<p>Mine is depends. If it’s easy essays, I do 1,000. But in University of Washington, I did was like 60 :(</p>
<p>I did 858 and got into my schools.</p>
<p>Mine is about 1050 and that’s cut down from almost 1500. I think I definitely improved it, but I don’t think I can take anymore out and still convey the meaning. I’m going to keep working on it doesn’t have to be ready until August, though, so we’ll see. </p>
<p>@melin720- are you just saying this or are you actually and admissions counselor?</p>
<p>can someone tell me how it works? should i use it? thanks, i just need a brief explanation</p>
<p>501 EXACTLY. lol</p>
<p>Mine is 1400 :(</p>
<p>I had 696 words originally and thought it was great. It was cut down to 340 and my counselor, as well as 2 others, said its great. I hope so because I liked the longer one >_<</p>
<p>FWIW–I was recently told by an alumni liaison person (very good public school) that their supplemental essay has a 500-word limit, so the adcoms are really not looking to read something much longer than that. If any schools you’re applying to have an upper limit on their supplemental essays, you might just keep that in mind when doing the common app essay.</p>
<p>If I’m not mistaken, 500 is the MINIMUM for the common app essay.</p>
<p>But thanks for passing that along.</p>
<p>Mine is 608.</p>
<p>@CIA it is a 250 minimum</p>
<p>Ah. Well I’ve chopped my 1400 word essay down to 930. It ain’t gettin’ shorter than that, haha.</p>
<p>I ve been moving all my life around the world and I was going to write about how that’s affected me, I really wanted to give them an idea of what thats like, to have attended schools in 3 different countries, but then if I write about all three AND its effect on me, it could be quite long and I wasn’t sure if the colleges are willing to read all that. But they re all important. What should I do? ANY SUGGESTIONS??</p>
<p>^ I’m writing about a similar topic (I’ve just moved up and down the east coast during my childhood) but I focused on one particular move. I originally had a little over 1,000 words and I’ve cut it down to 789. I’d just suggest to really try to pick out one move that had the strongest impact on you today, write about it, and go back and cut away “filler” words/descriptions. It’s kinda like writing for AP classes- just get to the point without losing too much detail.</p>
<p>I agree with a.woah. It’s better to focus on one particular place/experience. You can refer to the others and present that particular experience in the context of having lived in different places. As you focus on most powerful and memorable experience, include significant details that provide a sense of what you gained from the experience. A great essay would be memorable.</p>
<p>I’m gradually approaching 700 words as I realize I’ve left stuff out…I think I’m going to have some cutting to do. My counselor already told me to make it more concise when he read the first draft a few weeks ago.</p>
<p>I had like 1,000 words but realized a lot of it was just extensive description (but not flowery)…I got to 898 with shorter, yet equally effective descriptions. I’m really hesitating about cutting now.</p>
<p>Mine is 623 words right now, and it is done. I just have to get it approved by my college adviser and then I will be set. =]</p>
<p>My second draft is at 696 words. I think it’s pretty much done - just have to run it by my counselor.</p>
<p>Mine is around 690 words.Its pretty good but kind emotional.</p>