<p>I've read on a W&M blog that the essay shouldn't be more than a single page, but on here I've also read that 500 words is a good target. My essay is currently at 600 words and about 1.33 pages. At 500 words It wouldn't be a page, more like 1.16 pages</p>
<p>What's the better benchmark? 500 words or 1 page typed?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>If you need 600 words (given they are substantial to your essay), then use 600 words. I don’t think you should limit yourself to the 500 if they won’t be enough… I know I definitely didn’t! :)</p>
<p>We are not sticklers for a page or word limit but ask all students to be reasonable. If everyone wrote a 3-page essay we wouldn’t have time to read them all and get you decisions by April 1 so if you need a few extra words or a bit of another page, no biggie, but again, please be reasonable.</p>
<p>Thanks!! Got my answer, gonna make sure my essay is streamlined before I submit my app.</p>
<p>This means the admissions police won’t hunt me down if I have and page and a quarter?</p>
<p>That’s correct but make sure you edit your essay before submitting and ensure that everything you have is substantive. Don’t go for length just to have length.</p>