question about SOP length and style

[candycrava]

How long should the SOP be?

Also, should the essay be double-spaced or single-spaced with an extra space between paragraphs?

[fuzzylogician]

Depends. (As always.)

Some apps have length or page requirements -- common requirements I've noticed are 500 words or 2 pages. If no guidelines are given, I would recommend trying to have ~800 word SOP, though the range can vary widely between fields and also depending on your life experience. If there are common formatting guidelines in your field, use them. For example, you could use the formatting from prominent journals or proceedings. If not, go for at least 1.5 line spacing and either indentation or an extra line between paragraphs.Personally I wrote a 850 word SOP when there no limits but ended up preferring my 500-word version - it was tighter and conveyed all the same information. I ended up using it as a basis for my favorite app, which was 650 words long.

[Quantum Buckyball]

How long should the SOP be?

Also, should the essay be double-spaced or single-spaced with an extra space between paragraphs?

1 page long, single-spaced with 12 font size. Do not cover the materials that you've already mentioned in your CV or resume.

[fuzzylogician]

1 page long, single-spaced with 12 font size.

Giving such definitive answers when you know nothing about the OP's circumstances is dangerous and almost certainly wrong. Where did these numbers come from?

[Quantum Buckyball]

Giving such definitive answers when you know nothing about the OP's circumstances is dangerous and almost certainly wrong. Where did these numbers come from?

Because I asked the exact same question when I was applying for my master degree 3 years ago, and for my PhD this year.

The information I posted earlier was based on the recommendations I received from the professors who were on the admission committee at my current school, and for the department of chemistry.

Edited July 6, 2012 by SPDFG13579

[Sigaba]

Because I asked the exact same question when I was applying for my master degree 3 years ago, and for my PhD this year.

The information I posted earlier was based on the recommendations I received from the professors who were on the admission committee at my current school, and for the department of chemistry.

So everyone--regardless of field, degree, or institution--should do as you were told as a chemistry student?

[TakeruK]

Depends. (As always.)

Some apps have length or page requirements -- common requirements I've noticed are 500 words or 2 pages. If no guidelines are given, I would recommend trying to have ~800 word SOP, though the range can vary widely between fields and also depending on your life experience. If there are common formatting guidelines in your field, use them. For example, you could use the formatting from prominent journals or proceedings. If not, go for at least 1.5 line spacing and either indentation or an extra line between paragraphs.Personally I wrote a 850 word SOP when there no limits but ended up preferring my 500-word version - it was tighter and conveyed all the same information. I ended up using it as a basis for my favorite app, which was 650 words long.

This is probably the best advice, especially about following the common formatting from your field! My basic SOP was 1.75 pages single spaced, 12 point font, about 1100 words. Only one out of 8 schools gave a length limit (1 page single spaced) for me. I found that I needed an extra ~100 words to explain why I have a Masters degree, and especially how a Canadian MSc does not mean I dropped out of a PhD program early and that it's different than a course-based terminal masters. The guidelines I saw on the Internet when writing this was 2-3 pages though; but it wasn't clear if it's double- or single- spaced. I figured 1.75 pages single spaced is close enough for either guideline! I was applying to mostly Astronomy programs, and a few Planetary Science, if we want to calibrate for fields

I would also disagree with the other person who said to not repeat anything in your CV -- some things are worth mentioning more than once. For example, I wrote a short paragraph for every research project I did, talked about what I learned from the experience, what my main results were, and why they are important/interesting, especially if they resulted in publications. Some of this information is repeated in my CV, but I used the SOP to put emphasis on the more personal aspects, especially how the experience lead me to where I am today (in terms of experience, interest, etc.).

But it would be interesting (for me anyways) to hear about how long others' SOPs are. Maybe mine was really way too long and I was just lucky they overlooked it

[Sigaba]

[TheFez]

When asked how long a man's legs should be - Lincoln said "long enough to reach the ground".

That's my take on SOPs. Only as long as it takes to tell your story in a focused, well written way. Ad comms seem to care most about reading a convincing, specific, and well-written SOP than on the word count --- within reasonable bounds. (And of ocurse addressing any specifics required by the institution).