<p>Hey y'all
will it be hurt that I have 750? I understand what Maximum means, but just want to know if there are any former Yale students who sent theirs with more than 500 words essay and got in anyway?</p>
<p>jst asked the question... there were people who said I should limit my words to TOPS 600 words.. other just said: DO NOT GO FURTHER THAN 500 WORDS!!! so.. i really dont know...</p>
<p>This question comes up over and over. From the Yale Admissions website:</p>
<p>
[quote]
My essays are more than 500 words each. Is that OK?
We ask that you respect the word limits we suggest. Will we read the words beyond 500? Yes. But if your essays are much longer than 500 words, understand that you will not help yourself by seeming to have ignored our request.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yale is not going to count words, but you should avoid exceeding the 500-word limit by more than 10%. 750 words is way too long.</p>
<p>You can get away with 550, maybe 600 absolute max (I got in with 533), but 750 is way too long.</p>
<p>Then again, even a 450-word essay can seem like an eternity if it's poorly written, so make sure that your essay is INTERESTING first, and then focus on whittling it down.</p>
<p>Speaking as an admitted SCEA student:</p>
<p>My CommonApp Essay: 1,200 words.
My supplemental Essay: 500 words.</p>
<p>If it's good enough, they might be kinder with length limits...so there you go.</p>
<p>They're handing you a measuring cup that holds exactly 8 ounces and asking you to fill it to the brim without making a mess. And you're asking if you should put in 9 ounces? This question comes up ad nauseum, and the answer is always the same.</p>
<p>You're an admissions officer. It's 4 in the afternoon, and you've been reading essays all day. Your eyes are killing you, even with the Visine. You're tired, and bored, because so many of the essays are the same. You pick up the next essay--and you notice that it's 50% longer than it's supposed to be. What is your reaction?</p>
<p>Also, the essay length is not just about time. They want to see that you are a good, tight writer. That you can have a message, relate a story, make it interesting, and leave the admissions officer wanting more. Too wordy of an essay is just going to hurt you. Also, pick a very specific thing you want to write about, and go all out on it. Don't relate your entire life story and struggle through life. Give them something catchy and interesting that is unique to you and even if you go a little over as long as it is highly relevant you'll be fine.</p>
<p>Good luck to you all!</p>