<p>I'm finishing my common application. But I have a dilemma concerning word count.
My short answer is around 240 words. The common app says that the short answer should be 150 words or less. However, when i paste my answer into the app, it lets me and doesn't cut any of my words. I don't want to cut any words, but I may have to.</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on this? Will adcoms be upset that I went over the word limit? Will they think I can't follow directions?</p>
<p>I know you parents are experience in this college admissions process, and I'd really appreciate any advice!!!!</p>
<p>If you do the preview and you see all the word, you are ok. I believe that it is not a word but a character limit.</p>
<p>That said, most of the essays that I have looked at contain a certain amount of repetition, and some wander off onto tangents ... neither of these faults is going to help you in admissions. If you really need those 240 words - and they fit - certainly leave them in. If you might have an extraneous phrase or two that disrupt the flow of your essay - edit now - before you hit submit.</p>
<p>Copy your essay, and PM it to SuNA! As a non-professional editor, I can tell you that there is fat that can be removed without affecting the meaning. For example look at these two sentences - "I would rather have sushi for dinner" vs "I prefer sushi tonight". Two word verbs (help prof editor, what's the proper grammatical term!?) can often be improved by stronger single word verbs.</p>