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UCL University Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to University College London. You can click on one of the links below to view the entire statement and find out if the applicant was offered a place.

You can also view our entire collection of personal statements or view personal statements for application at other universities .

Linguistics Personal Statement Example 1 My most memorable Christmas came with a parcel of Harry Potter audio books and this was where my quest to understanding language began. The moment Stephen Fry started to narrate chapter one, I fell in love with words and all they could achieve...

History Personal Statement Example 3 Recently, I found out that my grandma was gambled into slavery for seven years. She escaped her prison and made her way back to Hong Kong, 300 miles south. I was amazed at how courageous she was. This personal discovery led me to read Jung Chang's 'Wild Swans' which made me both proud and ashamed of my heritage...

Mathematics and Economics Personal Statement Example 1 As Pythagoras may have said, (Ambitious)2 + (Bold)2 = (Critical thinker)2 makes a perfect student and is what I strive to be. From the simple Pythagorean to the complex Fermat's Last Theorem, mathematics is a never ending branch of study which I enthusiastically enjoy studying and why I wish to pursue it even further at university...

Mathematics and Physics Personal Statement Example 1 Mathematics is a fundamental tool for understanding our world: it can be used to define the symmetry of flowers or to manage global companies. What is so appealing about mathematics is the opportunity of applying it in the physical world...

Maths and Spanish Personal Statement Example For as long as I have recognised words and numbers, I have seen a connection between the two. As I progressed in the AS Mathematics course I realised how drawn I was to the subject, motivating me to spend 2 weeks at school over the summer holidays learning 2 entire AS Further Maths modules, in order to take the full A-level course in one year...

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Personal Statement Example 1 I have always had a creative ability and a fascination with how things work. The challenge of solving practical problems inherent in the field of engineering appeals directly to these traits. I am particularly interested in electrical and electronic engineering (EEE) because it is such a rapidly evolving discipline...

Economics and Politics Personal Statement Example 1 "I killed the bank": the last words of Andrew Jackson, former president of the US, after he had vetoed to renew the charter and withdraw all federal deposits from banks causing them to bust. Real money was backed with gold shortly after, causing the greatest economic boom in history for the US where no income tax was implemented...

Spanish and Economics Personal Statement Example My aspiration to study Spanish and Economics has not only been influenced by my curricular education but also from experiences I have had throughout life. I am intrigued in the effects caused by the failing Euro zone, and I consider communication among speakers of different languages essential in progressing forward...

Economics Personal Statement Example 5 Choosing an undergraduate degree in economics is a result of my deep seated curiosity to know why economies are they way they are; why oil prices in my country, Pakistan, rapidly fluctuate whereas economies like USA and China continue to strengthen despite recessions...

Anthropology Personal Statement Example 2 My fascination with human behaviour and the motivations behind human actions has existed for most of my adult life, to determine a cause however I would accredit this to the voluntary work I participated in with Crisis Single Persons Homeless charity...

Geography Personal Statement Example 2 In a dynamic world, the study of geography is increasingly important. The diversity of the subject and the interaction between the physical environment and human population is becoming even more evident with climate change and globalisation influencing our everyday lives...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 11 “If she’s smart she will study Medicine.” This is an unwritten rule in my culture - all Nigerian parents want their children to become doctors. What becomes of the aspiring psychologist in the family? I met a junior doctor, at an educational conference, who wanted to specialise in psychiatry...

Architecture Personal Statement Example 3 Growing up in post-soviet Belarus I wasn't surrounded by the architectural wonders - all the buildings were dull and grey, therefore from early childhood I started drawing and making houses of my dreams...

Mathematics and Economics Personal Statement Example 2 Every day we make decisions and interact with others; the laws of economics help us make rational choices and consider the irrationality of others, as well as understand the world better. Maths and statistics are the necessary tools for me to understand the modern economics...

Anthropology and Archaeology Personal Statement Example My interest in culture first started when I began to attend my local Hindu Temple with my friend in primary school. I was highly interested in how her surroundings differed from my own and enjoyed immersing myself in her way of life...

English and History Personal Statement Example 1 I believe history inspires optimism. With the state being cut and our economy weakening we could easily fall to pessimism. I just have to look within history to see that just over 400 years ago Queen Mary I killed 'rebels' for heresy when they protested, whereas Modern freedoms have allowed me to protest openly in several Unite marches...

English Personal Statement Example 23 My love of literature is rooted in the connection it gives us to centuries of ideas, giving us the ability to converse with ghosts, linking us with the greatest and most eloquent minds in history; as Bovee puts it, “books are embalmed minds”...

Pharmacology and Human Sciences Personal Statement Example From the race to find a vaccine for the H1N1 virus to the almost daily reports of breakthroughs in the field of cancer research, science has always fascinated me.On a more personal note, my interest has largely stemmed from school, work experiences, and science in the news...

Biomedical Engineering Personal Statement Example 2 Thanks to my mother's profession, I have had a front row seat in observing the radical changes made in the medical field with the introduction of new devices. I have also seen the beneficial effects these developments have had on the lives of people living in the less affluent countries in the Middle East; these observations coupled with my interest in mechanics have inspired me to pursue a career in biomedical engineering...

Computer Science Personal Statement Example 45 Advances in computer and information technology over the past few decades have brought about revolution in science, medicine, education, business, and entertainment. I wish to be part of the future revolution and that is why I want to study computer science...

Maths & Actuarial Science Personal Statement Example 1 "It has become a very strange and perhaps frightening subject from the ordinary point of view,but anyone who penetrates into it will find a veritable fairyland"( Kasner E and Newman J).This saying is perhaps the most fitted to describe my enthusiasm for Maths...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 48 Since embarking on the A level course 16 months ago I have decided to devote my life to working in psychology. I am struck by the way Psychological research has impacted all areas of life, but also how much there is yet to understand...

Economics Personal Statement Example 23 It would not be foolish to contemplate the possibility of a far greater progress still. John Maynard Keynes From childhood I was bred to learn and the passion to understand has become a trait of my character...

Anthropology Personal Statement Example 5 I realised that I wanted to study Anthropology in 2005 after picking up a book called ''Mapping Human History'' by Steve Olson. I read the book cover to cover a number of times, and knew that I had discovered a subject that I was not only interested in learning but wanted to investigate for myself...

Postgraduate Linguistics Personal Statement Example My interest in linguistics was gradually shaped throughout my life by all the different ways in which I have experienced languages: as a learner, translator, and as a teacher. However, it was the times spent living in Russia and later in the UK that made me fully understand that language can be a means of conveying much more than just our thoughts...

European Social & Political Studies Personal Statement Example In my opinion, the problems societies face today deserve an in-depth analysis which draws on different disciplines of thought for its relevance; furthermore the implementations of strategies to combat problems must take into account more than one academic approach if they are going to be positively effective...

Human Sciences Personal Statement Example Perhaps what makes me different from other University applicants is that I have ambition to understand multidimensional human life. It is not the appeal of a top qualification or the zesty student lifestyle that attracts me to this course; but it is the long-term knowledge and answers to interdisciplinary human problems, and the enigmas that I will commit a lifetime investigating with perhaps no solution, that inspires me to apply...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 51 There is a reason behind everything we do, a purpose to our actions. The cognition behind any decision that we make is one of the many aspects of psychology that I am fascinated by. The following five words, as said by the Prophet Muhammad, I believe explain such a suggestion: "Actions are but by intentions"...

Archaeology and Anthropology Personal Statement Example 2 As an immigrant living in Spain, I am constantly reminded of the importance social and cultural factors have on my daily life, the language I speak, and the difference between the relationships I maintain with people from my own country and those I encounter here on a daily basis...

Mathematics Personal Statement Example 12 Mathematics is at the root of many academic subjects, such as mechanics in Physics, organic Chemistry and even Music and this is why I find it so fascinating. The process of starting from a simple set of formulae and deriving nearly all mathematical truth from these is what makes Mathematics a leading academic subject...

Creative Writing Personal Statement Example 2 To me, fiction is like the magic carpet of Aladdin. It takes me to travel through time and space and explore the slices of human experience. In the wonderful trips, I am guided by the author and accompanied by the characters...

Economics and Management Personal Statement Example 2 My interest in Economics goes beyond an appreciation of statistics and profit margins. In my mind, economics represents the relationship between people and their money – a relationship that dates back to the history of mankind...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 61 While the idea to care for others is appealing to me, the applications of medicine for finding remedies to the complexities of the human body fascinates me even more. Studying medicine opens several career options from general practice to clinical research! Having the interest and aptitude for scientific knowledge and the awareness to promote health safety, it encourages me to choose this highly rewarding and satisfying course...

Chemical Engineering Personal Statement Example 10 Chemical engineering is a most fascinating field of all the branches of science and engineering. To me it truly reflects human endeavour and spirit through means such as the exploration of unknown substances, and making something of worth and value out of mere raw materials...

Maths Personal Statement Example 12 Mathematics dictates our understanding of the universe; the sciences that the world depends on today are founded and dependant on maths. Scientists and mathematicians spend their lives making remarkable discoveries contributing to the development of humanity, the findings we have been making in fields like quantum mechanics would be completely impossible without maths...

