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                  Statement of Purpose 的字数...

        有些学校上面写说请把SOP的字数弄在 300 字以内...
        Carlo 发觉 it is impossible for herself...
        遂写了一封信去问, 顺变问问 Lett. of Rec. 早到的问题...
        如下:

-------- Two questions about application -----------------------

Dear Prof. Chang,
     I am a senior physics student of National Taiwan University, and preparing
for applying for your department. My name is Lin Keng-hui.
     I have two questions:
     1. The professors who wrote the letters of recommendation for me sent out
        the letters in early January. However, I have not sent out my
        application form. I am afraid that they will get lost after they
        arrive. Would you be kind to tell me how you will deal with such
        a situation?
     2. This may not be a good question. Now I am writing my statement of
        purpose. The instructions tolds that I cannot present more than
        300 words. However, it also wanted me to state: course work, noncourse
        educational experiences, teaching ot other relevant employment,
        publications, and my plans for graduate study and a professional
        career. If I am currently enrolled in undergraduate study, I may
        list the courses not on my transcripts that I plan to complete
        before enrolling in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois
        at Urbana-Champaign. It seems that it is impossible to state all
        items asked above within 300 words. There are 7 items roughly.
        On the average, I could only speak one item within 50 words.
        However, to speak of the noncourse educational experiences, I
        wrote what workshops I have ever attended. After writing their
        full name, not including verbs, and subjects, they amounts to 35 words.
        But I still have not mentioned what research project I have ever
        done and plan to do. Adding up the full name of my projects,
        they totally come up to 58 words. Therefore, if I only write
        "nouns", this requirement may be achieved. Or what I wrote must
        exceed!!!
     I will appreciate your kindness to tell me what I should do.
     Regards!
     Sincerely,
     Keng-hui Lin

---------------------  Illinois 的回答: Part I ---------------------------

     Let me add the following to the above form reply. Since I am no longer
in charge, you definitely need to send your email to the above address. My
own experience will give you the following unofficial answer: We kept all
recommnedations received before applications. There is no danger of losing
any recommendations letters because you submitted your application form
after the letters. There is also no absolute rule against writing a longer
than 300 words statement of plan. I am sure that they will accept it.
However, you should keep in mind that my reply is not official.

Shau-Jin Chang

--------------------- Illinois 的回答: Part II ---------------------------

A file is begun when I receive a piece of information on a student.  The
file is then matched up with the application form when it arrives.

You do not have to stick to exactly 300 words.  It may be longer than that.

Sara B. Hiser
Staff Secretary
Phone(217)  333-3645
Fax No. (217) 333-9819