<p>"Please submit a brief essay..." instructs one of my applications (re: personal statement).</p>
<p>My question is, how brief is brief? What's the limit? I am guessing 2,000 words would not be acceptable. If such was my word count, would the admissions officers become frustrated and stop reading? Could such a move hurt my application? </p>
<p>What if my personal statement requires to be 2,000 words, just because I have so much to tell (and if the essay is creative and actually engaging?) I don't want to limit my story, but I also don't want to screw up and not follow instructions.</p>
<p>Thanks for any advice!</p>
<p>2,000 words is WAY too much! I’m sure you’ve got a lot to say, but the admissions committee does not have the time to listen to all that you have to say…
700-850 is the average… you can go up to 1,000 if you really need it and the essay flows well. Just try to give them a snippet of yourself. I know it’s hard but nonetheless achievable.</p>
<p>Really? Now, what if there is no specific (or implied) word limit? (Just a stated minimum?)</p>
<p>It’s not actually 2,000 words, more like 1,900. :-)</p>
<p>I think a 500 to 1000 word essay is a logical goal, because the common app essay limit for freshmen applicants is 500 words.</p>
<p>I agree with college_ruled. Even if there is no specific word limit, you still have to keep in mind that admission officers/committees have to read hundreds of essays everyday. Don’t assume that they’re going to read yours first while sipping starbucks, and their mind is fresh. At that point a 1,900 words essay is intimidating, and annoying no matter how good it is.
IDK, it is your choice. It just seems to me more reasonable to keep the essay short and interesting, and make it leave them wanting to taste more.</p>
<p>The thing is, I already wrote this essay (for the app. without maximum word count) over winter break. I’ve had multiple people read and edit it, and they all loved it and thought it was clever. If I try to cut down to meet 1,000 words, I feel I’ll butcher it.</p>
<p>and so goes the drudgery of the college application essay.</p>
<p>actually, i thought brief meant no more than 300-350 words, since the CA limit of 500 is the “normal” length. In any case, I don’t think even 1000 word statemnt will bode well; they adcoms just want a cohesive,condensed look at you, not your outline for the great American novel.</p>
<p>It is settled and I am writing an up-to 500 word essay for the “brief” statement. </p>
<p>But, if the second application (CommonApp) states no limit, how could have I known otherwise? </p>
<p>As a freshman applicant I had not included things pertinent to my background & upbringing in my statements. In writing that 2,000 word for the transfer app, I felt I was really correcting my past mistakes – finally, the essay sounds like my voice and includes all the right information. It’s also not packed and congested and reads easily.</p>
<p>Seriously, is there no hope that the adcoms will be merciful and actually read my essay?</p>
<p>Frankly, nobody but the adcoms would know.</p>
<p>I guess I’ll have to get over my fears and call all the admissions offices.</p>
<p>yep, yu can ask if anyone with a 2000 wrd statement ever got accepted</p>
<p>Ever got accepted? Jeez. I’m sorry, but are you an authority on this? I’m guessing not. And what if the adcoms just read mid-way, and still like it? I think that’s plausible.</p>