<p>Since the common-app has changed its regulations, I guess this would be a time to discuss this. </p>
<p>Before the common-app said "approximately 250-500" words, meaning there was no limit (technically). Now, however, it says NO MORE than 650 words. </p>
<p>Is this a limit?</p>
<p>Right now my essay is ~800 words after lots of revising (original draft had ~1000). Would it be a really bad idea to send in this many words if I really can't get it down without taking away necessary sentences? Will the common-app even allow more than 650? </p>
<p>I think they used to limit you at 500 words. </p>
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<p>In my experience, cutting things down like that just doesn’t work. The writing gets choppy and you lose a lot. I don’t think you should go from 1000 words to 650…it’d probably be better to just write a different essay.</p>
<p>In years past, while students were given a word limit, they could upload a document that pretty much ignored the limit. The new common application no longer allows for uploaded documents. Students must type their essay into a text box that will have a character limit. So, your essay really cannot exceed 650 words.</p>
<p>Even if you could, you’d never want to push the rule more than a sentence or two (regardless if there are a few famous cases of doing so). I just shows that 1) you can’t follow directions or worse, think they don’t apply to you, or 2) you can’t do the work to get it into shape or you are picking an ‘story’ too large for the scope of the 650 words.</p>