<p>Hi guys, </p>
<p>I noticed that in the online Northwestern (Common Application), it states a 1000 character limit for the Northwestern Statement & Statement on Research. Yet, when given a chance to upload the document, it says "The file cannot exceed 500 KB in size."</p>
<p>What exactly are the requirements the Admissions Committee seek with regard to the two statements?</p>
<p>Is it alright if we were to exceed the character/word limits?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I exceeded the character limit, but my answers were well below 500 words. (500 KB is A LOT)</p>
<p>@dvm258, </p>
<p>How many characters was your statement?</p>
<p>I exceeded my character limit too! My essay on why I wanted to attend NU came to around 350 words..... My essay on the common application came up to around 550 words though!!! The optional essay was around 300 words too.... I think there is a 500 word limit on most of the essays, deviating by around 30-40 words wont really go against you, but if you were to write to around 700-800 words, then it might be a problem....</p>
<p>My D was admitted ED. She was concerned about the discrepancy between the Common App instructions for the NU supplement (only a certain amount of characters to fit in a box) and the NU instructions. We addressed this questions to an admissions person at a local NU information session in early October. At that point, they had just realized the problem. He said to upload her answer rather than put it in the box. If worse came to worse, he said she could print it out and send it to NU. Her "Why NU" essay was about 500 words (or maybe a bit more) and she uploaded it. Unfortunately, some kids had followed the other instructions and had only written a short paragraph that fit in the box. If given the opportunity, many said they could have written more.</p>
<p>I'm not sure. Maybe 4000 characters?</p>
<p>My essay was around 450 words or so. I didn't try to fit in every possible reason I had for wanting to go to NU. I just tried to focus on a few key things.</p>
<p>I did the same too... Just two key issues.... And expanded on how it reflected my interests...</p>