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SDSU Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are SDSU's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into SDSU and build a strong application.

School location: San Diego, CA

This school is also known as: San Diego State University

Admissions Rate: 39.3%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at SDSU is 39.3% . For every 100 applicants, 39 are admitted.

This means the school is very selective . If you meet SDSU's requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application, you have a great shot at getting in. But if you fall short on GPA or your SAT/ACT scores, you'll have a very low chance of being admitted, even if you meet the other admissions requirements.

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SDSU GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.87

The average GPA at SDSU is 3.87 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.87, SDSU requires you to be near the top of your class , and well above average. Your transcript should show mostly A's. Ideally, you will also have taken several AP or IB classes to show that you can handle academics at a college level.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.87, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

SDSU hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to SDSU will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

SDSU SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1215

The average SAT score composite at SDSU is a 1215 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes SDSU Competitive for SAT test scores.

SDSU SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1130, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1340. In other words, a 1130 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1340 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

SDSU has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."

This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit .

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, SDSU will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and SDSU forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1340, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SDSU ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, SDSU likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 26

The average ACT score at SDSU is 26. This score makes SDSU Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 23, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 29.

Even though SDSU likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 23 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 26 and above that a 23 will look academically weak.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 29 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to SDSU, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 29.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

SDSU considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is very selective, strong academic scores are critical to improving your chances of admission . If you're able to score a 1340 SAT or a 29 ACT or above, you'll have a very strong chance at getting in.

For a school as selective as SDSU, rounding out the rest of your application will also help. We'll cover those details next.

But if you apply with a score below a 1340 SAT or a 29 ACT, you unfortunately have a low chance of getting in. There are just too many other applicants with high SAT/ACT scores and strong applications, and you need to compete against them.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of SDSU here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $70
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Not used if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office December

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 1
• Electives 1

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes November 30 March

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 5500 San Diego, CA 92182
• Phone: (619) 594-5200 x5200
• Email: [email protected]

Our Expert's Notes

We did more detailed research into this school's admissions process and found the following information:

Note that their application window is narrower than many schools -- applications are only accepted between October 1 and November 30. Also, you will be applying to a major and will be ranked against other students applying in that major. Learn more about freshman admission requirements here. Finally, note that there are extra application requirements for those applying to music, dance, theater, and nursing.

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in SDSU, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to SDSU.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than SDSU. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for SDSU, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for SDSU, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If SDSU is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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San Diego State University | SDSU

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at San Diego State University | SDSU?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

San Diego State University | SDSU’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Common app personal essay.

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

• [email protected]
• (619) 594-3543

Due to ongoing flood remediation efforts in the Love Library Addition, the Writing Center has temporarily moved locations to Storm Hall West 112 until further notice. Appointments can still be made at sdsu.mywconline.com . Walk-ins are welcome. For questions, please email [email protected] .

Advice from SDSU Writing Tutors

Writing Center tutors are also SDSU students who have a lot of writing experience to share.

Advice for First-Year Writing Students

By Alex Adams and Cass Lynch, Writing Center Tutor Alumni

General Advice

GO TO CLASS

This is probably the most important thing you can do in terms of helping yourself with any class. In class, you can ask questions, which is often better than emailing your professor later in the day to ask something reviewed that morning. You also have direct access to your peers who can collaborate with you to break down harder materials, assignments, or to form a study and support group. Got more questions? Go to office hours!

Office hours are probably one the best tools for students. You can either make an appointment or just drop in, and then you have some one-on-one time with your professor. Use this time as an opportunity to establish a relationship with your professor so you avoid that anonymous, face-in- the-crowd feeling we all experience as college newbies. Professors have office hours for a reason; they want you to drop by and ask for clarification or help with course assignments.

Writing Advice

Stuck? Ask yourself questions.

Writer's block is one of the most frustrating experiences in a student's college life. You have a paper due and the words just will not come, so what can you do? Sometimes, talking to your paper and asking yourself questions can get those writing juices flowing again. You can start with the material (What is the purpose of this article? How did that event happen? Why do people care about this issue?) or you can interrogate yourself (Why do I like this topic? Why should other people care about this book? How can I explain this concept to people?). As you continue to write, keep asking yourself questions about the reason you are including specific evidence, what the other side of the argument might say, or how something you said is relevant to your audience or topic. If all else fails, have a willing friend or classmate read your paper and you take notes on any questions or comments they have.

Be explicit!

There should be no “beating around the bush” or implicit explanations, especially when it comes to your analysis. You are explaining your argument, and while it might sound logical in your head, it could come off as confusing to your reader. It is always better to lay out everything you can in your paper to solidify your argument. Some students are worried about being too repetitive, but as long as you are not repeating the same idea over and over, it is not bad to clarify yourself. In fact, in academic writing you are expected to thoroughly explain your ideas and include extensive analysis. Consider the audience.

Every writer has an audience, even if it is themselves. Many first-year students make the mistake of assuming the professor is their only audience, and while they are certainly reading your papers, you need to keep a larger audience in mind. Unless your professor says otherwise, compose papers for a general academic audience. This group includes other faculty, scholars, and your peers. When writing, assume they understand basic concepts about your material, but always explain specialized terminology, theories, and concepts. Keep the audience in mind as you choose evidence for your body paragraphs. This is because academic writing, like social media, is conversational and contributes to a community, even if you do not publish your paper. After all, your research or argument is contributing to a pool of scholarship on a particular topic. Finally, take a moment to read a finished draft of your paper as a reader. Ask yourself if you get stuck on any sentences, concepts, or sections of text, then address those issues while keeping your reader in mind. Reading your paper out loud can often help you locate problem areas.

Know your thesis

A strong thesis presents a clear and arguable position to the audience. It should be very easy to spot in your paper. If you cannot point out your own thesis, consider revising your argument. Give your readers a good understanding of where the paper is going based on the thesis because you have clearly defined what you are claiming or arguing. This also means that if you are examining multiple issues in a paper, they should be listed in sequential order in your thesis. Finally, it does not have to always be the last sentence in your introduction, but the thesis is usually present within the first two paragraphs. If you find yourself truly stuck when writing your thesis, books like They Say, I Say provide templates that can help you get started. There is a copy of this book in the Writing Center that you are welcome to come use. Remember what you’re analyzing.

The author’s argument! A lot of students get stuck with the analysis sections of their papers. It ends up coming down to students stating their claim… and ending it there. You need to ask yourself: "Well, how do I know this?" and "Why do I know this?" That is where your evidence comes in: to back up your argument. Imagining a reader's reaction to your argument can also help you determine the type and amount of evidence necessary to support a claim. If you can still find holes in your argument that people might point out, consider adding additional evidence. Then, you could analyze or explain that evidence to help readers see how it supports your thesis or a sub-claim that relates to the thesis.

During your first year is a great time to visit the Writing Center, and it is available as a resource for you throughout your time at SDSU. Our tutors can help you craft your thesis, develop your analysis, or tackle other writing tasks. We can also help you work on new kinds of writing assignments as you move from first-year writing courses to courses in your major.

The Break Down for a Scientific Paper

By Savannah Schlauderaff, Writing Center Tutor Alumnus

Oftentimes students will come to the Writing Center needing to write their own scientific research paper or needing to synthesize/summarize information from already written papers and don’t quite know where to look or start. This will provide brief explanations of the contents and purpose of each section of a scientific paper, which will hopefully help you understand how to quickly break down a research paper to find the specific information you are looking for.

Most scientific research papers will be broken down into the following sections: Abstract, Introduction, Methods/Materials, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. This is sometimes called the IMRD format.  So, depending on what information you are looking for, you can flip directly to a section.

The abstract will give you the overall summary for the findings of the paper. If you are trying to decide if this paper is worth reading in entirety, or if you need to quickly locate results, this is what you should read first. This section concisely provides the most important information from the study. Additionally, many abstracts will end with key words or terms so that the papers can be easily located in a database.

The introduction gives the background to the paper. This is the “so what?” section and will outline why the researcher(s) believe this paper is necessary. This section will almost always end with a hypothesis or research question. So, if you need to figure out the context, history or background for this line of research, this is what you should read first. This section is also helpful for locating primary sources you may want to use for your own paper if it is on the same subject.

The methods/materials section outlines what procedures the researcher(s) carried out and how they designed the study. This is so that others may replicate their study. So, if you need to describe how they carried out their experiment, or how they processed their data, this is where you should look.

The results section may contain tables, graphs and/or charts of the processed data (the raw data may or may not be included in an appendix) along with brief paragraphs explaining the figures. If you need to summarize the findings or describe how they broke down their data, this is where you should look. This is merely a presentation of the data--NOT an explanation of it. I state this as a precaution due to personal experience, wherein the professor would mark down points if an explanation or interpretation of the data was given in this section. This is also one of the harder parts of scientific writing, but keep in mind that this paper format is designed so that all information has its place and can be easily located by readers like yourself.

The discussion section is where the researchers discuss their results, the potential errors or limitations of the study, and future applications of their research. This section will often extract the most important results and connect them back to the introduction and the “big picture.” They may also discuss what they would do differently, how they may expand with new research, or why and how these results expand on already existing studies. If you need to locate the key findings, explain how their findings are relevant or important, or what they could have done to improve their study, you should look here.

The conclusion may be its own section, or it may be included with the discussion. Here the researchers will contextualize their results within the background presented in the introduction. They will also state if their hypothesis was proven or disproven, or if their research question was answered. If you need to understand the impact of their results, you should look here.

This breakdown of a scientific paper is useful not only for students who need to summarize readings from class, but also for those who are working on writing their own. If you are having difficulties starting your own paper, take a look at research papers in your field of study to understand how they are set-up because this will vary by discipline. You might also find our Writing a Scientific Review useful.

How to Write a Conclusion

By Adam Peterson, Writing Center Tutor Alumnus

The conclusion paragraph is typically the shortest part of the essay, yet it often leaves students scratching their heads and wondering what to write. I’ve noticed that students who come into the Writing Center often ask for help with their conclusions and seem to be unclear regarding what should be included. There isn’t an exact formula for ending your paper, but here are some basic tips that you can keep in mind.

• Keep It Short and Sweet – Don’t try to do too much with your conclusion. It’s not meant to be lengthy or launch into new topics which you haven’t already discussed. The best approach is to always keep it simple.
• Review Your Main Points – One of the primary functions of the conclusion is to review/summarize your main points. As stated above, avoid delving into new topics that haven’t already been covered in your paper. Try to summarize your argument without simply repeating all of your topic sentences verbatim.
• Emphasize Significance/Purpose – Beyond summarizing your main points, the conclusion should highlight the significance or primary purpose of your argument. Imagine that your reader is wondering why your paper matters – the conclusion should give them a definitive answer.
• Don’t Start with “In Conclusion” Or “In Summary” – This is a very common way to begin conclusion paragraphs, and some professors don’t like it. Though it’s not a huge deal, your conclusion will likely sound more professional and stand out if you make less obvious word choices. Try to transition naturally from your last body paragraph.
• Tie Back to the Beginning – This is not required in any way, but a good strategy for concluding your paper, that I often recommend, is to reference information you used in the introduction. This brings your argument full circle and gives the reader a feeling of closure.

Also, bring your paper to the Writing Center, where you can discuss the conclusion with a peer-tutor.

If you still find yourself struggling to finish your essay, try looking at a sample paper or asking your professor what they like to see in a conclusion. If this still doesn’t help, you can always come to the Writing Center and get assistance from a tutor.

Writing a Cover Letter

By Alyssa Cuenca, Writing Center Tutor Alumnus

Writing a cover letter is important because not only does it make you stand out from other job candidates, but it allows you to write professionally about why you are a good fit for a specific organization.  A cover letter is often your earliest written contact with a potential employer, creating a critical first impression on how your educational background, experiences, skills, and goals align with the prospective company. Writing cover letters can be a challenging task, but with proper formatting and necessary information, they can be easy to write. To start off, there are four steps to properly write a cover letter; however, you should always follow employer instructions even if it goes against these directions.

1. Heading The first part of writing a cover letter is the heading which includes your basic contact information so future employers know how to contact you.  It includes your name, address, phone number, and email address. Next, provide the date and specific organization’s contact information with the hiring professional’s name (if possible), their position, the name of the company, and address. This should be left aligned after your basic contact information. Once you’ve included all the information above, you can move on to write the introduction.

2. Introduction Whenever possible, begin your introduction by first addressing a specific hiring manager or a hiring authority. (For example, “Dear Mr. Smith” or “Dear Ms. Doe.”) If you cannot find the name of the hiring professional, research the company or give them a call. If you still cannot find the name, then simply state “Dear Hiring Manager.” You can compose your introduction in various ways, such as providing a brief introduction of yourself, stating that you are a student at a university, or you are currently working part-time or full-time at a specific company. Furthermore, you can include what specific position you are applying for, how you heard of that job position, and why you want to work there.  For MA, Ph.D., or honors students, you can mention any relevant thesis that you worked on or highlight related skills. Once you have provided a brief introduction in your cover letter, you can move on to the argument.

3. The Argument The argument paragraph is a really important part of your cover letter because you are persuading the manager why you are a good fit for a specific company and what you can do for them. You can talk about specific work experiences that relate to your future job position, internships, skills and abilities, courses taken, and more. Be sure to not go into too much detail; always mirror company language (buzz words, goals, mission statement). You can also mention how your goals/ethics align with the company. If, for some reason, you do not have any work experience that relates to the position you are applying for, include some extracurricular activities that you have participated in, any volunteer work that you have done, or any study aboard experience to emphasize the skills that you have acquired participating in these activities. After completing your argument paragraph, move on to the closing paragraph.

4. The Closing The last step in writing your cover letter is the closing paragraph. You close with a strong reminder of why you are a good match for the job position. Then you include what is going to be your next step, which can vary from stating a specific time frame you will contact that employer (this contact method should be at least a week) to leaving your contact information for the employer to contact you. After that, thank your readers for their consideration. Lastly, to end the cover letter, simply close with “Sincerely, your name.”

Keep in mind that for spacing, every paragraph should be single-spaced with a double-space between paragraphs. In addition, a cover letter should only be one page. This 4-step process should give you some idea of how to write a cover letter. It is useful for students to follow these steps so they know the proper formatting, structure, organization, and information to be included. If you are still struggling with how to write a cover letter, below you will find some helpful resources that you can take a look at.

• https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/723/03/
• https://go.sdsu.edu/student_affairs/career/coverletters.aspx

Also, feel free to make an appointment at the Writing Center, where tutors can help you with any type of writing, including cover letters!

How to Write a Resume

By Adam Peterson, Writing Center Alumnus

Writing a resume can seem like a daunting task to many people. Some students worry that they won’t have enough experience to include, while others have so much they struggle to fit them on one page. Even more students are unsure what to include in the first place. While there isn’t one absolute template for building a resume, here are some tips that students can keep in mind.

