<p>Hi CCers!
So I am applying to Lehigh and I've finished my second essay and that is well below 250 words. However, it is 200 characters over 1250. Do both requirements for essay length need to be fulfilled? Or since I am uploading the document, I can just go with what I have?
Thanks
CollegeHelp111</p>
<p>Hi CollegeHelp111,</p>
<p>It baffles me that the Common App would even set a character requirement when a word count requirement is more than sufficient. These silly rules mean that people who use more advanced vocabularly (i.e. longer words) can’t use as many of them.</p>
<p>In terms of word count, Lehigh will notice if you go very far over. I’d say going 20-30 words over the word count limits if fine, any more and then you need to cut it down. But in terms of character count, I honestly don’t think Lehigh would look at it.</p>
<p>If you feel unsure, I’d email admissions and ask them. I bet they’d say they only care about the word count, but you should just go ahead and make sure.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>
<p>
</p>
<p>With all due respect, how do you know this?</p>
<p>ClassicRockerDad,</p>
<p>Not to speak for LehighChemE, but not only did he say, “I’d say…” thus implying he was about to state an OPINION, but he also finished by saying, “but you should just go ahead and make sure,” which of course is his way of, once again, showing that he’s merely stating that he’s just saying what he believes to be true. </p>
<p>However, he is probably correct. If you go over the limit by say, 10%, a college won’t deny you admissions. But, if you were to ignore the word limit and write 200 words more than specified, you would be saying you can’t follow directions or write concisely. This I’d be comfortable calling my opinion, too.</p>
<p>That’s ok, I thought that maybe he had a source for this from Lehigh admissions. </p>
<p>I’ve heard different opinions from colleges admissions officers from different colleges. I’ve never heard the opinion that any more than 30 words over the word count and you should cut it down. </p>
<p>The most common thing I’ve heard is</p>
<p>"We’re not going to count your words - we don’t have that kind of time - but we read a lot of these, and if yours “feels” really long, it should probably be edited to be more concise (in other words it’s not that good). However, if yours is so good that we don’t notice, then we won’t notice. "</p>
<p>Again, I appreciate his and your posts, they are very useful. That last one just contradicted what I was starting to view as conventional wisdom.</p>
<p>Oh okay I see, sorry! What I read a few times is that colleges hate to have to read more than they HAVE to, especially when there are so many applications. So, personally, I wouldn’t write over the limit (“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” mentality) but I can appreciate why some people may need to be 20-30 words over and I can also see why it wouldn’t be such a horrendous thing, you know?</p>
<p>Hi ClassicRockerDad and Lehigh2017,</p>
<p>I definitely don’t speak for Lehigh admissions - but I am a Lehigh student who went through all of this before. All I offer to students and parents is my perspective and experience. And it has taught me that when a student is given a word limit for an essay, the student should try to stick to it as much as possible.</p>
<p>There obviously isn’t a set number of words you can go over - I think the 20-30 word overshooting is just a good guide. Personally, I would say to not go over the word limit at all. I’ve mentioned it before in these forums, but going over a word limit shows the reader two things: (1) the writer cannot follow directions; and (2) the writer cannot develop a concise essay. As an engineer, I’ve had to write technical papers and reports often directed at plant operators with no college education or business people with no engineering background, and in all of these cases, I have to write as little as possible while still conveying my thoughts with precision and simplicity.</p>
<p>I’m not alone in this opinion either. From a English professor and college admissions expert:</p>
<p>[Essay</a> Length Limit - Can Your College Admissions Essay Go Over the Length Limit?](<a href=“http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/college-essay-length-limit.htm]Essay”>How Long Should Your College Application Essay Be?)</p>
<p>I’d recommend Googling “word limits on college essays site:.edu”. It shows only college sites with word limit topics. The majority of them state to stay under the word limit - and many of them are very strong schools:</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“Google”>Google]Google[/url</a>]</p>
<p>I respect both of your opinions. It’s good that we can have substantive debates on things like this.</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>