Common App Essay word limit/guideline

<p>So for the essay, does it have to be 500 words max? I know this has been asked multiple times on here but i couldnt find a specific thread. Mine is currently in the high 600's but is only 2 pages double spaced. I know i have to cut it down but im just wondering how closely others are sticking to the word limit.</p>

<p>Sorry to let you down, but the online thing isn’t going to let you submit it if it’s over 500 words. There’s a reason that there’s a 500 word limit this year, it’s not a suggestion.</p>

<p>Ohhh well thanks for letting me know! The common app preview made it seem like an attatchment so it’s not like you couldn’t send a little extra. But thanks for telling me!:)</p>

<p>actually, that is not what I heard worriedjunior12. I was told that it was indeed a guideline. As in, you can write something that is 525 words, but if you write something 700 words it will be frowned upon…</p>

<p>Okay that’s what I had heard too so I don’t know. Yeah I’ve cut it down to 630ish so I’ll cut out around 100 more</p>

<p>Okay right! But my essay is 632 words after cutting down a whole lot. Am I screwed?</p>

<p>Read this post, it provides some light on the situation: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12516608-post36.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12516608-post36.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I found this:
[Essays</a> : Stanford University](<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/application/freshman/essays.html]Essays”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/application/freshman/essays.html)

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<p>^ Better yet… here’s word straight from the source: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13012491-post164.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13012491-post164.html&lt;/a&gt; :)</p>

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<p>it won’t let you submit it if its over 500 words or 750 characters max. even if you try submitting it, it’ll come back with an error saying you have to fix that if its over</p>