<p>Right now, I'm finalizing my essay for the Questbridge program, one that I'll likely tweak and use on the common app as well. I'm fairly confident in the subject matter and the language, but there's one thing that bothers me - the essay is only 475 words, while the word limit is 800. I can't think of anything that I could add, but I also don't want to submit anything that's too short. Advice?</p>
<p>If you feel that your message is extremely clear and powerful, then leave it. No point in just adding “fluff” to the essay. If you’re less confident in your writing, I would try to get it up closer to 800- you don’t want to come across as not putting much effort into it. But if you do add words, make sure that it actually improves the essay.</p>
<p>Maybe the scope of the essay is too narrow. Or xcalculatin has a good point if it is ‘clear and powerful’. Hard to say. But the QB essay is to get to know you, so do you feel you put yourself across well and thoroughly enough?</p>