Some Statistics and Figures on Writing the Personal Statement for the Common Application
If you’ve ever wondered how much time and effort it takes to write the personal statement, we have some good news for you. I’m weirdly interested in tracking processes, and over the years after working with hundreds of students, I now have some averages that are not just data, but also metrics and records to beat.
The figures below are based on a wide range of students, including both “good” and “bad” writers, and many of whom have gained admission into some of the most selective colleges in the world, including Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Duke, University of Pennsylvania and many more.
WARNING: Uncomfortable Truth Below
Even the most talented and creative writers I’ve worked with still struggle with this, but all their effort also led to some of the best writing I keep wanting to reread again and again (my own personal litmus test for good writing). They’re not only proud of the writing they produced, but also gained admission to their top choice schools.
Some Statistics and Figures to Keep in Mind
2–4 = average number of ideas/topics you attempt to write before figuring out which one you want to commit to, that you will enjoy writing (yes, you can enjoy the writing process too) or at least make it easier or less painful to write compared to the other ideas/topics, and will be proud of when you think about if it accurately represents you.
3 = record for lowest number of drafts required to complete the personal statement (note: the student still explored 3–4 different ideas before figuring out which one they gravitated to the most and realized that it was the idea that worked best).
20+ = record for highest number of total drafts (including 4 different ideas throughout 20+ drafts) to finish a personal statement. But it was one of the best ones I’ve ever read, the student was happy and relieved with the final result (she doubted if she would ever figure out what the final product would be), and was a team favorite for that year.
6 = record for lowest number of hours required to write a personal statement from ideation to finished draft that was submitted. This student also explored around 5 different ideas before coming up with an idea literally the day of the Early Decision deadline (not recommended).
136 = longest total duration of days required to complete the personal statement. It’s a commitment to quality, authenticity, and ownership of the process and final product.
650 = word limit for the personal statement. All those statistics and figures above are all a result of the attempt to produce and decide on the final 650 words that will be reviewed by the admissions office of your top choice school.
So What’s Next Now that You Have This Knowledge?
After learning the numbers above, you’re probably wondering, “How long will it take me to write my own personal statement?” The truth is that nobody can guarantee what it will take for you to write a personal statement — to tell a story — that you’re not only proud of.
And if you want some help, our team is here to help you figure that out with you.
One last piece of advice: yesterday was the best time to start. Today is the second best.
Don’t delay starting to work on your ambitions. You’ll only have less time to achieve them with each passing day. And the craziest part? You might be able to.
