<p>I wrote a pretty good essay for the Common App but it's 373 words over the limit, 1073. Do any of you have tips or general advice for students with lengthier essays and what they can do to cut back but still convey the same meaning?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Wouldn’t that make you 423 over? I cut my down anyway from 800 to 649 and it wasn’t especially hard. Just look for redundancy and if you swear you can’t find that then eliminate an entire talking point.</p>
<p>Sorry, can’t really help you without seeing the essay.</p>
<p>My first draft was ~1000 and I cut it down to exactly 650. I did this by opening a new document and re-typing it, but as I’d re-type it, I would go sentence one by one either cutting stuff out that wasn’t absolutely imperative, or that could be shortened. I did this several times, each drafting cutting about 100 words, until I was successful. Any essay can be shortened, which is easier for a parent or someone to do, who isn’t as “emotionally attached” to each sentence if you are really struggling. Good luck :)</p>
<p>The first look through, you’ll need to ask yourself if each idea/detail/sentence/phrase is necessary, and if it is, whether it can be shortened or summarized (if it’s not, get rid of it). Rinse and repeat until you fit the word limit or are really close to it.</p>
<p>If you’re almost at the limit but not quite there, here’s another thread that includes some tips for really trimming down individual words: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1533804-trimming-down-essay-help-684-words.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1533804-trimming-down-essay-help-684-words.html</a></p>