Use all 4500 characters for personal statement?

[paymaant]

Is it better to have a more condensed personal statement (4000 characters or so)? Or is it OK to use the entire 4500 character limit? Some reviewers have been telling me that my personal statement is a bit too long..

 

[Glimmer1991]

I used 4,499. Legit.

4,500 characters is hardly anything. Mine seems so short.

Gonna be blunt: "Too long" might be a euphemism for "too boring." Cut out anything that doesn't add to the statement.

 

[paymaant]

I used 4,499. Legit.

you're allowed to do that? hahhaha

 

[paymaant]

any other advice?

 

[RaeRae0903]

I honestly used exactly 4,500 and even then it was hard for me to stop. I had to cut a word here and there just to get it under the limit. I was told by a professor who wrote one of my LORs and was also on the committee that it was "one of the best written, most compelling personal statements I've ever read...and I've read hundreds." My point is not to pat myself on the back but to make the point that no one cares about how long it is just as long as what's in it is intriguing. Like the previously post said...if it's boring then the reader is going to feel like it was "too long" so make sure it's an attention grabber and you can make it however long you want (as long as it's still under 4501 of course). 😉

 

[paymaant]

great advice! thanks!

 

[RaeRae0903]

Any time. 🙂 Good luck!