help with shortening common app essay?

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
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<p>My original essay was about 900 words long, and I planned on cutting it down a bit. But now I've heard that the 500 words is no longer a guideline but a mandatory restriction which won't even allow you to submit anything over 500 words?! Obviously, I got to work over my incredibly long essay, but after a lot of revisions and cutting out the best I could get it to is 750 words. </p>

<p>Can anyone read my essay and see where I could cut out and not lose any value? 250 words seems so much I just can't imagine that everything I'm saying has relevance to it. The more people who give their thoughts on it the better, so I can see if there are any overlapping thoughts and definite cut-outs.</p>

<p>I'll give a PM out to anyone who replies favorably.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Edit: I just tried uploading mine onto the Common Application and it worked. It wasn't cut off or anything (although it's single spaced [1 page]). I still want to get as close to 500 as I can, but can anyone give me a confirmation about the 500 words being mandatory? I read through all the instructions on the app and it doesn't seem to say that anywhere.</p>

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<p>Sure, PM it over! :)</p>

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<p>I don’t think it cuts you off at 500 words…I think it cuts you off at a character restriction which is supposedly ginormous…</p>

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<p>LesleyCordero - thanks! did you get my pm? I sent it but it still says 0 sent messages in my box when I check and I don’t want to double-send</p>

<p>ChesterBelly - I see, that makes sense</p>

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<p>Oops, I just saw that you posted that! Sorry!</p>

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<p>PM it over, I’ve had to do quite a bit of word slicing these past few weeks :)</p>