Can my Common App essay be 700 words?

Students who choose to write about their own topic are encouraged to come up with a specific prompt of their own design to guide them as they write. The Common App is fairly clear-cut in its length specifications: students can submit an essay between 250 and 650 words in length.

Is 700 words too long for a college essay?

The association recommends students keep their word count near 500-650 words, but essays can be as short as 250 words. In addition to the personal statement, highly selective colleges ask for a few supplemental essays.

Can I submit more than 650 words to Common App?

For example, the Common Application, which can be used to apply to more than 800 colleges, requires an essay ranging from 250-650 words.

Is it okay if my college essay is exactly 650 words?

Do not go over the maximum word count. If there isn't a preferred word count, you should submit an essay that's under 650 words, according to the college application platform Common App, which works with over 900 colleges in the US [1]. Admissions officers are looking for well-written essays that follow directions.

Is it okay to go over word limit in college essay?

Unless specified, never go over the word limit for a college application essay.

The Best Way to Start & End a College Essay in 2024! | Tips for Common App and Supplementals

Is 750 words too long for a college essay?

If you don't write the Common App essay, or if you write additional essays, note that most college essays set word limits around 500-750 words. In the rare case that no word limit is specified, most experts recommend staying under 800 words.

Can my college essay be 750 words?

Even if you aren't filling out the Common App, most college essays set word limits around 500-750 words. In the rare case there is no established word limit, most experts recommend not exceeding 900 words for a college essay.

Is 800 words too much for a college essay?

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit. If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words. You should aim to stay under the specified limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely.

What happens if your Common App essay is over 650 words?

3 Answers By Expert Tutors. If your essay is longer than the limit, the application process cuts off the extra words when you submit it. Therefore, colleges will receive an incomplete essay.

Is 500 words too short for Common App essay?

The Common App essay requires you write between 250 and 650 words. Hitting the maximum is great, but make sure not to settle at the minimum. For all college admission essays, it's best to come as close to the maximum as you can, as long as you're not filling space with meaningless sentences.

Why is the Common App essay so short?

At the end of the day, admissions officers read your essays because they want to fly the friendly skies with you into your world. 500 to 600 words allows you to give them a proper flying experience and gives you the words necessary to differentiate your world from the world of other applicants.

Is it ok to go over the word count for Common App essay?

For example, the Common App won't allow you to go over 650 word limit for its main essay. Not even one word over. If your word count is several words over the limit, changing “It is” and “I would” to “It's” and “I'd” could help a bit. If your essay is 750 words, you will need to rewrite it.

How do you know if your Common App essay is good?

How fast can you write a 700 word essay?

Writing 700 words will take about 17.5 minutes for the average writer typing on a keyboard and 35 minutes for handwriting. However, if the content needs to include in-depth research, links, citations, or graphics such as for a blog article or high school essay, the length can grow to 2.3 hours.

Is 700 words good for a personal statement?

A typical length for a personal statement is between 500 and 700 words. But be sure to adhere to the word or character limit that the school you're applying to requires.

What to do if Common App essay is too long?

If your essay is extra long because you want admission officials to understand the atypical obstacles you've surmounted, and if you're convinced that you can't do this in 650 words, then consider disclosing these issues in the “Additional Information" section of your application or in a separate, unsolicited essay or ...

How many words should the Common App essay be 2023?

The Common App essay word limit remains at 650 words. There is also a minimum floor of 250 words.

Do colleges read your Common App essay?

Many admission offices will read your Common App essay first, simply because it's embedded in Common App itself, and that tends to be the starting point of an application review.

Can a college essay be 900 words?

Not all essay prompts will require long answers. If 900 words is necessary, then that is okay. Refer back to the sections above to make sure your answer isn't getting too long. Remember, you don't just want to fill space.

How do you reduce word count in college essay?

Does UT Austin look at your Common App essay?

(Basically, do what makes you look best. Usually, the more information you have the better, but don't offer up scores that will hurt you.) Secondly, even though UT-Austin does accept applications through the Common App, they will not read your Common App essay.

What does a 750 word essay look like?

A 750 words essay will be 1.5 pages single-spaced or 3 pages double-spaced. A standard single-spaced page contains 500 words.

Should you use all 650 words in Common App?

Use Your Space Wisely

The Common App essay word count range is 250-650 words. But just how long should your statement be? Admissions Blog advises aiming for around 500 words. And former Tufts University admissions officer Becky Leichtling concurs.

What happens if you go over the word limit on Common App?

If you're submitting it via the Common Application, then no; it will cut you off and you won't be able to submit it if the essay is longer than 650 words. Some schools may be more flexible, if you're applying with their application, so then it's a case-by-case situation.

How fast can you write a 750 word essay?

For professional writers writing "on spec," the time for the first writeup (the draft) of 750 words in my experience normally should take between 1 hour to 3 hours.