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[dynamicsymmetry]

Okay, so, SoP word limits: how hard a limit are we generally talking here? If I can't seem to get down under it, if I'm twenty or thirty words over, how big a deal is that? This is probably a silly question but I'm freaking out and I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me to calm down.

Comments

[puf_almighty]

If I were reading the letter, I would see a failure to adhere to the word limit as a sign of an undisciplined and self-indulgent writer. On the other hand, I would probably not bother to count.

Bite the bullet and cut it.

[whistling_woman]

I'm not sure if it will work this way for you, but some online applications will only let you paste/upload a certain number of words or characters.

I'd cut it-- better to do it now than scramble when you are actually submitting the app. The has GOT to be a way to ditch 20 words. Best of luck.

[anonymous]

I don't know about your specifically, but mine all had a word limit/page limit. I tried to keep it within both, but if I was over 30 words but under 4 pages (or whatever) I just sent it in anyway.

The only one I had to paste in had a 2.5 page limit which was vague, so I just did my best. It was probably a tiny bit long, but it let me paste the whole thing.

Also, what that other person said about the box cutting off your text, it is unlikely as most text boxes would only have a character limit, but it couldn't be too strict because if you wrote an essay with a lot of long words in it, you would go over the character limit even though you were within a word limit. Make sense?

Basically, I am saying you are most likely fine. Just make sure there isn't anything superfluous.

[suivie]

You're fine. I have yet to see a professor actually pay attention to the word count. Obviously, if it asks for 1,000 and you send in a 10-page single-spaced essay, that's a problem, but 20 words? I wouldn't worry about it.

[kleis]

I was over my word limit by about 50 last year, and it didn't hurt my applications. No one will think that you are incapable of following directions if you're over the word limit.