teaching careers
• General chat
• Relationships chat
• Friends, family and colleagues
• Advice on everyday issues
• General health
• Mental health
• UK and world politics
• Educational debate

Undergraduate

• Postgraduate Master’s Loan
• Postgraduate Doctoral Loan
• Disabled Students’ Allowances
• Taking a break or withdrawing from your course

Further information

• Parents and partners
• Advanced Learner Loan
• Mathematics personal statements

Mathematics with statistics degree personal statement example (1a)

Mathematics and Statistics have interested me all my life and the latter in particular is a large part of my life and my way of thinking. I think mathematics is a most interesting subject. It is amazing that a series of simple numeric characters represent most of the problems in the world. I fell in love with mathematics when I was a young pupil, I selected the right formula and did some simple computational processes and I arrived at the correct answer. I have chosen to study mathematics and statistics at university because I am really addicted to it. I can use mathematics to solve a variety of difficult problems by dividing the problem into smaller parts, then solving each part one by one using logical processes, to achieve the final solution. I think this mode of mathematical thinking is very useful in real life as well, because it can be used to simplify challenging problems.

Statistics as a subject is needed in order to analyse, organise and research data. We can use statistics to work out and analyse if a proposal is going to be successful or not. Statistics is another reason why I am so interested in mathematics. If pure math is abstract, statistics is much closer to our life. We use data to enable an analysis of different views which is likely to lead to an informed decision. Thus important decisions can be made from statistical research. For example a doctor may consider using a new drug instead of an older one, having set up null and alternative hypotheses and testing a sample statistic doctors can make an informed choice based on statistical analysis. If I use statistics, to arrive at a decision it is achieved in a more logical way. I like to explore football statistics and analyse the different player’s performance. For example, what percentage of shots on target does Rooney manage each match?

When I have free time, I like to research the formulae in my school syllabus and explore the historical roots of how someone came up with these. For example, the ‘Stirling formula’, in which Stirling discovered how to work out the natural logarithm of a huge factorial number.

During my work experience for a charity organisation last summer, I had to develop my communication skills when collecting money from people on the street. In addition I was asked to visit the elderly and housebound in their homes, particularly in a situation, when there were few members of their own family. I am able to maintain a good work-life balance by regularly playing sport; football and badminton. The social and physical challenges have helped me to improve my communication skills.

I also enjoy the team aspects of sport, while keeping fit. I am a keen member of a table tennis club and played in the Suffolk tournaments. This experience enables me to meet many professional players, which gives me a breadth of insight into life outside school. Life at school offers me many opportunities which I am able to take up, such as being a member of the Maths Challenge competition. This requires fast mental skills for working out the different questions. It trains my brain and I can put into practice some aspects of A Level Statistics. In addition, I was chosen to be a boarding prefect this year. I am required to share the pastoral responsibility for the male boarders, alongside staff members. This involves me in meeting numerous boarders, who regularly share concerns and joyful events in their lives. Through this experience I have grown more tolerant of people and different cultures.

I hope to use the statistical knowledge for my future as a statistics researcher, where I may work in a survey company which collects data and interprets it. By analysing the mixed data I would enable the company to improve its profit. My aim would be to make the data more organised and reach a satisfactory conclusion. I am really looking forward to university life and to contributing and participating in many aspects of life there, in addition to developing my knowledge and engaging in lively discussions.

