Economics Model Personal Statement
This is a model personal statement of a successful Cambridge Economics applicant.
Economics has captivated me both in the classroom and beyond. In Economics A-level, I thoroughly enjoy examining structures and movements in societies, organisations and governments with a critical, logical and evaluative eye. My love for challenging problem solving has also been excellently complemented by Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics. A course at Brown University on Behavioural Game Theory, sparked a continued interest in the topic, reinforced by a talk I later attended in London by Guy Bowles. Researching Behavioural Economics further, 'Nudge' by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein highlighted the fragility of traditional assumptions such as "homo economicus". Fascinated by the conditional nature of models, I went on to read 'Economics Rules' by Dani Rodrik, which introduced an interesting argument made by Friedman, that unrealistic assumptions are necessary; economic models just need to make correct predictions.
Behavioural economists, on the other hand, believe that more realistic assumptions are necessary. My Extended Project on Nudge Theory in digital marketing prompted an additional exploration of behavioural economics in the digital world, and the potentially overriding power of data.
At school, I founded and now run Entrepreneurship Society. I initiated entrepreneurship, lead events and competitions, and find external resources to explore projects. I am especially interested in exploring social enterprise, as supported by Joe Stiglitz. I also co- run Economics Society at school, learning about and presenting issues in the news and elsewhere. Additionally, I am debating Captain, leading teams, competing, coaching and judging younger students -including by volunteering at a local 'Free School'. This has supported my ability to communicate and construct arguments effectively. Moreover, growing up with three cultures has taught me the importance of flexibility, adaptability and how to confidently introduce new points of view. I have also completed Trinity Guildhall Speech and Drama grades 3-8 all with distinction. I am especially proud of the above, considering my being diagnosed with selective mutism at a young age.
I always search for connections between my various interests. In Greek culture and History, I examined the evolution of history into myths; Ancient history as presented in Modern Greek poetry; and the depiction of women in Ancient Greek plays. In Speech and Drama at school, I focused on monologues from women in Ancient Greek tragedies, and this summer I was part of the HARP Archaeological excavation at the Skalia site (Cyprus). For work experience, I explored business in different forms. In a large hotel in Cyprus, I shadowed directors, managers and the sales team, noting cultural idiosyncrasies and extending on my Extended Project. Contrastingly, I experienced the workings of the lower levels of the organisation, as a waitress and hostess in the hotel's restaurant, and by selling to customers and ordering for the souvenir shop. On the other hand, I have done work experience at a small, entrepreneurial interior design office. I was also fortunate enough to spend an afternoon with James Dyson and be shown around his much larger and diversified company. I was interested to glimpse his motivating style as a leader, and his attitude provided some parallels to the lecture 'Authentic Leadership: how successful leaders build gravitas' at the LSE. Furthermore, I wanted to see how the charity and the business worlds can meet. By communicating with charities, government bodies and the hotel, I found, hired and now mentor an asylum seeker Somali woman in a hotel in Cyprus. I also tried to empower her by getting her involved in selling t-shirts of my own design at the hotel's shop in aid of the Red Cross. In the future, I hope to further explore management and leadership styles in business, socially-minded organisations, as well as behavioural economics in its many forms.
