Should the Common App essay be 650 words?

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.

Should my Common App essay be exactly 650 words?

For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650.

Is 650 words a lot for an essay?

Rarely will you see a word limit higher than around 650 words (over one single-spaced page). College essays are usually pretty short: between 150 and 650 words. Admissions officers have to read a lot of them, after all! Weigh your words carefully, because they are limited!

Is 350 words too short for 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.

How to write a 650 word college essay?

For a college essay with a 650 word limit, it is recommended to structure the essay into five paragraphs. These five paragraphs should consist of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction of the essay should present the main topic and provide relevant background information or context.

Reading The Secret College Essay Harvard Admissions LOVED

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 my Common App essay too long?

The Common App main essay space will NOT let you go over 650 limit. The extra words will be cut off. You have to get it to 650 or less, that's it.

How many words should the Common App essay be 2023?

The Common App essay word limit is 650 words. Since students submit their Common App essays to every school, they should be as strong as possible.

How long is the Common App essay 2023?

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

Is 700 words too much for a college essay?

If you have looked everywhere and cannot find any instructions regarding the word count, call the admissions office. While they may not give you an exact number, they might tell you how long their application essays generally are. However, If you still find no help, then simply stick to the 500-700 range.

Is it OK if my Common App essay is 600 words?

The Common App essay is limited to 250 - 650 words, which roughly translates to a maximum of one single-spaced page of text. You must stay in this word range. In fact, the online portal for essay submission will not let you proceed if you don't. In general, we advise writing an essay between 500 and 600 words.

Can you go over 650 words on Common App?

It's not okay to exceed the 650 word limit on the common application essay, but your essay can be less than 650 words.

What does a 650 essay look like?

A 650-word essay is approximately a page and a half to two pages long when using a standard 12-point font and standard spacing between lines. To visualize what 650 words look like, think about a typical two-page, double-spaced essay with an introduction, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

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.

Should I space out my Common App essay?

Most online applications will include a text box for your essay. If you're attaching it as a document, however, be sure to use a standard, 12-point font and use 1.5-spaced or double-spaced lines, unless the application specifies different font and spacing.

Should I bold my Common App essay?

The font should be standardized once you paste your work in. In case it isn't, use a 12 pt., single space, simple font like Times New Roman or Calibri. Avoid all caps, bold, underline, and italics because they can look more conversational than professional.

Is Common App updated for 2023?

Common App launches 2023–2024 application season with 50 new member colleges and universities. The 2023–2024 online college application includes 15 more MSI colleges, adds additional gender identity options to the app, and includes options for member colleges to adjust to the Supreme Court ruling on race in admissions.

When should I finish my Common App essay?

For most students, the best approach is to write college essays during the summer after junior year and to finish essay writing before the beginning of your senior year. This way, college essays are off your plate and you can focus on submitting your applications and on your senior-year classes and activities.

How many paragraphs should my Common App essay be?

At 650 words, each of these will be best understood as a five-paragraph essay, so a basic structure stays the same, but the way things begin and end will not.

What is the prompt 6 on the Common App essay?

PROMPT #6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time.

How much do Common App essays matter?

As you can tell, college essays are very important for applicants hoping to get accepted into prestigious institutions. And if you are planning to apply to any colleges that are test optional or test blind, then the essay probably becomes more important, since schools have fewer data points to work with.

Which Common App essay prompt is the most popular?

Common App Essays Prompts – Breakdown: Prompt 7

This is the most popular Common App essay prompt, with 24.1% of students choosing it on the 2021-2022 Common App. This question is probably the most popular because it allows you to use an essay you've already written — meaning you have to do less work.

How much is a 650 word essay?

There are some best 650-word essay writing services! A 650 word count will create about 1.3 pages single-spaced or 2.6 pages double-spaced when using normal margins (1″) and 12 pt. Arial or Times New Roman font.

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

Can Common App essay be 500 words?

You can find the Common App essay prompts and instructions by navigating to the "Common App" tab on your Common App account and clicking on "Writing." You'll get to choose one of seven prompts to respond to, and your essay must be between 250 and 650 words long.