• Focus on Unique Skills/Qualifications – When listing your skills and experiences, it’s important to focus on the ones which distinguish you from other applicants. Show your potential employers what you can offer that competing applicants can’t.
• Include Only Necessary Information – Don’t waste space on your resume. There shouldn’t be anything in there that isn’t absolutely essential to include. For example, employers generally don’t care about what you did in high school or what your favorite hobbies/activities are. Remember that it’s a resume, not an autobiography.
• Cater Your Resume to the Position You’re Applying For – Different employers could place more emphasis on different qualifications. For those students who are worried that they can’t condense all of their experiences into one page, I often recommend they create alternate versions which focus on different skill-sets. When applying for a specific position, always think of your potential employer as the audience and consider what they will primarily look for in your resume.
• Choose a Format and Stick with It – There are a few different formats for resumes which are considered acceptable. The important thing is to commit to whichever style you choose. It won’t look good if you combine different styles together or just ignore formatting rules altogether. While formatting isn’t the most important aspect to keep in mind, a resume that looks sloppy or unprofessional won’t help you at all. This link provides a comprehensive look at the 3 common formats for building a resume: https://resumegenius.com/how-to-write-a-resume#Formats

And remember, you can get some feedback on your resume when you bring it into the Writing Center and talk with a tutor.

Fantastic Quotes and How to Organize Them

By Karen Marrujo and Jasmine Ljungberg , Writing Center Tutor Alumni

You are likely to find a great deal of advice regarding the integration of quotes within academic papers; however, what about before you feel ready to integrate the quotes. How do you know which quotes to use? At what point in the writing process should you know which quotes you will be using?

These are important questions—questions that if left unanswered can keep you from feeling prepared to start writing your essay.

The Role of the Quotes

In order to properly and effectively select and use quotes, you must have a clear idea about what their role in your essay needs to be. Think about the purpose of your essay. Will you need quotes? What ideas will you need to support? How much will you need to rely on direct quoting? How you should approach the quotes will depend on the discipline and writing genre of your essay. For instance, if you are using MLA style, you will be encouraged to use quotes. APA style encourages paraphrase or summary.

There are, of course, different ways to use a quote. You can use a quote in order to illustrate something (provide an example to clarify meaning). You can use a quote as evidence (to support your argument). You can use a quote to provide a counterargument (bring in a different opinion). You can use a quote to help you explain a concept, term, or idea. Overall, you can use a quote to provide a wide array of useful information.

Before you choose a quote, it is important for you to fully understand it. You need to have a clear idea about what the quote means and what it is contributing to your essay’s purpose. If you aren’t comfortable with a quote, or if you’re not sure what it is contributing to your main point, then the writing around that quote may be weakened. Quotes should connect to what you have been talking about and to what will follow.

For example, if you are writing a rhetorical analysis, you will need quotes that support or provide evidence for your analysis.  You might use a quote to provide an example of where a certain rhetorical strategy is used. Then you analyze the quote to show the role of the strategy. A basic approach would look like this:

• Sentence making a claim about the use of a rhetorical strategy (this introduces the context in which you will approach the quote);
• Introduce the quote (what was the author talking about when they stated it? Make sure to provide the context so that it makes it easy for the reader to understand the quote and how it relates to what you are saying);
• Quote (Don’t just insert quotes. Properly integrate them. We advise against using hanging quotes).
• Analyze the quote (Explain the relevance and point of the quote. It is your job as the writer to explain what the quote means and why it is important to your point).

If you follow our tips, the work will be spread out throughout the writing process and you will be able to avoid staring at your computer screen trying to figure out how to fit a quote into your essay

• When you take notes and pick quotes that you might use later, make sure to include the source information so that if you have to cite it later, you won’t have to rush to find your source again.
• As you record interesting quotes, jot down any ideas that you may have and may be inspired by the quote. This can help with the brainstorming or outlining process.
• Also, having a document with potentially useful quotes can make things easier for you since 1) you can use the “Find” feature to look up a quote, and 2) once you feel ready to use your quote(s) you can simply copy and paste the quotes(s) from your notes.
• Once you have read your sources and made note of quotes that you find interesting, you should determine what your position in the paper will be. For example, if you are writing an argument paper, you will need to have a clear idea of what you want to argue because the quotes you chose will need to support your main claim.
• Pick quotes that you feel you can talk about and are comfortable with, ones that you feel you understand well. Sometimes we find a quote that sounds accurate or intelligent, but we don’t feel comfortable interpreting it. In such a case, the best thing you can do is avoid using that quote.
• Make sure the quotes are integrated into the essay and correctly marked with quote marks and reference. Introduce and explain them.

Tips for Writing a Statement of Purpose

By Denise Hernandez, Writing Center Tutor Alumnus

Applying to graduate programs can be stressful; you have to take the GRE, ask for letters of recommendation, apply for scholarships, research the programs you are thinking about, and write a statement of purpose for each university you are applying for. The statement of purpose can be tricky, since the guidelines are usually very broad. It’s easy to confuse what should go in a statement of purpose with what should go in a personal statement. When I first wrote a statement of purpose, a professor, who was nice enough to provide feedback, tore it apart. There were many things she told me I was expected to include that were definitely not stated directly in the prompt. To make things easier for you, I will provide some tips on how to write your statement of purpose.

What makes a statement of purpose different than a personal statement is that it is more focused on why you are applying to the program, why it is a good fit for you, and how it will help you with your academic and career goals. While in a personal statement, you are asked to talk about personal experiences that may have motivated you to attend higher education or choose your field. A statement of purpose has a lot less “personal” stuff. Below is a template you do not have to follow strictly, but it will give you a better idea of what you should include in your statement of purpose.

Introduce Yourself: The first thing you should do in a statement of purpose is introduce yourself. I do not mean saying “my name is… and I am from...”. A statement of purpose should begin with a brief introduction, which can include a personal experience that led to choosing your career or the type of research you wish to conduct, as well as your main goals (what will you do with your degree? Teach?). If you include personal experience that has influenced you to pursue graduate school, it is important it doesn’t take up space you will need to provide other information. Also, any personal experience included ​must​ be relevant to what you want to do, and it is important you make that connection clear.

Experience Once you have introduced yourself and how you will use your graduate degree, you want to include any experience that is relevant to the program. For example, if you conducted a study or research, had any teaching experience, or volunteer experience that has prepared you for this program, include it. Don’t forget to talk about how each experience has prepared you for the program or your research and career goals.

Research Goals In many graduate programs (mainly in the science or social science programs), you are expected to take methods courses and have an idea of what kind of research you want to conduct for your thesis. It may sound like a lot of pressure; however, they are mainly looking to see if you can design a study. Therefore, even if you write about one research topic in your statement, it doesn’t mean you have to stick to it (many people don’t). With that said, write about something you may be interested to conduct research in. For example:

“I plan to conduct a quantitative study on college students and sleep habits.”

If you were to talk about this study, you may talk about how you would do this and why this study is important.

Why did you choose the program? Now that you have talked about yourself and what you want to do, you need to talk about how it aligns with the program you are applying to. You may need to do some research on the program, school, and the professors for this section. For example, if you wanted to conduct the study on college students and sleeping habits, you may look for professors in the program with research on sleep patterns, college campus culture, or anything that's relevant. Some programs expect you to name one or two professors you would like to work with and why, so this is an important step. If you want to focus on conducting research or teaching, you can check the program design, as well as the courses offered, to see if it is a good fit for you. Once you’ve researched the program, discuss the ways that your interests align with that program's interests. This section will be what makes each statement of purpose specific to each program, so the easiest thing to do is keep all this information in one paragraph and change it for different applications.

Concluding If you’d like (and if you have space) you can write a short concluding section where you briefly (1-3 sentences) state what makes you a good candidate for this program and the research you plan to do there, as well as stating your career goals once again.

Things to Avoid​:

• Cliché statements
• Saying you are choosing a program because of the location (unless it has to do with your research)
• Talking about volunteer or work experiences that have nothing to do with the program/your research (They will see this on your CV anyway)
• Vague statements; be as clear and concise as possible

The best way to perfect your statement of purpose is by editing as much as you can. Look for redundancy and extra wordiness to be as concise as possible, since you more than likely onlyhave two pages. This will not only make your writing look better, but it will also give you room to add anything else you may think is important. At the ​Writing Center​, you can have a tutor look at a draft or help you brainstorm the organization of the statement of purpose. We also have a binder full of resources for this type of writing. Also, ask your professors who are writing you letters of recommendation to take a look at it. It really helps to have someone in the specific discipline you are applying to provide feedback, since they are probably more familiar with what people in that department look for and they likely went through this process themselves at one point. The more you edit, the better it will look.

Getting Ready to Write: Ideas to Get You Started Writing

Unfortunately, there is no singular method that will allow you to power through your 6-page paper in one night, but here are a few different methods and tips to help you organize your thoughts, write efficiently, and construct a stronger paper.

• Read the prompt thoroughly: many times students start writing their papers, but when they come into the Writing Center, tutors realize that they have misunderstood, misread or not fully addressed the prompt. It can be hard to go back or completely re-start, so it is best to start writing after you have a clear idea of what your professor is looking for.
• Hoard your quotes: while you are reading, type out quotes that stood out to you or that you find useful to address the prompt. I have found that using Google Docs is useful, as you can comment on the side where the quote might fit or what it connects to in your paper.  This will also help you select the most impactful quotes, as they will all be in one place. Bonus points: you won’t need to go back and try to locate page numbers because everything will be typed out. This is sometimes referred to as “ reading as a writer, ” meaning that now you aren’t just reading your class text to absorb the information, you’re reading to find supportive quotes and arguments to use in your own paper.  So while you’re reading, star or highlight quotes you like, write connections in the margins, and interact with the text.
• Free write: if you are having trouble coming up with a topic, or can’t seem to articulate ideas from your brain onto paper, a free write can be exceedingly helpful. This is referred to as the “ generating ideas ” phase. I recommend setting a 20-minute timer and making yourself brainstorm paper topics, arguments, and class connections. From there you can start organizing all your ideas. I recommend highlighting or starring ideas you like best.
• Now, you can start contextualizing your topic, this means asking questions like “what is the background on this topic?” “How does this topic connect to what we’ve been discussing in class?” “How does this relate to other readings?” “Where can I extend or expand on this topic?” These questions will help form the context and conversation around your topic and can be especially useful for introduction and background paragraphs.
• Then, it’s time to start brainstorming to determine your thesis . This is where you will insert your argument, question, or hypothesis. This statement should clearly outline the topic and your argument. It’s also useful to convey how you are going to address your topic throughout your essay.
• Paste the prompt into my word document and then separate out each separate part of the prompt—this will ensure you answer the whole prompt.
• From here start outlining the paper by each paragraph. Your professor might list what they want to see in each paragraph, for instance in the intro they may state you need to include: an impact statement, the name and work of the author, the author’s main argument, your thesis and how you will address this. Therefore, you can list these to ensure you meet all the requirements.
• Then you can start to fill out each bullet point.
• Map it out: if you are more of a visual person, rather than a list-maker, this method might be useful for you. This method will help you spatially see your paper topic and ideas. You can start by writing the topic in the center of your paper, and from there can draw out your paragraph connections, claims and sub-claims, evidence etc. Feel free to include arrows to indicate connecting ideas, different colors or drawings.  (a basic example below)

Even with these preparatory tips, you should always remember that writing is a process, not simply a product. Therefore, revisions and re-visiting these steps will be necessary throughout your writing process as you no one can write a perfect paper in one sitting.

Keep in mind that you can come into the Writing Center by making an appointment with any of our tutors to help you in the brainstorming, organizing or revision process. We can work with you at any stage of your writing.

How to Read Like You Mean It

By Cass Lynch, Writing Center Tutor Alumnus

We’ve all been there: you were assigned a section or chapter from a book because the information will be used on a test or you will be quizzed on the material. With your highlighter in hand, you set out to find those key terms and concepts that will get you an A, but at the end of the chapter, you look back and notice that you highlighted pretty much everything. After all, it must be important because the author included it, right?

Or, maybe you have no idea what to do with that highlighter, and you need help getting started. Well, this blog is designed to provide strategies and tips that will develop critical reading skills and make college-level reading more manageable.

Before You Crack Open the Book

Read the Assignment or Prompt First This might sound obvious, but one of the first steps to getting the grade you want on an assignment or test is to know what your professor wants you to learn from the text. Use a highlighter or pen to identify study tasks such as concepts your professor wants you to understand, dates you should know, or anything else that is being explicitly asked for on the prompt or study guide. If you have questions about the assignment, write them down and look for clarification within the text. If you are still unsure about something you are meant to read, e-mail or speak with your professor.

Grab Your Dictionary Try to read in a place that has access to the internet or a dictionary. When you encounter unfamiliar words, terminology, or concepts, you can look them up right away. This will help you retain the information and understand anything else related that comes up in the text. If you are unable to look them up immediately, then circle the term or make a note in the margin of your book so that you remember to do it later.

As You Read the Book

Ask Questions Authors write with an audience in mind and their texts are parts of a larger conversation that you enter as you read and write about the text. If you have never asked questions while reading before, then it might be easier for you to have a written or typed set of questions for reference. Things might seem challenging or weird at first, but remember that this is a new skill that needs time and work to develop. You are trying to figure out how the author composed the text just as much as you are trying to find meaning or points for analysis. For further strategies and help with this type of reading, I highly recommend Mike Bunn’s article, “How to Read like a Writer” (2011) or Thomas Foster’s book How to Read Literature Like a Professor (2003). There is an endless number of questions that you can create for texts, and you will most likely develop some of your own as you read. For now, here are some questions that can help get you started:

• What is the author’s purpose for this text?
• Who is the intended audience?
• What is the author’s intended genre? Do you think that genre fits?
• What type of language does the author use? Is it effective? Does the tone or diction appropriately match the audience or subject matter?
• What evidence does the author use, if any? Are there statistics, stories, quotations, or visual references like tables?
• Is this evidence appropriate for the subject matter or audience? Could it be more effective?
• Are you confused at any point during the text? What specifically makes it hard to understand?
• How does the author handle paragraph or idea transitions? Could the author have used different transitions to be more effective?

Mark Up the Text – or use sticky notes Now is the time to abandon that childhood rule of never, ever (ever!) writing in books. (Unless, of course, the book is a library book or a rental; then, you can use sticky notes to mark important areas.) You will hear professors refer to this as “active reading,” versus “passive reading” which is simply turning pages as you go without giving the text a second thought.

There is no universal way to mark up a text, so you should experiment and see which techniques or styles work best for you. One thing that you should try to make a habit is writing notes or questions in the margins (or on sticky notes). If you identify a strategy or something interesting, you could underline it and then write the name of the strategy in the margin so it is easy to find later, when you are starting your paper. Example: If an author uses a lot of specialized terminology in an article intended for a general audience, you could circle the terms and write whether or not you think this is an effective strategy in the margins. The note could look something like this: Ethos/Logos: ineffective, confusing, exclusionary.

