For the personal statement, is there a strict word limit? I’ve written a 700 word essay that I really like. I’d prefer to not cut it down.
Would I have more leeway if I printed it out in a slightly smaller font and stuck in on the paper common app? It will fit with size 11 Times New Roman.
<p>no. do NOT reduce font. That is VERY annoying to do. Widen the margins a bit if you must but don't reduce font size.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip. So, you're saying it is okay if it's a bit long, but still fits on the page?</p>
<p>Yea, they won't freak out at you. If you can cut down, do. But if it's a great essay, it's absolutely not worth sacrificing quality for a little less quantity.</p>
<p>does anyone know if the online application has a word limit?</p>
<p>okay, I answered my own question by actually looking at the website</p>
<p>lol they don't cut you off even though they say they will.</p>
<p>They do cut you off online. The max for the online common app is around 1100 words.</p>
<p>Sadly enough, mine got cut off.</p>
<p>wow really? that's a really long essay then. I thought I would have trouble with my 680 word one, but they didn't cut me off so I didn't know. Sorry~</p>
<p>but you can continue it, right? Even if you get cut off, there's extra pages attached. </p>
<p>Am I correct?</p>
<p>well, not online.</p>
<p>wow, there's really no reason you should have an essay over 1000 words long though... so the online cut off really shouldnt' be anything you have to worry about.</p>
<p>Actually, there is an extra section online for anything you want to continue. But I'm submitting my common app through mail anyway.</p>
<p>Yeah, my essay is like 1400 words. But it's a story and all of it essential. ALL of it. =P And besides, the college I'm applying to says that the AVERAGE length is 1-3 typed pages.. which means that half the essays submitted are longer than that. (Ha.. ha..)</p>
<p>my common app online essay is about 820 words and there's still space. i estimate u can put up to 900 words max.</p>
<p>oh my god it's messed up, i've spent like a week to shorten my essay to 500 word limit.</p>
<p>so what you guys are saying is following warning on commonapp.org is not really true..?? ?!!</p>
<p>"Please write an essay (250-500 words) on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below."</p>
<p>"Text beyond the limits WILL BE TRUNCATED!"</p>
<p>if anyone knows , how long can a short answer be??
also a general agreement on a true limit on a essay would be helpful</p>
<p>yeah, i was wondering about that</p>
<p>ugh i did the same thing, dreaming</p>
<p>I don't think the common app is too stringent upon word limits. The UC on the other hand....199 to 203 is alright for a 200 word essay...I hope I can do that :)</p>
<p>So does anyone know for sure if a 700 word essay will be truncated or not?</p>
<p>another concern is if 'See additional page' could have any negative effect.. or watever</p>