<p>I just cut down my essay. It was brutal, I'm upset, but I feel it's what I needed to do.</p>
<p>Anyone willing to read?</p>
<p>isn’t the max usually 500 words???</p>
<p>hahahaha raiderade, cut the poor guy some slack =D</p>
<p>Sorry, that was just funny</p>
<p>Thanks for such a valuable contribution to the thread, raiderade. I had NEVER come across anything saying THAT!</p>
<p>I brought down my essay from 1700 words to 976.
And I’m not deleting any more, hmph. Since we’re in the same boat, I’ll read if you want… send me a pm.</p>
<p>FYI… there is no max limit. It’s just that if you’re going over the usual 500, make sure your essay is worth the read … because if it’s not, the admissions people are not gonna be impressed.</p>
<p>Any others?</p>
<p>bumptenchar</p>
<p>uhh…FYI at many colleges there is a max and I was truly just asking because there are also many colleges that don’t mandate 500 words or less though I know it came off as incredibly insolent</p>
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<p>You answered your own question.
The average/usual length of a college essay is roughly 500 words (notice: not the usual max).</p>
<p>I have not read the limit on the common app essay on any college website. (If you have… please share! I’d appreciate that, really!) I have read something on the Yale website about a 500 word essay, but I’m not sure.</p>
<p>Anyway, if all colleges really wanted just a straight on the notch bam 500 word essay, wouldn’t they all agree to put that as the max limit on the common app?</p>
<p>As you mentioned, some colleges take this seriously while others don’t. At least I think that you should concentrate more on your supplement essay for that specific college (and try to follow that college’s rules) rather than desecrating a well thought out (although longer) common app essay (the common app doesn’t mention a max!)</p>
<p>Btw, I didn’t mean to use “FYI” condescendingly. So don’t take that personally, alright. :)</p>
<p>At Harvard, the additional essay has a 500 word max honestly though that is the only one I can think of that officially declared a max so I guess your right.</p>
<p>Please, someone, anyone! </p>
<p>I need to figure out if this essay tells you who I am.</p>