<p>I've started my personal statement for next year, and I just realized that a new limit of 500 words has been put on the common app. Needless to say, I'm a bit annoyed because the essay I had going would definately have been too long.
So, I wondering whether this is just an arbitrary number that can be basically disregarded (perhaps up to 700 words?), or whether colleges will hold it against me if I fail to follow directions.</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>Better be safe than sorry dude. I would recommend cutting it down to 500 words.
Trust me. I hate it too.</p>
<p>Is this a new policy? I think there was a recommended 500 word limit in previous years, but people have always used it as a guide, not a rule.</p>
<p>I agree with girlrockingguna. The limit is 500… 700 is WAY overboard.
I was mad when I first read about the limit too, but I managed to come up with an essay that was a little under 500 words.</p>
<p>Sent from my iPhone 4 using CC</p>
<p>as I understand it, the limit is just there to give a suggestion as to how long the essay should be. I wrote a great admissions essay for an english class assignment, and i asked my teacher about this dilemma. he said the above, and that they don’t actually count how many words you have because that would take forever. not sure how right he is, but i do think the limit is there as a suggestion more than a requirement.</p>
<p>It’s not a hard limit, but admissions officers HATE long essays. It makes their job more difficult and makes them think you can’t follow directions.</p>
<p>Cut it down to under 600, to be safe. The limit is a suggestion, but they’ll notice (and dislike) if you’re 200 words over.</p>