<p>I chose essay topic number one (choose a person who has had a significant influence on your life), but my response is too short. I have said all that I wanted to say in around 400 words (around 375). The prompt specified around 500 words, so my question is: Is it better to add ~100 words of fluff, or to keep it as is, significantly shorter than the targeted length? </p>
<p>Any opinions? thanks!</p>
<p>Should you add fluff? No.</p>
<p>Have someone take a look at your essay, though. There’s a chance they could point out an area or two that you could further develop.</p>
<p>Agreed with ccuser18. Definitely do not add fluff, concise writing is (usually) the best writing.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice, everyone! I expanded a few areas, and I think that will bring me closer to the target length.</p>
<p>it’s always better to be under the limit than over. from what i’ve heard, college writing and college essay should be as concise as possible.</p>
<p>In addition to everything that has been said so far, I can almost guarantee that somebody out there will have a concise 500 word essay that MAY provide more depth into their character because of the extra information contained in those 100 words. Do you want to chance them getting in over you because they were able to show more about them in through their essay?</p>
<p>I agree with you, patriotically, but there is never any need to add “fluff.” If you truly have something to say or expand upon, then by all means go ahead.</p>
<p>All THAT said, what about a general upper bound for ‘approximately 500?’</p>
<p>I’m at 522 right now…</p>
<p>I don’t consider myself the expert on college essays, but I always try to not go over the recommended amount. The way I see it, it is recommended for a reason.</p>