<p>The title says it all.</p>
<p>I have a 2.5 pager at about 950 words, long for the regular "why penn" sure, but for specialized programs?</p>
<p>I think as a general rule all college essays should be around the 500 word area. 600-650 is pushing it. I don’t think I have ever seen a supplement that has a higher barrier, and I would assume for the ones that don’t mention word count, that 500 is a reasonable choice.</p>
<p>Basically, cut yours down, for an adcom, that is like 2 essays in one.</p>
<p>I think that’s true for the “why penn?”, but I was just curious to see what other people had for length in specialized programs. Some other guy, QuakerToBe or something, said his specialized program essay was 2.5 pages, single spaced!</p>
<p>Yeah, that was me, and mine was indeed 2.5 single spaced. I think that length probably works better for Huntsman than some of the other special programs essays, as the Huntsman essay is about a separate, researched topic that is more showing your knowledge of and passion for the area, whereas the others are you talking more about yourself, sort of in addition to the supplement and Common App essays. So really, it depends on you–is what you’re saying necessary to your larger point? Do you feel you have avoided repeating yourself, writing just to write, and discussing things that really aren’t important? If so, and you feel like it remains as captivating on the second and third pages as it was on the first, then the length is probably okay. If not, you may want to cut some things.</p>
<p>my fisher essay is almost 900 words ;_;.</p>
<p>keep it concise</p>
<p><3 a current M&T freshman</p>
<p>Penn says to keep them short. 500 words is what I was advised.</p>
<p>My “why penn” was the standard one pager
my Huntsman is around 850 words, 1 3/4 pages</p>