difficulties with commonapp activity essay

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>Following the advice of a few books I've read on it, I ignored the whole "150 words or less" thing on the activity essay in the commonapp and wrote a 500 word essay instead. Of course, commonapp keeps telling me I'm exceeding the allotted character count.</p>

<p>Should I submit it in additional information instead?</p>

2

<p>I can’t imagine a “few books” telling you to submit a 500 word essay in place of a 150 word one. Are you sure they weren’t talking about the main Common App. essay? That one has a minimum, not a maximum.</p>