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Hi,
I know that Berkeley lets you write a 4-page personal statement--does this mean that you're EXPECTED to write 4 pages? I have worked really hard on my 2-page ps and would really hate to have to rewrite/add..

Dean Tom has frequently expressed in interviews that applicants should "take advantage" of the modified length requirement. So yeah, you probably should. FWIW, I increased my font size from 11pt to 12pt and expanded my margins to 1" (had been .75" I think), and that added a bit more than a page to mine.

wombie wrote:Hi,
I know that Berkeley lets you write a 4-page personal statement--does this mean that you're EXPECTED to write 4 pages? I have worked really hard on my 2-page ps and would really hate to have to rewrite/add..

Yeah I am in a similar boat. I really like my 2 page ps and don't think it could be re-worked into a four page paper without starting from scratch, but Berkelely is also my target school that I don't want to mess up my application for. I was considering just using my two page ps and adding a why Berkeley essay to supplement it.

Magi228 wrote:
Yeah I am in a similar boat. I really like my 2 page ps and don't think it could be re-worked into a four page paper without starting from scratch, but Berkelely is also my target school that I don't want to mess up my application for. I was considering just using my two page ps and adding a why Berkeley essay to supplement it.

If you are going to write more, why not just incorporate your why berk into the PS?

r6_philly wrote:

Magi228 wrote:
Yeah I am in a similar boat. I really like my 2 page ps and don't think it could be re-worked into a four page paper without starting from scratch, but Berkelely is also my target school that I don't want to mess up my application for. I was considering just using my two page ps and adding a why Berkeley essay to supplement it.

If you are going to write more, why not just incorporate your why berk into the PS?

That's a good idea! Thanks a lot!

wombie wrote:

r6_philly wrote:

Magi228 wrote:
Yeah I am in a similar boat. I really like my 2 page ps and don't think it could be re-worked into a four page paper without starting from scratch, but Berkelely is also my target school that I don't want to mess up my application for. I was considering just using my two page ps and adding a why Berkeley essay to supplement it.

If you are going to write more, why not just incorporate your why berk into the PS?

That's a good idea! Thanks a lot!

NP. Make a little transition toward the the end and voila!

r6_philly wrote:

Magi228 wrote:
Yeah I am in a similar boat. I really like my 2 page ps and don't think it could be re-worked into a four page paper without starting from scratch, but Berkelely is also my target school that I don't want to mess up my application for. I was considering just using my two page ps and adding a why Berkeley essay to supplement it.

If you are going to write more, why not just incorporate your why berk into the PS?

I don't think I could incorporate the information in any smooth way. My PS has a theme that runs throughout that wouldn't really fit information for any one particular school. Also, I do have several real reasons I want to attend Berkeley that seem to merit a separate statement. I already know I was going to write a why Berkeley essay. The real question is do I write a why Berkeley essay and create a new 4 page personal statement?

I get the impression that the 4 page personal statement is pretty important, and I would hate to not write it and then get a rejection letter. I would always be wondering if I could have changed things by writing a different personal statement. But at the same time I think the personal statement I have right now really reflects me as a person and would probably be better than a paper that just goes on for 4 pages about all the crap I have done...

Dilemmas bother me!


Edit:I didn't want to just jack your thread Wombie, but since you seem to have made up your mind I don't feel as bad anymore . Also I was seriously just about to make this thread earlier today. My numbers are right around Berkeley medians, so I really can't decide if I should rewrite the statement.

I am a 3.81/169 mexican-american.