<p>Hi,
Just finishing up my apps, which are mostly due this week. Most ask you to attach a CV and I am not entirely sure what this should look like. Certainly I have written a resume for employment before, but I get the sense that a CV is a bit different. How should it be formatted and organized? Does anyone know of a reliable template I can follow on the web?</p>
<p>also, as for statement of purpose length, I have heard different things. Some people say about two single spaced pages. but is this too long? One app said no more than 1,000 words. My statement of purpose came out to slightly less than 2 single-spaced pages typed, but about 1250 words. How strict should I assume application guidelines are? will my app be penalized (or possibly discarded!) for going over such a limit?
thanks for advice. (I am applying for area studies masters focussed on East Asia btw.)</p>
<p>Stick to the limit. I rewrote my writing sample 4x for different schools because they all had different page limits. The more competitive schools accept anywhere from 8% to 15% of their applicants you don't want to give them any reason to reject your application for admission.</p>
<p>Two double spaced pages is the norm for many MA programs in the humanities. (Please do not submit single spaced documents. Single spacing is very hard on the eyes of the older folks who will be reading your application materials. </p>
<p>When a word limit is specified, follow it to the letter. Limits are set by the admission committees in certain departments for REASONS.</p>
<p>A CV differs from a resume in that it highlights education rather than work experience. You can google up almost any professor's CV on the internet and use it as a template.</p>
<p>I applied for electrical engineering at five American schools last year, and all wanted the statement of purpose to be less than 1000 words except one, which limited me to 500 words but also required me to submit a "personal statement" which was also 500 words, so I think 1000 is probably a decent number to follow if not specified otherwise.</p>
<p>1000 is more than enough- it'll take about 3 pages double-spaced.</p>
<p>A CV definitely highlights all of your education and accomplishments- your education, research/work experience, language, skills, overseas experience, published materials, major papers written, etc. Anything that they won't see in your regular application or essay.</p>
<p>well in the end, with some editing, it came down to just over 1,100 words. Will adcoms be really anal about this? Should I definitely edit it down further? </p>
<p>Also, i was surprised by what professor X said. Definitely double-spaced, not single spaced? Some apps had suggested about two single spaced pages as a limit, so I just assumed I was supposed to submit single spaced documents!
sorry, bit of a last minute freak-out.</p>
<p>I would absolutely not try to exceed the limit, it's just not worth the risk if its clearly stated. Most of the applications I've worked on have said single-spaced as well, I don't think it's a huge problem to do it either way unless its specified.</p>
<p>On any application, follow the directions you are given. With the increasing ubiquity of online applications, single spacing is often requested. However, when other documents (like writing samples and SOPs) are requested or submitted in hard copy, double spacing is kind.</p>