Find more help with writing your personal statement

On The Student Room

• More examples of real personal statements
• Personal statement advice

On The Uni Guide

• How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps
• Advice from universities on writing your personal statement
• Share this story :
• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Google+
• Share on Pinterest
• Latest Latest
• Trending Trending
• create my feed
• Edit my feed
• 0 new posts
• Started by: sdfj
• Forum: Forum games
• Replies: 3668
• Last post: 1 minute ago
• Started by: 04MR17
• Forum: University of Manchester
• Replies: 242
• Started by: Anonymous
• Forum: King's College London
• Started by: fergalsharky
• Forum: Medicine
• Started by: hanstudies
• Replies: 18
• Last post: 2 minutes ago
• Started by: Catlova67
• Forum: Faith and Spirituality
• Replies: 48
• Replies: 2222
• Last post: 3 minutes ago
• Started by: zaiiiinn
• Forum: Secondary school, sixth form and FE college
• Started by: Nasia.Liya
• Forum: University life
• Started by: VickyHFKL
• Forum: Ask Student Finance England
• Started by: KA_P
• Replies: 300
• Last post: 4 minutes ago
• Started by: kortizz
• Forum: Health
• Last post: 5 minutes ago
• Started by: Maga^_^
• Forum: Applications, Clearing and UCAS
• Started by: Zilipe
• Forum: Nursing and Midwifery
• Last post: 6 minutes ago
• Started by: emm4nuella
• Forum: University of Exeter
• Replies: 256
• Forum: Relationships
• Started by: flissld
• Forum: A-levels
• Last post: 8 minutes ago
• Forum: University of Southampton
• Started by: imbambob
• Replies: 15
• Started by: Miss.fcxxx
• Forum: Civil service, public sector and public services
• Replies: 296
• Last post: 16 minutes ago
• Started by: Scotland Yard
• Replies: 446
• Last post: 48 minutes ago
• Started by: Sandtrooper
• Forum: Cambridge Postgraduate
• Replies: 8224
• Last post: 1 hour ago
• Started by: Saracen's Fez
• Forum: UK and World Politics
• Replies: 684
• Replies: 1124
• Last post: 2 hours ago
• Started by: maiarhysdavies
• Replies: 791
• Last post: 16 hours ago
• Started by: Lazlay
• Replies: 816
• Last post: 17 hours ago
• Started by: MOZSH
• Forum: Medical Schools
• Replies: 495
• Last post: 23 hours ago
• Started by: reubenn05
• Replies: 988
• Last post: 1 day ago
• Started by: jambarnzi
• Replies: 73
• Started by: aishaslm
• Forum: Legal careers and training
• Replies: 176
• Started by: asdfjkmel
• Forum: Graduate Schemes
• Replies: 2706
• Forum: Advice on everyday issues
• Replies: 187
• Last post: 2 days ago
• Started by: shooks
• Started by: Lc627183
• Replies: 277
• Started by: Adam Woodbridge
• Forum: Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games
• Replies: 800
• Started by: Chi chi5
• Replies: 928
• Last post: 3 days ago
• Started by: Fiyero
• Replies: 184
• Last post: 5 days ago
• Started by: crimsonrose3205
• Forum: Mature Students
• Replies: 119
• Started by: CamembertPaws
• Forum: Scottish Qualifications
• Replies: 91
• Last post: 6 days ago
• Great! I exceeded my expectations
• Good, I got what I expected
• Not so good, I didn't get everything I expected
• Terrible, I didn't get any of the grades I wanted
• Tell us more about your answer in the thread

The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group.

• Main topics
• GCSE and A-level
• Exam results
• Life and relationships

Get Started

• Today's posts
• Unanswered posts
• Community guidelines
• TSR help centre
• Cookies & online safety
• Terms & conditions
• Privacy notice

Connect with TSR

© Copyright The Student Room 2023 all rights reserved

The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd.

Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. 806 8067 22 Registered Office: Imperial House, 2nd Floor, 40-42 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XB

Watch CBS News

Hackers may have stolen your Social Security number in a massive breach. Here's what to know.

By Aimee Picchi

Edited By Anne Marie Lee

Updated on: August 19, 2024 / 9:51 AM EDT / CBS News

A new lawsuit is claiming hackers have gained access to the personal information of "billions of individuals," including their Social Security numbers, current and past addresses and the names of siblings and parents — personal data that could allow fraudsters to infiltrate financial accounts or take out loans in their names. 

The allegation arose in a lawsuit filed earlier this month by Christopher Hofmann, a California resident who claims his identity theft protection service alerted him that his personal information had been leaked to the dark web by the "nationalpublicdata.com" breach. The lawsuit was earlier reported by Bloomberg Law.

The breach allegedly occurred around April 2024, with a hacker group called USDoD exfiltrating the unencrypted personal information of billions of individuals from a company called National Public Data (NPD), a background check company, according to the lawsuit. Earlier this month, a hacker leaked a version of the stolen NPD data for free on a hacking forum, tech site Bleeping Computer reported . 

That hacker claimed the stolen files include 2.7 billion records, with each listing a person's full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and phone number, Bleeping Computer said. While it's unclear how many people that includes, it's likely "that everyone with a Social Security number was impacted," said Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at The National Cybersecurity Alliance, a nonprofit that promotes online safety.

"It's a reminder of the importance of protecting yourself, because clearly companies and the government aren't doing it for us," Steinhauer told CBS MoneyWatch.

In a statement posted to its website, NPD said the breach involved a "third-party bad actor that was trying to hack into data in late December 2023, with potential leaks of certain data in April 2024 and summer 2024."

The company added that it is working with law enforcement and government investigators. NPD said it "will try to notify you if there are further significant developments applicable to you."

Here's what to know about the alleged hack. 

What is National Public Data? 

National Public Data is a data company based in Coral Springs, Florida, that provides background checks for employers, investigators and other businesses that want to check people's backgrounds. Its searches include criminal records, vital records, SSN traces and more information, its website says.

