how long should you personal statement be?

[Chankovsky]

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For most people, I would guess no more than 2 pages double spaced, is that correct?

 

[Bones2008]

Try to use as much of the space allotted as possible. I think it's 5300 characters.

 

[SpiritiualDuck]

You don't need to write to the world limit. Quality, not quantity counts. In fact, less is more. Keep it tight, make sure that you have a strong lead--a good hook to grab the reader's attention.

Keep the tone clear, honest, and natural. This is not a technical paper. This is a personal statement. Don't be cute. Don't be flowery. Be concrete. Be creative.

Show don't tell. What I mean is: Use narrative examples, be specific. Don't say you're a compassionate person. She us by telling a story where you showed empathy, compassion.

Don't let the piece fizzle out at the end. You need a good closing, a summation, where you sell yourself. A good device is called an Echo Effect. You introduce a word, a theme, or an idea in your first paragraph and then you revisit in your final paragraph, but it now has a new twist. Get it?

Good luck and have fun with it.

 

[Supadupafly]

I submitted mine with the full space used, then after awhile became convinced that it was too long; a reader screening 50 applications a day wouldn't have much patience after the first page. I changed it to one page single spaced. I'm happy with that choice. The PS still gets the important points across and is much more concise and easy to read.

 

[superdevil]

is that 5300 characters WITH spaces or without? kinda makes a big difference (especially since my ps is way too long as of now!).

 

[Ernham]

Originally posted by Supadupafly
I submitted mine with the full space used, then after awhile became convinced that it was too long; a reader screening 50 applications a day wouldn't have much patience after the first page. I changed it to one page single spaced. I'm happy with that choice. The PS still gets the important points across and is much more concise and easy to read.

They probably would have accepted you even if you said "I like cheese... and little boys" in your personal statement.

 

[jlee9531]

Originally posted by superdevil
is that 5300 characters WITH spaces or without? kinda makes a big difference (especially since my ps is way too long as of now!).

with spaces.

it turns out to be around a page on msword font 10.

 

[UCIgrad2002]

Originally posted by superdevil
is that 5300 characters WITH spaces or without? kinda makes a big difference (especially since my ps is way too long as of now!).

jlee's right, it's WITH spaces. i had no idea of this when i was writing mine. last minute i tried pasting it in the amcas window and i was like, DAMN!!! so i had to go back and cut out stuff to make it shorter, don't do what i did. gluck!

 

[Cerberus]

"accept me or i'll kill myself and others" should suffice

 

[fullefect1]

haha , i will have to try that one ---- "accept me or i'll kill myself and others"