<p>I'm getting so many mixed answers to this question. My counselor at first told me 500-1000 words is good. Then after I wrote my essay I was told it should be no more than 500. My friends say no more than 800. I'm really just lost with the numbers -.- I know it shouldn't be too long or else the readers will get bored with it, but does it really have to be as short as 500? I've seen much longer in example college essay books. Mine started out in the 800s, and I've cut it down to 580ish. </p>
<p>If anyone knows what's a good length for the essay, please let me know! thanks tons!</p>
<p>There is no definite answer unless the app has instructions on word limits. In that case, always follow the instructions. If not, 500 words is a good goal and most people go over that. I just read an essay last night, >600 words. It can be cut down a lot and written much better. </p>
<p>Remember that people who read your essay are reading hundreds or even thousands of other essays with very little time to spend on each one. It becomes exponentially harder to keep a firm grasp on the reader’s attention the longer the essay is.</p>
<p>I read my son and many of his friend’s essays last year. I am also reading some essays this year from friends kids. Everyone of them can be cut down in some way. They all tended to be too wordy, lots of words but not much substance.</p>
<p>I can’t remember where I got this from but I kept it because I thought it was good advice:
"I have to say there’s a select few essays that benefit from a higher word count, and the best route to success is to sharpen your own essay until each word fights for itself. When you can’t take one more word out without detracting from the overall piece, you’ve done amazing, no matter how many words it is.</p>
<p>The problem with that approach is that as an individual, you have a biased perspective on what’s necessary and what isn’t. It’s easy to become attached to a word or phrase, and though upon editing it doesn’t quite fit anymore, you don’t realize how superfluous it really may be.</p>
<p>So have a parent or a friend read it, the word count drops faster than you think!"</p>
<p>If it gets much longer than 500 words, it better be worth it.</p>