How Long Should a Personal Statement Be and How to Write It Great?

Writing a personal statement and best college essay is an important task for every applicant; these pieces may decide the fate of a person. There are two reasons why a personal statement should be prepared carefully. One thing is that it is your chance to get your application out from the crowd of your competitors. Another thing is that personal statement enables you to emphasize your strong sides and demonstrate school achievements.

You may choose a program that does not coincide with your previous education. You may not have specific work experience or just lack a few points to be accepted by the admission committee. A statement will help to properly submit this information and make an emphasis on your strengths. The question of how long should a personal statement be is not relevant at this point. It is more about paper contents and message you want to share with people after you graduate from high school. 

But still - how long should a personal statement be?

Let's find out how to write a statement. Whichever institution you are applying to, it is best to focus on the message you deliver, not on the text volume. Requirements may vary, but beforehand better feel free to expect the following during applications: 

• Between 200 and 500 words
• Double or 1.5 spacing
• Spaces after paragraph
• Times New Roman or Arial, 12 – 14 pt.

Personal statement writing is a very difficult and important task which you should approach with the utmost seriousness to achieve the desired result. Apart from discussing all the strengths of yours, a personal statement is to be written in compliance with certain rules and contain no grammatical or punctuational errors. Let’s elaborate a formula of the successful personal statement writing together.

Discover how to write a statement of purpose to impress the admission committee; write a winning essay that catches the reader’s attention from the first line of applications. Use a statement of purpose example, it will help you to gain your goal.

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What questions should your paper answer?

Those asking how long should a personal statement be should pay attention not to the word count of a text but to its contents. Of course, it is never a good idea to write a long and boring text. Dropping a line about your character will not bring success to you as well. Good personal statement should be succinct and serve its particular purpose - show yourself from good side. One page will be enough. There are some basic questions which an effective statement should answer; list does not define the structure of the text; it helps you decide what to write about and which examples to provide.

 

Why have you chosen this course?

• Why are you interested in this subject/ course/ scientific area;
• What has influenced your choice;
• What have you already learnt about this course?

 

How does your education relate to this course?

• Do you have any knowledge of the subject acquired during previous training, preparation of scientific work or project;
• What are your academic achievements in this field;
• Have you received any scholarships;
• Do you have any skills that will be required in this course?

 

What non-academic experience related to the chosen specialty do you have?

• Do you have an interest in the subject, and how did it come about;
• Do you have any hobbies;
• Do you attend extracurricular activities related to the chosen specialty (for example, working in the student newspaper (to those who got accepted on a journalism faculty)?

Note that it perfectly fits any type of personal statement, be it law school or MBA graduate.

 

What personal traits would you like to point out?

The list of qualities required to be mentioned depends on the chosen area; it is important not just to list your traits but to provide evidence to the reader. Confirm statements with facts. Do not think how long should a personal statement be, focus on a different thing - content development strategy. It would a good idea to write about your participation in research projects. Publications in the scientific literature, victories in professional competitions, startups you’ve initiated, volunteer activity is also good content to add.

There are five universal traits, which admissions will pay attention to in personal statements of those applying to postgraduate programs. Among them are the following ones.

1. Ability to work independently;
2. Communication skills (oral and written);
3. Punctuality;
4. Ability to manage time effectively;
5. Determination and perseverance.

 

Why did you choose this university?

• Are there any specific tutors/ professors you would like to work with;
• Do they specialize in areas which interest you;
• What attracts you in the course;
• What do you think makes this college/ university different from others (outstanding research, quality of teaching, internships involving international companies, etc.)?

At this point, it is important that you do not repeat the information you read on the official website of the educational establishment you are applying to as a high school graduate.

 

What are your career goals?

It is not necessary to have step-by-step plan. It is important to show that you have an idea about your future career and you understand how the course will advance you in achieving these goals. Such an approach will prove your sense of purpose and professionalism.

GET EXPERT PERSONAL STATEMENT

 

How to organize a personal statement correctly?

If you are following standards on how long should be a personal statement for graduate school, remember an order of contents matters. It is important to ensure a person read your essay down to the last word. That’s why we advise you to start with the most interesting facts at the beginning of the paper. There are some other pieces of advice on how to arrange contents in your writing:

1. Strive to put the facts logically in such a way that the reader can see your development.
2. Separate text into paragraphs; use transition words to move from one paragraph to another. Make each paragraph of your paper a mini-story with an intro, body and a logical solution.
3. Add a hook to the intro. An opening paragraph is exactly the part of the paper that should interest a person to read your writing further. Make it interesting: use quotes, unusual fact, open questions.
4. A concluding personal statement is no less important part of a paper - it should leave a positive impression of the text. You do not need to sum up all the contents; use this space to more fully describe your goals and motivation.
5. Edit the paper in several steps. First, just write the draft; after a day or two, you should read it and make edits to the content. Recharge your energies and check your writing for grammatical or punctuation errors.

What are other things to write in your personal statement to stand out - discover a full list here.

 

A killer personal statement example of an average length

Born and raised in a diverse community I was lucky to learn quite early how important are the following things: respect, support, education, free life, and health. Besides, I was engaged in teamwork sports: football and rowing. This experience has been motivating me to grow as a person, acquire knowledge, obtain better grades and maintain proper health. The choice to pursue my career in this field was not easy however since I was not ready to drop active participation in sports and see what benefits it does offer. But in the end, I have made my key decision a year before graduation from my high school and as a result, started spending more time reading specialized literature on the subject.

I managed to graduate from my high school in the top-5, having obtained a diploma with honors. In addition to that, I have undergone several professional trainings and online courses, which strengthened my acquaintance with this area and also significantly broadened my view on major related scientific fields at home and abroad. The total length of these additional courses was about 8 months. My volunteering experience includes animal care, mass events organization and participation in raising charity funds for various purposes. A brief outline of all these activities can be found in my resume for this interview, with examples.

Now my next most key step is to enter this college so that I could proceed going free towards my dreams and goals and search for complete knowledge about this scientific area and its modern state on the international scale. Completing my training in this field will allow me to pursue my career and eventually become a highly successful professional serving the society around me and making a positive contribution to this sphere after I graduate. I have been preparing for this interview, applications, and admissions for a while already and now looking forward to learning more and start this new chapter of my education as an applicant and a school graduate.

 

Final say

Of course, a personal statement for colleges is aimed at showing an applicant from the best side. We advise students to always write honestly and objectively about themselves. Try to find a balance. It is a way to “sell yourself” as a student, to win a good reputation, graduate and build a good career. You should not confuse it with a fairy tale of a purely marketing instrument that does not offer valid examples.

This paper is one of the most important documents submitted by applicants upon admission to colleges or universities. That’s why it is necessary to prepare the text in advance before the interview. You can involve experienced specialists who can satisfy your 'write my admission essay or persoanl statement' request. In the second case, you will receive a ready-made piece in your email box immediately.