BEWARE! Avoid the temptation to highlight or underline (or sticky note) everything in a passage or on a page. If an entire passage seems important, then write a note in the margin and stick to highlighting only the key points or phrases. If you highlight everything, you will be less likely to remember the information or be able to critically engage with the text.

Final Thoughts

This type of reading is a skill that needs time to develop. If you find yourself struggling to understand a text, work with a professor or classmates to apply these strategies. Give yourself time to develop these skills because they will not become second nature after the first time you use them. You can also stop by the Writing Center to work with a tutor.

Make the Most Out of Your Session at the Writing Center

By Nathan Hillman

Cobb : “Well, imagine you're designing a building. You consciously create each aspect. But sometimes it feels like it's almost ‘creating itself’, if you know what I mean.” Ariadne : “Yeah, like I'm discovering it”. Cobb : “Genuine inspiration, right?” Here at the Writing Center, we love the movie Inception . This scene above describes what we are hoping happens during our sessions with you. Ideas start flying around, you leave with fresh ideas and inspiration, and we leave knowing that the session was a job well done. There are things you should know to make your session at the Writing Center as useful as possible. Knowledge is power, after all. Inspired by the four levels of consciousness in Inception , we have created four steps for you. These four steps will help you make the most out of your session at the Writing Center. The first step is to come prepared.  You don’t need to have a completed 15-page paper in order for us to help you. You can have a paragraph, a thesis sentence, or even just the assignment prompt. In fact, many times students do come to us only with the prompt, and an idea for how to write their paper. But they want to make sure it makes sense, or they want to find ways to make it better, and that’s where we come in. Sometimes students don’t have an idea for how to tackle the prompt because it looks scary (and sometimes, it is!).  We excel at dissecting prompts and helping you make sense of them.  Also, having the prompt helps us to take a closer look at your paper to figure out if you are answering the prompt or how to help improve your paper. Having the prompt gives us a much better idea of how your paper is going so far, or what your professor’s expectations are. The second step is to be engaged and pay attention during your session. We’re here to talk to you.  We want to have a conversation to figure out where your paper is, and where you want to take it. Starting a dialogue is crucial to the Writing Center, and to helping you with your writing. Feel free to ask us questions at any time during the session. The third step is to preferably bring your paper to us before the last possible minute. If we had a nickel every time a student came to us the day the assignment was due, asking us just to check for grammar issues (more on that in a moment), and then we had to send that student away with the knowledge that their paper contained far more serious errors than grammar, we might be free of student debt. This situation is not pleasant for us or the student. Try to make appointments as early as possible so that you have time to revise based on the advice/feedback we give. The fourth and final step is to consider the kind of help you ask for.  Sometimes students are looking for a proofreader/editor, and indeed many professors think that’s what the Writing Center is for. But tutors aren’t editors; we strive to help you identify writing issues and how to address these yourself. Now, that is not to say that we’ll never look at grammar. We’re happy to look for repeated kinds of errors and show you how to fix them and keep an eye out for them in the future. Our goal is to make you better writers, which involves showing you how to recognize and correct grammar errors for yourself as well as better understand audience, purpose, and effective and clear writing. Although none of us at the Writing Center look quite like Leonardo DiCaprio (sorry), these are the four steps for a successful session at the Writing Center. It may seem at times that writing is difficult, or a chore, but writing is art. Like Van Gogh with his paintbrush, or 2Chainz and a microphone, your text is something you created. We want to help you feel proud of what you create.

Writing a Scientific Review

By Jennifer Gates

Writing a scientific review article can seem like a daunting task. You have to read many, often complex, scientific articles that are so focused that few have a deep understanding of their meaning. Not only that, but you also have to craft a lengthy paper split into sections you might be unfamiliar with writing. They don’t teach you what goes in the methods section of a science paper during high school English! The following is a guide to help you with the scientific writing process.

• Select a Topic Selecting a topic is often the most difficult part of writing a scientific literature review. Of course you might be in a class on environmental chemistry or molecular biology, but after a semester in that class you have realized that environmental chemistry is global! It is helpful to pick a main topic and even a few subtopics before you begin researching. As an example, if you are writing a review article on diabetes, you will want a few subtopics to narrow you research. So you decide to focus on type I diabetes. Good, but if you simply research type I diabetes in the SDSU catalogue you’ll return thousands of results. Just having a general topic isn’t enough. You have to know enough about the subject to dig a little deeper. So, perhaps you’ll look for scientific articles presenting case studies on the effect of bariatric surgery on obese patients, as defined in the US, in regards to their diabetes.
• Research Now that you have a topic, where do you find these allusive, yet informative, scientific articles? You can try Google, but that won’t return the information you want (re, scientific, peer-reviewed articles). When doing a quick search for “type I diabetes obesity bariatric surgery,” I get a few scientific articles as a result, but more “news” type articles as opposed to scientific literature. Look to Google Scholar or the SDSU library website for your research. As you search, keep in mind that some of the top hits might not be relevant or might be outdated. Look for the most recent research first. The SDSU library database gives students access to most peer reviewed journals. If you have any questions about their specific journals, stop by the library and ask a librarian. If your search isn’t bringing up anything useful, try rephrasing. Simply adding, dropping, or changing words can make a large difference when it comes to research!
• Organize Now that you’ve found more articles than you think you’ll need, read the abstract of each paper. Takes notes on index cards that you think might be relevant. Once you’ve read all the abstracts, you’ll be able to determine which articles are the most relevant. If a paper has passed the first round of your review, take more notes on that paper’s conclusion and discussion. When you have all of your notes, begin to develop your findings. What do the papers as a whole say about type I diabetes in obese people? Do they strongly lean in one direction or are the articles fairly unbiased. Now that you have done the research and organized, it’s time to start writing!
• Write Writing may seem to be a difficult task, but you’ve actually finished the most difficult part—research and organizing your ideas! Start with the introduction. It will help get the ideas flowing to work on presenting the background information in a logical and informative manner. After the introduction is finished, consider the format of your paper. Perhaps your instructor would like you to include a methods section—how did you find the papers your paper is based on—or a review of each paper specifically. Look to the grading rubric or ask your professor for specific formatting guidelines. The main rule you should follow in writing your paper is to write the abstract last. Although it might seem like the simplest task and an easy way to create the outline, you may not include key ideas on accident.
• Review Now that your paper is well established, take a day off before rereading your paper. This will give your mind a chance to distance itself and you can read the paper with clarity. Not only should you review the paper, but also ask a peer, your professor, or even a tutor at the writing center to review it. You’ve put a lot of hard work into this paper! Read for clarity and conciseness, and focus on whether or not your complex scientific idea is able to be conveyed to a lay audience (or at least a less specialized one). Once you feel you have the best paper, submit it!

Good luck!  If you need more assistance with your scientific literature review, stop by the writing center, ask your professor for help, or read Harvard’s “A Student’s Guide to Writing in the Life Sciences” at http://writingproject.fas.harvard.edu/files/hwp/files/life_sciences.pdf

How to Read an Assignment Prompt

By Ricky DeSantis

As a tutor at the Writing Center here at SDSU and a student working on papers of my own, I’ve found that the most challenging part of the writing process is often just getting started. One of the most common barriers to putting pen to paper is confusion over the assignment laid out in the prompt. The prompt is meant to provide you with a set of expectations around which to build your essay. By gaining a clearer understanding of what those expectations are, it can be much easier to begin formulating your ideas. The following tips are intended to help you recognize the task of the assignment so you can begin organizing your ideas and crafting a well-written paper. 1) Identifying the assignment In order to begin an essay, it is crucial to identify the type assignment you are being asked to respond to, since this will shape the purpose of your writing as well as the type of writing that you do. Three of the most common types of assignments and the key words which should tip you off to their presence include the following:

• Summarize (summarize, explain, describe, define, etc.)
• Critically Analyze (analyze, critique, discuss, identify, compare/contrast)
• Argue (argue, defend, take a position, support your position, find a solution, etc.)

Many prompts you encounter will include a combination of these tasks. For example, one of the most common types of essays in writing courses here at SDSU is a rhetorical analysis. Though the main goal of these essays is a critical analysis, they will sometimes ask you to provide a brief summary of the topic, or conclude by taking a position. One technique to ensure that you have addressed each assigned task in the prompt is to use words within the prompt to start your own writing. Not only can this be a helpful way to organize your paper, but it can also call your professor’s attention to the fact that you are responding to the prompt. 2) Identifying a professor’s expectations A professor will usually have certain expectations listed in the prompt which you are required to fulfill in your essay. Sometimes these will be quite concrete, such as a minimum page length, a particular style of citations, or a minimum number/particular set of sources. For example, a prompt might include key phrases such as “Use your research” or “From the readings in class,” which indicate exactly where you are expected to draw your evidence from. Other times a professor might set a particular order in which they want your paper to flow, or certain stylistic choices they want you to include/avoid. For example, a prompt might include phrases like “Begin with a brief summary of the topic, then offer a solution” or “Use three of the rhetorical devices discussed in class.” If you are unclear on what these expectations might be, it can always be helpful to visit your professor in office hours for clarification. 3) Create a checklist                 Once you have identified the type of assignment in the prompt and your professor’s expectations, it can be helpful to create a checklist to keep track of your progress while writing. Not only will this ensure that you have met the expectations of the assignment, but it can also work as an outline for your paper if you’re having trouble getting started. Once you complete your draft, you can use your checklist to revise your paper and ensure that you are meeting the assignment requirements.

For more information on how to read an assignment and begin working on your paper, visit http://writingspaces.org/essays/so-youve-got-a-writing-assignment to see Corrine Hinton’s chapter “So You’ve Got a Writing Assignment. Now What?”  You can also make an appointment with the SDSU Writing Center at http://writingcenter.sdsu.edu/appointment.html . Tutors will be happy to assist you at any stage of the writing process, including reviewing the prompt and brainstorming on how to get started.

7 Ways to Approach Revising and Editing Your Writing

By Catie Anderson, Beth Hill , and Marissa Mendoza

Every piece of writing has a purpose. Revision is an important step in making sure your writing achieves its purpose as it allows you to refine your position, strengthen your argument, and catch unnoticed mistakes. With every new revision, you are able to rediscover and reconnect with your writing and review it from a fresh lens every time!

Here are 7 helpful ways to revise and edit your writing:

• Double check that your essay or project answers all of the aspects of the assignment prompt.  Having a prompt side-by-side with your paper and annotating your essay in regards to the prompt as you read your essay, will help you see whether or not you have successfully answered the prompt.
• Print a physical copy of your paper to read; it usually helps to be able to physically write comments and corrections to address as you are revising.  Try writing a small summary of each paragraph in the margins of your paper.  This will allow you to see if you are writing focused paragraphs.  If you find that summarizing a paragraph is hard, there might be room to narrow down the ideas in the paragraph to just one specific idea.  
• Give yourself plenty of time to revise multiple drafts.  Writing and revising multiple drafts over a period of time will allow you to develop your ideas.  As writing expert Doug Downs points out, “writing something usually gives the writer something new, more, or different to say. Therefore, while writing, writers usually find something to say that they didn't have to say before writing” (66).   With each draft, you also become more and more familiar with your topic and your writing.  The more time you give yourself for more revision, the more you can develop your ideas effectively!
• Look for opportunities to be concise and engaging in your writing.  This can often be accomplished by eliminating prepositional phrases, as well as by using single verbs instead of long verb phrases.  Using both of these strategies can help you eliminate “fluff” in your writing, and develop a direct style to enhance your argument or analysis.
• Read your writing out loud to yourself.  This allows you to catch any immediate or obvious grammatical errors or awkward sentence structure that you might have skimmed over while reading it silently.  Have someone else read it out loud to you as well.  Just like reading it out loud to yourself, this is “a second pair of eyes or ears,” and the two of you can discuss what is effective about your writing, what was confusing, and any mistakes that you did not catch on your own.  Reading aloud may also help you notice any repetition of words or sentence structure and allow you to identify areas where you can alter your organization and variation of sentence structure.

• Come to the Writing Center!  We have student tutors that can work with you on any type of writing at any stage of the writing process from outlining, to analysis, to citations.  We are here to help!

Downs, D. (2015). Revision is central to developing writing. In Adler-Kassner, L., & In Wardle, E. A. (Eds.), Naming what we know: Threshold concepts of writing studies . Logan: Utah State University Press.

What is Rhetoric?

By Caro Raedeker-Freitas

Rhetoric is the study of how language works and what it does . Students of rhetoric are often less concerned with what a person, text, or artifact says than how he, she, or it says it.

• Argument : What ideas about race, gender, and identity does “Formation” present? What kind of message is it trying to send?
• Rhetorical Situation : What is the context of this music video? Why does it matter that this video was released in 2016 and in the United States? What’s happening in the U.S. right now that seems to be connected to the themes of the video?
• Audience : What kind of viewers did Beyoncé make “Formation” for? What groups of people does she imagine watching the video? What are their identities, assumptions, attitudes, and beliefs?
• Strategies : How do the images and lyrics of “Formation” work to convey its message to these particular viewers? For instance, why does Beyoncé include certain recurring images, like the line of policemen, the submerged police vehicle, and gothic dress? What do these images do ?
• Ethos : How does Beyoncé present herself in this music video? Does she seem trustworthy and genuine, and if so, why? How does she, as a musician, public figure, and African-American, connect to her audience?
• Logos : Does “Formation” contain evidence or proof that reinforces Beyoncé’s message? What kind of reasoning does she use to reinforce her message?
• Pathos : Are there images or lyrics in the music video that are meant to emotionally connect with viewers? If so, how do these instances strengthen Beyoncé’s message?

By considering its message, strategies, audience, and context, we come to understand that “Formation” makes an argument—one we can figure out and evaluate. Through systematic rhetorical analysis, we achieve a fuller understanding of what “Formation” claims about race, gender, regional identity, hip-hop, politics, and culture.

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How to Nail the San Diego State University Application Essays

Sdsu's application essay prompts, and how to nail them (2020-2021)..

No, the San Diego State University application doesn’t have any essays — required or optional. But yes, you should still write at least one SDSU essay. Why so? Because it could get you into their Weber Honors College, and score you some sweet scholarship money.

Luckily for you, we’ve created a guide to nailing the SDSU Weber Honors essays — drawn from our long experience at Prompt helping applicants get accepted.

And if you’d also like personalized guidance from people who’ve done this thousands of times, get started with us here .

San Diego State University application essays for Weber Honors College 2020-2021

One required essay:

• Choose one of the two essay prompts.
• Your essay should be about 700 words.
• Remember to be specific and give examples.

Option 1: If you knew you could not fail and those around you would not only suspend judgment, but wholeheartedly support you...what would you do that you are not currently doing, AND why would you do that particular thing? Be specific when answering and make sure you discuss how your response indicates that you are a good fit for the Weber Honors College's mission, values, and requirements.

