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Yes, you are going to be building in nuance and subtlety in these final edits: that’s important, as it helps you to refine and differentiate your message. Yet, though you want to put sincere effort into these details, so the admissions officers can tell you really worked hard on this college essay, you also can’t afford to be convoluted.
Another of the more open-ended Common App prompts, this Common Application question has endless answers. Essays could cover something as straightforward as your potential college major or as non-academic as your favorite episode of Survivor. What if there is no word limit? Then how long should a college essay be? In general, around 500 words is perfect, safe, and approximate word amount for a college essayâit's one of the most common word limits, after all!
The role of the essay will vary by school. At highly selective colleges, the essay is arguably just as important as the transcript. There is very little to distinguish between the top students academically, so the essay provides an opportunity to shine. This is where you talk about yourself as a person, not just a student. Academics are the priority in the admission process, but admission officers are also looking for students who will contribute positively to their community. Essay length requirements will vary between schools, but they’re generally not long. The Common App essay requires at least 250 but no more than 650 words, but the University of California essays are limited to 350 words each. Students should plan to write an essay with a word count close to, but not exceeding, the limit. Many applications, including the CommonApp, will not allow students to submit more than the maximum word count. This Article is intended to help you brainstorm and begin writing your personal statement essay and all the other college essays. This is a key step to write persuasive college essays While essays are the most regularly requested writing sample, some colleges ask for supplementary pieces of content. For instance, Amherst College has an option that asks students to present a graded paper for evaluation.Â
But how long should a college essay be?
A college essay is a writing sample that is submitted with your application. It is a personal statement that shares more information about you with the admission committee. The other pieces of the application – the transcript, the activities, the letters of recommendation – will all look very similar when compared with other applicants to highly selective colleges. The essay is your opportunity to humanize your application by sharing a personal anecdote about yourself as well as to demonstrate a high level of thinking through your writing abilities. The essay distinguishes you and your application from all other candidates.
How long should a college admissions essay be?
However, many college essays have tight word limits anyways. Letâs say if you had written 300 words for an essay when they asked for a 500-word essay, ask yourself: what more you could write to elaborate on or support your points? Try asking your parents, friend, or teacher where you could elaborate with more detail or develop your points.
It is no different for a college application essay.
Students should use the summer before their senior year to reflect on their experiences and determine what they would like to share with the admission committee. Ideally, you should complete the first draft of your essay by the start of school in September, which will allow you to focus on your senior year.
“How long should my Common Application essay be?”
In the following article, an admissions officer answers frequently asked questions about the college essay (also known as the CommonApp Essay, or the Personal Statement)! For more guidance on your college essay and the college application process in general,
How Long Should a College Application Essay Be
The shortest word limits for college essays are generally around 200 words, less than half a single-spaced page. Seldom will you see a word limit higher than about 600 words which are over one single-spaced page. College essays, most of the time, are always short: between 200 and 650 words. Admissions officers have a tiring task to read a lot of them, after all!