Yale Common Application Essay Length?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
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<p>Hey all, I'm new here and hope to be here for this whole fall while I do my college applications. I just had a quick question about Yale's guidlines for the Common Application Essay's length: how long is too long?</p>

<p>I know the second essay on the supplement has a maximum of 500 words, but does the Common App Essay have a maximum? My essay is 1,200 words (I have already cut it down from 1,800!), and I want to cut it down to 1,000 words. Is 1,000 to long? The shorter and more powerful it is, the better--yet this essay reflects on a huge aspect of humanity and 1,000 words seems to be very concise for the topic it deals with. Also, the essay is one of the best I have ever written, but I don't want to anger an admissions officer who is reading it (I have at least tried to make it entertaining ;)). </p>

<p>So what is better: quality, yet a long essay?; or a more concise essay that may have to sacrifice some quality?</p>

<p>Thanks guys! Good luck to all of you other Early Action people who hope to make Yale!</p>

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<p>1000 words is way too long. Even though no word length is specified for the Common App main essay (at least it wasn't last year – just a 250 word minimum) the rule of thumb is that it should be about 500 words. Going about 10% over that is fine, with 600 the maximum. </p>

<p>You say your essay "reflects on a huge aspect of humanity." Remember, the essay is designed to personalize your application, to bring life to it. It's your opportunity to tell Yale something about who YOU are, and what will make YOU a great addition to the campus community.</p>

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<p>Right. Adcomms don't want to hear about humanity. Are they thinking about admitting "humanity" into their university? Did "humanity" take the SATs and participate in ECs? No. Talk about something relevant to you, and you alone.</p>

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<p>sorry to hijack this thread, but what about 710 words? lol, and I thought that was a good number...do i really have to cut it down to 600?</p>

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<p>i think as long as it's reasonable. If your essay takes FOREVER to read... then.. yes. If you construct your essay so that it takes the same time to read a 800 word essay as a 400 word essay, then I say keep it.</p>

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<p>well, its single spaced, but only makes it onto the next page for the last paragraph (4 lines long). is that considered long?</p>

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<p>This is from the Yale Admissions site:</p>

<p>"Q: My essays are more than 500 words each. Is that OK?</p>

<p>A: We ask that you respect the word limits we suggest. Will we read the words beyond 500? Yes. But if your essays are much longer than 500 words, understand that you will not help yourself by seeming to have ignored our request."</p>

<p>I can’t give you hard evidence that submitting a too-long essay will result in denial, but please recognize that admissions officers have a great many essays to read. They can discern 800 words -- even 800 words of perfect prose -- from 500 words. </p>

<p>There are a few students every year who post that they were accepted to Yale and its peers with very long essays. I wouldn't risk trying it.</p>

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<p>On the contrary, my essay was about 1000 words and it worked out fine for me. As long as everything said in it must be said and it wouldn't be complete without it [as mine was], you will be fine.</p>

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<p>Regarding the broad "aspect of humanity" subject matter, maybe this article may help you make it a little tighter from U.Va. Office of Admissions</p>

<p>U.Va</a>. Office of Admission Essays</p>

<p>A great quote: "A good essay is not good because of the topic but because of the voice. A good writer can make any topic interesting, and a weak writer can make even the most dramatic topic a bore."</p>

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<p>Hmmm... My essays about the suggested length. My essay is philosophical but it really pertains to only me. I wonder what they mean by "vague." </p>

<p>And by voice. I know it's supposed to be you but I wonder if there's any preference between a loud voice, a humorous/ironic voice, or a reflective one. Honestly, my Common App. essay seems to have a reflective tone.</p>

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<p>i'm tremendously confused (and also tremendously new to the whole process so please bare with me): is there any difference between the one common application essay which can be about one of six topics and the 'yale common application essay'?</p>

<p>any light you can shed will be much appreciated.</p>

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<p>IndiaRubber, a clearer title might be "Does Yale have a preference for Common App essay length?" Even though the Common App essay has no word limit, OP wants to know if Yale prefers applicants to submit a shorter Common App essay, since it limits the second essay in its Supplement to 500 words. The responses so far are mixed.</p>

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<p>right. thanks so much. i thought it was the case but thought it best to make sure.</p>

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<p>I think Yale specifies 500 words for their own extended essay, not the CommonApp one. At least that's how I've interpreted the Yale website. The website says that one should stick to 500 words if YALE SPECIFIED 500 words. Yale did not specify 500 words for the CommonApp essay.</p>

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<p>500 words is a fair essay length. Keep in mind that admission officers already have a lot of reading to do. </p>

<p>Can anyone answer my question? :(</p>

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<p>1000 is way too long. it's good to keep it at 600-700 at most, mine is 700 but i'd like to cut it down a little more.</p>

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<p>AP,
Use whatever voice is natural to you. You want to come across as someone the college wants to have in its community. So, whatever voice you think best conveys your personality in a positive light will work. However, whatever voice you chose, you can't across as flippant, negative, or condescending.</p>