<p>Is it much of a big deal to go a little bit over the guideline of 500 on the common app?</p>
<p>I think it's ok as long as the essay is VERY good. Not too much more than where you're at now, though.</p>
<p>Yeah, just make sure the adcoms don't get bored. That's basically the reason behind the 500 word limit. They read tons of these.</p>
<p>What is it in that 70 words that is so wonderful that it obviates the need to follow directions?</p>
<p>All the admissions officers that I've talked to say that they don't really care about the word limit. Honestly, can anyone really distinguish between 500 and 570 words unless they're counting each one? No.
Just as long as it's within 100 words of the limit, it'll be fine.</p>
<p>What is it in that 70 words that is so wonderful that it obviates the need to follow directions?</p>
<p>you obviously dont know what you're talking about.</p>
<p>So...I'm waiting. Let me know. What's in those 70 words that was so crucial, so extraordinary, so over-the-top irresistable that if the directions are for 500 words, you felt you just had to say them? </p>
<p>I'm sure we'd ALL like to know.</p>
<p>No, I'm pretty sure it's just you who wants to know so badly.</p>
<p>I typed my essay, edited, cut down on words, but found myself with 580. I cut and cut, but the meaning of my essay didn't come out if I kept taking out words. Some ideas/stories can't be told effectively in exactly 500 words. Props to you for following directions. You make a strong case.</p>
<p>id say you can go over by 25 or so without them really caring.. they can calculate however how long your essay is through some method of counting lines and words per line or w/e it is...usually the rule of thumb is to not surpass by 10% of the word limit</p>
<p>I want to know why too. Concise. Is the key. They say they don't care about 570 in a GOOD essay, but who's to judge yours is actually good? well, not good, but excellent?</p>
<p>Admissions officers have to read thousands of essays. Even if they have a method for counting lines and words per line or whatever, they aren't going to waste time doing so.
Sometimes you just need a few extra words. As long as you don't go overboard and write like three pages, they won't care.</p>
<p>You can follow all the little directions that you like, but in the end that will hardly matter in your application. If your essay is 570, w/e, don't make senseless revisions. </p>
<p>I know peops who put down awards from middle school, 500 + word essays etc and it didn't factor into the decision cause they got accepted.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. I didn't think it was a big deal...</p>
<p>I want to know why too. Concise. Is the key. They say they don't care about 570 in a GOOD essay, but who's to judge yours is actually good? well, not good, but excellent?</p>
<p>well if mine's bad, would it matter whether I wrote 5 or 5000 words? No.</p>
<p>Kriegz it's kind of rude to talk down to people who are offering you advice that you asked for.</p>
<p>It's one thing to offer an opinion. It's another to be downright obnoxious. Examples:</p>
<p>id say you can go over by 25 or so without them really caring.. they can calculate however how long your essay is through some method of counting lines and words per line or w/e it is...usually the rule of thumb is to not surpass by 10% of the word limit</p>
<p>vs.</p>
<p>So...I'm waiting. Let me know. What's in those 70 words that was so crucial, so extraordinary, so over-the-top irresistable that if the directions are for 500 words, you felt you just had to say them? </p>
<p>I'm sure we'd ALL like to know.</p>
<p>Ummmmm.....before y'all start clawing at each other's throats......you're getting all huffy over seventy freaking words. Get over it.</p>
<p>My son went over the limit big time but his essays were enjoyed by the adcoms.
They sent him personalized acceptances commenting on his personal statement. The answer to the Kriegz post is they won't penalize the word count if they love it.</p>