Personal Statement
Applicant: xx   Program: Msc in Marketing & Strategy

I was a self-trained marketing talent even before I completed my high school. In the summer of 2001 when I was just 18, I promoted the xx by xx (xx) in the entire xx region. I first produced a detailed business proposal and then put it into practice. I established business relations with ten local swimming pools (by signing contracts on behalf of xx), where I put up large-size posters, did questionnaire surveys, took pictures of all the major activities, and them back to the Headquarters. I conscientiously executed all my duties and I earned 800RMB (about 50 pounds) plus a 200RMB bonus, the sole bonus in China’s 5 northern cities where xx launched the promotion.

This event has a defining influence on my course of academic pursuit when I started my college education. I chose to major in business administration upon entering the International College at xx University (xx). xx is a top 20 comprehensive university in China, ranked No. 1 among institutions of its category. One thing special about my program is its international character—all the courses were taught in English by British and American instructors and the textbooks we used were the same as those by the UK students. Naturally, I was most attracted by marketing-related courses and excelled in them all. It was true that doing case study was challenging, but it was most useful in enhancing my ability to perform cogent logical analysis. 

My understanding of marketing deepened as I delved deeper into my studies. From a simple definition of marketing, I proceeded onto a classification of different categories of marketing until case analyses taught me practical marketing skills. Marketing requires comprehensive knowledge across a diversity of fields and the challenging nature of the subject motivated me to study it well. A qualified marketing professional should be able to cope with the complicated problems of this rapidly changing business world. As the soul of an enterprise, successful marketing is what an enterprise depends on for its smooth and successful operations.

My understanding was further deepened by reading classic books on marketing. In reading Listening to the Voice of the Marketing by Axel Johne and 4R Marketing, I learned about latest theories in the academia. The classic case analyses in those books illustrate how to apply marketing skills flexibly and effectively. I also derived useful lessons from the cases of marketing failures. My study of marketing has also been strengthened by input from other fields. I attended workshops launched by public relations experts from xx, a leading advertising firm, and gained insights into how productive PR resources can contribute to successful marketing.

Marketing requires strong leadership and communication skills and I have developed them through my extensive extracurricular activities. I was the director of the External Liaison Department of the Student Union, organizing many important campus events such English Talents Show and Cultural Weeks. I acted as assistant to Student Union president and was the hostess of all the major occasions of our College. Through those activities, I honed my organizational capacities both as a leader and a team player. In particular, I improved my verbal expressiveness, improvisational and interpersonal skills, qualities indispensable to a marketing career.

One thing special about my undergraduate program is that, after completing two-year education in China, I have undertaken a joint program between my university and the UK’s University of xx. Over the past semester, I have achieved headway in three major aspects—becoming adapted to rigorous British education and training in accordance with British academic standards, integrating myself into a new culture, and making rapid progress in my English proficiency. Furthermore, my coursework in marketing, my part-time job at the local xx, as well as the graduation thesis entitled xx that I am to complete, have further reinforced my interest in seeking a postgraduate programme in marketing.

Yes, I am definitely interested in studying marketing at a postgraduate level and pursuing a future career in the field. For one thing, I have both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in marketing. For another thing, I have found that marketing is where my true talent lies and a successful career depends first and foremost on the adequacy of motivation. Only when one possesses aptitudes in a particular field will one’s motivation in that field become justified. In this respect, I find myself both goal-oriented and truly motivated in my proposed program in marketing.

As I will have one-year study experience in the UK by the coming summer, I am naturally interested in looking for a UK institution to continue with my study of marketing. My careful research of the UK institutions makes the xx Business School my top priority. While the University of xx has secured its place as one of the UK’s leading research universities, your Business School has a worldwide reputation as a center of excellence in business teaching and research, combining academic excellence with real business relevance. Through your program in Marketing and Strategy, I hope to understand the central problems facing global managers and leaders in business. Based on my observations of the marketing practices in the UK’s business industries, I will try to deepen my understanding of marketing through advanced coursework.

Apart from my xx marketing experience, your program will be another major challenge in my life. However, both of those two challenges are bound to make me proud of myself because I will be challenged to exercise my potential to the fullest possible extent. Just as I succeeded in facing the first challenge through perseverance and strategy, I will face the future challenge with an equally undaunted spirit. I hope that both of those challenges can lead to the same outcome—improved excellence in marketing both as a student and as a future professional.