<p>My essay is about 800 words; it still fits on one side of a page and I really can't narrow it down. Will the colleges really count each word and if I have more than it will be unacceptable? (I'm sending my essay by regular mail)</p>
<p>Why can't they just say...no longer than one page...at a reasonable font of course. </p>
<p>Another question- all my schools use common app and they all have a supplemental sheet to the common app. Most of them ask for another essay. Does this mean I need two different essays (the one from the common app) and the one they ask? Or could it count for the same thing?</p>
<p>I think 800 is a bit long, especially for a common app essay. If it fits onto one sheet and you feel that you can't edit it down anymore, I guess it would be okay. They don't count every word, but they can tell when you go over. </p>
<p>If they have a supplement that includes an essay you need to write another essay, you cannot just include the one you already wrote. The point of the supplement is to supplement, its an addition to what you already have, not a repetition.</p>
<p>the longer the essay, the more your running the chance that the adcom will just get bored with your essay and stop reading. make sure there's nothing else you can cut out, and then send it I suppose. It depends on the college, some are more lenient than others in regards to essay length. And yes lol, the point of the supplemental essay is for you to write another essay.</p>
<p>I narrowed it down to about 785...that's the best I could do! I don't like restrictions like that...but about the admissions officer being bored...I hope not...it explains about one very significant event in my life- the death of my father during my freshman year. So you can imagine that putting my thoughts and feelings under 500 words was a bit tough. </p>
<p>Another question- One of my schools- GWU...the only way you can do the supplemental to the common app is online...and I really don't want to do it online...I rather send it in by mail like all my other colleges...can I just do their regular application (I have the paper from they sent by mail) even though my teachers and counselors sent in the common app forms for what they had to fill out. What do you recommend I do (I want to avoid online; I'm just weird like that...)</p>
<p>I guess you'd have to call them to check on that. I'm looking at my paper GWU app right now, and just make sure the essays you wrote for the common app work for the ones on their regular app (because the regular app ones are worded a little differently). Why are you so hesitant to file online, most colleges prefer that you do so, and you get instant notification that they received it etc..</p>
<p>But, ~800 words is just too long, IMO. Yales makes it pretty clear (paraphrased): "Will we read beyond 500 words? Yes, we read everything you send. But, at a certain point, we'll wonder why you can't follow directons...."</p>
<p>Do you have a counselor that could help you shorten? Good luck.</p>