I know that word limit for common app is 650. But at which point is it okay for one to stop writing if they think they’ve said everything that they want to say? (450? 500? 550?) Right now I’m clocking in at 511 and I believe that I’ve covered all of my thoughts. Please advise, thanks!
You’re fine at 511.
Just be absolutely sure that you’re not missing an opportunity to further “sell” your application. Remember, that’s the main point. Leaving 140 words on the table seems like paying for a 60 second commercial at the Super Bowl, and ending it with 15 seconds of just music at the end.
Yup. All they have is what they get in the app. Consider how you are using that real estate very carefully. Making yourself a 3-D person they want on campus is your goal, but all you have is the 2-D space of the application.