Your personal statement is more than just a writing sample — it's your opportunity to tell your story and show why you're a great fit for your chosen program or field. Whether you're applying to graduate school, medical school, or a fellowship, your statement should highlight your passion, purpose, and potential.

Here are a few key tips to make your personal statement stand out:

1. Tell Your Story — But Keep It Focused

Admissions committees want to know who you are, not just what you've done. Share experiences that shaped your academic interests or career goals, but keep them relevant. Avoid repeating your resume — use this space to explain why those experiences matter and how they led you to your next step.

2. Show, Don't Just Tell

Instead of saying "I'm passionate about research," describe a specific moment that demonstrates it: the experiment that failed three times before it finally worked, or the late-night study session that sparked your curiosity. Concrete details bring your story to life and make your statement memorable.

3. Connect the Dots

A strong personal statement weaves together your past experiences, current skills, and future goals. Think of it as a roadmap — show how your academic journey has prepared you for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

4. Know Your Audience

Each program has its own values and expectations. Do your research — mention two to three specific faculty whose work inspires you, courses that align with your interests, or ways you hope to contribute to the program. Tailoring your statement shows genuine interest and effort.

5. Revise, Review, and Refine

A great personal statement rarely comes together in one draft. Write freely at first, then revisit your essay to tighten structure, clarify your message, and check for flow. Ask professors, mentors, or a Career Center Specialist to review it and offer feedback.

Ready to Get Started?

Writing about yourself can feel daunting — but you don't have to do it alone. Prep for Grad or Professional School with these resources on myUMBC or on our website, which are both full of templates, examples, and additional tips to craft a compelling personal statement that captures your unique voice and vision. We're here to support you every step of the way.

The 2025 Waves of Change (WOC) STEM conference, hosted by Career Communications Group, Inc., is taking place October 23- 25 at the Baltimore Convention Center with options to participate either in-person or online. The conference features a career fair (Saturday, October 25) where top national and local companies in the STEM fields are actively recruiting STEM interns and professionals in addition to career workshops, and leadership and professional development programs.

You will need to register to participate. Open to ALL students! 

·       The job fair is free! To participate in the online job fair only, go to: https://s4.goeshow.com/ccgroup/woc/2025/job_seekers_registration.cfm. Be sure to check the career readiness workshops that will be held throughout the career fair.

·       To participate in the full conference (in addition to the career fair) go to: https://s4.goeshow.com/ccgroup/woc/2025/student_registration.cfm and select whether you will participate "in-person" (Baltimore, MD) or "online".

There is also an opportunity to participate in the Undergraduate Research Showcase! Are you working on groundbreaking research? Showcase your work by participating in the Undergraduate Research Showcase.  Sign up here as soon as possible as applications are still being accepted.  (ignore any reference to an Oct. 1 deadline - that is being waived).

If you have any questions, please contact Diane Crump-Fogle (crump@umbc.edu) or Chrisi Giannakaris (chrisig@umbc.edu) from the UMBC Career Center.

Calling ALL TRANSFER STUDENTS majoring in INFORMATION SYSTEMS (IS) or BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION (BTA)! The PeerSIST Peer Mentoring Program is now recruiting mentees and mentors for this year's cohort.

Learn more and apply through the PeerSIST website, and don't forget to share with friends who might be interested and eligible!

We're excited to open applications for two new CWIT Student Council roles:

• Freshman Representative  – Be the voice of your cohort and help shape events, programs, and initiatives for first-year students.

• Transfer Representative  – Represent transfer students, share your experiences, and strengthen connections within the CWIT community.

These are great opportunities to gain leadership experience, advocate for your peers, and make an impact in CWIT.

Apply here:

• Freshman Rep Application

• Transfer Rep Application

Deadline: October 10th 2025

Name: Yash Bhatt 

Pronouns: He/Him

Semester of Internship: Summer 2025

Major: MS Engineering Management

Current Class Level: Master's Student

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): allBETS LLC

Location of the Organization (City, State): Washington D.C.

