How do I cut down my personal statement?

Character count for a personal statement quickly becomes a problem, so its important to impart what you need to efficiently. To start with consider the course you are applying to, what it is they would want from you as an applicant, and what you have to offer. For applying to med school for example you would want to impart (1) intelligence (2) curiosity, (3) dedication + handling stress well, and (4) communication and interpersonal skills. You also want to show off (a) academic success, (b) placement or relevant experience, and (c) extracurriculars. They key is to discuss one thing from both columns at the same time. For example if you have an extra curricular that has taught you good communication skills, put them together in one sentence and paragraph.
To cut down on words, delete anything from the second category that does not contribute to the first, and delete anything that simply describes something from the first category unless you have something from the second category to back it up. Lastly, do not spend valuable words on discussing your grades. Discuss exceptional things no one else does, like competitions, awards, or academic extracurriculars, since the recipients of your personal statement will already know what your grades are like, and it will not help you stand out.