I currently have an essay at about 350 words. Should I add more? Will it lower my chances if I have a short essay?
Thank you!
If someone could give me some advice, this is very time-sensitive.
Keep in mind it’s not always about the length of your essay, it’s the quality of what you’ve written. 
It’s hard to make a strong judgement purely based on word count, I’d recon you have someone else read it and give their input.
Edit: Might I also add that the admissions council only spends a few minutes reading each essay. Make sure you’ve covered everything you wanted to in your essay.
Quality over quantity.
keep in mind this is one of your few times to convey who you are. if you can do this in 350 words then theres no reason to add more.
My essay is around 368, but it’s very concise. There’s no need to force information or write about what isn’t relevant. Colleges can tell when you’re “fluffing” up your essay to make it longer, so keep that in mind if you chose to extend it.
I submitted mine of 386 to schools that allowed me up to 650 words. If you’re getting all that you need across, there’s no need for an essay half filled with pointless writing.
Make sure you answer these key points:
-Have I fully answered the prompt?
-Is my essay gramatically correct and clearly presented?
-What am I trying to say about myself, and have I succeeded in saying this?
-Is it interesting? (This has more to do with quality of writing. You can write an amazing essay on the bottom of your shoes if you wanted to. Try rewriting each sentence for quality until you’re satisfied with the final product).
-remove any words that you do not need, and anything foggy. Instead of saying “I believe that day was a defining moment in my life,” stick to “That moment defined me,” or something of the sort. Condense your words and they will read more powerfully.
-a great writing exercise is to write for the senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste. Not necessarily all, but at least one so that your reader is never blind.
-finally, show your essays to a teacher, a trusted adult, a peer, or a family member. Make sure that they agree that it is your voice coming through the paper.
-have fun. College applications are stressful, but they force you to sit and analyze yourself, and that itself is rewarding. Best to you.
- Remember, it's for admission, not your hs English teacher, who knows you.
- Show, not just tell.
- The prompt a starting point, a reference, not an assignment.
OP, if you conveyed what needs to be, then fine. But do understand readers can’t fill in blanks. It’s really Three Bears: not too little, not too much, but just right.
Wonderful posts. Be interesting and memorable. Paint pictures (show don’t tell). Less is more. Use your voice.