There are many similar companies that scrape public data to create files on consumers, which they then sell to other businesses, Steinhauer said.

"They are data brokers that collect and sell data about people, sometimes for background check purposes," he said. "It's because there's no national privacy law in the U.S. — there is no law against them collecting this data against our consent."

What happened with the USDoD hack?

According to the new lawsuit, USDoD on April 8 posted a database called "National Public Data" on the dark web, claiming to have records for about 2.9 billion individuals. It was asking for a purchase price of $3.5 million, the lawsuit claims. 

However, Bleeping Computer reported that the file was later leaked for free on a hacker forum, as noted above. 

How many people have been impacted?

The number of people impacted by the breach is unclear. Although the lawsuit claims "billions of individuals" had their data stolen, the total population of the U.S. stands at about 330 million. The lawsuit also alleges that the data includes personal information of deceased individuals.

Bleeping Computer reports that the hacked data involves 2.7 billion records, with individuals having multiple records in the database. In other words, one individual could have separate records for each address where they've lived, which means the number of impacted people may be far lower than the lawsuit claims, the site noted.

The data may reach back at least three decades, according to law firm Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe, which said on Monday it is investigating the breach.

Did NPD alert individuals about the hack? 

It's unclear, although the lawsuit claims that NPD "has still not provided any notice or warning" to Hoffman or other people affected by the breach. 

"In fact, upon information and belief, the vast majority of Class Members were unaware that their sensitive [personal information] had been compromised, and that they were, and continue to be, at significant risk of identity theft and various other forms of personal, social, and financial harm," the lawsuit claims. 

Information security company McAfee reported that it hasn't found any filings with state attorneys general. Some states require companies that have experienced data breaches to file reports with their AG offices. 

However, NPD posted an alert about the breach on its website, stating that it believes the information breached includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers and mailing addresses.

Can you find out if your data was part of the hack?

There are tools available that will monitor what information about you is available on the dark web, noted Michael Blair, managing director of cybersecurity firm NukuDo. Commonly breached data includes your personal addresses, passwords and email, he added.

One such service is how Hofmann, who filed the lawsuit, found out that his information has been leaked as part of NPD breach.

"Make sure to use reputable companies to look that up," Blair said. 

What should I do to protect my information?

Security experts recommend that consumers put freezes on their credit files at the three big credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Freezing your credit is free, and will stop bad actors from taking out loans or opening credit cards in your name. 

"The biggest thing is to freeze your credit report, so it can't be used to open new accounts in your name and commit other fraud in your name," Steinhauer said. 

In its statement, NPD also urged people to put free fraud alerts on their accounts, which "tells creditors to contact you before they open any new accounts or change your existing accounts," it said. You'll have to contact just one of the three credit bureaus to create a fraud alert, and that agency will alert the others.

Steinhauer recommends consumers take several additional steps to protect their data and finances:

• Make sure your passwords are at least 16 characters in length, and are complex. 
• Use a password manager to save those long, complex passwords.
• Enable multifactor authentication, which Steinhauer calls "critical," because simply using a single password to access your accounts isn't enough protection against hackers. 
• Be on alert for phishing and other scams. One red flag is that the scammers will try to create a sense of urgency to manipulate their victims.
• Keep your security software updated on your computer and other devices. For instance, make sure you download the latest security updates from Microsoft or Apple onto your apps and devices. 

You can also get a tracking service that will alert you if your data appears on the dark web. 

"You should assume you have been compromised and act accordingly," Steinhauer said. 

• Data Breach
• Social Security

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.

More from CBS News

The job market was weaker than earlier reported, new data shows

Baby dies after being left in hot car for over 7 hours, officials say

What you need to know about Canada's rail halt

USPS says some rural mail delivery could get slower amid cost cuts

• Applying to Uni
• Apprenticeships
• Health & Relationships
• Money & Finance

Personal Statements

• Postgraduate
• U.S Universities

University Interviews

• Vocational Qualifications
• Accommodation
• ​​​​​​​Budgeting, Money & Finance
• ​​​​​​​Health & Relationships
• ​​​​​​​Jobs & Careers
• ​​​​​​​Socialising

Studying Abroad

• ​​​​​​​Studying & Revision
• ​​​​​​​Technology
• ​​​​​​​University & College Admissions

Guide to GCSE Results Day

Finding a job after school or college

Retaking GCSEs

In this section

Choosing GCSE Subjects

Post-GCSE Options

GCSE Work Experience

GCSE Revision Tips

Why take an Apprenticeship?

Applying for an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships Interviews

Apprenticeship Wage

Engineering Apprenticeships

What is an Apprenticeship?

