You can actually write up to 5 pages on your personal statement. From my understanding most programs use numbers (Step scores and grades) to make their cuts. After that, who knows? It would be safe to say, though, that most interviewers don't read the PS until right before the interview. So a few lines here or there won't make much of a difference. Just don't write five pages about yourself. Good luck.

I think that if I were you I would go just by the ERAS format. Use Word just for the advantage of spell checking, etc.

They get in eras format, I agree with above that word is just for spell checking.

While the PS means relatively little at most programs there are some that actually use it to select whom they choose to interview. My own program does that. I think they filter their applicants with ERAS based on minimum scores, etc. then the chair reads the personal statements of those that survive the filter and interviews the ones that sound like good guys/gals in their personal statements. This is rare though.

I agree with pod2be in that I really think that the personal statement does not really amount to much - just be normal. A really good personal statement is not going to get you an interview; however, a really bad one may exclude you from the pool. Do not use the PS as a means by which to express political, social, chemical, or for God's sake sexual preferences. Be yourself, but don't do some artsy weird thing like write you PS in rhyme or iambic pentameter (what is that anyhow).
Just some free advice given to me last year when I was applying.
good luck to you all.

I can't say specifically what iambic pentameter is, but I seem to remember my high school english teacher going da-DA-da-DA-da-DA-da-DA when discussing it.

As for the PS, my goal is to make it between 1/2 to 3/4 of a page and make sure I don't coime off as a tool or and arrogant prick. That is going to be tough since I am an arrogant prick, but I will do my best.

Yeah, I suppose arrogant prick can be a problem as well. Do your best to not let that come through.

DA-da-DA-da-DA-da