<p>On Brown’s supplement, they say that the essays should not exceed 500 words. Is this a very strict limit? Right now, my supplement essay is running at about 720 words, and I just wanted to know if that would be acceptable.</p>
<p>720 is probably too much. If you were like 550 words it’d be more ok.</p>
<p>Yeah I saw that later; my essay is 690 words and I’m still having trouble cutting it down <em>Sigh</em> ! :(</p>
<p>Can you submit an essay that long? Does the common app cut you off after a certain number of words?</p>
<p>If it doesn’t, then here’s the reason submitting an essay that is 44% longer than recommended is a problem: the admissions officers have so much reading to do that a long essay may turn them off just on principle. If it is as compelling and spellbinding as a Dan Brown novel, then not a problem. </p>
<p>Will they automatically reject you just because it is too long – no, they will not. But if they get bored by word 400 and there is still another page to go – well, do you want to be in that position?</p>
<p>just increase the margin, itll look like its all on one page :P</p>
<p>I already sent everything. My essay was 710 words but if I did cut it down some more it would have been hard to understand. So kept it I did. :P</p>
<p>Only use the minimum number of words necessary to make your point. If 700 words is you at your most concise, then I think you’ll be fine. I’m not telling you to make it three pages-the admission’s office would not be excited if everone sent that, but if your essay is engaging, I think you’ll be okay. Mine was 800 something, but that was in the ED round. Officers have MANY more essays to read. Keep it concise.</p>