GWU SOP Help

[catchingclouds]

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Hey everyone,

I've been struggling with GWU's 500 word limit for its SOP (I know...welcome to the club, huh?). So...two questions:

- I've painstakingly pared it down to somewhere close to 500 words but I'm going bald trying to figure out where else to trim. Does anyone know if their word limit is a strict requirement or just a suggestion? (I'm planning on calling Monday to find out if no one knows for sure.) Actually this question goes for UMB's 1000 word limit too. I can't figure out why I can't get it under that limit, when I've managed to write a SOP under 550 words.

- The SOP asks for information on any teaching experience that you've had if you're applying for a teaching assistantship. I haven't talked about my teaching experience yet and I'm already over the limit! Since my C.V. sums up my experience pretty nicely anyway, can I just tack on a note to tell them to refer to the C.V. instead? If so, where should I tack it? Put it in parentheses at the end? I don't want my SOP to look "ugly" if you know what I mean.

Thanks!

 

[sugarhi385]

This doesn't apply if you're talking about the PhD program, but I applied last year and got accepted into the PsyD program and I'm pretty sure my essay was over 500 words. My advice would to be to just get it down as much as you can, but I'm not sure what other people think.

 

[elphaba]

I applied to GWU as well... took my chances and submitted an SOP over 500 words (I think it was like 554). There was just no way that I could cut it down any more and still have it sound strong and include all of the necessary information, so I just submitted as is! My guess is that it won't be a huge issue -- if it was 200 words over, then yes, but 50ish? Hopefully not. Again, I decided it was worth it to just take the chance, though!

About the teaching experience -- since they specifically ask you to mention it in the SOP, I would find a way to make it fit (maybe remove the details of some research or work experience since they'll have it in your CV, etc.) rather than asking them to go out of their way to look at a separate document.

 

[Buzzwordsoldier]

I cut out about 85/100 of my hugely unnecessary adverbs and distracting adjectives. I became a "that"ist and pared out that word when possible. I considered that humbly consenting to massively simplify complex verb structures was that task which would have to be undertaken. If I had followed that incredible advice while I sat to compose this post I would have easily cut it down by over half, without significantly compromising on the content that I deemed to be essential to share. I hope this was helpful... ;-)

 

[deadmau5]

500 words is about 1 page and 3/4 so usually I just went a little further to the end of the 2nd page.

i totally agree, 500 words was just too short to get my points across. Some actually had long lists of points to include...

 

[catchingclouds]

Thanks for the help guys. 🙂

I was worried about adding more sentences to talk about my teaching experience (and boy do I need any kind of assistantship they got!) but since it seems like going a little over isn't a huge deal, I'll try and fit those in somewhere.

One more question in general...if the SOP does not specifically ask for you to double space your essay, is the standard to double space anyway? Or at least do 1.5 spacing? I was thinking about leaving it single-spaced to conserve paper and be green and all that. 😉

If I had followed that incredible advice while I sat to compose this post I would have easily cut it down by over half, without significantly compromising on the content that I deemed to be essential to share. I hope this was helpful... ;-)

LOL! I get very wordy too.

 

[kbean]

I emailed UMB tonight to ask if the 1000-word limit was strict or not. Hopefully I'll hear back from them ASAP. I might call. I can't get mine down under that limit, either.

 

[childpsych479]

I'm having trouble getting my SOP down to 500 words as well for University of Maine. I think I may have to completely write a new essay because I cannot get it past 600! I'm going to keep working on it and perhaps contact the department to see how hard and fast the word limit is.

Good luck to all!

 

[catchingclouds]

I emailed UMB tonight to ask if the 1000-word limit was strict or not. Hopefully I'll hear back from them ASAP. I might call. I can't get mine down under that limit, either.

