<p>As the tile of this thread suggests, I have a few questions about the "optional" additional essay in the Harvard Supplement:</p>
<p>1, is ~700 words too long?
2. I wrote about my interest in development economics because of my background and way of thinking. This topic isn't one of the "Possibel Topics" given by the application, but I feel that it is a good idea for me to differentiate myself from other econ majors by providing my rationale for pursuing this subject. Is this a good idea? (By the way, my common app essay will be about music, which is non-academic.)
3. Is a third essay (in addition to this one and the common app one) a good idea?</p>
<ol>
<li>yeah...700 words might be too long</li>
<li>no clue</li>
<li>I don't think it would be such a great idea; those adcoms sure wouldn't enjoy reading another essay unless it was spectacular</li>
</ol>
<p>but yeah, i was wondering about the supplemental essay topic too</p>
<p>My supp essay is 1,000 words... I wrote it without regard to the Common App word limit, and since I have a pretty good one that's around 500 words, I thought I was going to send in my longer one as supplementary. After all, they don't list a limit and they do say they read everything you give 'em... =</p>
<p>While I don't remember seeing a word limit, there is a 4,500 character limit for the entry box online. Considering that the topic list is titled possible topics, I would assume that anything they didn't list would be acceptable. I wrote about something pretty unrelated to the topics they gave.</p>
<p>I would suggest not sending any third essays and to keep the extra supp. essay to AROUND the common app. essay limit of 500 words...if they don't say, then I'd suggest 650 as a good max. Besides, you should be able to cut down your essay and maybe even make it more concise! ^^
I had to cut my common app. essay down from 771 words to 500. </3</p>