Choosing an Apprenticeship

Real Life Apprentices

Degree Apprenticeships

Higher Apprenticeships

A Level Results Day 2024

AS Levels 2024

Clearing Guide 2024

Applying to University

SQA Results Day Guide 2024

BTEC Results Day Guide

Vocational Qualifications Guide

Sixth Form or College

International Baccalaureate

Post 18 options

Finding a Job

Should I take a Gap Year?

Travel Planning

Volunteering

Gap Year Blogs

Applying to Oxbridge

Applying to US Universities

Choosing a Degree

Choosing a University or College

Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Clearing Guide

Guide to Freshers' Week

Student Guides

Student Cooking

Student Blogs

Top Rated Personal Statements

Personal Statement Examples

Writing Your Personal Statement

Postgraduate Personal Statements

International Student Personal Statements

Gap Year Personal Statements

Personal Statement Length Checker

Personal Statement Examples By University

Personal Statement Changes 2025

Personal Statement Template

Job Interviews

Types of Postgraduate Course

Writing a Postgraduate Personal Statement

Postgraduate Funding

Postgraduate Study

Internships

Choosing A College

Ivy League Universities

Common App Essay Examples

Universal College Application Guide

How To Write A College Admissions Essay

College Rankings

Admissions Tests

Fees & Funding

Scholarships

Budgeting For College

Online Degree

Platinum Express Editing and Review Service

Gold Editing and Review Service

Silver Express Editing and Review Service

UCAS Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Oxbridge Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Postgraduate Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

You are here

Maths and statistics personal statement example.

Mathematics and statistical data are fundamental to understanding the world. Being able to see how things as simple as numbers can be arranged into mathematical models that can describe everything from the stock market to the flight of a ball both excites and fascinates me. For example, how is it that mathematicians can create models and strategies to price securities and predict the market with minimal risk, and therefore make banks and hedge fund millions of pounds? The power of maths is such that where there were once shouting men on the trading floor, there are now mathematicians overlooking algorithms that perform 70% of buy/sell orders on Wall Street. The reason for this is that maths describes to us how the real world works, whether that be in the trading squares of London or in nature.

This intrigue has stemmed from a great enjoyment of studying both A level maths, further maths and physics, as well as an AS in geography and an EPQ. Whilst I have greatly enjoyed all of the modules I have tackled in maths, I particularly enjoyed the statistical module (S1 and S2), and relished in the challenge of using models, such as the normal distribution curve, to calculate the probabilities of events and then using hypothesis tests to see if this result was significant. I then used many of the techniques I learnt from stats and applied them to my geography coursework (analysing data from around groynes), using both Spearman's rank correlation and the Mann Whitney U test. I have found that what I have studied in maths also complements physics, which involves graphs and equations to model scientific ideas As my school does not teach S3 module, I have taken it upon myself to teach it to myself and am enjoying linking Poisson and Binomial into the chi squared distribution. Completing this not only demonstrates my passion and enhances my ability, but also shows great time management skills.

Whilst school teaches me the foundations of maths, TV programs and books really opened my eyes to the beauty of maths, statistics and finance. I have watched multiple episodes of Horizon on topics such as infinity and Fermat's last theorem, as well as documentaries and books on the roles Quants have played on using their mathematical skills to revolutionise Wall Street. I particularly remember a quote from Emanuel Derman's 'Life as a quant', which read: 'The capacity to wreak destruction with your models provides the ultimate respectability', which really brought home the importance of maths.

I enjoy tackling a mathematical problem and I relish in the feeling of finally succeeding. I love being able to put a value to a real life situation, such as the chance of an event occurring or the distance of an object in flight, as well as seeing how it can be used to build the world we know, such as using numerical integration to work out the area of a tunnel. I believe a degree in a mathematical field would be both enjoyable and challenging, and provide me with an excellent platform for life, teaching me a logical and efficient way of thinking, perfect in the stressful world of the city.

I also enjoy applying an analytical approach to my training, for both running and cycling. In athletics/cross country, I create training plans detailing everything up to an event, such as long run split times, recovery time, intensity of sessions and fatigue, which I then use to put into excel and create a value for form at the end of each week. This means I can attempt to peak at given events, which I used to finish a career high of 8th at this year's nationals. In cycling, this statistical obsession is used to calculate 'zones' for my power/hr as a percentage of my functional threshold power, meaning I can use the bike to compliment my running and build my cardiovascular endurance.

I would love to pursue a career in the world of mathematical finance, and I believe the choices of institutions I have made will be perfect to guide me towards my aspirations.

Profile info

There is no profile associated with this personal statement, as the writer has requested to remain anonymous.

Author's Comments

This personal statement is unrated

Related Personal Statements

Add new comment.