Title of position: Project Management & Market Research Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities: 

As a Project Management and Market Research Intern at allBETS, I worked across three mission-driven verticals including fintech (allBETS), healthcare (LarCare), and education (Pay Your Tuition Foundation) to lead product operations, AI research, and process optimization initiatives. My day-to-day included managing sprint tasks in Motion AI, building internal documentation and workflows in Notion AI, and supporting HIPAA, PCI and SOC2 readiness through Vanta compliance implementation. I also contributed to UI/UX and feature testing for the allBETS mobile application, helping coordinate the rollout of new features with the dev team. On the LarCare side, I helped streamline the website onboarding experience and backend workflow, improving operational clarity for internal staff and caregivers. Additionally, I led early planning for an AI-powered chatbot expected to support 1,000+ users across our platforms, while developing onboarding/offboarding SOPs and contributing to cross-functional strategy reports.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I took a proactive approach to my internship search and began applying early in the Fall 2024 semester. I discovered the opportunity on Handshake and submitted my application in November 2024. To strengthen my materials, I participated in two resume review sessions offered by Farhan Nadeem and Stephanie from the UMBC Career Center, which helped me tailor my application to the position type and industry expectations. I was invited for a first-round screening interview in late December, followed by a technical interview in January 2025. After a thorough evaluation process, I received my offer in the final week of January. Preparing early and leveraging the Career Center's resources were instrumental in helping me secure this opportunity.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, Career Fairs, Networking events (UMBC Connects, Info Sessions, Arts With a Purpose, etc.), Alumni Networking, Faculty Connections, Handshake, LinkedIn or other social media

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

I've most enjoyed the ability to work directly with leadership while owning initiatives that touched real users and critical operations. From feature testing for allBETS' app to streamlining LarCare's caregiver workflows, I felt trusted to lead and empowered to ask questions, solve problems, and innovate.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

My work helped drive HIPAA, PCI and SOC 2 readiness across multiple business units, while improving internal clarity through SOPs, dashboards, and project documentation. I helped test and support the release of new features for allBETS' mobile app, coordinated with dev leads to resolve bugs, and refined the onboarding experience for LarCare's caregiver portal. These contributions accelerated operations, enhanced user experience, and supported the broader mission of using technology for community impact.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Be proactive in building relationships, not just resumes. Many opportunities are born from conversations. Attend events, follow up with intention, and don't be afraid to pitch yourself. Start early!!! Don't wait for a perfect resume, start applying for internships from August for next summer. Seek advice and help from the career center. Get your resume peer reviewed. 

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

"I appreciated the trust and ownership I was given at allBETS, I got to lead high-impact work alongside leadership. The UMBC Career Center helped me refine my resume and pitch, giving me the confidence to step into the role ready to contribute."

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a vibrant harvest celebration and holiday observed across a number of Asian countries and communities worldwide. It traditionally falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar calendar, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest.

The official start of the celebrations for 2025 is Monday, October 6th. Some countries and cultures celebrate across multiple days. 

A Celebration of Harvest and Family

Predominately observed in countries like China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, the festival is a time for gratitude, reunion, and observing the bountiful autumn harvest.

While the central theme of gathering with family and loved ones is universal, each culture brings its own unique traditions, whether it's a specific emphasis on the full moon, honoring ancestors, or celebrating children.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is known by several beautiful names, reflecting the cultural diversity of its observance:

• China (Mandarin/Cantonese) | 中秋节 (Zhōngqiū Jié) / 中秋節 (Jūng-chāu Jit) (Mid-Autumn Harvest Festival, Mooncake Festival) 
• Vietnam |  Tết Trung Thu (Also known as the Children's Festival)
• Korea | 추석 (Chuseok) / 한가위 (Hangawi) (Often referred to as "Korean Thanksgiving")
• Japan | 月見 (Tsukimi) (Moon Viewing)
• Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan | Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival
• Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia | Lantern Festival (Note: This is distinct from the Lantern Festival that takes place in the first month of the Lunar calendar)

The 2025 Waves of Change (WOC) STEM conference, hosted by Career Communications Group, Inc., is taking place October 23- 25 at the Baltimore Convention Center with options to participate either in-person or online. There is also an Undergraduate Research Showcase on Saturday, October 25th. 

Are you working on groundbreaking research? Showcase your work by participating in the Undergraduate Research Showcase.  Sign up here as soon as possible as applications are still being accepted. Please see the attached flyer for additional details. 

Additional details regarding the 2025 Waves of Change (WOC) career fair and conference can be found at:  https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/careers/posts/153221.