Option 2: Even though most colleges require you to submit SAT or ACT scores with your application, research shows they are not the best predictors of your ability to thrive in college. Even GPA can be a problematic predictor. Excluding then these quantitative indicators, what do you think SDSU and the Weber Honors College should look for in applicants and why? Be specific when answering and make sure you discuss how your response indicates that you are a good fit for the Weber Honors College's mission, values, and requirements.

One optional essay: There may be additional information that you want considered as part of your admissions application. You might include exceptional hardships, challenges, or opportunities that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, personal responsibilities, exceptional achievements or talents, educational goals, or ways in which you might contribute to an institution committed to creating a diverse learning environment.

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

How to Get Into San Diego State University (SDSU): Admissions Data and Strategies

April 28, 2022

For the incoming Class of 2026, San Diego State University received a record 76,000+ total first-year undergraduate applications. Including transfer students that figure eclipsed 99,000. Applicants to this member of the California State University system campus that was once primarily the target of local residents, hailed from all 50 states and 74 countries during the 2021-22 cycle. This is a testament to how much SDSU has become a coveted postsecondary home and a selective university with just a 38% acceptance rate.

To help prepare aspiring Aztecs for the challenging process ahead, we will touch on the following topics:

• San Diego State University’s Class of 2025 acceptance rate
• Admissions statistics of accepted SDSU applicants
• Admissions trends from the Class of 2025
• The demographics of current San Diego State University undergraduates
• San Diego State University’s yield rate
• How SDSU’s admissions officers evaluate candidates
• Tips for applying to SDSU
• How to assess whether applying to San Diego State University is even worth the $70 application fee (for you)

Many students applying to San Diego State University may also find the following blogs to be of interest:

How to Get Into:

• UC San Diego
• Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.

SDSU: Overall Acceptance Rate – Class of 2025

The university received 67,602 freshman applications for a place in the Class of 2025; they admitted 25,610 for an acceptance rate of 38%. This was comparable to the 37% admit rate for the Class of 2024. Admission is traditionally much easier for out-of-state applicants than locals. For the Class of 2024, the out-of-state acceptance rate was 82% compared to just 33% for CA residents.

San Diego State University Admissions Statistics 

Those who enrolled in SDSU for the start of the 2021-22 school year sported an average GPA of 3.82. One-third possessed a GPA of 4.0 or better and 65% possessed a 3.75 or higher. Twenty-four percent placed in the top decile of their high school class; 61% were in the top quartile, and 91% were in the top half. While SATs are no longer considered as part of the admissions equation, last year’s class earned mid-50% scores of 1130-1320.

Admissions Trends & Notes – (Class of 2025)

• In May of 2022, the entire CSU system voted to remove SATs and ACTs from admissions consideration.
• 22% of the Class of 2025 were first-generation students
• 40% of the most recent freshman class were members of an underrepresented minority group.
• Freshman enrollment jumped from 4,798 in fall 2020 to 5,236 in fall 2021.
• The acceptance rate for transfer students was under 30% last cycle, lower than the admit rate for first-year applicants.

Who Gets Into SDSU?

Let’s now look at the demographics of San Diego State University undergraduates. The 2021-22 freshman class came from the following geographic locations:

• Los Angeles: 26%
• San Diego: 14%
• Orange County: 12%
• Santa Clara: 9%
• Riverside: 7%
• Alameda: 7%
• Out of State: 12%

2% of the Class of 2025 were international students. The following countries have the strongest representation on campus:

Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of the Class of 2025 is as follows:

• Asian American: 15%
• Hispanic: 36%
• African American: 4%
• Two or more races: 7%
• Filipino: 4%

On the gender front, the Class of 2025 is notably split in favor of women:

• Female: 59%

You might assume that, with such a gender gap, it may be easier to gain admissions into SDSU as a male. Yet, the acceptance rate for men and women tends to be almost identical.

The San Diego State University’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted was relatively low 20% last year. For comparison, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has a yield of 27% while UC San Diego comes in at 17% and UCLA is a much higher 44%.

How the San Diego State University Rates Applicants

There are a mere two factors that the San Diego State University ranks as being “very important” to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record and GPA. The two factors rated as “important” are: state residency and geographical residence. The only “considered” item is extracurricular activities. All other factors including essay, recommendations, test scores, and work experience are “not considered.”

In the admissions office’s own words:

• “San Diego State University’s admissions process considers a comprehensive range of factors for each applicant. We seek to enroll students who are both academically qualified and demonstrate the potential to contribute to SDSU’s diverse community. SDSU students have a wide variety of backgrounds, curiosities, and passions.”
• “You must choose a major when you apply to SDSU. All majors are competitive, and every major has more applicants than available spots (the CSU calls this impaction). While we look at all of the college-prep coursework you have taken during high school, we also consider your performance and the number of units taken in courses most relevant to predicted success in your intended academic discipline.”
• Special consideration is given to students who have overcome life obstacles, participated in college preparatory programs, and attend high schools within SDSU’s local admission area.

 Tips for Applying to San Diego State University

If you plan on joining the almost 76,000+ aspiring Aztecs for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

• Applications are accepted any time between October 1 and December 15.
• Applications are completed through the Cal State Apply
• You must fulfill the A-G requirements to be eligible as a first –year student at SDSU.
• San Diego State University states that they do not consider “ demonstrated interest ” in the admissions process. However, given their low yield rate and reliance on ED applicants, it can’t hurt to visit campus (in non-pandemic times), contact an admissions officer, follow them on social media, etc.
• If you get waitlisted, don’t give up hope. Last year, roughly 10% of those who accepted a place on the waitlist were later accepted. The prior year, this figure was a far friendlier 38%.

Should I Apply to SDSU?

With acceptance rates of under 40%, the San Diego State University is primarily seeking candidates who have earned a mixture of A’s and B’s in a rigorous high school program. Unless you have earned perfect grades in high school, you’ll need to make sure that you have a rock-solid backup plan. All students need to make sure that they  formulate an appropriate college list , containing a complement of “target” and “safety” schools.

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The Admissions Strategist

How to get into san diego state university.

Do you want to know what it takes to get into San Diego State University? Read on!

San Diego State University is the third largest university in the state of California. This university offers a research-oriented, high-quality education in a warm and gorgeous location that’s just a short distance from the Pacific Ocean. 

The competition is tough, and preparation is key. In this guide, we’ll share information and advice that will help you strengthen your application and increase your chances of acceptance.

San Diego State University was founded in 1897 as the San Diego Normal School, which focused on training elementary school teachers. The school relocated to its current location on Montezuma Mesa in 1931. Today there are more than 35,000 students studying at SDSU. The Fall 2021 student to faculty ratio is twenty-five to one. 

SDSU offers over two hundred degree programs. There are close to 90 majors and 80 minors available to undergraduates. There are over three hundred student organizations on campus, and over three thousand SDSU students study abroad each year. 

The main campus is just a short distance from downtown San Diego, sandy beaches, and mountain adventure. The Imperial Valley campus offers ten options to undergraduates as well as a nationally-acclaimed teacher education program. SDSU also has a campus in the Republic of Georgia that offers internationally accredited Bachelor of Science programs.

Students coming from high schools outside of the university’s local admission area will be required to live on campus for two years. Students who live on campus tend to do better in school. Research shows that their GPAs are over ten percent higher than those of students living off campus, and students living in residential learning communities are twice as likely to graduate in four years.

Is it Hard to Get into SDSU?

San Diego State University is a competitive school, but not as crazy competitive as schools like Stanford and MIT. Close to forty percent of applicants are admitted each year. 

Because SDSU is expanding – they recently broke ground on another campus – they’ve been able to increase enrollment at a similar rate to the steady increase in yearly applications, keeping their admittance rate steady while admittance rates at other schools continue to decline. 

67,660 first-time freshman applied in 2021 and 25,646 were admitted. That’s an admittance rate of 38%. Applications rose to 76,821 in 2022 and 30,231 – 39% of applicants – were admitted. 5,269 freshmen enrolled in 2021, and 6,514 enrolled in 2022. 

Students who aren’t accepted to SDSU will be redirected to an alternate CSU campus . 

GPA and Test Scores

The average GPA for students who enroll at SDSU is 3.82 on a 4.0 scale. In 2021, 24% of SDSU freshmen had a 4.0 highschool GPA. Nearly all of them had a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Students coming from out of state must have a GPA of at least 3.0 in order to be eligible. The minimum GPA for California students is 2.5.

Over ninety percent of students who enroll in SDSU were in the top fifty percent of their graduating class. Roughly a quarter of them were in the top ten percent. 

Students who wish to study nursing at SDSU must maintain a GPA above 3.0. They’re also required to earn a B or better in specific classes – we’ll cover that in more detail further on. The incoming average GPA for first-time freshman admitted to the School of Nursing has been over 4.0 (on a 5.0 scale) for many years. Admitted students in 2020 had an average GPA of 4.21.

Test scores are not required by Cal Apply. You can submit SAT and ACT scores, but they won’t be used to determine who is admitted. If you are accepted, SDSU may use official test scores to determine placement into math and English courses.

Only 13% of freshman students enrolled in Fall 2021 submitted SAT scores. Their middle fifty percent range was 1130 to 1320. Only 6% submitted ACT scores, and their middle fifty percent range was 22-29. 

What is SDSU Looking For?

An excellent academic record is key to getting into SDSU, but a high GPA on its own won’t be enough. SDSU will also consider your character, your extracurricular pursuits, and your overall involvement in the world around you. Your extracurricular activities should demonstrate responsibility, compassion, and your ability to work collaboratively with others.

SDSU favors “students who have overcome life obstacles, participated in college preparatory programs, and attend high schools within SDSU’s local admission area.”

Students who attend high school or community college in SDSU’s local admissions area are given priority consideration during the admission process. Community colleges in this area include Cuyamaca, Grossmont, Imperial Valley, San Diego City, San Diego Mesa, San Diego Miramar, and Southwestern.

Get personalized advice!

What should you do in high school.

Here are some things that you can do in high school to show SDSU that you would be a great addition to their next class. 

Excel in Challenging Classes

If you want to go to SDSU, you’ll need to demonstrate that you can handle the most difficult coursework available to you. We recommend that you take the most challenging possible course load that you can manage while still maintaining an unweighted GPA of 4.0 (or as close to 4.0 as possible). 

The minimum required coursework is as follows: 

You have to choose a major in order to apply to SDSU, and the university will consider preparation towards your area of intended study as part of the admissions process. While in high school, you should take challenging courses and earn excellent grades in the subjects that you’re interested in pursuing in college. 

Prospective nursing students will need to earn a B or better grade in high school intermediate algebra, biology, and chemistry with lab courses. These students must also maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Don’t forget that you need to keep your grades up in your senior year as well. The courses listed on your application have to be completed with grades of C- or higher, or any offer of admission may be withdrawn. They can also withdraw their offer of admission if your overall GPA drops. 

Given that SDSU does not consider standardized test scores, teacher recommendations, or essays, your coursework and GPA are of paramount importance. 

We have more advice on keeping your grades up here .

Pursue Your Passions

You won’t have the chance to write heartfelt or quirky essays as part of your Cal State application process, but you will get the chance to tell them how many hours you spend pursuing work and passion projects outside of school. 

Get out of your comfort zone and find what lights you up. And then dive deep. It’s better to pursue a small number of passions wholeheartedly than to occasionally clock in on a long list of extracurriculars. You want to be able to demonstrate community involvement, intellectual vitality, and an overall zest for life. 

Check out this article for ideas on great extracurriculars to explore. If you’re not sure where to start, ask yourself what you can do to better the lives of those around you. 

Serve Your Community

Community service activities are an excellent way to show prospective colleges that you work well with others and would be a valuable addition to any community. Don’t stretch yourself too thin by dabbling in dozens of different projects. Do find something that you truly care about and can contribute to in a meaningful way.

Remember that community service can look different for everyone. Steady jobs or familial responsibilities are just as valid as community service projects. The important thing is that you’re involved in the world around you in a positive way. 

SDSU Application Process and Checklist

Applications to SDSU are submitted through Cal State Apply , as are applications to 22 other universities in California. Students who aren’t accepted to SDSU are redirected to an alternate CSU campus. 

You’ll need these before you can apply:

• Your major of choice – you must choose one to apply. 
• Unofficial transcripts: all courses you’ve completed, grades as they appear on your transcript, those currently in progress, and any you plan to take. 
• Your citizenship status.
• Your social security number if you have one.
• Credit card or PayPal for application fees.
• Test scores (optional).
• Annual income – either yours or your parents.
• Your parents’ employment background and two recommendations are needed to apply to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).
• Average number of hours spent working and volunteering in the past year.

Applicants who wish to study dance, music, or musical theater must pass an audition. 

Does SDSU Require Essays?

The Cal State University system does not require essays as part of its admissions process. 

Should You Apply Early to SDSU?

SDSU accepts applications between October 1 and November 30. It’s always smart to plan ahead and apply early to make sure that everything is polished and turned in on time. You want to start early and take your time to avoid stressing or rushing the process. 

Final Thoughts: How to Get into SDSU

There are far more students interested in SDSU than the school is able to admit. Over half of all students who apply to SDSU are turned away each year. In recent years, less than forty percent of first-year applicants have been admitted to each new class. 

If you exceed all of their coursework options and maintain an unweighted GPA of nearly 4.0, you have an excellent chance of admittance. Keep those grades up, and devote your spare time to meaningful extracurriculars that build you teamwork and leadership skills. 

We wish you the best of luck – and if you have any questions about the college application process, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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How to Write Outstanding San Diego State University Application Essays

Our best advice for writing spectacular sdsu application essays (2020-2021)..

While other people might coast through the San Diego State University application — not writing any essays at all — that’s not you! Are you going to let one pesky required essay stand between you and the chance for admission to SDSU’s Weber Honors College and scholarship money?

We didn’t think so.

That’s why we’ve developed this complete guide to acing the SDSU Weber Honors essays — drawn from our long experience at Prompt helping applicants get accepted.

And if you’d also like personalized guidance from people who’ve done this thousands of times, get started with us here .

San Diego State University application essays for Weber Honors College 2020-2021

One required essay:

• Choose one of the two essay prompts.
• Your essay should be about 700 words.
• Remember to be specific and give examples.

If you knew you could not fail and those around you would not only suspend judgment, but wholeheartedly support you...what would you do that you are not currently doing, AND why would you do that particular thing? Be specific when answering and make sure you discuss how your response indicates that you are a good fit for the Weber Honors College's mission, values, and requirements.

Even though most colleges require you to submit SAT or ACT scores with your application, research shows they are not the best predictors of your ability to thrive in college. Even GPA can be a problematic predictor. Excluding then these quantitative indicators, what do you think SDSU and the Weber Honors College should look for in applicants and why? Be specific when answering and make sure you discuss how your response indicates that you are a good fit for the Weber Honors College's mission, values, and requirements.

