Word Count for essays

<p>Most schools I am applying to say that the essay should be 500 words or 400-500 words. How strict do you think these schools are on the word count because I am having trouble cutting down my essay any further.
Is 650 words to much?? 600??
Please give me your opinion because I dont want to send an essay which is too long that will not get read.</p>

<p>TRuthfully, I think it depends on the school. But most schools would rather for your essay to be a tad longer than for you to condense it and it not be as cohesive. No ones actually counting words.</p>

<p>The UCs say 1,000 words but they say "a little over like 1,012 is fine."</p>

<p>Thus, I would have to say that 600 words is definitely too long for a prompt that suggests 500 words. I'd even say that 550 is too much too.</p>