Personal Statement Ideal Length Forum

abcde12345 · Post by **abcde12345** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:00 pm

I used search, and I found some topics, but I wanted to get some clarification:

I understand that 2 pages is the PS ideal. Some schools let you use up to 4. If I use 3 or 4 pages to a school that allows it, will my statement be looked at negatively? Will it affect my application?

trombalontana · Post by **trombalontana** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:04 pm

Post removed.

florida1949 · Post by **florida1949** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:12 pm

2 pages

trombalontana · Post by **trombalontana** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:19 pm

Post removed.

abcde12345 · Post by **abcde12345** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:24 pm

Thanks for your advice. I plan on applying to most of the T14. But Yale is my target, and my chances, numbers-wise, are really a coin-flip. So I want to give myself the best shot to get in. Is 2 pages a must?

trombalontana · Post by **trombalontana** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 6:46 pm

Post removed.

abcde12345 · Post by **abcde12345** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 8:11 pm

Great, thanks again.

abcde12345 · Post by **abcde12345** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:55 pm

Oh, I just thought of another question, if you don't mind. I know Harvard wants 11pt font. Do the rest of them want 12pt? Can I use 11pt without being frowned upon? Also, what's a particularly small font?

trombalontana · Post by **trombalontana** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:30 am

Post removed.

abcde12345 · Post by **abcde12345** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:30 am

Thanks. So I can use 11pt for YSCCN etc.? Can anyone else verify this?

Lavitz · Post by **Lavitz** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:33 am

abcde12345 wrote:Thanks. So I can use 11pt for YSCCN etc.? Can anyone else verify this?

Yes. I used 11 point font for all of those (except Stanford because I'm not applying there).

2014 · Post by **2014** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:07 pm

The goal is for the content of your PS to be memorable while the formatting remains 100% forgettable. If you are doing anything that you think they will notice with formatting, think twice about it, that's really the best rule anyone can give.

abcde12345 · Post by **abcde12345** » Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:21 pm

Thanks everyone!