Medicine Personal Statement Example 66 White coats, stethoscopes hung around necks and the sense of playing hero were popular amongst childhood dreams. However, unlike others around me, this dream was not lost when I realised reality paved a much tougher road- instead, it grew to become a fierce ambition...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 64 Psychology is ubiquitous in society. Because of the mercurial nature of humans, there is always something different to study and analyse. I find this exciting. Part of what draws me to psychology is how the dynamics of it affect daily life and behaviour...

Economics Personal Statement Example 30 The ever-changing nature of the human science intrigues me. Newton’s laws of motion will never change, from wherever ‘the ball is dropped’. However, different strategies and policies have to be framed and implemented for each economic problem...

Psychology Personal Statement Example 67 I first became interested in psychology whilst discussing the underlying causes of criminal behaviour and non-conformity with my father. The nature-nurture debate gave me a huge desire to increase my knowledge and understanding of the human condition...

Physics Personal Statement Example 15 I have always been intrigued by the world of physics. From everyday experiences to the most extreme boundaries of today's knowledge, I have always voraciously searched for answers to my questions. As I grew up, the elegance of mathematical demonstrations and of physical theorems fascinated me, and I have often dreamt of making contributions to the unification theory and of improving and simplifying the Navier-Stokes equations...

Natural Sciences Personal Statement Example 4 Why and How? I believe these are the two most important question words as they express mankind’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and they have lain the foundation of sciences and have helped us find answers and solutions to problems throughout history from the domestication of fire to Darwin’s theory of evolution, to landing on the moon and so on...

Electrical Engineering Personal Statement Example 2 The defining wonder of today’s age is electricity. In just two centuries, we have come from Faraday’s crude but prophetic experiments to devices just a square inch that can calculate in seconds what the most gifted of human minds might take days...

Biological Sciences Personal Statement Example 3 When I was in primary school I would take pens apart to put them back together, so that I could see how every small piece fits together to create a whole working object, and as I furthered my education my focus shifted to the w orld around me...

Linguistics Personal Statement Example 3 Have you ever heard the Tuvan throat singing technique? Beautiful and intriguing at the same time. The question that's bound to accompany a throat singing performance is how the human voice could possibly produce such a sound...

Anthropology Personal Statement Example 7 Coming from a mixed religious background, the comparison between cultural practices has touched me deeply, personally and profoundly. I have been able to observe the influence of culture on people's perspectives and world views...

Civil Engineering Personal Statement Example 17 My decision to study engineering stems from a desire to contribute to the evolution of society through a process that does not just define our environment but our era. My personal inspiration is the Segovia aqueduct, an 800m long, 30 metre high Roman marvel which still stands today...

PPE/Economics Personal Statement Example Humanity today stands at the intersection of the most significant questions facing the world today: if democracy leads to political infighting, should it be sacrificed in the interest of economic well-being? Does religious fundamentalism provide a way for countries in the developing world to assert their identity in the face of Western hegemony? Does the entry of Western consumer goods threaten a country’s economic self-sufficiency? The answers of these questions will determine what the nature of our world is in the twenty-first century...

History Personal Statement Example (Oxbridge) 2 Whether considering the real world applications of Bentham's utilitarianism in Religious Studies, analysing the context of a changing Victorian society in English Literature, or debating the evolving ideology of the Labour Party in Politics, there is one common thread connecting what I enjoy most about my studies: history...

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28 November 2023

6 minutes read

Crafting an Outstanding UCL Personal Statement: A Comprehensive Guide with Examples

Gaining admission to University College London (UCL) is a dream for many, but achieving this goal requires more than just academic excellence.

Your UCL personal statement plays a pivotal role in your application, serving as a unique opportunity to showcase your aspirations, achievements, and individuality.

This article provides essential insights and examples to assist you in creating a personal statement that captures the essence of your academic and personal journey, tailored to resonate with UCL’s admissions committee.

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• The Role of a Personal Statement in Your UCL Application

Understanding the Significance

Your personal statement is a critical element of your UCAS application to UCL. It’s your chance to convey your enthusiasm, experiences, and suitability for your chosen course.

This narrative helps the admissions team to understand who you are beyond your grades and test scores. It’s about making a compelling case for why you are an ideal candidate for UCL and how the university fits into your academic and career aspirations.

What UCL Looks For

UCL, being a prestigious and competitive institution, seeks candidates who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, a commitment to their field of study, and the potential to contribute meaningfully to the university community.

Your personal statement should reflect these qualities, showcasing your passion for learning, your understanding of the course content, and your readiness for the challenges of university life.

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• Crafting a Winning Personal Statement for UCL

Creating a personal statement for University College London (UCL) is a crucial step in your application process. Your statement should stand out, reflecting your unique qualifications and enthusiasm for your chosen course. Here are key points to help you craft a winning personal statement for UCL:

• Understand UCL’s Values and Course Requirements : Before you begin, research UCL’s ethos, values, and specific requirements for your chosen course. Understanding what UCL looks for in its students can help tailor your statement to resonate with the admissions committee.
• Start with a Compelling Introduction : Your opening lines should grab the reader’s attention. Start with a personal anecdote, a provocative question, or a statement that clearly expresses your passion for the subject.
• Showcase Your Academic Strengths : Highlight your academic achievements that are relevant to the course. Include any awards, high grades in related subjects, or participation in relevant academic competitions or projects.
• Demonstrate Interest and Knowledge in the Subject : Show that you have a deep understanding of and a genuine interest in the field. Discuss any books, articles, or research that have inspired you and shaped your desire to study this subject at UCL.
• Reflect on Relevant Experiences : Include work experience, internships, volunteering, or extracurricular activities that have helped develop skills and qualities relevant to the course. Explain what you learned from these experiences and how they have prepared you for university-level study.
• Discuss Your Career Aspirations : Clearly articulate how the course at UCL fits into your long-term career goals. This shows admissions tutors that you have a clear direction and motivation for your studies.
• Exhibit Your Skills and Qualities : Highlight personal skills and qualities that make you a suitable candidate for the course. These might include problem-solving, critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, or communication skills.
• Explain Why UCL Is the Right Choice for You : Discuss specific aspects of UCL and its course offerings that appeal to you. This could be particular modules, the teaching methodology, research opportunities, or the campus environment.
• Make It Personal and Authentic : Your statement should be personal and reflect your true self. Avoid clichés and generic statements. Admissions tutors want to hear your voice and understand who you are.
• Conclude with a Strong Closing Statement : End your personal statement on a high note, reemphasizing your enthusiasm and readiness for the course and how you look forward to contributing to the UCL community.
• Proofread and Edit : Ensure your statement is free of grammatical errors and typos. A well-written, error-free statement demonstrates your attention to detail and commitment to excellence.
• Seek Feedback : Before finalizing, get feedback from teachers, mentors, or those who know you well. They can provide valuable insights and help you refine your statement.

By following these points, you can craft a personal statement that not only meets the standards of UCL but also truly represents your academic ambitions and personal journey, significantly boosting your chances of admission.

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• Personal Statement Examples for Different UCL Courses

Example of UCL Medicine Program

Medicine applicants need to demonstrate a passion for the field, empathy, and a strong academic background in sciences. An effective personal statement for a UCL medicine course might begin with a personal anecdote or experience that sparked your interest in medicine.

Follow this with details of your academic journey in sciences, any relevant work experience, and extracurricular activities. Conclude by discussing your career aspirations in medicine and how UCL’s program aligns with these goals.

Example for UCL Economics Program

For an economics course, your statement should reflect your understanding of economic principles and your ability to think critically about economic issues. Start by explaining why you are interested in economics, possibly by citing a current issue or personal experience.

Include your academic achievements in mathematics and related subjects, and any relevant extracurricular activities, like participating in economics clubs or competitions. Finally, express how UCL’s economics program will help you achieve your career objectives.

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Key Dos and Don’ts in Writing Your Personal Statement

• Final Steps Before Submission

Review and Feedback

Before submitting your personal statement, it’s crucial to review it thoroughly. Seek feedback from teachers, mentors, or peers who can provide constructive criticism. Their insights can help refine your statement, ensuring it’s compelling and error-free.

Aligning Your Statement with UCL’s Values

Research UCL’s values and ethos, and subtly align your statement with these. Show how you embody qualities valued by UCL, such as intellectual curiosity, global perspective, and a commitment to impact society positively. This alignment demonstrates that you are not only a good fit academically but also culturally for UCL.

Your UCL personal statement is a vital part of your application. It’s an opportunity to showcase your unique qualifications, experiences, and aspirations.

By following the guidelines and examples provided in this guide, you can create a statement that captures your individuality and suitability for UCL.

Remember, this is your chance to make a lasting impression on the admissions committee, so take the time to craft a personal statement that truly reflects who you are and why you are the perfect candidate for UCL.

Q1: How important is it to relate my personal statement to my future career goals?

It’s very important. Relating your course of study to your future career goals shows foresight and a clear understanding of how UCL will help you achieve your aspirations.

Q2: Can I include quotes in my personal statement?

While a well-chosen quote can be impactful, it’s generally better to use your own words to ensure your personal statement is truly personal and unique.

Q3: How can I ensure that my personal statement stands out?

To make your personal statement stand out, focus on unique experiences, present your content in a structured and coherent manner, and infuse your personal voice and enthusiasm throughout the text.

Q4: Is it okay to share personal challenges in my statement?

Yes, sharing personal challenges can be powerful, especially if you can demonstrate how they have shaped your character and academic journey. However, ensure that the overall tone remains positive and forward-looking.

