<p>Hello all --
I am hoping someone could read my early decision essay. Its long...but I am very proud of what I wrote. Its about my experience drinking tea with Bedouins!</p>
<p>Thanks and no 2014ers please!</p>
<p>long? columbia max is 500 words.</p>
<p>That’s not the max. Its a suggestion. 1-2 pages is suggested. My essay is about 2 and 1/4 of a page. Its unfortunate. And I suppose I need condensing.</p>
<p>500 words, 1-2 pages, whateverelse are all suggestions. </p>
<p>My opinion: Columbia affords you only one essay with which you have to demonstrate why you would be an interesting and valuable addition to their community, so use as many words as you deem necessary to achieve that intent. I’ve known of people getting accepted with as many as 1500 words in that essay.</p>
<p>My own piece is hovering around 700 words atm.</p>
<p>wouldnt they look at it as “not following directions”?</p>
<p>Keep your essay interesting and captivating; they won’t give a crap if it’s 250 words or 2500.</p>
<p>^agreed. </p>
<p>the most valuable piece of advice i’ve recieved regarding college essays (specifically, w.r.t these word limits and so on) is to cut the excess verbiage. an adcom might frown upon someone that does 1600 in place of 500 but if it’s interesting it may just work (as i’ve mentioned previously)</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>If you need an opinion and your essay is past a first draft PM it to me.</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I give fairly thorough, and what I would like to call honest, feedback.</p>
<p>PM me I’ll read it ;)</p>
<p>My younger brother is applying for 2015. PM me and I’d be delighted to read it :)</p>
<p>hello folks, it is also very individualized how it is read. some folks will read it and be interested in 700 words, others will look at it and find that the student didn’t answer the question. </p>
<p>i think the point is - it should be interesting. i have read tons of essays for friends in the past and the far majority are just bad essays. if you have a bad essay, better it be a short bad essay, than an interminable death sentence.</p>
<p>and 2.25 pages is WAY too long. if that is double spaced that means your essay is around 800 words long, if it is single spaced it is about 1400 words long. i think you have to consider the psychology of having to read a third page. my suggestion is single space it, and keep it on one page, it let’s the reader preview the end while they are reading the beginning.</p>
<p>1 page single space usually tops out at most at 650 words.</p>
<p>^I agree wholeheartedly. The application form is very well thought out, over many years, by many Columbia admissions officers. I’m frequently astounded that applicants are willing to passively “flip off” the admissions committee by ignoring very clear instructions.</p>
<p>^I agree wholeheartedly. The form of the Columbia application has been refined over many years by the admissions committee, the very people who read the applications, with much thought and with the benefit of experience (which college applicants, by definition, do not possess). If they didn’t want you to limit your essay, they wouldn’t allow the application to read as it does, very clearly. Ignore the very clear instructions of the application at your own peril.</p>
<p>Sorry about the double post. Strange computer in a strange hotel room.</p>