500 words common app essay?

College Essays
1

<p>Question: Why is everybody convinced that the common app essay has to be less than 500 words? It doesn't say there is a limit anywhere, is it bad if mine is 1500?</p>

2

<p>If you were an admissions officer and you had to read thousands of essays, would you want to read one that is 1500 words long (about 4-5 pages)?
It better be a masterpiece or I'd reject you on the spot.</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
It doesn't say there is a limit anywhere,

[/quote]

Yes it does.
The common app itself specifically gives the limit of 500 words.</p>

4

<p>Ooooh interesting... I just checked common app and they changed it this year.
There is no word limit anymore...</p>

<p>
[quote]
Please write an essay (250 words minimum) on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>But still, I don't think an adcom would appreciate something that's about 5 pages. Especially if it's something that could easily be said in <500 words.</p>

5

<p>I'd shoot for 550. 575...maybe.</p>

6

<p>Yeah anything over 700 is pushing your luck.</p>