I’m just wondering if it’s a big deal to go over the 500 word limit. After listening to a few people, I decided to send in my 630 word essay. Will I get rejected from all of my schools, or am I worrying too much?
Specifically, can anyone with experience in this situation help me out? Thanks.
I as well find it difficult to make my essay under 500 words.
That is wasn’t the best decision. That will have some negative connotations.
Up to 700 words is acceptable for this year, next year they will be much more stringent with Common App 4.
…even if the colleges I am applying to have statements saying that it’s OK to go over? I’m not trying to disrespect anyone’s oppinions, but after researching exstensively, I’ve found out that MOST schools don’t mark it against you.
Does anyone with experience in this situation have input?
Going over as in like a couple of words (like at most 560), but not 130 words over.
I talked to my counselor about this, because she discussed this question in a meeting with reps from a huge number of schools. According to her, most schools said it was okay (but they might have just meant a few words over…), but a few did say that a limit is a limit. Plus, they get bored easily reading thousands of essays, so a long essay at first glance doesn’t seem appealing. I know how you feel, though. I had to cut down most of my essays by 100+ words. Good luck!
Funny. Here on CC, there’s a place where several sample essays that worked are posted. I don’t know how long ago this essay was written, but one of the featured essays is 770 words. She got into Penn.
On a personal scale, one of my friends wrote a 950-word essay. Didn’t seem to bother Harvard one bit (granted, his essay was PHENOMENAL)
Try to cut out some fluff that you don’t necessarily need, you don’t want to bore the reps.
It’s always a nice skill to be able to make a bigger impact with fewer words.
It really doesn’t matter as long as the rest of your application is solid. They wouldn’t reject someone on 130 words, especially if the extra ones contribute something valuable to the essay.
I would personally rather read a powerful 700-word essay with concise details than a generic 500-word essay with repetitive language that was used to fill the space.
Quality over quantity, but hey, why not both?
Mine was about fifty words over and it doesn’t seem to be a problem. Granted I literally tried taking out EVERYTHING I could without ruining my essay. If taking out even one more word would destroy the meaning of your essay, send it in. The limit is there for a reason, and I’d say try to stay within it, but sometimes (all the time for me) it is really hard to stay within it. Just make sure that you’re not sending in an extra paragraph that really isn’t necessary