<p>I finally decided to apply to Yale after hearing back from some early schools. On the website, Yale says that Common App essays should be around 500 words. However, mine is around 700. Will this hurt?</p>
<p>Yes. Try to cut it down.</p>
<p>let me put it this way, don’t write unnecessary words, if every one of the 700 words MUST be in your essay, and the reader can realize that by reading it, then you are fine, but other wise, you should cut at least another 100 words. Your essay should fir on one page single spaced and not looke cramped, otherwise, way too long. If you send it today or tomorrow, I’ll take a look and help cut some of it, a fresh perspective might be helpful.</p>
<p>Staying at or under 500 words is generally preferable; but if doing so is at the expense of how compelling your essay is, keep it at 700.</p>
<p>It does say right on the Common App and/or Yale that theyll “Read the entire essay regardless of length, but will take into account that you did not respect our wishes if the essay is significantly longer or shorter than the limit prescribed” or something like that… Basically, 700 words is far too many for a 500 word essay, unless, like said already, every single one of those 700 words is so necessary that taking out an “it” or a “that” would change the entire meaning of your essay which brings tears of joy to all who read it.</p>
<p>Do make sure that your essay is as concise as possible. That being said, it’s not like it’s impossible to get in with a 700 word essay; my Common App essay was 750ish.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that you can create another version of your Common Application, so your primary Common Application essay can be shortened to the limit that Yale places on it.</p>
<p>The good news is that the Yale Supplement is comprehensive. Between the short takes and additional essay opportunities, you should be able to adequately convey who you are and what makes you tick even though you need to lop off 100-200 words from the Common Application essay you sent to other colleges. And don’t be afraid to reconfigure your essays altogether. You might find that your Common Application essay works better elsewhere and use that prompt for a new essay.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>where does it say that it should be 500 words. i thought that was only for the supplement essay? my common app is a bit under 500 but my supplement essay is 600 words…is that bad?</p>
<p>^Is it bad? That depends on your particular essay.</p>
<p>However, Yale is referring to both essays when requesting a 500 word length.</p>
<p>My supp is 495.</p>
<p>My common app is around 850. I wasn’t aware that Yale wanted it restricted to 500 at the time I submitted; however, I don’t regret sending my 1.5 pg essay and would not have cut anything had I been aware of their desires for a shorter essay before hand. I guess we shall see how it all plays out; however, I highly doubt the length of my essay would be a major “tipping factor”.</p>
<p>^haha my supp is 496! one more word than you</p>
<p>how about one 550 and one 580 word essays…? I’ve already done quite a bit of cutting, but should I try for more?</p>
<p>^Don’t stress too much about it. 550 and 580 sounds fine.</p>
<p>Mine were 380 and 450 odd. But then I spend a long time cutting out unnecessary clauses and whatnot to make them as succinct as possible. When they specifically say on their website that the essays are also a test of concise writing, I tried my best to make sure I passed that test and would suggest you do too.</p>
<p>My son’s common app essay was around 850 words and he submitted it to all common app schools. Honestly don’t see how he can be penalized for following the common app rules (which actually discourage you from creating different versions for different schools). In any case what is done is done, but I can’t believe more than 10% of the Yale applicants even figure out that there is a different word limit for the common app essay to submit to Yale, and presumably Yale isn’t penalizing every one of them.</p>
<p>^ It’s not hard to believe that more than 10% of Yale applicants can read directions concerning Yale’s suggested word limit on essays.</p>
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<p>Exactly. It would be preposterous to penalize 90% of the applicants…so they’re probably just rewarding the 10% instead. ;)</p>
<p>Perhaps there’s an excuse for the common app essay, but none whatsoever for going over on the Yale essay.</p>
<p>^ That’s how I interpreted it. My common app was ~540 but my supplement was ~480. I literally couldn’t cut anything else away for common app.</p>
<p>This past summer an admissions officer at Yale informed me that they are much more lenient with the common app essay than the supplementary essay regarding length. It is sometimes hard to get a 500-word message out to all applicants for the common app essay, especially to international applicants, or those without internet access. However, it seems likely that they would be irritated to receive a supplement essay over 500 words. If you have a really good long essay, then try to submit it for the common app rather than the supplement.</p>