Common Application Essay Length--500 Words is NOT a Strict Cut-Off

College Essays
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<p>This morning there was a query posted on the NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) discussion board about Common App essay length. The wording of the 2011-2012 Common App says, "Please write an essay of 250 – 500 words ..." and one counselor expressed concern that longer essays are not acceptable (or might even be cut off automatically).</p>

<p>Jon Reider, Director of College Counseling at San Francisco University High School, provided this helpful response, noting that the Common App word-count is a guideline, not a limit. He said:</p>

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[quote]
When the new wording of the Common Application was published this spring, I wrote to Scott Anderson at the Common App, and he assured me that there is NO word limit on the main essay on the Common App, despite the wording of “250-500 words.” I am sure a great deal of thought went into that wording, but it is unfortunately ambiguous and gives rise to the erroneous assumption that there is in fact a word limit of 500 words. That is just a recommendation from colleges to keep the essays brief (always good advice), but the software does not have the capacity to limit it even if they wanted to. There is still a limit of 1000 characters, roughly 150 words, on the short essay about extracurricular activity or work experience. If a reader is used to reading concise essays, they may look at a longer one with some annoyance, unless, of course, it is stunningly brilliant. These are few and far between in those long winter months. This is not the mood that a typical applicant hopes to inspire in their readers. I have never read an essay of 800 words that couldn’t be cut, and improved in the process.

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<p>I strongly agree with Jon ... less is usually more. Only in unusual cases does an essay require more than 800 words, but don't worry that the computer will eat your words after 500.</p>

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<p>so how many more words (over 500) would be considered acceptable? 50-100?</p>

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<p>If your essay is not that strong, better that at least it’s short. A long boring, poorly written essay certainly would get low scores from me.</p>

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<p>mine was ~760 words</p>

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<p>So last night, DS, taking the 500 word issue to heart, looked at the draft of his essay – 685 words. He cut it down without much trouble. It would be nice not to have to strictly stay at 500, but I think he got in his important thoughts and a good sense of who he is and how he writes in that limit, although it’s not polished by any means.</p>

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<p>And it’s not necessary to do so. The 500-word limit is just a guideline.</p>

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<p>But anything below that would be bad, right?</p>

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<p>Not quite. Length has very little to do with quality.</p>

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<p>[Common</a> Application sets 500-word limit on main essay - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/common-application-sets-500-word-limit-on-main-essay/2011/06/02/AGZg7WHH_blog.html]Common”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/common-application-sets-500-word-limit-on-main-essay/2011/06/02/AGZg7WHH_blog.html)</p>

<p>[Common</a> App Essay Limited to 500 Words—Again - College Bound - Education Week](<a href=“http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/college_bound/2011/06/common_app_essay_limited_to_500_words.html]Common”>Common App Essay Limited to 500 Words—Again)</p>

<p>Are these not correct?</p>

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<p>Mine is 540 words, is that ok? or should I try to cut down althought I cant find anywhere that I can take out without it losing substance</p>

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<p>I think it’s harder to write a shorter one too, but it’s probaby better to adhere to the word limit. Unless the extra 50 words are world-changing.</p>