<p>Hey guys, so my friend told me that Yale is pretty anal about the 500 word limit on the supplement essay, so I've been trying to cut down my essay. Most schools mention a 500 word limit, but none as specifically as Yale. My friend told me that if you can't keep your essay to a reasonable length around 500, they'll take it as a sign that you can't write concisely. What do you all think?</p>
<p>I agree with your friend. There is a reason why the essays are so difficult, word limitations. If you cannot express yourself within a reasonable limit, then of course there would be doubts raised. However, do not trim your essay down to that limit if you cannot do so. Never risk the elements of a well written essay for brevity.</p>
<p>Well, if it tells you anything, I applied early with a 630-word supplemental essay and got deferred. >_<</p>
<p>Also, could anyone offer an opinion on what would be too short? I had 600+ but with my final hacknslash trim, I cut it down to about 410...and I could fluff it some more, but it gets my point across.. I just don't know if it's too little or not..</p>
<p>I've heard that an 80%-120% rule is good to follow. 410 words makes just around 82%, so I think you're OK. It says "please keep it under 500 words," so I don't think it will HURT you if it's shorter. If anything, it shows that you definitely know how to follow directions.</p>
<p>I got in early and my supplemental essay was around 770 words. Make it interesting and the admissions officer will read it.</p>
<p>My essay was ~550 words and I got in early. I had also heard that Yale was anal over word limit, but my english teacher (who once worked in the harvard admissions staff) said that pretty much across the ivies, as long as its + or - 10% of the word limit, it shouldn't be a problem.</p>
<p>i really don't think it's that big of a deal. Somewhere over 400 and under 600 should be fine.</p>
<p>My supp. essay was 605 and I got in SCEA. Do try and trim it down though, even if you feel like you just can't -- my original one was this giant sprawling monster of around 800 words and I was totally convinced I couldn't cut anything without killing any meaning it might have. I was wrong. Cutting stuff down, rewriting, and rephrasing things made the essay much more concise and powerful, and having to constantly look over it and evaluate the significance of each and every word made me put more thought into what I was actuallly trying to communicate.</p>
<p>It's a lot harder, as a writer, to write succinctly than it is to just vomit words onto a page. Word choice is important, and by putting a limit on the number of words that you can choose, schools are testing what you can do in a given limit. </p>
<p>For most people writing admissions essays, there is NO need to go over 500 words- what you're trying to say can probably be said in half of what you're doing. Just think about what you <i>really</i> want to say. Then say it. Then cut out the ******** that doesn't matter. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Cheers</p>
<p>Haha well I guess we don't know what goes on behind admissions office doors, but my essay was well over 600 words (maybe 650ish?) and I got in early, so I guess going over doesn't make you an automatic reject :-)
If you can't get your point across in 500 words no matter how hard you try, leave it over! They'd rather read a good, longer essay than a shorter, worse one (or at least that's what I've been told!). I asked my parents for help in cutting them down, too...so just get it as short as you can, and send it in! Good luck!!!</p>
<p>They don't count the words!Just make sure that you have told them what you wanted them to tell, but of course don't exaggerate.. So I'd say max. 600 if it's fluently readable but 410 is fine anyway, if you've written down everything you want them to know about you/the topic.</p>
<p>My D was accepted SCEA last year. I just checked. One essay was 595 words and one was 596 words.</p>
<p>I submitted one that was a little over 700. Eek.</p>