<p>How long can our "Why Swarthmore?" essays be? I'm sure I could easily write 5 pages, but that's clearly too long. Is two pages double spaced ok? Even that seems long, I'm just not sure what to cut! I just really, really want to effectively communicate both 1) why I'm a good fit for Swarthmore and 2) why Swarthmore is a good fit for me.</p>
<p>im not sure..im pretty sure the adults on this board agreed before that it should be around 500 words, tops</p>
<p>darn! so short! that does seem reasonable though
time to start revising my why swat essay like crazy!</p>
<p>I don't see why length should matter as long as it's good stuff</p>
<p>I really could write 5 pages, explaining how I decided what I want in a college, why Swarthmore matches my criteria, and how everything the day I visited in September made me think Swat could be the right place for me. Maybe I should just write the 5 page one and edit it down like mad?</p>
<p>Marlgirl - combine what you want in a college with why Swat matches your criteria (after all they don't care what you want in a college, they want your perception of why Swarthmore fits those criteria), then put that in the context of the day you visited. Be vivid, be specific, and edit like mad - they may read the essays more closely at Swat than at some other schools, but they still don't have time to wade through words and words about what a perfect college is to get to why you want to go to Swat.</p>
<p>My length limit was how much text could fit into the space on the 3rd page of the supplement (the one with Why Swarthmore? written in flowery red cursive at the top) and still be legible.</p>