<p>Could anyone on this forum speak to the suggested length of the supplement? On the Common App, there is a 500 character limit, but they also allow you to upload a document. Does this mean that you can write as much as you want on a Word Doc and then just upload that to get around the character limit? If so, what is the purpose of the character limit in the first place?</p>
<p>If you choose to upload a document there is NO word limit. It says “you may attach a separate sheet if needed” because they expect that what you write won’t fit in the text box. The reason there is a 500 character “limit” in the text box on the CommonApp is to tell you that your response will only <em>fit in the box</em> if it is 500 characters or less. If your response is more than that, simply upload a word doc, no big deal.</p>
<p>When an admissions rep from Vassar visited my high school, someone asked her this question and she told us that there is no word count but that they expect one or two short paragraphs.</p>
<p>Use good judgement; don’t bore the admissions officers with a 3 page essay, but don’t skimp off either. In my opinion, if your response is actually able to fit in the text box, then you’re not indicating that you’re super interested in Vassar. I was accepted EDI, and my supplement was 183 words (1029 characters). It took up about 1/4 of a page (single spaced).</p>
<p>Good luck with your supplement! :)</p>
<p>Thanks, mine is a full page, double spaced… but it has little details that just add to the story. I guess I could trim it down.</p>
<p>Oh, a full page double spaced doesn’t sound too long at all. Only trim it down if you think that will improve the essay.</p>
<p>Right, I had 3/4 page and I got deferred ED but I have a friend from my school who did RD last year and wrote ~400 words (around a paragraph, he wrote it in the box) about something uniquely Vassar and got accepted</p>
<p>Content > Length, whatever it may be</p>
<p>Would you guys advise sending SAT Subject tests if I’m already sending the ACT?</p>
<p>If your subject test scores are good, I’d say send them. It can’t hurt you. Worst case scenario, they see them and say “we don’t need these, we already have your ACT” and set them aside. But who knows, they might help you.</p>
<p>Does it make a big difference if you have visited the college or not? Will they give preference to kids who don’t just talk about what they read online?</p>
<p>I found that it was easier to write my supplement after visiting the college, but I don’t think they would hold it against you if you can’t make it over there for a visit. I suggest you spend a lot of time on their website looking for programs and other things you can mention in your essay so they can tell you’ve done your research and are really interested in Vassar.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks, and for anyone who reads this thread, I sent the admissions office an email about something else, and this was part of the automated response:</p>
<p>“IS THERE A WORD LIMIT FOR THE RESPONSE TO THE VASSAR SUPPLEMENT QUESTION?
The response to the Vassar Supplement question (“How did you learn
about Vassar and what aspects of our college do you find appealing?”)
is typically anywhere from one paragraph to one page long. If you
enter the answer to this question directly on the Common Application,
there is a 500 character limit. However, there is no character limit
if you choose to upload a document instead.”</p>
<p>This strikes me as kind of stupid and deliberately confusing. Why bother putting the 500 character limit in the first place?</p>