Berkeley Less Than Four Pages? Forum

[nodiggity]

I have a strong two page PS (to go with 170/4.03). I know some other schools say that statements may be 2-4 pages, but Cal seems to emphasize the four. Is it worth messing with a good thing and expanding for more pages? Or, can a feel sort of safe (if that's possible with T14)?

[Palavra]

When the admissions lady from Berkeley came to my school she explicitly stated that it looks bad to have less than 4 pages. I personally think brevity is a virtue but she justified it by saying that it looks like you're not committed if you write less than 4.

I have a strong two page PS (to go with 170/4.03). I know some other schools say that statements may be 2-4 pages, but Cal seems to emphasize the four. Is it worth messing with a good thing and expanding for more pages? Or, can a feel sort of safe (if that's possible with T14)?

[freestallion]

It seemed like a bunch of people did get in last year with just 2 pages. I don't know that it is necessary. I expanded my PS but it was only 3 pages... I'll let you know the end result!
ETA: I also had a 1 page diversity statement so I hoped that helped!

[Champion]

I kept mines at the regular two pages, because I also have a two page diversity statement.

[euskadi]

While I didn't have any addenda, I only extended my Berkeley PS to three pages. Concision is a virtue, and four pages for the sake of four pages seems unnecessary. In a perfect world, a solid two to three page essay would be more highly valued that one that simply made it to four. This is the approach I've taken, so it'll be interesting to see what Berkeley thinks!