<p>I wrote out the first draft of my common app essay, with its requirement of 150 words or MORE (not the activity essay). However, when a friend editted it, he said that I should shorten it because schools have a 500 word limit. Is this true? Can I find it on their websites? If so, why would the common app itself not say so? After all, the common app essay is meant to be used for all schools that take the common app.</p>
<p>You should check with the school’s website, but most schools keep 500 words as a recommended guideline and aren’t strict about keeping it 500 words or fewer. After all, the word limit isn’t mentioned on the application itself.</p>