How strict are the essay word limits?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

<p>I just wrote an essay for one of the 250/half a page supplement but it is 346 words. Depending on which word processor I use, it's around half a page. Is this a big no no or does it not matter?</p>

2

<p>Anyone know?</p>

3

<p>If you are asking if it HAS to be 250 or less the answer is no. The question is, did your essay demand the extra words? Some of mine went over the “limit” and some didn’t. I got in. I think these are guidelines so applicants don’t go way overboard. The key, I think, is to be concise in hitting the key points of your essay.</p>

4

<p>I think they’ll stop reading after the 250th word, just by policy, if you make it more than that.</p>

<p>It’s important to follow their rules. Cut it down.</p>

5

<p>It says “half a page or roughly 250 words,” I feel like roughly gives you space between more or less 250 words. Is that a fair assumption?</p>

6

<p>Dean J has said many times…they don’t count words.</p>

7

<p>So 100 words over is fine? I feel like 100 is a lot.</p>

8

<p>I believe one of my essays was well over 300 words but it looked like “half of a page.” I was accepted. If they were strict about the 250 words, I think they would put something along the lines of a “maximum of 250 words” like many schools do. The half page remark appears as blatant leniency to me. If you can cut it down, go for it, if not, leave it in.</p>

9

<p>If you are a 2012 applicant and haven’t subscribed to Notes from Peabody, it’s an amazing resource. You can find many of your questions answered there in previous blogs just by using the search feature. Because it’s written by Dean J you know the information is accurate.</p>

<p>She wrote about this when she posted the supplement essay topics back in June. Note, the bold is mine so no one misses the point.</p>

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<p>[Notes</a> from Peabody: The UVA Application Process: 2012-2013 UVa Application Supplement Essay Questions](<a href=“http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2012/06/2012-2013-uva-application-supplement.html]Notes”>Notes from Peabody: The UVA Application Process: 2012-2013 UVa Application Supplement Essay Questions)</p>

<p>It is worth noting that in the actual directions for writing the supplements you are instructed to “Limit your answer to a half page, or roughly 250 words.”</p>