Just drafting my first round of college essays and I'm curious, how many words are most college essays supposed to be? Is there a standard or does it change per school?
It varies by school and by the type of essay. For instance, the Common Application essay, which many colleges use, has a word limit of 650 words. However, supplemental essays, which are additional essays required by specific colleges, typically have word limits that range from 100 to 500 words.
The college's application or admissions website will usually state the word limit for each required essay. It's important to stick within these limits as closely as possible. If you go over, you risk the chance that your essay may be cut off mid-sentence, especially in online applications, which often don't allow you to exceed the character count. If you're significantly under the word limit, however, it might seem that you're not taking the assignment seriously or that you've rushed to complete it.
So, while there isn't a strict 'standard' length for college essays, it is important to pay attention to the specific guidelines given by the schools you're applying to. Just remember, every word should count, whether you're writing a 150-word supplemental essay or a 650-word personal statement. Quality over quantity is definitely the rule of thumb here.
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