One optional essay:

There may be additional information that you want considered as part of your admissions application. You might include exceptional hardships, challenges, or opportunities that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, personal responsibilities, exceptional achievements or talents, educational goals, or ways in which you might contribute to an institution committed to creating a diverse learning environment.

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Sample Essays

View sample essays for ideas and examples.

Sample Essay 1

A young woman who will be the first in her family to get a college education and hopes to serve as an example to others. She plans to graduate with a degree in journalism.

Sample Essay 2

This student is working on a M.S. in counseling in order to pursue a career as a school counselor.

Sample Essay 3

After suffering an on-the-job injury, a 34-year-old husband and father decides to pursue a college degree.

Sample Essay 4

A lackluster year at a small university causes an aspiring doctor to drop out and take work as an accounting clerk. Now, at SDSU, he has set his goals on becoming a teacher.

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Creating Your Personal Statement

If you are applying for nationally competitive scholarships, for graduate school, or for a number of post-graduate service or employment opportunities, you have seen the vaguely phrased request; in one form or another, it comes down to “tell us something about yourself.”

The Rhodes and Marshall competitions require a 1000-word personal essay: the Fulbright, a “curriculum vita.” You are asked to share your “academic and other interests.” A clearer charge might be: compose an essay that reveals who you are, what you care about, and what you intend to do in this life. Tell this story in a compelling manner, and do so in less than a thousand words. What’s so hard about that? Simply make sense of your life. (right.) But what does that mean? What will it look like?

Because personal statements are personal, there is no one type or style of writing that is set out as a model. That can be liberating; it can also be maddening. But while every personal statement is unique in style, it’s purpose is the same.

A personal statement is your introduction to a selection committee. It determines whether you are invited to interview; and if selected as a finalist, interview questions will be based on this material.  It is the heart of your application.

A personal statement is:

• A picture.  Your personal essay should produce a picture of you as a person, a student, a potential scholarship winner, and (looking into the future) a former scholarship recipient. 
• An invitation.  The reader must be invited to get to know you, personally. Bridge the assumed distance of strangers. Make your reader welcome.
• An indication of your priorities and judgment.  What you choose to say in your statement tells the committee what your priorities are. What you say, and how you say it, is crucial.
• A story, or more precisely, your story.  Everyone has a story to tell, but we are not all natural storytellers. If you are like most people, your life lacks inherent drama. This is when serious self-reflection, conversation with friends, family, and mentors, and permission to be creative come in handy. 

A personal statement is not:

• An academic paper with you as the subject.  The papers you write for class are typically designed to interpret data, reflect research, analyze events or reading—all at some distance. We are taught to eliminate the “I” from our academic writing. In a personal statement your goal is to close the distance between you and the reader. You must engage on a different, more personal level that you have been trained to in college. 
• A resume in narrative form.  An essay that reads like a resume of accomplishments and goals tells the reader nothing that they could not glean from the rest of the application. It reveals little about the candidate, and is a wasted opportunity. 
• A journal entry.  While you may draw on experiences or observations captured in your personal journal, your essay should not read like a diary. Share what is relevant, using these experiences to give a helpful context for your story. And include only what you are comfortable sharing—be prepared to discuss at an interview what you include. 
• A plea of justification for the scholarship.  This is not an invitation to “make your case.” Defending an assertion that you are more deserving of the scholarship than other candidates is a wasted effort—you’ve likely just accomplished the opposite.
• Most importantly, a personal statement is authentic.  Don’t make the mistake of trying to guess what the committee is looking for, and don’t write what you think they want to hear. They want to know you. 

So, what must you include in the personal statement? An effective personal statement will answer the following questions:

• Who am I? 
• Who do I want to be? 
• What kind of contribution do I want to make, and how? 
• Why does it make sense for me to study at Oxford (or York, LSE, Cambridge, Sussex)? 

For the Rhodes, you will want to include a proposal of study, one or two paragraphs devoted to why Oxford makes sense to you. For the Marshall and Fulbright, your “proposed academic programme” is presented separately. Your proposal should be as detailed and specific as possible, including degree plans, course titles, and professors with whom you hope to study (especially if you have contacted them by email or letter). Why is this the right place and program? Is it consistent with your studies and activities to date? Draw connections. 

Remember the goal: grab the readers’ interest, and make them want to meet you for an interview. Get a sense of the experiences and dreams you wish to share, then examine them for a helpful means of making sense of it all. You will find your story; and if you share it honestly, you will have written a personal statement.

Finally, know that writing a personal essay is hard and will take many drafts and much reflection. Don’t wait until you have it right to share it with others; their input will likely make it stronger, clearer, and tighter. Don’t put it off until you have it right … just write!

Written by Mary Hale Tolar, Associate Director for Educational Leadership at Kansas State University. Mary Tolar is a 1988 Truman Scholar and 1990 Rhodes Scholar; served as scholarships advisor at four institutions, and has served on a State Rhodes Committee of Selection. She has helped over sixty students win nationally competitive scholarships.  

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Theses and Dissertations

Research & instruction librarian.

Help with Your Thesis or Dissertation

A thesis or dissertation are the final large research papers, based on original research, for many disciplines to be able to complete a masters or PhD degree.

This guide contains resources for writing your thesis or dissertation, and submitting your final project to  Montezuma Publishing .

Getting Started

Purdue Owl (Online Writing Lab)  offers helpful examples on how to get started with your thesis or dissertation. On the page, you will also find writing resources on how to cite in a variety of formats and writing styles such as APA, MLA, and Chicago.

Submitting Your Work

Once you have finished your thesis or dissertation, you can submit your work through Montezuma Publishing. Montezuma Publishing is a non-profit department on campus at SDSU that assists with graduate and doctoral publishing.

Citing Your Sources & Citation Linker

When writing your thesis or dissertation, you will need to cite another person's work. Our research guide on How to Cite Your Sources  has tools to help you cite properly based on your format or writing style. 

Our Citation Linker can create links to articles to which the library subscribes to. You can locate a specific journal article, journal, or book by providing the citation information you may have.

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• Last Updated: Apr 24, 2023 2:43 PM
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Prompt's How-to Guide for San Diego State University Application Essays

How to nail the sdsu application essay prompts..

You’re eager to get into SDSU’s Weber Honors College. You love the prospect of scoring scholarship money. Small problem: you don’t cherish the idea of writing yet another application essay.

Fear not. While yes, you do have to write the essay, we’ve developed a compete guide for you that breaks it down into manageable steps — drawn from our long experience a t Prompt helping applicants get accepted.

And if you’d also like personalized guidance from people who’ve done this thousands of times, get started with us here .

San Diego State University application essays for Weber Honors College 2020-2021

One required essay:

• Choose one of the two essay prompts.
• Your essay should be about 700 words.
• Remember to be specific and give examples.

If you knew you could not fail and those around you would not only suspend judgment, but wholeheartedly support you...what would you do that you are not currently doing, AND why would you do that particular thing? Be specific when answering and make sure you discuss how your response indicates that you are a good fit for the Weber Honors College's mission, values, and requirements.

Even though most colleges require you to submit SAT or ACT scores with your application, research shows they are not the best predictors of your ability to thrive in college. Even GPA can be a problematic predictor. Excluding then these quantitative indicators, what do you think SDSU and the Weber Honors College should look for in applicants and why? Be specific when answering and make sure you discuss how your response indicates that you are a good fit for the Weber Honors College's mission, values, and requirements.

One optional essay:

There may be additional information that you want considered as part of your admissions application. You might include exceptional hardships, challenges, or opportunities that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, personal responsibilities, exceptional achievements or talents, educational goals, or ways in which you might contribute to an institution committed to creating a diverse learning environment.

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I’m applying to SDSU and I need to know when exactly I write my admission essay? Is it the EOP or?

Essay Requirement

Hi! Does anyone know where to find the essay requirement for SDSU for this years Fall 2023 application? Thanks!

CSUs like SDSU do not require essays.

UCSD is a UC and requires four Personal Insight Questions

USD is a private school and the essay prompts can be found on their website .

SDSU admits based on the following factors so no essays or LOR’s are needed/accepted for the Cal state application.

A–G Requirements:

To meet minimum admission requirements, you must complete a 15-unit comprehensive pattern of college preparatory courses known in California as A-G requirements with C- grades or higher. You must complete your subject requirements by the end of the spring term before enrolling at SDSU. Review A–G courses . Additional a-g courses above the minimum are important.

High School GPA:

We consider the breadth and depth of your academic record, and encourage you to challenge yourself by taking a rigorous curriculum including Advanced Placement (AP), honors, and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes. Review CSU Minimum First-Year Eligibility .

Preparation Towards Indicated Area of Study (Major):

You must choose a major when you apply to SDSU. All majors are competitive, and every major has more applicants than available spots (impaction). While we look at all of the college-prep coursework you have taken during high school, we also consider your performance and the number of units taken in courses most relevant to predict success in your intended academic discipline.

• Computer Science and Engineering Majors : Preference is given to applicants who have taken and earned strong grades in science and mathematics courses.
• Dance, Music and Theatre Arts-Performance : Applicants must successfully pass an audition and meet general admissions requirements for admission to the major and the university.
• Nursing : You must earn a B or better grade in high school intermediate algebra, biology, and chemistry with lab courses for consideration. If AP or IB level courses are taken in these areas, you must earn a B or better grade in the course. Preference is given to applicants who have taken and earned strong grades in science and mathematics courses. Review our first-year students nursing prerequisite requirements for more information.

Additional Factors:

Special consideration is given to students who have overcome life obstacles, participated in college preparatory programs, and attend high schools within SDSU’s local admission area .

Taking the Test

Taking the test: strategies to help you do your best.

When you are taking a test, you have an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of course material or to perform certain tasks. Here are some tips to be a test taking rock star!

Some tips to get started:

• Arrive early, and bring everything you need (pen, paper, calculator, books, etc.).
• Take a few deep breaths to relax; repeat as needed throughout the test. Be sure to keep the test in perspective.
• Put your name on the exam.
• Preview the entire test before starting to get an overview of what is expected and strategize how you will take the test.
• Read directions carefully to avoid careless errors.
• Ask questions if needed.
• Do a quick “mind dump”. Write down information.
• Answer questions in a strategic order.
• Start with the easiest questions first; this will help you calm down, score some easy points, and mentally orient yourself to the exam. It may also help provide clues to some of the more difficult questions.
• Then, move to the more difficult questions OR those with the most point value.
• For objective tests (true/false, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank), try to supply your own answer before choosing an option on the test. Eliminate the answers you know are wrong.
• For subjective tests (essay or short answer), pay attention to words like define, compare, explain, etc. Map or outline the main points you want to include. Be sure to write legibly.
• Keep an eye on the clock.

And if you still have time, do not turn in your test and leave before you have done these things:

• answered all the questions.
• did not mark answers incorrectly.
• did not make simple mistakes.
• Proofread spelling, grammar, punctuation, decimal points, etc.
• Be one of the last students out the door.

TAKING THE TEST

• Printable Test Taking Strategies Checklist

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How to Write an Essay in MLA Format | For Students

Starting from when I entered high school, the importance of submitting assignments in a particular format became a top priority. I quickly realized the significance of adhering to these guidelines, as they remained essential throughout my academic journey. You never know when the need for proper formatting will arise. At first, it may seem overwhelming, but in this simple guide, I'll show you how to write an essay in MLA format [For Students].

When is MLA format used?

MLA format is created by the Modern Language Association which is a standardized way to format academic papers and cite sources. It’s mainly used for subjects in the humanities, like literature, philosophy, and the arts. Unlike APA or Chicago formats, which are used for social sciences and history, MLA puts a strong emphasis on the authorship of sources.

Most students will need to use MLA format at some point, especially in humanities courses. It’s essential for essays, research papers, and other assignments in these subjects.

General Guidelines/ Rules of MLA Formatting

The first step to learning how to write an essay in MLA format for students is to get familiar with the general guidelines. It's all about following the rules to get your paper formatted in the MLA style:

Margins and Font:

Set 1-inch margins on all sides.

Choose a readable font such as Times New Roman, 12-point size.

Double-space the entire document, including block quotes (quotes longer than four lines), notes, and the works cited page.

Paragraph Indentation:

Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches (press Tab key once).

Punctuation:

Utilize standard punctuation marks and maintain consistency with punctuation, italics, and quotation marks throughout your paper.

Quotations:

Use double quotation marks (" ") for direct quotes.

For quotes longer than four lines, format as a block quote: start on a new line, indent 0.5 inches from the left margin (without quotation marks), and keep double-spacing.

Here is an essay MLA format template for your reference:

How to Set up MLA Format Essay [Step-by-Step]

So we have seen the general guidelines in the above example and also saw an essay MLA format example/sample showing what our final MLA format will look like. However, going through guidelines is not enough when you're learning how to write an essay in MLA format in Word or PDF format. You need a professional writing software that not only provides the tools but also allows you to use them easily.

Therefore, I will be using WPS Writer as my partner in writing an essay in MLA format, and I would recommend students to download WPS Writer from their website so that you can easily follow this guide. And yes, it is completely free. So let's begin formatting an essay to MLA format in WPS Writer:

1. Page Margins

So the first step is to ensure that our page margins are set to 1 inch on every side. Setting the margins first would help you avoid any formatting errors if you do this at a later stage. To set page margins in WPS Writer:

Step 1: Open WPS Writer and visit the “Page Layout” tab in the toolbar.

Step 2: Find the Page Margin options on the far left of the Page Layout ribbon.

Step 3: Set all the margin fields—top, bottom, left, and right—to 1 inch.

2. Line Spacing

Next, we need to ensure that the line spacing is set to double spacing . This helps improve readability and ensures your paper meets MLA formatting standards. To set double line spacing in WPS Writer:

Step 1: In WPS Writer, go to the “Home” tab in the toolbar.

Step 2: Find and click the “Line Spacing” option in the Home ribbon.

Step 3: In the Line Spacing drop-down, click on More.

Step 4: The Paragraph window will pop up. Visit the Spacing section and in the Line Spacing field, select “Double”.

Step 5: After that, click on OK to exit the Paragraph window.

Note: We can also use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + 2 to quickly change the line spacing to double.

3. Header- In the Upper-Left Corner

After setting the page settings, let's move on to the content of the essay, starting with the header in the following order:

Student's Name

Professor's Name

Course and Course Code

Due Date in the format DD Month, Year

Step 1: Follow the order to enter the header into your essay.

Step 2: To make the Header left aligned, visit the Home tab and then click on the “Align Text Left” icon.

Step 3: After entering the header, make sure the Font is set to "Times New Roman" in the Fonts field in the Home ribbon.

Step 4: After the font, the font size should also be set to "12." Therefore, make the change in the "Font Size" field in the Home ribbon.

