<p>One of my schools says that I have to limit my SOP to 500 words. I am trying really hard, but the shortest I have been able to make it is around 700 words. Will it hurt me if I don't cut it down further? </p>
<p>I really don't understand how you can describe your interest in a certain field (how you came to realize that it's the field you want to go into), describe your research (I have two different ones), describe your interest in the specific program, and then discuss your future plans in mere 500 words!!!</p>
<p>If I was evaluating someone's application and they turned in a SOP over the limit I would reject them on the basis that they cannot follow directions.</p>
<p>I agree with autocell; as cruel as it sounds, I would probably do the same. The admissions committee has to read hundreds of statements and if everyone went over the limit, that would be a lot more work than they would had anticipated.</p>
<p>still, why put it chance? just cut down ur paper. whatever "challenges" u face in the essay will be faced by those applicants u are competing against.</p>
<p>Try having a friend read it. I had the hardest time with SOP and the word limit. You may be too attached to specific wording or parts. Your friends will be less attached and more willing to cut things that aren't absolutely necessary.</p>
<p>In fact I believe it was Dickinson who warned that the "best" parts of stories were the ones that should be cut. One reason was that the authors were usually inordinately attached to them, and were unlikely to see where they disrupted the flow of the story -- or to be too inclined to forgive those spots for doing so.</p>