<p>I don't know about word limits this year--my son applied to 9 last year that said no more than 500 words and 1 that said at least 500. He wrote exactly 500. He also submitted everything possible online and was accepted at all ten schools. The most challenging supplement was a "Why ___college?" that limited him to 100 CHARACTERS. Cutting verbiage yields a better product.</p>
<p>Ouch, I didn't know about the frozen CA business. We sent off our last kiddo last year. Of course go with Soozie's advice. Hm, let's think about why the colleges would prefer the online...since it sounds as though diligent students (like yours and Soozie's clients) might benefit from the flexibility of online apps.</p>
<p>Do the colleges have to scan up the paper apps onto computers, so their committees can read them? Well, if that's all it is, I guess make them work for you.</p>
<p>They obviously can't deep-six (throw away) your app just because it comes on paper, right?</p>
<p>It would be GREAT to hear from an actual AdCom (some drop in to these sites sometimes) to know if it's really going to be okay to submit paper this year.</p>
<p>The vast majority of applicants, I presume, are happy to have the CA be identical so they can go Click Click and apply to many more places quickly. That doesn't sound like it applies to this OP and family.</p>
<p>Welcome to the world of "over the top." And cheers to your D for working so hard to make her app the best possible.</p>
<p>Ouch, I didn't know about the frozen CA business. We sent off our last kiddo last year. Of course go with Soozie's advice. Hm, let's think about why the colleges would prefer the online...since it sounds as though diligent students (like yours and Soozie's clients) might benefit from the flexibility of online apps.</p>
<p>Do the colleges have to scan up the paper apps onto computers, so their committees can read them? Well, if that's all it is, I guess make them work for you.</p>
<p>They obviously can't deep-six (throw away) your app just because it comes on paper, right?</p>
<p>It would be GREAT to hear from an actual AdCom (some drop in to these sites sometimes) to know if it's really going to be okay to submit paper this year.</p>
<p>The vast majority of applicants, I presume, are happy to have the CA be identical so they can go Click Click and apply to many more places quickly. That doesn't sound like it applies to this OP and family.</p>
<p>Welcome to the world of "over the top." And cheers to your D for working so hard to make her app the best possible.</p>
<p>Justamom is dead on. An associate dean of admissions at a prestigious LAC in the northeast told a group of seniors in my kids' school last week to remember the commom app. online will "cut essay off" at 500 word limit. Her advice was the same as many above-tighten sentences-less can be more. If your point is best made in 550 words, then submit hard copy so admissions can read the ENTIRE essay.</p>
<p>^^^^ I am not sure that what that associate admissions dean said was correct. My son is now working on his common app and when he did the upload of his slightly over 600-word essay and then did the print preview option the entire essay printed out. The Common App says that the print preview will show the app exactly as it appears to colleges. </p>
<p>Especially since no maximim word limit is given for the main essay this year (just the 250 minimum) I find it hard to believe that they are truncating essays over 500 words. Also, bluebayou said a 600 word guideline had been mentioned at several info sessions.</p>
<p>A definitive answer from a definitive source would be great!</p>
<p>One thing that occurs to me in the paper vs. online debate is this: If we agree that colleges mean it when they say keep your essays under 600 words, why do we not also agree that they mean it when they say submit your applications online? Why should applicants honor one preference, but ignore the other? Despite the potential benefits of submitting applications on paper, I’m reluctant to encourage my kid to do it. (I’m not sure he’d be willing to anyway, but that’s another story.)</p>
<p>Some schools pretty much insist on the online app. VA Tech, for example, wants paper apps ONLY from those with a fee waiver. "Virginia Tech expects all applicants to apply using the online application; however, if you are planning on using an official fee-waiver, you MUST apply using the paper application, and attach the fee-waiver to it upon submission." -<a href="http://www.admiss.vt.edu/apply/freshman/instructions.php">http://www.admiss.vt.edu/apply/freshman/instructions.php</a></p>
<p>Many other schools waive the app fee for online apps. It is clear that this is the schools' preference as it makes the process more streamlined for them.</p>
<p>One risk of the online approach is hitting that "SEND" button too soon, in a rush to get the app submitted. Students really need to use the print preview option and then PRINT the online app off in advance of sending it on. I also recommend they hold on to the print copy for a day or so while they and others look it over before going back and doing the submit.</p>
<p>I encourage students I counsel to get started early but to take their time before finalizing the app. At this point in the season they can let things sit for a while; rushing can result in careless errors.</p>
<p>wjb;</p>
<p>Stanford clearly states that they will only accept the CA online. Applicants without computer access can call S and obtain "permission" to submit a paper version. Dunno about other colleges.</p>
<p>Word limits: in prior years, the CA has had a total character limit, so a longer essay could be submitted but the total character limit would shorten the 'Other' section.</p>
<p>Yup, here's the guideline for UC: "The University prefers that applicants use the online application for admission. It helps you file a more accurate and complete application by using error messages to highlight common mistakes and missing information before you file. "
- <a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply_to_uc.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply_to_uc.html</a></p>
<p>OK, so we can all agree that colleges almost uniformly prefer that apps be submitted online. Some even insist on it. Soozie, I hope you'll weigh in on this one. Given the strong institutional preference for online submissions, why do you recommend that students nevertheless use paper apps? I understand that paper apps give kids the flexibility to modify applications school by school, but on balance that benefit seems to me less important than adhering to schools' stated preference for online apps.</p>
<p>Here's advice from Yale's admissions site:</p>
<p>"Q: My essays are more than 500 words each. Is that OK?</p>
<p>A: We ask that you respect the word limits we suggest. Will we read the words beyond 500? Yes. But if your essays are much longer than 500 words, understand that you will not help yourself by seeming to have ignored our request."</p>
<p>Even at 650 words, you're thirty percent over the LIMIT. cut, cut, cut.</p>
<p>NO, NO, NO -- She just CAN'T!!</p>
<p>If this offends Yale then so be it.</p>
<p>I might get barked at (T26E4 did) but D & I looked at applications as the first step a school uses to determine if a prospective student can adjust to rules and regulations. D had some creative essays written, and edited more and more until they literally fell in under the wire. Was that difficult? You bet. But a good edit can actually perfect a piece. </p>
<p>When I was doing hiring for my employer years ago, we were very cognizant as to whether or not people followed our directions when submitting their resumes. Honestly, a very qualified candidate may have been completely ignored if things weren't just right. Heck, we had 20 to 30 people applying for one job, so we could afford to be picky. I suppose many schools might feel the same.</p>
<p>Like a subject matter that might be iffy, you take your chances.</p>
<p>Less is more.</p>
<p>Good point about following the rules, "just"aMom. I agree with that point when a limit is specified. </p>
<p>However, IF we are talking about the Common App, please keep in mind that this year's version was deliberately revised to remove the previous 500-word limit for the personal statement. That decision must have been made for a reason. So IMO there is at least some additional flexibility re length. </p>
<p>Yale's Q & A response might be a holdover from previous years, or a response to an essay word limit on Yale's supplement.</p>
<p>Some sections of the Common App do still have some very specific limits. The 100 word allotment for elaborating on an activity is one that is inflexible. The system keeps updating you on how many words you have left!</p>
<p>I do think that adcoms would not be enthusiastic to have to plow through a long personal statement. But IMO there is no reason to be rigid about keeping it within 500 words now that that restriction has been removed. I think keeping it to 600 or so is fine. Fewer is fine as well - all depends on the particular essay.</p>