<p>okay so i wrote a really good essay that i am using for USC. the only problem is that they say "Please write an essay, approximately 500-700 words (typically one page) in length on one of the following topics." and mine is 1,029 words. And i don't really know how to cut it down because i feel that every part of the essay is there for a reason, and shouldn't be taken out. and also when i tried to paste it into the text box where the essay is supposed to go, it let the whole thing in, soo...what should i do?</p>
<p>bumpbumpbump</p>
<p>Best thing to do is have someone other than yourself read the essay. What you feel is important in your essay may seem extraneous to others.</p>
<p>It’s a problem of focus. It’s difficult for the writer to judge what’s important to the story line. Just try this and see what the result is: Take the first paragraph and keep it as is. The first paragraph is the starting point of showing a personal “journey” of sorts. Then look at the last paragraph. Is it the “end” of your story arc/character development? Does it show you as a stronger or better person than in the first paragraph? If so, that is your last paragraph of the essay. If not, tweak it to make it the “ending point” of the “journey.” Then…</p>
<p>Count up the total number of characters in the first and last paragraphs and deduct from the total length they want. The remainder is how many words you have to move you from the beginning (first paragraph) to the end (last paragraph). FOCUS ON THAT TRANSITION. If something is not part of that story arc, leave it out!! Maybe even plot out a roadmap (don’t write it all out yet) of HOW you will get from start to finish (a series of events or scenarios showing you getting there?). THEN write the “in-between” using the allotment of words left. Terse, descriptive, concise all work to make your writing seem to-the-point and impresses the reader/evaluator. </p>
<p>Reading over 1000 words for a 500 word essay is asking the reader to do double work, and will not be appreciated when there’s a stack of hundreds of these essays. I have heard from former admissions counselors that it’s kind of a no-no unless your essay is SO CAPTIVATING (unlikely!) and so different from all the others (unlikely!) that the reader will save it forever and show everyone else how great it is (unlikely!) and it will wind up in a book about how to write essays (unlikely!).</p>
<p>I’ll look it over if you want.</p>
<p>Okay so I got it down to 770. Do you guys think that’s okay? They did say APPROXIMATELY 500-700 words…</p>