<p>People have been saying that Harvard, Yale, and the other Ivies want the essays to be around 500 words. Is this true? I would assume 500-700 would be good. But is it necessary to be around 500 words? The common app personal statement and the supplemental essay say nothing about word limits.</p>
<p>I would say 600 is fine, but 700 is pushing it. That's just my general impression from various college reps. They all basically say "Oh, we'll read it all, but keep it close."</p>
<p>It depends way more on what you do with those words. If the reader can't put your essay down because it is so compelling, then that's a good essay even if it's 1500 words. But most essays are better if they're shorter.</p>
<p>Agree with both of the above. </p>
<p>I think that the common app essay should be short and sweet. However, Harvard's supplemental essay gives you the chance to write more. I think that my supp. essay was 1500 words.</p>
<p>Just keep in mind that those poor admissions officers are reading thousands of essays. Nearly anything can be made better by making it shorter.</p>
<p>online, the harvard supplement only gives you 2000 characters. can you go over if you upload a document?</p>
<p>"can you go over if you upload a document?"</p>
<p>Technically, yes, you can.</p>
<p>my common app essay is 577 words, and my optional supplemental essay is 479</p>
<p>i tried to stay within a good range b/c they have to read a ton of essays (at least 25,000 common app essays, plus supplemental stuff)</p>