<p>648 words and shrinking. Shooting for 550-620 or so words.</p>
<p>Okay, question: if mine is about 1000 is that like a huge travesty? It is extremely personal and written on a very emotional journey of mine, and I'm not sure there's any way I can make it shorter. Will it be really frowned upon if it's 1000 wds? I know it's long but it is actually very concise for the subject it's dealing with and not excessive at all. HELP!</p>
<p>Look for repeative thoughts and then choose the best words & eliminate the others. It is a very good exercise in writing and kind of fun when you challenge yourself with throwing out 250 words!</p>
<p>Hm. The one I just decided I should use for CommonApp is 550. </p>
<p>Except I'm planning on rewriting it.</p>
<p>This is a worthless post.</p>
<p>698 or 699 - don't remember exactly. It was around 800 words - cut about 100 words and it reads so much better.</p>
<p>i would definitely try to keep it under 2 or so pages double spaced... 2 1/2 should be okay, but anything longer than that will just **** the admissions officers off... mine is 575 words.</p>
<p>Mine is 830, but including the quote it's 920. And that's cut from about 1,300.</p>
<p>Mine had been 1,038.</p>
<p>Columbia and Yale will automatically toss out your essay if you aren't flagged as a special candidate (URM, e.g.), fair warning.</p>
<p>so the general consensus is that the longest is about 600?</p>
<p>One of mine is around 800. The other is around 500. I am using different ones for different colleges.</p>
<p>Keep it below 700. Seriously, if your essay is well written, Adcoms arn't going to rip it apart simply because your essay exceeded 500 words. </p>
<p>"So after all these years, i have finally learned to- AH HAH! 501. You're OUT!</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you're essay sucks, they probably won't finish the first sentence.</p>
<p>Mine is 1054 words and def. needs to be cut down!</p>
<p>mine is 54 words...is that 2 short?</p>
<p>"Columbia and Yale will automatically toss out your essay if you aren't flagged as a special candidate (URM, e.g.), fair warning."</p>
<p>Sources...?</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure if they were that strict about a word limit, they would actually POST it...</p>
<p>My essay is 988 words. :]
lepers ftw!</p>
<p>^^ Yeah, I could see if they tossed out your essay if it was over 1000 words, but over 500? That seems a little extreme.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Sources...?</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure if they were that strict about a word limit, they would actually POST it...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>They post thinly veiled threats.</p>
<p>cf. Yale website and instructions in the Columbia App.</p>
<p>From what I have read, 500-800 words is ideal. ensures that you elaborate enough but are also clear and concise</p>
<p>dont go more than 750 words, and even that is high...remember, the admissions people have to read thousands of these....if you can say in 500 words what another can in 2000, the admissions people will like you more</p>
<p>what about exactly 800 words? would Yale toss that out?? I hope not.. I cut it from 1000 words ><</p>