I just called since I had a couple of other questions and they said it's just a suggestion. So if you don't go a ridiculous amount over, then you'll be fine. 🙂

I'm having trouble getting my SOP down to 500 words as well for University of Maine. I think I may have to completely write a new essay because I cannot get it past 600! I'm going to keep working on it and perhaps contact the department to see how hard and fast the word limit is.

Good luck to all!

Contacting the department is a good idea - it'll give you a peace of mind. Good luck to you too!

 

[jenn1015]

I'm applying to GWU also, and although it took me several drafts to get it under the limit, it's actually one of my favorite statements. I tend to be very wordy, and having to cut all the bull**** out of it was very beneficial. (Not that what I had written was bull****, per se, it just wasn't the "meat and potatoes" of the essay, and now it's super concise.) It is possible to cut down, taking a day in between drafts to clear your mind of it.

 

[Buzzwordsoldier]

I'm applying to GWU also, and although it took me several drafts to get it under the limit, it's actually one of my favorite statements. I tend to be very wordy, and having to cut all the bull**** out of it was very beneficial. (Not that what I had written was bull****, per se, it just wasn't the "meat and potatoes" of the essay, and now it's super concise.) It is possible to cut down, taking a day in between drafts to clear your mind of it.

I'm with you -- my GWU statement became the "backbone" for essays with a higher word-count allowance. IMHO the final product had a "punch" I don't immediately recognize in my voice. I didn't tackle the GWU essay first, though -- that would have been too restricting. I had to let ideas flow for drafts of a few 1000+ worders, first. Writing became a dialogue between the two types of essays. Central ideas were imported to GWU, pared down, and reintegrated into the larger essays, which freed up room for more ideas to flow. At some point the word limit became less of a hassle and more of a fun challenge, and I crammed in more than I'd bargained for -- in just under 500 words. I found the process clarifying.

 

[BuckeyeAlum]

I agree with a bunch of you - some of my shorter essays (GWU, UMBC, Cincy, Wisconsin) are my favorites! While I would have liked to include some of the details from my past experience or my research interests, I will be able to talk about these things in an interview. Plus, a lot of the details I did not include in the shorter statements can be filled in with my CV.

I included one sentence about my past teaching experience. I think I deleted a sentence that was a little "fluffier," since they specifically asked about teaching experience. It's all about priorities.

 

[leavingprov]

I agree with a bunch of you - some of my shorter essays (GWU, UMBC, Cincy, Wisconsin) are my favorites! While I would have liked to include some of the details from my past experience or my research interests, I will be able to talk about these things in an interview. Plus, a lot of the details I did not include in the shorter statements can be filled in with my CV.

I included one sentence about my past teaching experience. I think I deleted a sentence that was a little "fluffier," since they specifically asked about teaching experience. It's all about priorities.

There's a (tacky) expression in journalism: "Kill your babies"

Those sentences that you get most attached to are probably the ones that can be cut or at least pared, though editing them can be the most painful. Sounds like that worked out for some people pretty well in the long run!

 

[Annakei]

Well, I just submitted mine and it's a little under 1000 for the 250-500 limit. Im not sure that it could have been any less than 800 even if I tried. Hopefully content counts more than word count 😎

 

[Buzzwordsoldier]

Well, I just submitted mine and it's a little under 1000 for the 250-500 limit. Im not sure that it could have been any less than 800 even if I tried. Hopefully content counts more than word count 😎

THAT takes stones. Definitely check back to let us know what happens!!

 

[Buzzwordsoldier]

dang late night double posts...😛

 

[buzzworm]

Just discovered this same 500-word limit for one of my schools. It hadn't been mentioned on any of the main websites, but I found it hidden in a separate checklist that I'd never seen before. Why can't these people put all their information in one place?

I've gotten my essay down to around 800, and now I'm looking here to figure out what else to cut. Thanks to all the previous posters for their suggestions!

 

[chasingadream]

this has been one of the most frustrating parts of the entire process for me. the GW prompt is ridiculous they ask for SO MUCH in formation you get about one sentence per question! at least you aren't alone. good luck!