• Key Dos and Don'ts in Writing Your Personal Statement

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Table of Contents

• • The Role of a Personal Statement in Your UCL Application
• • Crafting a Winning Personal Statement for UCL
• • Personal Statement Examples for Different UCL Courses
• • Key Dos and Don'ts in Writing Your Personal Statement
• • Final Steps Before Submission
• • Conclusion

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• Published: Apr. 30, 2024, 11:31 a.m.

Bayern Munich's Harry Kane, 3rd from right, celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Borussia Moenchengladbach, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. (Angelika Warmuth/dpa via AP) AP

• Thomas Lagrone | [email protected]

The UEFA Champions League action continues this afternoon, as Bayern Munich plays against Real Madrid at 2 p.m. CT on CBS. Fans can livestream the game online for free by using free trials offered by Fubo TV or DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling is offering a 50% first month discount for new subscribers. These livestreaming options will also allow sports fans to watch NBA and NHL playoff games tonight.

The UEFA Champions League semifinals are finally set to begin, as it has been two weeks since the conclusion of the quarterfinal matchups. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are two powerhouse teams in the tournament, and only one of these teams will be able to advance to the Champions League Final.

Bayern Munich is coming off a highly defensive battle against Arsenal in the quarterfinal. Bayern Munich won 3-2 on aggregate, thanks to a 1-0 victory in the second leg of the quarterfinal. Joshua Kimmich was Bayern Munich’s hero a couple of weeks ago because he scored the game winning goal against Arsenal in the 63rd minute. Despite Kimmich’s heroics, Harry Kane has been the key to Bayern Munich’s success at the tournament. Kane has scored the second-most goals of all players in the tournament. Kane’s seven goals in the UEFA Champions League places him just behind Kylian Mbappé on the tournament’s leading scorers list.

Real Madrid had an intense matchup against Manchester City in their quarterfinal matchup, as the two legs ended 4-4 on aggregate. So, the two teams had to decide a winner through penalty kicks. Real Madrid ended up winning 4-3 through penalty kicks to get past Manchester City and advance to the semifinals. Real Madrid have scored the third-most goals in the tournament, and they have already defeated the leader in that category, Manchester City.

Since Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have both been battle tested a couple of weeks ago, their semifinal match should be intriguing to watch this afternoon. Fans can livestream the first leg of this intense semifinal for free online by using the free trials offered by Fubo TV or DirecTV Stream. Another option for fans is to purchase a Sling subscription and receive a 50% discount during their first month of service.

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Campus protests live updates: Columbia goes remote for rest of semester; UCLA cancels classes

What to know about campus protests:.

• There were violent clashes between the pro-Palestinian encampment and counterprotesters at UCLA overnight. The university canceled all classes today, and officials have called for an investigation into what happened.
• Police said 173 people were arrested at City College of New York and 109 at Columbia University last night — for a total of 282 arrests — after special police units breached the occupied Hamilton Hall at Columbia.
• Columbia said that it was left with no choice but to call in the NYPD and that it has asked police to maintain a presence on campus until May 17, two days after commencement. All academic activities, including finals, for schools on the Morningside Heights campus will be fully remote for the rest of the semester, the school said this afternoon.
• New York Mayor Eric Adams said in a briefing this morning that while some students were involved in the occupation of Hamilton Hall, they were "led by individuals not affiliated with the university."

USC closes gates, says protesters are outside

Phil Helsel

The University of Southern California has temporarily closed its entrances, and it said tonight that “demonstrators unaffiliated with USC” were protesting at an adjacent intersection.

The university said at around 7:30 p.m. local time that entrances to the University Park campus would be temporarily closed and warned protesters might come by there later.

“The campus is open to students, staff, faculty and registered guests,” USC said.

USC canceled its main commencement ceremony, scheduled for May 10, over protests on the campus, the war in Gaza and its decision to cancel a Muslim valedictorian 's speech over security concerns.

Five more protesters arraigned in New York

Natalie Kainz

Five more protesters have been arraigned in court tonight, all of whom were arrested in Columbia's Hamilton Hall last night.

At least four were charged with misdemeanor trespassing. The judge did not say whether any were students.

Officials broke up University of Wisconsin-Madison encampment with ‘violence,’ student journalist says

University of Wisconsin-Madison student Annika Bereny, a reporter for the student publication The Daily Cardinal, detailed “violence from law enforcement” officials who were responding to a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus.

Messages supporting Gaza, criticizing Columbia projected onto Hamilton Hall

Messages echoing many of the demands of pro-Palestinian protesters were projected onto Hamilton Hall tonight.

The projector, located in the street just off campus, displayed phrases such as "strike for Gaza," "divest now" and "students say free Palestine." Other phrases took aim at the university with messages such as "Columbia funds genocide."

Protesters who gathered on the street chanted as officers looked on.

Police went into Hamilton Hall last night and cleared it of protesters who had taken it over.

UCLA authorizes remote teaching after violence at protest

UCLA today said campus would continue to be limited through Friday after violence broke out between groups at a protest on campus last night.

The university canceled classes today and said Royce Hall would remain closed through Friday, and it instructed students to watch for notifications.

“Please continue to avoid campus and the Royce Quad area. Per Academic Senate guidance on instruction, all in-person classes are authorized and required to pivot to remote tomorrow and Friday,” UCLA said in a notice .

The notice came as law enforcement had ordered a crowd on the campus to disperse and as police vehicles were seen in the area at what appeared to be a nearby staging area. No arrests have been seen.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the violence detestable. She said people launched fireworks and sprayed chemical irritants at other people, as well as assaulted them.

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California said a group of people with bear spray and weapons descended on the pro-Palestinian protesters and attacked them.

Trump tries to paint campus protests as a Biden political liability

Peter Nicholas

Monica Alba

Carol E. Lee Carol E. Lee is the Washington managing editor.

WASHINGTON  —  Joe Biden’s advisers believe that tensions over U.S. support for Israel in the war in Gaza that are spreading through college campuses will soon flame out and that there is neither a need nor an upside for Biden to weigh in more directly.

For now, Biden is taking a hands-off posture toward the unrest and has no plans to step up his involvement in escalating clashes between police and protesters, White House and campaign advisers said, even as Donald Trump looks to capitalize on the issue.

Biden’s view is that it’s up to university leaders to decide how to cope with campus demonstrations that are emerging as the latest flashpoint in the presidential race, advisers said. In keeping with that approach, he didn’t intervene or publicly object as police swept onto the  Columbia University campus  last night and arrested about 230 protesters, including about 40 who had seized a building and erected an encampment calling attention to their demand for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Read the full story here.

First court appearances for protesters arrested last night

The first two protesters arrested at New York City college campuses yesterday appeared in Manhattan night court about 24 hours after their apprehension.

Two men were accused of assault on a police officer at City College of New York, and one of the two was also accused of resisting arrest.

Police issue dispersal order at UCLA

NBC News crews heard law enforcement officials at UCLA issue a dispersal order.

NBC Los Angeles helicopter video showed a large crowd of people on the campus.

Classes at UCLA were canceled today after violent clashes between protesters against the war in Gaza and counterprotesters, which the university’s president and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned.

The LAPD said on social media that it responded to UCLA after the violent clashes last night but did not make arrests and that it and other police agencies separated the groups.

“The Los Angeles Police Department, along with other local law-enforcement agencies, will remain in the area to ensure public safety until the situation is resolved,” police said on X around two hours ago.

Columbia journalism dean: ‘There was a real concern’ about what could happen on campus

Even though Columbia’s campus was closed to nonstudents amid turmoil during protests, the far-right founder of the Proud Boys made it onto campus and another group tried to scale the fence and get in, the school’s journalism dean said.

New York Mayor Eric Adams has said outside "agitators" co-opted the protest at Columbia and used what should have been a peaceful demonstration for their own agendas.

Columbia Journalism School Dean Jelani Cobb said on MSNBC that he never heard anyone talk about people being radicalized on any side of the issue in discussions on campus, but he said: "I will say this, though: Toward the point about kind of quote-unquote outside people — here’s why it was significant."

“Gavin McInnes got onto the campus. He got onto the campus when the campus was locked down,” he said. “And, you know, there was the Proud Boy event where they were rallying outside the gates of campus.

“There was a logic that held that if he could get onto the campus as visible and known as he is — then who else has gotten onto the campus?”

In another event outside the Ivy League campus, the Israeli flag a counterprotester was carrying was snatched from his hands and set on fire, and people tried to scale the fence, Cobb said.

“There was a real concern that, like, who are those people? And people capable of behaving like that on the outside, how might they behave if they were on the inside?” he said.

The university asked the NYPD yesterday to clear protesters from the campus and Hamilton Hall, which had been occupied. Police arrested more than 100 people, they said.

“There was a real concern that if someone got hurt, the criticism would have been the opposite — like, why did the university wait so long to do something?” Cobb said on MSNBC.

“And so, I think those are the kinds of calculations that people had to make at the time," he said.

City College says flares and chains found

Administrators say the protesters who broke into a building at City College of New York last night “smashed glass doors, graffitied walls, covered cameras with paint and ransacked the public property.”

Police arrested 173 people at the Manhattan campus after pro-Palestinian demonstrators took over the school’s Administration Building.

“During preliminary cleanup, public safety officers uncovered chains, flares, a bolt cutter and box cutters in three bags left by the protesters in the building,” City University of New York leadership said in a statement . CCNY is part of the CUNY system.

