<p>Please help me. My common application essay is 560 words and my suppliment essay to unc-ch is 570 words. Both say 500 word limit. Will it hurt me? or is it ok? Did any of you go over the limit ,if so by how many words. I would really appreciate you help ASAP as I want to send them out tonight.
Thanks</p>
<p>In the past, Julie Sizemore Tucker has written on the UNC Admissions Blog that while they don’t count words, they can tell when it is above 500 (obviously give or take some). So for UNC, I wouldn’t go over 515 or 520 (if absolutely necessary, try to get closer to 500). If you’re using the common application essay for other schools though, you should not go over 500 because different schools will literally cut off any words above the limit, even if you have 501. Here is one of Julie’s recent responses on the blog:</p>
<p>We do ask that you stay close to the recommended 500-word limit. We won’t cut off any extra words, but we really appreciate it if you don’t go too far over. I know it’s challenging to write a strong essay in 500 words, but it certainly can be done.
[UNC</a> Admissions Blog: 2012 Essay Questions for First-Year Applicants](<a href=“http://unc-admissions.blogspot.com/2011/07/2012-essay-questions-for-first-year.html]UNC”>UNC Admissions Blog: 2012 Essay Questions for First-Year Applicants)</p>
<p>Hope that helps! Good luck!</p>
<p>whiteandnerdy,thanks you very much for your reply. I was able to bring my UNC essay to 498 words,but Common essay came close to 530. Hope I am ok. But you were very helpful. Finally submitted my application today.</p>
<p>I had the same issue with my Common App Essay. I asked my college counselor about it, and she said that for the Common App, it is alright to go a little over, but definitely keep under 100 extra words. You should be fine.</p>
<p>Thanks lokeefe2. I had the same issue. Our counselor told us that as long as the essay fits on the page it is okay to go over the word limit. But things like this might jeopardize your acceptance if you don’t get your information from college blogs/websites or cc. When I came to know about this I told my friends and they were very thankful. At the same time we can’t really blame the counselors because they are so overworked when they have 700-800 seniors requesting reccomendation letters, sending transcripts, etc. So hopefully we all can take time to help each other.</p>
<p>Omit all fluff phrases that add nothing. Run a spell checker. Submit!</p>