<p>Hello,
I am finished writing my essay for the Yale Supplement to the Common App, and it is 598 words long. I know that the essay instructions say "please keep it under 500 words" so i am worried.</p>
<p>I haven't really found anything that i can take out yet...but if the limit is strict I suppose I could.</p>
<p>So, is this limit generally considered to be strict or can i get away with 100 words more?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Quoting directly 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>Read again: "understand that you will not help yourself..."</p>
<p>Even at 600 words, you're twenty percent over the LIMIT. cut, cut, cut.</p>
<p>For some pointers, go here:</p>
<p>Amen, T2624!</p>
<p>Prune that essay!</p>
<p>ok its down to 523 :) i think that will probably be good</p>
<p>Okay phurley, now go back to your essay for the common app and pare that one down, too. My guess is that one is too long as well.</p>
<p>Just a guess........</p>
<p>PS - I am rooting for you!</p>
<p>lol it is 549...its not too bad is it? i can prob get it down to 520 too</p>
<p>OK - I think you're off the hook.</p>
<p>Seriously, re-read all of your essay aloud to someone and make sure it is vivid, descriptive, and succinct. </p>
<p>Once again, good luck!</p>
<p>I doubt they actually bother to count the words... just as long as an essay isn't noticably more than 500.</p>