“We have not yet determined the cost of repairs,” the officials said.

The arrests at City College happened the same night the NYPD cleared protesters from Columbia University and made more than 100 arrests there.

Fordham University wants police presence until after graduation

Rudy Chinchilla

Fordham University today asked New York police to maintain a presence on campus until after graduation following this morning's clearing of an encampment on school grounds.

The university made the request in a letter addressed to Michael Gerber, the deputy police commissioner of legal matters, saying a continued police presence is needed through at least May 22 — four days after the scheduled commencement — “to maintain order and ensure encampments are not reestablished.”

The letter requested that the NYPD clear an encampment at the school’s Lowenstein Building on its Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan. Kaz Daughtry, the NYPD’s deputy commissioner of operations, said on X that the protesters were removed “without incident” after the school asked police for help to “disperse an unlawful encampment of individuals inside one of their buildings.”

In a statement addressed to the school community , Fordham President Tania Tetlow said that before today, campus protests about the war in Gaza and Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel had been peaceful.

“Today was different. We draw the line at intrusions into a classroom building, especially by people who are not members of our community. (There is a difference between free speech and people barging into your home to shout.),” she wrote.

Daughtry’s X post included a video showing officers removing tents from inside a building as protesters locked arms. A police announcement could be heard, telling protesters that the university had warned them to leave the campus and that if they refused, they would be subject to arrest.

Tetlow said police detained 15 people for misdemeanor trespassing, some of whom are believed to be Fordham students. She said that “hundreds of protesters came from elsewhere” to the Lowenstein Building and that school officials worried they would “rush further into campus."

“We remain eager to engage with our student activists and to have open-hearted conversations. We have found them to be thoughtful and focused on persuasion,” Tetlow said. “But we can only have those conversations when we have secured our campus and made our community feel safe.”

The university earlier told student protesters that they would receive interim suspensions because of “serious violations” of the school’s policies.

17 protesters arrested at UT Dallas

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Texas at Dallas were arrested today after they set up an encampment on the main walkway on campus, the university said.

Arrests were made after the demonstrators refused to leave, a university spokesperson said. As of 5 p.m. CT, 17 people had been arrested on suspicion of criminal trespass, the spokesperson said.

"Individuals may peacefully assemble in the common outdoor areas of campus to exercise their right to free speech, but they may not construct an encampment or block pathways," Kim Horner, the university's communications manager, said in an email.

A university alumnus who graduated 40 years ago told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth he went to the demonstration to see what it was about after having seen it and others on college campuses across the country on the news.

The university told people at an encampment that they cannot block the area and that they had to leave, he told the station as protesters chanted slogans.

“The police came and, you know, stopped at the beginning, gave people a chance to leave,” the man said on air. “And when they didn’t, they came in and began to arrest people.”

‘We are not finished,’ student protester says after Columbia action

A Columbia University student and Gaza war protester condemned what he called a militarized police response to demonstrators on the Manhattan campus, and he and others vowed they would not stop.

“Columbia’s attempt to oppress the movement only strengthens our resolve,” said Cameron Jones, a second-year student at Columbia and an organizer at Jewish Voice for Peace. “We are not finished.”

The NYPD cleared protesters at Columbia, where a building had been occupied, and it also responded to City College of New York, part of the City University of New York system. Police reported 282 arrests in all.

Fatima Mohammed, a CUNY Law alumna and organizer from the group Within Our Lifetime, said they “are protesting to end this genocide,” adding, “We are protesting to call for a dismantling of Zionism, which includes complete divestment.”

Another encampment established at University of Wisconsin-Madison

After police this morning cleared an encampment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, another one was established during the day, the school said.

The new tents are located on Liberty Mall, where conditions “remain generally calm, despite the presence of the illegal encampment,” the school said in a 5 p.m. update. Campus operations are normal and events are proceeding as scheduled, but school police officers will “observe the encampment in the interest of public safety.”

The school said 34 protesters were “briefly detained” during this morning’s encampment clearing, and four were booked into the Dane County Jail for acts including battery to police officers.

Columbia says all students at encampments have been suspended

All Columbia University students who remained at a large encampment and two other smaller ones on campus past a Monday deadline have been suspended, a university spokesperson said today.

“At this time, all participants in the encampments are suspended, unauthorized to be on university property, and if found are trespassing,” said Ben Chang, vice president for communications.

“The disciplinary process continues,” he said.

The number of students expelled or who face expulsion for being involved in the seizure and occupation of Hamilton Hall remains unclear, and Chang did not have those numbers this afternoon.

The university has said any students who occupied that building face expulsion.

The NYPD was asked to intervene and clear protesters from the encampments and Hamilton Hall last night, and did so, making over 100 arrests, officials said.

“These were not peaceful protesters,” Chang said of those who broke in and occupied Hamilton Hall. He said there was “severe damage to that building.”

External review ordered into events at UCLA campus after violent attack on encampment

Doha Madani

Erick Mendoza

University of California officials issued statements today condemning the violence at its Los Angeles campus overnight and an independent, external review has been requested.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block released a statement noting that a group of protesters came onto campus to "forcefully attack the encampment" and promised a full investigation into the matter. He called the attack "utterly unacceptable" regardless of one's feeling on the anti-war encampment.

"It has shaken our campus to its core and — adding to other abhorrent incidents that we have witnessed and that have circulated on social media over the past several days — further damaged our community’s sense of security," Block wrote.

Michael V. Drake, president of the university system, released a statement noting that though at least 15 injuries were reported, the situation has been stabilized.

"My office has requested a detailed accounting from the campus about what transpired in the early morning hours today," Drake said. "But some confusion remains, therefore we are also ordering an independent external review of both UCLA’s planning and actions, and the effectiveness of the mutual aid response."

Southern California universities set up encampments

Alicia Victoria Lozano

Students at two universities in Southern California have launched protest encampments in solidarity with campuses across the country.

Antiwar protesters at California State University in Los Angeles and at the University of California, San Diego, have set up tents and signs demanding that their colleges divest from Israeli's companies tied to military operations in Gaza.

"Our struggle for Palestinian liberation continues as we now join student encampments across the world demanding that our universities divest billions of from weapons manufacturers and companies that enable and profit from Israel's ongoing genocide, apartheid and occupation of Palestine," Students for Justice in Palestine, or SPJ, at UC San Diego said in a statement posted to social media.

In an emailed statement, SPJ Cal State LA said: "We will continue our encampment until our demands have been met. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." 

'Full investigation' needed into UCLA violence, L.A. mayor says

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is calling for a full investigation into violent attacks on protesters at the UCLA campus last night, where counterprotesters reportedly stormed an encampment.

“There must be a full investigation into what occurred on campus last night," Bass said. "Those involved in launching fireworks at other people, spraying chemicals and physically assaulting others will be found, arrested, and prosecuted, as well as anyone involved in any form of violence or lawlessness."

The Daily Bruin, a student newspaper, reported that a group of counterprotesters stormed the anti-war encampment where protesters were and took down barricades. Counter protesters pepper sprayed people, smashed the finger of one protesters with a wooden slab, and launched fireworks at the encampment, according to reports from the Daily Bruin.

Due to high traffic volume, the student newspaper said its website was down but its posted real-time updates to its X account.

House passes antisemitism bill amid campus arrests

Summer Concepcion

Megan Lebowitz

The House has passed a bill aimed at combating antisemitism as pro-Palestinian protests  roil colleges  across the United States.

The measure passed in a 320-91 vote.

The bill, titled the  Antisemitism Awareness Act , would mandate that the Education Department adopt the broad definition of antisemitism used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, an intergovernmental group, to enforce anti-discrimination laws.

The international group  defines antisemitism  as a “certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.” The group adds that “rhetorical and physical manifestations” of antisemitism include such things as calling for the killing or harming of Jews or holding Jews collectively responsible for actions taken by the state of Israel.

The bill’s prospects in the Senate are unclear.

UAW president calls for arrested protesters to be released

Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers union, called for the detained protesters to be released following a night of mass arrests.

In a thread on X, Fain said his union would never support the mass arrests of those exercising their rights to speak out against injustice.

"We call on the powers that be to release the students and employees who have been arrested, and if you can’t take the outcry, stop supporting this war," Fain wrote.

The UAW executive board voted to approve a call for a cease-fire in December and some UAW signs were seen at solidarity protests around Columbia University yesterday.

Fordham tells encampment protesters they are suspended

Daniella Silva

Fordham University told student protesters this afternoon that they would receive an “interim suspension” in light of “serious violations” of the university’s policies.

Protesters at the encampment were distributed fliers directing them to leave Fordham University property immediately. 

The university said it was also immediately suspending students from on-campus housing, classes, final exams and all events, including senior week and commencement. 

“You may not enter Fordham University property for any reason during the period of this interim suspension without permission from my office,” Jenifer Campbell, the dean of students for Fordham University Lincoln Center, and Christopher Rodgers, the dean of students and assistant vice president at Fordham’s Rose Hill campus, said in the statement.

The interim suspension will take effect “between the date of this letter and the final resolution of your case.”

Georgia Republicans reiterate support for forceful police response to campus protests

The Associated Press

Georgia Republicans on Wednesday reiterated their support for a forceful police response to campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war.

Gov. Brian Kemp, before he signed laws related to policing, praised officers for “standing strong and maintaining order in the face of protests and disturbances on our college campuses.”

