<p>It seems like we should limit our essays around 500 words but it seems like I just can not fit into that word limit. My essay consists of 1013 words, and I feel that every paragraph that I included will help officers to have a complete picture of me. Even if I cut it down it is more than 750 words. Should I cut it down?</p>
<p>Yes! A lot of colleges hate when applicants go over the limit and it seems like you can’t follow directions. A few words over 500 is okay, but even 750 is too much still. Have you given your essay to teachers or friends to edit? They will probably find parts that can be cut out that you didn’t find :)</p>
<p>If it’s a 500 word limit, then 750 is clearly excessive. Ask an English teacher to look over your essay for ways to condense it. Unfortunately, it seems that you’ve fallen in love with your creation so you should try to get another to edit your work.</p>
<p>Well with the cut-off version it is 688 words long. I think I will further revise, try to cut off and send it.</p>
<p>525 words max</p>
<p>From the Yale website:</p>
<p>My essay is more than 500 words. Is that OK?
We ask that you respect the word limit we have set. Will we read the words beyond 500? Yes. But if your essay is much longer than 500 words, you will not have helped yourself by ignoring our request. Remember, concise and simple writing is often the best writing.</p>
<p>My daughter’s came in at 499, I think. She was probably helped, though, by having a teacher for one of her classes who, when grading papers, would give them a page limit, then not read beyond that. Taught her a lot about editing!</p>
<p>Stay at 500 words unless you need extra to explain the cure for cancer or proof of a higher power or Elvis’ whereabouts. (Not certain, but pretty sure that those are the only exceptions.)</p>
<p>OK…Ok I got it.</p>
<p>I’m not applying to Yale, no problem then :P</p>
<p>Yale’s advice would apply to pretty much any selective university out there.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you.</p>