<p>Right now i have finished my main common app essay and it is at 750 words. There is no way i can cut it further because it tells a story. I'm applying to Stanford SCEA along with ivies and duke (for the common app). Will this length really matter?</p>
<p>750 is really too long. You should shoot for 600 words or fewer; it will be obvious to adcoms if you're 250 words over the limit and they will not appreciate it.</p>
<p>Think about the story you're trying to tell - what's the main point, and are there any extra details that you don't really need? Can you trim your introduction and get to the big idea faster?</p>
<p>The limit is 500 words for the main essay? On the commonapp I only see "250 words minimum." Mine's 666 words. Too long?</p>
<p>You might want to trim down your essay, GleasSpty, that's the devil's number o_0</p>
<p>Yes it says 250 words minimum, but the max in the past has always been 500 words. I see no reason why it would be different this year.</p>
<p>Quoting directly from Yale's admissions site:</p>
<p>"Q: My essays are more than 500 words each. Is that OK?</p>
<p>A: 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."</p>
<p>Read again: "understand that you will not help yourself..."</p>
<p>At 750 words, you're fifty percent over the LIMIT. cut, cut, cut.</p>
<p>For some great editing pointers, go here:</p>
<p>The link posted doesn't work. Here's the link.</p>
<p>I think 500 is what you should be shooting for in regards to the Common App.</p>
<p>Make sure every word counts, as well.</p>