State troopers have aided local and campus police in breaking up encampments and arresting protesters at Emory University in Atlanta and the University of Georgia in Athens. Emory’s president has since apologized for calling outside officers after police used pepper spray balls, aggressively tackled protesters and used an electrical stun gun to shock at least one protester.

The governor said he supported suspending and expelling student protesters who break laws. “We are not going to allow Georgia to become the next Columbia University,” he said.

Protesters arrested at the University of Georgia were issued interim suspensions and barred from campus without being given a chance to appeal.

State House Speaker Jon Burns, a fellow Republican, praised Kemp for ordering state troopers to not put up with any “foolishness.”

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff says violence, inflammatory language at college protests 'must be stopped'

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff said today that, while he stands in favor of the First Amendment, he doesn’t stand for violent or incendiary language at college protests. 

“When we see these protests, obviously we’re in favor of the First Amendment. We’re in favor of the right to protest. But when that crosses into violence,” and inflammatory language, then it’s “completely unacceptable, and must be stopped.”

While a slew of university protests in support of the Palestinian cause and divestment from Israel have been peaceful and have had demonstrators from a diversity of backgrounds, including Jewish students, there have been skirmishes with police and incidents often with individuals not affiliated with the schools. At times, incendiary language has been made by counterprotesters, one such instance reported at Northeastern University by a GBH news reporter . 

UConn president addresses students after 25 protesters arrested

Madison Lambert

University of Connecticut President Radenka Maric described it as a "difficult decision" to arrest protesters yesterday on campus where an anti-war demonstration had been set up for six days.

According to the student newspaper , 24 current students and one former student were arrested at the encampment. Maric said the school supports the community's rights to free speech and peaceful assembly, but there are ways to do so that "do not violate University policy or practice."

"Over the course of Sunday night into Monday, individuals who were gathered at the encampment significantly deviated from the guidelines and ignored directives to follow them, including by erecting tents and through the use of amplified sound," Maric said.

Maric stated that the group was given a 30-minute warning to disperse but did not comply, leading to the arrests. One person who was arrested told the student newspaper that the group was very peaceful, and was even told that they were the "best arrestees" when taken to the police station.

"When we put up the tents we didn’t do anything violent," the person said. "We sat in there and stayed silent, and didn’t even fight the police. The second they told us to get up, we got up with them. We did not resist.”  

Trump says police breaking up Columbia protesters was 'beautiful thing to watch'

Former President Donald Trump said Wednesday that police coming into Columbia University and arresting more than 100 protesters and clearing out an occupied building “was a beautiful thing to watch.”

“New York was under siege last night,” he said, adding that Columbia's reputation has been “badly damaged.”

“The police came in and in exactly two hours, everything was over. It was a beautiful thing to watch,” he said. 

Four officers injured removing protesters at the University of Wisconsin in Madison

Campus police spokesperson Marc Lovicott said four officers were injured Wednesday as police tried to remove protesters’ tents from a central square at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Lovicott said a state trooper was hit in the head with a skateboard and three sheriff’s deputies suffered injuries “directly related to the physical resistance from protesters.” At least a dozen people were arrested.

Police removed all but one tent while clashing with the demonstrators. But scores of protesters resumed chanting and, a few hours later, had erected more tents on the square.

Lovicott said police plan to continue monitoring the protests.

Hogan says campus protests are 'dangerous and must be immediately addressed'

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who is running for senator in the state, said Wednesday that the increasing protests on college campuses are “dangerous and must be immediately addressed.”

“The antisemitic bigotry, harassment, threats, and lawlessness spreading through these encampments across college campuses is dangerous and must be immediately addressed,” Hogan, a Republican, said in a statement.

Hogan said what has happened at universities like Columbia and UCLA “should absolutely not be permitted to happen” in Maryland.

He said he urged city and state officials, as well as university leaders, to “take the necessary steps to put a stop to the chaos on campus.”

CAIR-LA calls for California attorney general to investigate law enforcement response at UCLA

The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned violence that broke out last night between counterprotesters and anti-war demonstrators at the University of California, Los Angeles.

In an emailed statement, executive director Hussam Ayloush of CAIR's L.A. chapter said he is calling on the state attorney general's office to investigate "the lack of response" by university and Los Angeles police officers.

"Last night’s attack on UCLA students supporting Palestine was only the latest incident of violence against them," the statement read in part. "In recent days, pro-Israel extremists directed racial slurs and sexual threats at students, spat on a student, and released a pack of mice into the encampment."   

He added that violence has no place in free speech and said there would have been a “national outcry” if it had been the pro-Palestinian students inciting violence instead of pro-Israel counterprotesters.  

“Across our nation, students who have launched peaceful marches, sit-ins, and encampments to protest their institution’s financial investments in the Israeli government have been met with a campaign of disinformation, discrimination, and now disturbing violence," the statement went on. "This must end. UCLA and other schools must ensure that students can continue to peacefully protest the genocide in Gaza without facing attacks by violent pro-Israel mobs."

Gov. Gavin Newsom condemns violence at UCLA and delayed campus police response

Marlene Lenthang

Gov. Gavin Newsom said today he condemns the violence that unfolded in his home state at UCLA last night.

“The law is clear: The right to free speech does not extend to inciting violence, vandalism, or lawlessness on campus. Those who engage in illegal behavior must be held accountable for their actions — including through criminal prosecution, suspension, or expulsion,” he said on X . 

In a statement from his press office, the governor called the “limited and delayed” campus law enforcement response to UCLA last night “unacceptable — and it demands answers.”

“As soon as it became clear that state assistance was needed to support a local response, our office immediately deployed CHP personnel to campus.”

Columbia associate professor condemns police crackdown: 'An absolute failure of management'

Columbia University associate professor of English and comparative literature Joseph Slaughter said the NYPD's dismantling of protests on campus yesterday was "an absolute failure of management" and "completely inappropriate."

Slaughter said he, along with faculty and most students, was entirely locked out of campus yesterday, but he witnessed the armed NYPD truck pull up to campus and the NYPD's strategic response group climb through the windows of Hamilton Hall to arrest students.

Slaughter called Mayor Eric Adams' claim that "outside agitators led" the takeover of Hamilton Hall "irresponsible" before "the facts have actually been determined."

He said students have said police may be calling their friends the agitators.

"From what I’ve heard from students who are engaged with this question constantly, they think it’s their friends and entirely their friends. It may be that there was an outside agitator or two, but I don’t know," he explained.

"As I understand that the people who were arrested last night are still in jail, and so until they've come out of jail, we won’t actually know who it was that was actually in Hamilton Hall," said Slaughter, who also serves as the director of the Institute for the Study of Human Rights.

Slaughter was part of a faculty demonstration this morning outside of the locked campus gates at 116th and Amsterdam in solidarity with the student community and “condemning President Shafik and the board of trustees who authorized bringing in a heavily armed SWAT team on the campus.”

He noted that the encampment protests were "completely peaceful, nonviolent," though Hamilton Hall is a different case. "However, it’s completely inappropriate that the first reaction is to try to solve this with hardened police forces. It demonstrates to me an absolute failure of management at all levels," he said.

He said the relationship between the administration and students and faculty is "destroyed" — "It’s a crisis level like I’ve never seen before. I’ve been here 24 years."

"If the senior administration had listened to the voices of students back in October and November, if they had listened to the voices of faculty with expertise on these things, with deep knowledge on the history of student protests — we didn’t ever have to get to this point. But they stymied every possibility and villainized the students so that it was impossible for them to have other channels of speech."

Protesters form encampment at Fordham University at Lincoln Center

Katrina Lambert

A group of protesters at Fordham University at Lincoln Center formed an encampment today in the Leon Lowenstein Center with demonstrators supporting “solidarity” with other campuses that have made encampments and had them torn down.

“ONE CAMP COMES DOWN, TWO MORE SPRING UP,” read a message on one of the tents. “SOLIDARITY WITH COLUMBIA AND CCNY.”

Other signs lining the windows of the building entrance read, “GAZA SOLIDARITY ENCAMPMENT,” “WE DEMAND DIVESTMENT,” and “STUDENTS 4 PALESTINE LIBERATION.”

The Fordham Coalition for Palestine said in a statement Wednesday that “in direct response to the attack on Rafah and the police repression at the Columbia University and City University of New York,” the coalition would establish the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian People."

Fordham did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.

“The coalition condemns the actions of the Israeli Occupation Forces and New York’s Israeli-trained police and demands Fordham University disclose and divest from all companies (Northrop Grumman, Chevron, Google, etc.) complicit in the Israeli occupation and ongoing siege,” the group said.

As of early Wednesday afternoon, there were about 100 people gathered outside the Lowenstein building. It was not immediately clear how many protesters were inside the building, but there were about 10 tents inside the building and video taken earlier showed at least a dozen protesters.

More than a dozen officers also flanked the building.

Columbia University makes final exams remote

All final exams and assessments at Columbia University will be remote, the Ivy League’s provost said in an email to students and faculty today.

Further, all academic activities for schools on the Morningside Heights campus will be fully remote for the remainder of the semester, and any remaining class meetings, review sessions or office hours should also be held remotely. 

Protesters clash with police at University of Wisconsin-Madison encampment

At least 12 people were arrested, including several who resisted arrest, as police dispersed an encampment of protesters after 7 a.m., the UW-Madison Police Department said Wednesday.

