Hey everyone! I'm just starting my college applications and struggling with the essay portions. I know it can vary, but on average, how long are most college essays supposed to be? I don't want to write too much or too little.
While essay lengths can vary between schools and the prompts they offer, the general guideline for the main Common Application or Coalition Application essay is 500 to 650 words. This allows you to delve into detail, but also ensures you maintain the reader's attention. Remember that the admissions officers are reading many essays, so conciseness is key.
For supplemental essays, the length usually ranges from 150 to 400 words, but each college sets their own word limits which can sometimes be as low as 50 words or exceed 500 words depending on the prompt. It's always important to carefully check the specifics for each institution.
One tip is to be mindful of the clarity and quality of your essay over meeting a word count. Make sure you've answered the prompt completely and highlighted your unique story or perspective. It's better to have a powerful and well-written 450-words essay than a 650-words essay that's filled with fluff and redundancies. Remember to revise and proofread to ensure you aren't wasting words and your essay is easy to read.
Stick to the required or suggested word limits, and always lean towards being concise rather than verbose. Happy writing!
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