Hello!
So it may seem kinda strange, but I’m writing my essay about how I lost weight so I thought it would be a good idea if I attach a before and after picture to the document; however, I’ve never heard of anyone doing so, so would it be appropriate if I do so?
Probably for good reason. Don’t attach a picture; the AO’s have enough material to wade through.
@skieurope okay, thanks alot:)
I agree with @skieurope.
Harvard specifically requests musicians sending in a musical supplement to send AUDIO files (not videos) because they don’t want to be influenced by an applicant’s appearance. It’s the same in your situation. Admissions Officers have enough life experience to know what a 40 pound weight-loss looks like. as opposed to a 100 pound weight-loss, or however much weight you have lost. There’s no reason to send a photo and IMHO it will not result in a good result for you.
@gibby that makes sense.
thanks alot for the response.
Also… you are looking to reflect inner changes, vs external ones in your essay. At least I would think so.
Yeah it might view too much like a weight loss ad or something. Keeping it in writing keeps it personal and classy.
@intparent @Noitaraperp I got it, I won’t be attaching a picture. thanks alot.
I’m wondering,however, if a 900 words essay is too much?
The Common Application software for the Personal Statement will not let you type the 651st word. So, your 900 word essay will get cut off at the 650th word. So, 900 words is definitely too long for the Personal Statement.
On the other hand, Harvard’s optional Supplemental Essay doesn’t have a word limit. But, keep in mind that Admissions Officers are busy people and the longer your essay, the greater chance AO’s will start skimming. When confronted with a longer essay, they may just read the first and last paragraphs, and that doesn’t help your chances. Longer is not always better!
@gibby I now about the common app essay, I was asking about the harvard essay.
well, that’s why I was asking in the first place but the problem is I can’t cut off the essay, and even if I do so, what would be a reasonable limit?
^^ know*
A reasonable limit is one side of a page double spaced, that’s about 650 to 700 words.
FWIW: When reviewing longer essays, I have often found the student has written too much explanation and the essay often works better if the first 2-3 paragraphs are deleted, or edited down to 2 or 3 sentences. And dialogue is often the solution, as it draws the reader immediately into your story without need for exposition: http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/articles-and-advice/admission/articles/application-essay-clinic/how-use-dialogue-write-attention-grabbing-application-essay/
Get someone whose opinion you trust to look at it. Sometimes writers are too close to their work to see what needs to go, and perhaps you have a tendency to include too much (picture, 950 words…).
For what it’s worth, this topic strikes me as kind of too personal. But maybe that’s just because of the (now scrapped) picture idea, which seems a bit manipulative to me.
Think about how many applications they get, and how many essays they have to read.
I agree that it would be a bad idea to send a 900 word essay.
@gibby @bodangles @WhataProcess well thanks you guys, I’ve cut the essay to around 800 words, but that’s as far as I can go.
so I’ll just submit it and hope for the best!
My suggestion: Show your essay to your recommendation writers and ask them three questions:
- Does my essay "sound" like me? Your essay should sound the way you talk, as if you were standing in front of an Admissions Committee giving an oral presentation. As your recommendation writers know you better than most people -- or at least I would hope they do -- they can easily answer this question.
- Is there anything I can cut or condense?
- Do you have any suggestions to make the essay better?
By doing these three things, you will also allow your recommendation writers to get a better handle on who you are as a person, which will help them write you a better recommendation.
Best of luck to you!
@gibby okay, I was already planning to meet them the next week so that they can proofread my essay, these questions would be of a great help though.
thanks alot!
800 is too long. You know the old saying, “there is no such thing as good writing, only good rewriting”. Since colleges seem to feel that 650 words is enough to express any idea, you should be able to stick to that. Less is more. Good luck!
I agree with everyone above! When I first drafted my Harvard supplement essay it was around 900 words and I thought it was perfect and couldn’t go any shorter. I gave it a week of distance, then went back and reread it and cut it 100 words. Then I went to my AP English teacher and Junior year English teacher and got their advice, and it is now 625 words and fits neatly onto one page. This essay is obviously very personal to you and I understand why you don’t want to cut it too much, but honestly it will be so much more effective with less words. Try to get it onto one page! Good luck!