Common App: The Short Answer

College Essays
1

<p>In the space provided below, please elaborate on one of your activities (extracurricular, personal activities, or work experience) 150 words or fewer.</p>

<p>Well, I had a question about the nature of the short answer on Common App (and a part of other applications for colleges that don't use the Common App). </p>

<p>Is it okay if the essay exceeds the word limit? I deleted a lot to get it down but it still remains at 170 words and lacking somethings that I wanted to say (if I write those things, I'm afraid it will go beyond 200 words).</p>

<p>Also, I know that the directions just say "elaborate" but should I be writing of how it impacts me or what I get out of the activity?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>The Common App online has a word counter for the short answer… so it won’t accept any essay longer than 150 words. So no, you have to stay under the word limit.</p>

<p>As for the direction you should take it, I’m equally lost, so I apologize that I can’t help you there.</p>

3

<p>Oh, it has a word counter? But doesn’t it also give you an option to upload a document? (meh, I will probably just start over… :()</p>

4

<p>BUMP</p>

<p>So, the question remains is it okay if (for the sake of keeping it at 150 words) I only talk about one aspect of how a club changed me? I feel like it’s not much. How did other people write theirs?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>