<p>Can you go over the word limit on the Columbia app., maybe 50-100 words?</p>
<p>I went about 150 words over on my essay last year but I went over it so many times that I felt I couldn't cut out any more.</p>
<p>When I first drafted my essay it was well over 500 words; however, careful editing easily cut it back so that I was within the suggested limit. A clear and concise response to the prompt would be, IMO, more appealing to an adcom than a wordy one. My advice would be to stay as close to 500 words as possible.</p>
<p>But to answer your question, yes, you <em>can</em> go over the limit. :)</p>
<p>woah it has to be that short?</p>
<p>I'd HIGHLY recommend not going over the limit. I mean, people go over and still get in, but think about it. The very first assignment is to write a 1500-2000 word essay and instead you disregard the assigned directions. I'd never admit someone that can't follow simple directions to my school (if i had one).It just doesn't seem like a wise decision to me. But hey, what do I know? I'm sitting on a bean bag eating cheetos.</p>
<p>Okay... well I'm probably going to be 100 over. I just felt like if cuts were made, they had to be details that I thought were important to paint a better picture.</p>
<p>P.s.</p>
<p>any of you willing to read the essay, and tell me where I could make cuts, and maybe give me general feedback? :)</p>
<p>wait... is the application even out yet?</p>
<p>If you really think that cutting out details would take away from your "picture," then I wouldn't do it. If you really capture the reader, then they're not going to bother counting words anyways.</p>
<p>However, if you can find areas to reduce without taking away, then do it. I will take a look at your essay, PM it.</p>