Anyone finish their Personal Statement?

[AF1892]

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Hi, I was just wondering if anyone has finished their personal statement, and put it on the AMCAS? It says you have a limit of 5300 characters or 1 full page. However, I typed mine up on Microsoft Word, and it's 1.5 pages (with size 12, single space) and about 5300 characters. I haven't tried putting it in the AMCAS yet, but why isn't 5300 one full page (adjusting it to size 10 doesn't help either)? Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[UGBoI]

Originally posted by AF1892:
•Hi, I was just wondering if anyone has finished their personal statement, and put it on the AMCAS? It says you have a limit of 5300 characters or 1 full page. However, I typed mine up on Microsoft Word, and it's 1.5 pages (with size 12, single space) and about 5300 characters. I haven't tried putting it in the AMCAS yet, but why isn't 5300 one full page (adjusting it to size 10 doesn't help either)? Any help would be great.

Thanks•

Hey AF1892,

I have cut and pasted my essay from Word onto my AMCAS application already. Mine was 4651 characters. It doesn't matter which size font you use because the maximum is 5300 characters not 1 page. Thus a character is the same regardless of whether you are using a 10 pt font or a 12 pt font.

Good Luck 🙂

 

[Legend]

is the limit 5300 characters with or without spaces?

 

[Jamier2]

Originally posted by legi2000:
•is the limit 5300 characters with or without spaces?•

I am almost certain that spaces, as well as punctuation marks count as characters. 🙂

 

[UGBoI]

5300 characters including spaces, letters, dots, everything.

 

[12R34Y]

so does one page 10 point single spaced end up being about 5300 characters or is it more or less? thanks

later

 

[UGBoI]

Originally posted by 12R34Y:
•so does one page 10 point single spaced end up being about 5300 characters or is it more or less? thanks

later•

Mine was 4651 characters. I did it on a 12 pt single space Times New Roman font and it ended up being 1 page. It was 3/4 of a page when I shrunk the font to 10 pt.

If your essay is about 1 page now, using a 10 pt font, then I would say that it is around the 5300 character range. If you want to know for sure whether or not you've exceeded the limit, then cut and paste your essay on the actual amcas application. There is an automatic character counter.

Good Luck, 🙂

 

[Popoy]

You might have to force yourself to be more concise. It'll probably read better for the adcoms and make it a better statement.... Aside from that you can do what UGBoI suggested.... Good luck!!!

 

[Al Dente]

Character limit: 5300
My character count: 5299 (I'm dead serious)

It's finally done! Yay! By the way, I'm curious to see how all of you wrote yours: did you weave all your extracurriculars into a chronological narrative or do something else? Personally, I started by describing a significant athletic goal I achieved, described two of my most significant extracurriculars, and tied it together by coming back to the athletic thing at the end. Anyone else wish to share your format?

 

[D4J]

Could any of you just give me a breif overview of exactly what the personal statement is supposed to do. I haven't started mine yet, and I know I REALLY need to, but I just found out about it about a month ago. Anything you can tell me will be helpful! Thanks!

 

[synite]

you can find out what the personal statement is supposed to do by looking at the AMCAS Worksheet (a PDF file you can download off the AMCAS website), or by looking at the Help section in the application. It sums it up nicely.

but basically, you need to convey your motivations to study medicine, your credentials, and what makes you unique.

 

[ewells]

I wrote about what is most important to me, my family, my education and my job as a caregiver in a nursing home, and I tried to weave in how these relate to why I want to go into medicine. Right now, I am at about 6600 characters

 

[Legend]

Mine is 5268 characters.
I didn't write a single line about why I want to become a doctor because I will be probably asked during interviews. Do you think it is going to be ok?
I basically wrote about things that significantly contributed to what I am now.

 

[coop]

mines at 1324 chars, wanna know why? cause it's summer, finals are over, instead of focusing I sit here and read how long all of your ps's are.... ugh, back to work

 

[EMDrMoe]

Coop, I like your style, 😀 . My essay has been sitting for 4 weeks after I did a bit of work. Maybe it'll write itself!?!

 

[Longbow666]

It is not important how long it is, but quality over quantity. I applied last year and got a high number of of interviews considering my grades and I am a white male!!! The personal statement is extreamly important and I think mine was extreamly benefical. Mine short and sweet and a purpose. Think of this..99% of med school applicants have 3.4-3.9 GPA, MCAT 27-35 and volunteer and other useless stuff. The personal statement seperates you from others. Think of this, would you want to read a long boring narrative story. No!!! Mine was 2/3 -3/4 of a page and more story than why I am the greatest and ready to be a a DOC!!!

Now after me telling you short and to the point, Please ignore the length of my message!!! 🙂