Personal Statements for ERAS

[kjmtthws]

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Just a quick question about the personal statement...Other than the fact that I have hated every part of this particular portion of the ERAS application I am having a really hard time trying anything else to say.. I have filled up a page and a half (approx. 12,000 characters or the alotted 28,000)... Should I put anything else in there just to fill up the alotted space or should I not worry about it and leave well enough alone.. I haven't taken an english class since my freshman year of college and feel that trying to explain myself on paper is really exhausting...

 

[Ashers]

Just a quick question about the personal statement...Other than the fact that I have hated every part of this particular portion of the ERAS application I am having a really hard time trying anything else to say.. I have filled up a page and a half (approx. 12,000 characters or the alotted 28,000)... Should I put anything else in there just to fill up the alotted space or should I not worry about it and leave well enough alone.. I haven't taken an english class since my freshman year of college and feel that trying to explain myself on paper is really exhausting...

Don't use up the entire allotted space -- that's way too long. 1.5 pages is too long. Say what you need to say and be done with it. People don't want to read hundreds of massive PS's. Mine was between 1/2-2/3 of a page long (single spaced).

 

[kenfused]

You do not want your essay to be too short. Don't fill it up for the sake of filling it up, but an abnormally short essay always looks bad.
I've never seen a half page essay be a strong one.
About 1 page is a reasonable amount.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You do not want your essay to be too short. Don't fill it up for the sake of filling it up, but an abnormally short essay always looks bad.
I've never seen a half page essay be a strong one.
About 1 page is a reasonable amount.

I have received a poem once as a PS. A Haiku, if I remember correctly.

Absolutely invited the person.

Length is not very important. Content is everything. That being said, if it's really short, it should be extra attention getting or it will look like you didn't work much on it.