<p>the columbia personal essay has the following guidelines: 250-500 words (or 1-2 pages).
Obviously writing 2 pages would be more than 500 words. So how much over 500 words are we allowed to go on the essay?</p>
<p>2 pages double spaced actually does come out to around 500 words with decent margins.</p>
<p>but the rule of thumb is try and stay under the limit, and if you must, do limit + 10% (550). if you REALLY must, limit + 50% (750). anything above that i feel is excessive.</p>
<p>I think mine ended up being 440... I just hate writing too much under the limit cause then it seems like a crap attempt... but its so hard to stay under</p>
<p>i guarantee you there's always something to cut out.</p>
<p>Hi. I was admitted ED to Columbia and my main essay ("personal statement") was 720 words. Also, I included a supplementary essay of 2,300 words, as well as a list of the books I've read in the past year (there was not enough space on the application as they were about 55ish books total), so I don't think the Columbia adcom is overly stingy about word limits.</p>
<p>That said, my personal statement made my English teacher cry.</p>
<p>because it was so bad?</p>
<p>lol, martin</p>
<p>"Look at all the books this one's read. Where's my 'ACCEPTED' stamp, Amy?"</p>
<p>lol. no. tears of joy...</p>
<p>sarcasm can be overlooked easily;)</p>
<p>yeah seriously 099 way to brag.</p>
<p>rofl.. crying about an essay. kind of pathetic</p>
<p>Hrm, well, I don't think there's anything particularly wrong about crying over an essay. Saying that other people cried about yours, however, could be construed as vainglorious.</p>
<p>^ agreed.</p>
<p>I think if you read my essay, you'd cry. Human beings and financial difficulty have made my life hell.</p>
<p>I don't even remember all the books i've read this year.... and honestly 55 isn't that much....</p>
<p>55... isnt that much... with homework, essays, SAT's everything else. How do you read 55 books? 1 per week?</p>
<p>bluewhitebulldog: I think your essay is to be a symbol of potential and not lost opportunities. You're selling yourself to a top-rated university. Personally, the last thing I'd want is for the admissions staff to walk away from my essay with a sense of pity.</p>
<p>Also, let's please not turn this into a pi**ing contest of sorrow and intellect, people.</p>
<p>well this year I didn't read alot... between HSC... SATs... driving.... but now i'm catching up... its seriously not that hard... i read fast, so get through most books in the most two days... except for like harry potter but I reckon that counts for at least two books!</p>