Personal Statement Formatting

[giramomma]

Rukh O'Rorke The Walk of the Penguin Mich

Or anyone else...

My program does not offer any guidance on how to format personal statements. Do I need to double space and indent paragraphs?

(The style guides that I use at work call for a different formatting style. So my formatting lens is way off, because that is what I'm used to)

Thanks!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

wow - I don't remember what I did format wise, let me see if I can log in to the work drive.

but - I don't think it was fancy or really anything of a particular "style"

[Rukh O'Rorke]

I can't get on.... password issue.

I think I typed is up like a mini report. Using the header space I centered Rukh O'Rouke one line, Personal Statement on the next, and then in the regular space just started yabbering about my ....uh......statements.

I can check at work tomorrow.

It was about 1.5 pages, single spaced. I so hated doing it, that sort of thing is contrary to my walk softly and carry a large twig persona.

[giramomma]

Thanks Rukh O'Rorke!

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Feb 20, 2017 22:18:36 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Rukh O'Rorke The Walk of the Penguin Mich

Or anyone else...

My program does not offer any guidance on how to format personal statements. Do I need to double space and indent paragraphs?

(The style guides that I use at work call for a different formatting style. So my formatting lens is way off, because that is what I'm used to)

Thanks!

I honestly remember.  I don't think I double spaced though.  I suspect I wrote it in the style I'd write a research paper, because I pretty much write everything like this due to habit.

[Deleted]

How many pages does it run? I'd go for 1.15 or 1.5 spacing, less academic looking but still easy reading. I'd indent paragraphs. I'd mess around with this to keep it at 2 pages unless they specifically ask for more.

[giramomma]

Feb 21, 2017 10:06:01 GMT -5 oped said:

How many pages does it run? I'd go for 1.15 or 1.5, less academic looking but still easy reading. I'd indent paragraphs. I'd mess around with this to keep it st 2 pages unless they specifically ask for more.

It's 2 pages at 1.5 spacing. 686 words. The parameters given were 1-3 pages in length. That's it.

It just looks so dated...like hello writing papers from 20 years ago.

I don't remember the last time I double spaced anything. But DS has to double space his papers for school. But, that's Jr high, not real life.

I've had my statement reviewed twice by the writing center on campus. It's good, and there isn't much to cut out. I forgot to ask about suggested formatting.

[Deleted]

Spacing is about being able to read easily and make notes as desired. Its not juvenile in nature...

[Bonny]

I have to ask, what's a Personal Statement? Is it similar to a covering letter for a CVs for academics?

[Deleted]

Submissions for like manuscripts, articles etc are never going to be single spaced, no matter how old you get

[giramomma]

Feb 21, 2017 10:58:50 GMT -5 Bonny said:

I have to ask, what's a Personal Statement? Is it similar to a covering letter for a CVs for academics?

I have to say why  I want to go to grad school, why I'm a good candidate/prove that I will be successful. ETA: It's a way for me to tell my story. I don't really go over things I'd include in a CV. They'll have a copy of my transcripts, etc.

In an eloquent way.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Feb 21, 2017 11:00:27 GMT -5 oped said:

Submissions for like manuscripts, articles etc are never going to be single spaced, no matter how old you get

I really should drink my coffee before answering.  You are absolutely correct!  In my defense, I had just crawled out of bed.

I just went back and looked in my external hard drive (where I mirrored my work computer before I left), but I am pretty sure that I was using another computer when I wrote that.  I do remember writing it at work, but that computer croaked not long afterwards.

Gira.....I really doubt that they have any formatting standards for personal statements.  What I would do is write it so that it is easily readable.  I wouldn't do it at single spaced, but your 1.5 is good. 

[flamingo]

When I read personal statements from applicants, I much prefer when they use 1.5 spacing or double spaced. Single spaced is SO HARD TO READ! Most are formatted with indented paragraphs and between 1.15 and 2 pages. Over 2 pages and my focus is gone. Having it reviewed by the writing center for grammatical and consistency issues was a good call. 

Good luck!  

[giramomma]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate it! There are like NO resources for an adult student who has been out of academia for a long time.

[The Fonz]

Feb 21, 2017 14:32:05 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Thanks everyone! I appreciate it! There are like NO resources for an adult student who has been out of academia for a long time.

My wife just completed one for her RN application. It was definitely double-spaced, one-inch margins and each paragraph was indented. Hope this helps. Look to see if they mentioned specific formatting requirements.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

I can't believe how much I remembered, lol. Every thing I said was right.

In header, name 14 pt, personal statement 11 pt (wierd..?)

667 words, 1.5 pages single space, times new roman 12 pt

Flesch Kincaid grade level 15.9

[Rukh O'Rorke]

I did not indent, very un apa format.

In retrospect, apa format was likely the most logical way to go.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Feb 21, 2017 11:19:50 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Feb 21, 2017 10:58:50 GMT -5 Bonny said:

I have to ask, what's a Personal Statement? Is it similar to a covering letter for a CVs for academics?

I have to say why  I want to go to grad school, why I'm a good candidate/prove that I will be successful. ETA: It's a way for me to tell my story. I don't really go over things I'd include in a CV. They'll have a copy of my transcripts, etc.

In an eloquent way.

Not sure of your program but generally they want a return on their investment in you, how you will use the info , training in a way to bring good press to their program with relevant stakeholders...employers, publications, prospective students.

[Deleted]

Feb 21, 2017 15:53:17 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

I can't believe how much I remembered, lol. Every thing I said was right.

In header, name 14 pt, personal statement 11 pt (wierd..?)

667 words, 1.5 pages single space, times new roman 12 pt

Flesch Kincaid grade level 15.9

OMG 11 pt times new roman single spaced. I would have thrown it away, lol.  

wait, the paper was 12? ... still... 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

My awesomeness shone through....

[Rukh O'Rorke]

I just wanted my name in larger font than the title - but you can't see a real contrast between 14 and 12 pt, and I didn't want bolding. and I didn't want to do something like 16pt on the name....

maybe I was feeling unawesome.....

[Rukh O'Rorke]

I just google imaged personal statements - they were all single spaced for the most part.

A double spaced document is for someone's review and comments - it's a draft. A single spaced document is a finished product.

[Deleted]

Lol. I originally read that the entire statement was in 11... which is small, especially for times which is small and pushed together. 

Personally im a, write what needs to be written. But an FYI if you have a page count to make and have said it all, Courior New is what you want to use  I actually use it for most everything. Those abandoning it for times that I have observed are using times 14...

[Rukh O'Rorke]

times new roman 12 is pretty standard for APA style, so I stick to that.

[Deleted]

Yes, I don't think academics are doing times 14, I was thinking some submission guidelines. But I don't think it's common to want times at all in those circles. And unless things have changed a lot courier is APA acceptable. 

I dont like reading times 12. If kids send me stuff in it by email I'll change it before I read it.