Four members of law enforcement were injured during clashes with protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, police said in a statement. Three Dane County deputies were injured “all directly related to the physical resistance,” and one state trooper “sustained injuries when a protester struck their head with a skateboard,” the statement said. 

“It is not yet clear how many are affiliated with UW–Madison,” police said.

Earlier Wednesday morning, protesters clashed with police at UW-Madison as police carried out arrests and cleared out an encampment by pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus. Protesters at UW-Madison, and dozens more across the country, have been calling for their universities to divest funding supporting Israel.

Police can be seen pushing back screaming protesters, some with signs and some wearing masks, and tearing down tents. Some protesters confronted police, resulting in clashes.

CAIR-NY demands charges be dropped against student protesters arrested at Columbia and CCNY

The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ New York chapter denounced the NYPD arrest of student protesters who "are on the right side of history" yesterday and called for the Manhattan district attorney to drop charges against them.

In total, 282 people were arrested on both campuses yesterday after students refused to end their demonstrations that demanded their institutions divest from Israel.

“It is sad but not surprising that Columbia University and CCNY officials would rather unleash the NYPD on their own students than simply meet their demand to divest from the Israeli government and its genocide in Gaza,” CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said in a statement today. “Instead of joining students calling for an end to war profiteering, our universities are profiting from ethnic-based massacres.”

Nasher said as students called for a cease-fire and peace in Israel and Gaza, these colleges were "inviting violence onto campuses with police arrests."

"It is not complicated: suspensions, expulsions, and even violent arrests will not end campus protests. Students have made it clear that they require a true commitment to ending complicity in genocide," Nasher said. "CAIR-NY commends their pursuit to do their part in ending American support of Israel’s continued genocide. We fully expect these same schools to one day celebrate these students the same way students who occupied Hamilton Hall decades ago are celebrated today."

Hamilton Hall occupants both students and outsiders, Columbia says

Jesse Rodriguez

David K. Li

The pro-Palestinian protesters arrested last night inside Hamilton Hall were a combination of Columbia University students and outsiders, the school's president said.

The building's takeover was the the final straw, pushing university officials into calling for police to clear out Hamilton Hall and the protest encampment, university President Minouche Shafik said.

"They have many supporters in our community and have a right to express their views and engage in peaceful protest," Shafik said in a statement today. "But students and outside activists breaking Hamilton Hall doors, mistreating our Public Safety officers and maintenance staff, and damaging property are acts of destruction, not political speech."

Hours before police action yesterday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams blamed unspecified “outsiders” for campus volatility. He said this morning that while some students were involved in the occupation of Hamilton Hall, they were “led by individuals not affiliated with the university.” Columbia has not responded to a request for comment regarding the statement.

Police fire tear gas on University of Southern Florida protesters

Police in riot gear fired tear gas on demonstrators at a University of South Florida pro-Palestinian protest yesterday.

Ten people were arrested after police declared the protest an “unlawful assembly” yesterday afternoon. School officials had said in a release that 75 to 100 protesters — including some students and some not affiliated with the university — arrived on campus with wood shields, umbrellas and tents.

“As the day progressed, police observed participants in person and through social media expressing their intent to use some of the items they brought on campus as weapons and to resist university staff members and law enforcement officers. As a result, USF police determined that the protest was no longer peaceful, and participants must leave the area,” USF said. 

Jewish Federation says it’s 'appalled' at UCLA protest violence 

Jewish Federation Los Angeles said today it was “appalled at the violence that took place on the campus of UCLA last night.”

“The abhorrent actions of a few counter protestors last night do not represent the Jewish community or our values,” the group said in a statement. “We believe in peaceful, civic discourse.”

It said the violence was a “result of the lack of leadership from the Chancellor and the UCLA administration.”

“The Chancellor has allowed for an environment to be created over many months that has made students feel unsafe, allowed for illegal encampments in violation of its own laws, refused to censure faculty and staff who flouted UCLA’s Code of Conduct, and has been systemically slow to respond when law enforcement is desperately needed,” the statement said.

The federation called on the chancellor and the UCLA administration to close the encampment and meet with leaders of the Jewish community.

UCLA cancels all classes amid protests

UCLA announced today that all classes were canceled “due to the distress caused by the violence that took place on Royce Quad late last night.”

The university said that Royce Hall would remain closed through Friday and students should watch for notifications about their classes when they resume. 

“We have law enforcement presence stationed throughout campus to help promote safety,” the university said in a statement. “Student Affairs will have essential staff on campus to support our students who have been impacted by this tragedy.”

There were violent clashes between the pro-Palestinian encampment protesters and counterprotesters at the university overnight, and police said they responded at the university’s request “due to multiple acts of violence.”

Fights, fireworks and high tension: How a night of violence unfolded at UCLA

Patrick Smith

The chaos and violence seen at UCLA was captured by photojournalists on the scene. One of them, Anthony Cabassa, saw tension between the pro-Palestinian encampment and pro-Israeli counterprotesters turn into outright conflict.

At 10:14 p.m . (1:14 a.m. ET), a small group of counterprotesters arrived and played music loudly at the barrier to the encampment, Cabassa's videos show Some 30 minutes later, more counterprotesters had arrived — with another loudspeaker.

But by 11:20 p.m. (2:20 a.m.), some barriers had been destroyed, fireworks were being set off and mace had been sprayed.

At 12:10 a.m. (3:10 a.m. ET), fights had broken out, with some outside the encampment wearing masks and carrying what appeared to be metal poles. Clouds of smoke filled the air and large projectiles were thrown into the tents.

At 12:42 p.m., while these skirmishes were happening, a group appearing to be private security staff stand and watch. They had Apex Security Group written on their jackets, the name of a company based in Northridge, California.

Moments later, rival protesters engaged in a fistfight, with one person struck with a metal pole . Subsequent videos show both sides trading songs and chants.

At 1:21, Cabassa filmed a man with a bloodied head walking way from the violence. The people around him said he had been struck "with a metal rod."

The arrival of police on the scene was met with chants of "USA! USA!" from the pro-Israel protesters.

And eventually, by 2 a.m. (5 a.m. ET), police had managed to separate both sides and the campus returned to relative calm. Police then asked protesters to leave, a request that has so far not been followed.

More than 1,500 arrested in college protests

More than 1,500 people have been arrested since April 18 in connection with protests and encampments on U.S. university and college campuses, according to an NBC News tally.

Schools continue to crack down on protests — including at Columbia University and Cal Poly Humboldt last night — as dozens remain ongoing.

282 arrested in NYC overnight from college protests

Police said 173 individuals were arrested at The City College of New York and 109 at Columbia University last night — for a total of 282 arrests.

It's not clear how many of those were students, faculty or individuals not affiliated with the schools.

NYC mayor: Occupation of Columbia building was 'led' by individuals not affiliated with the university

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a briefing this morning that while some students were involved in the occupation of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University — they were "led by individuals not affiliated with the university."

He said the NYPD was called to the campus at the request of university officials, who acknowledged to police that "outside agitators were on their ground training and really co-opting this movement."

“There is a movement to radicalize young people. I'm not going to wait till it’s done to acknowledge the significance of it,” Adams said. 

However, he did not share details on who or how many of these non-university affiliated individuals were involved or in what fashion they were involved. 

The deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism at the NYPD, Rebecca Weiner, said, “there are a number of different individuals from over the years associated with protests,” not just in New York, linked to a “change in tactics” that allegedly unfolded at Columbia protests including black block attire, the breaking of doors, vandalism, barricading and makeshift weapons recovered in the encampment. 

Adams said: “We saw evidence in training, we saw a change in tactics being used … We knew it was time to communicate with the school and say “you have more than a peaceful protest on your hands.” 

Chicago's DePaul University urges peace, threatens suspensions

An encampment protest demanding divestment from Israel started yesterday at DePaul University, a private Catholic university nestled in Chicago's bustling Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Tents were put up and protest numbers grew to about 200 students, faculty and others, according to the school paper, The DePaulia . 

School officials said “it is our fervent desire to promote open dialogue in a spirit of peace.” It noted tents and un-permitted structures on school property violate university policies, and that a team of senior leaders, staff and faculty are working to “engage” with those protesting to communicate “limits.”

Any violence, harassment or acts that interfere with school operations including property damage or disrupting neighbors “will lead to immediate disciplinary actions, such as suspension or expulsion, and criminal sanctions.” Further, “any complaints made directly to the Chicago Police Department by the neighboring community will be followed up by them directly, and the university will not be able to intervene in those instances,” school officials added.

14 arrested, encampment protest cleared at Tulane University

As many as 14 people — two of them students — were arrested overnight as police cleared out an encampment protest at Tulane University in New Orleans, police said. 

A spokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department said a complete list of charges hasn’t been completed yet, but most are for trespassing. 

The university leadership said in an e-mail to its community early today that Tulane University Police led a "coordinated effort" along with New Orleans Police and Louisiana State Police "to remove protestors who have trespassed on our campus over the last two days and erected an illegal encampment" in the early morning hours.

"Overwhelming majority of the protesters are unaffiliated with our community," school officials said.

“In the days leading up to this action we issued multiple verbal warnings, written statements, broadcasted messages and erected a huge sign warning demonstrators that they were trespassing and were subject to arrest,” school officials said.

The crackdown comes after after six individuals, including one student, were arrested Monday in connection with the protest. So far, seven students have been suspended, and pupils who participated “in this unlawful occupation” have been referred for “immediately disciplinary action.”

