Do lines matter in personal statement?

Is a personal statement 4000 characters or 47 lines? It's basically what you hit first. Remember that the 4000 characters includes spaces, so it's important to write coherent, concise sentences to make the most of the character count and use your 47 lines effectively.

Does the line count matter on a personal statement?

A maximum of 4,000 characters (or 47 lines of text) is to be used in the personal statement so you must ensure that you structure your personal statement sensibly to include all of the key areas. As your word count is limited, everything you write should be relevant and add value to your statement.

Should I leave lines in my personal statement?

Clearly structured and correctly wri en statements

UCAS strips out all special forma ng such as bold, indents, tabs, mul-ple spaces with the single excep-on of blank lines. Use blank lines inbetween paras to make it easy to read. Proofread your statement carefully and ask others to check it for you too.

What to do if your personal statement has too many lines?

Be free to jot down anything and everything which comes to mind, and even list them in bullet-point form. You can then begin to adjust and re-order these points until a structure and narrative becomes clear. You'll probably have to cut a lot of stuff to keep your personal statement under the character limit.

Do you need line breaks in personal statement?

It can sometimes be tempting to write one long paragraph to make the most out of the character limit, but it's important admissions, and academic staff can read it easily, so don't forget paragraphs and line breaks. Formatting your personal statement into three paragraphs is a good way of making sure it stays focused.

Personal statement week: Smashing the 47 lines

Can a personal statement be over 47 lines?

Personal statement – practicalities

4000 characters (not words, so includes spaces) or 47 lines of text, whichever comes first. No formatting such as bold, underline or italics.

Is 3000 characters enough for a personal statement?

Your personal statement length can be up to 4,000 characters long. This may sound a lot, but it's a word limit of around 550–1000 words with spaces and only about 1 side of typed A4 paper. You need to keep it concise and make sure it's clear and easy to read.

What makes a personal statement weak?

Poor grammar – such as “its” when they meant “it's”, and even an instance of double exclamation marks. Typos – “thrist for knowledge”, for example. Not long enough – the statement uses 2,289 characters out of an available 4,000.

Is 47 lines or 4000 characters?

Dealing with the personal statement character limit

Regardless, the 'word' limit is 47 lines of text, or 4000 characters. This equates to (roughly) 500 words. UCAS recommend that you write out your personal statement in a word processor before copying and pasting it into the online application.

Why am I struggling to write my personal statement?

This document can be very challenging to write, as you will need to concisely outline your strengths, goals, experiences, and qualifications while demonstrating good writing skills. This can be a time-consuming project, so allow plenty of time to work on your statement.

What is too personal for a personal statement?

The situations you describe can be personal, but only up to a point: beware of revealing too much that is emotionally intimate. Ask yourself: Do these experiences make me sound emotionally unstable, ambivalent, or insecure? If so, don't bring them to the admissions committee.

How should I structure my personal statement?

There's no one 'correct' way to structure your personal statement. But it's a good idea to include the following: A clear introduction, explaining why you want to study the course. Around 75% can focus on your academic achievements, to prove how you're qualified to study it.

What should you not talk about in a personal statement?

Facts With No Context

You don't have to demonstrate your knowledge by discussing facts or histories. Chances are, the admissions already know what you're talking about. They probably know more than you do! So steer clear of textbook-type explanations.

How do I know if my personal statement is good enough?

Essentially, your personal statement should explain why you want to study the course at university and also demonstrate your ability to complete the degree to a high standard. Make sure everything you write connects with these areas.

Is 700 words too much for a personal statement?

Set aside enough time: Although personal statements are generally short in length (approx. 700 words; 1-2 pages), give yourself ample time to write a strong, well-written statement. It takes more time than you think to develop a final draft for submission.

Is 3500 characters enough for a personal statement?

There's a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. This may appear generous (read: long) but once you've got going you may find yourself having to edit heavily.

How long should a personal statement be?

A general rule of thumb you might follow is to submit a 2-3 page statement, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, in 12-pt. Times New Roman font. While there are no set rules about length or format, this is typically considered appropriate and sufficient.

Is UCAS 4000 characters with or without spaces?

The maximum size of your UCAS personal statement is 47 lines – that's around 500-550 words, size 12 font. The maximum number of characters is 4000, and this includes spaces.

How to start a personal statement?

Start with a short sentence that captures the reason why you're interested in studying the area you're applying for and that communicates your enthusiasm for it. Don't waffle or say you want to study something just because it's interesting. Explain what you find interesting about it.

What does a bad personal statement look like?

Listing your accomplishments or rehashing your CV and extracurriculars. You need to show, not tell. Choosing a bland topic that admissions committees see over and over again. Overstating the obvious and using clichés.

Is it bad if my personal statement is short?

(5) Be Concise

Some schools set no limit for personal statements, but most suggest either 2–3 or 2–4 pages. Aim for two pages, double-spaced. Do not make the error of thinking that more is better. Law schools value the ability to persuasively convey information in a relatively short space.

Should I say thank you at the end of a personal statement?

Should you say “thank you” at the end of a personal statement? Generally, writing thank you is not the best practice. Instead use the word count to its most effective use, showing the committee why you most definitely need to be admitted.

How does UCAS count lines?

UCAS Personal Statement Requirements

No longer than 47 lines. Each line can be no longer than 94 characters. (Our character counter above already has a max line length of 94 characters unless otherwise noted.) Characters include spaces, carriage returns, and punctuation.

Is 1,000 words too long for personal statement?

Also, it's important to follow the recommendations of the admission committee. The word limit can range from 500 up to 1000 words. Still, remember that your personal statement should contain relevant information. So, it's better to avoid wordiness to increase the word count.

Is 1500 words too long for a personal statement?

Normally, the length of a personal statement will be dictated by the application—500 words or 800 words are typical limits, as are one-page or two-page limits.