{"id":4854,"date":"2026-02-25T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/?p=4854"},"modified":"2026-02-26T14:31:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T13:31:18","slug":"write-a-strong-personal-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/2026\/02\/25\/write-a-strong-personal-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Strong Personal Statement for a Master\u2019s at ESCP \u2013 and What to Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">Writing a personal statement can feel like the most<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>open-ended and intimidating part of your application. But it doesn\u2019t have to be. Whether you\u2019re applying to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/escp.eu\/programmes\/master-in-management\/\">Master in Management (MiM)<\/a>\u00a0or one of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/escp.eu\/programmes\/specialised-masters-MSc\/MSc-in-international-food-and-beverage-management\">ESCP\u2019s Specialised Masters (MSc)<\/a>,\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/2026\/01\/08\/best-practices-masters-application\/\">your personal statement should be concise<\/a>, personal and purposeful<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">We asked members of the ESCP admissions team what really matters. Their advice? Focus on where you&#8217;re going, not just where you&#8217;ve been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">\u201c<em>A good personal statement isn\u2019t your life story. It\u2019s a one-page narrative that\u00a0<strong>connects who you are to who you want to become<\/strong><\/em>,\u201d shares <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/francesca-cattoni-8a457610a\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Francesca Cattoni<\/a>, Senior Advisor Recruiting &amp; Admissions Manager at ESCP Business School in Turin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-montserrat-font-family has-medium-font-size has-custom-font wp-elements-d60fa2d20dd1280f363efd884184c0a9\" style=\"color:#fdc534;font-family:montserrat\"><strong>What is the personal statement for?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">Your CV tells us where you\u2019ve been. Your personal statement tells us why you\u2019re applying, what you want to achieve, and how ESCP fits in. It helps us understand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\">Your <a href=\"https:\/\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/2026\/01\/21\/international-experience\/\">academic or professional goals<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\">Your motivation for applying to this specific programme<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\">What makes you a good fit, beyond what\u2019s already in your CV<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">This is your chance to show your voice, your ambition, and your future direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-montserrat-font-family has-medium-font-size has-custom-font wp-elements-e80a76fd3fa431b000fa478dcfde35a9\" style=\"color:#fdc534;font-family:montserrat\"><strong>4 things your personal statement should include<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\"><strong>1. Your \u201cwhy<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">Why this programme? Why now? Why ESCP? Be honest and specific. Avoid generic phrases like \u201cto pursue my passion for business\u201d. Instead, share a meaningful reason that reflects your journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\"><strong>2. Your future goals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">Even if you don\u2019t have a fixed career path, show that you\u2019ve thought about your direction. Whether you\u2019re interested in finance, digital marketing, luxury, sustainability, F&amp;B, entrepreneurship, or something else, explain how the programme will support your next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\"><strong>3. Relevant experience or insight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">Pick one or two experiences\u2014academic, professional or personal\u2014that shaped your decision. Focus on&nbsp;<em>why<\/em>&nbsp;they mattered, not just&nbsp;<em>what<\/em>&nbsp;you did. Did a particular course, challenge or internship change your perspective?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\"><strong>4. Why ESCP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">Admissions teams want to see you\u2019ve done your homework. Mention a specific feature of the programme (e.g. courses, international tracks, practical focus) or the school\u2019s values that resonate with your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-montserrat-font-family has-medium-font-size has-custom-font wp-elements-7ffe5b49c4c146cca8012fe8c328b657\" style=\"color:#fdc534;font-family:montserrat\"><strong>3 common mistakes to avoid<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">Even strong candidates can fall into these traps. Keep your statement focused and original by avoiding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\"><strong>Rewriting your CV<\/strong><br>Don\u2019t list your internships or academic achievements again. Use this space to\u00a0<em>add context<\/em>\u00a0and show what drives you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\"><strong>Being too vague or clich\u00e9d<\/strong><br>Phrases like \u201csince I was a child\u201d or \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted\u2026\u201d don\u2019t convey genuine motivation. Instead, use concrete examples that shaped your interests.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\"><strong>Submitting a generic or AI-generated text<\/strong><br>Tools like ChatGPT can help draft ideas, but your statement must be personal and tailored to ESCP. If we can replace \u201cESCP\u201d with any other school name, it\u2019s not specific enough.