Why are college essays so short?

Since colleges want to streamline the application process, application essays usually have a recommended word count. If the recommended size is 200 words, 210 might be OK, but 300 definitely not. Some essays have a strict limit that won't allow you to enter anything over this limit.

How long should college essays be?

If your institution doesn't provide a specific word count, it's best to keep your essay between the length established by the longer college admissions essay format: 250 to 650 words. Word count is just one factor to consider as you craft your college admissions essay.

What is the shortest a college essay can be?

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 500 words too short for Common App essay?

For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650. Any submission shorter than 500 words will make it look as though you simply didn't care enough to give your best effort. An essay shorter than 500 words won't be long enough to truly share who you are and what matters to you.

Should my Common App essay be exactly 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.

Your College Essay Didn't Get You Accepted, You're Just Rich

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.

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.

Is it bad if my college essay is short?

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. For the Common App, I would recommend a bare minimum of 500 words, about 75 percent of the maximum.

Why is 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.

What shouldn't you write about in a college essay?

While drug addiction, alcohol use, arrests, jail stints, and similar activities may seem intriguing, they are usually college essay topics to avoid. There is a chance the admissions committee won't view those actions favorably, regardless of the lessons they learned along the way.

How do you end a college essay?

The end of your college essay should be strong, clear, and impactful. You can talk about your future goals, end in a moment of action, talk about what you've learned, or go full circle. Whatever method you choose, make sure to avoid summarizing your essay.

Do college essays need a title?

You don't need a title for your college admissions essay, but you can include one if you think it adds something important.

How long is the college essay 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.

Are longer college essays better?

Most colleges have a word limit or range for their essays, so make sure you adhere to those guidelines. A shorter essay can be impactful if it's well-written and truly conveys your message. On the other hand, a longer essay can provide more context and illustrate your experiences more vividly.

Can a college essay get you in?

So the answer to “how important are college essays” (answer: more important the more selective a school is) applies to any supplemental essays you may write. Can a good college essay get you in by itself? No. But selective institutions focus on candidates that combine great academics with great essays.

Does word count matter for college essays?

It is important to follow the word count while writing. Word count is seen as a limit to creativity or expression by some students, while burden by some. A good writer will be easily able to follow the word count. Moreover, word count helps both teacher, and student to assess an essay easily with constructive feedback.

Is there only 1 Common App essay?

Write only one essay (plus any supplements).

You'll submit one essay through the Common Application for all your schools. Some colleges may ask you to also answer a few supplemental questions. Check out the Common App essay prompts now so you can start strategizing!

How many colleges should one apply to?

There is no magic number, but five to eight applications are usually enough to ensure that a student is accepted into a suitable institution (depending, of course, on the individual student's record and circumstances).

Can I use contractions in my college essay?

Contractions and Informal Language

You may have heard that contractions are a no-no in formal writing, but we beg to differ. The whole point of the personal statement is for you to speak to admissions in your own voice. We say, use contractions where they feel natural. If you'd rather say “I'm” than “I am,” go for it.

Can a bad essay ruin your college application?

A bad essay will prompt an admission officer to assume one of two things: 1) either you don't care enough about your future at their school to take the time to write a good essay or 2) you aren't academically up to attending their college or university. Neither of those assumptions will help you get admitted.

How do I know if my college essay is good enough?

Is it okay to go slightly over word limit for college essay?

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

How do I make my Common App essay stand out?

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

If anyone else could put their name at the top of your essay and have it still make sense, it could probably still use some work. If your essay tells a story that is important to you and 100% reflects who you are and no one else, then you're probably well on your way to hitting the “submit” button.

What is the longest essay?

The Thesis

Finally, the thesis is the longest academic essay type and the one that's reserved for doctorate students studying PhDs. Generally between 40,000 and 60,000 words in length, the doctorate thesis may contain all the elements of a dissertation but in much more detail and with more careful investigation.