600 word limit?

[rosemma]

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So I have written my PS and it is about 597 words... I really want to add one more paragraph because I think it is very important. How much do they care if you go over the word limit? Is that a really bad idea? How strict is it?

 

[VelcroSky]

Probably best not to push it. You can always add stuff to the explanation statement.

But I know what you mean. I had to really trim to make if fit. Last year there was a 5000 character limit which was a little better, unless of course you use all ten letter words.

 

[rosemma]

I wish it was 5000 char. I am at 2,400 right now. 600 is way to short. It should at least be 800. I'll just have to cut down. thanks!

 

[QTkitty]

I actually don't think the electronic application on VMCAS will allow you to go over the limit. This was true for mine last year at least...

 

[Emio]

I actually don't think the electronic application on VMCAS will allow you to go over the limit. This was true for mine last year at least...

yep. if you c&p your document, it just chops off anything over the limit.

i.e. its not that theyre 'picky' about the limit... it really is the limit.

 

[KittenKiller]

Well, if its a word limit, then they cant really limit the size of the text box to X amount of characters, like they did last year. So unless they do some fancy programming (and judging from the VMCAS site last year, I think that's well beyond them), it won't be limited, since they probably wont have some program dynamically counting the words as you type.

However, I still wouldnt advise going over the limit. Do some editing, and then maybe add that last paragraph. Maybe there's a sentence or two you could cut out?

 

[jfitzpatri8]

Sounds like you need a good editor. Write all that you want to say (ie, add that last paragraph), and then you can send it to me for hacking, er, editing. I have learned pretty well from my newspaper-editor husband, and it is always best to have someone besides yourself do a final edit.

Send me a PM if you want me to read it, then send it as a doc to my email. same as my avatar here @gmail.
Jenn

ps... I am willing to read and edit for anyone, but I start school again in a week, so try to let me know and send 'em to me soon.

 

[rexosaurus]

Well, if its a word limit, then they cant really limit the size of the text box to X amount of characters, like they did last year. So unless they do some fancy programming (and judging from the VMCAS site last year, I think that's well beyond them), it won't be limited, since they probably wont have some program dynamically counting the words as you type.

However, I still wouldnt advise going over the limit. Do some editing, and then maybe add that last paragraph. Maybe there's a sentence or two you could cut out?

From what I have experienced this year with apps/VMCAS, if you cut and paste a document, it will let you, no matter the size. Then, if you edit while it is in the text box, it will give you a pop-up that says you are over the word limit. Press okay, for each letter, and you can still keep going. But I don't know if it will let you submit (as I haven't done it yet) if you are over 600 words. I wouldn't recommend going over the limit though, as it is a measure for them to take so that they don't have to read more than they have to (thousands of apps=thousands of personal statements), and if in fact you do go over as a concious choice, you are not only not following directions but may be irritating the adcoms (extra reading); in which case it may negatively impact your application. Just my opinion, hope this helps!

 

[kate_g]

So unless they do some fancy programming (and judging from the VMCAS site last year, I think that's well beyond them), it won't be limited, since they probably wont have some program dynamically counting the words as you type.

Last year's app must have kept a dynamic count of all characters, because it would pop up a box the second you typed that 5001st letter. To count words instead all you need to do is only increment the counter for whitespace characters (e.g. spaces between words, returns between paragraphs), which shouldn't be that big of a programming jump...