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">Need help using AI wisely? Read:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/2025\/11\/26\/write-smarter-not-harder-using-ai\/\">Write smarter, not harder: using AI for your ESCP Master\u2019s application<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-montserrat-font-family has-medium-font-size has-custom-font wp-elements-e305d7607edca3c733e631fc216d4b2a\" style=\"color:#fdc534;font-family:montserrat\"><strong>How ESCP evaluates your personal statement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">Your personal statement is reviewed as part of a holistic admissions process. While academic records and test scores matter, the statement plays a key role in showing your fit, focus, and motivation\u2014especially if your profile is similar to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color has-montserrat-font-family has-medium-font-size has-custom-font wp-elements-9fdccdbfde250dd510a8ba46483c852c\" style=\"color:#fdc534;font-family:montserrat\"><strong>What ESCP looks for:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\"><strong>Clarity<\/strong>: Are your goals and motivations well-articulated?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\"><strong>Consistency<\/strong>: Does your statement align with the rest of your application (CV, interview, academic history)?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\"><strong>Relevance<\/strong>: Have you connected your background and ambitions to the strengths of the programme?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\"><strong>Authenticity<\/strong>: Does your voice come through, or does it sound overly polished or generic?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">Especially for applicants with limited work experience, a well-written statement can make the difference between a good application and a great one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">For more on how to strengthen your application:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/2026\/01\/08\/best-practices-masters-application\/\">Best Practices for a ESCP Master\u2019s Programme Application<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/2026\/01\/21\/international-experience\/\">International Experience: Your Secret Weapon for Masters\u2019s Admissions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\"><a href=\"https:\/\/escp.eu\/news\/escp-turin-campus-admissions-guide\">ESCP Turin Campus Admissions Guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\"><a href=\"https:\/\/escptorino.it\/Marketing\/MiM_AppSteps_ESCP_2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Discover all the application steps, download the PDF here<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-montserrat-font-family\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escptorino.it\/Admissions\/ESCP_LogiTest_ENG.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESCP Logic Test download the full PDF guide here<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\">A strong personal statement is focused, personal and forward-looking. It doesn\u2019t need to say everything\u2014just the right things. Use it to show us the leader, thinker, and changemaker behind the application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aurion.escp.eu\/faces\/Login.xhtml\">Start your application now!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-montserrat-font-family has-custom-font\" style=\"font-family:montserrat\"><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.escp.eu\/master-programmes-escp-business-school?utm_source=escpwebsite&amp;utm_medium=escpbanner&amp;utm_campaign=escp-specialised-masters&amp;_gl=1*1w96qjt*_gcl_au*NDEzODMzODYxLjE3NjIzNDI4MDU.*FPAU*NDEzODMzODYxLjE3NjIzNDI4MDU.&amp;_ga=2.97639903.1997248266.1769440690-604046478.1762340721\">Which Master is right for you?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Writing a personal statement can feel like the most\u00a0open-ended and intimidating part of your application. But it doesn\u2019t have to be. Whether you\u2019re applying to the\u00a0Master in Management (MiM)\u00a0or one of\u00a0ESCP\u2019s Specialised Masters (MSc),\u00a0your personal statement should be concise, personal and purposeful. We asked members of the ESCP admissions team what really matters. Their advice? [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":151943372,"featured_media":4901,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6325,6683,6329],"tags":[6346,6416,6364,6465,6352],"class_list":["post-4854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-non-classe","category-career-development","category-student-life","tag-escp","tag-masters","tag-masters-in-management","tag-professional-network","tag-turin"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ChatGPT-Image-18-fevr.-2026-11_53_27-e1772112575348.png?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ChatGPT-Image-18-fevr.-2026-11_53_27-e1772112575348.png?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1",1536,1024,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ChatGPT-Image-18-fevr.-2026-11_53_27-e1772112575348.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ChatGPT-Image-18-fevr.-2026-11_53_27-e1772112575348.png?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ChatGPT-Image-18-fevr.-2026-11_53_27-e1772112575348.png?fit=768%2C512&ssl=1",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ChatGPT-Image-18-fevr.-2026-11_53_27-e1772112575348.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ChatGPT-Image-18-fevr.-2026-11_53_27-e1772112575348.png?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ChatGPT-Image-18-fevr.-2026-11_53_27-e1772112575348.png?fit=1536%2C1024&ssl=1",1536,1024,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"cgoig","author_link":"https:\/\/escp.eu\/blog-masters\/author\/cgoig\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Writing a personal statement can feel like the most\u00a0open-ended and intimidating part of your application. But it doesn\u2019t have to be. Whether you\u2019re applying to the\u00a0Master in Management (MiM)\u00a0or one of\u00a0ESCP\u2019s Specialised Masters (MSc),\u00a0your personal statement should be concise, personal and purposeful. We asked members of the ESCP admissions team what really matters. 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