4. Last Name & Page Numbers- In the Upper-Right Corner

MLA Format requires a running header that includes your last name along with the page number on the top right corner of every page. Let's see how we can create our running header for the MLA Format:

Step 1: Double-click on the Header area to open the Header/Footer in WPS Writer.

Step 2: Now type your last name and set its alignment to right by clicking on the “Align Text Right” icon in the Home ribbon.

Step 3: To add the page number, click on the "Page Number" option in the Header/Footer ribbon and select the "Header right" option to insert a page number in the right corner.

Once the running header has been added, it is important to set the font size of the running header to 12 and the font to "Times New Roman".

Step 4: Simply select your running header and click on the Home tab.

Step 5: In the Home tab, change the Font to "Times New Roman" in the Fonts field.

Step 6: To change the font size, in the Home ribbon, enter "12" in the Font size field.

The last setting for the running header is to set the header margin to "0.5 inches":

Step 7: Head over to the Header/Footer tab.

Step 8: In the Header/Footer ribbon, enter "0.5 in" in the “Header Height” field to set the header margin to 0.5 inches.

5. Title of Essay- On the Line Below the Date

After the header and running header, let's begin our essay with the title of our essay. Remember the rules:

The title should be center aligned.

The title should not be bolded, italicized, or placed in quotation marks unless it includes the title of a source (e.g., a book or movie title).

Step 1: Insert the title right below the header and visit the Home tab.

Step 2: In the Home ribbon, click on the “Center” icon to center align the title.

6. Headings and Subheadings- Into Sections

Headings and subheadings are important as they give reference to the reader. There are no hard and fast rules for their formatting, except that they need to be center aligned. You can set the font style to bold to help the reader distinguish them.

Step 1: Enter your heading below the title of the essay and visit the Home tab.

Step 2: In the Home ribbon, click on “Center” to align the heading to the center.

Step 3: To change the font style to bold, in the Home ribbon, click on the “Bold” icon right below the font field.

7. In-text Citation

In MLA format, in-text citations use parenthetical references to indicate quotes or ideas from another author. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do in-text citations:

Step 1: When you quote or paraphrase from a source, use the author's last name and the page number where the information is found.

Step 2:  After the quote or paraphrase, place the citation in parentheses. The citation should include the author's last name followed by the page number without a comma between them.

Step 3: The parenthetical citation should be placed before the period at the end of the sentence.

8. Works Cited Page

Finally, you will need to cite all the sources you took assistance from in writing your paper. Follow the following steps to understand how to cite your work in MLA format.

Step 1: Use a page break to start a fresh new page with the title "Works Cited." The heading "Works Cited" will follow similar heading guidelines as before.

Step 2: Double-space all entries and do not add extra spaces between entries.

Step 3: Use a hanging indent for each entry. The first line of each citation is flush with the left margin, and subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches simply using the “Tab” key..

Step 4: List entries in alphabetical order by the author's last name. If a work has no author, alphabetize it by the first significant word in the title.

Step 5: Format your sources as mentioned below for respective source medium:

Books Format: Author's Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

Articles in Journals Format: Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal, vol. number, no. number, Year, pages.

Websites Format: Author's Last Name, First Name (if available). "Title of Webpage." Title of Website, Publisher, Date of Publication, URL.

Bonus Tips: How to Convert Word to PDF without losing Format

Once you finish writing your essay, the next challenge is converting it from Microsoft Word to PDF without losing formatting. This can be frustrating because sometimes the formatting doesn't stay the same.

To avoid this issue, use WPS Office . It offers strong PDF features and keeps APA and MLA formatting intact. On the other hand, Microsoft Word 365, though widely used, may occasionally struggle to keep formatting consistent when converting to PDF. It's important to choose tools that prioritize preserving the look and structure of your academic work.

Here is how you can use WPS PDF to convert your essay documents to PDF without compromising on the quality:

Step 1: On WPS Writer, click on the Menu button on the top left corner of the screen.

Step 2: Now simply click on the “Export to PDF” option in the Menu.

Step 3: The Export to PDF window will open. Here, you can alter a few settings such as the output path. After going through the settings, simply click on Export to PDF to save the essay document as a PDF.

FAQs about writing an essay in MLA format

1. how to cite an image in mla.

To cite an image in MLA style, you need to format the citation based on where the image was viewed. For online images, the citation should follow this structure:

MLA format:

Creator’s last name, First name. “Image Title” or Description of the image. Website Name in italics, Day Month Year, URL.

MLA Works Cited entry:

Smith, Jamie. “Vintage Cars.” Travel With Us, 15 Mar. 2023, www.travelwithus.com/vintage-cars.

MLA in-text citation:

(Smith) Note: If you discover an image through a search engine such as Google, ensure that you credit and link to the website that hosts the image, rather than the search engine.

2. Do I need to include a title page in my MLA essay?

In most instances, an MLA-formatted essay does not necessitate a separate title page unless instructed otherwise by your instructor. Instead, begin your essay with a header and center the title on the subsequent line.

3. How to Cite a Website in MLA?

To cite a website in MLA style, you should include the author’s name (if known), the title of the page in quotation marks, the name of the website in italics, the publication date, and the URL without "https://". If the identity of the author is not known, start with the title of the page. If the publication date is unavailable or if there's a possibility of content modifications, include an access date at the end.

Author’s last name, First name. “Title of Page.” Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.

Adams, John. "Explore with us." Random Discoveries, 15 Sept. 2023, www.randomdiscoveries.com/explore-with-us.

Write Your Essays in Comfort With WPS Office

It’s so easy! The great thing about MLA format is that it’s not vastly different from APA and Chicago formats. There are only a few distinctions, and once you learn how to write an essay in MLA format [For Students], everything will become much easier for your academic life. Also, WPS Office is an incredibly handy tool for students. Not only can you format comfortably, but it’s also designed to be student-friendly, avoiding complex procedures. Simple yet advanced, and best of all, free. Get WPS Office today and write essays with ease and comfort!

• 1. How to Double Space in Word for Your Essay: A Guide for Students
• 2. Top 10 Best Introduce Yourself Essay Sample Words
• 3. How to Use Track Changes in Word for Your Essay? [For Students]
• 4. How to Do Hanging Indent in Word for Your Essay? [For Students]
• 5. How to Make MLA Format Heading and Header in WPS Office (Step-by-Step)
• 6. How to Remove Page Breaks in Word for Your Essay? [For Students]

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Graduate Students

Steps to apply, application checklist.

Have the following items on hand before you begin your application:

• Your Social Security Number, if you have one.
• Your citizenship status.
• Credit card. Application fees are due at the time of submission and are paid by credit card.
• Annual income.

SDSU uses the California State University common admission application through the Cal State Apply website. The application requires a $70 fee that is non-refundable and may not be transferred to another term. The California State University system typically reserves a very limited number of fee waivers for prospective graduate students who are California residents and demonstrate financial need. If you meet this criteria, please contact the Office of Admissions to request the application fee waiver appeal form, including a personal statement and documentation detailing the change in income and circumstances. Graduate Admissions will contact you once your information is reviewed and to inform you if the fee waiver has been granted. The review process can take up to two weeks to complete, so be aware of program deadlines before submitting this request. Due to the very limited number of waivers available, not all eligible students will be granted a fee waiver.  If you cannot apply online, contact the Office of Admissions to make special arrangements to apply electronically with campus assistance.

Guidelines for Completing the Cal State Apply Application

• Your application will only be reviewed for the intended program indicated on your Cal State Apply application .
• Only one application per student will be considered. Do not submit multiple applications, as this will result in processing delays.
• Review the list of graduate programs and the program descriptions in the University Catalog carefully, to confirm you are applying to the correct program.
• Provide an accurate and valid email address. If you fail to provide us with a valid email address, you will not receive information critical to your status as an applicant. Please adjust your privacy settings to ensure you receive emails from SDSU.
• After you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email.

Apply to SDSU

Within two weeks of submitting your Cal State Apply application, you will receive an email from San Diego State University that includes your SDSUid. Your SDSUid is an identifier to securely access many campus IT services , including my.SDSU , the official online portal for student admissions, student records, financial aid, tuition and fee payment, and more. Please follow the instructions provided in the email to activate your SDSUid account.

Visit my.SDSU and select my.SDSU Login . Enter your SDSUid and password, and select Sign In to log in to my.SDSU.

• Use the Profile tile to review and update your contact information, if needed.
• Use the Admissions tile to check the status of your application.
• Use the Tasks tile to review any checklist items (To Do's) you need to complete.

If you have questions or problems with your SDSUid, please visit the SDSUid Help page. Additionally, please reach out to the library techology center if you are experiencing difficulties with your account.

For help with my.SDSU, review the my.SDSU Student Resources page.

Graduate applicants are required to submit transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended . Do not send transcripts before submitting the Cal State Apply application, as this may result in processing delays.

Transcripts from U.S. Institutions

• Submit official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from all colleges and universities attended.
• Transcripts must have been issued within the last year. Transcripts received with print dates older than one year will not be accepted.
• Hard copy transcripts for SDSU coursework are not required.
• Electronic transcripts are acceptable. Please ensure that you indicate this preference when making your request. If you are required to provide an email address to send the secure online document to SDSU, please use [email protected] .

Transcripts from International Institutions

If you have international coursework, you are required to submit transcripts (academic record) and proof of degree (diploma/degree certificate), both in the original language and an English translation, for all post-secondary schools attended.

Post-Secondary Transcripts: Transcripts/grad reports are required from all post-secondary schools attended. Review the Graduate Requirements by Country web page for country-specific information. Failure to submit the required documents listed will result in your application being canceled.

Diploma/Degree Certificate: For each post-secondary degree completed, submit a copy of your diploma/degree certificate or provisional degree certificate. Review the Graduate Requirements by Country web page for country-specific information. Failure to submit the required documents listed will result in your application being canceled.

English Translation: For each original-language document, submit a certified literal English translation. The translation must be from the university or a certified translator and should contain all information shown on the original-language documents in the same format.

Submit international transcripts and diploma/degree certificate in one of the following options:

Option 1:   Evaluation Report —Submit a foreign evaluation report from one of the following:

• IERF —course by course detail report with course level identification
• WES —course by course (WES ICAP)
• ECE —course by course

The evaluation report must be sent electronically, directly by IERF, WES, or ECE to Graduate Admissions and must include copies of the international documents used to complete the evaluation.

Option 2: Official Documents —Submit official international documents in a sealed/unopened envelope to the mailing address listed below, stamped or signed by the appropriate official from the issuing institution. Do not send your only original academic record(s) and/or diploma(s)/degree certificate(s). All documents received become property of SDSU and will not be returned.

Documents uploaded to the Cal State Apply and/or Interfolio applications are separate from those required by Graduate Admissions and are not updated in your my.SDSU account.

Mailing International Documents

If you are mailing international documents to Graduate Admissions, we recommend using a guaranteed delivery service, such as Federal Express or DHL. This allows you to track and confirm delivery of your documents to Graduate Admissions. Documents should be mailed to the exact address listed below. Failure to send documents to the Graduate Admissions mailing address may result in your documents not being delivered in a timely manner or not being received at all.

Graduate Admissions  San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-8225

Deadline to Submit Transcripts

The deadline to submit transcripts will be indicated in your my.SDSU account.

How Long Will it Take to Process My Documents?

Allow at least three weeks for processing after documents have been submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office. The status of documents and test scores will be updated in your my.SDSU account after they have been evaluated. Please do not submit your documents multiple times, as this will cause delays in processing .

All graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants (regardless of citizenship status) applying to SDSU from an international institution where the medium of instruction was not English, must submit one of the following as proof of English proficiency:

• TOEFL minimum score of 80 iBT/ 550 PBT: Score can be sent electronically from Educational Testing Service (ETS) using the SDSU institution code: 4682 . Test score must be from within the past two years.
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 or higher: Score report must be submitted directly to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Test score must be from within the past two years.
• Duolingo English Test score of 105 or higher: Score can be sent electronically from Duolingo, to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Test score must be from within the past two years.
• PTE minimum score of 58 or higher: Score report must be submitted directly to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Test score must be from within the past two years.
• Transcripts have been received indicating English as the principal language of instruction.

A copy of your official score report can be submitted through your my.SDSU account.

Program-specific supplemental documents (resume, personal statement, letter of recommendation) should be submitted directly to your graduate department and not the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office . Please note the supplemental documents are separate from those required by Graduate Admissions and not updated in your my.SDSU account. Review the individual graduate program for specific instructions, requirements and deadlines.

Questions regarding program-specific documents should be directed to the department. Contact information for each department and links to the department website can be found on the graduate programs page for your major.

• Graduate Programs

Check your application and admission status periodically through my.SDSU .

• Log into your Asset_280187 and select Admission Status .
• Deadlines to submit required documents will be listed under Documents Required for Admission .

What does my admission status mean?

Pending To-Do List* : A document (transcript and/or diploma/degree certificate) or test score required by the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office is missing or has not been completed. An incomplete application status indicates further action is required by the applicant.

Graduate Admissions Evaluation* : Admission file is complete and being evaluated by the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office to determine if the applicant has met the minimum SDSU requirements for admission. Review the University Catalog for minimum requirements. There is no further action required of the applicant.

Department Review* : The SDSU Graduate Admissions Office has completed the initial evaluation and the applicant's file has been forwarded to the graduate department for review. Each graduate department makes admission recommendations based on an applicant's completed file (transcripts, diploma/degree certificate) and any required supplemental documents (resume, personal statement, letter of recommendation). There is no further action required of the applicant.

*Please note this status only applies to required documents submitted to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Applicants should check with their individual department for the status of required supplemental documents.

How long will it take to process my documents?

Allow at least three weeks for processing after documents have been submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office. The status of documents and test scores will be updated in your my.SDSU account after they have been evaluated by the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Please do not submit your documents multiple times, as this will cause delays in processing.

Quick Links

• Cal State Apply Help
• Application Guide
• Contact Graduate Admissions

ChatGPT: Everything you need to know about the AI-powered chatbot

ChatGPT, OpenAI’s text-generating AI chatbot, has taken the world by storm since its launch in November 2022. What started as a tool to hyper-charge productivity through writing essays and code with short text prompts has evolved into a behemoth used by more than 92% of Fortune 500 companies .

That growth has propelled OpenAI itself into becoming one of the most-hyped companies in recent memory. And its latest partnership with Apple for its upcoming generative AI offering, Apple Intelligence, has given the company another significant bump in the AI race.

2024 also saw the release of GPT-4o, OpenAI’s new flagship omni model for ChatGPT. GPT-4o is now the default free model, complete with voice and vision capabilities. But after demoing GPT-4o, OpenAI paused one of its voices , Sky, after allegations that it was mimicking Scarlett Johansson’s voice in “Her.”

OpenAI is facing internal drama, including the sizable exit of co-founder and longtime chief scientist Ilya Sutskever as the company dissolved its Superalignment team. OpenAI is also facing a lawsuit from Alden Global Capital-owned newspapers , including the New York Daily News and the Chicago Tribune, for alleged copyright infringement, following a similar suit filed by The New York Times last year.

