personal statement question

[14022]

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I have a question regarding its length. I have read on this forum that the PS should be no more than about 1 page on Microsoft Word 12 pt font. On MS Word, this works out to about 4200 characters. On the ERAS website, it says "Each personal statement is limited to 32,000 characters (approximately 5 pages)." Is this correct? Is this new for this year? That seems like too extensive of a limit for the size of the personal statement. Anyone have any thoughts about this?

 

[Etomidate]

I have heard from several students/residents that the PS should be limited to one page with Courier New 10 point font, since that is what ERAS uses.

However, I still can't find where this one page rule comes from. ERAS mentions five pages. If you find out who/what came up with one page, let me know.

 

[Smurfette]

I have heard from several students/residents that the PS should be limited to one page with Courier New 10 point font, since that is what ERAS uses.

However, I still can't find where this one page rule comes from. ERAS mentions five pages. If you find out who/what came up with one page, let me know.

While you *can* write more, it is a well-known mantra to limit your PS to one page. PDs/interviewers want to get to the point quickly, not read thru a mini-novel by each applicant (some programs I interviewed at had over 1000 applicants, just to put it in perspective).