Blinken met with bloodied hands banner in Tel Aviv

Max Butterworth

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to families and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza during a protest calling for their return in Tel Aviv today.

Police arrest 32 at Cal Poly Humboldt, campus to remain closed until May 10

California State Polytechnic University said it was continuing a cleanup operation on campus after 32 people, including 13 students and one faculty member, were arrested late yesterday in connection with what it called the "illegal occupation of two campus buildings."

The rest of those arrested had no affiliation with the college, Humboldt said in a statement.

University staff are clearing Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East of garbage and had last night begun to paint over graffiti, it said.

The campus remains subject to a "hard closure" until May 10 and commencement ceremonies will be "modified."

‘You are our hope’: Palestinian students find strength in U.S. campus protests

Chantal Da Silva

Yasmine Salam

Protests against Israel’s assault on  Gaza  have rocked  college campuses in the U.S.  and drawn condemnation from Israeli leaders, but students in the Palestinian enclave say they are watching the demonstrations closely — and gaining renewed strength from their peers in America.

“I feel proud that there is a group of students who feel what we feel now — and are helping and supporting us,” said Reem Musa Suleiman Abu Shinar, who studied law before Oct. 7. She was speaking to an NBC News crew in the city of  Rafah  in southern Gaza, where she and her family are sheltering along with more than a million others   ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive.

Read the full article here

University of Arizona police used ‘chemical irritant munitions’ to clear out protest

University of Arizona police responded late yesterday to an “unlawful assembly” on campus and deployed “chemical irritant munitions,” according to updates from the school.

The school’s campus announcement system, UAlert , said shortly after midnight that “police action was being taken” and ordered students to “follow directions of police to disperse.”

Around 2 a.m., the irritant munitions were deployed and by 2:20 a.m., a UAlert was issued saying “all clear,” noting the area of the protest was open to the public.

UCLA's pro-Palestinian protesters say they suffered 'an act of terror' from counterprotesters

Pro-Palestinian protesters who remain camped at UCLA accused a pro-Israeli group of carrying out a "terror" attack and criticized college leaders for not protecting them.

"The life-threatening assault we face tonight is nothing less than a horrifying, despicable act of terror," the UC Divest at UCLA group said in a statement reported by the college paper, Daily Bruin.

"Law enforcement simply stood at the edge of the lawn and refused to budge as we screamed for their help," it said.

In a previous statement, posted on Instagram around 8 p.m. local time Tuesday (11 p.m. ET), the group said that "Zionist aggressors" who are not UCLA students had been "incessantly verbally and physically harassing us, violently trying to storm the camp, and threatening us with weapons."

The group said that UCLA administrators were trying to clear the camp not because it violates safety policies, as they have said, but because "they refuse to protect us."

Fence thrown at pro-Palestinian encampment on UCLA campus

A counterprotester throws a fence at pro-Palestinian protesters next to their encampment on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles in the early hours of today.

Around 300 arrested in connection with protests at Columbia and CCNY, police confirm

Hundreds of people have been arrested in connection with pro-Palestinian protests this week at Columbia University — where an entire building was occupied before police cleared it — and at the City College of New York, police said.

The NYPD's deputy commissioner for public information, Tarik Sheppard, told NBC News this morning that 230 people were arrested at Columbia, between 40 and 50 of whom were at the occupied Hamilton Hall, while the rest were arrested at CCNY.

Police have not identified any of those arrested or provided details on any charges.

USC president condemns swastika drawn on campus

The University of Southern California confirmed yesterday it was investigating antisemitic symbols that had been drawn on campus, including a swastika.

"I've just been made aware of a swastika drawn on our campus. I condemn any antisemitic symbols or any form of hate speech against anyone," the college's president, Carol Folt, said in a statement.

"Clearly it was drawn there just to incite even more anger at a time that is so painful for our community," she continued. The symbols had been removed, she said.

USC has introduced a ticketing system for its commencement events this year and canceled its main stage ceremony in light of ongoing tensions on campus amid the pro-Palestinian protests.

Police separate rival groups at UCLA but protesters refuse to leave

Rival groups that had earlier been involved in violent confrontations appeared to have been separated by a line of police officers by 2 a.m. (5 a.m. ET).

The scene is less chaotic than earlier, but a vocal group of protesters still refuses to leave despite police calls for them to go home.

Footage broadcast by the Reuters news agency showed a police officer saying through a loudspeaker "the encampment is over for tonight," urging people to leave.

But the pro-Palestinian group chanted in response: "We're not leaving, you don't scare us."

Mayor says violence at UCLA is 'abhorrent and inexcusable'

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass strongly condemned the violence at UCLA overnight, calling it "absolutely abhorrent and inexcusable."

She confirmed that the LAPD is now at the campus.

It's unclear why law enforcement wasn't sent into tackle the unfolding situation sooner. NBC Los Angeles reported that counterprotesters arrived just before 11 p.m. (2 a.m. ET), before clashes broke out and items were thrown between the rival groups.

Iran's supreme leader comments on university protests

Ammar Cheikh Omar

Gaza “is the world’s number one issue today,” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a post on X today, while commenting on ongoing campus protests across the United States.

Khamenei said that Israel and “their American and European supporters” were working to drop Gaza “from the agenda of world public opinion,” but “they will not be able to do so.”

“Look at what is happening in American and European universities,” he added.

Freedom of speech is heavily curtailed in Iran: a protest movement that grew after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022 was met with a violent police crackdown that killed hundreds, according to human rights groups.

LAPD responding to 'multiple acts of violence' on UCLA campus at university's request

Henry Austin

The Los Angeles Police Department said on X that it was responding at the university's request due to '"multiple acts of violence" within the large protest encampment on the UCLA campus.

Clashes at UCLA between pro-Palestinians and counterprotesters

A group of counterprotesters attempted to dismantle the walls of a pro-Palestinian encampment, as one individual was dragged and beaten as clashes erupted on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles early this morning.

LAPD is 'responding immediately' to unrest at UCLA, mayor says

Police are about to arrive on scene at UCLA, where clashes have taken place between members of a pro-Palestinian encampment and counterprotesters, according to the office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Zach Seidl, deputy mayor of communications for Bass, said the mayor had spoken to UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block and that police were responding to his request for support on campus.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a post on X that he was monitoring the situation and that "resources are being mobilized."

Arrests made at CCNY after standoff between police and demonstrators

Police officers pushed back protesters at the City College of New York last night, as they arrested more than 25 people.

The college said a group marched from nearby Columbia University. Video footage showed them trying to break through a police barricade, while some shouted: "No justice, no peace."

Police said in an audio message: "If you refuse to leave, you may be placed under arrest." Several were seen being led away in handcuffs.

Unrest comes after UCLA declared encampment unlawful

The clashes between a pro-Palestinian encampment and counterprotesters at UCLA overnight and into this morning came after the college declared the protest "unlawful" and urged activists to leave.

"The established encampment is unlawful and violates university policy," the message sent to protesters said.

Separately, Chancellor Gene D. Block urged protesters to leave and condemned the actions of some.

"Many of the demonstrators, as well as counter-demonstrators who have come to the area, have been peaceful in their activism. But the tactics of others have frankly been shocking and shameful," he said in a statement last night.

"UCLA supports peaceful protest, but not activism that harms our ability to carry out our academic mission and makes people in our community feel bullied, threatened and afraid," he continued.

Block said the university had increased its security presence and "engaged law enforcement to investigate the recent acts of violence." But as of 1:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. ET), there was still no sign of a police presence on campus, as fighting continued.

Violent scenes at UCLA as pro-Palestinian groups and counterprotesters clash

Clashes erupted at the University of California, Los Angeles, in the early hours today when pro-Palestinian protesters and counterprotesters clashed— with no visible police or security presence so far.

NBC Los Angeles reported that counterprotesters waving Israeli flags arrived around 10.45 p.m. (1.45 a.m. ET) at a pro-Palestinian encampment that has been at UCLA for the last week.

Fireworks were being set off and chemicals were sprayed into the air.

A group identified as counterprotesters were seen in footage shared on social media throwing lit fireworks into the pro-Palestinian protest encampment.

More than 25 protesters arrested at City College of New York

Police arrested 25 people at the City College of New York campus late last night, after what it called a series of violent incidents in recent days.

The arrests came as NYPD arrested almost 100 people at Columbia's nearby Morningside Heights campus, after Hamilton Hall was occupied yesterday.

CCNY's parent institution, the City University of New York, said in a statement that a large crowd marched from Columbia to CCNY. CUNY public safety staff arrested 25 people, but as the crowd grew in size administrators "made the difficult decision to request NYPD assistance," it said.

Police arrived at 11.45 p.m. and made an unspecified number of further arrests.

“CUNY is committed to maintaining a safe environment for students, faculty and the entire City College campus community, which also includes two public high schools and a daycare center," the statement said.

The college said that over the last six days, there had been a fire at the Marshak Science Building caused by a flare gun, as well as "clashes with the public."

Last night also saw a break-in at the college's administration building, where door windows were smashed, and an attempted break-in at Shepard Hall, the school said.

"Students have a right to demonstrate peacefully and exercise their First Amendment rights. Tuesday night’s actions were taken in response to specific and repeated acts of violence and vandalism, not in response to peaceful protest," the statement said.

