Does anyone know what the typical word limit is for college essays? I've noticed that the limits vary between schools, so I'm wondering if there's a general guideline. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
The common word limit for college essays can definitely vary between schools, but there are some general guidelines to help you plan your writing.
For the Common Application personal statement, the word limit is 650 words. Most applicants will apply to colleges using the Common App, and this is the essay that will be sent to all the schools you select on the platform.
Supplemental essays are often required by individual colleges, and their word limits can differ. A common guideline for these shorter essays is between 100-250 words. However, some schools may have a higher limit, going up to 500-650 words, especially if it's a more comprehensive or unique prompt.
If no word limit is specified, keeping it within 500-650 words is a safe bet, as you want to take advantage of the flexibility you're being given - writing something much shorter may suggest you don't care - but don't write a novel, as admissions officers don't have much time to spend on each application and you don't want them to have to rush through your essay.
It's essential to follow the specific word limit provided by each school, as application platforms typically just cut off even one extra word. However, you also don't want to way undershoot the word count. College applications are limiting by their nature, and you don't want to voluntarily limit yourself even further by not taking full advantage of the space given to you.
If you're struggling to get your essay under the word count, or, alternatively, are unsure which details you should add to take better advantage of your space, consider utilizing CollegeVine's Free Peer Essay Review Tool, or submitting your essay for a paid review by an expert college admissions advisor through CollegeVine's marketplace. A more objective set of eyes can often help you identify potential tweaks that you wouldn't have thought of on your own.
Good luck with your essays!
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