<p>I'm currently writing a supplement that has a 200 word max (A Why ______ essay) and I finished at 190 words. Should I try and fill up 10 more words? Or is it not a big deal? I feel that I have exhausted all that I can say about why I want to go there, and adding 10 more words would be just filler, but I feel like because this essay is on the shorter side one would want to add as much as possible. Do colleges really care as long as it fully answers the question?</p>
<p>LOL.
Content > Length</p>
<p>I got away with writing three sentences for my personal statement.
Be witty, be yourself, and be original.
Write something that would make the admissions officer go: I really want to meet this kid
Something that will leave a lasting impression.</p>
<p>I think i should rephrase this a bit: Would it be better to use restraint instead of hitting the limit? What if one can hit the limit while still having good content and hitting the three points that rkim1993 said? Would it still look better to cut back a bit?</p>
<p>Your common app essay was three sentences?</p>
<p>Yes. Three sentences.</p>
<p>But not the Common App essay, a supplement.
My Common App essay was a little longer.</p>
<p>I’d love to read those three sentences.</p>
<p>The prompt was:
In less than 150 words, please explain why you wish to attend our university</p>
<p>“My talents and skills include, but aren’t limited to, singing, piano playing, reading while jumping on the trampoline, sending grammatically correct text messages, and even sleeping in class but still managing to get an A. However, none of these talents and skills will matter if I don’t go to college. That is why I need to go to college.”</p>
<p>There is no need to max out the word limit. It’s an upper limit, not a set number of words needed. 190/200 is a good place to be. So the answer is no.</p>
<p>What I’ve heard more often than not is that a word count is more like a guideline than anything else. Always go with the quality, not quantity.</p>