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Is it better to have a shorter or longer college essay?

Hi all, I'm working on my college essay and I'm not sure how long it should be. Is it better to have a shorter college essay that's concise, or a longer essay that's more detailed? Thanks for any advice!

2 years ago

Hello! It's great that you're working on your college essay. In general, it's important to strike a balance between being concise and providing enough detail to make your story engaging and meaningful. 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. My child went through the same process and found that it was helpful to first write a longer essay, then edit it down to meet the word limit while maintaining the story's essence. Ultimately, it's about finding the sweet spot between being concise and presenting a compelling, well-rounded narrative.

Good luck and happy writing!

2 years ago

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