<p>Does anyone know if the essay word limit applies to the essay itself, or does it include title?</p>
<p>Sorry if this sounds a bit insignificant, but this is the first year that common app REQUIRES less than 500 words, and my essay is exactly 500 words without the title, so I'm a bit nervous.</p>
<p>500 words including title and everything else, because you are copying and pasting it into a box with a word limit. You might be able to go like 5 words over the limit, but I wouldn’t take any chances, because it might get cut off.</p>
<p>mine to St. Johns said 250, and mine was waaaay over. So I can only pray. haha</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure it’s limited to 500 words in the submission box, regardless of the content - title or otherwise. That said, is a title good to have?</p>
<p>I think a title is unnecessary if the word limit is a problem. You essay should be clearnso that a title would not be needed. Your intro (& thesis) should make it clear to the reader what the essay is going to be about. After all you are addressing a specific prompt so it should relate to that.</p>
<p>Don’t fret about the title. The 500 is not REQUIRED, either, (at least, not in the sense that it will count the words and stop at 500) so it definitely won’t cut you off. Going a few words over, whether you include the title or not, will not hurt you. It’s an uploaded PDF file. Just make sure that it all fits on a few pages.</p>
<p>After looking at some other thread, I take back about what i said earlier. MonsterClam is right. The 500 word limit is only a GUIDELINE not a requirement. They SUGGEST writing an essay between 250-500 words. You can go over, but if I were you I wouldn’t go over 600 words. Include a title if you have room otherwise it is not needed.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that the Common App will cut you off at 500 words though for online submissions, so that the guideline becomes a requirement. Is this true?</p>
<p>Absolutely not true. On the main essay, Common App does not cut you off. You upload the document. The only “essay” that will cut you off on Common App is the “Elaborate on one of your extra curricular activities”. It will cut you off at 1000 characters because you type it into the box, not upload a document.</p>
<p>lol owned.</p>
<p>probably doesn’t matter at all. no adcom is going to sit and count your words and say, “oh damn this kid has 501 words instant rejection” on the other hand if it is significantly too long (600/700+) they will probably get mad. Unless it’s a ridiculously amazing essay that NEEDS those extra words. =/</p>
<p>Just stay under two pages</p>