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Duke University
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Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

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Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

College Personal Statement Length

Hi everyone, I'm starting to work on my college apps and I'm unsure about how long my personal statement should be. Do colleges have a preferred length, or is it pretty flexible? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

10 months ago

Hello! When it comes to personal statements, most colleges use the Common Application, Coalition Application, or their own application system. Each platform will have specific word limits for essays. For example, the Common Application has a word limit of 650 words, and you should try to stay within that limit.

It's recommended that you stay close to the word limit to ensure that your essay is concise and well-presented, but avoid going over the limit. Admission officers read numerous applications, and a lengthy essay may not be as appealing to them.

As you work on your personal statement, remember to focus on conveying your story effectively and maintaining the reader's interest. Length is important, but the main goal should be presenting a meaningful, well-written essay.

Best of luck with your college applications!

10 months ago

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