Meeting and Staying Within the Word Count in Your Personal Statement

Trying to meet and stay within the word count of a personal statement can feel overwhelming, especially considering that all schools/programs have different requirements. Some schools will allow 5+ pages, and some schools will only allow 500 words. Balancing the need to be both comprehensive and concise is a strategic task. In this blog post, we will explore strategies to help you meet/stay within the word count of your personal statement. 

Being Concise in Your Personal Statement

A personal statement should present a clear and compelling description about who you are, why you are applying to the program, and what makes you a strong candidate. Typically, the prompt questions required by each school will align with these components. Every word counts, so being intentional in what you write is key. Here are some tips to help you achieve that:

• Avoid Trauma Dumping:

While personal stories and experiences can add depth and authenticity to your personal statement, it is important to strike a balance. When sharing experiences of adversity or personal struggle, ensure that they are directly relevant to the question being asked and are presented in a way that highlights your growth. Some schools will ask how your personal experiences motivated your desire to apply to the graduate program. Rather than focusing mainly on the experience itself, it is important that you focus on how it motivated you to apply to the program. Therefore, a few sentences providing context on the experience will suffice, and the remainder of the space you have to answer the prompt should discuss your motivation and how these experiences and insights gained may have inspired your specific area of interest. 

• Make Every Sentence Intentional:

Each sentence should serve a specific purpose—whether it is to provide context, illustrate an example, or directly answer the prompt. Avoid filler words, redundant phrases, or overly complex sentences. Ask yourself: Does this sentence add value? Does it directly answer the prompt question? It is also important to avoid making vague statements such as, “I am applying to the MSW program because I want to help people”, or “I am applying to _______ University because it will help me achieve my future goals”. These statements could apply to any applicant and don’t tell the reader about the uniqueness of you. Adding in these vague statements can take up unnecessary space in the word/page limit and do not show the admissions committee why they should accept you. 

• Align Every Sentence with the Prompt:

To stay within the word count, ensure every sentence you write is relevant to the prompt. Revisit the prompt regularly to check if your writing directly addresses the question. Any sentence that does not align with the prompt should be revised or removed. Keeping your writing tightly aligned with the prompt helps maintain focus and ensures you provide a direct and clear response.

Ensuring You Are Writing Enough

While being concise is important, it is also important to make sure you are writing enough to provide a comprehensive response to the prompt.

• Avoid Underwriting:

Not writing enough can indicate that you have not fully answered the prompt. If your personal statement falls significantly short of the word limit, it could mean you missed the opportunity to fully showcase your qualifications, experiences, or motivations. Review your personal statement to ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed thoroughly.

• Expand with Relevant Details:

If you find you are under the word limit, consider where you can expand your writing with relevant details. This might include providing more context for your experiences or offering more specific examples that help to answer the questions. Always ensure that any additions are directly related to the prompt and strengthen your overall personal statement.

How to Thoroughly Answer Each Prompt

Here are 5 steps you can follow to ensure you are fully addressing each prompt in your personal statement:

1. Analyze the Prompt Carefully:

   Before you start writing, spend time analyzing the prompt to understand what is being asked. Break it down into its components—identify keywords, consider the intent behind the question, and determine what the admissions committee is looking for.

2. Create an Outline:

   An outline helps organize your thoughts and ensures you cover all aspects of each prompt. Start with a strong introduction that allows the reader to get to know you from the beginning, followed by body paragraphs that address each prompt. If you have space for a conclusion paragraph, you can summarize your key points and final reflections on why you are a good fit for the program.  

   Get a copy of our FREE MSW Personal Statement Template to help you create an outline for your personal statement.

3. Use Examples to Illustrate Points:

   Examples are a powerful tool to make your personal statement stand out and unique to you. Instead of simply stating that you have a certain skill or experience, provide a specific example that demonstrates it. This not only makes your statement more engaging, but also provides concrete evidence of your capabilities. 

4. Stay Focused on Your Area of Interest:

   Identify a central theme that ties together your experiences, skills, and motivations. Typically in the MSW application, this will be your area of interest, social justice issue you are passionate about, or demographic you wish to work with. This interest should resonate throughout your personal statement, ensuring that there is cohesion. Staying focused on a theme helps prevent your writing from becoming disjointed. 

5. Revisit the Prompt Throughout the Writing Process:

   Periodically return to the prompt to ensure that your writing stays aligned. It is easy to drift off-topic, especially when discussing personal or professional experiences. Re-reading the prompt helps keep you on track and ensures that each paragraph directly aligns. 

Handling Word Count Challenges: Over or Under the Limit

Word count requirements are set for a reason; they help to ensure fairness in evaluating applications. Here is how to handle situations where you find yourself over or under the limit:

• If You Are Over the Word Count Limit:

• Edit: Review your personal statement and remove any redundant or non-essential information. Look for sentences that can be simplified or combined. Check for filler words or phrases that do not add substantial value.

• Cut Down on Descriptive Adjectives: While descriptive language can make your statement more compelling, too much of it can be a distraction. Prioritize clarity over embellished language.

• Seek Feedback: Sometimes, a fresh pair of eyes can spot areas that can be condensed or cut. Ask a friend, mentor, or MSW Helper for support in revising your personal statement. 

• If You Are Under the Limit:

• Expand on Key Points: Review your personal statement and identify areas where you could provide more detail or context. Are there points you mentioned briefly that could benefit from further elaboration? Can you add in specific examples or background literature that help to add to your points?

• Add a New Perspective: Consider if there is another experience that you could include that would add to your personal statement. Make sure any additions are relevant to the questions being asked and support your main area of interest. 

• Ensure You Fully Answer the Prompt: Double-check that you have answered every part of the prompt. If there are parts that are missing, use the extra space to provide a more complete response.

Conclusion

Meeting and staying within the word count for your personal statement is all about balance. It requires being concise while ensuring you provide enough detail to fully answer the prompts. Doing so will demonstrate to the admissions committee that you can follow instructions, which is important when writing papers in the program. It is also important to remember that the admissions committee will be reviewing hundreds of applications, so keeping it unique to you and staying within the word count ensures that your personal statement is memorable. Remember, every word is an opportunity to present yourself as a strong candidate—make each one count!