<p>The 200-500 word limit- is it strictly enforced??.my essay has about 530 words .</p>
<p>Its recommended because admissions usually spends 15 min on an app and get bored with long essays but if u can try to follow the guidelines…good luck</p>
<p>Sent from my SPH-M920 using CC App</p>
<p>I would agree… stick to the limit. It may hurt you more than it may help you.</p>
<p>My essay was around 525. Only keep the extra words in there if they help you. If a paragraph isn’t really saying anything, axe it.</p>
<p>I read that, starting this year, essays will be automatically cut off at the word limit. Not sure if it is true though.</p>
<p>Not true at all. As a member of the Class of 2015 my CommonApp personal statement was 770 words and as you can guess, I was admitted. The only policy is that it must be 250+ words. Beyond that go for it, but don’t write a novel!</p>
<p>^Smacking, if you write a 700 word essay, regardless of what the CommonApp says, the 700 words will show up in all its glory. That said, if the adcoms notice you weren’t following directions, it could/would be a detriment for your app.</p>
<p>^puliceman92 There is now a 500 word advised limit. It’s not a hard limit of 500, but Class of 2016ers have to stay close to that number or risk ire from the adcoms.</p>
<p>JB</p>