Here’s a timeline of ChatGPT product updates and releases, starting with the latest, which we’ve been updating throughout the year. And if you have any other questions, check out our ChatGPT FAQ here.

Timeline of the most recent ChatGPT updates

February 2024, january 2024.

• ChatGPT FAQs

OpenAI delays ChatGPT’s new Voice Mode

OpenAI planned to start rolling out its advanced Voice Mode feature to a small group of ChatGPT Plus users in late June, but it says lingering issues forced it to postpone the launch to July. OpenAI says Advanced Voice Mode might not launch for all ChatGPT Plus customers until the fall, depending on whether it meets certain internal safety and reliability checks.

ChatGPT releases app for Mac

ChatGPT for macOS is now available for all users . With the app, users can quickly call up ChatGPT by using the keyboard combination of Option + Space. The app allows users to upload files and other photos, as well as speak to ChatGPT from their desktop and search through their past conversations.

The ChatGPT desktop app for macOS is now available for all users. Get faster access to ChatGPT to chat about email, screenshots, and anything on your screen with the Option + Space shortcut: https://t.co/2rEx3PmMqg pic.twitter.com/x9sT8AnjDm — OpenAI (@OpenAI) June 25, 2024

Apple brings ChatGPT to its apps, including Siri

Apple announced at WWDC 2024 that it is bringing ChatGPT to Siri and other first-party apps and capabilities across its operating systems. The ChatGPT integrations, powered by GPT-4o, will arrive on iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia later this year, and will be free without the need to create a ChatGPT or OpenAI account. Features exclusive to paying ChatGPT users will also be available through Apple devices .

Apple is bringing ChatGPT to Siri and other first-party apps and capabilities across its operating systems #WWDC24 Read more: https://t.co/0NJipSNJoS pic.twitter.com/EjQdPBuyy4 — TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) June 10, 2024

House Oversight subcommittee invites Scarlett Johansson to testify about ‘Sky’ controversy

Scarlett Johansson has been invited to testify about the controversy surrounding OpenAI’s Sky voice at a hearing for the House Oversight Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation. In a letter, Rep. Nancy Mace said Johansson’s testimony could “provide a platform” for concerns around deepfakes.

ChatGPT experiences two outages in a single day

ChatGPT was down twice in one day: one multi-hour outage in the early hours of the morning Tuesday and another outage later in the day that is still ongoing. Anthropic’s Claude and Perplexity also experienced some issues.

You're not alone, ChatGPT is down once again. pic.twitter.com/Ydk2vNOOK6 — TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) June 4, 2024

The Atlantic and Vox Media ink content deals with OpenAI

The Atlantic and Vox Media have announced licensing and product partnerships with OpenAI . Both agreements allow OpenAI to use the publishers’ current content to generate responses in ChatGPT, which will feature citations to relevant articles. Vox Media says it will use OpenAI’s technology to build “audience-facing and internal applications,” while The Atlantic will build a new experimental product called Atlantic Labs .

I am delighted that @theatlantic now has a strategic content & product partnership with @openai . Our stories will be discoverable in their new products and we'll be working with them to figure out new ways that AI can help serious, independent media : https://t.co/nfSVXW9KpB — nxthompson (@nxthompson) May 29, 2024

OpenAI signs 100K PwC workers to ChatGPT’s enterprise tier

OpenAI announced a new deal with management consulting giant PwC . The company will become OpenAI’s biggest customer to date, covering 100,000 users, and will become OpenAI’s first partner for selling its enterprise offerings to other businesses.

OpenAI says it is training its GPT-4 successor

OpenAI announced in a blog post that it has recently begun training its next flagship model to succeed GPT-4. The news came in an announcement of its new safety and security committee, which is responsible for informing safety and security decisions across OpenAI’s products.

Former OpenAI director claims the board found out about ChatGPT on Twitter

On the The TED AI Show podcast, former OpenAI board member Helen Toner revealed that the board did not know about ChatGPT until its launch in November 2022. Toner also said that Sam Altman gave the board inaccurate information about the safety processes the company had in place and that he didn’t disclose his involvement in the OpenAI Startup Fund.

Sharing this, recorded a few weeks ago. Most of the episode is about AI policy more broadly, but this was my first longform interview since the OpenAI investigation closed, so we also talked a bit about November. Thanks to @bilawalsidhu for a fun conversation! https://t.co/h0PtK06T0K — Helen Toner (@hlntnr) May 28, 2024

ChatGPT’s mobile app revenue saw biggest spike yet following GPT-4o launch

The launch of GPT-4o has driven the company’s biggest-ever spike in revenue on mobile , despite the model being freely available on the web. Mobile users are being pushed to upgrade to its $19.99 monthly subscription, ChatGPT Plus, if they want to experiment with OpenAI’s most recent launch.

OpenAI to remove ChatGPT’s Scarlett Johansson-like voice

After demoing its new GPT-4o model last week, OpenAI announced it is pausing one of its voices , Sky, after users found that it sounded similar to Scarlett Johansson in “Her.”

OpenAI explained in a blog post that Sky’s voice is “not an imitation” of the actress and that AI voices should not intentionally mimic the voice of a celebrity. The blog post went on to explain how the company chose its voices: Breeze, Cove, Ember, Juniper and Sky.

We’ve heard questions about how we chose the voices in ChatGPT, especially Sky. We are working to pause the use of Sky while we address them. Read more about how we chose these voices: https://t.co/R8wwZjU36L — OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 20, 2024

ChatGPT lets you add files from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive

OpenAI announced new updates for easier data analysis within ChatGPT . Users can now upload files directly from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, interact with tables and charts, and export customized charts for presentations. The company says these improvements will be added to GPT-4o in the coming weeks.

We're rolling out interactive tables and charts along with the ability to add files directly from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive into ChatGPT. Available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise users over the coming weeks. https://t.co/Fu2bgMChXt pic.twitter.com/M9AHLx5BKr — OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 16, 2024

OpenAI inks deal to train AI on Reddit data

OpenAI announced a partnership with Reddit that will give the company access to “real-time, structured and unique content” from the social network. Content from Reddit will be incorporated into ChatGPT, and the companies will work together to bring new AI-powered features to Reddit users and moderators.

We’re partnering with Reddit to bring its content to ChatGPT and new products: https://t.co/xHgBZ8ptOE — OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 16, 2024

OpenAI debuts GPT-4o “omni” model now powering ChatGPT

OpenAI’s spring update event saw the reveal of its new omni model, GPT-4o, which has a black hole-like interface , as well as voice and vision capabilities that feel eerily like something out of “Her.” GPT-4o is set to roll out “iteratively” across its developer and consumer-facing products over the next few weeks.

OpenAI demos real-time language translation with its latest GPT-4o model. pic.twitter.com/pXtHQ9mKGc — TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) May 13, 2024

OpenAI to build a tool that lets content creators opt out of AI training

The company announced it’s building a tool, Media Manager, that will allow creators to better control how their content is being used to train generative AI models — and give them an option to opt out. The goal is to have the new tool in place and ready to use by 2025.

OpenAI explores allowing AI porn

In a new peek behind the curtain of its AI’s secret instructions , OpenAI also released a new NSFW policy . Though it’s intended to start a conversation about how it might allow explicit images and text in its AI products, it raises questions about whether OpenAI — or any generative AI vendor — can be trusted to handle sensitive content ethically.

OpenAI and Stack Overflow announce partnership

In a new partnership, OpenAI will get access to developer platform Stack Overflow’s API and will get feedback from developers to improve the performance of their AI models. In return, OpenAI will include attributions to Stack Overflow in ChatGPT. However, the deal was not favorable to some Stack Overflow users — leading to some sabotaging their answer in protest .

U.S. newspapers file copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft

Alden Global Capital-owned newspapers, including the New York Daily News, the Chicago Tribune, and the Denver Post, are suing OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement. The lawsuit alleges that the companies stole millions of copyrighted articles “without permission and without payment” to bolster ChatGPT and Copilot.

OpenAI inks content licensing deal with Financial Times

OpenAI has partnered with another news publisher in Europe, London’s Financial Times , that the company will be paying for content access. “Through the partnership, ChatGPT users will be able to see select attributed summaries, quotes and rich links to FT journalism in response to relevant queries,” the FT wrote in a press release.

OpenAI opens Tokyo hub, adds GPT-4 model optimized for Japanese

OpenAI is opening a new office in Tokyo and has plans for a GPT-4 model optimized specifically for the Japanese language. The move underscores how OpenAI will likely need to localize its technology to different languages as it expands.

Sam Altman pitches ChatGPT Enterprise to Fortune 500 companies

According to Reuters, OpenAI’s Sam Altman hosted hundreds of executives from Fortune 500 companies across several cities in April, pitching versions of its AI services intended for corporate use.

OpenAI releases “more direct, less verbose” version of GPT-4 Turbo

Premium ChatGPT users — customers paying for ChatGPT Plus, Team or Enterprise — can now use an updated and enhanced version of GPT-4 Turbo . The new model brings with it improvements in writing, math, logical reasoning and coding, OpenAI claims, as well as a more up-to-date knowledge base.

Our new GPT-4 Turbo is now available to paid ChatGPT users. We’ve improved capabilities in writing, math, logical reasoning, and coding. Source: https://t.co/fjoXDCOnPr pic.twitter.com/I4fg4aDq1T — OpenAI (@OpenAI) April 12, 2024

ChatGPT no longer requires an account — but there’s a catch

You can now use ChatGPT without signing up for an account , but it won’t be quite the same experience. You won’t be able to save or share chats, use custom instructions, or other features associated with a persistent account. This version of ChatGPT will have “slightly more restrictive content policies,” according to OpenAI. When TechCrunch asked for more details, however, the response was unclear:

“The signed out experience will benefit from the existing safety mitigations that are already built into the model, such as refusing to generate harmful content. In addition to these existing mitigations, we are also implementing additional safeguards specifically designed to address other forms of content that may be inappropriate for a signed out experience,” a spokesperson said.

OpenAI’s chatbot store is filling up with spam

TechCrunch found that the OpenAI’s GPT Store is flooded with bizarre, potentially copyright-infringing GPTs . A cursory search pulls up GPTs that claim to generate art in the style of Disney and Marvel properties, but serve as little more than funnels to third-party paid services and advertise themselves as being able to bypass AI content detection tools.

The New York Times responds to OpenAI’s claims that it “hacked” ChatGPT for its copyright lawsuit

In a court filing opposing OpenAI’s motion to dismiss The New York Times’ lawsuit alleging copyright infringement, the newspaper asserted that “OpenAI’s attention-grabbing claim that The Times ‘hacked’ its products is as irrelevant as it is false.” The New York Times also claimed that some users of ChatGPT used the tool to bypass its paywalls.

OpenAI VP doesn’t say whether artists should be paid for training data

At a SXSW 2024 panel, Peter Deng, OpenAI’s VP of consumer product dodged a question on whether artists whose work was used to train generative AI models should be compensated . While OpenAI lets artists “opt out” of and remove their work from the datasets that the company uses to train its image-generating models, some artists have described the tool as onerous.

A new report estimates that ChatGPT uses more than half a million kilowatt-hours of electricity per day

ChatGPT’s environmental impact appears to be massive. According to a report from The New Yorker , ChatGPT uses an estimated 17,000 times the amount of electricity than the average U.S. household to respond to roughly 200 million requests each day.

ChatGPT can now read its answers aloud

OpenAI released a new Read Aloud feature for the web version of ChatGPT as well as the iOS and Android apps. The feature allows ChatGPT to read its responses to queries in one of five voice options and can speak 37 languages, according to the company. Read aloud is available on both GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 models.

ChatGPT can now read responses to you. On iOS or Android, tap and hold the message and then tap “Read Aloud”. We’ve also started rolling on web – click the "Read Aloud" button below the message. pic.twitter.com/KevIkgAFbG — OpenAI (@OpenAI) March 4, 2024

OpenAI partners with Dublin City Council to use GPT-4 for tourism

As part of a new partnership with OpenAI, the Dublin City Council will use GPT-4 to craft personalized itineraries for travelers, including recommendations of unique and cultural destinations, in an effort to support tourism across Europe.

A law firm used ChatGPT to justify a six-figure bill for legal services

New York-based law firm Cuddy Law was criticized by a judge for using ChatGPT to calculate their hourly billing rate . The firm submitted a $113,500 bill to the court, which was then halved by District Judge Paul Engelmayer, who called the figure “well above” reasonable demands.

ChatGPT experienced a bizarre bug for several hours

ChatGPT users found that ChatGPT was giving nonsensical answers for several hours , prompting OpenAI to investigate the issue. Incidents varied from repetitive phrases to confusing and incorrect answers to queries. The issue was resolved by OpenAI the following morning.

Match Group announced deal with OpenAI with a press release co-written by ChatGPT

The dating app giant home to Tinder, Match and OkCupid announced an enterprise agreement with OpenAI in an enthusiastic press release written with the help of ChatGPT . The AI tech will be used to help employees with work-related tasks and come as part of Match’s $20 million-plus bet on AI in 2024.

ChatGPT will now remember — and forget — things you tell it to

As part of a test, OpenAI began rolling out new “memory” controls for a small portion of ChatGPT free and paid users, with a broader rollout to follow. The controls let you tell ChatGPT explicitly to remember something, see what it remembers or turn off its memory altogether. Note that deleting a chat from chat history won’t erase ChatGPT’s or a custom GPT’s memories — you must delete the memory itself.

We’re testing ChatGPT's ability to remember things you discuss to make future chats more helpful. This feature is being rolled out to a small portion of Free and Plus users, and it's easy to turn on or off. https://t.co/1Tv355oa7V pic.twitter.com/BsFinBSTbs — OpenAI (@OpenAI) February 13, 2024

OpenAI begins rolling out “Temporary Chat” feature

Initially limited to a small subset of free and subscription users, Temporary Chat lets you have a dialogue with a blank slate. With Temporary Chat, ChatGPT won’t be aware of previous conversations or access memories but will follow custom instructions if they’re enabled.

But, OpenAI says it may keep a copy of Temporary Chat conversations for up to 30 days for “safety reasons.”

Use temporary chat for conversations in which you don’t want to use memory or appear in history. pic.twitter.com/H1U82zoXyC — OpenAI (@OpenAI) February 13, 2024

ChatGPT users can now invoke GPTs directly in chats

Paid users of ChatGPT can now bring GPTs into a conversation by typing “@” and selecting a GPT from the list. The chosen GPT will have an understanding of the full conversation, and different GPTs can be “tagged in” for different use cases and needs.

