Personal Statement - too many lines

I've finished my personal statement, and it's just under the character limit (3800), but it exceeds the 47 line limit.

I don't want to cut it down any further - there's nothing else I can cut down, so should I just remove paragraphing in order to fit it into the limit?

Reply 1

bzfnqyd

14

Original post by sarahpenguin

I've finished my personal statement, and it's just under the character limit (3800), but it exceeds the 47 line limit.

I don't want to cut it down any further - there's nothing else I can cut down, so should I just remove paragraphing in order to fit it into the limit?

You can just try using some shorter words. Try and combine some of your paragraphs maybe? If you're desperate you can take out the line between each paragraph and mark each paragraph with a couple of spaces worth of indentation, but I really wouldn't advise that.

Reply 2

Good bloke

19

Original post by sarahpenguin

I've finished my personal statement, and it's just under the character limit (3800), but it exceeds the 47 line limit.

I don't want to cut it down any further - there's nothing else I can cut down, so should I just remove paragraphing in order to fit it into the limit?

Read my profile text for advice then significantly edit your PS, after realising that the line limit is the one to aim for, not the character limit. Keep the paragraph gaps.

Reply 3

Good bloke

19

Then why say it? Indentation is removed by the UCAS system, so it couldn't work even if it were a good idea, which it isn't.

Reply 4

IRoranth

15

Yeah, remove paragraphing and any spaces between the lines- UCAS just turns your PS into a humungous paragraph anyway. Looks revolting, but hey- everyone's application is gonna look the same :P

Don't know why everyone's saying you need to cut down your characters (you might if you're waffling), just remove the useless blank spaces and paragraphing like I said.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 5

PQ

Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post by sarahpenguin

there's nothing else I can cut down

wanna bet?

Submit it for a review by the PS reviewers

Reply 6

Good bloke

19

Original post by IRoranth

Yeah, remove paragraphing and any spaces between the lines- UCAS just turns your PS into a humungous paragraph anyway. Looks revolting, but hey- everyone's application is gonna look the same :P

From ignorance comes the worst advice. Your claims about all statements looking the same, with no gaps between paragraphs and being a slab of text are simply not true.

Reply 7

IRoranth

15

Original post by Good bloke

From ignorance comes the worst advice. Your claims about all statements looking the same, with no gaps between paragraphs and being a slab of text are simply not true.

Haha, well I've just sent my personal statement off and UCAS automatically removed my paragraphing- don't think I'm being ignorant :biggrin:

It literally is a "slab of text."

Reply 8

Good bloke

19

Original post by IRoranth

Haha, well I've just sent my personal statement off and UCAS automatically removed my paragraphing- don't think I'm being ignorant :biggrin:

It literally is a "slab of text."

No. If you had viewed it with the correct part of the UCAS system you would have seen it as it appears to the admissions staff.

Yours appeared as a slab of text because either (a) it was s slab of text, as you had not properly paragraphed it or (b) you viewed it using the wrong tool (or both, of course).

There is no need to present the poor benighted admissions staff with such a hard job of reading.

Reply 9

IRoranth

15

Original post by Good bloke

No. If you had viewed it with the correct part of the UCAS system you would have seen it as it appears to the admissions staff.

Yours appeared as a slab of text because either (a) it was s slab of text, as you had not properly paragraphed it or (b) you viewed it using the wrong tool (or both, of course).

There is no need to present the poor benighted admissions staff with such a hard job of reading.

Ok.

Reply 10

Good bloke

19

Original post by IRoranth

Ok.

Well, that rather depends on whether you submitted an unreadable slab of text or a carefully presented disquisition on your interest in the subject and ability to be successful in studying it.

Reply 11

PQ

Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post by IRoranth

Haha, well I've just sent my personal statement off and UCAS automatically removed my paragraphing- don't think I'm being ignorant :biggrin:

It literally is a "slab of text."

How a PS appears to universities:

With blank lines

Without blank lines

Which do you think is going to be read properly by admissions staff and which do you think will have half the content skipped over because it's unreadable?

ETA - admittedly the first example massively overdoes the paragraphs 4-5 would be absolutely fine...9 is probably pushing it.