Video shows damage inside Columbia University building

Video released by Columbia University shows overturned tables and chairs and broken glass inside Hamilton Hall after NYPD removed protesters who had been barricaded in the building.

The campus was declared clear at 11 p.m. last night.

An official website of the United States government

Gross Domestic Product, First Quarter 2024 (Advance Estimate)

• News Release
• Related Materials
• Additional Information

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2024 (table 1), according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2023, real GDP increased 3.4 percent.

The GDP estimate released today is based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency (refer to “Source Data for the Advance Estimate” on page 3). The “second” estimate for the first quarter, based on more complete source data, will be released on May 30, 2024.

The increase in real GDP primarily reflected increases in consumer spending, residential fixed investment, nonresidential fixed investment, and state and local government spending that were partly offset by a decrease in private inventory investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased (table 2).

The increase in consumer spending reflected an increase in services that was partly offset by a decrease in goods. Within services, the increase primarily reflected increases in health care as well as financial services and insurance. Within goods, the decrease primarily reflected decreases in motor vehicles and parts as well as gasoline and other energy goods. Within residential fixed investment, the increase was led by brokers’ commissions and other ownership transfer costs as well as new single-family housing construction. The increase in nonresidential fixed investment mainly reflected an increase in intellectual property products. The increase in state and local government spending reflected an increase in compensation of state and local government employees. The decrease in inventory investment primarily reflected decreases in wholesale trade and manufacturing. Within imports, the increase reflected increases in both goods and services.

Compared to the fourth quarter, the deceleration in real GDP in the first quarter primarily reflected decelerations in consumer spending, exports, and state and local government spending and a downturn in federal government spending. These movements were partly offset by an acceleration in residential fixed investment. Imports accelerated.

Current‑dollar GDP increased 4.8 percent at an annual rate, or $327.5 billion, in the first quarter to a level of $28.28 trillion. In the fourth quarter, GDP increased 5.1 percent, or $346.9 billion (tables 1 and 3).

The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 3.1 percent in the first quarter, compared with an increase of 1.9 percent in the fourth quarter (table 4). The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased 3.4 percent, compared with an increase of 1.8 percent. Excluding food and energy prices, the PCE price index increased 3.7 percent, compared with an increase of 2.0 percent.

Personal Income

Current-dollar personal income increased $407.1 billion in the first quarter, compared with an increase of $230.2 billion in the fourth quarter. The increase primarily reflected increases in compensation and personal current transfer receipts (table 8).

Disposable personal income increased $226.2 billion, or 4.5 percent, in the first quarter, compared with an increase of $190.4 billion, or 3.8 percent, in the fourth quarter. Increases in compensation and personal current transfer receipts were partly offset by an increase in personal current taxes, which are a subtraction in the calculation of DPI. Real disposable personal income increased 1.1 percent, compared with an increase of 2.0 percent.

Personal saving was $755.7 billion in the first quarter, compared with $815.5 billion in the fourth quarter. The personal saving rate —personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income—was 3.6 percent in the first quarter, compared with 4.0 percent in the fourth quarter.

Source Data for the Advance Estimate

The GDP estimate released today is based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency. Information on the source data and key assumptions used in the advance estimate is provided in a Technical Note and a detailed " Key Source Data and Assumptions " file posted with the release. The second estimate for the first quarter, based on more complete data, will be released on May 30, 2024. For information on updates to GDP, refer to the "Additional Information" section that follows.

*          *          *

Next release, May 30, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. EDT Gross Domestic Product (Second Estimate) Corporate Profits (Preliminary Estimate) First Quarter 2024

Full Release & Tables (PDF)

Technical note (pdf), tables only (excel), release highlights (pdf), historical comparisons (pdf), key source data and assumptions (excel), revision information.

• GDP Lisa Mataloni  301-278-9083 [email protected]
• Corporate Profits Kate Pinard 301-278-9417 [email protected]
• Media (BEA) Connie O’Connell 301-278-9003 [email protected]

Additional resources available at www.bea.gov :

• Stay informed about BEA developments by reading the BEA blog , signing up for BEA's email subscription service , or following BEA on X, formerly known as Twitter @BEA_News .
• Historical time series for these estimates can be accessed in BEA's interactive data application .
• Access BEA data by registering for BEA's data Application Programming Interface (API).
• For more on BEA's statistics, refer to our online journal, the Survey of Current Business .
• BEA's news release schedule
• NIPA Handbook : Concepts and Methods of the U.S. National Income and Product Accounts

Definitions

Gross domestic product (GDP), or value added , is the value of the goods and services produced by the nation's economy less the value of the goods and services used up in production. GDP is also equal to the sum of personal consumption expenditures, gross private domestic investment, net exports of goods and services, and government consumption expenditures and gross investment.

Gross domestic income (GDI) is the sum of incomes earned and costs incurred in the production of GDP. In national economic accounting, GDP and GDI are conceptually equal. In practice, GDP and GDI differ because they are constructed using largely independent source data.

Gross output is the value of the goods and services produced by the nation's economy. It is principally measured using industry sales or receipts, including sales to final users (GDP) and sales to other industries (intermediate inputs).

Current-dollar estimates are valued in the prices of the period when the transactions occurred—that is, at "market value." Also referred to as "nominal estimates" or as "current-price estimates."

Real values are inflation-adjusted estimates—that is, estimates that exclude the effects of price changes.

The gross domestic purchases price index measures the prices of final goods and services purchased by U.S. residents.

The personal consumption expenditure price index measures the prices paid for the goods and services purchased by, or on the behalf of, "persons."

Personal income is the income received by, or on behalf of, all persons from all sources: from participation as laborers in production, from owning a home or business, from the ownership of financial assets, and from government and business in the form of transfers. It includes income from domestic sources as well as the rest of world. It does not include realized or unrealized capital gains or losses.

Disposable personal income is the income available to persons for spending or saving. It is equal to personal income less personal current taxes.

Personal outlays is the sum of personal consumption expenditures, personal interest payments, and personal current transfer payments.

Personal saving is personal income less personal outlays and personal current taxes.

The personal saving rate is personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income.

Profits from current production , referred to as corporate profits with inventory valuation adjustment (IVA) and capital consumption (CCAdj) adjustment in the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPAs), is a measure of the net income of corporations before deducting income taxes that is consistent with the value of goods and services measured in GDP. The IVA and CCAdj are adjustments that convert inventory withdrawals and depreciation of fixed assets reported on a tax-return, historical-cost basis to the current-cost economic measures used in the national income and product accounts. Profits for domestic industries reflect profits for all corporations located within the geographic borders of the United States. The rest-of-the-world (ROW) component of profits is measured as the difference between profits received from ROW and profits paid to ROW.

For more definitions, refer to the Glossary: National Income and Product Accounts .

Statistical conventions

Annual-vs-quarterly rates . Quarterly seasonally adjusted values are expressed at annual rates, unless otherwise specified. This convention is used for BEA's featured, seasonally adjusted measures to facilitate comparisons with related and historical data. For details, refer to the FAQ " Why does BEA publish estimates at annual rates? "

Quarterly not seasonally adjusted values are expressed only at quarterly rates.

Percent changes . Percent changes in quarterly seasonally adjusted series are displayed at annual rates, unless otherwise specified. For details, refer to the FAQ " How is average annual growth calculated? " and " Why does BEA publish percent changes in quarterly series at annual rates? " Percent changes in quarterly not seasonally adjusted values are calculated from the same quarter one year ago. All published percent changes are calculated from unrounded data.

Calendar years and quarters . Unless noted otherwise, annual and quarterly data are presented on a calendar basis.

Quantities and prices . Quantities, or "real" volume measures, and prices are expressed as index numbers with a specified reference year equal to 100 (currently 2017). Quantity and price indexes are calculated using a Fisher-chained weighted formula that incorporates weights from two adjacent periods (quarters for quarterly data and annuals for annual data). For details on the calculation of quantity and price indexes, refer to Chapter 4: Estimating Methods in the NIPA Handbook .

Chained-dollar values are calculated by multiplying the quantity index by the current dollar value in the reference year (2017) and then dividing by 100. Percent changes calculated from real quantity indexes and chained-dollar levels are conceptually the same; any differences are due to rounding. Chained-dollar values are not additive because the relative weights for a given period differ from those of the reference year. In tables that display chained-dollar values, a "residual" line shows the difference between the sum of detailed chained-dollar series and its corresponding aggregate.

Updates to GDP

BEA releases three vintages of the current quarterly estimate for GDP. "Advance" estimates are released near the end of the first month following the end of the quarter and are based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency. "Second" and "third" estimates are released near the end of the second and third months, respectively, and are based on more detailed and more comprehensive data as they become available.

The table below shows the average revisions to the quarterly percent changes in real GDP between different estimate vintages, without regard to sign.

Annual and comprehensive updates are released in late September. Annual updates generally cover at least the five most recent calendar years (and their associated quarters) and incorporate newly available major annual source data as well as some changes in methods and definitions to improve the accounts. Comprehensive (or benchmark) updates are carried out at about 5-year intervals and incorporate major periodic source data, as well as major conceptual improvements.

Unlike GDP, advance current quarterly estimates of GDI and corporate profits are not released because data on domestic profits and net interest of domestic industries are not available. For fourth quarter estimates, these data are not available until the third estimate.

GDP by industry and gross output estimates are released with the third estimate of GDP.