What characters are not allowed in a personal statement?

Common symbols not allowed are €, long dashes (–) and the special quote characters “ ' ' ” which will simply be removed from your statement.

What are the restrictions 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 to and what not to include in a personal statement?

While some background information won't hurt, the best statements will only include experiences directly related to their chosen course. Generally, you should focus on recent study from the last few years. Anything older than that should only be included if it's relevant or provides important context.

What counts as characters in a personal statement?

Personal statement – practicalities

4000 characters (not words, so includes spaces) or 47 lines of text, whichever comes first.

Do you have to use all 4000 characters in 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.

How To Write A Successful Personal Statement BEST TIPS || Got me Into All 5 Univeristies

Can a personal statement be 3500 characters?

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 do you cut down characters in a personal statement?

Should I use all characters in personal statement?

You do not have to fill all of the available space. In fact, a more cogent, focused personal statement that falls short of 5,300 characters will always be stronger than one that's forcibly lengthened by digressions or irrelevant material.

How many characters is too short for a personal statement?

It's a good idea to aim for 3,500 characters in your first draft, and then you can add or remove words accordingly. For the finished piece, try to get as near to the word count as possible – anything too short might not have enough detail, and anything too long will get cut off. Need more personal statement advice?

How should I format my personal statement?

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.

What is a bad personal statement?

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.

What is a good opening sentence for 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 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 to end a personal statement?

A good way to finish your personal statement is to summarise your overall goal or aim when moving forwards towards this job and your career. This means you have spoken about the past, present and future, in just a few lines and gives the employer a good idea of you and your potential.

Do spaces count as characters in personal statement?

The maximum number of characters is 4000, and this includes spaces.

Should I leave spaces between paragraphs on my personal statement?

Leave some space by skipping a line between paragraphs – this will make it easier for admissions selectors to read. You will still find you can produce a text of about 450-500 words in the space available.

Is it OK if my personal statement is short?

Even if you don't include an anecdote in the statement, the topic that you choose should, in a sense, “tell a story” about you in a way that captures and keeps the reader's attention. Some schools set no limit for personal statements, but most suggest either 2–3 or 2–4 pages. Aim for two pages, double-spaced.

Can a personal statement be 3000 characters?

You can type your personal statement in the online application form (3,000-character limit, including spaces) or upload it as a separate document. If you upload your personal statement, you can go over 3,000 characters but it cannot be longer than two sides of A4 paper (size 12 font and single spaced).

Do you put your name on a personal statement?

Do you put your name on a personal statement? It's better not to put your name in the first paragraph of the application essay. The name is usually mentioned in the header of the personal statement. However, it's necessary to consider the guidelines for an essay.

Should I use all 5300 characters for personal statement?

Your protocol is 5300 characters with spaces. It is not necessary for your essay to be within five or 10 characters of this length. It should be over 5000 characters, but that is the only general rule to worry about. Trying to get the essay to exactly 5300 characters gets a lot of applicants into trouble.

Does punctuation matter in personal statement?

Don't forget poor punctuation either. These are obvious and easily avoided issues, so check and double check before you submit your application. Grammar and spelling crimes could result in rejection, especially if you're applying to a very competitive course.

How many characters is a good personal statement?

UCAS Personal Statement Requirements

No longer than 4000 characters. No longer than 47 lines. Each line can be no longer than 94 characters.

Is 2000 characters enough for a personal statement?

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.

Can you use italics in personal statement?

Use no more than 4000 characters (including spaces) to match the UCAS personal statement length. Use plain text – don't use bold, italics, underlining.

What are the 3 parts of a personal statement?