You can now bring GPTs into any conversation in ChatGPT – simply type @ and select the GPT. This allows you to add relevant GPTs with the full context of the conversation. pic.twitter.com/Pjn5uIy9NF — OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 30, 2024

ChatGPT is reportedly leaking usernames and passwords from users’ private conversations

Screenshots provided to Ars Technica found that ChatGPT is potentially leaking unpublished research papers, login credentials and private information from its users. An OpenAI representative told Ars Technica that the company was investigating the report.

ChatGPT is violating Europe’s privacy laws, Italian DPA tells OpenAI

OpenAI has been told it’s suspected of violating European Union privacy , following a multi-month investigation of ChatGPT by Italy’s data protection authority. Details of the draft findings haven’t been disclosed, but in a response, OpenAI said: “We want our AI to learn about the world, not about private individuals.”

OpenAI partners with Common Sense Media to collaborate on AI guidelines

In an effort to win the trust of parents and policymakers, OpenAI announced it’s partnering with Common Sense Media to collaborate on AI guidelines and education materials for parents, educators and young adults. The organization works to identify and minimize tech harms to young people and previously flagged ChatGPT as lacking in transparency and privacy .

OpenAI responds to Congressional Black Caucus about lack of diversity on its board

After a letter from the Congressional Black Caucus questioned the lack of diversity in OpenAI’s board, the company responded . The response, signed by CEO Sam Altman and Chairman of the Board Bret Taylor, said building a complete and diverse board was one of the company’s top priorities and that it was working with an executive search firm to assist it in finding talent. 

OpenAI drops prices and fixes ‘lazy’ GPT-4 that refused to work

In a blog post , OpenAI announced price drops for GPT-3.5’s API, with input prices dropping to 50% and output by 25%, to $0.0005 per thousand tokens in, and $0.0015 per thousand tokens out. GPT-4 Turbo also got a new preview model for API use, which includes an interesting fix that aims to reduce “laziness” that users have experienced.

Expanding the platform for @OpenAIDevs : new generation of embedding models, updated GPT-4 Turbo, and lower pricing on GPT-3.5 Turbo. https://t.co/7wzCLwB1ax — OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 25, 2024

OpenAI bans developer of a bot impersonating a presidential candidate

OpenAI has suspended AI startup Delphi, which developed a bot impersonating Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) to help bolster his presidential campaign. The ban comes just weeks after OpenAI published a plan to combat election misinformation, which listed “chatbots impersonating candidates” as against its policy.

OpenAI announces partnership with Arizona State University

Beginning in February, Arizona State University will have full access to ChatGPT’s Enterprise tier , which the university plans to use to build a personalized AI tutor, develop AI avatars, bolster their prompt engineering course and more. It marks OpenAI’s first partnership with a higher education institution.

Winner of a literary prize reveals around 5% her novel was written by ChatGPT

After receiving the prestigious Akutagawa Prize for her novel The Tokyo Tower of Sympathy, author Rie Kudan admitted that around 5% of the book quoted ChatGPT-generated sentences “verbatim.” Interestingly enough, the novel revolves around a futuristic world with a pervasive presence of AI.

Sam Altman teases video capabilities for ChatGPT and the release of GPT-5

In a conversation with Bill Gates on the Unconfuse Me podcast, Sam Altman confirmed an upcoming release of GPT-5 that will be “fully multimodal with speech, image, code, and video support.” Altman said users can expect to see GPT-5 drop sometime in 2024.

OpenAI announces team to build ‘crowdsourced’ governance ideas into its models

OpenAI is forming a Collective Alignment team of researchers and engineers to create a system for collecting and “encoding” public input on its models’ behaviors into OpenAI products and services. This comes as a part of OpenAI’s public program to award grants to fund experiments in setting up a “democratic process” for determining the rules AI systems follow.

OpenAI unveils plan to combat election misinformation

In a blog post, OpenAI announced users will not be allowed to build applications for political campaigning and lobbying until the company works out how effective their tools are for “personalized persuasion.”

Users will also be banned from creating chatbots that impersonate candidates or government institutions, and from using OpenAI tools to misrepresent the voting process or otherwise discourage voting.

The company is also testing out a tool that detects DALL-E generated images and will incorporate access to real-time news, with attribution, in ChatGPT.

Snapshot of how we’re preparing for 2024’s worldwide elections: • Working to prevent abuse, including misleading deepfakes • Providing transparency on AI-generated content • Improving access to authoritative voting information https://t.co/qsysYy5l0L — OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 15, 2024

OpenAI changes policy to allow military applications

In an unannounced update to its usage policy , OpenAI removed language previously prohibiting the use of its products for the purposes of “military and warfare.” In an additional statement, OpenAI confirmed that the language was changed in order to accommodate military customers and projects that do not violate their ban on efforts to use their tools to “harm people, develop weapons, for communications surveillance, or to injure others or destroy property.”

ChatGPT subscription aimed at small teams debuts

Aptly called ChatGPT Team , the new plan provides a dedicated workspace for teams of up to 149 people using ChatGPT as well as admin tools for team management. In addition to gaining access to GPT-4, GPT-4 with Vision and DALL-E3, ChatGPT Team lets teams build and share GPTs for their business needs.

OpenAI’s GPT store officially launches

After some back and forth over the last few months, OpenAI’s GPT Store is finally here . The feature lives in a new tab in the ChatGPT web client, and includes a range of GPTs developed both by OpenAI’s partners and the wider dev community.

To access the GPT Store, users must be subscribed to one of OpenAI’s premium ChatGPT plans — ChatGPT Plus, ChatGPT Enterprise or the newly launched ChatGPT Team.

the GPT store is live! https://t.co/AKg1mjlvo2 fun speculation last night about which GPTs will be doing the best by the end of today. — Sam Altman (@sama) January 10, 2024

Developing AI models would be “impossible” without copyrighted materials, OpenAI claims

Following a proposed ban on using news publications and books to train AI chatbots in the U.K., OpenAI submitted a plea to the House of Lords communications and digital committee. OpenAI argued that it would be “impossible” to train AI models without using copyrighted materials, and that they believe copyright law “does not forbid training.”

OpenAI claims The New York Times’ copyright lawsuit is without merit

OpenAI published a public response to The New York Times’s lawsuit against them and Microsoft for allegedly violating copyright law, claiming that the case is without merit.

In the response , OpenAI reiterates its view that training AI models using publicly available data from the web is fair use. It also makes the case that regurgitation is less likely to occur with training data from a single source and places the onus on users to “act responsibly.”

We build AI to empower people, including journalists. Our position on the @nytimes lawsuit: • Training is fair use, but we provide an opt-out • "Regurgitation" is a rare bug we're driving to zero • The New York Times is not telling the full story https://t.co/S6fSaDsfKb — OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 8, 2024

OpenAI’s app store for GPTs planned to launch next week

After being delayed in December , OpenAI plans to launch its GPT Store sometime in the coming week, according to an email viewed by TechCrunch. OpenAI says developers building GPTs will have to review the company’s updated usage policies and GPT brand guidelines to ensure their GPTs are compliant before they’re eligible for listing in the GPT Store. OpenAI’s update notably didn’t include any information on the expected monetization opportunities for developers listing their apps on the storefront.

GPT Store launching next week – OpenAI pic.twitter.com/I6mkZKtgZG — Manish Singh (@refsrc) January 4, 2024

OpenAI moves to shrink regulatory risk in EU around data privacy

In an email, OpenAI detailed an incoming update to its terms, including changing the OpenAI entity providing services to EEA and Swiss residents to OpenAI Ireland Limited. The move appears to be intended to shrink its regulatory risk in the European Union, where the company has been under scrutiny over ChatGPT’s impact on people’s privacy.

What is ChatGPT? How does it work?

ChatGPT is a general-purpose chatbot that uses artificial intelligence to generate text after a user enters a prompt, developed by tech startup OpenAI . The chatbot uses GPT-4, a large language model that uses deep learning to produce human-like text.

When did ChatGPT get released?

November 30, 2022 is when ChatGPT was released for public use.

What is the latest version of ChatGPT?

Both the free version of ChatGPT and the paid ChatGPT Plus are regularly updated with new GPT models. The most recent model is GPT-4o .

Can I use ChatGPT for free?

There is a free version of ChatGPT that only requires a sign-in in addition to the paid version, ChatGPT Plus .

Who uses ChatGPT?

Anyone can use ChatGPT! More and more tech companies and search engines are utilizing the chatbot to automate text or quickly answer user questions/concerns.

What companies use ChatGPT?

Multiple enterprises utilize ChatGPT, although others may limit the use of the AI-powered tool .

Most recently, Microsoft announced at it’s 2023 Build conference that it is integrating it ChatGPT-based Bing experience into Windows 11. A Brooklyn-based 3D display startup Looking Glass utilizes ChatGPT to produce holograms you can communicate with by using ChatGPT.  And nonprofit organization Solana officially integrated the chatbot into its network with a ChatGPT plug-in geared toward end users to help onboard into the web3 space.

What does GPT mean in ChatGPT?

GPT stands for Generative Pre-Trained Transformer.

What is the difference between ChatGPT and a chatbot?

A chatbot can be any software/system that holds dialogue with you/a person but doesn’t necessarily have to be AI-powered. For example, there are chatbots that are rules-based in the sense that they’ll give canned responses to questions.

ChatGPT is AI-powered and utilizes LLM technology to generate text after a prompt.

Can ChatGPT write essays?

Can chatgpt commit libel.

Due to the nature of how these models work , they don’t know or care whether something is true, only that it looks true. That’s a problem when you’re using it to do your homework, sure, but when it accuses you of a crime you didn’t commit, that may well at this point be libel.

We will see how handling troubling statements produced by ChatGPT will play out over the next few months as tech and legal experts attempt to tackle the fastest moving target in the industry.

Does ChatGPT have an app?

Yes, there is a free ChatGPT mobile app for iOS and Android users.

What is the ChatGPT character limit?

It’s not documented anywhere that ChatGPT has a character limit. However, users have noted that there are some character limitations after around 500 words.

Does ChatGPT have an API?

Yes, it was released March 1, 2023.

What are some sample everyday uses for ChatGPT?

Everyday examples include programing, scripts, email replies, listicles, blog ideas, summarization, etc.

What are some advanced uses for ChatGPT?

Advanced use examples include debugging code, programming languages, scientific concepts, complex problem solving, etc.

How good is ChatGPT at writing code?

It depends on the nature of the program. While ChatGPT can write workable Python code, it can’t necessarily program an entire app’s worth of code. That’s because ChatGPT lacks context awareness — in other words, the generated code isn’t always appropriate for the specific context in which it’s being used.

Can you save a ChatGPT chat?

Yes. OpenAI allows users to save chats in the ChatGPT interface, stored in the sidebar of the screen. There are no built-in sharing features yet.

Are there alternatives to ChatGPT?

Yes. There are multiple AI-powered chatbot competitors such as Together , Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude , and developers are creating open source alternatives .

How does ChatGPT handle data privacy?

OpenAI has said that individuals in “certain jurisdictions” (such as the EU) can object to the processing of their personal information by its AI models by filling out  this form . This includes the ability to make requests for deletion of AI-generated references about you. Although OpenAI notes it may not grant every request since it must balance privacy requests against freedom of expression “in accordance with applicable laws”.

The web form for making a deletion of data about you request is entitled “ OpenAI Personal Data Removal Request ”.

In its privacy policy, the ChatGPT maker makes a passing acknowledgement of the objection requirements attached to relying on “legitimate interest” (LI), pointing users towards more information about requesting an opt out — when it writes: “See here  for instructions on how you can opt out of our use of your information to train our models.”

What controversies have surrounded ChatGPT?

Recently, Discord announced that it had integrated OpenAI’s technology into its bot named Clyde where two users tricked Clyde into providing them with instructions for making the illegal drug methamphetamine (meth) and the incendiary mixture napalm.

An Australian mayor has publicly announced he may sue OpenAI for defamation due to ChatGPT’s false claims that he had served time in prison for bribery. This would be the first defamation lawsuit against the text-generating service.

CNET found itself in the midst of controversy after Futurism reported the publication was publishing articles under a mysterious byline completely generated by AI. The private equity company that owns CNET, Red Ventures, was accused of using ChatGPT for SEO farming, even if the information was incorrect.

Several major school systems and colleges, including New York City Public Schools , have banned ChatGPT from their networks and devices. They claim that the AI impedes the learning process by promoting plagiarism and misinformation, a claim that not every educator agrees with .

There have also been cases of ChatGPT accusing individuals of false crimes .

Where can I find examples of ChatGPT prompts?

Several marketplaces host and provide ChatGPT prompts, either for free or for a nominal fee. One is PromptBase . Another is ChatX . More launch every day.

Can ChatGPT be detected?

Poorly. Several tools claim to detect ChatGPT-generated text, but in our tests , they’re inconsistent at best.

Are ChatGPT chats public?

No. But OpenAI recently disclosed a bug, since fixed, that exposed the titles of some users’ conversations to other people on the service.

What lawsuits are there surrounding ChatGPT?

None specifically targeting ChatGPT. But OpenAI is involved in at least one lawsuit that has implications for AI systems trained on publicly available data, which would touch on ChatGPT.

Are there issues regarding plagiarism with ChatGPT?

Yes. Text-generating AI models like ChatGPT have a tendency to regurgitate content from their training data.

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Android’s upcoming ‘Collections’ feature will drive users back to their apps

As Google described during the I/O session, the new on-device surface would organize what’s most relevant to users, inviting them to jump back into their apps.

Kleiner Perkins announces $2 billion in fresh capital, showing that established firms can still raise large sums

Many VC firms are struggling to attract new capital from their own backers amid a tepid IPO environment. But established, brand-name firms are still able to raise large funds. On…

DEI? More like ‘common decency’ — and Silicon Valley is saying ‘no thanks’

Welcome to Startups Weekly — Haje‘s weekly recap of everything you can’t miss from the world of startups. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Friday. Editor’s…

HubSpot says it’s investigating customer account hacks

The company “identified a security incident that involved bad actors targeting a limited number of HubSpot customers and attempting to gain unauthorized access to their accounts” on June 22.

Volkswagen’s Silicon Valley software hub is already stacked with Rivian talent

VW Group’s struggling software arm Cariad has hired at least 23 of the startup’s top employees over the past several months.

All VCs say they are founder friendly; Detroit’s Ludlow Ventures takes that to another level

VCs Jonathon Triest and Brett deMarrais see their ability to read people and create longstanding relationships with founders as the primary reason their Detroit-based venture firm, Ludlow Ventures, is celebrating its 15th year in business. It sounds silly, attributing their longevity to what’s sometimes called “Midwestern nice.” But is it…

The White House will host a conference for social media creators

President Joe Biden’s administration is doubling down on its interest in the creator economy. In August, the White House will host the first-ever White House Creator Economy Conference, which will…

Pitch Deck Teardown: MegaMod’s $1.9M seed deck

In an industry where creators are often tossed aside like yesterday’s lootboxes, MegaMod swoops in with a heroic promise to put them front and center.