Length of Career Statement

[Hope48]

---

Members do not see this ad.

My school does not have a limit on the numbers of words in a statement, as long as it is not over 1500 words. My statement has about 500 words... I don't have anything else to say. I think the essay is sufficient enough and has want I wanted to say. Do you guys think schools pay attention to the length of the essay or just the content of the essay is important?

 

[UCDavisdude]

My school does not have a limit on the numbers of words in a statement, as long as it is not over 1500 words. My statement has about 500 words... I don't have anything else to say. I think the essay is sufficient enough and has want I wanted to say. Do you guys think schools pay attention to the length of the essay or just the content of the essay is important?

most schools say 1-2 pages. so id assume 1.5 pages would work.

 

[rajju077]

I believe the content is important. maybe you could cram in extra 200 words or so.

 

[snoofle]

i had an admissions advisor help me with my essays and she said length doesn't matter as long as its to the point and well written

 

[rajju077]

i had an admissions advisor help me with my essays and she said length doesn't matter as long as its to the point and well written

any more tips from your admission advisor?

 

[snoofle]

well she had me write why i wanted to study public health, what my future goals were and i mentioned potential future research projects i would like to conduct

 

[rajju077]

hmm did you include any personal stories, or life atlering events or something like that?

 

[snoofle]

yes i did..i started off with my life altering event, went into how it made me want to do public health, and finished with my hopes for my future

 

[rajju077]

is it ok if i dont include any life altering events? i have a alot of them, some of them happened recently, some of them going on right now. i think its too personal to share it with a admissions committee.
do you think its imperative to include a personal story? i am not used to discussing these things. there is one i can share, about having suffered anxiety disorder and overcoming it, but thats not what they want to hear.

 

[rajju077]

can i instead write why i think PH is important for me because of the countless exposure to patients who needed better prevention and prophylactic tactics? the reason why i am closer to PH is because of my medical background. First hand experience of patients for whom primary healthcare would have reduced complications. And ofcourse the amount of contribution the course of epidemiology will give me, and aid me in my research activities

 

[johnnyquest2009]

Ok, I hear so many comments about what should I do, and what I shouldent. The men and women who work in these admis. offices are human,yes human, so if you write about things that touch them, then they will be moved, yes they will be moved. My first job out of college, in 2004 was with a top 10 law school, and I got to see the inside of how it worked. Just remember they are human. If you talk about something that makes you un confrotable, they can see that,but they will see your sincerity. and that is the most important thing

 

[snoofle]

Ok, I hear so many comments about what should I do, and what I shouldent. The men and women who work in these admis. offices are human,yes human, so if you write about things that touch them, then they will be moved, yes they will be moved. My first job out of college, in 2004 was with a top 10 law school, and I got to see the inside of how it worked. Just remember they are human. If you talk about something that makes you un confrotable, they can see that,but they will see your sincerity. and that is the most important thing

i agree with this. i wrote about something i was incredibly uncomfortable with sharing and it was very private, but i really wanted the admissions board to see why i was so passionate about public health and the only way they would understand is if they could learn about my past

 

[rajju077]

i agree with this. i wrote about something i was incredibly uncomfortable with sharing and it was very private, but i really wanted the admissions board to see why i was so passionate about public health and the only way they would understand is if they could learn about my past

hmm my life altering events have nothing to show my interest in PH, but it shoes how perseverant , optimistic and hard working i am.

 

[erikalindsay]

yes i did..i started off with my life altering event, went into how it made me want to do public health, and finished with my hopes for my future

I used the same style when I applied.

 

[tt13]

at the end of the day, you simply want to leave a lasting (and positive) impression. whatever method you use, it doesn't really matter as long as they remember you by name.

some of my best personal statements have relied purely on style, since i have not done anything worth dramatizing - no saving children in africa or seeing someone die before my eyes, etc.

be honest and true to yourself. write about what you want to do and how this degree with help you in the future.

just a side note, i pretty much surpassed every single school's "word limit" and have gotten into 4/4 schools so far... length is probably not that big of a deal... think quality over quantity.

 

[rajju077]

at the end of the day, you simply want to leave a lasting (and positive) impression. whatever method you use, it doesn't really matter as long as they remember you by name.

some of my best personal statements have relied purely on style, since i have not done anything worth dramatizing - no saving children in africa or seeing someone die before my eyes, etc.

be honest and true to yourself. write about what you want to do and how this degree with help you in the future.

just a side note, i pretty much surpassed every single school's "word limit" and have gotten into 4/4 schools so far... length is probably not that big of a deal... think quality over quantity.

Does anyone have any samples i can refer to to improve my LOR?

 

[johnnyquest2009]

From my experience working at a top ten law school, Admissions will overlook the word max sometimes. It all depends on how strong of a canidate you are. If they love everything about you, they will look pass that, but if they are a little iffy about you, and not sure if they will accept you or not, they will look at the little things like going over a word max. If the school states they have a max, there ususally is a reason, aka having to read thousands of essays in a short time. My first, second drafts were well over 1,800, but after a month or so, and many revisions I was able to narrow it down to a 1,000 word, and a 500 word version. The 500 word version was by far the better of the two, as it was direct and to the point, but still got the messages across.

 

[rajju077]

No

From my experience working at a top ten law school, Admissions will overlook the word max sometimes. It all depends on how strong of a canidate you are. If they love everything about you, they will look pass that, but if they are a little iffy about you, and not sure if they will accept you or not, they will look at the little things like going over a word max. If the school states they have a max, there ususally is a reason, aka having to read thousands of essays in a short time. My first, second drafts were well over 1,800, but after a month or so, and many revisions I was able to narrow it down to a 1,000 word, and a 500 word version. The 500 word version was by far the better of the two, as it was direct and to the point, but still got the messages across.

I usually like shorter versions.

 

[nibzq]

crap.....when i called the admissions office of the school i applied to, they said 2-5 pages, with the statement being a bit longer if your stats aren't great....somehow i got to 6 pages and in retrospect this was a huge mistake.....i feel like it will really work against me,.....i guess i just wanted to say why i thought i was right for the program despite less than stellar stats.

 

[rajju077]

crap.....when i called the admissions office of the school i applied to, they said 2-5 pages, with the statement being a bit longer if your stats aren't great....somehow i got to 6 pages and in retrospect this was a huge mistake.....i feel like it will really work against me,.....i guess i just wanted to say why i thought i was right for the program despite less than stellar stats.

6 pages is alot.