<p>Okay, so I just finished my roughed draft for my common app. essay. </p>
<p>I know that ONE page is a good length, but I wrote a bit more (1.5 pages).</p>
<p>I am trying to shorten it, leaving all the unnecessary stuff out, but it's hard </p>
<p>beacuse I don't know wat is imortant or not...</p>
<p>How do I shorten my essay effectively, still having all the necessary things in</p>
<p>the essay??</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Jordan</p>
<p>How many words is it? Typically, college admins don't really care if you're a little over the work limit (if it's on paper). So, if it's a 500 word limit, they're not going to be like, "Oh no! This person has 700 words! No college for him/her." If it's ridiculously over (900+), then I'd say edit. </p>
<p>In terms of editing, think about what says "you" the most. Also, do you repeat yourself? Go around in circles? Make an offhanded comment that could be there, but wouldn't hinder the essay if taken out?</p>
<p>Hope I helped.</p>
<p>Yeah, my essay is actually just around 700 words! Thanks for your advice on editing!</p>
<p>Oh and another question... I wrote a "personal" essay... rather than a really
"creative" one... is that okay? What if my essay doesn't stand out? Is it possible that lots of kids will have similiar essays?</p>
<p>That's perfectly fine. Your essay will stand out if it tells the admins something about YOU. You want them to go "kbs200491... He's the one that wrote about _____. He's the [insert quirk/hobby/etc. here] kid!" It is possible (and probable) that many kids will have similar essays, however, it's what they DO with those essays that makes them stand out.</p>
<p>A typical essay would be about the death of a parent/grandparent/pet/etc. The admins will probably say "Oh no.... Not another one." But if the prospective students twists it in such a way that it becomes humorous (not that it's funny, but they learned something humorous about themselves), or shows a different side of a very personal and sad time, it is likely to stand out to them.</p>
<p>Personal is excellent as what the colleges are interested in is finding out more about you. Try to write creatively, too -- like a feature story-- but if you can only do one thing, writer personally because colleges care far more about who you are than whether you can write creatively.</p>
<p>If your essay contains info, anecdotes, etc. that are specific to you then it will be different than others' essays since the other applicants aren't you. :)</p>
<p>On shortening:</p>
<p>Use strong verbs, not adverbs. Example: "I walked very quickly" can be changed to "I jogged."</p>
<p>Get to the point quickly. Often people take a couple of paragraphs to get into their essay. Instead, try to start at the most interesting point. Don't start with, "This essay is about...."</p>
<p>Show don't tell. Instead of, "I was very worried about having to go to a new school" write something like, "I tossed and turned the night before I started at my new high school."</p>
<p>Words like "very" as in "I was very sick" can usually be deleted.</p>
<p>It also can help to read your essay out loud, which will help you eliminate awkward phrases.</p>
<p>Show, don't tell. Better to use brief anecdotes to convey your points than to use verbiage. </p>
<p>Put the essay away for a couple of days. When you come back to it, you'll likely see areas that can be cut.</p>
<p>"A typical essay would be about the death of a parent/grandparent/pet/etc. The admins will probably say "Oh no.... Not another one." But if the prospective students twists it in such a way that it becomes humorous (not that it's funny, but they learned something humorous about themselves), or shows a different side of a very personal and sad time, it is likely to stand out to them."</p>
<p>Why such essays don't work is not only that they are cliches, but also that often the writers focus far more on the deceased person than themselves, and college admissions officers want to learn about the applicant.</p>
<p>Same with trips to foreign countries, another subject that often is done in a cliched way. Admissions officers don't want travelogues. They want to know about how being in the country affected you, and they want to hear more than the tired cliche: "I learned that people are people" or "I learned that there's poverty in the world, and I'm lucky to live in a country where there's not the kind of grinding poverty that one sees in [fill in name of developing country].</p>
<p>THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH, lilygraces and Northstarmom!!!</p>
<p>You two were SO helpful and I now know what to work on. And I am more </p>
<p>confident about my essay :D</p>
<p>Thanks!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Jordan</p>
<p>Delete such unneeded words as: the, a, an. They only detract from the overall essay experience.</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>But really...delete things that don't add to the overall essay experience.</p>
<p>do most applicants go over the word limit? Becuase I'm finnishing up a supplement essay which has a 500 word limit, and it's at 650 right now. I expect it'll be around 700 when i'm done with it, and it's so hard for me to objective to decide which parts are unecessary! (I'm trying to show my passion for the major).</p>
<p>Most applicants probably go over the word limit, HOWEVER, if you're applying online, sometimes you can't go over the word limit because it'll cut you off (unless you can attach the file).</p>
<p>Have your parents and English teachers edit your essay and help you cut it down if need be.</p>
<p>omg! no way! i hope the online thing doesn't happen to me!</p>