Approx 500 words... how much is too much?

[asha]

So if they ask for about 500 words, is 567 too many? I don't know what to cut. Bleh.

[modernity]

So if they ask for about 500 words, is 567 too many? I don't know what to cut. Bleh.

Someone just posted a link earlier today to a commentary by some adcomm members. It basically said "don't go over, we don't want to read anymore than we have to" and that it was somewhat arrogant to go over the amount, when there would be other applicants doing their best to stay under. I would also guess, that there are adcomm members that aren't going to notice.

67 words is quite a bit over though. I think this might be enough to be noticeable by sight, where it would look longer than other applicants who stayed under the limit (in writing my own - i found that with times new roman/12 point/double spaced anything more than 530-ish was going over to a second page which I think looks even worse). I think you're going to be safer if you can find things to cut.

You have to decide for yourself really though, whether the extra words are worth risking the annoyance of someone on the adcomm.

[asha]

Hmmm... I am at the second page around 330 words, but I have a four line header, maybe that is why. Or I use really long words (not really). I am going to take a break and reread it later. It's my last application out of 7 and I am just sick to death of messing with the SOP.

[modernity]

Hmmm... I am at the second page around 330 words, but I have a four line header, maybe that is why. Or I use really long words (not really). I am going to take a break and reread it later. It's my last application out of 7 and I am just sick to death of messing with the SOP.

I can sympathize. I'm playing the "what can I creatively cut out" game with mine as we speak for one that's due on Fri. I don't have my header in yet so that could be part of it. Like I said - there are probably adcomms out there that will never notice, and others who won't care as long as its not 800 words or something like that. I am just trying to play it on the safe side, so thats my advice to others.

[jlee306]

My statements had to be 500 words or less as well. I didn't want to take any chances though and my applications came out to exactly 499 and 500 words. It was sooooo hard cutting them down!

[danstina]

I cannot point you to it directly, but I recently read on here someone said they heard it was okay to go over up to 100 words. I've also been told that "as close as possible" is your best bet, also, yours said approx. I'd go with the 67 extra.

[Lantern]

Funny, I just found this thread after spending the last 4 hours slowly cutting out one sentence then one word at a time to get my SOP down to 500. Ugh. I had done some research on what was acceptable. One source (online) said 10% over the limit is acceptable, and another said if the limit is 500 you shouldn't go over 520. Unfortunately ths process has made me somewhat paranoid, and I had these visions of the ad comm checking the word counts and instantly trashing anything over the limit. I know this is crazy, but I forced myself to get it down to 500.

[asha]

I had one that was 300!

[fancypants09]

I came in at 499 for a 500 word essay just now...priceless

[nia]

If the word limit was not displayed on the web site what do you think the length of the SOP should be?

[thecommons]

If the word limit was not displayed on the web site what do you think the length of the SOP should be?

In this case, I've generally stuck to 1000 words, give or take 100. We'll see how that turns out.

[jacib]

If the word limit was not displayed on the web site what do you think the length of the SOP should be?

I generally stuck to the 2 or 3 pages guidelines... and actually tried to keep it very close to exactly 2 pages (i.e. not going on to the third page)

[PIB]

I do not exceed the spatial requirements on any piece of writing. With that being said, I tend to max out on essays, especially scholarship applications and personal statements. Not to sound arrogant, but I have been offered full scholarships to law schools, and very generous scholarships for graduate school also. Trust your gut, follow your heart, and speak from the soul.

[lily_]

I had the same issue with my SOP. I came out around 512 words for one that said "approx. 500 words". Advice I was given is that there is a 10% rule, where you could go up to as an absolute max, (so for a 500 word SOP it would be 550) but only if those extra 50 words were totally essential to the points you were trying to make. Other advice I was given (there is a similar post on this forum) was that it's better to err on the side of caution and stay within the listed parameters. This is an extremely difficult application season due to the economy and you don't want to do anything that might get you eliminated before they even read it. I would try to edit, edit, edit, take out all flowery language and try to condense as much as possible without detracting from your SOP, and at least try to get it under 550, if not right at the 500 mark.

Best of luck!

[anxious2011]

In this case, I've generally stuck to 1000 words, give or take 100. We'll see how that turns out.

That's what I've been thinking too. Does anyone have a sense of whether the 'standard' SOP length in such a case of it being unspecified changes across disciplines. I'm applying for PhD. programs in Finance or Economics.

Thanks!