On the Common app, the prompts for both essays indicate to “limit to 500 words”, but the Common app’s text box allow up to 550. I can reduce to <550 but <500 is too hard. Is it okay to make it <550 since the submission page allows it? I’m confused about the actual word limit that I should follow.
Also the wording wasn’t “around 500 words” but “limit to 500 words max” so that’s what confuses me.
I’d use as many as the app box will allow. No one is going to notice two more sentences anyway.
Thank you!
What does it do if you print a copy?
Didn’t try, but I was just like one sentence over (514 and 519 words each) and the preview looked fine.
Use word count on your computer. Go through the essay and remove statements that don’t add to the core statement, remove adjectives, passive tenses and so on. Recheck. Review again and delete extras that don’t add to the main content. This does not take very long and you are apt to produce a crisper, more direct and better overall essay. Its sorta like a fun challenge that becomes a meaningful way to edit an essay and even a longer paper.
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